|
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 .
he GT , which became the irst 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 .
he 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 Spitires in which Polish pilots made such a signiicant 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 . he 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 . he feats of the Zborowskis and in particular Count Louis ' association with this true home of British motor racing is a itting 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 ."
he Arrinera Hussarya GT made its world debut at the 2016 Autosport International Show in Birmingham . he 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 speciication
Engine : 7-litre LS7 V8 , Engine Power Output : Above 505hp Transmission : 6-speed Hewland LLS sequential with paddle shit 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 speciication
he irst cabriolet from the Mercedes- Maybach brand is making its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and is all set to hit markets in the spring of 2017 - limited to 300 examples and with a net price tag of 300,000 euros . Unique
|