|
Austrian
motorcycle and sports car manufacturer KTM will launch the 2009 X-Bow
Super Sport Cup at Autosport International next January, following a
successful debut season in the GT4 European Cup.
KTM
X-Bow owners will be able to compete in two pan-European leagues,
running within the existing GT4 series, with the top ten Super Sport
drivers entering an
end-of-season shootout to determine the ‘KTM X-Bow Super Sport Cup Champion’.
Developed
with Italian racing car constructor Dallara, the X-Bow is powered by
the 1984cc, 240hp turbocharged Audi TFSI engine and with a carbon-fibre
chassis, barely tips the scales at only 790 kilos.
“The
plan is to have two championships, one serving France, Italy and Spain,
the other for drivers in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK,”
said KTM UK project manager Jeff Lau. “Although the last few details
are still being decided, KTM has already set up a customer race service
to maintain and support drivers on events.”
Better
known for their distinctive orange motorcycles, KTM moved into the
lightweight sports car market with the dramatic X-Bow less than twelve
months ago, but are building on the firm’s long competition history,
winning the GT4 Sports Light class in the car’s maiden season.
“To
launch the series at Autosport International was an obvious decision;
it’s the hub for motorsport activity in Europe,” Lau added. “The timing
is perfect, at the start of the racing season, and with all the big
names in motorsport attending, it’s the ideal place to showcase our
plans.”
“KTM’s
decision to launch the X-Bow Super Sport Cup at Autosport International
clearly demonstrates the important role the show plays in the global
motorsport industry,” said Haymarket Exhibitions Show Director Ian
France. “The series will be a valuable addition to the European circuit
racing scene, with such an eye-catching and exciting design, and we
welcome their presence at the show.”
|
News 
