Factory Five Racing decided to open up the design of its new sports car to anyone who fancied a challenge. The result is Nouphone Bansasi's sleek open-top machine - and his work will now make it into production as Factory Five's next model. Bansasi also pockets $5,000 (about €3,500) for his work.
Codenamed Project 818, the new car from Factory Five is based on the mechanicals of the Subaru WRX, though it's a two-seater, mid-engined sports car. The name comes from the intended overall weight of the car, which should be no more than 818kg, offering a superb power-to-weight ratio even with a standard Impreza WRX engine.
The 818 will have a 2,413mm wheelbase, a spaceframe chassis and composite body shell. Factory Five says it will be on sale in the USA late in 2012. It will be offered in self-build form with a price from $9,900 (€6,900) and the company says a competent home mechanic could build a complete car for less than $15,000 (€10,400).
Factory Five says it has plans for Project 818 as a "world car" and there's a real possibility of it being made in right-hand drive.