MACG RACING TARANIS

After the 2014 season, the MacG Racing Team realised that to achieve the consistent level of performance and reliability required to compete with the factory built and run GT3 machinery from the likes of Audi, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lamborghini, their approach had to change radically. In late 2014 they started a design exercise code named 'Project Taranis', which put simply, was to design their own GT3 specification car. There were certain constraints - some of the existing components which had been developed for the Ultima previously had to be reused, such as the suspension system, and the design had to utilise the central cockpit and bodywork section of the Ultima. The rest was free.

Project Taranis was designed through late 2014 and into 2015. The design focussed around improving reliability by improving packaging to reduce component stress, improve heat management and respecifying certain components, whilst strengthening areas which were deemed too close to failure. Performance was improved with improved suspension geometry, increasing chassis stiffness, increased aero and lowering the centre of gravity, and discarding unnecessary weight.

Project Taranis was manufactured and built by the Team through the late stages of 2015, until it hit the track in early 2016. In it's first test it lapped 4 seconds a lap quicker at Donington than the Ultima ever had previously, despite having the same power to weight ratio...and the test was conducted on old tyres!

The result was a car that was fast, reliable, and easy to drive. Capable of racing and winning in sprint or endurance races.

• MacG Racing custom built 7 litre LS7 ~550bhp, featuring 3 stage dry sump with vacuum regulator, custom camshaft, all forged internals and MacG Racing designed induction system, giving a top speed of 200mph (limited by gearing)
• Albins ST6-M sequential transmission with drop gears, adjustable LSD and Geartronics paddleshift and external cooler
• Triple plate ceramic clutch and ultra lightweight flywheel
• Motec M800 ECU and SDL3 logging and display system with traction control and shift lights
• MacG Racing designed front and rear uprights, wishbones, driveshafts and roll bars with Quantum 2 way adjustable dampers
• AP Racing 6 pot endurance specification brakes on the front with 4 pots on the rear
• Braid 13x18” wheels at the rear, 10.5x18” wheels at the front, all centrelock, running 310/710 and 285/650 racing slicks respectively
• High intensity LED headlights
• MacG Racing developed aerokit including full flat floor, rear wing, front splitter, canards, side skirts, vented arches and diffuser
• 4 onboard JLS airjacks
• 100 litre ATL FIA approved fuel tank and quick fill dry break fuel system
• Tillet FIA approved race seat and FIA approved 6 point harness
• Autotel digital car to pit radio

The Team purchased the Mazda RX8 in April 2012, and stripped the car entirely and rebuilt it from the ground up as a purpose built race car using high specification components throughout. It was specified to be eligible for Championships such as the Britcar Trophy, the 750MC Roadsports Championship, 750MC Club Enduro or the Nippon Challenge.

• Mazda Renesis 1.3 rotary, prepared by Rotary Revs, tuned and ported with upgraded ignition system, oil cooling, lightweight flywheel and ceramic race clutch
• Motec SDL3 logging system
• Lightweight stainless steel race exhaust system
• Lightweight polycarbonate windows
• 120 litre fuel tank with ATL dry break fuelling (as an option)
• High downforce aero kit including front splitter, diffuser and rear wing (as an option)
• AP brakes
• High power HID headlights with auxiliary LED high power spotlights (as an option)
• Adjustable dampers and upgraded suspension
• Braid lightweight 17 x 8 wheels all round fitted with Toyo R888R tyres