Arrinera Racing inspired by Anglo-Polish sporting and historical ties produced a 7 litre V8 Hussarya GT.

• Arrinera Racing inspired by Anglo-Polish sporting and historical ties
• New GT powered by 7-litre V8 in modular spaceframe chassis
• Plans forming for Polish-designed supercar to race in 2017
• Road-legal Track Day version of Hussarya GT to follow

Polish supercar manufacturer Arrinera Racing headed to Brooklands in the past week to present two of its new Hussarya GTs that have been inspired by its nation’s unique historical and sporting ties to Britain, as the company pushes ahead with plans for its competition debut in 2017.

The GT, which became the first Polish car to spin its wheels at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed in the summer, offers high performance through an attractive, uncomplicated, easy to drive and maintain concept that will appeal to amateur drivers looking for a strong and safe new alternative to used premium-brand racing cars.

The Hussarya is powered by an LS7 V8 engine driven through a six-speed Hewland sequential racing gearbox. Its modular steel spaceframe chassis mirrors the structures of Hurricanes and Spitfires in which Polish pilots made such a significant contribution to the allied air campaigns of World War II. But inspiration has also been drawn from Polish-related feats on the world’s race tracks, too – particularly from the pioneering days of motorsport at Brooklands.

Eliot Zborowski and his son Count Louis were both wealthy racing drivers with Polish family lineage who played key roles in British motorsport’s earliest days.

Eliot Zborowski, born in New Jersey, was an accomplished horseman before the growing tide of interest in automobiles swept him up in 1898. It is said that in 1903 it was Zborowski who suggested green should become Britain’s national racing colour – in honour of Ireland. The Gordon Bennett Cup, the precursor to Grand Prix motor races, was run in Kildare because of strict speed restrictions on British roads, and Zborowski is alleged to have made the gesture in tribute to the host country, which led to the foundation of what would become the world-famous British Racing Green. He was killed in the same year at La Turbie hillclimb in France driving a Mercedes 60 factory racer.

His son Count Louis Zborowski also caught the racing bug – and the sport claimed him, too. He died in the 1924 Italian Grand Prix at Monza when his Mercedes hit a tree. But his legacy had already been assured by the creation of two cars known as ‘Chitty Bang Bang’, which he raced at Brooklands. Zborowski and his aero-engined monsters inspired James Bond author Ian Fleming to write ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, his children’s book that was also turned into a popular movie starring Dick Van Dyke.

Piotr R. Frankowski, Arrinera’s Competition & Marketing Manager, said: “To see a pair of our Hussaryas here at Brooklands is a special moment, especially as they are resplendent in green. The feats of the Zborowskis and in particular Count Louis’ association with this true home of British motor racing is a fitting inspiration for a proud Polish company. In the Hussarya, we wanted to present a car that is beautiful, very strong and durable, easy to drive and maintain – and very safe.”

The Arrinera Hussarya GT made its world debut at the 2016 Autosport International Show in Birmingham. The car’s body is designed by Pavol Burkatskyy with aerodynamics by Professor Janusz Piechna of Warsaw Technical University, and the mechanicals engineered by Krzysztof Stelmaszczuk. It is built in Cambridgeshire and is expected to race in Britain and Europe next year ahead of the launch of a road-legal track day version.

For a video on the inspiration behind the Arrinera Hussarya GT, click here.

Technical specification

Engine: 7-litre LS7 V8, 420-650hp (depending on tuning)

Transmission: 6-speed Hewland LLS sequential with paddle shift

Brakes: Alcon brakes, with 380mm discs and 6-pot mono bloc calipers

Suspension: Bespoke pushrod system with Öhlins 4-way adjustable dampers

Aerodynamics: Honed in CFD analysis and real-world wind tunnel testing at MIRA

FIA Homologation:Built to FIA GT3 specification

Incredibly rare Aston Martin Vulcan is now on display at leading luxury car dealership Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury in Berkshire

• Incredibly rare Aston Martin Vulcan is now on display at leading luxury car dealership Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury in Berkshire
• Just 24 examples of the track-only supercar were built by Aston, and the brand claims the Vulcan is the most intense and extreme model it’s ever created
• Born out of Aston Martin’s motorsport endeavours, the all-carbon-fibre Vulcan packs a 7.0-litre V12 engine that produces over 800bhp
• Vulcan at Knowl Hill is one of the only examples in the world on display and joins a stunning line-up alongside the likes of its Vantage GT12 sibling and the BMW M4 GTS

Leading luxury car dealership Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury has welcomed one of the rarest cars in the world to its Berkshire showroom, the Aston Martin Vulcan.

Penned by Aston’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichmann, the Vulcan is the most exclusive car ever made by the British brand, with just 24 examples being crafted upon its 2015 release.

And Knowl Hill is one of the only locations around where you can come and sample the scintillating supercar in all its glory by taking a look in and around the display model.

The track-only, rear-wheel-drive Vulcan is made purely from carbon fibre and is said to be Aston Martin’s most exhilarating and intense creation to date, and the figures are there to back that up.

With a 7.0-litre V12 engine producing 820bhp and 575lb ft of torque, this is one Aston Martin that certainly doesn’t need a second introduction.

It cuts quite the figure inside the Knowl Hill showroom, too. The Vulcan is remarkably low to the ground, measuring just 1,186mm tall, while dual vents on the bonnet and striking body lines hint at its blistering ability.

It’s a truly unique supercar and one that ties in perfectly with the Knowl Hill ethos. More than just a showroom, Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury offers customers a one-of-a-kind buying experience that puts the fun back into getting a new set of wheels.

The Vulcan isn’t the only ultra-rare car on display at Knowl Hill, either, as the independent dealership is also home to the BMW M4 GTS and the Aston Martin Vantage GT12, both of which are for sale.

One of only 30 UK models, Knowl Hill’s M4 GTS is proudly displayed in stunning Mineral White paint and is one of the most handsome limited-edition track-focused BMW M cars ever produced.

Sitting proudly next to the M4 GTS at Knowl Hill is the Vantage GT12 – one of just 100 examples built by Aston worldwide. This super-exclusive model is finished in pearlescent white paint with orange and black inserts to give it a racy edge.

Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury Founder Joseph Crowe said: “The Aston Martin Vulcan is a truly remarkable car and the rarest Aston Martin you’ll ever have the chance of laying your eyes on. It’s a particularly stunning model to observe both inside and out and a real limelight stealer. Knowl Hill is famous for selling the world’s finest cars, but the Vulcan is truly one of a kind and to be one of the only dealers in the world with one is a real honour and testament to our brand. We invite all supercar enthusiasts to come down to the showroom and sample the Vulcan and our relaxed atmosphere.”

First customers experience the exhilaration of their own Aston Martin Vulcan after receiving world-class driving tuition

• First customers experience the exhilaration of their own Aston Martin Vulcan after receiving world-class driving tuition
• Three year driver experience programme starts at Abu Dhabi Formula 1 circuit

The first owners of the Aston Martin Vulcan travelled to Abu Dhabi last week to receive world-class tuition from an elite team of racing drivers, led by Aston Martin Racing works’ driver Darren Turner.

The Aston Martin Vulcan is the product of the luxury British carmaker’s extensive motorsport experience. There is no question that the track-only supercar demonstrates Aston Martin’s flair for design and now a select group of owners have had the opportunity to use the Aston Martin Vulcan for its intended purpose – as an exhilarating 820 bhp supercar, engineered exclusively for extreme performance on-track.

The customers in Abu Dhabi received tuition in the V12 Vantage S road car and the Vantage GT4 race car, before heading out onto the iconic Formula 1 circuit in their own Aston Martin Vulcan, powered by a potent 7.0-litre V12 engine. Passenger-side tuition was given on every lap and the customer’s skills were tested throughout the day and into the night so they could fully experience the car in different atmospheric conditions.

Aston Martin Director of Special Projects and Motorsport David King commented: “Aston Martin Vulcan is a very special car and that is why we have developed a unique ownership programme. This includes specialist training so customers can drive it in the way it was intended. It has been great to see the first customer’s reactions after unleashing their very own Aston Martin Vulcan on the Grand Prix circuit here in Abu Dhabi.”

Just 24 Aston Martin Vulcans will be built in total and all 24 customers will receive world-class tuition so they are able to make the most of their new supercar.

Aston Martin Racing works’ driver and high performance development driver Darren Turner said: “The priority for all of us on the team was to produce a car that provides immense enjoyment for the customers. Judging by the reactions we have seen this week that goal has been achieved and surpassed. 

The guys here this week have all been in the car as my passenger at recent events, but this was the first time they got to see and drive their very own Aston Martin Vulcan. It has been a pleasure to see how quickly they have all got up to speed and to hear their first impressions of the car. I predict many fun track days ahead for these guys!”

USA - Chevrolet has introduced the Generation Six COPO Camaro today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Courtney Force-designed show car to be auctioned for United Way

With assistance from NHRA Camaro Funny Car driver Courtney Force, Chevrolet introduced the Gen Six COPO Camaro today at the SEMA Show. 

After visiting the COPO build center, Force collaborated with Chevrolet designers to create a custom appearance for the 2016 COPO Camaro SEMA show car. It will be auctioned at a Barrett-Jackson sale in 2016, with the proceeds going to United Way.

Chevrolet will build 69 COPO Camaro race cars for 2016, extending the production legacy that began in 2012 with the fifth-generation Camaro. Like the previous editions, the new COPO Camaro is designed for NHRA’s Stock and Super Stock Eliminator classes.

“With the new Gen Six Camaro as its foundation, the 2016 COPO Camaro begins the next chapter of an historic racing legacy,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “It’s great to have Courtney Force on Team Chevy and to work with her on the design of the new COPO Camaro show car. Most important, her effort will help raise money for a great cause.”

The 2016 COPO Camaro benefits from the lighter and stronger body structure of the Gen Six. Extensive computer-aided engineering helped increase structural rigidity by 28 percent, while the body-in-white mass was reduced by 133 pounds (60.5 kg).

Less mass and greater strength, along with the body’s sleeker profile in the wind, will help give racers an edge. It offers greater aerodynamic performance than the fifth-generation Camaro.

The show car features a Red Hot exterior color with Courtney Force-signature graphics and red-accented grille trim. Under its carbon fiber high-rise hood is a concept 350 racing engine with a Whipple 2.9L supercharger.

“I was extremely honored to work with Chevrolet and help design the 2016 COPO Camaro we unveiled today at the SEMA show,” said Courtney Force. “The bright red color and the signature slash marks towards the back on the car bring a part of my Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car to the COPO Camaro, which I think is really cool. The proceeds from this car go to a great cause and benefit the United Way Foundation, so it's an awesome project all around."

The car’s exterior cues also include wheelie bars and a parachute, along with Goodyear racing tires mounted on Weld lightweight racing wheels.

Inside, the COPO show car features an NHRA-certified chrome-moly roll cage, lightweight racing bucket seats personalized with the COPO logo and Courtney Force’s signature, five-point safety harnesses and a floor-mounted shifter. The instrument panel contains racing gauges and a competition switch panel.

The production COPO race cars will be fitted with racing chassis and suspension components, including a unique solid rear axle system in place of a regular-production Camaro’s independent rear axle. Details include:

• Lightweight, adjustable strut-type front suspension
• Four-link rear suspension with adjustable coil-overs, Panhard bar and stabilizer bar
• Rear axle with an aluminum center section featuring a spool-type differential and 40-spline gun-drilled axle shafts
• Lightweight, racing-type four-wheel disc brakes (un-assisted)
• Un-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system
• Fuel cell with built-in high-pressure fuel pump
• Unique racing wire harness.

When it comes to horsepower, racers can select from a variety of supercharged and naturally aspirated LS- and LT-family engines based on their intended NHRA Stock and Super Stock classes, including a supercharged 350 (5.7L), a naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) engine and an all-new LT-based 376 (6.2L) engine. The engines are backed by a racing-prepped Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmission.

Each COPO Camaro race car is built by hand starting with production hardware, including the same body in white used for production models.

Racers interested in purchasing one of the 69 2016 COPO Camaro race cars must register atchevrolet.com/performance/copo-camaro. An independent third-party will randomly select purchasers from the pool of interested customers.

Enthusiasts can also follow updates on the 2016 COPO Camaro program at theBlock.com.

The new COPO Camaro show car is one of more than 20 Chevrolet concept and production vehicles on display this week at the SEMA Show.

The Aston Martin Vulcan to be demonstrated at the 24 Hours at Spa this weekend, with two flying laps.

The highly-anticipated Aston Martin Vulcan will attend the showpiece of the Blancpain Endurance Series, the TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa, this weekend (25 July) and will demonstrate its abilities as the ultimate track-only machine as it completes two flying laps of the world-famous circuit.

With its 800-plus bhp powertrain developed in conjunction with Aston Martin Racing, the 7.0-litre V12 Aston Martin Vulcan will be driven by works driver Darren Turner (GB), who has been involved in the design and development of the car from its inception. Turner has more than 20 years experience in developing racing cars and relished the opportunity to put this track-knowledge into Aston Martin’s most extreme sportscar.

“It’s been amazing to have been involved in this project from the beginning,” said Turner. “From the conceptual sketches through to working with the designers on driver ergonomics, it is a fascinating process to be part of.

“It was very early days for the car when we first ran it at Goodwood Festival of Speed, but we certainly made a good impression and now we get to show the car in its most natural environment. I’m looking forward to our laps prior to the race and then being able to watch one of the best 24-hour events on the calendar.”

In the 24 Hours of Spa, two of the top Aston Martin Racing customer teams will contest the PRO-AM class with their V12 Vantage GT3s.

Leonard Motorsport AMR will field Stefan Mücke (DE), Stuart Leonard (GB), Michael Meadows (GB) and Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) and Oman Racing by Motorbase will race with its regular Blancpain Endurance Series line-up of Jonny Adam (GB), Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) and Dan Lloyd (GB), as well as welcoming Aston Martin Evolution Academy driver Jonathan Venter (AU) to the team.

“At Leonard Motorsport we have a very strong driver line-up and a good chance of a podium in the PRO-AM class,” commented Mücke. “I’ve had pole with the V12 Vantage GT3 here a couple of years ago and I’ll be aiming for the same again this year to give us the best chance of staying out of trouble at the start - in this event we are wheel-to-wheel racing from start to finish.”

Also returning to the 24 Hours of Spa is Scotsman Adam, who took British GT Championship victory at Spa just a fortnight ago in the Beechdean AMR V12 Vantage GT3. “Although I’ve had pole positions and wins at Spa previously, I’ve never qualified in this event before, so I’m looking forward to that new challenge. The top 20 shoot-out is exciting - it really is a list of the top GT drivers in the world so the competition is fierce. The V12 Vantage GT3 is ‘tried-and-tested’ and that gives you a lot of confidence going into a 24-hour race like this.”

The V12 Vantage GT3 has already had great success in long-distance endurance racing around the world this season, with podiums at Dubai 24 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hours and Daytona 24 Hours, and Team Principal John Gaw is hoping to get a similar result in Europe’s largest event.

“We have some of the top teams in GT racing running V12 Vantage GT3s,” Gaw commented. “And, they are having great success in some of the toughest endurance challenges around the world. Both Leonard Motorsport and Oman Racing by Motorbase are capable of getting a class podium finish at the 24 Hours of Spa and we are looking forward to supporting them.”

The 24 Hours of Spa starts at 1630hrs on Saturday 25 July and fans can watch live on the Blancpain Endurance Series YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/GTworld

The Aston Martin Vulcan laps will take place on Saturday 25 July at 1410hrs.

Could Aston build a better One-77, too damn right they can, and they have.

• Geneva global reveal for limited edition, track-only, 7.0-litre V12 supercar
• Motorsport-developed technology for extreme on-track performance
• Expert tuition, technical support and experience programme for owners

Introducing the Aston Martin Vulcan – a track-only supercar and the British luxury brand’s most intense and exhilarating creation to date.

Born out of extensive motorsport experience – and using the brand’s acknowledged flair for design and engineering ingenuity – the 800-plus bhp, all-carbon fibre Aston Martin Vulcan promises truly extreme performance.

Uniquely for Aston Martin, the new supercar – limited to just 24 examples worldwide – will allow owners the opportunity to precisely tailor their track day experience through a graduating scale of detailed power and dynamic performance adjustments.

CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, said: “Aston Martin Vulcan is, by its very nature, a rare and thrilling supercar. Designed and engineered to deliver a genuinely bespoke driving experience that draws on our rich heritage, this car tailors its power and handling to both the capabilities of the driver and the characteristics of the track.

“A sports car for true sports car lovers, I believe the Aston Martin Vulcan – and the unique ownership programme that sits behind it – sets a whole new standard in the ultra-high luxury supercar class.”

Motorsport-inspired

Styled entirely in-house by the Aston Martin design team led by Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, and with a design language hinting at the next generation of Aston Martin sports cars, this supercar is powered by the most potent iteration yet of the company’s naturally-aspirated, 7.0-litre V12 petrol engine.

With its 800-plus bhp powerplant developed in conjunction with Aston Martin Racing, this front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car draws extensively on the brand’s rich GT motorsport experience.

Utilising the techniques of world-class motorsport engineering, the supercar sees its power-to-weight ratio exceed those of the GTE cars which compete in the FIA’s annual World Endurance Championship.

Comprising cutting edge engineering including that sourced from the brand’s successful GT racing campaign, the car features a carbon fibre monocoque and body constructed by Aston Martin’s long-term specialist body engineering and manufacturing partner Multimatic, integral limited-slip differential, magnesium torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft and Brembo racing calipers acting on carbon ceramic racing disc brakes which measure 380mm in diameter at the front and 360mm at the rear.

Drive is channelled to the 345/30 x19 rear wheels and Michelin race specification tyres through a race-bred rear mid-mounted Xtrac six-speed sequential shift gearbox.

Track-derived pushrod suspension with anti-dive geometry is complemented by Multimatic’s Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars front and rear, driver-adjustable anti-lock braking, and variable traction control.

The new track car will comply with all relevant FIA race safety requirements.

Aston Martin’s Director of Special Projects and Motorsport, David King, said: “Taking the extensive learning from our various successful racing programmes and applying it to this exceptional track car for customers has been an exciting and sometimes challenging task for the team here at Gaydon.

“Our deep and broad motorsport experience, allied to our renowned road car expertise, has allowed us to make the Aston Martin Vulcan the absolutely compelling proposition it is today.”

Fast-track training

Prior to taking delivery of their cars, owners will be offered the opportunity to take part in an extensive and detailed programme of intensive track driver training.

Experienced racers including Aston Martin Racing’s Le Mans-winning Darren Turner will support owners on their learning journey, offering them the chance to refine their track driving technique and increase their ability through a carefully-constructed series of practical and theoretical driver training events.

Using a number of exciting high performance Aston Martins including the V12 Vantage S and One-77 road cars and the Vantage GT4 race car, customers will gradually build experience and develop their track technique, before beginning their thrilling personal journeys into the immense performance potential of their Aston Martin Vulcan.

David King said: “We will be running a series of exclusive track day events commencing in 2016 that will offer the opportunity for these customers to explore their driving capabilities, and the car’s performance potential, on some of the world’s most famous and glamorous race circuits.”

There will also be the option of time in the virtual race car world of Darren Turner’s Base Performance Simulators, where buyers will have ample opportunity to further refine their driving style in the safety of the digital race track.

No longer the exclusive preserve of Formula 1, it is widely acknowledged that using a simulator can help prepare a driver for any race; improving technique and consistency as well as, ultimately, lap times.

Almost infinitely flexible in terms of colour and trim options, the exclusive new sports car will be offered to buyers through Aston Martin’s VIP sales programme, using the expertise and luxury customer service that is now a hallmark of the brand’s ‘Q by Aston Martin’ bespoke personalisation service.

Dr Palmer added: “We have already received strong interest from the customers we have spoken to about Aston Martin Vulcan.

“The cars will blend our traditional Aston Martin values of Power, Beauty and Soul with an unrivalled ownership experience; a unique combination that will guarantee their place in the brand’s rich and charismatic history.”      

Performance data, together with further technical details about the ultra-exclusive track-only supercar, will be released closer to its track debut later this year.