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1981 Jaguar XJR-4 news, pictures, and information | ||
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The competition continued to grow, with the lightweight Shelby Cobra and the big block Corvettes. Jaguar addressed the need for more power by adding another 6 cylinders, introducing the 5.3 liter 60-degree V12 E-Type in 1971, also known as the Series III.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, the racing scene in the United States continued to remain a hotly contested battlefield. There were two sanctioning bodies in the USA that were both promoting professional racing series; IMSA had the GT Categoreis and SCCA had the TransAm class. Manufactures from all over the world were participating in one or both of these series.
Long-time British car racer Bob Tullius, an American, got the contract to field this XJR-4 under the banner of his race team GROUP 44. Bob was well known for not only his skill as a driver but also his professionalism with regards to operating a race team. What Tullius came up with was the first tube framed Jaguar ever produced. He fitted it with the 6.0 Liter V-12 manufactured by Jaguar but highly modified by Group 44.
The car met the rules for both SCCA and IMSA so the car did double duty throughout its life and had great success, including three wins in the SCCA TransAm Series. The car was also used as a test bed to establish the endurance limits of the V-12 engine as Jaguar was considering plans to produce a Prototype race car for LeMans which would utilize this engine.
| Firestone Returns As Presenting Sponsor of RRDC Evening With Brian Redman in Long Beach | |
 | The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the Road Racing Drivers Club's fifth annual West Coast banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders. This year, on Thursday, April 18, prior to the running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the 'RRDC Evening with Brian Redman presented by Firestone' will highlight the career of one of the sport's most popular, talented and successful race-car drivers. This is the Firestone brand's fourth straight year as a supporter of the...[Read more...] |
| PORSCHE MOTORSPORT NORTH AMERICA PURCHASES HISTORIC ANDIAL NAME | |
 | Santa Ana, Calif. - February 14 - With the last active owner Dieter Inzenhofer retiring later this month, the legendary ANDIAL name will stay in the Porsche family as Porsche Motorsports North America, Inc. (PMNA) announced it has purchased the brand for future use. ANDIAL is an anagram made from the names of the founding members - the late Arnold Wagner AN; Dieter Inzenhofer DI; and former PMNA president and current consultant Alwin Springer AL. From the company's formation in 1975, ...[Read more...] |
| Stars of American Racing Panel Discussion for upcoming Savannah Speed Classic | |
 | The Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance, one of the nation's signature automobile events, is proud to announce the addition of legendary racing stars, to the already packed Savannah Speed Classic agenda. The scenic river-view site of Hutchinson Island in Savannah will be alive with not only the roar of vintage race cars, off-road drives through the woods, Hot Lap rides at speed, but some of history's greatest automotive influences including Hurley Haywood, Brian Redman, To...[Read more...] |
| Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion : A Brilliant Finish | |
 | There are times to spectate and there are times to roll up one's sleeves and participate. At the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year, both options brought abundant joy, as more than 550 authentic and historic race cars from nearly every decade of motorsports history popped their clutches and shifted gears on the esteemed road course of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Over August 16-19, the cars--split into 17 groups according to age and engine size and chosen for their period-correct presen...[Read more...] |
| AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES ROAD RACE SHOWCASE RETURNS TO ROAD AMERICA AUGUST 16-18 | |
 | Road America has hosted The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) every year since 2002 and the fabled four-mile, 14-turn circuit - the longest on the series schedule - still provides close finishes with narrow margins of victory year after year. A popular late-summer tradition, this prestigious event will showcase more than 36 cars in several classes on Saturday August 18. Everything from prototypes to production-based sports cars from numerous manufacturers in several classes will battle for position...[Read more...] |
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| 1.5 Litre C-Type D-Type E-Series | Mark Mark IV Mark IX Mark V | Mark VII Mark X S-Type SS 100 | SS II X-Type XF XJ | XJ-S XJ220 XJR Group 44, IMSA, and Group C XK | XK Series XKSS |
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