Chassis: Aluminium frame (Jaguar)
Class: GTE
Engine: Jaguar AJ-133 5,000cc V8
Fuel: Petrol
Transmission: Hewland CST 6 speed sequential
Brakes: Brembo
Weight: 1245kg
Fuel Tank: –
Year introduced: 2009
In preparation for a full championship effort in 2010, RSR revealed the Jaguar XKR GT2 in the American Le Mans Series’ famed event the Petit Le Mans. From a production car, the XKR makes an excellent racecar. “The Jaguar XKR is exceptionally strong and rigid, and the construction method is in advance of the conventional steel stamping that we see in cars today,” explained Paul Gentilozzi, RSR team owner. “That allows RSR to build a lighter, stronger, stiffer racecar. Also, the basic aerodynamic design of the XKR has a low drag coefficient and more than sufficient downforce.”
The GTE class features production-based cars modified as allowed by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) rules. “There are very specific limitations. We use what we call in the industry, the Body-In-White. That is the basic skeletal structure, the sub-frames and frames from the original production car. We started our GT2 car with a real Jaguar XKR, this is not a panel built or fabricated car. We are using all of the aluminium skeletal structure of the car, the production doors, roof and deck lid.
The body work features a design that is based on the Jaguar XKR and was completed in the Jaguar Advance Design Studio headed by chief designer Ian Callum. The body has undergone intensive computational fluid dynamics work, know as CFD, by the Jaguar aerodynamics department. Information from the CFD was then incorporated into the finished body work which was made in clay at the RSR facility. Over 1100 man hours were spent during the clay process. The carbon fiber composite body work was molded and produced by a local company in Michigan and conforms to the ACO guidelines.
The end result is a GT2 car that contains the DNA and the spirit of the Jaguar Design Department and the production car,” comments Gentilozzi.
Yokohama has been announced as the official tire supplier. “Partnering with RSR on the Jaguar XKR GT2 in ALMS is a perfect fit for Yokohama,” said Mark Chung, Yokohama Tire Corporation director, corporate strategy and planning. “Motorsports is a core element in what we do. It’s in our DNA – we like to compete and we like to win, and so does RSR. Our collective efforts will certainly put us among the leaders in GT2 next year. We are definitely eager to get going.”
RSR is working very closely with Bosch Motorsport to integrate their technologies for engine control and chassis data acquisition. The car will be equipped with a Bosch Motorsport ECU and data logger with color display, as well as Bosch spark plugs.
Gentilozzi has had a long relationship with brake supplier Brembo, winning races in Trans-Am and Champ Car. Brembo six piston front calipers on 380 mm discs with four piston rear calipers on 350 mm discs have been installed and actuated by a Tilton floating master cylinder pedal assembly. A 5.5 inch Tilton metallic clutch will allow power to flow from the modified Jaguar AJ133 engine to a Hewland CST Transaxle.
A five time Trans-Am Series Champion, Gentilozzi will wear multiple hats for the team, as not only the owner but also one of the three drivers. He will be joined with sports car veterans American Scott Pruett and Belgian Marc Goossens. During the testing and development process these seasoned drivers will play a key role in getting the Jaguar XKR up to speed for a strong fight in 2010.
