Truck maker Iveco has announced that it has teamed up with up-and-coming GT3 race team, Arise Racing GT, for this year’s GT World Challenge Australia racing season.
Iveco says that the team, which is backed by Australian entrepreneur and exotic car fanatic, Laurence Escalante, and supported by the Ferrari factory in Maranello, is said to be “already an outfit to be reckoned with”, having clinched both the driver’s and teams sprint championships in its debut season last year.
The truck maker says that there are big hopes for this year as well, with Arise recently confirming a two-car line-up to be piloted by Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte (car 26) and Steve Wyatt and Jordan Love (car 77).
Iveco says its role is to get the race cars from the team’s base in Perth, to tracks in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria, using a S-Way 550 AS prime mover which recently joined the team.
Iveco says that the partnership builds on its 20 plus year legacy of support for Ferrari’s racing efforts, including as the official partner for the legendary F1 team , Scuderia Ferrari and as official sponsor of the Ferrari Challenge Europe.
The race cars which are loosely based on Ferrari’s 296 GTB road car, are specially prepared by specialist prototype and GT3 race vehicle manufacturer, Oreca, and are valued at approximately $AUD1.25 million each, and tip the scales at just 1300kg with around 600hp. The cars are claimed to be some of the fastest anywhere in the world to lap a track.
The high value cargo is transported in a specially designed B-double trailer, with the A trailer predominantly used to accommodate the team’s tools and equipment, while the B trailer houses two Ferraris, with room for a third, along with additional equipment. Iveco says that loading and unloading the cars is fast and efficient thanks to the trailer’s rear tailgate loader.
The company said that the S-Way 550 AS prime mover features a 550hp / 2500Nm engine, coupled to Iveco’s 16-speed Hi-Tronix AMT, for the long drives from Perth to the eastern seaboard.
Arise Racing GT commercial manager, Jake Klarich, said that the S-Way – and Iveco – was an ideal fit for the outfit.
“Iveco has a strong pedigree in top level motorsports as the transporter of choice for many high-profile race teams, and is even trusted and utilised by the Ferrari Formula 1 Team,” Klarich said.
“The transporter is finished in ‘rosso scuderia’, Ferrari’s racing colour, underlining long brand relationship between Iveco and Ferrari, while the S-Way and trailer set look sleek and aggressive on the road,” he added
Aside from looking the part, Klarich said there were other aspects of the S-Way that were important for the team.
“We wanted a powerful prime mover that would easily handle the weight we carry, although the cars are light, we operate like a mobile workshop so there are a lot of tools, equipment, spare parts, wheels and tyres that come with us,” Klarich explained.
“Two other important considerations were safety and comfort, especially for the long road trips across the Nullarbor, and the S-Way is certainly well equipped in these two areas.”
Klarich said the team’s truck driver was impressed with the performance of the S-Way on its maiden trip to the east coast this month for pre-season testing at Phillip island, .
“It had a great run from Perth to Phillip Island in the brand new S-Way, and the truck didn’t miss a beat and he spoke highly of its smooth and comfortable ride,” Klarich said.
“He was especially impressed by the quietness of the cabin and the user-friendly layout of the interior,” he added.
