Ginetta G40
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Ginetta G40
| image = Ginetta G40 Piranha Motorsport.jpg
| caption = Piranha Motorsport's Ginetta G40 at Britcar 24 Hours 2011.
| manufacturer = Ginetta Cars
| aka =
| production = 2010–present
| model_years =
| assembly = Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
| predecessor = Ginetta G50 (road version)
Ginetta G20 (race version)
| successor =
| class = Sports car (S)
| body_style = 2-door coupé
| layout = Front-engine, rear wheel drive
| platform =
| engine = 2.0 L Mazda MZR I4 (road version)
1.8 L Ford Zetec I4 (race version)
| transmission = {{ubl
|Mazda 6-speed manual (road version)
|5-speed manual (early race versions)
|Quaife 6-speed sequential manual (newer race versions)
}}
| wheelbase = {{convert|2250|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=250910 |title=2011 Ginetta G40R |publisher=Carfolio.com |accessdate=16 May 2013}}
| length = {{convert|3748|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1642|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1045|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|795|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} (road version)
{{convert|800-850|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} (race version)
| related =
| designer =
| sp = uk
}}
The Ginetta G40 is a sports car which has been built by Ginetta Cars since 2010. It is available in two versions; a road-going version, named the G40R, and the race version, the G40, which is available in two specifications; one of which is the G40 Challenge, the other is the G40 Junior, which were designed for the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the Ginetta Junior Championship respectively. The G40 replaced the Ginetta G20 race car, and also replaced the road version of the Ginetta G50.
Race versions
The Ginetta G40 Challenge was introduced in 2010, supplementing the Ginetta G20 in the one-make Ginetta GT5 Challenge. At launch, the car used a 1.8-litre Ford Zetec-based inline-four engine, generating a power output of {{convert|140|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}}, and using a 5-speed gearbox, with the car weighing {{convert|850|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/249844/ginetta_g40_review.html |title=Ginetta G40 review |publisher=Evo |date=March 2010 |accessdate=16 May 2013}} The car was available in 2010 for £24,950, plus VAT, and featured 280mm discs all round. The engine in the most recent versions generate {{convert|165|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}}, and weigh {{convert|800|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, using 6-speed Quaife sequential gearboxes.{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/cars_g40 |title=Cars – G40 |publisher=Ginetta Cars |accessdate=16 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525083723/http://www.ginetta.com/cars_g40 |archivedate=25 May 2013 }} It received Autosport's National Car of the Year Award for 2010, two years after the G50 had received the same award.
In addition to the Ginetta Junior Championship, the G40 has been entered in the Britcar series. In the latter series, it won its class at the Britcar 24 Hours, held at the Silverstone Circuit on its debut in 2010, and finished 12th overall, driven by the works Team LNT team's drivers Lawrence Tomlinson, Mike Simpson, Steve Linn and Nigel Moore, also proving to be the fastest Ginetta, as it finished one place ahead of a GT4-class Ginetta G50.{{cite web|url=http://www.britcar24hr.co.uk/cms/e107_plugins/content/files/timings/2010/silv7/103931.pdf |title=2010 Britcar 24 Hour |publisher=British Racing and Sports Car Club |date=1 October 2010 |accessdate=16 May 2013 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At the 2011 edition of the race, the top G40 finished 26th overall, and fourth in class; this time entered by Rollcentre Racing, and driven by Richard Skyes, Jake Rattenbury, Brian Saunders and Mark Davies.{{cite web|url=http://www.britcar24hr.co.uk/cms/e107_plugins/content/files/timings/2011/SILV24HR/Silverstone_Britcar_24HR_113963.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417083612/http://www.britcar24hr.co.uk/cms/e107_plugins/content/files/timings/2011/SILV24HR/Silverstone_Britcar_24HR_113963.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2012 |title=2011 Britcar 24 Hour |publisher=British Racing and Sports Car Club |date=2 October 2011 |accessdate=16 May 2013 }} In 2012, a G40 once again finished 12th overall, and fourth in class; this time, driven by Piranha Motorsport's Simon Mason, Rory Bryant, Ryan Ratcliffe and Chris Bialan.{{cite web |url=http://www.tsl-timing.com/eerc/2012/123863b24.pdf |title=2012 Britcar 24 Hour |publisher=British Racing and Sports Car Club |date=23 September 2012 |accessdate=16 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021002516/http://www.tsl-timing.com/eerc/2012/123863b24.pdf |archivedate=21 October 2012 }}
Ginetta also built a less powerful variant of the G40, named the G40 Junior. This utilizes a restricted {{convert|100|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} version of the 1.8-litre Zetec engine, to comply with MSA regulations, and was used in the Ginetta Junior Championship (replacing the G20), a series for 14 to 17-year old drivers that is part of the British Touring Car Championship's support package. Initially run on Michelin Pilot Cup tyres, which were treaded,{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/pdfs/media/G40_Junior_Spec%20and%20Ginetta%20Junior%20Championship%20info.pdf |title=The Ginetta G40 Junior Car |publisher=Ginetta Cars |accessdate=16 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527002109/http://www.ginetta.com/pdfs/media/G40_Junior_Spec%20and%20Ginetta%20Junior%20Championship%20info.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} the series moved to slick tyres for 2012,{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=477 |title=Ginetta to Boost Junior Motorsport Career Ladder, Rookie Style! |publisher=Ginetta Cars |date=21 December 2011 |accessdate=16 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090934/http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=477 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} only to revert to treaded tyres for 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=860 |title=Ginetta Slash 2013 Season Costs by Switching to Road Tyres |publisher=Ginetta Cars |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=16 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064302/http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=860 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Road version
File:Ginetta G40 - Flickr - exfordy.jpg
In 2010, Ginetta decided to cancel plans to produce a road-going version of the bigger Ginetta G50, and instead built a road-going variant of the G40, named the G40R.{{cite web |url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ginetta-g50-replaced-g40 |title=Ginetta G50 replaced by G40 |publisher=Autocar |accessdate=16 May 2013}} The race car's 1.8-litre Zetec engine was replaced with a modified 2.0-litre Mazda MZR engine, generating a power output of {{convert|175|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 7,000rpm and the 6-speed manual gearbox shared with the Mazda MX5;{{cite web |url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ginetta/g40/performance |title=Ginetta G40 review – performance and engineering |publisher=Autocar |accessdate=16 May 2013}} however, the road car also includes the full race-spec rollcage.{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/g40r |title=Ginetta – G40R Road Car |publisher=Ginetta Cars |accessdate=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704084942/http://www.ginetta.com/g40r |archivedate=4 July 2013 }} This configuration enables the car to accelerate from a standing start to 97km/h in 5.8 seconds and attain a claimed top speed of {{convert|140|mph|0|abbr=on|order=flip}},{{cite web |url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ginetta/g40/specs |title=Ginetta G40 review – specs |publisher=Autocar |accessdate=16 May 2013}} the performance figures aided by its low weight of {{convert|795|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://skiddmark.com/2011/10/track-tested-ginetta-g40-r/ |title=Track Tested: Ginetta G40 R |publisher=SkiddMark |accessdate=16 May 2013}} Ginetta claim a fuel economy figure of 29 mpg, and carbon dioxide emissions of 181g/km.{{cite web |url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ginetta/g40/mpg |title=Ginetta G40 review – mpg |publisher=Autocar |accessdate=16 May 2013}} Prices started at £29,950. Autocar gave the car a rating of 4 out of 5; praising the car's engine note and driving feel, but criticizing it for inconsistent steering weight and for an unfinished cabin.{{cite web |url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ginetta/g40/verdict |title=Ginetta G40 review – verdict |publisher=Autocar |accessdate=16 May 2013}} What Car? gave the car a rating of 3 out of 5,{{cite web|url=http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/ginetta/g40-coupe/summary/26072-4 |title=Ginetta G40 Coupe Review |publisher=What Car? |accessdate=16 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203235517/http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/ginetta/g40-coupe/summary/26072-4 |archivedate=3 February 2013 }} praising its performance and handling,{{cite web |url=http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/ginetta/g40-coupe/full-review/26072-4 |title=Full review of Ginetta G40 Coupe |publisher=What Car? |accessdate=16 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404091619/http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/ginetta/g40-coupe/full-review/26072-4 |archivedate=4 April 2014 }} but criticizing its lack of safety features, its poor refinement, and its lack of equipment. The Telegraph gave the car 4 out of 5 stars, praising its driving feel, but criticizing the body's finish.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/carreviews/8697698/Ginetta-G40R-review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823193920/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/carreviews/8697698/Ginetta-G40R-review.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 August 2011 |title=Ginetta G40R review |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 August 2011 |accessdate=16 May 2013 |first=Andrew |last=English}} Auto Express gave the car 3 out of 5, praising its on-track behaviour, but stating that it wasn't really suited to everyday usage.{{cite web |url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ginetta/g40r/59836/ginetta-g40r |title=Ginetta G40R |publisher=Auto Express |date=24 August 2012 |accessdate=16 May 2013 |first=Luke |last=Madden}} Ginetta planned to sell 100 cars annually.{{cite web |url=http://www.mymichelin.co.uk/ginetta-g40-road-tested |title=Ginetta launches G40 'race car for the road' |publisher=Michelin UK Motorsport |accessdate=16 May 2013 |archive-date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503010525/http://www.mymichelin.co.uk/ginetta-g40-road-tested |url-status=dead }}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{commons category|Ginetta G40}}
{{Ginetta Cars |state=collapsed}}