Highlights
- One of ten XKRs built by Jonathan Palmer Motorsport
- Recently serviced
- Ready to hit the track
The Appeal
While not everyone would consider the X150 Jaguar XKR the most obvious candidate for a track day car, former Formula One pilot and test driver of the McLaren F1 Jonathan Palmer drove an early example and saw its potential.
He commissioned the creation of ten track day spec versions to be used on his PalmerSport experiences and they proved popular with his customers for their surprisingly good handling and glorious soundtrack.
This is one of the ten, acquired by a collector following its retirement from Mr Palmer’s fleet and treated to a little further development. You can read more about the specification below but, it’s fair to say, this is a serious piece of track day kit.
Having started as a road car, it would be feasible to make it road legal and we would be sorely tempted to follow that path if it were ours.
As is, it’s a well maintained and recently serviced track weapon that would surely be the talk of the paddock.
As is, it’s a well maintained and recently serviced track weapon that would surely be the talk of the paddock.
The History and Paperwork
- Built 2007 from a pre-production XKR by Jonathan Palmer Motorsport
- Preparation included:
- Stripped interior
- Carbon fibre door cards
- Dual controls
- Uprated suspension with Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs
- Brakes from the XKR Portfolio - 400mm front, 350mm rear
- 20 inch alloy wheels
- GT2-style rear wing
- Following its time at PalmerSport track events, it was acquired by a private collector
- Recommissioning work reportedly included
- Overhauled supercharger
- Larger intercooler
- Swallows engine management system installed
- Power flex bushes
- Recent work includes:
- Full service
- Air filters
- Brake fluid
- New brake pads
- New wipers
- Reactivating air conditioning
- Replace right hand number plate housing
- New fire bottles
- Replacement track rod gaiters
- New RHF upper ball joint gaiter
- Owner’s manuals included
- Not road registered but could be made road legal
The Interior
- Full roll cage with door bars
- Carbon fibre door cards and centre console
- Sparco Evo 2 Plus race seats
- OMP race steering wheel
- Fire extinguishers front and rear
- Dual controls
- TRS four point harnesses
One of the major changes made by Jonathan Palmer was to dispense with much of the interior in the name of weight saving.
The dashboard is still all there, complete with the sat nav unit rather remarkably, but the usual dose of wood, leather and soundproofing has been replaced by a full roll cage and Sparco bucket seats and the carpets and headlining have been removed.
There’s also the addition of dual controls in the passenger footwell which make the car suitable for driver training applications, though these could be removed. The Jaguar steering wheel has been swapped for an OMP item with larger paddles and, as a result of all the changes, the tone of the cabin is rather different.
Condition-wise, the steering wheel shows the patina of numerous track day tutees but the seats are in surprisingly good order, leading us to wonder if they may have been replaced since the car’s time with Mr Palmer and co.
In all, it’s very tidy and ready to hit the track.
In all, it’s very tidy and ready to hit the track.
The Exterior
- Grey paint
- Full graphics pack
- GT2-style rear wing
- 20 inch alloy wheels
There’s no mistaking the track-focused intent of the XKR from the outside, sporting as it does a substantial rear wing, capped on the ends with Union Jack decals, and a revised front bumper section which includes additional cooling inlets for the brakes.
In fact, hunkered down on its lower suspension set up, with a full Jaguar graphics pack, it’s on the way to looking like a full on race car.
In fact, hunkered down on its lower suspension set up, with a full Jaguar graphics pack, it’s on the way to looking like a full on race car.
Underneath the warpaint, the grey paintwork and usual chrome adornments are all reported to be in very good condition and only some wear to the leading edge of the bonnet stripe hints at its life on track.
Similarly, the 20 inch wheels are said to be in excellent order while the Yokohama Advan tyres have good tread all round. The underside of the car is also described as being in excellent condition.
Overall, with a fresh bonnet stripe it would be very smart indeed.
Similarly, the 20 inch wheels are said to be in excellent order while the Yokohama Advan tyres have good tread all round. The underside of the car is also described as being in excellent condition.
Overall, with a fresh bonnet stripe it would be very smart indeed.
The Mechanics
- Supercharged 4.2 litre V8
- Automatic gearbox
- Glorious exhaust note
Pop open the bonnet and, performance air filter and short blue silicone hose aside, it all looks as normal and in nice original condition.
Fire the engine up and a deep rumble lets you know that it’s time for some fun and the seller reports that it goes ‘like a rocket’.
The uprated brakes and suspension provide a more focused experience than the standard car but the upgrades appear to have stood the test of time as it all works just as it should and there are no unusual noises or issues described.
In short, it’s track-ready.
Fire the engine up and a deep rumble lets you know that it’s time for some fun and the seller reports that it goes ‘like a rocket’.
The uprated brakes and suspension provide a more focused experience than the standard car but the upgrades appear to have stood the test of time as it all works just as it should and there are no unusual noises or issues described.
In short, it’s track-ready.
Summary
A rare and interesting track car which is in fine condition and could, with some work, be made road legal.
It would make a great addition to any Jaguar enthusiast’s collection.
It would make a great addition to any Jaguar enthusiast’s collection.
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