Having used some the racing hiatus to work out the problems that sank their efforts at the Le Mans 24 Hours JaguarRSR are hotly anticipating returning to racing at Miller Motorsports Park this weekend.
The race, which begins succession of 2-hour 45-minute races that stretch until the championship finale at Petit Le Mans, will see regular drivers Marc Goossens and Ryan Dalziel taking stints behind the wheel.
The race will be by the team's first ALMS visit to the Salt Lake City, Utah venue, but both drivers have experience and success at the track. Goossens has a win at the track in the Grand-Am, where Scot Dalziel has also competed. However, much of the pairs' history at the track comes on the “Full Course” – one of several different layouts used for racing.
This weekend's ALMS race will be racing on the “Outer Course” – the 3.06mile 15-turn layout which is one of the fastest tracks in the US.
“I love Miller Motorsports Park and I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of the JaguarRSR XKR GT again. We had a really difficult time in France and I know the team has put in many late nights making sure that things run smoothly in Utah,” said Dalziel. “I know we are getting really close to where we ultimately want to see the Jaguar, and that’s at the front of the field.”
“I look forward to a new challenge at Miller Motorsports Park, not only driving the Perimeter Course, but doing so in the Jaguar XKR GT. The grip level is not very high at this track, so during the practice sessions we will be doing a lot of work on finding mechanical grip because we don’t want too much areo on the car because of the long straightaways,” adds Goossens.
“It is very typical for any given track; we need to get track time, build on lap times, and try to make our tire work by finding the right mechanical balance. It is going to be the same challenge for everybody, I don’t think a lot are going to find good grip in the beginning of sessions, but towards the end of the weekend there will be more layers of rubber on the track and life becomes a little easier. We have as much of a chance as anyone else if we can get up to speed early on, and each time we get out there we make gains.”
