The D-type cast

Jaguar’s sportscar successes put Britain on the map. In the early 1950s the D-type scored a Le Mans hat trick before Vanwall ended Britain’s championship F1 wait at Aintree in 1957. Paul Parker speaks to several key players in the D-type’s incredible story

Jaguar D-type at Le Mans in 1954

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Paul Parker

Taken from Motor Sport, June 2004, Le Mans monster: the Jaguar D-type cast

Sir Stirling Moss Works driver, 1954

Sir Stirling Moss: Works driver, 1954

Those who drove the D-type in period have mixed feelings about the car. And perhaps because he drove it during its development phase — and had met with such success in the C-type — Stirling Moss has the least flattering memories of it.

“The C-type was much nicer to drive than the D, which was a less accurate car. We had lots of problems with the D’s disc brakes: flexing hubs caused pad knock-oft vaporisation and much more. We went up the escape road at Mulsanne as many times as we went round the corner during practice at Le Mans in 1954.

“I was first, second and third at different times early in that race, but after a couple of hours the car dropped to 4600rpm in top, so I had to come in. We refuelled but, after removing the fuel filter, the problem got worse: Peter Walker [his co-driver] was stuck at Hippodrome for 40min. But then it cleared [the problem was caused by contaminated fuel] and it went okay for a while — I pulled 174mph [on 17-inch wheels] at night. But at 11.56pm, I had total brake failure at Mulsanne and crept back to the pits. The team had repaired it by 1.40am, but decided to withdraw the car.”

Stirling’s second race with the D was the Reims 12 Hours on July 4-5.

“I had a fair start and gained 300 yards on the first lap. I eventually lapped everybody up to the Umberto Maglioli/Robert Manzon Ferrari. A plug electrode fell out at 1.50am and I stopped, refuelled and continued until 4am, by which time we had a two-lap lead. Peter [Walker] took over and had done only two laps when a driveshaft broke.”

Moss and Peter Walker’s Jaguar D-type at Le Mans in 1954. A string of early teething issues prevented Moss from really bonding with the D, but he saw the potential the design had

Moss and Peter Walker’s Jaguar D-type at Le Mans in 1954. A string of early teething issues prevented Moss from really bonding with the D, but he saw the potential the design had

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Stirling’s final D outing was at Dundrod for the 1954 Tourist Trophy on September 12-13. On this occasion he used a 2.5-litre version designed to take advantage of the race’s handicap regulations.

“I drove it to the circuit and it felt fine, albeit a bit undergeared. I managed a 5min 8sec [3sec faster than the 3.4], but I was having to use Dunlop Road Speed tyres and was very pissed off; there was a big row before this was resolved.

“I was up at 7am on race day to do a few laps to run the car in – the team had changed the pistons after the motor began seizing during practice. But after three laps the engine began to seize again. I slowed for about a minute and it felt okay again. Later it jumped out of second gear and revved to 7300rpm. I got up to third on handicap with a fastest lap of 5min 1sec [2sec quicker than the quickest 3.4]. I handed over to Peter Walker, who had one stop for plugs, and I took over in fourth place, but 300rpm down. Eventually, the oil pump sheared and I waited at the line to be classified a finisher.

“Jaguar were pretty upset about my going to Mercedes in 1955. I didn’t have the most reliable time at Jags, but I liked the friendly team and felt very proud walking alongside the C and D-type at Le Mans.”

 

Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart: Works and Ecurie Ecosse driver, 1955

Having lost Moss, Jaguar set about recruiting new faces for a team now led by Mike Hawthorn. Among those tried was Ecurie Ecosse and Aston works driver Jimmy Stewart, elder brother of Jackie.

“I tested OKV 2 at Silverstone along with Don Beauman, Desmond Titterington, Ninian Sanderson, Ivor Bueb – and Hawthorn. I was still suffering the effects of a badly broken arm after crashing one of the Aston Martin DB3S coupés at Le Mans, and had to have another go about three weeks later.

From the archive

This went much better – I had a great time flinging the car around in the rain – and [team manager] ‘Lofty’ England wrote to confirm my place in the team for Le Mans.

“Before that, though, Ecurie Ecosse bought two D-types and entered them for the Eifelrennen in May. I had not quite reached Adenau Bridge on my first lap when the brakes failed and I went backwards — and upside down! — through a hedge. Desmond [Titterington, his team-mate] also crashed for the same reason [probably pad knock-off caused by hub flex]. I was very shaken and knocked about, and Stirling stopped in a Mercedes, helped me out and gave me a lift back to the pits.

“I immediately decided to retire from racing and phoned ‘Lofty’, who tried to persuade me otherwise. I do regret stopping now (I was only 23), but if! had carried on I might not be here today.

“I loved the D-type: it understeered a bit in the dry, but it was much easier to drive than the C-type and felt much quicker.”

 

Paul Frere

Paul Frere: Works and Ecurie Nationale Belge Driver, 1956-57

This former Jaguar service manager for the Belgium Motor Company — and noted journalist — joined the 1956 works team after successful tests at Silverstone and Reims.

“I loved the car but it did not love me.! shared XKD 603 at the Nürburgring in 1956 with Duncan Hamilton, and it was more in the air than on the ground, bottoming out on the bumps. Our speed was limited by that solid rear axle. We broke one of the locating arms for the rear suspension on the first day, and on the next day, when it was pouring with rain, I managed to lose control between Hohe Acht and Wippermann, plunging backwards down a ravine, completely out of sight. The car did a somersault and ended up 50 feet below the level of the road. I clambered out, thoroughly shaken, and left my helmet in the car as I climbed back up to the track. A marshal saw me without my helmet and said, ‘Have you seen the driver?’

From the archive

Paul Frère and Freddy Rousselle (16) shared a distinctive Equipe Nationale Belge D-type to fourth at Le Mans in 1957. Lucien Bianchi/ Georges Harris were in the sister car

Paul Frère and Freddy Rousselle (16) shared a distinctive Equipe Nationale Belge D-type to fourth at Le Mans in 1957. Lucien Bianchi/ Georges Harris were in the sister car

“At Reims, I co-drove with Mike Hawthorn and we lost the race to our team-mates when Duncan Hamilton used the superior acceleration of the fuel injection car to catch me and win against team orders. Duncan was sacked from the team as a result of his actions.

“Sadly, it was even worse at Le Mans: I crashed at the Esses on the second lap on a very slippery surface. Moments later Jack Fairman spun his D-type at the same place and was hit by Alfonso de Portago’s spinning Ferrari. Both Jags were out. Lofty England was absolutely incredible about it — That’s motor racing,’ he said.

“I drove a D -type at Le Mans in 1957, sharing Rare Stasse’s Equipe National Beige car with Freddy Rousselle. We should have finished second, but a points failure lost us 45min. We finished fourth. “The D-type was great to drive. The engine was so flexible and the steering wonderful. It was not so good on bumpy roads, but it was perfect for what it was designed to do: win Le Mans.”

From the archive

Ian Scott Watson: Confidante of Jim Clark

Ian Scott Watson: Confidante of Jim Clark

Until Jim Clark joined Lotus, Ian Scott Watson was his manager as well as a close friend.

Jim and I met [Border Reivers team chief] Jock McBain at Charterhall in late 1957. Jock wanted to race sports cars and had purchased the ex-Murkett Brothers’ D-type for £1,600. Its driver was to be Jimmy Somervail, but when he was unable to leave his farm, Jimmy [Clark] got the ride. He did the first 100mph sports car lap in Britain, at Full Sutton, and raced the car on 20 occasions, winning 12 of them. He liked it a lot and drove it on the road often.

“At Spa in 1958, I had to leave the night before the race because my father was dying, so Jimmy raced alone. He was not too fond of Spa and did not enjoy the experience, made worse by the fatal accident that befell Archie Scott-Brown in a Lister-Jaguar. When Reivers got its Lister, Jimmy treated it with a great deal of respect.”

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