WHAT’S IN THE WORKSHOP – MITCHELL RACE XTREME

What’s In The Workshop – Mitchell Race Xtreme

For this edition of What’s In The Workshop, Auto Action crosses over the ditch to check out a project that mixes the best of America and Italy

By HEATH McALPINE

Hamilton-based Mitchell Race Xtreme has a distinguished record in New Zealand motorsport having started as a classic car restoration shop in the 1980s by Derek Mitchell, who expanded into race cars in 1993.

Son Nick started with the shop 18 years ago, during that time Mitchell Race Xtreme undertook large engineering projects including the development of the New Zealand Touring Cars TLX chassis spawning the Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.

But the squad’s latest project is one to be shocked by. From the outside it appears to be a regular Ferrari 458 GT3, but a peek through the glass engine cover the word Chevrolet adorns the donk.

Yes, Chevrolet.

“The 458 is an ex-GT3 Ferrari that got crashed, was badly damaged and the shell got parked,” Mitchell explained to Auto Action. “A customer bought it and gave it to us, we straightened the chassis, cut and fabricated our own front rails to the bare chassis, there was nothing bolted to it.”

Although the heart is courtesy of Chevrolet, much of the componentry is Ferrari-sourced and is a hybrid of two sets of GT regulations.

“We started shopping around for Ferrari parts and because the 488 had come in, replacing the 458,” Mitchell continued. “Kessel over in Switzerland that built the car had plenty of parts, we mated our fabricated arms to Ferrari uprights.

“The customer found bodywork from the GTE model and the back half is GT3. We designed our own wing mold to have more aggression as we weren’t constrained by GT3 regulations so we mounted it a bit higher.”

Fitting an IndyCar engine wasn’t the original plan, but the opportunity provided itself.

“The original idea was to get a LS and twin-turbo it,” Mitchell remarked.

“We started looking around, but found an IndyCar motor. We found a guy that had 100 of these Chevy IndyCar motors so we bought four of them!

“It’s a 3.5-litre, 11,500rpm, 700hp engine, which has the alternator, oil pump, water pump all built-in. The thing fitted in magically and was 60kg lighter than the Ferrari engine.”

A factory Ferrari Hewland gearbox was purchased and mated perfectly to the flywheel of the IndyCar motor through a 20mm adapter. The bolt pattern and diameter were the same for both.

The car hasn’t raced yet or even been started as it was sent to the electrician just prior to the country being sent into lockdown. Once completed this one-of-a-kind 458 GT3 is expected to compete in the North and South Endurance Championship in New Zealand as well as some GT-One events.

Other projects that Mitchell Race Xtreme are currently working include a Mustang that started life as an electric drag car project with the aim of having 2000hp. However, parts proved expensive and it will be converted into an extremely powerful road-car.

Another is a rare Saker rear-engine sports car.

Auto Action is kicking off a new feature series called ‘What’s In The Workshop’ that aims to showcase just that. If you are a team member or competitor that is working on a new racing project during this enforced break from on-track action, drop us a line at [email protected]. Please attach images, contact details and a small explanation of your racing project.

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