KTM X-Bow takes class win in GT4, annoys Astons and 'Vettes
Click above for a high-res gallery of the GT4 KTM X-Bow.
The crew at KTM is basking in the warm glow of victory after debuting its race-ready X-Bow in the European GT4 Sports Light series and taking home two class victories. The team campaigned a pair of X-Bows at the Silverstone circuit in the UK and aside from getting a one-two podium finish in its class, the team mixed it up with the rest of the 16 GT4 contenders, including Aston Martin N24s, Chevrolet Corvettes and Ford Mustangs. Among the 400+ hp racers, the X-Bow placing seventh and eleventh overall in Saturday's race, and fifth and sixth on Sunday. KTM is gearing up for the next race in Monza, Italy on May 17 and 18, and is looking to take another couple of wins before sales of the production X-Bow begins later this summer.
Gallery: KTM X-Bow GT4
[Source: KTM]
PRESS RELEASE
KTM X-Bow Wins Twice on Race Debut
- Two KTM X-Bow cars, run by German racing specialists Reiter Engineering, score class wins in the new GT4 Sports Light series
- Both cars finish ahead of immensely more powerful opposition in the GT4 European Cup
- Excellent results of the KTM X-Bow car's first competitive racing appearance are an emphatic confirmation of the concept behind KTM's sportscar
Both cars, which are run by the German team Reiter Engineering, completed practice, qualifying and two races without any technical problems – confirming that the KTM X-Bow really is 'Ready to Race'. Entry into the GT4 racing series has been used as the last acid test for the car, shortly before the series production begins this Summer.
The performance of the KTM X-Bow on the track surprised even the most optimistic among the Reiter team, with the cars finishing ahead of more established, and more powerful opposition. This was despite running on treaded tyres, with added ballast and an increased ride height, at the instruction of GT4 race officials to equalise the performance of the field.
Though the KTM X-Bow is strictly only competing against rival vehicles in the new 'Sports Light' category of GT4, the X-Bow raced alongside cars in the 400-HP-category. Other cars in the GT4 series include the Aston Martin N24, Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette.
Among a starting field of 16 high-performance racecars, the KTM X-Bow finished seventh and eleventh overall in the first race, and fifth and sixth in the second race.
The amazing results demonstrate the perfect concept and the awesome performance of the 'Ready to Race' KTM X-Bow. KTM is looking forward to the next round of the GT4 European Cup, which will take place on 16-18 May at Monza, Italy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Erik 8:09AM (4/22/2008)
It is unfair that such a small car is racing among big GT cars. There should be a minimum weight in the GT4 class
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Joe 8:22AM (4/22/2008)
"This was despite running on treaded tyres, with added ballast and an increased ride height, at the instruction of GT4 race officials to equalise the performance of the field."
Read the actual press release, duh.
Joe 8:27AM (4/22/2008)
And look at the results from the European GT4 website for that race...
Aston
Mustang
Aston
Aston
KTM
KTM
Z4
Aston
Aston
Z4
Z4
C6 Corvette
Aston
Aston
Mustang
I guess maybe a Mustang with an antiquated solid rear end actually CAN keep up with an IRS equipped car. Take that, haters.
Ben 8:28AM (4/22/2008)
Added ballast doesn't necessarily mean it's equal to weight or even power to weight ratio.
A smaller car with a shorter wheelbase and/or better suspension setup will carry the corners better.
geo.stewart 8:45AM (4/22/2008)
There are DIFFERENT CLASSES. KTM runs in the Sports Light class which is basically 'kit' cars like the KTM, the Gillet Vertigo, the YES Roadster, the Ginetta G50 and the Donkervoort and Lotus 2-11.
Its not unlike the ALMS. You have class win and overall win. KTM won its class which I believe just has the ginetta and KTM for right now.
Richard 11:32AM (4/22/2008)
Re. the Mustang's solid axle: That's on a race track. Try living with that rear suspension up here in New England! IRS will dust it every time on these roads.
Derek 12:21PM (4/22/2008)
Rick, you do realise that much of the development work on IRS is to make them do things that a stick axle does by design - keep the tires pointed parallel to each other and perpendicular to the pavement (actually, stick axles CAN run some camber if desired) and keep the roll center from migrating.
Stick axles can also use the torque reaction on the tires to provide more traction at the rear tires, something not possible with IRS.
Rick 10:19AM (4/22/2008)
Have you seen the underside of a solid axle Mustang in question? It's not that cut and dry, and it's far removed from a stock solid axle configuration. I lost count when I looked at all of the links and other attachments put in there to keep it under control...and mimic a more advanced independent suspension.
targa 3:10PM (4/22/2008)
Hmm,
The class win bit does not sound too difficult. Only KTM entered the GT4 Light class! Lotus will enter the 2/Eleven later in the year, along with the "YES".
Overall result in GT4 was Aston, Corvette, Aston.
Future overall victory for KTM, or any other Light will be dependant on any equalisation measures of the officals
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Rocketboy 8:32AM (4/22/2008)
They're basically running an open wheeled racer. I'm surprised that that sort of design is allowed.
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Hulkster 9:24AM (4/22/2008)
If you aini't first, you're last!
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Snix 9:33AM (4/22/2008)
Ah yes, small cars with little engines (making big horsepower). I love seeing old film clips of LeMans with little cars mixing it up. Mulsanne straight is a different story, but it's fun to watch.
@Joe:
Yep, I agree on the live axle comment. You can do all sorts of tricks to make the geometry work, including learning how to drive it right. I see it all the time in SCCA American Sedan and NASA AI/AIX. The haters should take a look at Andy McDermid's Mustang, and the Agent 47 Mustang.
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RG 9:33AM (4/22/2008)
This sounds like it could be a pretty cool racing class if you could get a field of X-Bows, 2-11s, Atoms, Radicals, Caterham, etc zipping around a track.
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steve 10:00AM (4/22/2008)
i went to limerock one time for vintage races and it was pretty cool seeing a lotus elan and mini cooper mixing it up with 70s mustangs,camaros and XKEs. The Elan won
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Mr. Oak 10:22AM (4/22/2008)
Yes, I seen races like that too. But the vast improvement suspension technology has negated that advantage.
The Elise, which is vastly improved over the Elan, could not beat today's Mustangs, Corvettes or Vipers at Limerock.
The BIG cars has closed the handling gap considerably and are not as bad as they used to be in the corners. The horsepower advantage negates the Elise's prowess in the corners.
Roman 10:04AM (4/22/2008)
To: Whoever said that the "Mustang with antiquated solid rear can keep up with ...."
Obviously it's going to keep up, the cars are race prepped, they don't enter a stock Mustang in there. No it's been modified just like the rest.
It's not really that special, you can race prep almost everything and it will do well.
Or you can just buy a GT3 RS, make a few tweaks and be done with it ;)
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Derek 12:21PM (4/22/2008)
But the GT3 probably costs more up front than the Mustang costs after race-prepping.
Not hating the GT3, but there are a few reasons why it costs 4-5x what a Mustang does.
maor 2:09PM (4/22/2008)
Its true, Ford did what they could to liven up what was and is essentially a sedan chassis. I love the Mustang, think it is beautiful, dont mind the interior at all, and adore the V8. But I wont buy it because its total lack of precision. Its steering feels overassisted and vague, its suspension feels remote, underneath a heavy chassis and like a seperate part of the car, and its brakes are just sad for a car this heavy. And take a bumpy corner with that solid axle, no matter how well executed it is, and the Mustang hops and bucks like the proverbial ox-cart. Give me a more cohesive package on a somewhat more dedicated sporting chassis and even raise the base price on a GT to 30k and Id buy it in a heartbeat over 350z's, etc. Oh, and considering the trend in gas prices and the mustang's thirst, better think something up there too. Waiting on the 2010...!!
len simpson 10:56AM (4/22/2008)
run on sunday, sell on monday
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Guy Trembaly 11:57AM (4/22/2008)
Unfortunately KTM abandoned North America exportation of his X-Bow. What a shame after waiting almost one year for my order.
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