MCT joins Caparo team

Menard Competition Technologies Limited (MCT) is to provide complete engine building services to the Caparo T1 road car programme.

Designed by ex-McLaren staff Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead, the car was unveiled at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix. With extensive utilisation of composite materials, the vehicle weighs approximately 575kg and reaches 100mph in less than five seconds.

Oxfordshire-based MCT will be responsible for the delivery of the Caparo V8, a brand new, 3.5 litre V8, normally aspirated engine. The unit will run at up to 11,000rpm and offers 585bhp. It is envisaged that up to 50 of the two-seater vehicles will be made every year.

Low weight has been one of the driving principles behind the design of the chassis and engine in order to deliver both performance and fuel economy.

‘The automotive industry needs to exploit lightweight technology more. By reducing weight, we improve fuel performance and therefore cut down on carbon emissions,’ said Angad Paul, Caparo’s chief executive. ‘With the Caparo T1, we’re showing that we can do this, while delivering superlative performance.’