Jaguar XJR-14: The Final Evolution
Chassis 791 is one of three Jaguar XJR-14s constructed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing for the 1991 FIA Sportscar World Championship. Designed by Ross Brawn, the XJR-14 was a radical departure from Jaguar’s earlier V12 prototypes, featuring a Formula 1-derived Cosworth HB V8 and a carbon-fiber monocoque wrapped in sleek Group C bodywork. The car was finished in Silk Cut livery, continuing Jaguar’s long-standing partnership with Gallaher International.
The new design proved immediately competitive. At the Nürburgring 1000 km in August 1991, chassis 791 was driven by Derek Warwick and David Brabham to overall victory, part of a campaign that delivered the World Championship for Jaguar. Additional races included outings at Magny-Cours, Mexico City, and Autopolis, with the car regularly in contention against Peugeot and Mercedes.
In 1992, 791 crossed the Atlantic to contest the IMSA series in the United States. In April at Road Atlanta, Davy Jones drove the car to victory from pole position, setting fastest lap and leading throughout. The following month at Lime Rock, however, a wheel failure sent the Jaguar into the barriers, causing major damage to the front of the monocoque.
Repaired by TWR’s composite arm, ASTEC, the chassis remained in the company’s collection until the early 2000s. It was then sold to Aaron Hsu, who commissioned a detailed rebuild with Lanzante Motorsport and Retrac Composites. The restoration was based around 791’s original repaired monocoque, with period-correct suspension, gearbox, and bodywork sourced or fabricated using original drawings and tooling.
Today, chassis 791 survives as the only XJR-14 built to works specification with documented victories on both sides of the Atlantic. It represents a turning point in Group C, where Formula 1 design thinking was fully integrated into sports car racing. With provenance confirmed and restoration completed by specialists, it remains a rare and significant Jaguar prototype, eligible for display or demonstration at the most discerning historic venues.
