Skelta Spyder
Australian rally car Skelta will now be available for purchase in the U.K. The lightweight car comes with a choice of two different powerful engines, certainly capable of powering through the British countryside.
Customers will be able to choose between a supercharged, 340 horsepower, 2.0-liter Honda four-cylinder engine, or a Hartley 3.0-liter V8-engine that pumps out 460 horsepower. The driver controls the power with a Honda-made six speed transmission, and uses the ventilated discs and four-pot caliper brakes to slow it down. Double-wishbone, front and rear suspension connects to MCA Proflex springs and dampers and forms a fully adjustable system.
Although the design team used a "chrome molybdenum steel spaceframe," they used a carbon-fiber body to keep the dry weight to a low 720 kilograms (50/50 weight distribution). Sidepods and center tunnel are built out of a sandwich of carbon-fiber and aluminum. Aerodynamic styling includes a big rear wing, diffuser, and front air intakes that combine for 200 kilograms of downforce when traveling at 90mph.
Two different two-seat versions will be sold, including the gull-wing, removable targa top "G-Force." The other model is a "wide-bodied, open-topped two-seater," dubbed, "Spyder."
Named for the Beatles song "Helter Skelter," the Skelta will be introduced to the UK at January's Autosport International Show in Birmingham, England.
Press Release (Click to expand)
IT'S BEEN WINNING RALLIES AND RACES IN AUSTRALIA FOR 6 YEARS. NOW IT'S AVAILABLE IN THE UK - WELCOME TO THE SKELTA
Whether you want to compete in sprints and hillclimbs, clean up in GT racing, participate in track days, or simply motor through the summer sun to your local pub, the Skelta could be just the car for you.
Most road-going competition cars require a myriad of costly upgrades to make them fully competitive. The super-light, ultra-tough Skeltas on the other hand leave the factory with all the power, handling and braking they require to win out of the box.
Supreme lightness
The chrome molybdenum steel spaceframe is reinforced with a centre tunnel and sidepods made of carbonfibre/aluminium sandwich, while the body is crafted entirely from carbonfibre composite. This extensive use of strong but lightweight materials results in a dry weight of a mere 720kg.
Ample power
Power comes from either a supercharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Honda unit of 340bhp or the 3.0-litre V8 Hartley engine of 460bhp - both engines drive through a Honda six-speed transmission. The suspension comprises rose-jointed double wishbones front and rear, linked to inboard MCA Proflex spring and damper units - the set-up is fully adjustable for track, camber, caster and toe. Powerful braking emanates from ventilated discs and four-pot callipers front and rear.
Cutting-edge aerodynamics
The heavily finned front air intakes, sizeable rear wing and diffuser are a clue to the aerodynamic package, which exerts 200kg of downforce at 90mph. Coupled to a 50/50 weight distribution this results in phenomenal cornering power - small wonder then that the car is so competitive, whatever its environment. The Skelta is available in two styles:
- Spyder - a wide-bodied, open-topped two-seater
- G-Force - a two-seater with detachable gull-wing targa top
One man's dream
The Skelta was born out of one man's obsession to win the incomparable 2000km Targa Tasmania road rally. A former Australian rally champion, Ray Vandersee began his determined assault on the Targa with a re-engineered Westfield. His ingenious modifications brought it closer to the Porsches, Nissan GTRs etc that were dominating such events, but it was clear that something fresh was needed to ensure him of outright victory. Starting with a clean sheet of paper, and incorporating all the attributes his extensive competition career told him were required, he designed his own creation from scratch - the Skelta.
Thanks to Skelta, Vandersee and his customers have now won countless events throughout Australia and New Zealand and Vandersee himself has come agonisingly close to realising his dream of wining Targa Tasmania outright. With a string of class wins and quickest stage times to his credit, plus the fastest Skelta yet under constant development, 2010 can't come soon enough for him. Skelta Racecars Europe has been formed to give UK and European drivers the chance of similar success and enjoyment.
Skelta facts
- The origin of the name? The Beatles hit Helter Skelter was blasting from the radio the night the project was conceived
- Skeltas are made in Toowoomba, Queensland, next door to the well established Vandersee family business of importing John Deere farm machinery and Hino trucks for distribution throughout Australia
On show at Autosport International in January
Examples of both the Spyder and G-Force will be exhibited at the Autosport International Show at the NEC, January 14-17. In the meantime, further details of the cars are available at www.skeltaracecars.com.
Comments
View Comment Rules
Add Comment
Mercedes names Nico Rosberg as 2010 driver
No new F1 career for Schu - Brawn
Donington administrators welcome Ecclestone comments
Sauber's Qadbak takeover to collapse - report
F1 journalist to reprise naked jog
Le Mans on hold as Klien eyes F1 return
Merc GP structure not a recipe for tension - Haug
No Bulgarian GP, FIA's Todt insists
Argentine signs conditional USF1 race deal
Williams sells team share to Toto Wolff
But the engines are magnificent.
Edited by user on November 7, 2009 at 6:06 AM