A CAR nut who created a lookalike Formula One car he could drive on the street is planning to put a pack of replica racers on the road.

Two years ago, engineer Russ Bost, built a replica racing car so realistic it made many a hapless motorist think Michael Schumacher was in his mirrors.

Now the former mechanic has created a new racer – a two-seater he plans to put in pole position on motorists’ wish-lists, Russ, 53, of Lake Drive, Benfleet, said: “The first car was something I wanted to do for myself, but it generated so much interest I decided to redesign it so it was available to anyone.”

A real Formula One Ferrari costs millions, but one of Russ’s Furores will set you back about £10,000 – provided you’re handy with a spanner.

His firm is selling the cars as a kit, complete with gleaming carbon-fibre body for £6,000.

Then you have to buy the chassis, engine and running gear of a 1985-1989 Toyota MR2 sports car, plus a suitable set of wheels and tyres and sundry other parts – and the cost of rigourous MoT testing to make sure it’s street-legal.

Russ says he can put more mechanically-challenged buyers in touch with someone who can build the car for them.

Buyers will get a motor with performance to match its racy lines – it goes from a standstill to 60mph in just six seconds and has a top speed of about 130mph.

And Russ promises it will easier to drive than his original single-seater design.

He explained: “The first car had the sort of performance which could cause a serious accident unless you were careful.I’ve tuned it down a bit, so it’s less like a racing car. It’s all based around road car parts.”

The new new two-seater Furure is in the silver of his favourite Formula One team, McLaren and has already had a decent test-run. Russ and a friend recently make an 850-mile to the Le Mans 24-hour race and back.

He said: “We didn’t get stopped by police, but I got plenty of funny looks.

“One guy climbed halfway out of his passenger window to take a picture of us on the motorway – not something I’d recommend!”

For details, go to www.furorecars.co.uk