Friday 14th March 2008

Racing KTM X-Bow

X-Bow to debut in 2008 sports light series

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The crazy looking X-Bow is set for its first competitive race at Silverstone next month. Competing in the newly-created ‘Sport Lights’ class of the GT4 European Cup the firm tend to prove the brand’s ready to race philosophy.

KTM have chosen to run two cars in the hands of motor racing team Reiter Engineering, one driven by Italian Loris Bicocchi – tester of the Koenigsegg CCR – so they can drive development of future customer motor sport applications as well as the production model.

Compared to the production model the main changes to the race version are to do with safety dictated by the FIA regulations. Changes include the rollover bars changed to steel instead of aluminium; additional layers of zylon fibre to the flank of the monocoque to prevent penetration of sharp objects; a racing silencer on the exhaust; and added protection between the front and rear wheels.

This racing sport version of the X-Bow will be offered as a new model from the end of 2008 so you can all get your hands on one, though prices are yet to be released.

[patmahe]

This thing will look brilliant on a race track, its like something from the future - cant wait to see how it goes.

[Hammerheadcars]

it is from the future - the end of 2008

[ScoobieWRX]

I noticed it said the rollover bars are being changed from Aluminium to Steel. I take a steel cage/bars is stronger than Aluminium?? In which case if i were buying one of these for the road i would insist on the best protection therefore shouldn't it have steel bars in the first place??

Genuine Question

[patmahe]

ScoobieWRX said:

I noticed it said the rollover bars are being changed from Aluminium to Steel. I take a steel cage/bars is stronger than Aluminium?? In which case if i were buying one of these for the road i would insist on the best protection therefore shouldn't it have steel bars in the first place??

Genuine Question

I'd imagine its to do with racing speeds and road speeds, plus the likelyhood of rolling it. If you managed to roll one of these on a public road chances are you'd have been driving like a numpty to start with. Either that or its a cost issue - aluminium ain't cheap y'know

Edited by patmahe on Friday 14th March 11:36

[[AJ]]

Steel is stronger than aluminium, but not by much. The strengh the weight ration of aluminium is far better than that of steel. I doubt it would be a problem on the road.

[Twincam16]

What else is racing in this Sport Light series - Ariel Atom? Lotus 2-Eleven?

Should make for some great racing.

[ScoobieWRX]

^^^^^^^^^
In which case i will be cheering on the Atoms!!

[Twincam16]

ScoobieWRX said:

^^^^^^^^^
In which case i will be cheering on the Atoms!!

I'm hoping Lotus bring the 2-Elevens in personally. It would be great to see a Lotus factory-backed team in international motorsport again, and I hope they've got a great livery to go with them too.

[Ranger 6]

ScoobieWRX said:

I noticed it said the rollover bars are being changed from Aluminium to Steel. I take a steel cage/bars is stronger than Aluminium?? In which case if i were buying one of these for the road i would insist on the best protection therefore shouldn't it have steel bars in the first place??

Genuine Question

Not strength per se - it's racing regulations, I seem to remember there were issues about aluminium cages breaking and melting back in the 80's - regs were changed so that race and rally cars had to have steel cages.

[OwenK]

This series is going to be brilliant to watch, never heard of it before!

With cars like the KTM, and I presume similar track specials like the 2-Eleven and Atom all competing - should be a stonker!

[LathamJohnP]

ScoobieWRX said:

I noticed it said the rollover bars are being changed from Aluminium to Steel. I take a steel cage/bars is stronger than Aluminium?? In which case if i were buying one of these for the road i would insist on the best protection therefore shouldn't it have steel bars in the first place??

Aluminium can suffer from metal fatigue. Something you want to avoid in a race car safety component. Don't know if that's the reason though - aeroplane airframes have quite a long service life after all.

Still, if they change the ones on the road car, they can genuinely claim that their product has been "improved by racing".

John
(not a metallurgist or mech. engineer, so what would I know)

[crofty1984]

Bugger! that looked good until I got to the minimum car weight. Mine's not eligible.

[ScoobieWRX]

Thanks for your answers...i was just curious as to why, and if anyone knew the reason.

Having read your answers i think i would prefer steel bars if it was me buying one.

Surely if it's required in racing, and judging by your thoughts it could well be to do with safety in mind, then it should be std on the road car.

I suppose if you bought one you could have that specced in.

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Friday 14th March 15:31

[Fetchez la vache]

OwenK said:

This series is going to be brilliant to watch, never heard of it before!

With cars like the KTM, and I presume similar track specials like the 2-Eleven and Atom all competing - should be a stonker!

Absolutely!
Haven't been to races in years, but if there are atoms, & Lotus there, it sounds like a must..
http://www.gt4cup.com/

[Fetchez la vache]

After downloading the 2008 brochure, it seems as though the entries are:

GT4 :
- Aston Martin N24
- BMW Z4
- Ford Mustang FR500 GT4
- Lotus Exige
- Maserati Trofeo
- Nissan 350 Z
- Opel GT
- Porsche Cayman

Sports Light :
- Ginetta G50
- 2/Eleven Lotus
- Donkervoort D8 GT
- KTM X-Bow

Does anyone know if there will actually be atoms in the sports light class, or is that wishful thinking?

[flattotheboards]

This sounds like a great race series.

[John Lloyd]

Fetchez la vache said:

After downloading the 2008 brochure, it seems as though the entries are:

GT4 :
- Aston Martin N24
- BMW Z4
- Ford Mustang FR500 GT4
- Lotus Exige
- Maserati Trofeo
- Nissan 350 Z
- Opel GT
- Porsche Cayman

Sports Light :
- Ginetta G50
- 2/Eleven Lotus
- Donkervoort D8 GT
- KTM X-Bow

Does anyone know if there will actually be atoms in the sports light class, or is that wishful thinking?

Wishful thinking. I'm not aware of any Atoms entering this series.

[cyberface]

Aluminium is more likely to catch fire than steel... but that's a real long shot, I can't see solid aluminium pipe catching fire at car-fire temperatures... besides, the composite body will burn well before the aluminium structure.

If you don't believe this, there was a well publicised Lotus 340R that caught fire ages ago, the poor owner stood by the roadside watching it burn and took a bunch of photos... the entire car, including the ally tub, was gone at the end...

[Frik]

Isn't steel mandatory for roll cages?

[Ravell]

cyberface said:

Aluminium is more likely to catch fire than steel... but that's a real long shot, I can't see solid aluminium pipe catching fire at car-fire temperatures... besides, the composite body will burn well before the aluminium structure.

If you don't believe this, there was a well publicised Lotus 340R that caught fire ages ago, the poor owner stood by the roadside watching it burn and took a bunch of photos... the entire car, including the ally tub, was gone at the end...

You're thinking magnesium. Aluminium won't burn although it will melt in a car fire. The main reason it's not allowed in rollbar structures in motorsport is because of the risk of metal fatigue compared with steel.