Paul Gentilozzi To Race A Jaguar in 2000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Two-time and defending BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series Drivers’ Champion Paul Gentilozzi will attempt to become the first Series driver to win three consecutive titles in three different cars, having unveiled his plans to contest the 2000 season behind the wheel of a Jaguar—the No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Jaguar XKR. "The 2000 season will be a special year for the Trans-Am Series, and the new marques will guarantee an exciting season," said Gentilozzi (DeTomaso Mangusta and Oldsmobile Aurora entries have already been announced). "Rocketsports is always looking for ways to be innovative and leaders in this Series, and the Jaguar is a logical choice, given its history and heritage of performance." Gentilozzi, of Lansing, Mich., scored his first Series title in a Chevrolet Corvette (1998), and captured the 1999 crown in a Ford Mustang Cobra. The last time a Jaguar raced in the Trans-Am Series was 1981, with the automaker picking up the Manufacturers’ Championship in 1978, and Bob Tullius earning the Drivers’ Championship (Category I) in a Jaguar XJS in 1977. "The Jaguar, in production form, fits perfectly into the Trans-Am Series," added Gentilozzi. "It's very aerodynamic, and its smooth lines and body contours should make it one of the fastest straight-line speed cars in the Series. With the change in the rules to run a wing, we won't have to distort the body to accommodate a flat blade spoiler." Rocketsports is building three completely new chassis for the 2000 BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series season as well. Jeff Altenburg will compete in the second Jaguar XKR and the third chassis will be a back-up car. "Our chassis is an on-going development process," said Gentilozzi. "We've done a lot of analysis and we're making both structural and geometry changes. We'll use the latest technologies available to us as we prepare for another championship season. Right now, our biggest challenge is time—we likely won't have time to test prior to the first race week. But when we introduced both the Corvette and the Mustang with no testing prior to race week, we won both of our inaugural races. I expect nothing less this year."

-SCCA/SCCA Pro Racing-