Ayrton Senna - 1992 Chevrolet Kadett GSI Convertible (Tatuí Kartódromo Pace Car) Diecast 1/43

1992 Chevrolet Kadett GSI Convertible used by Ayrton Senna as Pace Car during the opening of his personal karting track on his farm (Fazenda Dois Lagos) in the town of Tatuí in the state of São Paulo, Brazil Back in 1991 he designed and built his own karting track at the farm for his personal recreational use The inaugural race started with Ayrton Senna driving the pace car followed by Bruno Senna, Ayrton’s nephew. Bruno (8 years old at the time) was driving the kart # 1, didn’t make any mistake, and held the lead until the chequered flag waved by his own uncle Ayrton to win the first race at the Tatuí Kartódromo Chevrolet Kadett GSI History In October 1984, the Opel (Chevrolet) Kadett GSI was presented, a sports version of the Kadett E series. The engine was the 115 horsepower 1796cc, which in September 1986 was replaced by the 130 horsepower 1998cc (20SEH type). Thanks to particularly accurate aerodynamics, the Kadett GSI could exceed 200 km/h. In September 1987, the 16-valve engine type 20XE), which did not replace the 8-valve but flanked it, increased power to 156 horsepower, which returned to 150 with the 1989 catalyzed version (20XEJ engine). In February 1989 there was a restyling of the interior. The GSI remained in production until 1991. In Brazil, the Kadett E succeeded the Chevrolet Chevette and was introduced as the Chevrolet Kadett, with the station wagon version called the Chevrolet Ipanema. The latter had three doors until model year 1993, when five doors became mandatory. The hatchback was only available with three doors, and the sedan was never offered. Brazilian production of the hatchback commenced in April 1989, with the Ipanema being added in October. From 1995 all versions featured fuel injection. Brazilian cars received either 1.8 or 2.0 L petrol or ethanol fours. The Ipanema was discontinued in 1996, and the Kadett, in 1998. While the Ipanema clearly succeeded the Marajó, production of the Chevette (by now in sedan form only, the hatchback having been discontinued after the 1987 model year) and of the Kadett noticeably overlapped; the newer model was placed above the old one in Chevrolet's lineup. While Chevrolet entertained the possibility of a pick-up version of the Kadett E, it never materialized. In the early 1990s, South African Kadett GSi's were further upgraded based on their success in production car racing and initially 500 special units were built as road cars for homologation purposes. This was a minimum requirement for entry into the Stannic Group N races. They went against BMW's 325iS (A 2.7 L homologation special from BMW). They featured more aggressive 276-degree camshafts made by Schrick with 2 different settings for timing overlap (110° and 107°), revised intake and exhaust modifications (4-in-1 branch manifold and freeflow exhaust), Irmscher spring kit, modified engine management system by Promotec, a limited-slip differential developed by Andre Verwey and special Aluett 7Jx15-inch ET35 alloy wheels, they were nicknamed the "Superboss" and held the world record for the most torque per litre (114 Nm per litre) for a naturally aspirated car until 2009 being beaten by the Ferrari 458 (117 Nm per litre). After the first 500 units were produced, many more were built to satisfy public demand. The Kadett E formed the basis of the Daewoo LeMans (later known as the Daewoo Cielo, Racer and Nexia) in South Korea, Nexia being the hatchback version), which was sold in the United States and New Zealand as the Pontiac LeMans, and in Canada (initially) as the Passport Optima. LeMans sales ended in 1993. The Nexia is still being produced at UzDaewoo plant in Asaka, Uzbekistan. The Cielo was last being produced at Automobile Craiova, a semi-independent (from GM) plant in Craiova, Romania. Their license expired in the fall of 2006, and Cielo was produced until 2007.

Added 5 Aug 2026