Wareham, MA – May 11, 2001 – Factory Five Racing, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of “build-it-yourself” component car kits, announces an all-new model slated for production in 2012, and an exciting design competition hosted by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine.
The 818 (named for the vehicle’s target weight of 1,800 lbs./818 kg.) is based on tough Subaru Impreza/WRX running gear. This is a departure for Factory Five whose cars are typically powered by American V8 engines. The new car is a 95” wheel base, mid-engine, rear wheel drive configuration. This newest Factory Five is intended as an export-capable model and will accommodate left hand and right hand drive configurations. The chassis and suspension/drivetrain are complete and the company is sponsoring an online design contest hosted by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. Over 150 design submissions have already been received and the company is offering $6,500 in prize money to the winning designers.
“The 818 model benefits from our 15 years of engineering and car building experience, but also is designed using the latest SolidWorks software,” said David Smith, President of Factory Five Racing. “The Grassroots Motorsports community of racers and car builders, through this contest, are helping to design the last part of the car, the body shape.”
“Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stuffed a Subaru WRX motor into something that’s mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, and weighs less than 2,000 lbs.? Because that’s the next Factory Five car,” said Ezra Dyer of Automobile Magazine. “A two-seater built around inexpensive and indestructible Subaru running gear.”
Full details on the design competition can be found at the Grassroots Motorsports’ website at http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/design/.
Follow the online discussions forum and view hundreds of sample submissions on Grassroots Motorsports’ community forum athttp://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/factory-five-design-contest-thread/32412/page1/.
View a gallery of weekly favorite submissions on Factory Five’s website at http://www.factoryfive.com/whatsnew/update/nextcar/gallery.html.
The final contest winners will be announced at the Factory Five Racing Summer Open House held at the company’s headquarters on Saturday, June 11, 2011. An experienced panel of judges include Grassroots Motorsports Editor Tim Suddard, Wayne Cherry of GM design fame, Murray Pfaff of Pfaff Designs, and Matt Humphries of Morgan Motors.
Corporate sponsors include SolidWorks Software, Hewlett-Packard, and Grassroots Motorsports Magazine.