Page 19 - On the Prowl: The Definitive History of the Walkinshaw Jaguar Sports Car Team

ON THE PROWL
1988: The Third-Year Promise at Le Mans
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the completion of the sixth lap, the Dutchman had moved into second and was right on the gearbox of Stuck.
Without the specter of fuel conservation in qualifying, the Porsches had been supreme. Now that they were in
the heat of the race, and governed by the need to save fuel, it appeared to be an even fight. It was equal enough
that by the end of the lap the British fans truly had something to celebrate: Jaguar leading Le Mans. Behind
Lammers, Stuck and Wollek stayed very close, but didn’t push for the lead.
Thoughts now turned to pit stops. Given the mandated maximum size of the fuel cells on Group C cars, a
typical stint between refueling at Le Mans would last something like fifty minutes. Opening stints are shorter,
since there is the pace lap, and a typically higher intensity at the start of the race.
Jaguar was the first to show its hand, as #3 came in on lap 10 and John Watson passed the baton to Raul
Boesel. One lap later it was Lammers’ turn, and then Brundle on lap 12. Jaguar had spaced its stops out, fully-
aware of how congested the pit lane can be at Le Mans, and not wanting any kind of traffic jam that would hold
them up.
The Porsches stayed out, finally ducking for the pits on lap 13. By now, Wollek had taken the lead, and he
arrived first. Stuck pulled in moments later, his pit bay just in front of Wollek, but the tight confines and crowd
of hangers-on meant that he stopped at an angle, his tail blocking the #18 from leaving cleanly. Wollek handed
over to Vern Schuppan, but the Australian was unable to leave, with no room to get around Stuck’s clumsily-
parked 962. With no other choice, he slotted in behind the German as they charged out of the pit lane, just as
Johnny Dumfries (who had taken over from Jan Lammers) charged by, back into the lead.
VIntense action in the pits, the
#21 car getting a big gulp of fuel
and some fresh rubber. Back in ‘88
the Le Mans pit lane was a chaotic,
crowded and dangerous place,
with no pit lane speed limits and
far too many media present. No
one was required to wear fireproof
suits except the refuelers and fire
safety team members. (Captain
Davy Jones)
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©2024 David Bull Publishing
©2024 David Bull Publishing
©2024 David Bull Publishing
©2024 David Bull Publishing
©2024 David Bull Publishing
©2024 David Bull Publishing
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