SEBRING WRAP UP

Sebring 12‑hour endurance race is a truly special racing event, writes Stuart Schorr, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for Jaguar North America.

For many drivers, it kicks off another year of American Le Mans Series racing in North America, some of the most exciting and hotly contested Sports Car racing around. It's a series where you can compete against some of the world's great drivers ‑ F1 winners; Daytona 500 winners; Indy 500 winners; International Rally champs; even Sprint Car and Drag racing Champions.

Secondly, drivers say that few races pound a car or driver more than 12 hours on Sebring's crumbling concrete runways and ancient Tarmac pavement. Just to survive the 12 grinding hours is a testament to a car's durability, and the team's commitment.

Lastly, for the spectators, many camped out in the infield known as "Green Park", it is a combination of Spring Break, Burning Man and Woodstock all rolled in to one (though I have only personally experienced one of those epic gatherings). The dedicated inhabitants of the park often arrive in their motor homes, trailers and tents, up to a week in advance of the gates opening. It’s a small city.

The 2011 edition of the race lived up to its reputation for great racing and good times.

A field of 56 cars took the green flag at 10:30 AM, waved by Jaguar Heritage Trust Chairman Mike O'Driscoll. The field included a wide variety of production‑based and specialty racer cars from around the world.

For the beginning of its second ALMS season, the now two‑car JaguarRSR team showed strength. Early in the race, contact caused damage to the bodywork of the number 098 XKR GT, though it did not take the Jag out of the race.

Working hard to conserve its Dunlop tires, the 098's three drivers (PJ Jones, Kenny Wilden and Rocky Moran, Jr.) did a great job getting the car through all 12 hours of its first endurance race. The car ran as high as 9th, often posting lap times a half second faster than those posted during qualifying ‑ a very good sign that there will be more to come from both the cars and the drivers.

Moran took the checkered flag to bring the XKR home 13th in class.

The number 099 car was not as fortunate. Also running stronger than expected early on, it suffered an alternator failure, which in turn fried every wire, control unit and sensor in the car. That’s racing!

Sebring is a test of endurance for the team members as well, especially the technicians. So the JaguarRSR team tore in to the job of completely re‑wiring the number 099 and replacing all of the hardware and control units.

Finally, after almost 10 hours of hard work, the 099 went back out and finished the race.

Off the track, business was brisk at the Jaguar display, a 2,000 sq. ft. tent squarely in the middle of the Midway near Green Park.

Several XKs and XJs received the once over and the all star product specialist team, including former Jaguar IMSA Champ Davy Jones and Indy Car star Roberto Guerrero, to name two, answered questions and engaged in their share of "bench racing" with the display visitors.

An added treat was in Sebring's Motorsports Hall of Fame ‑ the Group 44 Jaguar XJ5 IMSA GTP racer made a rare appearance alongside the teams Series III V‑12 E‑Type which won the Sports Car Club of America's B Production championship in 1974. It was the famous E‑Type's last appearance before heading back to the U.K. for Goodwood's annual Festival of Speed.

All‑in‑all, a positive weekend for both the JaguarRSR team and Jaguar fans everywhere.