If you want a dual-purpose sports car that is road legal but also a joy to drive on the track, you aren't short of options. Gems like the Honda Civic Type R, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 are all great examples to suit different budgets. But if you want a dedicated track weapon that can withstand a full race season, you'll need something more hardcore like the ATS RR Turbo Club Sport from Italian race car manufacturer ATS Automobili. Last year, the company's racing division, ATS Corsa, revealed the RR Turbo Club Sport and now the covers have come off an even more special version of that car called the RR Turbo Serie Carbonio, which is Italian for Carbon Series.
ATS Corsa made special mention of its latest car's distinctive Italian design, its exceptional power, and its low running costs. Then again, you'll first need to afford its price tag of 164,000 euros (around $193,729) compared to the 2022 RR Turbo Club Sport's price of 145,000 euros ($171,284). Of course, the Serie Carbonio's unique selling point is its autoclave-molded carbon fiber body in either a matte or gloss finish. Up to 600 horsepower in a body with a dry weight of just 1,830 pounds equals an incredible power-to-weight ratio of 1.38 kg/hp (3 lbs/hp).
Interestingly, the ATS website states a lighter dry weight of 1,819 lbs, around 88 lbs less than the Club Sport. That power is derived from a 2.0-liter turbocharged straight-four engine which is paired to a six-speed sequential racing gearbox. The exterior features 18-inch ATS Corsa solid milled forged wheels, compared to the Club Sport's alloy wheels. At the back, there is a carbon fiber wing in place of the Club Sport's aluminum wing. ATS promises that once you're seated, you will "feel projected into the world of F1."
It's hard to miss the compact multifunction steering wheel which features an integrated 5.5-inch TFT display that puts vital information right in front of the driver. Of course, the square design of the wheel makes a lot more sense in this application than it does in a Tesla. Compared with a normal steering wheel, there are over 2.7 inches of added space between the driver's legs and the steering wheel, ensuring that there's enough room to maneuver the car on the track. Various knobs on the steering wheel can be used to manipulate the car's performance; for example, the red one allows you to choose from 12 settings for the traction control system.
Other notable features of the RR Turbo Serie Carbonio include a frontal security crashbox in Honeycomb, three-way manual dampers (with available electronic dampers), a pneumatic lifting system with three AirJacks, and the Winner Techno package that provides access to assisted gear shifting and the 12-way traction control.
ATS says that the car complies with FIA parameters in E2 classes, making it ideal for participation in current championships like the Britcar Championship and Fara USA. First deliveries for the 2022 season are slated for the end of this year as all 2021s have been sold out.