The Jaguar XJR-9 '88 is a Group C race car produced by Jaguar. It first appeared in Gran Turismo 4 and is featured in the subsequent mainline games, including Gran Turismo Sport, where it was included as part of Update 1.19.
It appears to be the #2, driven by Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, and Andy Wallace, who won the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In-game description[]
"Jaguar's iconic Le Mans car which rose victorious against turbocharged cars."
In the golden era of racing, Jaguar was a force to be reckoned with, especially at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where the classic marquee won five times from 1951 to 1957. And then, Jaguar took a long break, not returning again until 1986 when the company unleashed its XJR-6, developed by TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) in the Group C category.
Designed by noted Formula 1 designer Tony Southgate, the XJR-6 was a bit different from other Group C cars in that it did not have a turbocharged powerplant. Most teams opted with smaller displacement turbocharged engines to improve fuel efficiency,[1] but Jaguar went for a pure power, in form of a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V-12, which grew to 7.0 liters in the XJR-9, which produced about 690.3 HP.
The XJR-9 competed with perennial powerhouses such as Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche at the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans. The XJR-9 took the checkered flag, with Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, and Andy Wallace sharing the driving duties. It was a historic moment for Jaguar, who returned to glory at the famed French circuit after a long absence.
Legend Cars (GT7)[]
Despite their early success in the 1950s, Jaguar didn't enter a works team at Le Mans again for almost 30 years. In fact, they wouldn't return to the race until 1986, when they entered the XJR-6. The XJR-6 was designed by Tony Southgate, who had made his name in Formula 1, and it was powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine. It was the heyday of turbocharged cars, and the XJR-6's uniquely high-pitched exhaust note was instantly recognizable. The sight and sound of a Jaguar tearing around the track once more certainly got the fans excited! Two years later, Jaguar entered the XJR-9 and finally won at Le Mans, for their first new victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since an Ecurie Ecosse D-Type won in 1957. It had been more than thirty years since their last win! That alone is enough to secure this iconic car's place in the annals of racing history!
Café (GT7)[]
Jeremy[]
The 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans race was quite the occasion. Jaguar fans from the UK were there in force, and Union Jack flags could be seen all around the track. It was a sight I'll never forget! And this is the car that brought Jaguar victory that day... Finally getting the better of the Porsches that had dominated Le Mans for so long. It certainly made the British fans both proud and delighted. The Circuit de la Sarthe was absolutely buzzing! It was a pretty close run thing, too, the winning Jaguar coming under pressure from Porsche until the end! Just thinking of it now sends shivers down my spine...!
Acquisition[]
| Game | Purchase location | Credits | Other methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Turismo 4 | Jaguar Legendary Car Dealership[2] | 3,500,000 | Achieve 50% completion[2] |
| Gran Turismo PSP | Jaguar Dealership | 3,000,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 5 | Jaguar Dealership[3](DLC) Used Car Dealership[4] (Lv. 23+) |
4,750,000 4,687,490 |
--- |
| Gran Turismo 6 | Jaguar Dealership | 1,980,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo Sport (  v1.19+) |
Jaguar Brand Central | 1,000,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Legend Cars | 3,000,000[5] | --- |
Trivia[]
- In GT4 and GT6, nitrous can't be applied, likely to be consistent with the other race cars.
- In GT7 however, it is now possible to do so as nitrous reappears there.
- Obtaining the Premium version in GT5 version 2.03 gives the player a nameless paint chip. This behavior was removed in version 2.04, but the paint chip was given a name, XJR-9 Purple, for those who had already acquired the paint chip (or received a copy from item trading) in that version.
- The Silk Cut sponsorship was censored in the games due to the fact that several countries have laws which either severely restrict or ban the advertising of tobacco products; not to mention that this could also affect the games' age rating due to tobacco references.
- However, a photo of an XJR-9 without the censorship can be seen in Jaguar's Museum in Brand Central.
- The XJR-9 bears a strong resemblance to the Nissan R89C. This is a curiosity as the two were developed by different companies (the Jaguar having been developed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing and the Nissan having been developed by Lola Cars). Another is that both have aerodynamic cowling that covers the rear wheels.
- In GT7, there is a graphical bug from the tachometer when entering the interior view.
Pictures[]
