EMIL FREY JAGUAR RACING READY FOR NEW SEASON

The long time waiting is coming to an end: Following many test days with the Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar, the Swiss team Emil Frey Jaguar Racing will start its season with the opening round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in Monza (Italy).

After an intensive preparation phase over the past few winter months, the team based in Safenwil will compete with two Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar in the highly competitive PRO-Class in the five Endurance Cup races, taking place in the highly regarded Blancpain GT Series. The 24 Hours of Spa will mark one of the highlights this year. Last year, the team brought both Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar across the finishing line after 24 hours.

The driver constellation remains almost unchanged apart from two new entries. As per last year, the car number 14 is driven by Lorenz Frey, the Spaniard Albert Costa Balboa and the experienced Frenchman Stéphane Ortelli. In the sister car with the number 114, the Austrian Christian Klien and the Swiss Jonathan Hirschi will take to the wheel together with the first new entry, former AMG-pilot Marco Seefried from Germany. Lorenz Frey might sit out one or two races, in which the quick Swiss and also new team entry, racing driver Philipp Frommenwiler, will pilot the car.

Emil Frey Jaguar Racing has set high goals for this year. The race results in the 2016 season were mixed. A seventh place at the season final at the Nürburgring brought a cheerful finish to the year. „Last year, we did not have luck on our site very often“, says Lorenz Frey, Team Principal and driver at Emil Frey Jaguar Racing. „Monza was very frustrating, because we suffered a tyre puncture only two corners before the finishing line, missing out on the points.

„We have worked immensely hard over the winter, we have optimised our equipment, practised numerous amounts of pit stops and attended a training camp with all our drivers. The test program with the Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar started on the race track this February. The tests went mainly positive and we are emerging strongly into the new season. We have set our goal to continuously drive into the Top-10. As the only, private GT3 car manufacturer, in probably the most competitive championship in the world – that is some ambitious goal.“

The first race of the Endurance Cup will take place from 22 until 23 April 2017 in Monza (Italy). The Endurance Cup race calendar stays as per last year with only the location for the season final changing, which is taking place in Barcelona rather than Nürburgring as last year. Emil Frey Jaguar Racing keeps the option open to potentially drive the last two Sprint Cup races as part of the Blancpain GT Series.

Technical Data Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar:
Engine:                    Jaguar V8, ca. 600 PS
Displacement:         5000 ccm
Gearbox:                 Rear-wheel drive, 6-gear gearbox with sequential gearshift
Suspension:            Four-way adjustable shock absorber
Chassis:                  Aluminium
Weight:                    1240 kg
Top-Speed:              ca. 300 km/h

DRIVER PORTRAITS
Driver Portraits Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar #14

Lorenz Frey
Date of Birth: 20 August 1990
Place of Birth: Zürich (Switzerland)
Favourite Track: Nordschleife
Experience in: ADAC Procar, Blancpain Endurance, DMV, VLN, Suzuki Cup

Philipp Frommenwiler
Date of Birth: 27 August 1989
Hometown: Kreuzlingen (Switzerland)
Favourite Track: Spa-Francorchamps
Experience in: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, 24h Nürburgring (2015 10th place),
24h Spa, 12h Sebring, VLN

Albert Costa Balboa
Date of Birth: 02 May 1990
Place of Birth: Barcelona (Spain)
Favourite Track: Spa-Francorchamps
Achievements: World Champion Karting, Champion Eurocup & WEC Renault 2.0
4th place World Series by Renault, Champion World Series by
Renault Mégane Trophy

Stéphane Ortelli
Date of Birth: 30 March 1970
Place of Birth: Hyères (France)
Favourite Track: Spa-Francorchamps
Achievements: Overall winner 24h Le Mans, 24h Spa, 12h Sepang, 12h Sebring
Champion in Blancpain Endurance Series, Le Mans Series and
Porsche Supercup

Driver Portraits Emil Frey GT3 Jaguar #114

Christian Klien
Date of Birth: 07 February 1983
Place of Birth: Hohenems (Austria)
Favourite Tracks: Spa, Monaco, Phillip Island
Experience in: Formula 1, Formula BMW, Formula Renault, 24h Le Mans, WEC,
V8 Superstars Italy, European Le Mans Series LMP1, LMP2,
V8 Supercars, Australian GT, Auto GP

Jonathan Hirschi
Date of Birth: 02 February 1986
Place of Birth: Saint-Imier (Switzerland)
Favourite Track: Spa-Francorchamps
Achievements: 3 Podium finishes Porsche Carrera Cup, Runner-up FIA GT1
Championship, 3 Podium finishes European Le Mans Series,
3 wins Eurocup Megan Trophy

Marco Seefried
Date of Birth: 17 February 1976
Place of Birth: Öttingen (German)
Favourite Tracks: Nordschleife, Watkins Glen
Achievements: Third 12h Sebring, Winner 24h Daytona, Runner-up ProAm 24h
Le Mans, Third Petit Le Mans, Winner 12h Sebring,
Second overall 24h Nürburgring

Source. Emil Frey Jaguar Racing/Photo. John Patterson