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| Jaguar
"Rockets" Back Into Trans Am Racing by Gary Hagopian |
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Saturday, Feb 22nd, 2003, marked Jaguar's re-entry into Trans-Am racing. In a partnership deal with Rocketsports Racing, Jaguar will now be officially entered and seeking to win the Trans-Am title last held by the Group 44 Jaguar XJS and Bob Tullius, in 1978. The first Trans-Am race of the 2003 season is the Grand Prix of St Petersburg, FL, a road course laid out on the downtown streets. In this era of rampant litigation, political correctness, and "environmental concerns", it would seem impossible to close down an entire city center so that noisy race cars could careen through the city streets at speeds approaching 200 MPH! We were there to watch the Barber Dodge, CART, and Trans-Am XKR Jaguars do battle. Very exciting racing, indeed, with XKRs placing 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 11th, & 16 !!! Scott Pruett won, ahead of 2002 Trans-Am Champ Boris Said, Johnny Miller placed 3rd, and Paul Gentilozzi was 4th. After winning 3 championships in a row (1999, 2000 and 2001), Gentilozzi is on running a limited number of races this year but it will be an even more busy year as he has assumed the promotion and commercial management of the Trans Am series and is also fielding a car in the CART championship. But even more exciting is the anouncement that Jaguar and Gentilozzi's Rocketsports Team will be developping a Trans Am version of Jaguar's 4.2 litre Aluminum V8 engine, enlarged to 4.5 litre, which should be make it to the track later on in the season. So far, carbureted Ford pushrod V8 have been power the Jarguars and most other cars in Trans Am. With a Jaguar engine under the bonnet... or carbon fiber shell... we will soon have even more to cheer for! The new engine is expected to produce over twice as much horsepower, from 300hp to over 600hp, and although it will used a production block and heards, it will include a new heavy duty crankshaft, lightweight racing piston and rods needed to withstand the 9000 rpm redline...
Jaguar's Simon Sproule, V.P. Communications, directed the activities at the kick-off dinner Friday evening at Fresco's in downtown St Petersburg. He introduced team owner/driver Paul Gentilozzi, lead driver Scott Pruett, and the many other Jaguar team executives who had developed this partnership. Paul Gentilozzi drew a thumbnail sketch of Rocketsports' plan for the season, which is to WIN! Sue and I were fortunate to have been invited, and because of our wintering in Florida, were able to attend. The accompanying photos show Simon Sproule and V.P.of Marketing, George Ayers, introducing this new program at dinner. Other pictures are of Paul Gentilozzi with JCNA Pres. Gary Hagopian and Sue, Motor Trend's Jeff Bartlett with Gary and Jaguar's Scott McKee, Event Marketing Manager. A framed picture of the factory-backed racing XKR in its new livery shown here, was given to all who attended. Our having been invited to the kickoff dinner is further evidence of
a strengthening relationship between the JCNA and Jaguar Cars. I encourage
all JCNA members and their friends to support Jaguar's re-entry into Trans-Am
by attending a race when one comes to a nearby track. Consult the CALENDAR
section of jcna.com for the Trans-Am schedule, and purchase the green
3' x 5' Jaguar Racing Flag to wave in support of the Jaguar/Rocketsports
XKR's Trans-Am racing efforts! 2003 Trans Am Season Calendar : 23 Feb Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg, FL with CART 22-June Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California, with NASCAR
For more information on the series and upcoming events: www.trans-amseries.com Paul Gentilozzi and Rocketsports Racing: www.rocketsportsracing.com
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posted 3/2/2003
| LEGAL NOTICES |
© 2002 JAGUAR CLUBS OF NORTH AMERICA,
INC.
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