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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Jaguar Ends GT Program, RSR Switches To LMPC
RSR Racing refocuses on single LMPC entry for Bruno Junqueira, Tomy Drissi...
RSR's focus has shifted to the prototype ranks for 2012, with a LMPC entry for Bruno Junqueria and Tomy Drissi. (Photo: John Dagys)
After two full seasons of American Le Mans Series competition, which produced mixed results at best, RSR Racing and Jaguar has drawn its factory GT program to a close, it was announced last week.
However, that doesn’t mean the Michigan-based team won’t be in action this year, as team principal Paul Gentilozzi confirmed to SPEED.com Tuesday of a refocused effort around the LMPC category for the upcoming ALMS season.
“We wanted to race in 2012 and we looked at where we could get engaged and be equal to everyone else at a technical and equipment level,” Gentilozzi explained. “This is pretty much a spec car. It was pretty easy to see that if you wanted to compete and win races, LMPC was the right place.”
Purchased from Genoa Racing, which captured the 2011 ALMS LMPC drivers’ championship, RSR’s Oreca FLM09 will be driven by open-wheel veteran Bruno Junqueira and two-time ALMS LMPC winner Tomy Drissi.
Both drivers are no stranger to Gentilozzi’s squad, with the quick Brazilian having been part of its Jaguar program last year and Drissi being a longtime pilot with the team’s Trans-Am program, which included his championship-winning season in 2009.
“I have huge regard and respect for Bruno after working with him last year in GT,” Gentilozzi said. “He's such a great guy and dedicated. He wanted to race in ALMS and wants to have a sports car career. I think he's one of the best drivers out there. I also have a high regard for Tomy's ability and his desire and drive to compete at the highest level.
“I thought it was a great mix. Tomy has a year's experience in a LMPC car, won a couple of races last year. For us, it was kind of a no-brainer to put this together.”
While a third driver for next month’s season-opening 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring has yet to be confirmed, Gentilozzi said they’ve been receiving support from Genoa’s Thomas Knapp in helping RSR make the successful transition to LMPC.
Gentilozzi also reaffirmed his involvement with Jaguar, although away from the ALMS grid. He said RSR is about to launch a new line of aftermarket parts and is also in the closing stages of completing a track day car based on the Jaguar XK.
“We're moving away for a lot of reasons and we certainly don't look at it as a forever move. We're not separating ourselves from Jaguar,” Gentilozzi said. “The decision was made to not move forward with racing in GT right now.
“We came into it late, everybody else had a lot of momentum and history. We fought real hard for a couple of years without the resources that some of the other manufacturers have.
“In the end, we felt that we really closed the gap on the performance window. We were starting to gain some credibility, but you have to look ahead and when the next cycle of rules come about and what the direction is globally for GT cars.”
For now, all focus will be on a single LMPC effort and fighting for the class championship, a target Gentilozzi feels is within realistic reach for their first year in the spec prototype category.
“We've had some talks [about a second LMPC car] and there are some cars out there that can be bought,” Gentilozzi said. “A lot of the teams do it to make money. But we're doing this only to win. Could we run a second program? Yeah we have all of the resources necessary to do it. At this point, we just want to get back to the winner's circle.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
However, that doesn’t mean the Michigan-based team won’t be in action this year, as team principal Paul Gentilozzi confirmed to SPEED.com Tuesday of a refocused effort around the LMPC category for the upcoming ALMS season.
“We wanted to race in 2012 and we looked at where we could get engaged and be equal to everyone else at a technical and equipment level,” Gentilozzi explained. “This is pretty much a spec car. It was pretty easy to see that if you wanted to compete and win races, LMPC was the right place.”
Purchased from Genoa Racing, which captured the 2011 ALMS LMPC drivers’ championship, RSR’s Oreca FLM09 will be driven by open-wheel veteran Bruno Junqueira and two-time ALMS LMPC winner Tomy Drissi.
Both drivers are no stranger to Gentilozzi’s squad, with the quick Brazilian having been part of its Jaguar program last year and Drissi being a longtime pilot with the team’s Trans-Am program, which included his championship-winning season in 2009.
“I have huge regard and respect for Bruno after working with him last year in GT,” Gentilozzi said. “He's such a great guy and dedicated. He wanted to race in ALMS and wants to have a sports car career. I think he's one of the best drivers out there. I also have a high regard for Tomy's ability and his desire and drive to compete at the highest level.
“I thought it was a great mix. Tomy has a year's experience in a LMPC car, won a couple of races last year. For us, it was kind of a no-brainer to put this together.”
While a third driver for next month’s season-opening 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring has yet to be confirmed, Gentilozzi said they’ve been receiving support from Genoa’s Thomas Knapp in helping RSR make the successful transition to LMPC.
Gentilozzi also reaffirmed his involvement with Jaguar, although away from the ALMS grid. He said RSR is about to launch a new line of aftermarket parts and is also in the closing stages of completing a track day car based on the Jaguar XK.
“We're moving away for a lot of reasons and we certainly don't look at it as a forever move. We're not separating ourselves from Jaguar,” Gentilozzi said. “The decision was made to not move forward with racing in GT right now.
“We came into it late, everybody else had a lot of momentum and history. We fought real hard for a couple of years without the resources that some of the other manufacturers have.
“In the end, we felt that we really closed the gap on the performance window. We were starting to gain some credibility, but you have to look ahead and when the next cycle of rules come about and what the direction is globally for GT cars.”
For now, all focus will be on a single LMPC effort and fighting for the class championship, a target Gentilozzi feels is within realistic reach for their first year in the spec prototype category.
“We've had some talks [about a second LMPC car] and there are some cars out there that can be bought,” Gentilozzi said. “A lot of the teams do it to make money. But we're doing this only to win. Could we run a second program? Yeah we have all of the resources necessary to do it. At this point, we just want to get back to the winner's circle.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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