Saker GT: New Zealand-Born Race Car Making Its Mark Across Europe

Racing Heritage - For many car enthusiasts, the thrill of motorsport isn’t just about speed—it’s about finding that rare blend of performance, agility, and uniqueness. In the world of grassroots racing and affordable endurance machines, one name continues to fly slightly under the radar, yet leaves a lasting impression on those lucky enough to drive—or even just witness—it: the Saker GT.

The Saker SVS GT, introduced in 1999 as a major evolution of the earlier SV1, featured a lengthened chassis and broader engine compatibility. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Originally crafted by New Zealander Bruce Turnbull in the early 1990s, the Saker GT began life with the SV1, a road-legal machine that didn’t shy away from competitive use. Its flexibility in engine options—from V6s to V8s—made it an appealing choice for both amateur and experienced builders. The SV1 proved that performance didn’t need to come from a high-end badge, especially when that performance was built on a lightweight, race-focused platform. 

The Saker SV1, the first production model introduced in 1992, was road legal, used for touring and competition, and designed to accommodate various engines—including V6 and V8—before being sold in the UK, Japan, and New Zealand. (Picture from: FastestLaps)

In 1999, Saker introduced the SVS GT, a significant evolution from the earlier SV1. The Saker GT, as it's now more commonly known, featured a lengthened chassis and new engine compatibility. This new iteration came alongside an open-top version called the Sprint. These updates allowed the cars to accommodate a wider variety of engines, most notably the turbocharged flat-four from the Subaru Impreza WRX. Some even went further with Subaru flat-sixes, providing smoother power delivery with a unique sound and character.

The Saker Sprint, introduced in 1999 as the open-top counterpart to the SVS GT, is powered by a turbocharged Subaru flat-four engine. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

Among the Saker builds that made their way to the United States, one road-going SVS imported from New Zealand in 2004 became a standout. Originally equipped with a Lexus V8 and Renault transaxle, it was later transformed with a highly tuned 5.7-liter Chevy LS6 engine and an Audi six-speed transaxle, producing nearly 500 horsepower. The body was also modified with updated headlights, tail lights, and aerodynamic elements for a more modern look.

The Saker RapX and Sniper models were introduced in 2010 as new additions to the lineup, offering updated bodywork while retaining the core mechanicals of the original GT and Sprint. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

But it wasn’t just individual tuners who saw the potential in the Saker. In 2002, Dutch motorsport figures Huub Vermeulen and Robbert Visser recognized the car’s racing potential and secured the rights to manufacture it in Europe. This led to the formation of Saker Sportscars in the Netherlands. Under their new stewardship, the GT and Sprint models continued production and were joined in 2010 by two visually refreshed variants: the RapX and the Sniper. While these new versions shared the GT’s core mechanicals, their updated bodywork gave them a fresh, aggressive identity. 

The Saker RapX, powered by a Subaru-based engine producing 272 hp (tunable up to 400), may not match GT3 output, but its lightweight construction enables impressive performance, including a 0–100 km/h sprint in just 3.4 seconds. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

The Saker GT soon earned its place on the track. The Saker Sportscars Challenge, launched in 2004, provided a dedicated racing series where these lightweight machines could battle it out across some of Europe’s most iconic circuits. The Challenge became a highlight of DNRT (Dutch National Racing Team) , with races at Spa-Francorchamps, TT Circuit Assen, Brands Hatch, and Zandvoort. Though the last full season of the Challenge wrapped in 2013, the legacy of Saker’s racing spirit lived on. 

The Saker Sportscar GT TDI competed in the 2011 24 Hours of Barcelona and secured a class victory in the SP3 category. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Its track capabilities were further proven in international endurance racing. The Saker GT competed in the grueling 24 Hours of Dubai and secured a class victory in the 24 Hours of Barcelona. In the Britcar Endurance Championship, drivers Alan Purbrick and David Brise brought the Saker RAPX into the spotlight with a race win in 2018—highlighting the car’s ability to outperform expectations. (Some of you might remember the Isis RapX-S we discussed earlier, a car that also shares its roots with the original Saker platform.)

The Dutch Saker RapX of Alan Purbrick and Tony Brise competed at Brands Hatch as part of the Britcar Endurance Championship, achieving a race victory at the end of the 2018 season. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

In 2023, a new chapter began for Saker Sportscars as the company relocated to Germany under new owner Tobias Moehring. This shift brought fresh energy to the brand. Production resumed, and the company became active in organizing track days and participating in racing events across Europe. With the inclusion of Sakers in the Sportwagen Sprint Series and the promise of a dedicated championship if participation grows, the future looks bright. | AIZbG6qJIBk |

Today, the Saker GT stands as a testament to focused engineering and motorsport passion. It’s not a household name, but maybe that’s the point. For those who truly understand what makes a car special—its ability to connect with the driver, to deliver thrills lap after lap—the Saker GT continues to deliver, with a unique mix of simplicity, power, and purpose. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SAKERSPORTSCARS | GTPLANET | NZHERALD.CO.NZ | FASTESTLAPS | AUTA5P.EU | WIKIPEDIA ]

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