By 1991, the Argo JM19C chassis was a seasoned veteran, but privateer teams, in their relentless pursuit of speed, found one final, glorious powerplant to keep it at the sharp end of the grid: the Judd V8. This combination was the ultimate expression of naturally-aspirated Group C2 performance, a pairing that brought Formula 1 engine technology to the world of endurance racing.

This was no ordinary V8. The Judd V8 (like the 3.5L CV or 4.0L BV) was a bespoke, lightweight racing engine, a direct descendant of John Judd and Jack Brabham’s F1 engine program. It was a masterpiece of high-RPM engineering, designed to produce staggering horsepower without the complexity or lag of the era’s dominant turbos.

In the back of the agile JM19C, the Judd was explosive. It delivered raw, linear power and, most importantly, a soundtrack that could shake your soul. While turbos hissed and rotaries shrieked, the Judd-powered Argo howled—a clean, crisp, ear-splitting baritone wail that climbed past 10,000 RPM. This was pure, unadulterated motorsport. It was the choice for drivers who craved instant throttle response and the unmatched thrill of a thoroughbred, naturally-aspirated V8, a final, screaming hurrah for one of the 80s’ most versatile chassis.