Jaguar XKR GT3

[Sauc3]

APEX MOTORSPORT REVEAL INITIAL VISUALS

OF THE JAGUAR XKR GT3

Apex Motorsport, led by Richard Lloyd, are pleased to reveal the first images of the recently announced Jaguar XKR GT3 race car.
Richard has already assembled an experienced squad to develop the XKR headed up by Team Manager Dave Ward who has recently returned from two years in Australia where he had been managing one of the top V8 teams.
Dave is joined by another ex Apex team member Howden Haynes who is responsible for all design and development work.
Work continues apace at the Buckingham race shop with the build of the first XKR chassis nearing roll cage completion and as Dave said: “The basic all aluminium chassis is already immensely rigid so we’re confident that with the addition of the roll cage it will be amongst the best in class.”
Stuart Dyble, Jaguar Board Director and Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Premier Automotive Group and Ford of Europe: “There is a great buzz surrounding the launch of the XKR and this GT3 programme is going to reinforce the sporting credentials of the XK range even further. The XKR is undoubtedly a great looking car and we're very pleased that Apex shares our view that its lightweight body structure is an ideal platform for the series. We're really looking forward to seeing the car run for the first time."
The development car is expected to complete its shakedown test in December before moving on to the official FIA tests early next year.
In only its first year the FIA GT3 European Championship has attracted enormous interest from teams and drivers alike and is set for even more success in 2007 with six Championship races planned in addition to a non championship opening event supporting the Australian Grand Prix in March.
Lloyd and business partner Harry Handkammer are currently in talks with a number of teams interested in running in GT3 next year and are delighted by the level of interest this exciting project has generated already.

[brandisher]

I hope they find a good driver. Are they going to run in the Le Mans?

[The_Canuck]

Yes! more English cars in Lemans! Sort of We need a AMV8 in GT2 Now!

[baddabang]

C6R>All

EDIT: are these real images? The quality sucks if they are.

[NSXType-R]

Nice chop.

Although I'd be rooting for the Porsches. Personal preference.

[Coventrysucks]

C6R>All

Well, that certainly explains why the DBR9 beat the C6R 4/5 times in the ALMS, 6/9 times in the FIA GT c'ship, and 2/2 times both cars were entered in LMS races, whilst the DBRS9 beat the Z06 GT3 6/8 times in the FIA GT3 championship...

are these real images?

Of course they are real images.

They aren't photos, but they are definitely images.

FWIW The XKR will be joining these cars currently racing in the GT3 c'ship:

Aston Martin DBRS9
Porsche 997 GT3
Maserati Gransport Light
Ascari KZ1R
Ferrari F430 Challenge
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3
Dodge Viper Coupe
Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

[Jack_Bauer]

Are they going to run in the Le Mans?

Nope. This car is built to the FIA's GT3 specifications for which there is no equivalent in the ACO's Le Mans regs. This car will most probably run in the FIA European GT3 series and possibly be bought by teams running in some domestic championships which run a GT3 class, eg the British GT Championship.

[The_Canuck]

Well, that certainly explains why the DBR9 beat the C6R 4/5 times in the ALMS, 6/9 times in the FIA GT c'ship, and 2/2 times both cars were entered in LMS races, whilst the DBRS9 beat the Z06 GT3 6/8 times in the FIA GT3 championship...



Of course they are real images.

They aren't photos, but they are definitely images.

FWIW The XKR will be joining these cars currently racing in the GT3 c'ship:

Aston Martin DBRS9
Porsche 997 GT3
Maserati Gransport Light
Ascari KZ1R
Ferrari F430 Challenge
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3
Dodge Viper Coupe
Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

I will cheer for the DBRS9s

And Baddabang...Audi>Porsche>Aston Martin>BMW>Rest of le mans cars>C6R.

R10 FTW! also RS Spyders...and DBR9s...don't follow GT2 that much but...Go Advan BMWS!

Cheering over...

[kingofthering]

Well, that certainly explains why the DBR9 beat the C6R 4/5 times in the ALMS, 6/9 times in the FIA GT c'ship, and 2/2 times both cars were entered in LMS races, whilst the DBRS9 beat the Z06 GT3 6/8 times in the FIA GT3 championship...

You seem to neglect to say that it's won Le Mans for the past several years except for '05.

[baddabang]

Well, that certainly explains why the DBR9 beat the C6R 4/5 times in the ALMS, 6/9 times in the FIA GT c'ship, and 2/2 times both cars were entered in LMS races, whilst the DBRS9 beat the Z06 GT3 6/8 times in the FIA GT3 championship...

Excuse me for being an American fanboy in a obvious European dominated motorsport. It gives me hope that maybe some day we will be as good as you.

Of course they are real images.

They aren't photos, but they are definitely images.

Image Nazi.

[digitalcraft]

pretty slick, I must say. Could do without the green though.

[Coventrysucks]

You seem to neglect to say that it's won Le Mans for the past several years except for '05.

Yes, excuse the fact that the DBR9 lead the GT1 class for the majority of the race this year, and when the full force of GM is behind a works-prepared car, the C6R can, sometimes, beat a DBR9. And in previous years they have valiantly managed to defeat some old Ferraris entered by a small independent Swiss race team!

Excuse me for being an American fanboy in a obvious European dominated motorsport.

Well, the Dodge Viper Coupe actually appears to be the car to beat in GT3, and I have nothing against American race cars.

I think it is a bit silly to claim that the C6R is the "best" by using the results from one race - the 24 hrs.

It gives me hope that maybe some day we will be as good as you.

One day, if you study hard...

[Wouter Melissen]

I think it is a bit silly to claim that the C6R is the "best" by using the results from one race - the 24 hrs.

The Corvette would have won every ALMS race, if it did not have it's performance restricted to give the Astons a chance. Whether this was because of the superiority of the car, or of the Pratt & Miller team is hard to say, but the package was definitely superior.

[Coventrysucks]

The Corvette would have won every ALMS race, if it did not have it's performance restricted to give the Astons a chance. Whether this was because of the superiority of the car, or of the Pratt & Miller team is hard to say, but the package was definitely superior.

And the Astons would have won every race if they were better...

Could have, should have, would have, but in the end didn't.

[jorismo]

PLEASE MOVE THIS TO THE HIDE-OUT!

JAGUAR XKR GT3 REVEALED IN ALL ITS GLORY

Jaguar’s new XKR Coupé is being revealed to a new audience today at the Autosport International Show at the NEC, Birmingham, and in a new guise.

Buckingham-based Apex Motorsport, under the direction of Richard Lloyd, has developed the stunning XKR model for use in the FIA GT3 European Championship. It is being revealed in the ‘flesh’ for the first time to the world’s motorsport media at what is recognised to be globally one of biggest and most successful motorsport shows.

Lloyd and Apex have enjoyed huge racing success in the past, most recently with Bentley with whom they won the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans. “It was obvious to us that the Jaguar name was missing from the list of GT3 contenders,” said Lloyd. “We believe the new XKR has great potential for success, and Team Manager Dave Ward and the guys have been working flat out since receiving our first car at the end of September. We’ve still got a mountain to climb with roll out and first test scheduled to take place within the next five weeks and, of course, the first race of the season at Silverstone in May. The first car is sold and we have received very positive interest for another two so we’re confident there will be plenty of Jaguars in the FIA paddock and in other emerging GT3 series around the world.”

While Apex has Jaguar’s blessing to compete with the XKR GT3, this is not a factory motorsport programme and the Apex race activities are independent of Jaguar. At the time of the programme’s announcement in September, Stuart Dyble, Jaguar Board Director and Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Premier Automotive Group and Ford of Europe, said, “We welcome this initiative which will result in production Jaguar sportscars being seen once again on race circuits across Europe. We have just launched the all new Jaguar XKR road car, and GT3 is the natural race series in which to compete.”

The Jaguar XKR GT3, featuring a 4.2 litre V8 supercharged engine, retains the aluminium body of its production cousin, but has had modifications made in line with the regulations. Draft technical specifications are attached but the definitive specification will be revealed following the official FIA track tests, the first of which takes place at Monza on February 22/23.

The first car to be built by Apex Motorsport has already been sold to Stuart Scott, Managing Director of East Anglia’s most successful travel management company, Cambridge Business Travel. Scott, who has most recently been racing in the British GT Cup, will be driving the Jaguar in a programme of six events with a yet-to-be-named co-driver. He said of his involvement, “I feel privileged to be here at the beginning of this project. In my racing past I have always tried to do something that’s a ‘first’ or a bit different, and to take delivery of the first XKR race car is a dream come true. I’ve been aware of Richard and Apex for a long time and to now be part of such a professional team is wonderful.”

The FIA GT3 European Championship is already a very marketable racing series for teams and manufacturers, using sexy coupés that are closer to their road-car origins and therefore less expensive to build and to run. The series captured the imaginations and interest of competitors and fans alike in its inaugural 2006 season with some forty entries, and looks set to be strengthened further with the addition of Jaguars to the starting line up. Each manufacturer is represented by up to six entries ensuring a fair distribution of honours, and the performance between the different marques is balanced by the use of success penalties. Entry is aimed at gentlemen and non professional drivers graded by the FIA via a combination of racing experience and age.

The five round Championship begins in May at Silverstone, then travels to Bucharest (ROM), Monza (I) and Brno (CZ) in Europe before finishing in Dubai in November. Some owners may also plan on entering the non Championship GT3 race within the Spa 24 Hours event in Belgium at the end of July.

Richard Lloyd and his business partner at Apex, Harry Handkammer – himself a top Britcar racer – are available to talk to any potential customers for the Jaguar XKR GT3. They can be contacted on +44 (0)1280 824455 or [email protected]

11th January 2007


JAGUAR XKR GT3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION


Engine: Supercharged 4.2 litre, V8 petrol
Transmission: Hewland 6-speed sequential trans-axle
Steering: Electric hydraulic power assisted
Clutch: Alcon 140mm triple-plate carbon/carbon
Suspension: 4-way adjustable coil over dampers
Brakes: Alcon 6-pot front calipers on 375mm discs
Alcon 4-pot rear calipers on 330mm discs
Wheels and tyres: OZ Racing 18 x 11” rims front and rear
Michelin 11” racing tyres front and rear
Body: Aluminium with integrated T45 steel roll cage
Length: 4900mm
Width: 1892mm
Wheelbase: 2752mm
Maximum power: 475+ bhp
Power to weight ratio: TBA
Maximum torque: TBA

Jaguar XKR GT3 #1