The XJ12 Coupe was larger and heavier than its German rivals. An heroic development period from October 1975 saw two cars built for the 1976 racing programme, of which this is the second, chassis number ‘BELJC002’. The newly-constituted Broadspeed Jaguar team missed the first five rounds of the 1976 Championship series for which their big, beautiful XJ12Cs were intended, and the programme did not make its race debut until September that year, in the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone. There in qualifying, Derek Bell lapped at 1 min 36.72secs, which was nearly two seconds faster than European Champion-elect Pierre Dieudonné in the fastest BMW. Bell led the opening stages of the race until tyre wear became a factor and a puncture interrupted the car’s race. Thereafter the Broadspeed Jaguar XJ12C ran spectacularly until co-driver David Hobbs had a driveshaft break and lost a wheel. ‘The Big Cat’s presence at the TT had been a great spectator attraction, and a full two-car team presence in the 1977 ETC series was then planned. They were driven by John Fitzpatrick, Tim Schenken, Derek Bell and Andy Rouse. At Monza ‘Fitz’ qualified on pole position, ¾-second faster than the quickest BMW. He then led the first hour of the 4-Hour race, only for his Coupe to encounter problems thereafter. Salzburgring saw the Jaguars of Bell/Rouse and Schenken/Fitzpatrick qualify on pole position and 4th fastest. Both XJ12Cs led the race, but both retired with failure of the outer driving flange. At Brno, Czechoslovakia, the XJ12Cs took both places on the front row of the starting grid. ‘Fitz’ then qualified his XJ12C on pole position or the Nurburgring ETC round, before setting an extraordinary new lap record from a standing start on the opening lap! The programme’s swansong followed in the 1977 TT at Silverstone for which the two Broadspeed XJ12Cs filled the front row of the starting grid and Schenken led from Rouse at flagfall.
