{{Short description|Japanese grand touring race car}} {{Racing car | Car_name = Vemac RD408R | Image = No.5 MACH GoGoGo SYAKEN 408R at 2010 Pokka GT Summer Special (2).jpg | Category = [[Super GT]] GT500 (2004)<br/>Super GT GT300 (2006–2010) | Constructor = [[Vemac Car Company|Vemac]] ([[R&D Sport|Tokyo R&D]]) | Designer = Masao Ono | Team = {{ubl |[[R&D Sport]] |Team [[Speed Racer|Mach]] }} | Drivers = {{ubl |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shinsuke Shibahara]] |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tetsuji Tamanaka]] }} | Chassis = Hybrid steel aluminum | suspension = Double wishbone<ref name="SGT" /> | Engine name = {{ubl | [[Mugen Motorsports#MF408S Engine Technical Specifications|Mugen MF408S]] 4,000 cc [[V8]] | [[Mugen Motorsports#MF458S Engine Technical Specifications|Mugen MF458S]] 4,500 cc [[V8]] | [[Porsche]] [[Porsche flat-six engine|M96/77]] 3,598 cc [[Flat-six engine|F6]] }} | Turbo/NA = [[Naturally aspirated]] | Engine position = {{nowrap|[[Mid-engine]]d}}, [[Longitudinal engine|longitudinally mounted]] | Power = >460 PS (>340 kW) 8200{{nbsp}}rpm<ref name=vemac /> | Gearbox name = [[Hewland]] | Gears = 6-speed | Type = [[Sequential manual transmission|sequential manual]] | Differential = | Length = {{convert|4610|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="SGT">{{Cite web|url=http://supergt.net/archive/classic/supergt.net/supergt/2006/06team/06teams_j/06t062.shtm?dt|title = SUPERGT.net | 2006 Team Information}}</ref> | Width = {{convert|1990|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="SGT" /> | Height = {{convert|1160|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}<ref name=mach>{{Cite web|url=http://supergt.net/archive/classic/supergt.net/supergt/2010/10team/index_j005.htm?tm|title = Team Mach}}</ref> | Weight = {{convert|1250|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="SGT" /> | Fuel = | Tyres = [[Yokohama Rubber Company|Advan]], [[Dunlop Tyres]] 280-710x18 | Debut = 2004 Suzuka GT 300 km | Races = 37 | Wins = 2 | Cons_champ = 0 | Drivers_champ = 0 | Poles = 0 | Fastest_laps = 0 | Last_season = [[2010 Super GT Series|2010]] }}
The {{nihongo|'''Vemac RD408R'''|ヴィーマック・RD408R|Vuīmakku RD408R|lead=yes}} is a race car produced by the [[Vemac Car Company]] that raced in the Japanese [[Super GT]] GT300 and GT500 classes. It raced between 2004 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/Vemac/RD408R.html|title=Vemac RD408R|website=Racingsportscars.com|access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref>
==Specifications== The RD408R is essentially a version of the [[Vemac RD320R|RD320R]] introduced in 2002, but fitted with a [[Mugen Motorsports#MF408S Engine Technical Specifications|Mugen Motorsports MF408S]] 4.0{{Spaces}}L V8.<ref name=mf408s>{{Cite web|url=http://supergt.net/archive/classic/supergt.net/jgtc/race/2004/04rd7/047entry.shtm|title = 2004 Round7 | Entry List|access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref> The RD408R was developed specifically to compete in the GT500 class as a successor to the [[Vemac RD350R|RD350R]].<ref name=vemac>{{cite web|url=http://f1-web-gallery.sakura.ne.jp/cn21/pg266.html|title=Formula Web Gallery: ＶＥＭＡＣ ＲＤ３２０Ｒ ＲＤ３５０Ｒ ＲＤ４０８Ｒ}}</ref> In later years the RD408R's engine was replaced with a [[Mugen MF458S]] V8.<ref name="SGT" />
At least one road car, known as the '''RD408''', was built. It was given the registration plate of EU54 BXA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tr-d.co.jp/vemaccars/rd408/main.htm|title = RD408|website=[[Vemac Car Company]]|access-date=26 June 2023}}</ref> A related car, the '''RD408H''', was also developed; this was essentially the RD408 road car with a hybrid system developed by PUES Corporation, one of Tokyo R&D's subsidiaries. The RD408H was intended to be produced in small numbers and compete in races<ref name=rd408h>{{cite web|url=http://www.r-d.co.jp/images/top/rd408h.pdf|title=RD408H|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129131038/http://www.r-d.co.jp/images/top/rd408h.pdf |archive-date=2007-01-29 }}</ref> but ultimately found no buyers.
==Racing record== The car was first introduced with [[R&D Sport]] in 2004 at the final round of the championship in Suzuka;<ref name=mf408s /> the team performed poorly, finishing 13th in the race with no points and never competed in the GT500 class again. No RD408Rs competed in 2005; the year after, R&D Sport campaigned an RD408R in [[2006 Super GT Series|2006]], winning the Fuji GT 500 km Race. The RD408R would win the 2007 Autopolis GT 300 km Race; this would be the last win for any Vemac in the series.
The last race for the RD408R was the Motegi GT 250 km in 2010, with a sole RD408R campaigned by Team [[Speed Racer|Mach]]; it notably used a Mid West Racing-tuned [[Porsche 911 GT3]] engine as opposed to the Mugen powerplant used in previous years.<ref name=mach /> the team would replace their RD408R with an RD320R for 2011, the first time they had used the RD320R since 2009. This RD320R would also use an engine from the Porsche 911 GT3. After the Super GT rule changes in 2012 that prohibited low-volume production cars from entering races, the RD408R (and likewise all other Vemacs) is no longer able to race in the series. Despite the RD408R being the latest and fastest of all the Vemacs, it never really reached the competitiveness of the RD320R.<ref name=vemac />
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==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Cars introduced in 2004]] [[Category:Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles]] [[Category:Grand tourer racing cars]]