| Car Name: | Jaguar XJR-17 |
| Category: | IMSA Lights/Group C2 |
| Constructor: | Tom Walkinshaw Racing |
| Designer: | David Fullerton |
| Chassis: | Carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque |
| Front Suspension: | double wishbones, coil springs actuated by pushrods, dampers and anti-roll bar |
| Rear Suspension: | double wishbones, coil springs actuated by pushrods, dampers and anti-roll bar |
| Engine Name: | Jaguar JRV-6 |
| Capacity: | 34981NaN1 |
| Configuration: | 24 valve, DOHC V6, |
| Turbo/Na: | naturally-aspirated |
| Engine Position: | Mid engined, longitudinally mounted |
| Gears: | 5-speed |
| Type: | TWR manual |
The Jaguar XJR-17 was an IMSA Lights racing car, built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Rebuilt from a Jaguar XJR-16 for the IMSA Camel Lights, the XJR-17 never competed in the event due to funding issues and has since only been used in a few minor British events and historic races. It used a modified version of the XJR-16's 3.5-litre V6 engine, stripped of the twin-turbochargers and producing a claimed output of 4500NaN0, whilst its bodywork was cobbled together using various parts from older Jaguar XJR Sportscars.
Andy Evans approached Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) about the possibility of running a full-works IMSA GTP Jaguar sports prototype for the 1991 IMSA GT Championship season, but such a deal proved unworkable.[1] However, as TWR were winding down their project, a deal was struck to instead strip down a Jaguar XJR-16 for use in the IMSA Camel Lights championship.[1] David Fullerton designed the car, dubbed the XJR-17, whilst TWR SVO and Andy Morrison were the constructors.[1] The XJR-16 chassis was stripped down to reduce cost and parts from various Jaguar XJR Sportscars were installed: the front wing came from the XJR-14, the rear wing came from one of the XJR-9, the gearbox casing was a mixture of XJR-11 tunnels and the XJR-16's bellhousing, and the nose was remodelled in the style of the XJR-14, as was the engine inlet.[1] The engine was essentially the XJR-16's 3.5-litre V6, but with the twin-turbochargers removed;[1] in this configuration, it produced a claimed 4500NaN0.[2]
Win Percy gave the XJR-17 its first shakedown at Enstone Airfield before a test session was held at Snetterton.[3] However, the deal collapsed, and Hugh Chamberlain instead was to use the car as a Group C2 entrant in the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans.[3] Chamberlain, however, was also unable to get enough funding to compete, and the car, already prepared for the Le Mans qualifying session, was not used in the event.[3] The XJR-17 eventually ended up in the hands of Brian Chatfield, who ran the car in a few minor races held at Castle Combe in 1993 and 1994,[4] whilst racing driver John Grant used it in some races from 2003 until 2004.[5]