Ultimas in GT racing; the true test.
Discussion
Try taking a look at this thread: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=272556&f=20&h=0
As mentioned in that thread, I'm firmly of the opinion that if an Ultima was run with a full budget and a decent level of development, it would regularly be at the sharp end of the British GT grid.
As mentioned in that thread, I'm firmly of the opinion that if an Ultima was run with a full budget and a decent level of development, it would regularly be at the sharp end of the British GT grid.
GT Wayne,
Sorry if I sounded in any way insincere.I have always admired the Ultima and did purchase a chassis a few years ago which someone was meant to help me build (but he disappeared with it!)I have always been baffled why track success has eluded such a competent chassis and engine combination.I know it is a road car, but if I may be permitted to use the favourite journalists' cliche, it is , in its top spec guise, a 'thinly disguised' racer!
Sorry if I sounded in any way insincere.I have always admired the Ultima and did purchase a chassis a few years ago which someone was meant to help me build (but he disappeared with it!)I have always been baffled why track success has eluded such a competent chassis and engine combination.I know it is a road car, but if I may be permitted to use the favourite journalists' cliche, it is , in its top spec guise, a 'thinly disguised' racer!
flamespitter said:
...but if I may be permitted to use the favourite journalists' cliche, it is , in its top spec guise, a 'thinly disguised' racer!
Since I am building an Ultima GTR, this is a biased response. However, you have to remember that this is still a road-legal setup. By virtue of the fact that it pulls almost 2G in the 200-foot skidpad test and accelerates faster than any other "supercar", you have to concede that it has a reasonable potential for success on the GT circuit. Why isn’t anyone campaigning an Ultima? Maybe there is someone on this board that knows enough about the racing world to say (Ted?). Perhaps it has something to do with factory sponsorship. Maybe it has something to do with the class the car would qualify to run in (P1, 2 or GTx?). Search me!
I can’t help but think that, if someone were to go all out with down-force mods to the aero package, drop in a $40k sequential transaxle, build a 20-hour-max-effort Chevy LS7 or C5-R small block, and still have the cash for six or eight sets of tires for the day, the Ultima GTR would clearly be a contender.
This has been covered on the other thread, but money plays a big part. The adage in racing is "Racing costs money - how much do you want to win?".
Just because they haven't had runaway success in GTs with teams struggling for funding, doesn't make them any less proficient as road cars.
Bear in mind, that most of the Ultims'a development was done as a result of Ted racing it successfully for years. In the late 80's early 90's, Ultimas ruled the UK circuits for road cars (on road tyres), so much so, the entry rules were changed to effectively exclude it from racing as it was too fast!
But racing is a way of losing a fortune, not making it, so Ted focused on developing and selling the road cars.
The cars performance speaks for itself. There is no Veyron series that I know of, nor have Bugatti fielded a car for donkey's years, but that doesn't stop them from trading on their racing heritage does it?
PS. As for being 'mobile chicanes' - I think you should take a closer look at Aaron Scott's performances. Constantly hamstrung by mechanical problems, when the car was running well, it was very competitive.
Just because they haven't had runaway success in GTs with teams struggling for funding, doesn't make them any less proficient as road cars.
Bear in mind, that most of the Ultims'a development was done as a result of Ted racing it successfully for years. In the late 80's early 90's, Ultimas ruled the UK circuits for road cars (on road tyres), so much so, the entry rules were changed to effectively exclude it from racing as it was too fast!
But racing is a way of losing a fortune, not making it, so Ted focused on developing and selling the road cars.
The cars performance speaks for itself. There is no Veyron series that I know of, nor have Bugatti fielded a car for donkey's years, but that doesn't stop them from trading on their racing heritage does it?
PS. As for being 'mobile chicanes' - I think you should take a closer look at Aaron Scott's performances. Constantly hamstrung by mechanical problems, when the car was running well, it was very competitive.
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