- 1,115
- Rivera
- Tsukishima-TDUDT
Let's face it, Bloemfontein is famous for roses, not supercars - but that may be about to change, because a locally-grown sports prototype has just successfully completed its shake-down run at nearby Phakisa Raceway.
The BTR7 (Barnard Track Racing; the 7 stands for 702 horsepower) looks like a Le Mans endurance racer - and that's intentional.
The man behind the car, Chris Barnard, has a deeply rooted passion for endurance racing and had always envisaged building a Le Mans style race car. As such, the Barnard doesn’t have power steering, it doesn’t have vacuum-assisted or anti-lock brakes, it doesn’t have traction control, and it doesn’t have electric windows.
What it does have is a monocoque chassis made from high-tech steels and a body constructed almost entirely out of composite materials. Aiding performance is a number of aerodynamic enhancements including a flat undertray, rear diffuser, and dramatic cutouts in the front wheelarches.
Designer and company founder Chris Barnard explained: “We've deliberately steered clear of complex electronics such as traction control; you won't find any driver aids here - even that 524kW V8 can run on normal 95 octane pump fuel.” AUTHENTIC SPORTS-RACING CAR
“The idea is to offer enthusiasts an authentic sports-racing car that's easy to use, requires little maintenance and minimal set-up time.” In fact, now that the prototype is a runner, Barnard has enlisted four-times SA champion (and sometime Nascar driver) Grant van Schalkwyk for on-track development work.
Specs:
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Here's another supercar from South Africa:
