RSR boss Paul Gentilozzi says he is honored to bring Jaguar back to Le Mans, with his XKR GT2 squad having been granted an entry for this year's 24 Hours yesterday.
The RSR Jaguar made its racing debut at Laguna Seca at the end of last year, and will contest the full American Le Mans Series this season as well as running one car at Le Mans.
"We are delighted the ACO has granted us entry in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans," said Gentilozzi. "It is a race that is held dearly in the hearts of motorsport fans across the world and for Jaguar to be racing again is something special."
Jaguar won Le Mans overall seven times between 1951 and 1990, making it the most successful British manufacturer in the event's history. But it has not been represented at Le Mans since the XJ220 GT project of the early 1990s. Jaguar Cars' global marketing director CJ O'Donnell said the company was delighted to be part of Le Mans again.
"Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand," said O'Donnell. "Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. It was 20 years ago that Jaguar last won Le Mans with a TWR Jaguar Sport entry driven by John Nielsen, Price Cobb, Martin Brundle.
"Returning to Le Mans will reignite excitement for the marque across the globe, all the more poignant in our 75th year."