Apex readies XKR for GT racing
Jaguar's big coupe set to race
  Apex Motorsport's Jaguar XKR |
Apex Motorsport’s brand new Jaguar XKR GT3 has completed the first two of its planned pre-season test sessions.
It's also re-united one of sports car racing’s most successful drivers with the Jaguar marque.
Andy Wallace, winner of the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as countless other races with the TWR-built Jaguar XJR range of the 80s and 90s, was behind the wheel of the new sportscar for its first running laps at both the recent official FIA test sessions in Monza, Italy and Nogaro in South Western France.
While running time was hampered by new car teething troubles, Wallace gained a very positive first impression. “It’s a lovely car to drive, nicely put together, and will be perfect from a customer’s point of view. It’s extremely stable, and doesn’t do anything odd or unexpected, plus it sounds good and is absolutely beautiful.”
Apex Motorsport team principal Richard Lloyd acknowledged that there was still a lot of work to do before the car makes its racing debut at Silverstone on 5-6 May.
“To be in Monza for the official Championship launch at the end of February was, for us, like a victory in itself. The car ran for the very first time so we viewed it as just a shakedown. Since then we’ve done the two days at Nogaro and, in spite of not much track time, we learnt a lot about the car so feel that significant progress has been made.
“We built this car in only three months, so it was a great challenge to get to this stage. We would have liked more time, of course, but we are where we are – no excuses. We know from the last test that the car responds incredibly well to suspension and set up changes, and next time out we will get the chance to put the car through its paces at speed so we can get some feedback on the engine performance.”
Apex Motorsport’s next test dates have not yet been finalised, but the car will likely be seen clocking up the miles on a British race track in the very near future with a fresh engine and exhaust system.
Good to see Jaguar back though...now being released from the shackles on account of the Aston Martin sale!
What's the betting it is beating the DB9s within 12 months?
Not likely: the DBRS9 was slow and, relatively mediocre until the addition of the GT1 Aero pack. Since Apex have not the skill, equipment or finances to do something similar, the gulf will only grow.
Not likely: the DBRS9 was slow and, relatively mediocre until the addition of the GT1 Aero pack. Since Apex have not the skill, equipment or finances to do something similar, the gulf will only grow.
[/quote]
A bit harsh on a team that succesfully ran the Audi A4 in BTCC & helped with the design, build and operation of the Bentley at Sebring and Le Mans. Some team staff are also experienced engineering the Audi R10.
Not likely: the DBRS9 was slow and, relatively mediocre until the addition of the GT1 Aero pack. Since Apex have not the skill, equipment or finances to do something similar, the gulf will only grow.
A bit harsh on a team that succesfully ran the Audi A4 in BTCC & helped with the design, build and operation of the Bentley at Sebring and Le Mans. Some team staff are also experienced engineering the Audi R10.
On each and every one of those projects, they help, or assisted or raced - the A$ was predominantly the ABT design, the Bentley was still primarily handled from Wolfsburg, and so was the R10.
Not likely: the DBRS9 was slow and, relatively mediocre until the addition of the GT1 Aero pack. Since Apex have not the skill, equipment or finances to do something similar, the gulf will only grow.
A bit harsh on a team that succesfully ran the Audi A4 in BTCC & helped with the design, build and operation of the Bentley at Sebring and Le Mans. Some team staff are also experienced engineering the Audi R10.
On each and every one of those projects, they help, or assisted or raced - the A$ was predominantly the ABT design, the Bentley was still primarily handled from Wolfsburg, and so was the R10.
Apex is a good team and Mr Lloyd has been around long enough to do a good job. The Bentley, to be fair, was designed and built at RTN in Norfolk and wasn't an Audi with a roof, as some thought at the time. Joest was involved in the final Bentley year, but by then the car was much, much better than the previous versions.
The beauty of GT3 is that it doesn't rely on car development as such - the cars are balanced by the FIA, so the engineering deficit is made up for in weights and tyre compounds/widths etc.
Not likely: the DBRS9 was slow and, relatively mediocre until the addition of the GT1 Aero pack. Since Apex have not the skill, equipment or finances to do something similar, the gulf will only grow.
A bit harsh on a team that succesfully ran the Audi A4 in BTCC & helped with the design, build and operation of the Bentley at Sebring and Le Mans. Some team staff are also experienced engineering the Audi R10.
On each and every one of those projects, they help, or assisted or raced - the A$ was predominantly the ABT design, the Bentley was still primarily handled from Wolfsburg, and so was the R10.
Apex is a good team and Mr Lloyd has been around long enough to do a good job. The Bentley, to be fair, was designed and built at RTN in Norfolk and wasn't an Audi with a roof, as some thought at the time. Joest was involved in the final Bentley year, but by then the car was much, much better than the previous versions.
The beauty of GT3 is that it doesn't rely on car development as such - the cars are balanced by the FIA, so the engineering deficit is made up for in weights and tyre compounds/widths etc.
Well it should be - as Prodrive showed: if you turn up ill-prepared and expect the BGT or anyone else to balance your performance up, you're going home disappointed. Even RTN's involvement made use of Audi engineers, particularly for powertrain, and Audi facilities, too.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff