Jaguar XJR-9 'Castrol Racing' for sale at RM Sotheby's

Admit that without knowing more, you would like to have it in your garage! RM Sotheby's is offering a Jaguar XJR-9 for sale in Monaco, and not just any Jaguar. The chassis TWR-J12C-388 in Castrol colours is the one that won the 1990 Daytona 24 Hours in the hands of Davy Jones, Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace. That year, Castrol Jaguar Racing left Florida with a one-two finish as Price Cobb, John Nielsen and Martin Brundle finished within four laps of the #61, which was looking for its new owner.

Chassis #388's monocoque was completed in the summer of 1987 and the car was ready to run in October. The first three XJR-9 chassis, #188, #288 and #388, were then shipped to Big Spring (Texas) for testing.

The Jaguar XJR-9 #388 made its racing debut in January 1988 at Talladega in a race that served as a preparation for the 24 Hours of Daytona. Danny Sullivan, Jan Lammers and Davy Jones could only manage a 26th place. The rest of the season went better with four podiums: West Palm Beach, Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio, Sears Point. The same Jaguar had finished 7th in the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Things went better the following year with a second place in the 24 Hours of Daytona for Price Cobb, John Nielsen, Andy Wallace and Jan Lammers. The #61 finished on the same lap as the winning Porsche shared by Bob Wollek, Derek Bell and John Andretti. The next four IMSA rounds were also second places.

It wasn't until 1990 that the #388 Jaguar XJR-9 finally won the 24 Hours of Daytona despite overheating in the morning when the Jag had a comfortable 16 lap lead. After a third place at the 12 Hours of Sebring that same year, chassis #388 was then kept in the TWR museum until its closure in 2003 before a complete restoration in 2006.

These Tony Southgate-designed Jaguar XJR-9s will forever be remembered in endurance racing history. Its 6-litre V12 engine, developed by Jaguar with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, will remain in the eardrums of endurance racing fans.

The RM Sotheby's sale will take place in Monaco on 14 May.

Estimate: 1,900,000 / 2,400,000 euros