Tuesday 4th May 2010

Chevron GR8 Racer Ready For Action

Rapidly created one-make series gets underway this weekend

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The new Chevron GR8 one-make race series finally gets underway this weekend, despite a design and build process that has taken barely more than six months.

A few weeks back we brought you news and pictures of the 255bhp, 2.0-litre Cosworth-powered car's first test at Anglesey. Since then, the GR8 has sprouted some aero add-ons (including the chunky rear wing seen on this, the development car, at Anglesey last week).

The first 10 customers have already driven the development car, but only around six cars are expected to line up for the first race at Silverstone this weekend. Chevron expects to have closer to 20 GR8s lining up on the grid at the second meeting of the series - at Brands Hatch on 19 June.

"Given the timescale we went public with at the outset, I sense a lot of people thought it couldn't be done," says Helen Bashford-Malkie, MD of Cheshire-based Chevron Racing Cars. "Our design, engineering and production team have put in maximum effort, working seven days a week virtually since the project got under way. If this wasn't motor racing and if they weren't all enthusiasts, it could never have happened.

"The decision to use conventional construction techniques – and avoid the temptations of carbon/aramid composite structures – has obviously helped in meeting the deadlines that were set."

[Jigsjigz]

It looks so boring :\ not GR8 at all.

[chevronb37]

It was on display at Silverstone a couple of weekends ago. Not bad looking in the flesh - small and neat, but ultimately doesn't look the high-end product the Chevron name might confer upon it. I'll reserve judgement until I see it on track.

[wildman0609]

i hope they sort that wing out. it looks a mess, shouldn't be too difficult to make it look more professional considering this is the development rig.
i don't think it looks as a ginetta g40

[Emubiker]

I do really like the look of it from the front-sidal view, but square on from the side the wing just look terrible, wouldn't mind one as a road car though please...if your reading this Chevron...

[zac510]

I love the curvature of the panels but I wish they'd put some lights (front and rear) on it to make it look more complete.

They'd break up the big expanses of red.

Yes I know, everyone's a stylist all of a sudden!

[GTRene]

I think it looks very racy functional, ofcorse if they build a road car they will change some things, but its a race car and in that way I think cosmetic comes second so it looks oke.

[Chris Wilson]

I am sure the rear wing and supports are not as production, just an aero test? Maybe it has the sort of shape that generates lift over the roof section and testing showed it in need of some counter measures? Agree, need faux rear lights to break up the rear panel. Still think it's an attractive car though. People seem to rave over the Chevron B8 shape, but it never did anything for me, B16 though, now THAT was a looker

[Gompo]

I think it looks pretty good, reminds me of a shrunken 599 + Exige. Sort out the rear wing and it definitely looks good enough if you know what I mean.

[soad]

Think it looks quite good, definately would have a good blast in one.

[mark3man]

Strange it does NOT have lights - I always assumed that brake lights were mandatory on sports racing cars, even if lights to see and be seen by weren't.

[bennyb24]

How much ??? looks good for a budget(ish) racer - if were talking over 6 figures I'll have to look a bit harder. (probably just made myself look like a tit - knowing v little about Chevron)

[soad]

bennyb24 said:

How much ???

Read this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Aspiring racers will have to shell out £49,500 plus VAT for the GRP and steel spaceframe racing-spec Chevron GR8, and 20 examples are being built for the 16-race, BARC-run GR8 Challenge series.

[bennyb24]

opps missed that bit - well I think it looks pretty good in that case....

[JBanx]

i think that it will indeed have lights on it at some point as I was talking to a race team that has purchased two of them and they are looking to run them in the brit car 24h race at silverstone.

[Stew2000]

Lose the wing and make it road legal. It's awesome

[rubystone]

I'm looking forward to reading the first track test of the car. I'd like to see a comparison between it and the Ginetta G50 - similar price points aren't they?....

[BanjoMaster]

Offset police say front wheel fitment sucks, and the wing is obviously (or hopefully) just a quick and dirty test mockup, but apart from that big thumbs up from me. Nice, clean lttle shape

[xr287]

soad said:

bennyb24 said:

How much ???

Read this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Aspiring racers will have to shell out £49,500 plus VAT for the GRP and steel spaceframe racing-spec Chevron GR8, and 20 examples are being built for the 16-race, BARC-run GR8 Challenge series.

What! Why would I buy this then when the Ginetta G50 is faster, cheaper and better looking? I expected it to be sub £30k.