Ginetta G50

Ginetta G50

Ginetta G50 in a GT4 series race at Spa Francorchamps
Overview
Manufacturer Ginetta Cars
Production 2008-2014
Assembly Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Designer Lawrence Tomlinson
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Body style 2-door coupé
Layout Front-engine, RWD
Related Ginetta G55
Powertrain
Engine G50: Ford Duratec 3.5 litre V6, 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS)[1] or 340 hp (254 kW; 345 PS)[2] (dependent on spec)
G50 GT4: Ford Duratec 3.7 litre V6, 355 hp (265 kW; 360 PS)
G50Z: Zytek ZG348 3.4 litre V8, 490 hp (365 kW; 497 PS)
Transmission Quaife six-speed sequential
Dimensions
Kerb weight 945 kg (2,083 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Ginetta G20 (Race and Road versions
Successor Ginetta G55 (Race version) Ginetta G60 (Road Version)

The Ginetta G50 is a specialist GT4 class-developed racing car, designed by Ginetta Cars. A road version of the car was planned, but did not enter wide-scale production; instead, the smaller Ginetta G40 was launched.

Development

In late 2007, in what he later described as his Victor Kiam moment,[3] Leeds-based businessman Lawrence Tomlinson bought Ginetta Cars from the group of enthusiasts, who themselves had bought it out of administration.[4]

The G50 was developed to celebrate 50 year of production of Ginetta Cars. With base specifications penned by trained engineer Tomlinson, the car was developed in under six months.[5]

Racing

Launched in 2008, the G50 was awarded Autosport National Car of the Year in its first year.[5] With its own Ginetta GT Supercup one-make series, the G50 has also been undefeated GT4 class championship winner in every season of British GT Championship, and won the GT4 European Cup in 2009, beating Aston Martin, BMW and Porsche.

As a result, Ginetta Cars won "Small Business of the Year" from the Motorsport Industry Association in 2008, and in 2009 Tomlinson was nominated by the MIA for the "Outstanding Contribution to Motorsport" award.[5]

Road car

The first Ginetta G50 road-registered car was shown in April 2008,[6] and then took part in the Silverstone Supercar Tour. It features the same base set-up as the race car, with a proposed development of a V8 model with 520 brake horsepower (390 kW). Retail prices were estimated at starting from £45,000 ($72,549) for the V6, and £100,000 ($161,220) for the V8. However, due to the economic recession, Ginetta indefinitely shelved plans for general production of the G50, instead opting to produce the smaller, cheaper Ginetta G40.[7]

G50 EV Prototype

Ginetta G50 EV, at Goodwood in 2009

In 2009, Ginetta, in conjunction with Zytek, built an electric version of the G50 as the Ginetta G50 EV Prototype. The car was fitted with a rear-mounted 90 kW (122 PS; 121 hp) electric motor, with the regular petrol engine being removed. Ginetta gave an estimated range of between 150 and 250 miles.[8] In November, former Formula 1 World Champion John Surtees drove the prototype through the Channel Tunnel, with the car becoming the first production-specification car to be driven through the tunnel.[9] However, production was cancelled following the company's failure to secure a government grant for the project.[10]

G50Z GT3

A GT3 specification car was developed in 2009 featuring a 4.0 Zytek V8 which was then down graded to a 3.4L v8 when racing in GT Asia by Craft Racing. The car was intended to challenge for outright GT victories instead of GT4 class victories.

Ginetta G50Z, at Sydney Motor Sport Park 2015

References

  1. ↑ "Cars - G50". Ginetta Cars. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Ginetta G50 GT4 car" (PDF). Ginetta Cars. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Andrew Bounds (27 April 2010). "A high-speed empire builder". Financial Times. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  4. ↑ Bill Wilson Business (20 September 2011). "Ginetta owner relishes high-octane business career". BBC News. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "Lawrence Tomlinson". Yorkshire Mafia Conference. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Road-legal Ginetta G50 enters production". Motor Authority. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ginetta G50 replaced by G40". Autocar. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ginetta G50 EV Prototype Review". Autocar. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "John Surtees pilots electric Ginetta G50EV through Channel Tunnel - UK Auto News, Latest Car News". Nationwide Vehicle Contacts. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ginetta G50 EV plans 'on hold'". Autocar. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
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