23/6/00 Strathcarron made a welcome appearance at the dusty campsites at Le Mans. Despite sharing the company of hundreds of supercars, the little motorbike engined SC-5A roadster still drew the crowds. Rear wing still under development. More trips to the wind tunnel are planned. Black light surrounds may be changed for aluminium Interior controls have Zertec influences... A simple roof structure is being designed. The car has styling influences from some top designers who worked anonymously on the project. 5/6/00 With cars nearing the production stage, Strathcarron are now displaying the latest incarnations of their lightweight roadster at various petrolhead frequented venues including Le Mans, the Goodwood Festival of Speed and various race tracks throughout the summer. The car has been developed since we first saw it, with a new and better looking nose code (initial design was too strong). The rear of the car has also undergone changes since wind tunnel testing at MIRA, with the addition of a rear wing. New model designations are SC-5A and SC-6. The SC-5A is a 140bhp, 530kg track day type car similar in concept to the Lotus 340R. A motorsport derivative is also planned the (SC-5) which will be even lighter and be powered by a 175bhp motor giving a power to weight ratio of 353bhp/tonne. Curiously a lesser powered (125bhp) SC-6 is planned for summer 2001. Production SC-5A's are scheduled for build in September with the first customer cars on the road in October. Price is £24,950. More info at www.strathcarron.com (requires Shockwave 8)

The public launch of the Strathcarron was at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show where the car was very well received and many orders were taken.

The car has been designed from the ground up to be safe, affordable, fast and raceable. Strathcarron have so far succeeded in meeting these goals, with the final test being the production pricing which was targeted as being under £20,000.

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The design shares a keep it simple approach much akin to the Lotus Elise. The simplicity is stunning, particularly in this day of bolt on goodies and driver aids.

One of several unusual features of the car is the engine which is sourced from a motorbike. It's a 1,200cc four stroke developing 125 bhp in road form. Given that the car only weighs in at 560kgs, this gives a rather attractive 223bhp/tonne.

The other striking fact to emerge is that the chassis is made of composite materials, and the body of aluminium - quite the opposite of what you might expect. The Reynard design team drew on their experience of building race cars, where composite tubs are common to arrive at this design. The bodywork neatly conceals the fact that this car has no doors. This has obvious advantages when considering body strength.

Servicing will be done by a series of specialist based at race circuits around the UK. Their expertise will also be utilised in the one-make race series that's being organised to showcase the car.

Link: www.Strathcarron.com