FOR SALE: Walkinshaw Holden hotties

Why spend $1million on a V8 Supercar when you can have one for an eighth of the price? That's the thinking at the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, which has just put two 400kW VE Clubsport-based race cars up for sale.

Developed in conjunction with three-times Bathurst champion Garth Tander, the cars are priced at $159,000 "or nearest offer" and are now available on carsales.com.au, here and here.

Initially developed to gauge interest in a new racing series in India, the Walkinshaw 'Track Day' cars look eerily similar to V8 Supercars, and are fully kitted out with everything needed for competitive racing - or just track day hooning. They are not road registerable.

Power is provided by a 400kW LS3 6.2-litre V8 engine to the slick-shod rear wheels via NZ-Touring Car-spec Quaife six-speed sequential gearbox and nine-inch twin-plate ceramic clutch. An OS Giken Super-lock LSD is also fitted.

Walkinshaw says the 6.2-litre V8 engines have been built to deal with track work. They feature forged H-Beam connecting rods and JE lightweight aluminium alloy forged pistons as well as a high-flow oil pump with a baffled sump. A front mounted engine oil-cooler is fitted.

Exhausts are four-into-one 2.5-inch exhaust systems with side pipe outlets. We've been reliably informed that they'll belch flames on the overrun, adding a little razzle-dazzle to any track day outing.

Walkinshaw has reworked the chassis to ensure V8 Supercars-like response, with DMS Racing dampers and springs and 18x9-inch racing rims shod with 265 aspect ratio racing slicks.

Each car's braking system comprises 365mm front discs paired with fully ducted AP Racing callipers. At the rear 350mm discs are gripped by HSV calipers. The car also gets a race-style Tilton floor-mounted 600 Series (adjustable-bias) pedal box.

Both cars are identical, have never been raced, and were developed with input from Tander, as well as Nick Percat.

Tander says the Walkinshaw track day cars: "Surpassed my expectations, to be honest".

During testing at Winton Raceway in Victoria, the cars were lapping roughly nine seconds off the pace of V8 Supercars.

"We achieved a fastest lap time of 1:32 for the 3km circuit even without pushing them to their limits," added Tander.

The buyers of the vehicles will get a full workshop tour and handover by Walkinshaw engineers, explaining the full provenance of the cars. Walkinshaw explained to motoring.com.au that the company can even provide engineering support mechanisms should the owners find a race category that suits.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.