Cheetah G603

Last updated
Cheetah G603
Category Group C
Constructor Cheetah Automobiles
Predecessor Cheetah G602
Successor Cheetah G604
Technical specifications
Engine Cosworth DFL 3,955 cc (241.3 cu in) V8, naturally-aspirated, mid-engined
Competition history
Notable entrants Cheetah Automobiles
Notable drivers Loris Kessel
Laurent Ferrier
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Rolf Biland
Debut 1983 1000 km of Spa
RacesWins Poles F.Laps
3 (5 entries)000
Teams' Championships 0
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0

The Cheetah G603 was a Group C sports racing car built by Cheetah Automobiles in 1983. One car was built, and it was fitted with a 4-litre Cosworth DFL V8 engine; it had a short and fairly unsuccessful season before being replaced by the even less successful Cheetah G604 in 1984.

Group C race car class

Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs.

V8 engine piston engine with eight cylinders in vee configuration

A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder V configuration engine with the cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two sets of four, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft. Most banks are set at a right angle (90°) to each other, some at a narrower angle, with 45°, 60°, and 72° most common.

Racing history

Built in 1983, the Cheetah G603 featured a 4-litre Cosworth DFL V8 engine, as was common for smaller Group C entries towards the beginning of the era. Cheetah Automobiles ran the G603 in their own work's team, and attempted to enter it in the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Loris Kessel, Laurent Ferrier and Florian Vetsch selected as its drivers; however, they did not actually attend the event. [1] Instead, the G603 was debuted at the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, which was the 1000 km of Spa; Jean-Pierre Jaussaud replaced Vetsch, but an engine failure after 26 laps forced the team to retire. [2] Having then missed the 1000 km of Brands Hatch, [3] Cheetah entered Kessel, Ferrier and Rolf Biland in the G603 at the 1000 km of Imola; they finished the race, but were classified ninth overall, and second-to-last of the Group C finishers. [4] Cheetah finished off by entering the eighth round of the European Endurance Championship, which was the 1000 km of Mugello; Kessel and Ferrier brought the G603 home in eighth, and this time beat three cars in the Group C category. [5] This would be the last time the G603 was used, [6] as Cheetah instead ran the G604 for 1984 and 1985, with even less success. [7]

1983 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 51st Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 18 and 19 June 1983. It was also the fourth round of both the World Endurance Championship and European Endurance Championship.

Loris Kessel was a racing driver from Switzerland. He was born in Lugano and died in Montagnola following a long illness.

Laurent Ferrier is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 2010 and named after its founder, Laurent Ferrier. The company focuses on luxury watches with a production of around 140 watches in 2013. The company is headquartered in Plan-les-Ouates in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland.

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References

  1. "Le Mans 24 Hours 1983 Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. "Spa 1000 Kilometres 1983 Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  3. "Brand Hatch 1000 Kilometres 1983 Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  4. "Imola 1000 Kilometres 1983 Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  5. "Mugello 1000 Kilometres 1983 Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  6. "All Results of Cheetah G603". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  7. "All Results of Cheetah G604". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 September 2013.