Apex Motorsport, the Buckingham-based company which has brought the sleek Jaguar XKR GT3 racer to market, yesterday completed its first major test of 2008 and the day was adjudged to be a huge success.

Running at a cold and frosty, but dry, Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, alongside some of its fellow GT3 competitors such as the Ferrari 430 and the Aston Martin DBRS9, the silver and grey liveried Jaguar completed more than 150 kilometres of trouble-free testing. 

Sportscar veteran and experienced tester, David Leslie, was at the wheel throughout and commented afterwards, “The test went very well indeed and Apex has made a massive step forward with the car since I last drove it in 2007.  A lot of hard work by the team has transformed it into a competitive package.  It’s nicely balanced, not heavy and, above all, easy to drive”

The team has concentrated its work on areas approved by the governing body of the FIA GT3 European Championship, the FIA, and the 2008 version features more power from the 4.2 litre V8 engine and a reduction in weight.   Further improvements to the suspension geometry will also be coming on stream in the near future.

Apex Motorsport’s Team Principal, Richard Lloyd, was characteristically cautious in his assessment of the day’s outcome but admitted that the lap times were highly encouraging.

“The times we saw yesterday put us plum in the zone to compete at the front in GT3 this season but, of course, we won’t know for certain until we reach the first race.  But it is very encouraging, and a perfect birthday present for me.”

Apex have a busy schedule coming up which includes the Britcar PR day at Silverstone next week, supporting Stuart Scott at the first Britcar round at Silverstone on 22/23 March in his XKR GT3, the FIA tests during March and completing the three race cars for the first FIA GT3 rounds at Silverstone on April 19/20. 

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