The only way is up(side-down)
Designed in a spare office at the Honda F1 facility, featuring an aero body developed from actual Indy racing experience, offering F1 levels of cornering and built with the knowledge and expertise of one of the world’s leading race car manufacturers… could the road-legal Reynard Inverter be the track day enthusiasts’ ultimate wet dream?
The brand new Reynard is a race-ready two-seater designed to meet regulations for Class C of the 750 Motor Club Bike Sports Championship. It packs a 175bhp, 14,000rpm Fireblade engine into a sparrow-like 400kgs frame and those uncompromisingly aerodynamic body panels exert so much downforce from 100mph to its 150mph maximum it could theoretically race upside-down on the ceiling – hence the name ‘Inverter’.
Adrian Reynard says his new car is fully compliant with SVA regs for low volume type approval and therefore capable of being road registered. However its true raison d’être is on the track where Reynard claims slick Avon tyres will provide an eyeball distorting 4G lateral cornering experience, previously unachievable outside top levels of motorsport like F1. For road use the car gets treaded tyres on its 7”x16” front and 9”x17” rear wheels.
The smallest engine option – a standard Fireblade unit – generates a power to weight ratio of 360bhp per tonne, but you can also opt for a 250bhp Suzuki Hayabusa engine for 530bhp/tonne.
Coming from Reynard, you’d expect the Inverter to be a technical tour de force. The frame is constructed from stainless tube reinforced by two aluminium honeycomb composite side panels riveted into position. A laminated Tegris skin providing enhanced side-intrusion protection bolsters these panels. The nosebox is an aluminium honeycomb offering frontal and side impact protection – a crash structure that has been successfully validated at Cranfield University.
The bike engine’s final drive is via composite toothed belt, eliminating the need for chain lubrication. Reverse gear is supplied by a 12v electric motor and there’s a Quaife rear diff. A paddle-shift will augment the six-speed sequential gearbox, enabling flat-upshifting and auto-blip downshifting, says Reynard.
Suspension uprights and wishbones are all non-handed and cut from standard width aluminium plate to keep costs down, while the body’s front and rear panels are designed to hinge for easy access. They will be moulded in GRP or carbon fibre to customer choice.
Reynard was a big name in race car construction prior to the company’s bankruptcy in 2002, with race-winning chassis built for many single seat categories including Champ Cars. The Inverter signalled the brand’s revival yesterday at the Autosport Show.
'I thought it would be really good to design a car again and I wanted to make something for the bottom of the motorsport ladder – giving a unique driving experience at low cost,' Adrian Reynard told Autosport.
Prices have yet to be announced.
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