A Great Day of Hot Racing at Lime Rock

There are two elements that are essential for enjoying a car race in my opinion. First, and foremost, you have to have a team to root for, and secondly, you need to get a good result, writes Stuart Schorr, VP, Communications and Public Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America.

On Saturday, July 24, I joined a team of Jaguar fans at Lime Rock Park in Conn., for round five of the American Le Mans Series. Of course we were rooting for Paul Gentillozzi's #75 JaguarRSR XKR GT, raced that day by Ryan Dalziel and Marc Goossens. The team in its first year competing in the GT2 class of ALMS has experienced typical teething pains, but has been steadily improving. Much to the thrill of our group watching the race, led by Jaguar's Managing Director Mike O'Driscoll, the JaguarRSR team delivered its best result of the year, finishing 9th in class after starting the race 11th.

It is amazing how exciting an auto race is when you have a team to root for. We were in and out of our seats as the JaguarRSR XKR GT passed competitors, or got passed. We breathed a sigh of relief when the Jag narrowly missed a big accident and cringed when it got tangled up in another car's mishap. Sometimes racing is a war of attrition, so surviving the two and a half hour race, with more than 30 cars in three different classes, in 105 degree heat, was a major accomplishment for all the vehicles that took the checkered flag that day.

Afterwards at the JaguarRSR trailer, Mike O'Driscoll congratulated each and every member of the team for a great result, for surviving the brutal day, and for delivering the Jaguar fans a thrilling race. Great job guys!