Thursday 25th November 2010

Ginetta To Reveal New G55 Racer In January

G50 junior GT car evolves to create 370bhp G55

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This is the new Ginetta G55 GT racer, which the Leeds-based sports car maker and race constructor will reveal in the metal at the Autosport International show at the NEC in January.

The Ginetta G55 is essentially an evolution of the successful G50 coupe, which has for several years supported the BTCC with a one-make series, as well as competing in GT4 endurance racing around the world.

The plan is to introduce the new G55 into racing alongside the G50, to create the Ginetta GT Supercup, a move that emulates the class structure in other worldwide GT championships such as the Le Mans Series, ALMS and British GT.

The car itself gets a bored-out 3.7-litre Ford V6 (the G50's unit is 3.5 litres), with 370bhp (up from 300bhpin the G50), a Hewland gearbox, cool-air induction kit, uprated front and rear brakes, new exhaust system and new bodywork with the focus placed on improved aerodynamics.

If you want a G55 built from scratch, it will set you back £75,000, while existing G50 owners and racers can upgrade to the new car for £25k.

"The G50 has dominated GT4 since its launch two years ago and proved itself as a real stepping stone into the GT4 arena," says Ginetta boss Lawrence Tomlinson. "By introducing the G55 into the new Ginetta GT Supercup, I want to broaden Ginetta's offering to all drivers expanding our career ladder even further and highlight a real route into GT3 - whilst still providing an affordable way to enjoy top level racing."

Talking of affordable, if you fancy a season racing Ginettas, the entry fee for G50s is £9750 plus VAT, while the G55 is £11,750 plus VAT.

[exocet ape]

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

[OwenK]

Looks lovely I always thought the G50 was a real progression for Ginetta's (in my opinion) never-quite-got-it-right design history but still wasn't quite there. This is bloody nice though - excellent job. Are they planning on making any road cars? Is the G50 available for the road - I don't remember hearing anything about it?

[ellisd82]

Dodge Viper looking thing. Looks great. Want!

[GTRene]

the first 2 drawings look very good, so a nice upgrade, also the engine.

what happens with the V8 Zytec G50? will there be another V8 G55?

[Podie]

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

Less race cars, more road cars.

[Cotty]

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

Don't hold your breath for the road car.

[PetrolHeadSeb]

I like this a lot. I really enjoy watching the G50 racing and I'll bet these will be even better.

I'd have rated it higher if you could get one for the road though.

[Mannginger]

Podie said:

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

Less race cars, more road cars.

Thirded. This would make a lovely road car (please Mr. Ginetta sir!)

[450Nick]

What would be the point of a road car of this ilk? You can't use a car like this on the road, and doing so would make it heavy and compromised anyway. Keep it as a race version and get more people racing!

[egomeister]

Podie said:

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

Less race cars, more road cars.

Why would they risk everything they have built up by going into the road car market?

If this is a 75k race car, you'll probably be looking at 100k+ for a proper road version which is dangerous territory given what Porsche turn out at that price point...

[steveb8189]

£25k to swap your car for a new model? Wonder what basis that is on; age, condition etc? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Old car was £50k and you get £50k off the new car if you trade it in. Doesn't that mean it's cost you nothing for a year? Don't see BMW doing that and offering you £40k off a new 5 series when you trade in your 3 after a year. Bargain!

[Truckosaurus]

I suspect the £25k buys you an upgrade kit with the new engine and bodykit.

[soad]

Looking good for a computer generated rendering.

[A Scotsman]

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

No chance. Still waiting to hear about the long promised G40 road car.

[BanjoMaster]

Where will the G55 fit into the rough global GT class structure? Will they be proper GT3-class cars? Could never quite figure out where the G50 sat

[Truckosaurus]

The G55 will be eligible for national GT3 series run by the SRO (eg. British, Belgian) but not the main FIA GT3 due to lack of road cars (as per Mosler).

Also... does anyone know anymore about the "Ginetta GT Supercup" referenced in the article? Is it just a renaming of the existing G50 series but open to the G55 as well (plus G40?)

[Roo]

A Scotsman said:

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

No chance. Still waiting to hear about the long promised G40 road car.

Spring.

[andy97]

BanjoMaster said:

Where will the G55 fit into the rough global GT class structure? Will they be proper GT3-class cars? Could never quite figure out where the G50 sat

The G50 Cup is essentially a national only one make series - it doesn't particularly fit into the "global GT structure" except as a one make feeder series. The G50 GT4 version was homologated for NAtional & European GT4 class racing.

Truckosaurus said:

The G55 will be eligible for national GT3 series run by the SRO (eg. British, Belgian) but not the main FIA GT3 due to lack of road cars (as per Mosler).

That's the way I read it.

Truckosaurus said:

Also... does anyone know anymore about the "Ginetta GT Supercup" referenced in the article? Is it just a renaming of the existing G50 series but open to the G55 as well (plus G40?)

I think the G50 Cup becomes the Ginetta GT Supercup with 2 classes - one for the G55 & one for the existing G50. The G40 is eligible for one of 2 classes in the "Gineta Challenge" series (which takes place on the Brit GT Support package) along with a class for the older G20s.

Edited by andy97 on Thursday 25th November 17:03

[dinkel]

egomeister said:

Podie said:

exocet ape said:

Two words... Road Car... And another. Please!

Less race cars, more road cars.

Why would they risk everything they have built up by going into the road car market?

If this is a 75k race car, you'll probably be looking at 100k+ for a proper road version which is dangerous territory given what Porsche turn out at that price point...

The Ginetta looks a bit more exciting to me . . .

[SavagePower]

Loving the curves - need a road going version!