This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2026 - Competition Cars on Saturday the 21st of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. Please note this lot is subject to vendor approval and may change. Constructed in 1970 by the innovative ARK Racing concern, the Ark Sprite stands as one of the most charismatic and technically interesting British GT contenders of its era. Conceived around the idea of combining the second-generation Austin-Healey Sprite's lightweight proportions with the proven potency of Lotus Twin-Cam power, the Ark Sprite rapidly established a reputation for speed, durability and intelligent engineering. At its heart lay a highly efficient and reliable Lotus 1600cc Twin-Cam, dry-sumped and mounted as a stressed member within a purpose-built spaceframe chassis. This sophisticated approach, allied to a close-ratio Ford gearbox, endowed the car with exceptional rigidity and balance. Power was transmitted through a strengthened Ford Anglia rear axle fitted with a Hewland limited-slip differential, while braking was by Girling discs all round. At the front, modified Triumph Herald suspension was employed, utilising bespoke wishbones unique to the Ark design. The chassis was clothed in a Smith and Deakin glass fibre body, subtly widened to accommodate broader wheels and a more purposeful stance. Bespoke alloy doors were fabricated, underscoring the car’s competition-led ethos and attention to weight-saving detail. The Ark Sprites competition career began in earnest in 1970, quickly demonstrating its credentials with a strong second place on its debut, followed by appearances in demanding international events including the Nürburgring 500km, the Thruxton GT, and a six-hour endurance race at Jarama, Spain – a formidable programme that cemented the car’s reputation during its first season. However, it was in 1971 that it secured its place in British motorsport folklore. Driven by John Banks, with shared duties from Chris Smith (later of Westfield fame), the car achieved a remarkable overall scratch victory at the Birkett Six Hour Relay Race – one of the most storied events on the UK racing calendar since its inception in 1951. Covering an astonishing 217 laps at an average speed of 86.8mph, the Sprite became the first car ever to exceed 500 miles in the event, a landmark achievement that remains one of the Birkett’s defining moments. Subsequent regulation changes curtailed an intended full international campaign, prompting a return to UK-based GT competition, but the Ark Sprite’s legacy had already been firmly secured as one of the most successful and innovative Sprite-derived racers of its time. Recently issued with FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP) papers (Class TSRC16) valid until 31/12/2034, this evocative and highly significant British GT car presents a rare opportunity for a new custodian. Eligible for a wide range of prestigious historic race meetings, Modsports, Hill-Climbs and Sprints, the Ark Sprite offers the chance to return a true piece of UK motorsport history to the circuits where it earned its reputation more than half a century ago.