Jaguars are poised to make a dramatic return to endurance racing in the guise of a new XKR GT2 car.
American Le Mans Series competitors Rocketsports will build and run a new version of the Jaguar XKR in next season’s ALMS championship, following limited participation in the series later this year. Technical help and assistance in the homologation and construction process will be provided by the Jaguar factory here in the UK, and Rocketsports says it also wants to put the XKR on the Le Mans 24hrs grid in 2010.
The race-spec XKR will use the production car’s naturally aspirated direct-injection 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 379bhp in normal trim. Final output is likely to be significantly higher despite the stringent ACO regulations.
Testing will begin in June, ahead of the new Rocketsports XKR's competitive debut in July this year. The XKR will use the production car's aluminium chassis, as required by Le Mans Series rules, but will get a complete carbon fibre body.
At least three XKRs will be built this year for testing, a few outings in the closing stages of the Series and other race events, but everyone will be looking towards June 2010 when customer cars, and perhaps a factory supported race team, should be seen on the Le Sarthe circuit, to take part in the highly competitive GT2 class at Le Mans.