Rocketsports to launch Jaguar XKR GT2

[jaguarista]

Originally Posted by JAG

Is Geoff Kingston from the Sumo Power Nissan GT-R team going to Jaguar?

Really? sources news?!

Having worked in the Motorsport industry for 27 years, Geoff’s Motorsport CV is an
impressive read: Toleman F1, Spice Engineering, Benetton F1, Gulf McLaren, Lister Cars, West Surrey Racing, Team Dynamics, Arena Motorsport and engineer for Embassy Racing on the Le Mans LMP2 project. He has worked with teams at Le Mans no fewer than 11 times, winning overall with Silk Cut Jaguar in 1988 and then in the GT2 class with a Honda NSX in 1995. Added to this are three victories at the Daytona 24-hours and one in the Spa 24 hours.

from Sumo Power

[TWK]

Originally Posted by jaguarista

This is Your opinion. Indeed, the Jaguar will stand restructuring the team JaguarRSR, new manager, new strategy. The support of Jaguar is now direct and soon you will see the results.

How do you get a "new manager" when the current manager is the OWNER?

Forget "restructuring," RSR is either "in" or "out." (Murphy hears that as of today it's "out.")

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by TWK

How do you get a "new manager" when the current manager is the OWNER?

Forget "restructuring," RSR is either "in" or "out." (Murphy hears that as of today it's "out.")

Indeed, Jaguar have no control over RSR at all.

[jaguarista]

Originally Posted by TWK

How do you get a "new manager" when the current manager is the OWNER?

Forget "restructuring," RSR is either "in" or "out." (Murphy hears that as of today it's "out.")

It's a possibilty because Jag wants results. In any case Jag is preparing the official and direct return into motorsport, this is no question.

[Bentley03]

For the record, I have no axe to grind with either RSR or Jaguar. I'm a HUGE fan of the marque. My walls are adorned with 'Jaguar at Le Mans' artwork only (at least, in terms of artwork with motorsport as the subject matter). If Jaguar are returning to endurance racing, I want to see it done properly, not some half hearted 'Heath Robinson' effort such as we've seen so far. I want to see fire in bellies and a real passion for the marque, from whoever takes this forward. I want to see fear of failure, the likes of which we witnessed with Audi and Peugeot at Le Mans this year. It should be a privilege for those given the responsibility of taking this project forward and the job must be carried out with pride. I want this new chapter to add to Jaguar's rich heritage in endurance racing, not undermine it. Jaguar, please, do it properly, or not at all!

Right, better climb down off my soapbox before I embarass myself..............

[jaguarista]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

For the record, I have no axe to grind with either RSR or Jaguar. I'm a HUGE fan of the marque. My walls are adorned with 'Jaguar at Le Mans' artwork only (at least, in terms of artwork with motorsport as the subject matter). If Jaguar are returning to endurance racing, I want to see it done properly, not some half hearted 'Heath Robinson' effort such as we've seen so far. I want to see fire in bellies and a real passion for the marque, from whoever takes this forward. I want to see fear of failure, the likes of which we witnessed with Audi and Peugeot at Le Mans this year. It should be a privilege for those given the responsibility of taking this project forward and the job must be carried out with pride. I want this new chapter to add to Jaguar's rich heritage in endurance racing, not undermine it. Jaguar, please, do it properly, or not at all!

Right, better climb down off my soapbox before I embarass myself..............

I agree with u, this

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

For the record, I have no axe to grind with either RSR or Jaguar. I'm a HUGE fan of the marque. My walls are adorned with 'Jaguar at Le Mans' artwork only (at least, in terms of artwork with motorsport as the subject matter). If Jaguar are returning to endurance racing, I want to see it done properly, not some half hearted 'Heath Robinson' effort such as we've seen so far. I want to see fire in bellies and a real passion for the marque, from whoever takes this forward. I want to see fear of failure, the likes of which we witnessed with Audi and Peugeot at Le Mans this year. It should be a privilege for those given the responsibility of taking this project forward and the job must be carried out with pride. I want this new chapter to add to Jaguar's rich heritage in endurance racing, not undermine it. Jaguar, please, do it properly, or not at all!

Right, better climb down off my soapbox before I embarass myself..............

Fantastic statement!

[JAG]

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/25...l_edition.html

Jaguar is debuting a limited edition XKR at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 2 2010. Celebrating Jaguar’s 75th anniversary, the aptly named Jaguar XKR 75 takes the fastest car in the Jag fleet to a new level.

Headline figures for the XKR 75 are 523bhp and 483lb ft - 20bhp and 22lb ft over standard. Performance of the XKR 75 is also marginally improved over the standard car, reaching 62mph in 4.4sec – two tenths quicker than standard. An electronic limiter stops progress when the car reaches 174mph.

Other changes specific to the XKR 75 include a revised suspension set-up, giving stiffer spring and damper rates (28 per cent front, 32 rear), improved suspension uprights for increased camber stiffness, a reduced ride height (15mm front, 10mm rear) and reprogrammed Active Dynamics software. Final car calibration was carried out with Jaguar’s motorsport collaborator, RSR.

The aesthetics are treated to an aerodynamic upgrade consisting of sill extensions, new rear diffuser and enlarged rear spoiler as well as a body-coloured front splitter and 20in ‘Vortex’ alloys. It’s all backed up by a sports exhaust with more acoustic clout.

Prices kick off at £85,500, with order books open in July and deliveries in October. Thrown in with the price, however, is exclusivity; as the name suggests, just 75 XKR 75s will be built, making the likelihood of pulling up next to another one fairly slim.

This thread is now 34 pages long in spite of the lacklustre RSR effort.

Jaguar must realise a serious factory Le Mans effort would generate huge publicity whether in the prototype or GT classes.

With a new line-up of road cars and the F-Type on the horizon now is the time to step up thier motorsport activities.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...ype_is_go.html

[jaguarista]

Originally Posted by JAG

With a new line-up of road cars and the F-Type on the horizon now is the time to step up thier motorsport activities.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...ype_is_go.html

SURE!

[AndrewF31]

The beautiful Jags in the Group C race nearly lasted more than the RSR Jag lasted. Beautiful sounding cars. Shame they handed it to a guy like Gentilozzi.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

The beautiful Jags in the Group C race nearly lasted more than the RSR Jag lasted. Beautiful sounding cars. Shame they handed it to a guy like Gentilozzi.

Correction: a couple of them did last longer than the RSR Jag. One exception was backed into the wall, the other parked with a blown tire.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

Shame they handed it to a guy like Gentilozzi.

That thinking is incorrect! The project was not handed to RSR. RSR initiated it!





L.P.

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

RSR and Jaguar should withdraw at least for now, and back to testing, the XKR is too slow and completly unreliable

[ger80]

Let them get the engine sorted and then it shouldnt be too bad

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

Shame they handed it to a guy like Gentilozzi.

While Paul G. may not be everybody's favorite, he has a history of developing fast competitive Jags. I'm not really sure what's going on with this one. They certainly should be past the teething stages by now!

DK

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

That thinking is incorrect! The project was not handed to RSR. RSR initiated it!

L.P.

Do RSR control the cheque books at Jaguar HQ, also?


Fairly sure the contract signed was for five years.
Considering the lacklustre return thus far, one has to wonder whether a performance clause was omitted.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by dxk1

While Paul G. may not be everybody's favorite, he has a history of developing fast competitive Jags. I'm not really sure what's going on with this one. They certainly should be past the teething stages by now!

DK

Fast competitive Jags for a series he owned. When the Panoz was quicker, it went away...

[picchiofan]

Originally Posted by dxk1

While Paul G. may not be everybody's favorite, he has a history of developing fast competitive Jags. I'm not really sure what's going on with this one. They certainly should be past the teething stages by now!

DK

Does slapping an XKE body on an old tube framed chassis that was previously a "mustang" and a "Vette" and running a 383ci pushrod V8 in a series you own really count as "developing a fast, competitive jag"?

Compare that to his godawful Champ Car and Grand Am "efforts" (Attempts? Efforts seems too generous) and I'd say his RSR program seems pretty much in line.

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

is the Jag' program a failure ?

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Subaru_WRX_STi

is the Jag' program a failure ?

So far - I would say definately

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by R4z3rw33n

Do RSR control the cheque books at Jaguar HQ, also?


Fairly sure the contract signed was for five years.
Considering the lacklustre return thus far, one has to wonder whether a performance clause was omitted.

What cheque book? Which, IMO, is the problem to this point!







L.P.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Subaru_WRX_STi

is the Jag' program a failure ?

Is the Pope Catholic?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Subaru_WRX_STi

is the Jag' program a failure ?

Yes. Its a shame but thats how it appears. Jag need to bring this in house or get someone like Prodrive involved. Sure it'll cost more but do you want results or do you?

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

What cheque book? Which, IMO, is the problem to this point!

L.P.

RSR receives funding from Jaguar, we know this much. Exactly how much/whether the supplied amount is sufficient is a debatable topic.

As others have already mentioned, Gentilozzi is by no means cash-strapped, and with supposed factory funding the project should be much further developed given the circumstances.

I'm not disagreeing with you btw. Just highlighting other factors (which may have already been mentioned).
It's difficult to gauge whether or not Jaguar has been overly tight with the coin purse when nobody is aware of the level of factory support supplied thus far.

[Mike_Wooshy]

Call me a complete sceptic....
Or the thoughts of someone who is a complete lunatic. I see the situation like this;-

RSR makes an announcement they intend to build a GT2 XKR as a privater. Nothing wrong with that been done before (see Doran GT and the Viper both in GT2 in ALMS). Lucky for RSR, Jaguar has new owners which decides "right Jaguar do well at Le mans historically its worked for Audi to Rejuvinate there brand image this past decade". They hear of this silent guy who has been tuning Jags, and racing them to some extent in the good ole US of A. Who also put out previous said statement of intent to field an XKR GT2. Think hell lets send him an XFR to go for a speed record at Bonneville to see how he is. Said man achieves substantial brand light. Jaguar then begin to think, yer lets give him ago. Without checking previous history of where he raced the Jags (his own series) and what they where before (tube framed chassis etc etc). Fast forward a 2 hours into Le mans 24 race 2010 Jaguar execs are thinking what the hell are we doing here with this guy. A few days ago as I said in post 480 Jaguar have recently picked up a guy (Geoff Kingston maybe ?) to co-ordinate there motorsport program better, and lets hope bringing double figure victories at Le mans for Coventry based mark.

Lets hope he cuts his ties and do what most of us sceptics have been saying for along time but then thats just me might be looking at a half empty pint rather than half full one!