JAGUARRSR LE MANS 24 HOURS UPDATE
Le Mans marked Jaguar’s return to motorsport. This was the much anticipated fourth race for the RSR team. We would like to thank the ACO and have been delighted with the support we have had from the public and the media.
During this week’s development period we faced constant engine management issues that unfortunately we were unable to resolve satisfactorily which forced us to retire from the race in the early stages.
We look forward to the remainder of the ALMS season and the next race in Salt Lake City.
JaguarRSR XKR GT2 SECURES GRID POSITION FOR THE 78TH RUNNING OF THE LE MANS 24 HOURS
Le Mans, France (June 11, 2010) – The second and third qualifying sessions for the Le Mans 24 Hours saw the JaguarRSR team make valuable improvements from Wednesday. Ryan Dalziel, Paul Gentilozzi and Marc Goossens had adequate time behind the wheel and gains were made in time. Le Mans rookie Dalziel recorded the #81 JaguarRSR XKR GT2’s fastest lap of 4:12.431 minutes, putting it 15th in class.
“It has been a difficult couple of days for the entire JaguarRSR team,” said Dalziel. ‘I think that we are all happy to post a respectable time. We still have a couple of little issues that we are working on, but everyone has worked really hard and we have made some really great gains in XKR. We found a chunk of time on our second day, and we at least earned a window of where we need to be. Considering the experience of the cars in front of us, we are not too far off.”
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JaguarRSR’s FIRST TAKE FROM LE MANS
Le Mans, France (June 9, 2010) – JaguarRSR had its first chance to run at Le Mans today fighting issues from the start, but ended the evening late with the #81 JaguarRSR XKR GT2 getting more situated for what the team hopes a strong performance tomorrow.
As the car was pulled out of the #9 garage and into its pit box this evening for the free practice session, JaguarRSR Principal Partner and co-drive Paul Gentilozzi was behind the wheel ready to turn the first laps in the XKR racer. But a clutch problem changed the plan and put the car back into the garage for investigation. Once that was sorted out, it was Scottish driver Ryan Dalziel who got into the cockpit and logged the first laps at Le Mans in Jaguar’s return.
JaguarRSR confirms driver line-up for Le Mans 24 Hours
EAST LANSING, Michigan (May 26, 2010) – Ryan Dalziel, Marc Goossens and Paul Gentilozzi are the confirmed driver line-up for JaguarRSR at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 2010 marks Jaguar’s return to the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time in 15 years.
Racing a XKR run by JaguarRSR in the GT2 class is Scottish-born Ryan Dalziel, who has never experienced the Le Mans track. "It has always been my dream to drive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As a British driver, to be at the wheel of a Jaguar, being that it’s such a prestigious British brand makes it even more special,” commented the 28-year-old. He added, “It will be without doubt the highlight of my racing career to date and I know that the team will represent Jaguar and all its fans around the world with pride.”
JaguarRSR XKR GT2 confirmed for 24 hours of Le Mans in 2010 – the 75th year of Jaguar
The year 2010 marks 75 years of the Jaguar name on both road and race cars. As a continuation of this great heritage, Jaguar can confirm it will return to the famed Le Mans 24 hours. With a total of seven wins between 1951 and 1990, Jaguar is the single most successful British make in the race’s history. Jaguar will return to Le Mans this year lining up on the starting grid on 12th June 2010 with an XKR GT2 run by JaguarRSR.
Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner, JaguarRSR commented: “We are delighted the ACO has granted us entry in the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans. It is a race that is held dearly in the hearts of motorsport fans across the world and for Jaguar to be racing again is something special."
Race categories explained
In 2010, four categories of car will compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours. These can be divided into two families: the ‘Prototype’ racers and the ‘Grand Touring’ entries.
Prototypes are cars specifically designed for competition, while the Grand Touring category – in which the Jaguar XKR competes – is made up of cars that have been homologated for road use and are arguably more recognisable to many of the spectators at Le Mans.
Jaguar’s GT2 class features cars with power outputs of around 500bhp and a minimum weight of 1145kg. All GT2 Le Mans racers have orange race stickers to make them easy to identify in the heat of battle and yellow lights to distinguish them from the faster Prototype racers at night. Crucial on the 200mph Mulsanne Straight, when the speed differential between cars can be substantial!