Riley Technologies announces new Grand-Am cars

Riley Track Day Car (TDC)

While many are taking a break and slowing down for the holidays, things are racing ahead full speed at Riley Technologies as several programs continue to move from development to fruition for the Mooresville-based organization. After starting the 2008 season with Riley products winning both the GT and Daytona Prototype classes in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Riley Technologies went on to score a remarkable fifth consecutive Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype Manufacturer Championship.

The winning genetics behind that rich on-track legacy of success will now be available to a select group of drivers when the Riley Track Day Car (TDC) is released in late February. With the first two chassis already sold, the innovative new entry in the market has attracted significant interest well before it hits the track.

Taking everything the company has learned in competition and focusing it on the Track Day Car, the new Riley TDC will deliver a straightforward driving experience, with speed, safety and easy maintenance key factors in the design. With a GM “Crate" motor providing the base powerplant option starting with 500 hp mated to the GA46 sequential shift gearbox from EMCO Gears, the low-weight TDC has impeccable performance credentials.

The machine also boasts a high level of available individual options, with customers able to outfit their own TDC as they wish with specification choices available in nearly every category from power output and paddle shifters to traction control and cockpit air conditioning.

“The TDC has progressed right on schedule, and we are really excited to see this car on track soon," said Riley Technologies Vice President-CFO and General Manager Ron McMahon. “The Track Day Car has attracted a highly focused group of customers, so we are really proud of the level of individual specification we are able to offer each of them with this new car. But no matter how anyone specs them out, we feel like we’ve hit our goals in every category in terms of performance, safety, and ease of ownership."

Despite the high-performance design, the TDC is also slated to provide surprising levels of comfort, with the machine able to accommodate drivers up to 6’5" and 250 lbs. [250Lbs? Is this a sport or a parade?]

Part of the ownership experience for the TDC will also include an at-track orientation with a Riley Tech factory driver as the customer gets a proper first introduction to the newest entry in the Riley pedigree of performance.

The second significant concurrent program for Riley Tech is the new Chevrolet Camaro entry for the Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge. Announced in September, the Riley Camaro entry will go head to head against competition that includes contenders like the BMW M3, Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, and Dodge Challenger in the top GS Class of KONI competition.

The Camaro will be initially raced Stateside, but is also expected to be a stout entry for FIA GT4 competition in Europe.

Riley is working closely with Chevrolet as the machine nears production to and then moves to race preparation, with the first entry scheduled to be deployed in late spring. The Camaro has been the darling of the auto and specialty automotive show circuit of late, with an iconic blue iteration attracting significant media and prospective customer interest in advance of the machine’s full release.

“We had a lot of interest in the Camaro when we announced it in the fall, but now that everyone has seen it in person, it’s just been even stronger," said Riley Technologies VP Bill Riley. “The fans are going to love seeing this car race. The KONI Sports Car Challenge is a really competitive category, but this Camaro should be a great package. We’re also excited about the interest this car has generated from Europe. So we’ve been busy getting things ready to go-not just with the car, but also to develop the same kind of support program for our KONI customers that we have had for our GT and Daytona Prototype customers for so many years."