2022 Le Mans Classic - Jaguar Classic Challenge

 

Mike and Matthew Wrigley won the Jaguar Classic Challenge in their 1963 Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupé.

The Jaguar Classic Challenge is now a traditional part of the Le Mans Classic weekend.   There were a very impressive number of E-Types taking part and a smattering of C and D Types and XK cars. In all 43 cars took part.  The faster cars completed 8 laps of the long 24 Hour circuit in just over 40 minutes.  All the photos were taken at the Esses.

The blue No.7 Jaguar E-type was recored at 250kph on the Mulsanne Straight (Les Hunardieres).

The second and third placed cars - No.71 the 1965 E-Type of Jonathan Mitchell, and No.43 the similar car of James Thorpe and Phil Quaife.

The lovely 1952 Jaguar C-Type of John Young.

The fastest non-E Type in the race was this 1953 C-Type driven by George Pochciol.  Here he is leading a later D-Type.  George came second in the Index of Performance.

Two more C-Types, the No.18 1953 car of Tom Harris, and the No.06 1952 car of Hans-Martin Schneeberger.  It was great to have four C-Types in the race.

The fastest D-Type in the race was Paul Pochciol in this 1955 car.

Oliver Mathai in another 1955 D-Type.

A 1950 Jaguar XK120 driven by Kurth and Ernzer.

Another 1950 XK120 driven by the Ribadeneiras.

The 1958 XK150S of Marc Gordon.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web à condition de créditer le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com, et de fournir un lien vers cette page.

Some more E-Types with the Koenig's 1962 open 2 seater leading a group. No.142 finished seventh on scratch.

Le Mans Classic 2016 - Jaguar Classic Challenge

Andy Wallace in a 1955 Jaguar D-Type 3.8L in the Le Mans Esses.  He eventually finish third but led the first lap and had pole position..

For the first time since 2002, I attended the Le Mans Classic this year.  I took over 2,000 photos with a reasonable success rate so I will do a blog post for each Plateau and support race over the coming weeks.  The first of the support races was a round of the Historic Sports Car Club's Jaguar Challenge Series.  This is the second year of the challenge and it is open to all pre-1966 Jaguar models.

Marc Gordon in his 1958 3.8L Jaguar XK150S leads a similar car out of the Le Mans Esses.

The race was a mini-endurance race of 55 minutes, something quite tough for cars of this age.  The field including a amazing selection of Jaguar C, D and E types as well as XK120, 140 and 150 models and a few Mk1 and Mk 2 saloons.   In terms of drivers, the big star was Andy Wallace  who won the Le Mans 24 hours with Jaguar back in 1988.  He was driving a D-Type based on Mike Hawthorns 1955 Le Mans 24 hours winner.

The variety in the race is illustrated here with the Brown's 1951 Jaguar C-Type leading a 1962 Jaguar E-Type and a 1959 Jaguar Mk1 saloon.

Eventual winner was Julien Thomas in a 1962 3.8L Jaguar E-Type who climbed up from third after the first lap to lead from Lap 2 onwards.

2nd place went to this 1965 3.8L Jaguar E-Type of Carlos Monteverde from Brazil and Andy Smith.

Many of the cars were of course British Racing green or Scottish blue, but this German entered 1950 3.4L Jaguar XK120 was red.

James Paterson's 1955 3.4L Jaguar XK140 leads a 1956 Jaguar D Type through the Esses.

Nick Riley's 1964 3.8L Jaguar E-type powers out of the Esses.  

The 3.8L 1963 Jaguar E-Type of Simon Butler and Martin Rich.

An E Type leads a Mk1 saloon through Tertre Rouge and on to the Mulsanne Straight past the famous Poplar trees.

John Sykes in a 1953 3.4L Jaguar C-Type.

For full results click here on the Peter Auto web site.

For more details of the 2016 Le Mans Classic click here for the official web site.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.