Sebring Int'l Raceway news 2010-02-08

JAGUAR NAMED OFFICIAL CAR OF SEBRING
Track's pit structure also renamed 'Jaguar Tower'

Jaguar has been named the Official Car of Sebring International Raceway, home of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. The 58th edition of America's premier endurance race runs on Saturday, March 20th, kicking-off the 2010 American Le Mans Series season.

A legend of motorsports, Jaguar has a long and successful history in sports car racing. Jaguar first won Le Mans in 1951 with the debut of the C-TYPE, and captured four more wins during the 1950s as well as in 1988 and 1990 at the famous French endurance classic. Jaguar scored its first major victory in North America by winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1955.

"Two of the most storied names in motor racing have joined together to form an ideal marketing partnership," stated Sebring Raceway President and General Manager Tres Stephenson. "We look forward to working with Jaguar to forge a solid long-term relationship."

"Jaguar is excited to enter the very competitive American Le Mans Series and return to Sebring, where we have a great history," added Richard Beattie, Jaguar North American Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales. "With a competition record in the U.S. reaching back to 1938, it is important that we compete at the highest levels of motorsport."

As part of the agreement, the circuit's Pit Tower has been named the "Jaguar Tower," honoring the marque's heritage at Sebring. During the 1950s and '60s, the race control tower of the circuit's original pit structure was also named the "Jaguar Tower."

"We are pleased to bring back this legendary landmark," added Stephenson. "The Jaguar name adds even more prestige and tradition to our historic facility."

The new RSR Jaguar XKR GT will make its Sebring debut in March. The car took its first green flag last October in the American Le Mans Series finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and is set for a full-season championship effort in 2010. Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner of JaguarRSR, has a stellar record at Sebring including a class victory in 1992 and the overall pole position in 1994.

It also has been invited to compete at this year's running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GT2.

Mike O'Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars said: "Our designers and engineers have taken the best of our standard road-going XKR. With Paul Gentilozzi's motorsport expertise, we've created a first-class competition car.

"Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand," he added. "Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. As we look to the future with our new range of high- performance 'R' branded cars, we aim to make the Jaguar brand synonymous with motorsports once again."

Sebring is America's oldest road racing circuit, established in 1950. Since 1952, Sebring's 12-hour classic has attracted the world's best sports car racing teams.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America's greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22- 23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

-source: pmsg/sir/alms