Jaguar to go racing with F-Type GT3? - Autoblog

Jaguar seems to be doing everything right these days! I have been waiting for them to get back into racing for a long time!

As dumb as it sounds, it definitely increases my desire to buy an F-Type. What is cooler than driving a car that is related to a race car??!

 

Yessss!!
Now that they have the capital to spare, a race entry would be an amazing return to the brand's villainous racing roots!

 

I don't think it's dumb at all. To one extent or another, most of us buy things for the brand intangibles. Because no one needs an F-Type, we want one for how it ultimately makes us feel. Porsche made a big deal about their return to Le Mans this year, to remind people they still are a motorsports company, not just SUVs since their SUVs are selling so well. Jaguar did the right thing bring out their heritage cars to remind us how cool Jags were before. This would be another step, if it makes financial sense. And FWIW, this is why I'm not a huge Lambo fan, because they don't really race their cars, whereas McLarens, Porsches, Ferraris all have significant track/racing programs.

 

It would be nice to see a GT3 version of the F-Type racing. However, the GT3 market is getting pretty saturated these days so it might be hard to make any ground (i.e. Lotus didn't have much success).

 

This....want.

 

Bumping this up.

The Bathurst 12 Hour GT race was held today here in Australia, was an awesome race that went right down to the wire...

Lineup included;

Bentley Continental GT3
Porsche GT3 R
Porsche GT3 Cup
AMG SLS GT3
Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Aston Martin Vantage GT4
Ferrari 458 Italia GT3
Nismo GT-R GT3

Last 10 minutes of the race can be seen here;


Jaguar would have been eligible to enter with the https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/m...series-117341/

Maybe they don't have to do a GT3, could also be a GT4....?

Porsche just announced the Cayman GT4 and Aston Martin has the Vantage GT4

Would also be appealing

 

Was a fantastic race and a fantastic lineup. Would have been brilliant to see a Jag in the lineup.

 

Do race fans still bury crates of beer around the course at the end of each meeting to ensure there's plenty to drink next time?

 

Hey, Cambo - you forgot the Audi R8 in that lineup!

I went to that race 3 years ago with Audi - one of the best days of motor racing I've ever experienced!

 

Proposed Jaguar GT Program Shelved

 

That's a crying shame if correct. IMO, a car manufacturer needs some sort of works team in world class Motorsport to legitimately call themselves a sports car manufacturer.

 

I agree completely.

And the expression, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday", still applies I believe.

Nothing like a Racing Program - particularly a successful one (no small feat; but loyalists would appreciate any effort) - to promote the brand.

 

D'oh! Was looking forward to Jag getting some "street cred" back...

 

Give it time. Though I am certain that economics had a lot to do with the decision, the car isn't adequately developed yet. The coupe just got introduced a year ago, and the AWD isn't even on the street yet. The transmission will need to evolve into a true automated dual-clutch. Money aside, they will not want to enter the field without a fair certainty of victory. Today, Porsche would nail their butts.

 

+1 I agree with that

 

They need to get on this or I might have to defect to Ferrari. The new Aston DB10 is ugly. Come on JAG!

 

I'm sad to say I also agree, but I understand it. I'm guessing JLR couldn't convince the holders of the purse-strings that the amount of money it would take to be competitive could possibly achieve an objective payback anytime soon. It also would have been a mistake to try to do it on the cheap.

 

Money (#1) and time (#2). It takes years to develop a competitive racing team and unless a company has the long-term commitment - and trailer-loads of money (which Tata certainly has; never mind the potential for sponsorships) - the risk/reward might be something Jaguar isn't ready to take on.

Having said that, as a Jaguar owner I would greatly appreciate the attempt/effort. Last time I owned a Jaguar - the newly revised XJ6 in 1988 - I attended the victorious 1990 Le Mans where Jaguar finished first and second and I can tell you it was immensely gratifying seeing Jaguar succeed shortly after getting my Jag. (Naturally I was rooting for Jaguar even though I had also owned, when it came out, a 1980 Mazda RX7 and let me tell you...Mazda's entries in that race were serious screamers! I should know as their pit was directly in front of me - literally feet away as that was the last year before Le Mans got totally remodeled and I possessed an All-Access pass called "The Director's Daughter").

Seeing those Jaguars finish in formation is something I will never forget.

 

As for the dual clutch, I am not sure that is in Jaguar's future or interest. Even the new AMG C63 does no longer have a dual clutch. A dual clutch does not fit the slow crusing aspect of Jaguars. They introduced the manual for a reason and not a dual clutch. Aside of that they may for sure have a sequential for racing anyway.

 

It's time to resurrect Group 44.