RIC WOOD MOTORSPORT - GM Calibra V8

GM Calibra V8

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This is no ordinary Calibra. Successfully raced in 1998 to 8 race wins and 1st in the Formula Saloons British Championship. This car was the quickest car of its class in 1998. The second of two cars built for Thunder saloons by Pilbeam racing.

This car was far stronger in competition than the first and won the Thundersaloons class. Sold to Ric Wood in 1997 and modified to run in Formula saloons and is still raced to the present date.

Fitted with a 6.2 litre Chevrolet V8 engine specially race built and tuned by Ric Wood to put out an awesome 646bhp at 7000rpm driving through a 4 speed Jerico NASCAR race gear box.

The engine , built by Ric Wood features an Alloy Pontiac Block, Steel crank, SE pistons with a dry sump system. Ric Wood modified alloy race cylinder heads with titanium valves. MSD ignition Kit and programmable engine system. Engine was built using in-house dyno and gas flow analysis facilities.

This car is is also fitted with AP Racing 6 pot racing calipers running on 355 mm discs. Fabricated rear axle arrangement featuring oil cooled GKN modified Limited slip differential (seen below). Alternate diffs are fitted according to circuit requirements to alter final drive ratio. The highest ratio sees the car up to 197mph at 7000rpm as seen at Snetterton in 1998.

This car shows the true potential of the Ric Wood built race engines together with a well sorted chassis/suspension/braking package. In a highly competeitive class , it dominated the field in 1998 and won the championship (with no small help from the driver, Ric Wood himself.)

This car is still raced occasionally and has been updated with new components and further tuning turning it in to something of a show case for Ric Wood Motorsport. It is without doubt one of the fastest full bodied cars in the UK or Europe.

SPECIFICATIONS

Body	• New shell stripped of all underseal and seam welded. • Strengthened roll cage welded in. • Designed and built by Pilbeam racing.
Aero Kit	Full aero kit designed by Marnier Race cars.
Engine	• 6.2 litre Pontiac engine modified by Ric Wood • Alloy block and cylinder head • Dry sump • Titanium Valves and rockershafts
Weight	1150 Kg
Instrumentation	Full STACK digital dash and telemetry system.
Transmission	Four Speed Jerico NASCAR box.
Rear Axle	GKN LSD (Modified) - Interchangable ratios (3.54:1 and 3.06:1)
Suspension	• Front - double wishbone • Koni shocks all round • Harried uprights (front and rear) • Rear - Double wishbone • Cockpit adjustable roll bars from and rear
Brakes	• AP racing 6 pot calipers and watercooled • Carbon metalic pads • Rear - 4 pot calipers
Wheels	BBS 18 inch split rims. 12 inch wide.
Tyres	Dunlop slicks • Front 265 x 650 x 18 • Rear - 285 x 675 x 18
Fuel System	120 ltr ATL fuel cell (Foam filled) Mounted as low as possible.
Engine Lubricants	Valvoline racing Oil
Top Speed	197 Mph (actual)
Power	646 BHP