Jaguar RSR XKR GT

For a production car, the Jaguar XKR makes an excellent racecar.

“The Jaguar XKR is exceptionally strong and rigid, and the construction method is in advance of the conventional steel stamping that we see in cars today,” explained Paul Gentilozzi, RSR team owner. “That allows RSR to build a lighter, stronger, stiffer racecar. Also, the basic aerodynamic design of the XKR has a low drag coefficient and more than sufficient downforce.”

The GT2 class features production-based cars modified as allowed by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) rules. “There are very specific limitations. We use what we call in the industry, the Body-In-White. That is the basic skeletal structure, the sub-frames and frames from the original production car. We started our GT2 car with a real Jaguar XKR, this is not a panel built or fabricated car. We are using all of the aluminum skeletal structure of the car, the production doors, roof and deck lid.”

The body work features a design that is based on the Jaguar XKR and was completed in the Jaguar Advance Design Studio headed by chief designer Ian Callum. The body has undergone intensive computational fluid dynamics work, know as CFD, by the Jaguar aerodynamics department. Information from the CFD was then incorporated into the finished body work which was made in clay at the RSR facility. Over 1100 man hours were spent during the clay process. The carbon fibre composite body work was moulded and produced by a local company in Michigan and conforms to the ACO guidelines.

“The end result is a GT2 car that contains the DNA and the spirit of the Jaguar Design Department and the production car,” comments Gentilozzi.

• TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS

  CHASSIS
  Jaguar XKR bonded and riveted Aluminum monocoque, with RSR steel reinforcements and safety structure.
  
  ENGINE
  Jaguar AJ133 5.0 Litre V-8
  
  TIRES
  Yokohama racing slicks
  
  ENGINE MANAGEMENT
  Bosch
  
  DATA AQUISISTION
  MoTeC
  
  SPARK PLUGS
  Bosch
  
  BRAKES
  Brembo 6 Piston Front Calipers on 380mm discs / 4 Piston Rear Calipers
  on 350mm discs
  
  SHOCK ABSORBERS
  Ohlins DR4
  
  TRANSMISSION
  6 speed Hewland CST Transverse Sequential Transaxle
  
  WHEELS
  BBS 18" 3 piece
  
  WEIGHT
  1245 kg / 2744 lbs
  
  LENGTH
  4790 mm / 188.5 inches
  
  WIDTH
  1996 mm / 78.5 inches
  
  HORSEPOWER
  Approximately 550
  
  RPM
  7000MAX.
  
  SPEED
  180 MPH
  
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