imported_Supra_RZ

General Information

Vehicle Type: 2-door coupe, race car

Drivetrain

Configuration: Mid Engine/RWD
Engine: Supercharged V8
Displacement: 5410 cc

Although there was no factory racing program for the Ford GT, Swiss racing team Matech has taken it upon themselves to convert the GT to racing spec under the regulations of the FIA GT3 racing series. In just a few months, the team, run by Christian Schumacher, managed to convert the Ford GT into a race car at workshops within a stone’s throw of the Nürburgring in Germany. After several test runs on the world renowned Eifel circuit, the Matech team headed off for Adria, for a first official run, and especially to take part in tests by FIA GT3 driver Christophe Bouchut.

Not only did this beauty prove itself to be fast, clocking up the best lap time of the day, but its overall preparation dumbfounded more than one, starting with Christophe Bouchut himself! “Notwithstanding its young age, this Ford GT really impressed me,” he commented. “Right from the word go she was really easy to handle, and especially fast. I reckon this car has an enormous potential. Believe me they’ll be talking about this car in this type of race. We now need to see how it compares with the references in the category, but Matech Racing really carried out come great work.”

Apart from the lap times clocked by the Ford GT, it is also the practical side of the car that took Bouchut aback. “We know that she has great looks, and the effect she has on people is guaranteed. Once at the wheel I thought it would take quite a few minutes for the mechanics to fix and adjust the various elements, such as the windscreen, the dashboard, and the pedals; without forgetting the various bodywork components. Well in fact quite the contrary! In just a couple of seconds, everything was OK, and I was out on the track. In fact in an endurance race situation, such accessibility allows the mechanics to work quickly which is an undeniable advantage. Everything has been well thought out, offering maximum efficiency.”

Just a few days after the first official outing of the Ford GT built by Matech Racing, during the FIA-GT3 test held at Adria in Italy, the Swiss team found itself under the blue sky at Dijon Prenois. Once again the results were up to the team’s expectations.

For two whole days the German Thomas Mutsch ground down the French asphalt, allowing Matech Racing’s technical specialists to carry on with the development of this superb looking car. The engineers concentrated mainly on the aerodynamics, prior to Christophe Bouchut getting behind the wheel. And even though he admitted being regularly hindered during his fast laps, the Frenchman clocked up the best lap of the GT3s by the end of this second test day - enough to confirm the potential of the car.

In its debut race at Silverstone, the Matech Racing Ford GT captured pole in its very first qualifying with Romain Bera at the wheel. “It is quite a surprise for us, we had an electrical problem during the first day, but I really did my best during this session,” commented Bera. Unfortunately, the team was not able to utilize the qualifying position, and both cars retired from the race more than halfway through. In the second race, the car qualified second, but yet again could not capitalize and finished sixteenth.

imported_Supra_RZ

Pictures :righton