Description:

Gillet Vertigo Streiff race car.

This car was been built by Gillet Automobiles, based in Belgium, near Namur. According to all the info we got from Gillet, the car was owned in it’s active racing career by the factory and has never been previously sold. It has been used as the “Works” car, primarily in FIA GT. To the best of our knowledge, it has always been maintained at a high standard, and has had some evolutions during it’s years of use.

Some background info on Gillet Automobiles:

Gillet Automobiles is the only Belgian automobile manufacturor, and is founded by succesful Belgian racing driver Tony Gillet. Intended for road use, the first Vertigo prototype was finished in 1991 and made it’s debut on the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992. Specialist in carbon composites and moulding, the car’s chassis is entirely made from carbon fibre and honeycomb materials ensuring greater strength and stiffness, while saving a lot of weight. The complete chassis came in at a weight of only 58 kg! This combined with a 2,0 L Ford Cosworth engine made a nice package. The car evolved significantly over the years, from open sports coupe on introduction to closed roof and wing doors, a more aerodynamic shape, etc. Also on the engine department things changed, as a Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6 engine was used and even later a 4.2 L V8 from Maserati. 

In 1994 the car set a new Guinness-book record for road cars, with a 0-100 km/h in just 3.266 seconds. 

As the cars were hand built, there was only a very limited production. Among the clients there were royalty such as Price Albert of Monaco, King Albert II from Belgium, and French singer/ actor Johnny Hallyday.  The carbon chassis is still being used today by renowned coach builder and designer Zagato. 

Listening to his racing heart, Tony Gillet could not resist making a race version of the Vertigo. This made it’s debut in 1999 in the national series. This evolved into the creation of the Belgian Racing Team, together with Renaud Kuppens. The 3.0L V6 Alfa engine got prepared by the Italian tuner Ellegi Motori, bringing the power output to a staggering 385 HP. Also a change of gearbox was amongst the updates. A homologation by the FIA made it possible to compete on international level.

2005 marked the beginning of this next chapter, with a limited but exotic FIA GT programme. Drivers selected where the very experienced and talented Bas Leinders, Vanina Ickx, Jerome d’Ambrosio, Renaud Kuppens, Sylvie Delcour, Sarah Bovy and Maxime Martin. All Belgian superstars, with a very impressive palmares on their names.

The first big international victory came already in 2005, finishing this first year as vice champion in their class. 2006, 2007 and 2008 saw continuation of the international racing efforts in FIA GT, bringing home the class championship in these 3 consecutive years! In 2009 the GT race program got side-tracked by the introduction of the newest evolution of the streetcar, and unfortunately has not been restarted.

Only 3 of these race cars where built. One was sold to famous Italien coachbuilding and designer company Zagato, who transformed it into a special prototype. The second car was transformed by Gillet itself into a Pikes Peak special, with a very different body design and VW 4 cyl. Turbo engine.

The car you see here is the third car, chassis no YA9VA2S00Y0169021, and is the only remaining Vertigo FIA GT car.

It has been rebuilt again by Gillet to his favourite configuration. It has the 3.0L V6 Alfa engine mounted, tuned by Ellegi Motori. It has a dry-sump oil system, is controled by a EFI Techno. ECU, and uses Magnetti Marelli dash and datalog system. Gearbox is a 6-speed sequential from Tractive, Ohlins adjustable shocks, front and rear double wishbone suspension, push rod front, front and rear adjustable anti-roll bar, AP Racing 4 pot brake callipers, ventilated discs, etc.

Gillet Automobile did the mechanical rebuild, using a fresh engine and gearbox with only some test mileage on. They made a complete new subframe and used a new diff. Suspension got checked and worked on where needed. We took care of the body, making it nice and straight again, and brought it back to the livery of 2005 FIA GT Zhuhai race. This is a tribute to it’s first big win, and to a amazing overall aclompishment. As Bas Leinders said: “That the car exists and can race is in itself a small miracle.”

Historically this is a very nice car, as it is the “WORKS” car, the only remaing GT racecar from 3 build in total, and the one with the best history. With this FIA-GT history, it can be used again in the attractive Endurance Racing Legend during Peter Auto Events and the Masters Endurance Legends during Masters Historic events to name a few…

Short summary of the important history of this chassis:

-2005-            First international win in Zhuhai, China in G2 class

1st in G2 class during FIA GT rounds in Dubai & Bahrain

Vice Champions in FIA GT championship 2005

-2006, 2007 & 2008-    World Champions G2 class FIA GT

After this races, the car got retired, until bought by the current owner in 2019.

The car comes with the the body moulds from body and engine cover, rear subframe jig, and a set of spare wheels. Further we have some startup manuals, laptop with software and the car’s full history, together with some nice high res. pictures.

Adverised on behalf of a customer based on information supplied by them.

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