Presenting the entrant from Erin for this round:
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#Overview
One of Erin’s most iconic and famous race cars, remade in the 21st century. Designed using original schematics, tuned with advice from those who drove the original and carefully modernised, the Merna Touring Ritorno is at once both a tasteful homage to the sixties race car and seriously capable performance vehicle.
##The Story
When the original Merna was launched in 1961, Erin’s racing division Erin Motorsport (now ErinSport) immediatley got their hands on it, and began to develop a racing version. This would become the first ever Merna Touring, a line of race cars that stretches to this day. With every new generation of Merna, a Touring version has followed, and as a result it has become an integral part of Erin’s motorsport history.
Come 1968, and the brand new Mk 2 Merna was launched to great success, but even more successful was the Touring version. Competing in touring car competitions across Europe as well as rallying and even rallycross, it became a staple for Erin’s image. Notorious for its brilliant driving charcteristics, small size and distinctive V6 noise, this was a car that oozed a plucky kind of charm and yet was still a seriously competitive vehicle. It won the BTCC in 1969 and 1970, whilst finishing 2nd in the Rally-Monte Carlo in 1968.
To celebrate both the Mk 2 Merna Touring and the line of race cars in general, Erin’s in-house tuning company The X Department have developed this made-to-order restomod version of the car, and aptly named it the ‘Ritorno’ - Italian for ‘Return’.
##The Design
At its absolute core, this is a car made to imitate the Mk 2 Merna Touring. The same all-aluminium body, made to the exact original dimensions; a gorgeous blend of original fittings and modern touches that create a true retro-modern feel; a plush, luxury interior, with full plastic/wooden dashboard (plus a classic sideways speedometer) that echoes the original while still making room for modern technologies that are integrated seamlessly.
##The Power
To truly pay homage to this car, the engine had to be similar. The timeless, blunt and broad sound produced by the original 2.4l V6 is reborn with an all new engine of same displacement, but packed with all modern features - VVT/L, direct injection and an AlSi construction; a modern 6 speed manual with a properly engineered limited slip differential delivers the power to the rear wheels; this a responsive power-train that is made to be driven.
##The Dynamics
All active suspension, utilizing push rods at the rear and double wishbones at the front, keep the car planted; 235mm wide 15" alloy wheels are well proportioned and ensure plenty of grip without overdoing it; tuned and tested with help from Paul Kimberly and Daniel Daminson - original drivers of these cars in the BTCC from 1968 to 1970 - to create an authentic, riveting and defining driving experience; a car that is tame when you need it to be, but lively, nimble and fast when you want it to be.
##The Construction
Built at an exclusive, low volume production line at the X Department Research and Development Centre in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, by a specially selected 30 person team; made to order based on your requests, available with a wide range of colors and interior materials; a limited production run of just 101 vehicles, representing the number of pole positions the Erin Merna has achieved in BTCC since 1961.
###Price: £66,560
A steel chassis and body will only be so good after 60 years, and it just won’t do as far as making a supercar 
