The Jaguar XKR GT3 was officially presented at the “Autosport International Show” held in Birmingham, where his rival Aston Martin will present his renewed Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 model. Thus, traditional English manufacturers will have a tough battle for the GT3 Championship, where Aston Martin accumulates two years of experience. The Birmingham exhibition is the most important in the world of automotive sport.
Although Jaguar does not lag behind, since in recent years he was competing with great success in the American Trans Am championship. All that technology development and miles of experience will be incorporated into the Jaguar XKR GT3.
The body of the Jaguar XKR GT3 is made entirely of aluminium, while in the passenger compartment the protective cage is made of steel. The body stands out first for its large size, with a total length of 4,990 mm, a width of 1,892 mm and a huge wheelbase of 2,752 mm.
Its 18-inch “OZ Racing” wheels emphasize sporty character and fit 11-inch “Michelin” racing front and rear tires.
Under the hood, this Jaguar features a 4.200 cm3 turbocharged V8 engine that develops power in the order of 475 hp. The racing Jaguar XKR GT3 features a sequential six-speed gearbox and 140mm diameter triple disc (carbon) clutch.
At the moment there is no further technical information about the engine or its performance, as everything will be subject to the testing days to be held on 22 and 23 February in Monza.
The main objective of this evaluation is for the FIA to determine if there is something to adapt to maintain parity between all the vehicles involved in the event.
This racing Jaguar was developed by the Apex Motorsport team, led by Richard Lloyd. This team was very successful when they performed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the remembered Bentley Speed 8. In 2003 they triumphed in that race in France.
While Jaguar will not participate officially, it is known that there will be enough support for the XKR GT3 to reach an optimal state of development to win victories on European territory.
To see the results on the track, Gran Turismo racing fans will have to wait until May, when the GT3 category starts its calendar in Silverstone (England).
© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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