1998 | Marcos Mantis Challenge

“From track to road (and back to track?)”

1998 Marcos Mantis Challenge 2000

2005 Dutch Super Car Championship winning car

Road Registered in the UK

Designed by the iconic British manufacturer Marcos in 1997, the Mantis GT embodies the brand’s fearless approach to automotive engineering, blending raw performance with a distinctive, aerodynamic design.  Voluptuous lines, a strong space frame and the installation of a 4,6 Liter Ford Modular V8 mated to a 5 speed Tremec gearbox made for a classic British sportscar in the same spirit as the Ford Shelby Cobra from the sixties. 

When Eurotech BV of The Netherlands took over the racing department of Marcos in 1999 they decided to organize the Mantis Challenge 2000, a one make race series that quickly evolved into the Mantis Challenge Europe with over 25 cars on the grid. 

According to the Marcos Heritage certificate the car we are offering was built in May 1998, supposedly raced in the first year of the Mantis Challenge 2000 and then raced in Belcar in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

In 2005 the car was entered in the leading Dutch Supercar Challenge by Lex van der Meijden who won the 2005 championship and came second in 2006. Countless articles and pictures report from this great success against stiff opposition from Vipers, Porsches, Panoz, Mosler and other much more expensive equipment.

Overall standings:

9 Outright wins

6 Pole positions

19 Podium Positions

After its active racing life, the car was exported to Canada and then sold to the UK in 2009 where it was completely rebuilt and road registered on behalf of the current owner by Marque specialist Jay Sherwin.

The car would be an ideal fast road and/or track day car.

Or it would fit ideally in the Masters Historic Racing GT Trophy for cars from one make race series.  And with the FIA now issuing HTP’s for cars up to 2000 it will fit in many series expected to come. 

Some specs

Drive train

4,6L Ford Modular V8 Quadcam 32V, >300HP

Tremec 5 Speed gearbox

BTR LSD, radiator cooled

Stainless Steel MHS Headers

Chassis and Body

Tubular space frame, Carbon and GRP panels

Intrax adjustable suspension front and rear

All suspension is rose jointed

11” Rear wheels, Pirelli Zero 315/30R18

9” Front wheels, Pirelli Zero 255/35R18

Vented discs

AP racing pedalbox, Adjustable brake balance

AP racing Calipers

Front Splitter diffuser, flat bottom, cunards

Adjustable rear wing

Air Jacks

Eurotech Rollcage

998 Kgs only