3 of 7 - Debut at Mosport: the XJR-6 meets the world, August 1985

Chapter III · 11 August 1985

Round 6 of the 1985 World Championship, a bumpy Canadian circuit near Oshawa, and two dark Jaguars that nobody had raced before.

The XJR-6's world début came at the Budweiser 1000 km at Mosport on 11 August 1985. Two cars were ready, and for the first time they looked tidy despite a variety of front wings and suspension settings. Brundle and Thackwell, who had done most of the testing, were soon setting competitive times against the works Porsches.

XJR-6 leading Rothmans Porsches at Mosport 1985 — Mosport, August 1985: the XJR-6 leads the Rothmans Porsches — a shape of things to come.

Portraits of Schlesser, Brundle and Thackwell — The men of the début hour: Schlesser, Brundle, Thackwell.

XJR-6 number 52 leading a pack of Group C cars — The #52 leads a pack of Group C machinery — only its third race appearance.

The season's wider war is visible in one photograph: the Kouros Sauber-Mercedes, the turbocharged interloper that would make 1986's title fight a three-way contest. Group C was becoming "a much more interesting and competitive series" — and Jaguar's presence was a large part of the reason.

Kouros Sauber-Mercedes number 61 on circuit — The rival: the #61 Kouros Sauber-Mercedes, the silver turbo car Jaguar would spend 1986 chasing — and beating.

Next instalment: Silk Cut and first blood at Silverstone