Many cars over the years have trod a
fine line between being a road car or a race car. Some are race
cars which have been modified for road use. Others are homologation
roadcars developed specifically to allow their racing counterparts
to officially compete.
Here we've gathered together a few of the best road going race
cars, both production models and concept cars - some of which
will sadly never see the light of day.
LeBlanc
Mirabeau
Produced by the Swiss company Leblanc, the Mirebeau is a fantastically
rapid machine which looks like something from a top-tier LeMans
race. In fact the car is named after a corner on the Monaco
F1 track.
The car is fully compliant for LeMans racing, and also capable
of fully legal road use. 700 hp is available from its Koenigsegg
sourced 4.7 litre V8. Leblanc
Mirabeau
Mazda
Furai Prototype
The Mazda Furai prototype is based on a chassis from an ALMS
race car and powered by a 450 horsepower rotary engine. Since
it was built in 2008 it has been extensively track tested, but
as yet no production model exists.
The Ferrari Zobin concept, despite its gorgeous appearance and
headturning style will never be driven in anger, or in fact
at all. The concept was created independently of Ferrari and
only exists as a 3D computer model. If it were to miraculously
ever make production, it would offer the driver the Ferrari
F1 experience in a road registered car.
The Hulme CanAm is a supercar which was designed and manufactured
in New Zealand. The car's shape is inspired by F1 cars, and
the name pays respect to New Zealand's only F1 champion. Power
comes from a 600 hp, 7.0 litre V8 sourced from GM. Hulme
CanAm
Ford
IndiGo Concept
The 1996 Ford IndiGo was one of the coolest concept cars ever
to come out of Ford's design studios.
The car's shape was influenced by the design of Indy cars, and
one of the two cars built was fully functional. Powered by a
441 hp 6.0 litre V12 it could hit 170 mph and get to 60 mph
in under 4 seconds.
The Caparo T1 burst onto the supercar scene in 2006, and then
promptly burst into flames during one of its first independent
test drives. Despite that little hiccup, the T1 is capable of
truly astounding performance, in fact posting a time of just
2.5 seconds, it's one of the fastest vehicles in the world to
hit 60mph. Top speed is an equally eyewatering 205 mph.
Okay well this isn't really a road car, nor is it going into
production. But the Honda Indy Racing Car concept from 2009
was sponsored by Honda and the Indy Racing League. With it's
partially covered rear wheels, and crazy styling surely someone
would have found a way to make at least one road legal. No?
Oh well.
The Brooke 300 Double R is a lightweight sportscar which looks
like an open wheel race car from the 1960s. 300 horsepower is
available from its 2.3 litre Ford Duratec engine. That means
a 0-60 time of under 3.2 seconds, and a top speed in excess
of 155 mph. As an added bonus you can spend the whole time pretending
you're one of the old breed of racing driver.
If the standard KTM X-Bow seemed a bit soft for you then there's
always this, the X-Bow Superlight. Thanks to a few carbon fiber
bits, the Superlight is a touch less weighty than the standard
car - by just 5kgs (11lbs).
The X-Bow Superlight is about the closest you can get to an
affordable all-out track car, but it's one which you can still
drive home in. KTM
X-Bow Superlight
Dauer
Porsche 962 LeMans
The Dauer Porsche 962 LeMans is a relatively unheard of monster
from the mid 1990s. Only 50 were built and they could blow the
doors off almost any thing with wheels. 230 mph was the official
top speed, but there were rumors that some owners managed to
get the car past 250mph.
