Ascari launches its KZ-1R GT3 race car

British supercar manufacturer Ascari has launched its entrant for the new European GT3 racing series with its KZ-1R race car. The car will be competing in the new championship, which is only in its second year, starting with a non-championship opening event at the Australian Grand Prix in the following weeks. Ascari will build three versions of the KZ-1R at its plant in Banbury, but these are scheduled to undergo final testing later this month and won’t be able to make it to the event in Australia.

Instead, the cars will make their debut at the first round of the European GT3 series that kicks-off on May 6 at Silverstone, and then travels to Bucharest, Monza and Brno, before the finale in Dubai on November 4.

The KZ-1R is loosely based on the KZ-1 supercar, which started production back in 2003. The road-going version is powered by a 5.0L V8 sourced from BMW and is capable of reaching a top speed of 190mph. Both this car and the new racing version were developed completely in-house, with all components and development including re-tuning the engines to trimming and fitting the carbon fiber panels completed by a workforce of just 32 staff.