Motoring with Paul Jolly: Claiming the day for Jaguar with my Le Mans victory

My long association with Jaguar meant it was inevitable I would be at Le Mans for the Silk Cut Jaguar racing team’s massive effort against Porsche, who utterly dominated the sports car endurance series.

My own V12 Jaguar XJS had just been rebuilt to a 425bhp spec up from 295bhp so I expected great things on my running in trip through northern France to the fabled racing circuit.

Jaguar’s D type had last won some 30 years previously.

Sadly, the lead Jaguars went out in the final hours with mechanical failure and a spectacular Mulsanne Straight crash at 230mph. Maybe next year.

As we left the infield car park along with the other spectators, we were waved across the main straight by a gendarme who was distracted momentarily.

In a moment of madness, I turned right and drove straight down the track past the grandstands picking my way between the pedestrians.

I was followed by a grinning German in his Porsche 911 who had also left the same car park.

The track cleared and we sped up and onto the four-mile long Mulsanne straight. This section reverts to the main D338 road to Tours a few hours later.

Another gendarme was allowing more cars to cross the track so we were signalled to stop. Fun over, but at least we could say we drove the track for a minute.

To our amazement, said gendarme then held up the crossing traffic and with a flourish, waved us through with an ‘Allez-Vite’.

Mr Porsche looked at me and I looked at him. That was it and we both floored it. Flat chat down the remaining three-mile straight and my foot never left the floor.

After the Mulsanne Kink, I was ahead at around 170mph and stayed that way to the end where another gendarme brought us to our senses and a sharp halt.

But we won and claimed the day for Jaguar. Mr Porsche was gracious in defeat.

My car blew up between Paris and Calais the next day so I truly felt part of the Jaguar team.