Rocketsports to launch Jaguar XKR GT2

[FIRE]

Finally the Jaguar GT2 project is announced:

Jaguar is set to return to the Le Mans 24 Hours next year with a XKR GT2 contender developed in the US by Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports team. Rocketsports announced today in Long Beach that it will join the ultra-competitive GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series in the middle of this season. That will be precursor to a full programme in 2010 that should put a Jaguar back on the grid at Le Mans for the first time since 1995.
...
"The plan for 2010 is definitely to compete at Le Mans. To get there you have to have a relationship with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest [the race organisers] and that is something we are already developing with as we work with as we work towards joining the ALMS in the summer."
Rocketsports is entering the ALMS with technical and marketing support from Jaguar. Gentilozzi, whose company won four Trans-Am titles under the banner of the British sportscar manufacturer, stressed that there was no commercial support.
...
Gentilozzi, 59, expects to race the new Jaguar in what he is billing as a development year.
"We are developing the car this year," he said, "and I feel I'm best for that job."
The second, undisclosed driver was described by Gentilozzi as "very experienced and a world class guy".
"For 2010, we will only have drivers we know who can win," he said. "We expect to have at least one European, hopefully a British guy."
Gentilozzi said the first XKR would begin testing in June. It should race for the first time in either the Lime Rock ALMS round in July or at Mid-Ohio in August.

Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74550

[deggis]

Is that a real livery? Turrible.

[Breitling24]

Looks like swan-neck type rear wing mounts.

Agreed, wild shades of green.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/04/...s-gt2-program/

[fiend540]

This reminds me of the mg btcc cars http://www.mgcars.org.uk/pics/mg_sal...-0801-319+.jpg

[JagtechOhio]

Thanks for that, Fire

[jc_nl]

On DSC says they hope to bring news of a "rejuvenated European Jaguar effort" tomorrow.

Could this be the Apex Jag, or rather the step beyond the GT3 car they used to race?

[HORNDAWG]

Little better look at that first image Here click on the thumbnail. Looks decent to me.


L.P.

[tlongman]

It would be pretty cool if instead of a glossy black they would use a flat black. I love flat black cars.

[juicy sushi]

it will be nice to have a team to enthusiastically cheer against...

[bil588]

Originally Posted by juicy sushi

it will be nice to have a team to enthusiastically cheer against...

Because of Paul Gentilozzi? At least he quit grand am.

Did Audi stay when Acura and HPD entered LMP1?

Originally Posted by jc_nl

On DSC says they hope to bring news of a "rejuvenated European Jaguar effort" tomorrow.

Could this be the Apex Jag, or rather the step beyond the GT3 car they used to race?

Isn't Apex Motorsport working on a new Jaguar XKR GT3 machine which will have Jaguar's new third-generation 5.0 liter direct-injection AJ-V8?

John Christie has taken over as Operations Director for 2009.

http://www.apexmotorsport.com/

http://uk.mediajaguar.com/php/news.php?id=308

Paul hit 225.675 mph in a modified Jaguar XFR sedan.

http://uk.mediajaguar.com/php/news.php?id=310

[Rodger Davies]

I can't believe this hasn't invited more comment, it's great news for the series. However, if they haven't even started biulding the car yet, surely mid-2009 is far too optimistic a target for its introduction.

[jc_nl]

It is indeed the Apax GT3 they were talking about.

Nothing about the engine on DSC, but it is a completey new car. New aero, suspension and so on.

It's a VERY nice looking car (dark blue, with the jaguar leaping over the rear wheels). Even a non expert like me can see they have done a lot of aero work since the last version. The front looks very different, and the car is a lot wider.

[AX lover]

Pics: http://www.rocketsportsracing.com/in...=1&key=0&hit=1

[joeb]

Originally Posted by AX lover

Pics: http://www.rocketsportsracing.com/in...=1&key=0&hit=1

I like those top view pics.

Anyone see any tire info? I didn't notice any tire names in the pics.

[Dead-Eye]

The black ones, probably.

Since they haven't announced anything, I'd say chances are they don't know themselves yet.

[JAG]

Great news, it's nice to see one of these rumoured cars actually appear.

Corvette, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, BMW and now Jaguar, all great additions to GT2.

It would be great to see Andy Wallace back in a Jaguar, and of course to see a couple of cars in Europe.

Longer term it would be cool to see this engine used in LMP2.

BTW, didn't the later Trans Am XKR use an actual Jaguar engine?

[AX lover]

Does the factory back this effort?

[The Badger]

Thats a lovely looking car . Is it Rocketsports who are doing it off their own back , or is help coming from someplace else ? ..... I like the color scheme too .

Nice to see a few of them in the LMS & Fia GT .

[Rodger Davies]

well according to the press release, Jaguar will be giving Technical but not Commercial support. So I guess not, although I'd also bet that that technical support will be free.

[Ryan]

This is good news, but I still do not care for Paul G. What he did with Champ Car and Trans Am is something I will never forget about.

[The Badger]

What did he do to champcar and Trans-Am ?

[cmk]

They existed before he took them over, and now they don't...

[HORNDAWG]

Hmm, but they were already dying by the time he became involved with the managing of them...



L.P.

[Ryan]

Not like he did them any favors to help increase the interest to prevent them from dying. From what I heard he helped to upset CDW one of Champ Car's few sponsors.

[HORNDAWG]

Ya, love that first hand knowledge reporting there! Must of been an expose' by Robin Miller.
Of course an oncologist is a murderer if they cannot cure the cancer, right?


L.P.