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2010 Jaguar XKR GT2

JAGUAR GT RACING CAR MAKES EUROPEAN DEBUT

-- Jaguar works team show JaguarRSR XKR GT racer at 2010 Autosport International --
The new JaguarRSR racing car makes its European debut this week at the 2010 Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham, ÚK. It is the first and only chance for the public to see the stunning new XKR GT in the metal before it heads back to the ÚS to compete in the entire 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in North America.

GT racing legend Paul Gentilozzi is taking a break from a gruelling development programme to feature the XKR in the largest dedicated trade motorsport exhibition in Europe. The racecar will be on display at the Jaguar stand alongside a production model XKR, XFR, and the fastest Jaguar ever – the Bonneville XFR prototype, which Paul drove to 225.675 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2008.

Jaguar asked the Michigan-based RSR team to help create a race car to compete in GT2 racing in 2010. The Jaguar engineering and design teams, based in Coventry, have jointly developed the car from a standard road-going XKR with the RSR team.

2010 Jaguar XKR GT2Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner JaguarRSR said: 'Jaguar is so intertwined with British motoring history making this a fantastic opportunity to debut the JaguarRSR XKR GT racecar internationally. Having our new GT racecar and the Bonneville prototype XFR on display at the biggest motorsport exhibition in Europe with the production cars that made these possible is such a great way to showcase our dedication to the Jaguar brand and to motorsports.'

After taking centre stage at the car show, the JaguarRSR XKR GT will visit 'home' by making stops at Jaguar headquarter sites in Whitley and Castle Bromwich in the ÚK. 'It will be incredibly exciting to take the JaguarRSR XKR GT back to the team at Jaguar who worked so hard to make this dream a reality,' added Gentilozzi. 'A picture may be worth a thousand words, but seeing this car in person is priceless.'

The competition car uses the standard Jaguar XKR lightweight aluminium monocoque together with additional steel reinforcements and safety structure developed by RSR. The 5.0-litre V-8 engine boasts 550 horsepower at 7000 rpm and a maximum speed of 180mph.

The JaguarRSR XKR GT made its racing debut during the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, in September 2009. The car took its first green flag in the American Le Mans Series season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in October and is set for a full-season championship effort in 2010.

Mike O'Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars said: 'Our designers and engineers have taken the best of our standard road-going XKR and with Paul Gentilozzi's motorsport expertise created a first-class competition car. Paul and his RSR team are confident that they can compete against some serious competition in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

'Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. As we look to the future with our new range of high performance 'R' branded cars, we aim to make the Jaguar brand synonymous with motorsports once again.'

In 1951, the C-type won Le Mans at its first attempt, with a further victory in 1953. The D-type took Le Mans wins in 1955, 1956 and 1957 while this racing success was followed in 1988 with the Jaguar XJR-9LM, a V12-powered Group C car. Another outright victory would follow in 1990 with the Jaguar XJR-12.
RSR Principle Partner Paul Gentilozzi will be in attendance at Autosport International. Aside from his role as team owner, Paul is one of the drivers for the #33 JaguarRSR XKR. Meanwhile, the RSR crew will stay busy with various projects despite the absence of the #33 car as they continue to prepare for the ALMS Winter Test February 22 – 23 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida and Season Opener – the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 20

Source - JaguarRSR

JAGUAR MARKS ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY WITH RETURN TO LE MANS

2010 Jaguar XKR GT2
Jaguar returns to the starting grid at Le Mans on June 12, as the stunning XKR GT2 sports car lines up alongside the world's leading endurance racers for the classic 24-hour event. As Jaguar celebrates its 75th anniversary of building and racing cars, it is fitting that the British marque returns to competition at the circuit where it earned seven race wins between 1951 and 1990.2010 Jaguar XKR GT2
Mike O'Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars said, 'Motorsport has always been important to Jaguar. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation stone in our history and our success in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s reinforced our reputation as one of the great sports car manufacturers.

2010 Jaguar XKR GT2
'As we look to the future with our new range of high performance ‘R'-branded cars - the XKR and XFR - we aim to make the Jaguar brand synonymous with motorsports once again. It's good to be back'


2010 Jaguar XKR GT2
XKR GT2 Racer Shares Road Car Technology
The XKR GT2 racer competing at Le Mans is being run by JaguarRSR, and shares many of the basic components and technologies with the road-going XKR. Jointly developed by Jaguar's engineering and design groups and the RSR team, the racer features the road car's lightweight aluminium body structure and a tuned version of its 5.0-litre supercharged AJ133 V8 engine developing in excess of 500 horsepower.

Drivers Marc Goossens, Ryan Dalziel and Paul Gentilozzi will be piloting the car during the punishing 24-hour race, having gained initial experience with the vehicle during the American Le Mans Series events earlier during 2010.

Belgian driver Goossens is vastly experienced in sportscar racing, and has competed at Le Mans on nine previous occasions.


'As a sportscar driver, the Le Mans 24 Hour race provides the greatest challenge, so competing in the American Le Mans Series events has provided valuable training,' he commented. 'It is a great honour to be selected as one of the drivers for Jaguar's return to Le Mans.'

Teammate Dalziel, born in Scotland, brings extensive experience in single-seaters and sportscars, but is racing at Le Mans for the first time.

'It has always been my dream to compete at Le Mans, and, as a British driver, to be at the wheel of a Jaguar makes it even more special,' explained Dalziel. 'It will be without doubt the highlight of my racing career.'

The trio of drivers is completed by the American Paul Gentilozzi, one of the principal partners of the JaguarRSR team, who is making his third appearance at Le Mans in the GT2 class.

2010 Jaguar XKR GT2
'It is great to return to Le Mans after 15 years, and I look forward to the chance to drive there again,' said Gentilozzi. 'The track is like no other in the world. It is a challenge to every driver, but I know I have exceptionally talented team-mates, and we will do the best we can out there in the XKR GT2 with race number 81!'

Jaguar Heritage at Le Mans
The names of Jaguar and Le Mans are inextricably linked. With a total of seven wins between 1951 and 1990, the marque is the single most successful British car maker in the history of the race.

During the 1950s, Jaguar's founder Sir William Lyons sought to prove his cars were as fast and as strong as far more expensive rivals, with legends such as Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn behind the wheel of the iconic C-type and D-type racers.

In 1951, the C-type won Le Mans at its first attempt, with a further victory in 1953. Its successor the D-type took Le Mans wins in 1955, 1956 and 1957. Technical innovations such as the C-type's disc brakes made their debut on Jaguars at Le Mans, and were rapidly adopted by car makers the world over.

After a two-decade absence, Jaguar returned to France with a works team in the late 1980s and once again took race wins in 1988, with the V12-powered XJR-9LM Group C car, and in 1990, with the XJR-12, featuring drivers including Johnny Dumfries and Martin Brundle. Such was the success of the XJR racers, that Jaguar was crowned World Sports Car Champions three times in five seasons.

Source - Jaguar

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