TVR at Le Mans?
Discussion
Now that we've seen the brilliant effort at Spa with the Veryplast car, what's stopping an assault on the big one at Le Mans?
I presume with all these things it's down to cash, but with the car lasting 24 hours at Spa we all know it can be done. Is the entrance fee at Le Mans the restrictive factor or are there other hidden costs behind Le Mans?
Or is it political in that TVR don't want to enter until they feel they have a car that can challenge for honours?
Answers on a postcard... err nah, just post 'em here instead.
I presume with all these things it's down to cash, but with the car lasting 24 hours at Spa we all know it can be done. Is the entrance fee at Le Mans the restrictive factor or are there other hidden costs behind Le Mans?
Or is it political in that TVR don't want to enter until they feel they have a car that can challenge for honours?
Answers on a postcard... err nah, just post 'em here instead.
Hmm, so Le Mans is invite only? I had no idea...
Yep, I agree it'll likely be a privateer with pots of cash and factory support, much in the same way that the Veryplast team did Spa I guess.
I can't help feeling that the only way TVR will see success at Le Mans is with a factory speed 12 effort, although in its current configuration as a sprint car how likely is that?
Ted, from your comments on the Speed 12 section of the site it's suggested that the speed 12 was originally built as a Le Mans contender? What happened to change that?
Yep, I agree it'll likely be a privateer with pots of cash and factory support, much in the same way that the Veryplast team did Spa I guess.
I can't help feeling that the only way TVR will see success at Le Mans is with a factory speed 12 effort, although in its current configuration as a sprint car how likely is that?
Ted, from your comments on the Speed 12 section of the site it's suggested that the speed 12 was originally built as a Le Mans contender? What happened to change that?
There would never be a chance of success at LM with the 12. Compare it to the Saleen or the C5-R Corvette and you'll see why; the C5 is a very highly developed racecar with huge sums of money behind it. Oh yes, I almost forgot the fleet of rapid and reliable Vipers, lead by Larbre and Carsport. Then there's the 550, which is improving at an alarming rate.
Let's face it, if Porsche races in GT3 because it can't justify the expense of building a world-beating GT2 (though PSI did fantastically well at Spa), that must tell us something.
GT3 is the only place left at LM for the relatively small manufacturer to find success. The Tuscan R is slippery enough for the straights, so it would qualify well enough, but the challenge of LM is rather different even to Spa-Francorchamps - the extra speed will introduce many new challenges.
Let's face it, if Porsche races in GT3 because it can't justify the expense of building a world-beating GT2 (though PSI did fantastically well at Spa), that must tell us something.
GT3 is the only place left at LM for the relatively small manufacturer to find success. The Tuscan R is slippery enough for the straights, so it would qualify well enough, but the challenge of LM is rather different even to Spa-Francorchamps - the extra speed will introduce many new challenges.
Nascut, your words in God's ear (or in this case in PW's ear) as we say in Germany. The Tuscan R can very well stand a chance in GT. Against the Porsche fleet, the Morgan and the Ferrarí 360s it should be strong enough. And if there's one thing we have learned from Spa then this is that the Speed Six engine is much better than many people think. Here is hope...
Let's hope so. The support from the TVR community would be unlike anything Le Mans has seen previously... even the Bentley boys.
Given its recent rise, the Tuscan R is doing extremely well in GTO, beating other cars which have had years of chassis refinement. Ok, it's only a slender lead but the fact that in its second season the R is leadingthe Porshe of Tim Sugden is remarkable.
My original question was about the speed 12 though. As I understood it, it was designed to run at Le Mans by why didn't it? Was it decided that it just wasn't good enough/cash/politics/never designed for Le Mans? Perhaps it was just a profile raiser for TVR...
Anyone shed any light on this?
Given its recent rise, the Tuscan R is doing extremely well in GTO, beating other cars which have had years of chassis refinement. Ok, it's only a slender lead but the fact that in its second season the R is leadingthe Porshe of Tim Sugden is remarkable.
My original question was about the speed 12 though. As I understood it, it was designed to run at Le Mans by why didn't it? Was it decided that it just wasn't good enough/cash/politics/never designed for Le Mans? Perhaps it was just a profile raiser for TVR...
Anyone shed any light on this?
I think the PR rhetoric at the time of the 12's debut probably hinted at a desire to go to LM, but I don't think the intention was ever really there. The car was only ever built as a sprinter. For a start, its 'road car' credentials were always very questionable, so there would've been some raised eyebrows at the ACO.
It seems that as soon as TVR could see how well Shorty's Cerbera 6 was going, it became clear to them that GT3 was the class to move forward in. The Saleen then made the Cerbera/Viper/Lister type of car obsolete on its debut.
The Cerbera 12 was always up against it as a project - never really quick enough to make top teams switch over to it, so not enough were sold to make any money to plough back into a possible Le Mans programme.
Perhaps there was also a degree of underestimation of the size of the task at hand - from right at the top. At least they've spent three years giving it a damn good go, though.
It seems that as soon as TVR could see how well Shorty's Cerbera 6 was going, it became clear to them that GT3 was the class to move forward in. The Saleen then made the Cerbera/Viper/Lister type of car obsolete on its debut.
The Cerbera 12 was always up against it as a project - never really quick enough to make top teams switch over to it, so not enough were sold to make any money to plough back into a possible Le Mans programme.
Perhaps there was also a degree of underestimation of the size of the task at hand - from right at the top. At least they've spent three years giving it a damn good go, though.
Is there good news ? I barely can believe it. Over here in flooded Germany we usually get Auto Sport (or any other British car mag) one month later than in the UK. So just point me and I'll have some time to get it from the shop. Oh gosh, I feel sorry for Simon. That must have been a huge impact. I hope he's alright. I also hope that you get lots of works support to get the Tuscan back on the track again before the end of the season. On Ted's pictures the car looked hugely bent. Oh dear, that's not how I like a race to be finished, Spa is an better example. Anyway, tomorrow's LM news will be awesome (I assume and hope and pray and bent my thumbs), but before this there is a chamionship to win. See you in the other Frensh speaking country a bit earlier next year.
Graham - top man.
The news is out today...
"Motorsport News are first with the confirmation this morning, that TVR boss Peter Wheeler has confirmed that his company will race at Le Mans next year - probably with two Tuscan Rs in the LM GT class. "
They were probably impressed with what Morgan had done...
The news is out today...
"Motorsport News are first with the confirmation this morning, that TVR boss Peter Wheeler has confirmed that his company will race at Le Mans next year - probably with two Tuscan Rs in the LM GT class. "
They were probably impressed with what Morgan had done...
Yep - truly excellent news and, though there's some way to go yet, the fact that TVR are prepered to go as far as they have in 'confirming' plans is leagues ahead of where we have been previously.
Well done Matt James of Motorsport News - a real GT racing fan - for getting the story we all wanted to hear.
>> Edited by GrahamG on Wednesday 21st August 13:24
Well done Matt James of Motorsport News - a real GT racing fan - for getting the story we all wanted to hear.
>> Edited by GrahamG on Wednesday 21st August 13:24
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