215 Jaguar XJ-S IMSA Group 44 (1976)
Jaguar XJ-S IMSA (1976) Engine 5343cc V12 Production 1
Race Number 44 Chris Ward + Gary Pearson
JAGUAR SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623671588245...
The Jaguar XJ-S was launched on 10 September 1975, with an initial shape set by Malcolm Sayer, but after his death in 1970 it was completed by the in-house Jaguar design team, headed by Doug Thorpe. Power came from the Jaguar V12 petrol engine with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, but the manual was soon dropped as they were left over from V12 E Type production.
In the USA Bob Tullis an ex-Air Force Veteran who had planned on a teaching career after he finished college, but entered the sport of racing instead. Had formed the Group 44 Racing Team with Brian Fuerstenau, initially entering a Dodge Dart in US races, with sponsorship from Dodge in the first ever Trans-Am race. After Tullis lost the Dodge sponsorship, he continued racing fior season. And was approached by Jaguar (Leyland Cars) to develope and run a new Jaguar XJ-S. Group 44's engineer, Brian Fuerstenau and chief mechanic, Latton Foushee, did much to prepare the cars for competition. The engine was given a dry-sump oiling and the fuel-injection system was replaced with six twin-choke Weber carburetors. At the start of the season, the car produced 475 horsepower. By season end, the car had been tuned to over 500 horsepower. The car was given a four-speed gearbox. An eight-point roll cage was fitted to strengthen the car and to protect in case of an accident.
For 1977, the "Group44" racing team had a very successful season in Trans Am with a race car based on the actual production XJ-S chassis and running gear. The team won the series' 1977 drivers' championship cup for Bob Tullius but missed winning the manufacturer's title by two points who were running numerous cars against the single entry Jaguar,. In 1978, a purpose-built tube-frame "silhouette" style XJS race car was constructed which greatly reduced the weight compared to the full production chassis car campaigned in 1977. This silhouette car had only the production car's roof panel as the sole piece of factory XJS sheetmetal on the car. Group 44 succeeded in again capturing the driver's championship for Bob Tullius and also captured the manufacturer's title as well, by entering Brian Fuerstenau driving the 1977 car at some venues to gain additional manufacturer's points for Jaguar.
A Big thankyou for an incredible 24.1 Million views
Shot 04:05:2014 at the Donington Historic Festival REF 102-215
215 Jaguar XJ-S IMSA Group 44 (1976)
Jaguar XJ-S IMSA (1976) Engine 5343cc V12 Production 1
Race Number 44 Chris Ward + Gary Pearson
JAGUAR SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623671588245...
The Jaguar XJ-S was launched on 10 September 1975, with an initial shape set by Malcolm Sayer, but after his death in 1970 it was completed by the in-house Jaguar design team, headed by Doug Thorpe. Power came from the Jaguar V12 petrol engine with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, but the manual was soon dropped as they were left over from V12 E Type production.
In the USA Bob Tullis an ex-Air Force Veteran who had planned on a teaching career after he finished college, but entered the sport of racing instead. Had formed the Group 44 Racing Team with Brian Fuerstenau, initially entering a Dodge Dart in US races, with sponsorship from Dodge in the first ever Trans-Am race. After Tullis lost the Dodge sponsorship, he continued racing fior season. And was approached by Jaguar (Leyland Cars) to develope and run a new Jaguar XJ-S. Group 44's engineer, Brian Fuerstenau and chief mechanic, Latton Foushee, did much to prepare the cars for competition. The engine was given a dry-sump oiling and the fuel-injection system was replaced with six twin-choke Weber carburetors. At the start of the season, the car produced 475 horsepower. By season end, the car had been tuned to over 500 horsepower. The car was given a four-speed gearbox. An eight-point roll cage was fitted to strengthen the car and to protect in case of an accident.
For 1977, the "Group44" racing team had a very successful season in Trans Am with a race car based on the actual production XJ-S chassis and running gear. The team won the series' 1977 drivers' championship cup for Bob Tullius but missed winning the manufacturer's title by two points who were running numerous cars against the single entry Jaguar,. In 1978, a purpose-built tube-frame "silhouette" style XJS race car was constructed which greatly reduced the weight compared to the full production chassis car campaigned in 1977. This silhouette car had only the production car's roof panel as the sole piece of factory XJS sheetmetal on the car. Group 44 succeeded in again capturing the driver's championship for Bob Tullius and also captured the manufacturer's title as well, by entering Brian Fuerstenau driving the 1977 car at some venues to gain additional manufacturer's points for Jaguar.
A Big thankyou for an incredible 24.1 Million views
Shot 04:05:2014 at the Donington Historic Festival REF 102-215