Photo : - Zytek Motorsport Ltd

Pioneers in hybridization Zytek intend to demonstrate their expertise in endurance racing and especially the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In the late '90s, when Don Panoz had the brilliant idea to install a KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) in one of his race cars, it was to Zytek that he turned. Yes, the Esperante Q9 failed to qualify for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it demonstrated the viability of its technology, ranking third in Petit Le Mans GT1 class 1998. Eleven years later at Lime Rock, Zytek became the first manufacturer to put a hybrid prototype on the podium. 

The Q10 system was designed for road use, and the new ZPH (Zytek Performance Hybrid) will be dedicated to competition and therefore much lighter than its predecessor. Its 50 pounds of muscle will provide an extra 55hp to the Zytek V8- enough to save a quantity of precious fuel.

Rangoni Motorsport have been entrusted with the Ginetta Zytek 09SH. The Italians will enter all the European rounds of the LMS series, and be a candidate for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. DriverLuca Rangoni - one of three brothers and owners of the team - will be joined by the experienced  Ferdinando Geri and Thomas Biagi.

John Manchester, the project manager: "Zytek Engineering is pleased to enter into this partnership. We firmly believe that the introduction of our revolutionary hybrid technology in combination with Rangoni Motorsport will be successful in future seasons. We are excited to begin this long and fruitful collaboration. "

After Hope PoleVision and their prototype Oreca Lehmann, Rangoni Motorsport is the second team to reveal its intention to run a hybrid car.

Julien Hergault

Photo: Repton (GBR), Zytek  MOTORSPORT WORKSHOP. Consisting of a generator, a battery and an inverter, the ZPH system weighs just 50 kilos.