'Christine' produces 363bhp with more to come

The Powertec RPA 2.6-litre V8 prototype number one or 'Christine' as Ted Hurrell now refers to it, (after the car from Stephen King's book of the same name!) has produced 363bhp at 10,300rpm on her second visit to the dyno. Maximum torque is 196ft lbs. at 7,000 rpm, but amazingly it is still 165ft lbs. at 4,000rpm and 180ft lbs. at 10,300rpm.

The three-day dyno programme has been scheduled to test several induction systems and put the engine through it paces, equivalent to 30-hours of racing. Ted's team will then strip the engine down again, check it over and re-assemble 'her' ready for inserting into a chassis along with the new Powertec-Quaife transaxle, delivered today personally by Mike Quaife.

Ted elaborates: 'The 363bhp figure is hugely impressive and there is still more to come. Fine tuning the exhaust primaries, the mapping and the induction system will give us another 10 to 15bhp. But what is even more impressive is the shape of the torque curve. 'Christine' is going to be hugely powerful but even more importantly extremely driveable.'

Just as important as the power unit, is the transmission and the purpose designed Powertec-Quaife six-speed sequential transaxle is now ready to run. Mike Quaife is confident of its performance: 'In conjunction with Powertec designer Steve Prentice we have designed a lightweight, compact transaxle using the latest transmission technology. The unit incorporates pressure lubricated bearings, an extremely slick six-speed sequential gear shifter, drop gears which enable top speeds to be varied between 100 and 200mph and our patented torque biased limited slip differential.'