The performance potential of the Pro Racer includes a top speed of 235km/h and a sprint time of better than five seconds to 100km/h.

Australia's newest carmaker has no plans to challenge Ford, GM Holden or Toyota.

It's not even looking to get its first model certified for road use.

But there is plenty of passion behind the Hyper Pro Racer and the head of the company believes it will be a winner with a range of people looking to put some enjoyment into their weekends and driving.

He is Jon Crooke, a one-time Australian Formula 2 and Peter Brock co- driver, who turned to computer simulators after racing and has now moved onto something bigger and more real.

"The idea for the Hyper Racer happened 10 years ago, or maybe even way back when I was racing. I realised the money was going to run out and I made my first move in 1998 or 1999, but the right people didn't come into play and it got shelved," says Crooke.

"Then my son came along and was showing genius in manufacturing methods and suggested we fire it up and get it going. We finally decided this year to do it."

The father-and-son combination got their experience through Superkart racing although Crooke also had a plan to import the British-made Ariel Atom sports car at one stage. But that was before he got snowed by a paper war of government regulations.

This time he believes he has the right approach and plans to pitch the Hyper Pro Racer as a motoring toy, complete with one-make races and - if things go well - stand-alone race meetings. That approach has also governed the projected price for a car.

"We hope to do the whole thing for $25,000. That's the target and it's in line with a top-quality Japanese or European superbike," says Crooke.

"We are aiming at the guys who have that money to spend on a hobby or a toy. This will not be a class for guys waiting to get into Formula One. It's for people with a job and wife and kids. And someone who wants to be able to look after their own toy once they finish work."

The Pro Racer has a tube-frame chassis with a 450cc Yamaha engine and five-speed sequential gearbox. It is fitted with suspension, four- wheel disc brakes and a safety cell for the driver with a six-point harness.

"It really has to be more like a car. There is no resemblance to a kart in its safety, and it has suspension and things."

The first car is already built and being prepared for shakedown tests before the creation of production-line parts and bodywork.

"We'll probably do a day of testing at Calder because it's close to the factory. And then we'll go to Winton and Steve Kramer is coming to do the shocks for us. Then we'll do test days and customer days." Crooke plans a first batch of 10 cars and the best news is that six have been pre-sold. "There is obviously a fair bit of interest. I even got an email this week from someone in the UK who had heard about it through Superkarting," says Crooke.

The performance potential of the Pro Racer includes a top speed of 235km/h and a sprint time of better than five seconds to 100km/h, with braking to match. Lap times are expected to be similar to a Formula Ford racer.

But Crooke has a simple focus on everything he does with the car. "We want it to be cheap to buy, cheap to run and cheap to maintain," he says.