Revamped Ford ready to race

The supercharged Ford GT - an exercise in compromise to find a happy balance - is a top challenger for next month's Dunlop Targa rally.

California-based New Zealand race driver Steve Millen has transformed the exciting Ford GT into a top challenger for next month's Dunlop Targa rally from Auckland to Hastings.

The GT is based on the Le Mans-winning GT40s of the 1960s. Millen's team stripped and rebuilt the car with the Targa conditions in mind.

Lighter weight was a priority, so the air-conditioning system was removed and a stainless steel exhaust system added for better breathing.

The GT's supercharged 373kW (500bhp) 5.4-litre V8 engine didn't need many modifications, although a smaller pulley allows some extra power to be extracted from the supercharger.

The car's standard brakes have been replaced by a six-piston set from AP Racing. The BBS road wheels fitted from the factory are unchanged.

Millen had to pay particular attention to the handling of the GT because of the varying conditions that the car will see during the six-day event.

While the Targa event is strictly on tarmac, the car will experience anything from long, smooth straights to tight and twisty corners, with constantly changing surfaces and undulations.

"The various terrains means standard suspension won't work so well on bumpy roads, and a softer suspension won't work so well on smooth, straight roads," said Millen. "You've got to compromise and find a happy balance."

The Ford GT comes with adjustable suspension, but Millen opted for a set-up developed for the car and the conditions by American performance shop Penske Racing. The interior of the car was adapted for the event.

Safety is a top priority, so Millen built a Chromoly roll cage and put a fire extinguisher under the passenger seat. A lighter Momo steering wheel and carbon fibre racing seats replace the standard factory seats.

Millen knows he's on a steep learning curve with the Ford GT. Next year he plans to enter the same car - with even more power and shorter gear ratios.