Harrier LR7
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| Category | Group C2 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Harrier Cars Ltd | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Lester Ray | ||||||||||
| Production | 1989 | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Harrier LR6 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Harrier LR9C | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Steel tube frame | ||||||||||
| Engine | Chevrolet L98 5,700cc (347.83 cu in) V8 naturally aspirated, rear mid-mounted | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | |||||||||||
| Debut | Silverstone Circuit 1989 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The Harrier LR7 is a sports prototype race car designed by Lester Ray and built by Harrier Cars. Built to Group C2 regulations (formerly known as Group C Junior), it was built as a redesigned version of the Harrier LR4. Powered by a Chevrolet small-block V8 power unit, the LR7 competed in the BRDC C2 Championship in 1989 and 1990. It was the last sports prototype built by the company until the Harrier LR10 one decade later.
History
[edit]In the 1988 racing season, Harrier and its customers campaigned the preceding Harrier LR5 and LR6 side-by-side in the final days of the Thundersports Series and the beginning of the new replacement BRDC C2 Championship.[1] To lower running costs and improve parts commonality, the elder Ford Cosworth-powered LR5 was retired and a Chevrolet-powered LR4 chassis was heavily modified to become the new LR7.[2] After failing to start on debut at Silverstone with experienced drivers John Bartlett and Robin Donovan,[3] the LR7 ran alongside the LR6 in the BRDC but both cars struggled to compete with class leaders including the Spice SE89C and the Lola T594. In 1990, after multiple DNFs and failures to start, the LR7 achieved a best result of third overall at Oulton Park.[4] However, this result was achieved against a field of only six entrants in the series' dying days. Less than one month later the series ran its final race at Donnington Park, with the LR7 finishing last of all classified finishers after colliding with a Spice SE88C on the final lap.[4] While more successful than its immediate predecessor, the LR7 was retired at the end of 1990 without achieving any major accolades.
References
[edit]- ^ "Harrier - Photo Gallery - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
- ^ "Lot 34 - 1985 Harrier LR 4/7 Group C Race Car". www.handh.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Results: British C2 Championship 1989". www.classicscars.com.
- ^ a b "Results: British C2 Championship 1990". www.classicscars.com.