5 of 7 - La Sarthe: twenty-three hours, and "we will be back"

Chapter V · June 1986

Jaguar came to Le Mans 1986 with three cars, an experimental tail, and a fuel-rig's chance of history. For twenty-three hours it had both.

The preparation began in practice. On 9 May the team ran its boldest aerodynamic experiments — a huge twin-post structure over the tail, tested in the pit lane itself, with low-drag and high-downforce configurations photographed nose-to-tail.

XJR-6 rear on rig with experimental aero structure at Le Mans practice — Aerodynamic experiments on test at Le Mans practice day, 9 May 1986. (Courtesy: Ian Norris)

Then the race. The #52 of Haywood, Heyer and Redman was pushed up the pit lane before the start; the #51 ran at the front from the opening hours — Derek Warwick second, chasing Ludwig's Porsche, ahead of Wollek, as dusk fell over the Hunaudières.

XJR-6 leading on track at dusk at Le Mans — "Derek Warwick running second to Ludwig and ahead of Wollek in the early stages of Le Mans."

In the early hours of Sunday 1 June the Warwick/Cheever/Schlesser car became the sole Jaguar runner — still in the fight, still making its scheduled stops.

XJR-6 number 51 overhead view making a scheduled pit stop at night — "In the early hours of Sunday morning, 1 June 1986, the Warwick/Cheever/Schlesser car became the sole Jaguar runner at Le Mans." (Courtesy: Brian Steele)

8.30 in the morning

The blowout came while running second overall. The tyre's destruction wrecked the car's rear end, and the damage could not legally be repaired within the regulations. By nine, with a hard night's work behind him, Kevin Lee wore an expression the photograph tells: the last surviving Jaguar was out.

XJR-6 on stands in the Le Mans garage at 9am — About 9 am: the #51 on stands in the open garage — rear-end damage no regulation repair could cure.

The day belonged to Porsche — Stuck, Bell and Holbert cruising the Rothmans 962 to victory — but the crowds stayed for the message the TWR team had left. We will be back.

Stuck Bell Holbert Rothmans Porsche 962 on the way to Le Mans victory — "The Stuck/Bell/Holbert Porsche cruises to victory, Le Mans 1986." (Courtesy: Carl Williams)

Next instalment: The long run-in — Jerez, Spa, the Nürburgring