Gillet
Encyclopedia
Gillet is a Belgian automobile
manufacturer, started in 1994 by former racing driver Tony Gillet
. The company produces the Vertigo sports coupé
, an ultra-lightweight (990 kg) 'bespoke' and hand-built sportscar. The first Vertigo was powered by a Ford Cosworth
2.0 litre 4-in-line, later evolutions are powered by more powerful and noble engines: the 3.0 litre Alfa Romeo V6 engine
and the 4.2 litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 in the latest evolution called Vertigo.5.
, a Dutch Lotus Super Seven-styled car. In January 1990 he broke the 0 to 100 kilometre per hour record for production cars with a time of 3.85 seconds in a specially modified Donkervoort. The Vertigo held the 0–100 km/h record for production cars at 3.1 seconds, but this has since been broken.
The first Vertigo prototype was finished in 1991 and shown at the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992. In the following two years the car was finalised for production. It was shown at the Paris and Geneva car shows in 1993. Two more cars were built: a second prototype to finalise production design and the first production car, which was used for certification, including the frontal crash-test, seat anchorage resistance and safety belts anchorage resistance tests.
The production Vertigo differed from the first prototype in materials and design. The chassis was fabricated in carbon fibre and honeycomb materials (a technology directly borrowed from Formula One
), insuring greater strength and stiffness, while saving (58 kg (128 lb) in chassis weight. The body was given more fluid lines with higher side windows and retractable headlights, making it closer to the first design drawings
A Vertigo was sold to Philippe Streiff
, a former Formula One racing driver who is handicapped after an accident during pre-season testing in 1989. This Vertigo was modified to be joystick-controlled and given an automatic transmission.
Gillet introduced the Vertigo .5 at Brussels in January 2008, it incorporates features from the Vertigo race car used in the 2007 FIA GT race series.
25 Vertigos have been sold to date.
Famous Vertigo-owners are prince Albert of Monaco
and the French singer and actor Johnny Halliday.
(Belgian GT Championship) and FIA GT Championship
in the G2 Class for non-homologated cars.
The Vertigo Streiff was originally developed with a modified version of the Alfa Romeo V6 engine
, with 3.6 L and 360 PS. Gillet increased the displacement to 3990 cc in 2006. A GT3 version, with a national homologation, raced briefly in the 2007 Belcar season.
In the 2008 FIA GT season Renaud Kuppens raced Gillet Vertigo.5 with a Maserati 4,2l V8 engine tuned to Group N
specification. Renaud Kuppens said that the Maserati engine develops the same amount of power as V6 engine, but it has more torque.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturer, started in 1994 by former racing driver Tony Gillet
Tony Gillet
Tony Gillet was a Belgian racing driver who founded the Gillet company in 1994.Tony Gillet won the Belgian hill-climb for several years and also competed in Paris-Dakar rallies. In 1990 Tony broke the 0–100 km/h record with a time of 3.8 seconds in a modified Donkervoort, but has been beaten...
. The company produces the Vertigo sports coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, an ultra-lightweight (990 kg) 'bespoke' and hand-built sportscar. The first Vertigo was powered by a Ford Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
2.0 litre 4-in-line, later evolutions are powered by more powerful and noble engines: the 3.0 litre Alfa Romeo V6 engine
Alfa Romeo V6 engine
Alfa Romeos in-house V6 engine design made its initial début in 1979 in the Alfa 6. Introduced in 2.5 L guise, production engines would eventually range from 2.0 L to 3.2 L displacement. With modifications it is possible to increase engine displacement to...
and the 4.2 litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 in the latest evolution called Vertigo.5.
Company background and design of the Vertigo
Tony Gillet was a successful racing driver, winning the Belgian hill-climb championship for several consecutive years and competing in two Paris-Dakar rallies. In 1982 he became the Belgian importer for DonkervoortDonkervoort
Donkervoort Automobielen BV is a manufacturer of authentic hand-built and ultra light weight sports cars based in Lelystad in The Netherlands. This car brand was founded in 1978 by Joop Donkervoort....
, a Dutch Lotus Super Seven-styled car. In January 1990 he broke the 0 to 100 kilometre per hour record for production cars with a time of 3.85 seconds in a specially modified Donkervoort. The Vertigo held the 0–100 km/h record for production cars at 3.1 seconds, but this has since been broken.
The first Vertigo prototype was finished in 1991 and shown at the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992. In the following two years the car was finalised for production. It was shown at the Paris and Geneva car shows in 1993. Two more cars were built: a second prototype to finalise production design and the first production car, which was used for certification, including the frontal crash-test, seat anchorage resistance and safety belts anchorage resistance tests.
The production Vertigo differed from the first prototype in materials and design. The chassis was fabricated in carbon fibre and honeycomb materials (a technology directly borrowed from Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
), insuring greater strength and stiffness, while saving (58 kg (128 lb) in chassis weight. The body was given more fluid lines with higher side windows and retractable headlights, making it closer to the first design drawings
A Vertigo was sold to Philippe Streiff
Philippe Streiff
Philippe Streiff is a former racing driver from France. He participated in 55 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on October 21, 1984...
, a former Formula One racing driver who is handicapped after an accident during pre-season testing in 1989. This Vertigo was modified to be joystick-controlled and given an automatic transmission.
Gillet introduced the Vertigo .5 at Brussels in January 2008, it incorporates features from the Vertigo race car used in the 2007 FIA GT race series.
25 Vertigos have been sold to date.
Famous Vertigo-owners are prince Albert of Monaco
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
and the French singer and actor Johnny Halliday.
Racing
Gillet is also active in motorsport with the racing version of the Gillet, named The Gillet Vertigo Streiff. Since 1998, the car has competed in the BelcarBelcar
The Belcar Endurance Championship is the national sports car racing championship of Belgium. The series is sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium and run by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation . The series' title sponsor is Mediagroep Van Dyck.Since the 2007 season, the series has run...
(Belgian GT Championship) and FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
in the G2 Class for non-homologated cars.
The Vertigo Streiff was originally developed with a modified version of the Alfa Romeo V6 engine
Alfa Romeo V6 engine
Alfa Romeos in-house V6 engine design made its initial début in 1979 in the Alfa 6. Introduced in 2.5 L guise, production engines would eventually range from 2.0 L to 3.2 L displacement. With modifications it is possible to increase engine displacement to...
, with 3.6 L and 360 PS. Gillet increased the displacement to 3990 cc in 2006. A GT3 version, with a national homologation, raced briefly in the 2007 Belcar season.
In the 2008 FIA GT season Renaud Kuppens raced Gillet Vertigo.5 with a Maserati 4,2l V8 engine tuned to Group N
Group N
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class"....
specification. Renaud Kuppens said that the Maserati engine develops the same amount of power as V6 engine, but it has more torque.
External links
- http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/gillet-vertigo-5-spirit-unveiled-2010-11-09?imageNo=0