Page 4 - On the Prowl: The Definitive History of the Walkinshaw Jaguar Sports Car Team

ON THE PROWL
1949-1956: The Creation of the Jaguar Le Mans Legend
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that they might have been a bit the worse for wear the next day and in need of some coffee. Whether they were
still actually under the influence at any point while on track is unlikely.
Regardless of the veracity of the “called from the bar” story, it does hint at Hamilton’s character as a man
who enjoyed a good time.
The pace in the first hour of the race was extremely high and the Jaguars were well in contention, Moss in
the lead and Rolt in third. Moss’ run wasn’t to last long, his natural speed hindered by a misfire that was later
diagnosed as a blocked fuel filter. He dropped way down the order, seemingly without a chance of winning.
Hamilton and Rolt continued at an exceptional rate, the disc brakes allowing them to make very good lap
times without having a top speed advantage. One by one, the pace knocked the main rivals out of the fight:
Mike Hawthorn’s Ferrari disqualified for an illegal fluid change; Fangio’s Alfa Romeo suffering engine issues; an
Aston Martin succumbing to clutch trouble; and so it went on, the Jaguar mercilessly circulating with none of
its own dramas.
Heavy dawn mist that had hugged the flat French countryside gave way to blue morning skies but there
was no sunshine in the Ferrari pits, when the chasing Ferrari of Formula 1 star Alberto Ascari gave up the ghost
after struggling with transmission and cooling issues all night into the morning. With bellies full of breakfast
that had been prepared by the wives of Rolt and Hamilton, the Jaguar mechanics found the path now clear for
Lofty’s team to take both the win for Rolt and Hamilton, and second place, with Stirling Moss and Peter Walker
having spent most of the race fighting their way back. Fourth and ninth were also occupied by the dependable
C-types.
V In addition to the three works
C-types, there was a privateer
entry for the Belgian Écurie
Francorchamps team, listed as
being a privateer car with the
chassis number XKC047, but in
actual fact a works car, XKC011.
The distinctive yellow Jaguar
finished in a very respectable ninth
position. (Bonhams)
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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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