'Green' track car could be an Atom splitter

The barebones Ariel Atom may soon have its bang-for-your-buck crown snatched by this offbeat-looking contraption.

Say hello to the GTM 40TR (Track and Race), an ultra-light sportster that was conceived to celebrate the 40th anniversary of niche British car-maker (yes, yet another one) GTM.

Lending it greenie-friendly credentials is the 40TR's potential to run on clean-burning biofuel.

Seemingly inspired by Meccano sets (or Swiss cheese), the two-seater features an exposed aluminium super-structure and is powered by a 2.0-litre Honda Civic Type R engine with 160kW-plus.

Equate this output with the 40TR's waif-like girth (exact poundage hasn't been revealed) and electrifying performance is the likely outcome. The manufacturer claims it'll accelerate to 60mph (96km/h) in under four seconds and achieve a top whack of 240km/h-plus.

Technical specs of the biofuel version haven't been announced, but GTM has stated that it's exploring the potential for this variant to contest a one-make race series linked to the Energy Efficient Motor-Sports initiative. 

The GTM 40TR has been designed as a joint venture with another Midlands/Coventry company, Stadco Engineering, purely for track racing, but a road legal version will be manufactured if demand dictates.

The 40TR is expected to cost between $35,000 and $40,000 in its home market and will be available for first drives by mid-March 2007, according to the manufacturer. It's the fourth model in GTM's stable, which currently includes the overtly sporting Ballista, the upmarket Libra and the Spyder convertible.

GTM Cars boss Lloyd Taylor says: "In 1967 when the GTM marque was launched, we manufactured cars for track racing. We gradually moved into mainstream automotive manufacturing but for our 40th anniversary we wanted to re-introduce GTM to the world of motorsport.

"The GTM 40TR offers racing enthusiasts something different with its ultra-light construction. It is extremely fast and superb value for money."

We're not completely sold on its aesthetic charms, but the 40TR should be an absolute hoot to drive...