Actually, that brings me to look through old pictures, you're not the first one to do this
Jupp, that's my buddys XXX-CR with it's sides cut of. It shall be said that this was run with regular race gear, although I don't think he ever weighted up to legal weight. Due to the cutaway sides, the flex caused extreme grip, so it would have become his wet race chassis, had he ever continued to use it.
Very cool project you got, so keep going!!