Motorsport is very important for KTM, as indicated by the company slogan 'Ready to Race'. It was therefore entirely logical that at the same time as the plans for the series production were developing, KTM was planning to run the X-Bow competitively on the racetrack. Together with Dallara, KTM developed its own racing version, with the cars being run in the GT4 European Cup by German race team, Reiter Engineering. The decision by KTM to place the racing premiere of X-Bow in the hands of Reiter, rather than enter the championship with an in-house, factory-run operation, allowed KTM to use the GT4 entry as a pilot project to 'power' development of future customer motorsport applications as well as the production model.
The KTM drew on the vast expertise of world-renowned Italian racing driver Loris Bicocchi in the development of the KTM X-Bow Race car. He has been heavily involved in the X-Bow programme from the outset as test driver and played an important role in its chassis and dynamics tuning. Biccochi's motorsport experience includes the testing, development and racing of many of the world's most prestigious supercars - including the Koenigsegg CCR and the Bugatti Veyron.
The changes made to the GT4 racing X-Bow (compared with the production model) are predominantly related to additional safety equipment demanded by the FIA regulations. The rollover bars are made of steel instead of aluminium; additional layers of zylon fibre are fastened to the flanks of the monocoque to enhance side-impact protection and prevent the penetration of sharp objects; the exhaust system has a racing cataytic converter; the mudguards are extended; and there is added side-impact protection between the front and rear wheels (to prevent tangling with other cars).
These modifications are so minor that they highlight the fundamentally sporting design of the X-Bow, confirming that even the road-going model has the soul of a racing car. In fact, the GT4 KTM X-Bow complies with the FIA crash-regulations (Article 258a) and meets the same safety standards as dedicated open wheel and ALMS-race cars.
Throughout 2008, competitive racing provided important feedback in the final phase of the series production car development. It also served as a trial run for the future 'KTM Customer Racing Service', and for the development of the customer racing version of the KTM X-Bow.
After pre-season testing at Monza and Nogaro, a pair of X-Bows made a sensational competition debut at Silverstone (England) on 19 April 2008 - claiming 1st-2nd in-class finishes in both races and humbling many more powerful, more expensive GT4 machines.
The pair of X-Bows went on to repeat their 1st-2nd in-class form at Monza (Italy) and even claimed a remarkable third place overall in a 50-minute rain-soaked race. Only three race weekends later (Oschersleben, Spa-Francorchamps and Brno), KTM secured the title in the GT4 Sports Light category - with all three KTM drivers in the top three places overall.
And on the final racing weekend in Nogaro, providing a sensational climax to the season, Christopher Haase claimed the X-Bow's first overall pole-position ahead of the more powerful GT4 racers. The young German driver then exploited his excellent qualifying performance to clinch overall victory in the GT4 Sports Light European Cup, ahead of team mates Dennis Retera and Catharina Felser.
Through its new Customer Racing Service, KTM aims to write a new chapter in national and international motor racing, by providing everything a racing enthusiast needs to take part in professional motorsport. 'CRS' customers from all over the world will be able to race their own KTM X-Bow Race in professional-level motorsport, with support from a dedicated team of KTM race technicians.
Whether competing in the GT4 European Cup, in the ADAC GT Masters or at selected 24 hour or endurance races around the globe, the KTM CRS will supply customers with a full support crew, an extensive range of spare parts, and technical support for all the drivers and teams who campaign a KTM X-Bow.
Running a KTM X-Bow Race is simple and cost effective. The minimalist concept of the car means that it is extremely easy to maintain and offers significantly lower running costs than competitor cars. Taking into account all 'wear and tear' parts, tyres and fuel, the typical cost of running a X-Bow in GT4 is just €3,000 per race.
The CRS was designed with the idea of making entry to professional motorsport easy and affordable, with prices for one season's GT4 racing only costing around €100,000 (based on four race cars minimum in one support structure). This figure is based on eight GT races - six in the GT4 European Cup and a further two in a national GT4 championship - and includes full service of a customer's own car, transport, race service by specialist race engineers, hospitality for customers and team, spare parts (excluding crash-damaged parts), tyres, fuel, and driver and team wear.
