Home News Other News Jaguar returns to Le Mans
Jaguar returns to Le Mans PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 08 February 2010 11:13
Jaguar returns to Le Mans
JaguarRSR XKR GT2 confirmed for 24 hours of Le Mans in 2010 – the 75th year of Jaguar
The year 2010 marks 75 years of the Jaguar name on both road and race cars. As a continuation
of this great heritage, Jaguar can confirm it will return to the famed Le Mans 24 hours. With a total
of seven wins between 1951 and 1990, Jaguar is the single most successful British make in the
race’s history. Jaguar will return to Le Mans this year lining up on the starting grid on 12th June
2010 with an XKR GT2 run by JaguarRSR.
Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner, JaguarRSR commented: “We are delighted the ACO has
granted us entry in the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans. It is a race that is held dearly in the
hearts of motorsport fans across the world and for Jaguar to be racing again is something special.
“We are fortunate to bring an international line up of the world's finest driving talent including
Scott Pruett and Marc Goossens as our drivers for this race.”
Gentilozzi, who will drive the JaguarRSR XKR GT2 in the 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS)
added: “Spirits will be high around Jaguar’s return to Le Mans but we must remember the
incredibly high level of competition - a podium place will not fall into our hands. That said, I can
guarantee 100 per cent commitment from JaguarRSR and urge fans of Jaguar and Britain’s
racing heritage to support the team whole heartedly.”
C.J. O'Donnell, Global Marketing Director of Jaguar Cars said: “Motorsport has always been
important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on
which the company was developed. It was twenty years ago that Jaguar last won Le Mans with a
TWR Jaguar Sport entry driven by John Nielsen, Price Cobb and Martin Brundle. Returning to Le
Mans will reignite excitement for the marque across the globe, all the more poignant in our 75th
year.
"With the introduction of the new XK, XF and XJ, the Jaguar brand has advanced cutting-edge
technology, stunning design and our ‘R’ performance driving experience. We now return to
motorsport to demonstrate this achievement and the prowess of the Jaguar XKR.”
In 1951, the C-type won Le Mans at its first attempt, with a further victory in 1953. The D-type
took Le Mans wins in 1955, 1956 and 1957 while this racing success was followed in 1988 with
the Jaguar XJR-9LM, a V12-powered Group C car. Another outright victory would follow in 1990
with the Jaguar XJR-12.
ENDS
Details of Jaguar’s wins at Le Mans 24-hours:
Year Model Race
no
Drivers Result Notes (distance and average
speeds rounded off to nearest
whole figure)
1951 C-type 20 Peter Walker, Peter
Whitehead
1st First Jaguar win; 2244 miles, 93 mph
1953 C-type 18 Tony Rolt, Duncan
Hamilton
1st Second Jaguar win; 2540 miles, 106
mph
1955 D-type 6 Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Bueb 1st Third Jaguar win; 2570 miles, 107
mph
1956 D-type 4 Ron Flockhart, Ninian
Sanderson
1st Ecurie Ecosse entry; fourth Jaguar
win; 2507 miles, 104 mph
1957 D-type 3 Ron Flockhart, Ivor Bueb 1st Ecurie Ecosse entry; fifth Jaguar win;
2732 miles, 114 mph
1988 XJR-9LM 2 Jan Lammers, Johnny
Dumfries, Andy Wallace
1st TWR Jaguar Sport entry; sixth
Jaguar win; 394 laps, 3313 miles,
138 mph
1990 XJR-12 3 John Nielsen, Price Cobb,
Martin Brundle
1st TWR Jaguar Sport entry; seventh
Jaguar win; 359 laps, 3034 miles,
127 mph
< Prev   Next >