Organisers of New Zealand’s BNT V8s Championship have released technical details of its next generation platform which is set to hit race tracks in the 2020/21 season.
Plans for the new generation of race cars, designed as two-door American muscle cars, were revealed last December, with extensive specifications and a more true-to-life set of renders now made public.
Having teased initial artwork of a Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Dodge Challenger, it is a car resembling the former which has been released, known as the ‘Pace V8GT ZC1’.
Other two-door bodies, including but not limited to Mustang- and Challenger-style shapes, are also possible.
While Mitchell Race Xtreme had initially been named as the chassis builder, Pace Innovations will in fact supply the cars, as a turnkey package for AUD 230,000 ex works.
Pace is the same company responsible for Supercars’ Car of the Future chassis, the MARC Cars, and the New Zealand V8 SuperTourers which currently run in Class One, the top level of BNT V8s, alongside the Mitchell-built TLX cars from the NZV8s.
The new generation cars will compete in Class One but have also been designed to be capable of modification to race in New Zealand’s North and South Island endurance championships and the like.
New technical features include an Albins ST6 six-speed transaxle, paddle shifters, and Pace flow forged 18×11” rims with centre lock spindles, which will take the existing Dunlop tyre.
The engine in the Camaro-style V8GT ZC1 is a 6.2-litre LS3 race engine capable of producing 630hp at 7200rpm, subject to the category’s parity tuning procedures.
As is currently the case for the TLX cars, other bodyshells would be capable of taking an engine true to the particular brand of car.
“The NZTC (New Zealand Touring Cars) Board of Directors believes that it was important during the design process to make sure that the car could be used for multiple events not just confined to the BNTV8s Championship,” said Ian Barlow, head of the NZ development project team.
“For that reason, the car has been designed with upgrades able to be added for endurance racing such as anti-lock braking system and traction control.
“We have spent a lot of time finalising the specification of this new generation car with Pace Innovations and think it will be a car that teams and competitors will be excited about.”
Nick Ross, who currently competes in a TLX Nissan Altima, also hailed the design having visited Pace’s Gold Coast facility.
“The facility Pace has over there is certainly world class. I was very impressed with the high level of manufacturing capabilities,” said Ross.
“When it comes to this next generation chassis, it is a huge leap forward as far as level of specification and performance.
“It has great features and design characteristics as well as being built with some of the highest quality motorsport products such as Brembo, Tilton, Motec, Ohlins and Albins.
“What’s more, what is being offered to competitors is exceptional value for money. It is going to provide a fantastic racing platform.”
No sales have yet been announced, although series organisers are currently taking enquiries.
V8GT ZC1 Technical Specification
| Concept | GT Car, 2 door coupe, rear wheel drive |
| Body Style | V8GT – ZC1 |
| Weight | 1200kg est. dry weight |
| Chassis | Common platform chassis. 25CrMo4 alloy steel space frame. Bolt on front & rear crash structures |
| Body | Composite panels with Lexan windscreen and windows. Removable bonnet & rear decklid. LH & RH opening doors |
| Aero Package | Composite splitter, flat floor, composite diffuser, adjustable rear wing |
| Lighting | OEM tail lights and FIA rain light |
| Engine | N/A 6.2l LS3 based full race engine. Velocity Engineering dry sump oil scavenging system with external oil tank. Velocity rocker covers. Fast intake manifold. Fully built rotating assembly. Drive by wire. 98 Octane with E85 compatibility. 630HP, 7200RPM limit |
| Engine Management | M150 GPRP ECU, PDM 30 |
| Fuel System | FIA-FT3 fuel cell, 18-gallon (65L) capacity. Combined in-tank fuel pot/collector unit with lift pumps and main pump w/filler plate |
| Airbox/Intake | Intake duct through front bumper to custom airbox |
| Exhaust | Full custom mandrel exhaust (Mild Steel) with muffler |
| Cooling | PWR engine & oil cooling system with front bumper duct |
| Transmission | Rear mounted Albins ST6 6-Speed transaxle, integrated spool differential. Internal oil pump, dual external air-oil coolers. Transaxle mounted clutch housing, alternator, and starter motor (Tilton). Option for LSD $2,000 AUD excl GST at time of purchase |
| Rear Drive | Incorporated in transaxle. Changeable drop gears. Steel driveshafts with CVs. Single piece solid prop shaft. |
| Clutch & Flywheel | Tilton 5.5” 3 plate metal heavy duty clutch, Albins flywheel. |
| Shifting System | Pneumatic shift actuation with steering wheel mounted shifter paddles |
| Front Suspension | Independent front suspension, double unequal length wishbone with spherical bearings. Mechanic adjustable anti-roll bar. Direct-acting Ohlins 2-way coil-over shock |
| Rear Suspension | Independent rear suspension, double unequal length wishbones with spherical bearings. Mechanic adjustable anti-roll bar. Direct-acting Ohlins 2-way coil-over shock |
| Front Upright | Ambidextrous custom upright, bolt-in replaceable spindle/bearing unit, camber adjustment via shim stack |
| Rear Upright | Ambidextrous custom upright, bolt-in replaceable spindle/bearing unit, camber adjustment via shim stack |
| Front Brakes | Brembo 6 piston forged caliper to suit Brembo 380mm, 53.5mm annulus rotor. Cooling via 5” brake ducts from front bumper intake |
| Rear Brakes | Brembo 4 Piston forged caliper to suit Brembo 332mm, 53.5mm annulus rotor |
| Pedals | Tilton 3 pedals (fixed position) with driver adjustable brake bias. Tilton master cylinders |
| Steering | Electronic power steering rack. Woodward collapsible steering column |
| Fire Suppression | In cabin handheld fire extinguisher |
| Air Jacks | Inboard air jacks with external spike fill |
| Rim | Pace Innovations flow forged 18×11” rim, centre lock spindles |
| Tyres | Category supplied Dunlop 18×11” Tyre |
| Wiring Harness | Heatshrink sealed chassis and engine harness with expansion patch |
| Data logging/Display | MoTeC C125 display (120mb logging enabled) 5” full colour display GPS lap timing Engine diagnostics Front & rear master cylinder pressures Front wheel speed sensors Steering position sensor Analysis through Motec i2 or i2 Pro |
| Driver Interface | OMP Seat, harness, and steering wheel w/quick disconnect. |
| Estimated Cost | $230,000 AUD excl GST, ex Pace Innovations Yatala, QLD, Australia |
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