Debut Delayed
The long awaited Jaguar XKR GT3’s racing debut will be just a little longer coming, because Apex Motorsport’s homologation of the car is further delayed, after a recent decision to fit a PI electronics system to replace the original fit.
The PI system will take some time to adapt to the XKR and the subsequent changes to the homologation paperwork can only be completed when it is in place.
The homologation process allows for only very limited changes after the original papers are filed, so sadly there will be no race debut for the cars at this weekend’s Brands Hatch British GT races.
But the Apex team will be far from idle in the next few days, with testing planned at Snetterton on Friday, in their test car, with Embassy Racing’s Neil Cunningham present to set a target lap time, before Stuart Scott and Chris Ryan get aboard.
The following week there are test dates booked at both Silverstone and Donington Park so Chris and Stuart should get well acquainted with their GT3 racer over the next few weeks.
The second, CBT sponsored car, meanwhile will be on display this week at the exclusive Salon Prive event at the Hurlingham Club, alongside examples of the Aston Martin DBR9 and DBRS9, McLaren F1, Porsche 911 GT1 and an earlier Jaguar GT racer, the XJR15, before travelling to Brands Hatch on Sunday, where it will be on display in the paddock.
It will then perform some demonstration and VIP passenger laps with Stuart Scott due to be on driving duty.
The team has already shaken down the CBT car at Jaguar’s Gaydon test track, where Stuart Scott shared seat time with Aussie V8 Supercar star Cameron McConville, the Holden Commodore man on duty for Australia’s Channel 10 in his capacity as presenter of their popular RPM programme.
“He seemed to really enjoy his time in the car,” said Stuart Scott. “Though he did make it very clear that he was sticking with the Aussie V8s a little longer yet, he also said that he’d like a crack at Daytona and Le Mans in the not too distant future.”
As for the XKR’s racing debut – that might just yet be in the UK.
12 Jul 07