Jaguar

[Pilgrim]

With the recent demise of Jaguar's Formula One team, I'm wondering whether Jaguar will ever return to sportscar racing.

Do CAers reckon there is any chance of this?

If so, how long would it be before Jaguar are at Le Mans again?

[Bob U]

One of our crew is driving down in an E type tthis year, does this count ?

[Steve Pyro]

Jaguar are part of the mighty Ford empire and the corporate sportscar funding seems to be going to Aston Martin at the moment.

[Pilgrim]

Yes, I forgot that Ford also own Aston Martin.

Looks like the earliest possible Jag action won't be for several years if at all.

Still, at least we have the DBR9 to cheer on.

[jpchenet]

I believe that Aston are financing their racing by producing a batch (about 20 rings a bell) DBR9's for sale to selected individuals so it shouldn't effect the corporatte coffers.

I think Ford are just not interested these days!

[Nordic]

Ford/Aston may not be paying the bills, but I bet there will be a quite a few Ford/Aston people in the suites above the pits. Should it do well I imagine Aston will claim a fair bit of credit too.

I heard Mazda, another Ford brand, have hopes to produce an LMP2 car or at the very least an engine in the near future.

A Jag LMP1 would be great, but I would expect a jag powered car in the Grand Am Daytona 24hr race before that.

[Pilgrim]

I recall Mazda doing pretty well with their rotary engine design, winning Le Mans in 91' (stealing it out from under the noses of Jaguar if I remember correctly).

Be interesting to see what they might come up with for future races.

[Fax]

Mazda were always a mainstay of the old IMSA Camel GTP series so I easily see them looking to get back into prototype action.  LMP2 seems to be the way to go right now (as far as prototypes are concerned), Audi has effectively killed the LMP1 class.  The 1992 four rotor GTP car car that Mazada ran in IMSA may well be the loudest racing car I've ever heard.
Fax

[Robbo SPS]

Jaguar are currently advertising a concept to replace the XK range.

This may one day be put up in the GT class ?

[Steve Pyro]

Jaguar are currently advertising a concept to replace the XK range.

This may one day be put up in the GT class ?

[Chris (Liverpool Boys)]

From the information I have jaguar will not make a return to gt racing only the Aston brand will be used by FMC.

But it would be a laugh to see a volvo gt car, another of fords brands or even a landrover

[Bob U]

But it would be a laugh to see a volvo gt car, another of fords brands or even a landrover

Don't discount a landrovers' capability, I was driving a disco towing a trailer last year and beat my LM to Calais personal best. They might be big and ugly but the V8 goes like snot off a stick.

[Steve Pyro]

Don't discount a landrovers' capability...

Especially if the Bowler Wildcat variant.  The 5 litre V8 version does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds!



http://www.bowler-offroad.com/

[Bob U]

That only took you 3 minutes to come up with that picture, I don't now how you guys do it so fast and presumably when you are supposed to be working

[BigH]

the V8 goes like snot off a stick.

Hmmm,
I'm not sure about the point of rapid land rovers, and thought I'd give your observations a practical test Bob.

I've had a bit of a cold lately, so that's helped. Anyway,  I got a generous helping of snot on a stick that was lying around in the garden, and I can confirm that it's difficult to get the damn stuff to go anywhere now, let alone 60 miles an hour without the stick. In fact I got quite dizzy, just trying.
Still, that's Ford for you.
H