We take technology for granted a lot of the time, and occasionally we lose sight of the fact that it’s really quite a remarkable thing. We are the first generations to benefit from the marvellous tool that is YouTube, where we have access to thousands of hours of classic motorsport footage and millions of short documentaries – and all just a click away.
As winter sets in and the temperature outside drops even further, we figured that the time is perfect to share our 10 favourite Jaguar motorsport clips.
So, in no particular order…
On Board with Mike Hawthorn at Le Mans 1956
This is clip of Mike Hawthorn narrating a lap of Le Mans in 1956 is remarkable for several reasons. For starters, it features Mike Hawthorn, England’s first Formula 1 World Champion and 1955 Le Mans 24hr winner, driving a Jaguar D-Type in period. That would usually be enough, however it also provides a rare insight into how the track looked, and just how much effort was required to capture on-board footage in period. It’s funny to think that for all that equipment and hassle, you could probably capture better footage on your iPhone these days.
Jaguar triumph at 1951 Le Mans 24hr
Along similar lines to the above clip, this one presents some rare original footage from the 1951 race. Ignore the music, commentary and slightly jumpy footage. Instead, focus on what a golden age it was, and marvel as the Gendarmerie watch on with only a casual interest in what is unfolding in front of them.
Jaguar XJ13 – Victory by Design
When does an old piece about a classic car become classic footage itself? In this brilliant but aged clip, a laid-back Alain de Cadenet talks us through this stillborn icon, and then dons his period racing attire so that we can revel in the noise as he gives it a proper workout.
1985 TWR XJ-S Bathurst 1000 qualifying lap
Tom Walkinshaw famously won the 1985 Hardie Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst, Australia, driving the TWR XJ-S V12. This period clip chronicles his pole-winning qualifying lap, and includes some exciting on board footage where we can almost feel the XJ-S get light over the crests of Conrod Straight as it kisses the rev limiter in fifth.
The 2015 Lightweight E-Type
A few years back, Jaguar Heritage caused quite a stir by announcing that they would ‘finish’ the production run of the Lightweight E-Type, by producing the final six chassis numbers which were allocated in period but never built. In this clip, Evo Magazine’s Jethro Bovingdon walks us through the car and gives it a light track workout – if you didn’t want one before, you almost certainly will now.
XJ220 wins the 1993 Le Mans 24hr GT class
It’s interesting to watch this clip back-to-back with the earlier Le Mans clips we shared, and to compare the difference that four decades of development makes – both to the cars and to the circuit. This clip shows various pieces of footage from Jaguar’s GT class win that year.
Car Maniacs: Life with Le Mans’
Japan has given us many things, and now it has given us Le Mans cars being driven at speed on the public highway. This short film is a piece of cinematic work in its own right, and would be worth watching even the subject was not the Jaguar XJ220 LM, Porsche 962 and Mazda 787B on the streets of Hiroshima. But it is.
The inspiring madness can be summed up succinctly by the owner of the XJ220 LM: “When I sleep, I never dream. I live my dreams, full throttle on the highway.”
Driving a Jaguar C-Type on the Mille Miglia
This is one of our favourite automotive films. In this clip, journalist Chris Harris is invited to the Mille Miglia Storico as a guest of Jaguar Heritage, and shares a 1953 C-Type with Alex Buncombe. Seemingly unaware of its value, the boys drive the C-Type as hard as they can for days on end, and the Italian police simply encourage them to push harder and harder. Living la dolce vita, indeed.
2016 Bernina Gran Turismo: Jaguar C-Type
Same car, different location, and this time in the hands of JD Classics’ Chris Ward, who tackles the famous Bernina Gran Turismo hillclimb in the heart of the Swiss Alps. As the altitude increases, the visibility drops considerably…
Jaguar XJR-12D wins 2017 Festival of Speed shootout
There’s nothing greater than seeing historic racing cars being used exactly as their designers intended. Here, Justin Law punts chassis TWR-193 right to the limit in pursuit of victory on the narrow Goodwood hillclimb course.
