Ascari GT3 team to close along with factory

grazias · 5 Dec 2007, 14:02 (Ref:2082136)

I get info that Ascari has disposed of the most of its people in last few weeks and that team is on edge of closing unless someone buys it.

Nice building to go too I guess.

How many people do you know who will buy a GT3 team with cars that have no manufacturer to give help in season then?....crazy.....

Did like road car. Very good engineered but it did not mean to be - perhaps if owner was wanting let others have them it may have been different story.........

Satorian · 5 Dec 2007, 14:15 (Ref:2082142)

Didn't they just recently test the A10 on Top Gear? Ascari is definitely closing?

A shame. Loved their cars. Good-looking, well-performing and proper engines (BMW) in 'em.

Tim the Grey · 5 Dec 2007, 23:07 (Ref:2082472)

Ascari in Banbury closed a year ago...
http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/new...ari.1939585.jp

ascarracinguk · 5 Dec 2007, 23:11 (Ref:2082474)

hold on isnty ascari owned by klass zwart...theought he was stinking rich???...i mean he owns his own circuit, f1 cars etc

flatbroke · 5 Dec 2007, 23:22 (Ref:2082485)

maybe he has seen the light motorsport and cars cost lots of money and its hard to make money

Satorian · 6 Dec 2007, 13:04 (Ref:2082804)

Or as the joke goes:

How do you get a small fortune from motorsports?

You start with a big one.

knighty · 6 Dec 2007, 13:18 (Ref:2082813)

I'm sad to hear this, I was one of 3 design engineers at mountune who did the M5 V8 engine conversion for the KZ1 road car, which was a very nice fully enclosed dry sump system, the car is nice, and reporters like it.

Klass is stinking rich, and always will be, he made his millions in the oil industry, aparrently he designed a gadget than can re-connect a drill bit to an oil rig drilling shaft (after its broken off)......this saves squillions in moving oil rigs to drill another hole........aparrently he has many such patents on such equipment, and the money just rolls in

.......my boss went to his "pad" in spain, it was cut into the side of a mountain, and had lots of f1 grade ladies around the place if you catch my drift, it was aparrently like something from a james bond film.

why did he make a super car?.......I can assure you it was not to make money, he has loads already.......because hes a petrol-head and he wanted to make a car with his own name on it......thats why

.......great bloke in my opinion.

chrisdhall · 6 Dec 2007, 14:19 (Ref:2082844)

I'll see what I can find out on this (busy ahead of GTG launch).

Bear in mind, British GT doesn't have any manufacturers directly involved (saying that, Ginetta will probably have a direct involvement in 2008 for BGT), so the BGT Ascaris were run by private teams (Preci Spark and Berlanga) and they performed well, so I'd be surprised if they weren't racing again in 2008 (BGT).

ascarracinguk · 6 Dec 2007, 15:51 (Ref:2082891)

yes thats what i mean knightly, i got nothin against klaas, hes a true petrol head...with i was in his position!...but surely he has enuf money to keep ascari open?

knighty · 7 Dec 2007, 11:58 (Ref:2083549)

I suspect the reason hes shutting down Ascari is because hes now bored with it........simple as that....... its now been going since about 10 years, which is a very long time for him!.........he flicks around from this to that.......hes probably now more excited with his race resort and running and racing BOSS cars.

ss_collins · 7 Dec 2007, 13:40 (Ref:2083618)

Quote:

Ascari in Banbury closed a year ago...

was quite open when I was there since that story appeared. The factory also houses his rather large F1 car toybox - I posted some pics of it on here a while ago

Satorian · 7 Dec 2007, 14:33 (Ref:2083655)

Quote:

Originally Posted by knighty

I'm sad to hear this, I was one of 3 design engineers at mountune who did the M5 V8 engine conversion for the KZ1 road car, which was a very nice fully enclosed dry sump system, the car is nice, and reporters like it.

I remember reading about Nowack Tuning getting 500 bhp (in opposition to the 400 bhp stock) out of the engine with "simple" breathing mods, as they stated that BMW somewhat botched the intake and manifold design. But, I really wonder how Ascari got 625 bhp out of it for the A10.

BTW, here's the Clarkson review of the A10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE-3uV_3XZs

Coniston · 7 Dec 2007, 18:01 (Ref:2083811)

Theres a thread on P'Heads running and that agrees with the OP - Berlanga is for sale and the factory staff has been reduced to a skeleton crew. No project people there any more. Berlanga wasn't a private team - it was the team run by the factory - funded by Klaas (he didn't want it to look like a factory team becuase you aren't allowed them in FIA GT3). Sounds like someone has to come up with a lot of money to buy Berlanga. Agree with comments above - Klaas is bored of it!

Shame, i did like the cars - road and race........ Hopefully someone will buy the cars and run them if they can, though they are very expensive!

knighty · 10 Dec 2007, 15:20 (Ref:2085649)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satorian

I remember reading about Nowack Tuning getting 500 bhp (in opposition to the 400 bhp stock) out of the engine with "simple" breathing mods, as they stated that BMW somewhat botched the intake and manifold design. But, I really wonder how Ascari got 625 bhp out of it for the A10.

BTW, here's the Clarkson review of the A10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE-3uV_3XZs

Yeah, the standard M5 V8 manifold is OK for what its designed for, but thats all, tuning wise it needs to be completley replaced.......one of my last jobs on the Ascari project for Mountune was to design an inlet system for the Ascari, and it was a simple vertical trumpet add-on to the standard individual M5 throttle bodies, and the base of the M5 air box, bear in mind I have designed such system for Touring, LeMans and Rally cars, so I knew what I was doing.

but the top cover just looked like a suitcase!......and everyone thinks you need a snake-pit looking inlet system for a mid engined super car, and sure enough, it looks like they re-designed it, as the last one saw on the Ascari was very pleasing to the eye, with n-shaped bends on each runner......but this would have been terrible for a highly strung race motor.

yes, I was watching Top gear last night, and I must say I got a warm feeling knowing something I had designed was doing so well, admittedley we cant say the dry sump was a critical factor! but its just nice to be involved

.....seems a long time ago now, we did it in 2002ish......I think the A10 is a bit toungue in cheek, as I bet they will probably only make one, as it just looks like a homologation special to me, just to allow the GT cars to race.......but, my god it was fast.......Klauss will be foaming at the mouth with that one - as far hes concerned he has achieved what he set out to do - create a respectible super car with his name on - job done - forget the money

gwyllion · 10 Dec 2007, 15:29 (Ref:2085659)

Quote:

Originally Posted by knighty

yes, I was watching Top gear last night, and I must say I got a warm feeling knowing something I had designed was doing to well, admittedley we cant say the dry sump was a critical factor! but its just nice to be involved

You contributed to the fastest car around the Top Gear track

For people that missed the comparision between the Daihatsu Materia and Ascari A10 last night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B7gTuvngM4

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