The Oddball-GT-Thread

Speed-King · 18 Jul 2011, 18:55 (Ref:2928215)

It seems to me like there have been quite a few rather unconventional GT-cars popping up across Europe lately, and I think this might be an intertesting new trend. Whereas the mid-noughties were generally marked by a certain conformity as far as the choice of cars was concerned, there is a great number of one/off GTs semi-prototypes nowadays, quite similar to the way things were e.g. in Brit GT in the late 90s.

As of now most of these cars seem to be restricted to 2nd tier championships like Britcar or Dutch Supercar, but at least the new Chevron has made it into the British GT-championship this year and I am wondering if more such cars will eventually make it into the really important series.

And then, the question is, of course, if these cars are even desirable for the various series and spectators - after all not everybody likes the idea of top tire GT-Series becoming something of a kit-car meeting.

Here are some pictures of the cars I am thinking about:

Sunred SRX (IntL GT-Open, IberGT)

Praga R4S (Dutch Supercar)

Aquila CR1 (Britcar, Dutch Supercar)

Mosler Super GT600 (Britcar, Dutch Supercar)

Chevron GR8 (British GT, GT-Cup)

Audi Racer · 18 Jul 2011, 20:38 (Ref:2928252)

The Shiden from Gt300

Dead-Eye · 18 Jul 2011, 20:46 (Ref:2928256)

In fairness, that's not really a GT car but a Daytona Prototurtle.

Graham Goodwin · 18 Jul 2011, 21:13 (Ref:2928274)

Then there are the Saker GT TDI, Brokernet Silver Sting and Artega.

And for that matter the new Panoz!

All part of a fine tradition from those who don't always want to conform to the norm - More power to them I say!

Gingers4Justice · 18 Jul 2011, 21:21 (Ref:2928276)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Then there are the Saker GT TDI, Brokernet Silver Sting and Artega.

And for that matter the new Panoz!

All part of a fine tradition from those who don't always want to conform to the norm - More power to them I say!

...and it's always fabulous to see them trickle down in to Britcar a couple of seasons later, and blow out spectacularly in the early stages of the 24 hours

Speed-King · 18 Jul 2011, 21:35 (Ref:2928283)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Then there are the Saker GT TDI, Brokernet Silver Sting and Artega.

And for that matter the new Panoz!

All part of a fine tradition from those who don't always want to conform to the norm - More power to them I say!

The Artega doesn't quite count, I think, for it is in the first place still a roadcar project rather than a mere track/race car.

And before someone asks why I've included the Mosler, then: The new Moslers for the 'open' series are tubeframers, which puts them pretty much in the same league as the Aquila and (I think) the Praga.

**joeb** · 19 Jul 2011, 00:53 (Ref:2928344)

Does anybody else see a resemblance to the Toyota GT1 in the Aquila?

Duff_44 · 19 Jul 2011, 01:26 (Ref:2928351)

How about the SSZ Stradale?

Cuttlefish · 19 Jul 2011, 02:10 (Ref:2928360)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

Does anybody else see a resemblance to the Toyota GT1 in the Aquila?

Yeah, definitely some design queues from the Toyota, and perhaps the Stealth B6 as well.

Japanese Samurai · 19 Jul 2011, 04:35 (Ref:2928381)

Japanese GT car "Vemac" by R&D sport

Road going version
http://www.vemaccars.com/index.html
Racing version
http://www.rdsport.net/2011/vemac/index.html
Vemac RD408/458R: Mugen MF408/458S
Vemac RD350R: Zytek ZK348
Vemac RD320R: Honda C32B/ Porsche M97/77

DistortedSmile · 19 Jul 2011, 06:22 (Ref:2928400)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Japanese GT car "Vemac" by R&D sport

Road going version
http://www.vemaccars.com/index.html
Racing version
http://www.rdsport.net/2011/vemac/index.html
Vemac RD408/458R: Mugen MF408/458S
Vemac RD350R: Zytek ZK348
Vemac RD320R: Honda C32B/ Porsche M97/77

Very nice, reminds me of the pre-98 911 GT1s.

On an off-topic note: I think both GT300 and GT500 make the ACO cars look really bland in comparison, IMO the GTE cars aren't all that impressive for being the top GT category, they look too close to their road-going counterparts and while they have produced excellent racing, I would definitively appreciate crazier looking aero and bodywork ala SuperGT or late 90's GT1.

rich07 · 19 Jul 2011, 07:13 (Ref:2928416)

That Vemac reminds me of the Elise GT1.

Speed-King · 19 Jul 2011, 07:14 (Ref:2928417)

Quote:

Very nice, reminds me of the pre-98 911 GT1s.

I was thinking Elise GT1

duke_toaster · 19 Jul 2011, 09:18 (Ref:2928468)

What about the ASL Gariya that is/was in Super GT? Good looking piece of kit if I remember correctly, it's in Gran Turismo 4 so it can't exactly be a new car.

**FIRE** · 19 Jul 2011, 09:30 (Ref:2928470)

Great topic

Solution-F SF11 3.5L V6 (based on the Solution-F Opel Astra) (Dutch Supercar Challenge)

Photo source: Dutch Supercar Challenge

andy97 · 19 Jul 2011, 10:36 (Ref:2928499)

Not so much a GT but definately a GRAND Tourer is the Audi A8 that is being planned for this years Britcar 24 hours by Brooklands College. A W12 engined version has also raced in the Nurburgring 24 hours & VLN races by a German team.

Japanese Samurai · 19 Jul 2011, 11:35 (Ref:2928514)

ASL(AUTOBACS Sportscar Laboratory) Garaiya
Engine: SR20DET/ VQ35DE(2004-)

PorscheCurves · 20 Jul 2011, 07:44 (Ref:2928836)

What about the:
Glickenhaus p45 Competizione
http://speedhunters.com/archive/2011...lder-p4-5.aspx

Donkervoort D8GT
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/g...ervoort-d8-gt/

Mooncraft Shiden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncraft_Shiden

carabus · 20 Jul 2011, 09:50 (Ref:2928886)

... and what about the Tatra 700 Ecorra with its original above-rear-axle mounted air-cooled V8 Tatra engine from the Czech GT championships?

carabus · 20 Jul 2011, 09:52 (Ref:2928888)

Pardon for uncomfortable positioning the images, my first attempt only...

Japanese Samurai · 20 Jul 2011, 09:58 (Ref:2928891)

Strictly speaking, Shiden is not a GT car. It is because road going version is not produced after all.
Instead, Mooncraft produced the Shiden Jr. based on the K-car. The cabin of the car was produced by using the same molding as Shiden. There is a racing version of Shiden Jr., too(based on the formula car).

Speed-King · 20 Jul 2011, 09:59 (Ref:2928893)

Didn't even know that thing existed. Is it based on a roadcar shell or on a tubeframe chassis...

Looks a lot like a DTM-car in a way...

Tim the Grey · 20 Jul 2011, 11:58 (Ref:2928945)

I remember the V8 engined Tatras, back in about 1990?
They imported some to Western Europe, but they never sold.
Nice to see some still exist, even if only as a silhouette!

I think Roger Wills had one for Historic Racing a while back.

carabus · 20 Jul 2011, 13:55 (Ref:2929007)

>>>I remember the V8 engined Tatras, back in about 1990?
They imported some to Western Europe, but they never sold.
Nice to see some still exist, even if only as a silhouette!
I think Roger Wills had one for Historic Racing a while back. >>>

Just not a silhouette, in fact the car is a unique specimen of a prototype "Tatra 700 tudor" made in 1989-90 by the Tatra factory, later bought by Hajdusek brothers (the former Czech ice hockey players) and rebuilt for GT racing. Excepted for some carbon body parts, the chassis and engine incl. its arrangement (above rear axle) are original, as in all Tatra 613/700 series. Tuned to some 450-550HP, the car successfully competed with Porsches 996 GT Cup in Czech GT championships during 2002-2009, even if not as fast as Charouz's ex-DTM Mercedes cars.

Bob Riebe · 20 Jul 2011, 18:15 (Ref:2929089)

The Tatra is sweet; it shows some people still think outside the box.

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