The recently launched Spartan road-going track-day car that has wowed the specialist UK and Australian media has now put itself firmly in the record books. Courtesy of the capable hands of Cinch Motoring & Lifestyle Editor Sam Sheehan, it’s not only shot to the top of the Cinch Leaderboard, but achieved the fastest ever lap of the National Circuit at Rockingham Speedway with a time of 1 minute 14.14 seconds.

The car the Spartan beat to break the outright circuit record by 0.06 seconds was the track-only Palmer Jaguar JP1, while it captured pole position on the Cinch Leaderboard by bettering the time of the legendary Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) by no less than 1.78 seconds. A clearly ecstatic Sheehan described the Spartan as ‘insanely quick and unbelievable everywhere’. Moreover, though rightly happy with his record-breaking time, he admitted that the car could almost certainly be persuaded to go faster still.

The product of Sydney-based Australian twins Nick and Peter Pap, the Spartan is a mid-engined lightweight supercar that, in ultimate specification, develops a storming 657bhp/tonne courtesy of a Rotrex supercharged 2.4-litre Honda K24 powerplant. It drives through a Quaife six-speed sequential or Honda six-speed manual gearbox, while braking is by AP Racing discs and the active suspension system comprises double wishbones and programmable TracTive ACE dampers. The world–class tubular steel spaceframe chassis exceeds FIA safety standards and is clothed in ultra-high-quality carbonfibre bodywork that weighs in at under 20kg. The Spartan is quick by any measure, with a claimed time for the 0-60mph sprint of 2.5 seconds and a terminal speed in excess of 155mph.

The Spartan is imported to this country by Le Mans Coupes Ltd, which is best known for the c.60 Superformance GT40s, 25 Shelby roadster evocations and 16 Shelby Daytona Cobra continuation cars it has supplied UK enthusiasts with over the last 20 years. Further details of the Spartan and Le Mans Coupes’ other offerings are available at www.lemanscoupes.com, while the link to Sam Sheehan’s record-breaking lap is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckxH48BOG3M.

How the times compare:

A. Rockingham National Circuit

1. Spartan    1:14.14
2. Palmer Jaguar JP1    1:14.20
3. Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2)    1:15.92
4. Noble M400    1:16.60
5. McLaren MP4-12C Spider    1:17.20

B. Cinch Leaderboard

1. Spartan    1:14.14
2. Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2)    1:15.92
3. Caterham Seven 420R    1.17.92
4. Porsche Cayman GT4 (982)    1.17.95
5. BMW M3 Competition (G80)    1:20.00