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American LeMans
ALMS: 10 Questions With Paul Gentilozzi
Rocketsports Racing team owner provides an update to the team's Jaguar XKR GT2 program.
John Dagys  |  Posted June 03, 2009   Chicago, IL
Gentilozzi unveiled Rocketsports Racing’s Jaguar XKR GT2 program at Long Beach in April. Since then, it’s been full speed ahead for the East Lansing, Mich.-based organization. (LAT)
From its most recent venture in Champ Car to the legacy that Paul Gentilozzi created in Trans-Am, Rocketsports Racing has been a staple of the U.S. road racing scene for over 20 years. When Gentilozzi announced his team’s entry into the American Le Mans Series, it came as no surprise that the five-time Trans-Am champion wanted to get back to his winning ways.

Rocketsports’ ambitious program to field a Jaguar XKR in the GT2 category is now quickly becoming a reality after months of development. Gentilozzi gives SPEEDtv.com an exclusive update on the program’s progress as part of the latest installment of ‘10 Questions.’

DAGYS: How has the Jaguar GT2 program progressed since the team’s announcement at Long Beach? What stage of development is the car currently in?

GENTILOZZI: Our focus has been on the continued construction and development of the car. We have been working with the FIA on a weekly basis to assure proper construction methods. We are currently completing the bodywork construction.

DAGYS: At Long Beach, you said there’s a possibility the race debut could come as soon as the next round at Lime Rock in July. Do you see that being a realistic possibility?

GENTILOZZI: We have moved our first event to Mid-Ohio in August.

DAGYS: Rocketsports has always run front-engined cars, but as it stands now, mid and rear-engined cars like the Ferrari F430 GT and Porsche 911 GT3 RSR have been the dominant machines in GT2. Do you think this provides an added challenge in the development?

GENTILOZZI: Front engine cars have certainly not been class leading in recent years. The ACO has recognized the strategic differences and allowed the Jaguar as well as the BMW and Aston Martins to have structural amendments to give a weight balance and proportion that can allow good competition. In some circumstances, the front engine car can be of an advantage in packaging and structure.

DAGYS: What are some of the fundamental differences in building an ACO-homologated GT2 car compared to a Trans-Am car’s construction?

More than a dozen team members are working full-time on RSR’s new sportscar program, which includes construction of Jaguar XKR from the ground-up as well as a parallel engine program. (RSR)
GENTILOZZI: The differences are large in philosophy. One is a tube frame car with no correlation to the stock or production chassis, while the GT2 car uses all of the production components and allows for minor structural changes.

DAGYS: What kind of progress has been made in the homologation of the XKR? Has the ACO made any visits to your facility, and how has the communication process been?

GENTILOZZI: The ACO has made three visits and we met once off site. We have also been submitting design drawings to them for consideration on a regular basis.

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