Jaguar returning to the sports car ranks in ALMS

[Jag_Warrior]

Hearing the announcement from Rocketsports sort of made my weekend. Hopefully there will be solid prep and development on the car(s), and a good driver lineup. No drama. We don't need any drama! But here's a case where Paulie G. could put Tatas on the side of the car and not get in trouble. Best of luck to Gentilozzi and Rocketsports.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=324283

[Tom206wrc]

I would have wished Jag in LMP1 !!!

[dj4monie]

Why does everybody wish to have a P1/P2 car????

Look, Rocketsports is doing what they do best which is build and race production based cars. It is also a venture to SELL other teams these cars. If the Jag proves competitive and successful they will sell a few more cars and the racing will pay for itself.

With the budget required to build a race winning LMP1 car, its much cheaper to do this and frankly Rocketsports is not getting any money from Jag for this program. It is being done on Paul's dime with the hope of making the money back in sales, parts, upgrades and rolling chassis.

Win-Win

You get a car on the grid from a reputable and successful team with a eye towards 2010 where two Semi-Works/Factory cars might come out of the Rocketsports stable and MAYBE you might get another two car or single car effort for another team.

As I said in another thread on another forum, this is the formula Porsche has used for eons and since when you have seen them pull out of sports car racing? Even if they didn't want to spend the money for Prototype or LMP program, they always had there customer cars/teams out there winning races.

This is the model every manufacture should use. If you want to flex your technological muscles you run an LMP1, but in this climate that is not possible...

For Audi to spent the money they have on there R15 program, they could run the entire ALMS schedule, that is fact so; so instead of asking another car company to pony up 8 digits to run a competitive LMP car, why not ask Audi how come they want to short change the ALMS/LMS series races when Audi turned a profit last year!

[wedge]

GT2 = the new Trans-Am!

[BoilerIMS]

GT2 = the new Trans-Am!

Please, oh please, no...

One thing that will be interesting in this is how well Rocketsports handles the construction of a monocoque-based GT chassis. Their forte in the past was tube frame cars, particularly the old Jag XKR that was so successful in Trans Am. Of course, that car had as much in common with a real Jag as a stock car does with a real sedan.

[wedge]

Please, oh please, no...

Exactly what I was thinking when I read the news. GT2 is getting more interesting by the minute. XKR = great! PG throwing throwing a spanner in the works is the last thing ALMS needs.

[Jag_Warrior]

Even under Ford ownership, Gentilozzi never got a lot of factory backing. He did a really neat X-type show car for Jaguar a few years ago. He of course had the very successful XKR Trans Am car. He did a slightly modified XFR that became the fastest Jaguar ever a few months ago: 225+ mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Now this new XKR. I don't know what his relationship with Tata is. But in ALMS, I'd say he'll be more like a Lou Gigliotti (customer Corvette) than a Roger Penske (factory Porsche, etc.). And even if he was more like a Penske, I don't see Panoz or Atherton inviting him into their rather exclusive Circle of Trust.

Like many, I also have mixed feelings about Paul's style. But he's always good for spicing up the show. Best of luck to Rocketsports and its new Jaguar XKR GT2 entry!

I'm seeing great days ahead for GT2!!! Jag, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Corvette, Panoz, Viper... GT2 is going to be the Viagra replacement in 2010.

[dj4monie]

Even if the car was fast out of the box (Which we know it won't be) Paul is not who he once was behind the wheel and does really anybody think he would challenge Kaffer, Melo, Werner, Henzler, Muller or Long as the fastest drivers on the GT2 grid at present?

Just in saying that, as with the Corvette GT2 program, you are effectively fighting for 4th place back As the lead Ferrari and Porsche programs are well fleshed out and fully sorted and the LG Corvette isn't as balanced and has a larger restrictor so it has legs on the longer sections of track, but even at the best of times, is a 3rd or 4th place car at this point. You can count on Corvette to be about that close when they start. One off season will put them on pace or will it?

Ferrari is already testing the successor to the F430 as we speak and a GT2 version of that car built on the 2010 rule set is no doubt being developed at the same time.

BMW has finished on the podium every race save for the first one and complain of lack of straight line speed. After Utah I fully expect them to find a bit more speed in the engine and make some other changes.

As for Rocketsports, they'll be effective, they have to be. For Paul to make any money back they have to be competitive going forward so he can sell some chassis for 2010.

[DavePI2]

I would love to see more pt cars also but the gt races are really shaping into great grids this year. The new jag is a beautifull car and hopefully will give the porsches , vettes and ferrari's a great race. A big shout out to scott atherton also. The series could have died this year with all the bad economic news but he has kept it going. Yes it is not what the sports cars fans would like but considering the circumstances it wil be good racing again this year. Can't wait for practice day at midohio, still my favorite race day of the year.

David

You get a car on the grid from a reputable and successful team

I'm sorry, but I thought you said Rocketsports and Paul Gentilozzi were involved?