[WEC] Kolles Prototype

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by pavloslepaul

Mighty Kolles squad. They are so long here I forgot how they even started, but personally they started to me a bit annoying in recent years. Whole speculations and case around Vanwall name, struggles with engine caused that's the only constructor in WEC which I would really do not miss. Even when Isotta is lacking in a lot of areas they are at least fresh air to the sport, while ByKolles (as personally struggle to called it Vanwall) was a bit boring.

This is literaly the story of Le Mans though. Weird random team of questionable origins, that might not even be a legal company, with no money, taping together a car that blows up in the first hour.

There's no story more true to the majority of Le Mans entries than this.

[TF110]

Looks like Kolles got a victory in court over the naming rights to "Vanwall". There's going to be appeals to this verdict, like Colin's team of lawyers appealed the previous. But this looks like a big victory for him whether you agree with the decision or not.

[Aysedasi]

In all honesty, the way names are used and reused these days without any real reference to their use of old, I'm wondering if anyone outside the parties concerned was particularly bothered.....

[flatlandsman]

I doubt it very much

I liked the car, it looked great and although Kolles is a bit of a special case I always root for the underdog, with some work and a decent driving crew, like the Isotta this car could be a great cheaper alternative to others.

[v8supes]

I know people are going to mock the team but they didnt even have a spot on the grid and still worked on an EVO version of the car, that seems crazy to me.

Maybe next year with IF gone they can get a spot? The car looks good imo.

https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...endre-la-piste

The electric road car although not my cup of tea looks decent imo too, whether they sell any is a different matter...

[flatlandsman]

Again I think the ACO are not interested, they were two years ag to fill the grid, but not now, Lexus with no real history in WEC got a slot instantly because its Toyota and Lexus, AMG will want one, even Porsche are only in GT through third parties, makes you wonder how damn quick a factory 911 would be!!

You also have to factor in, that GT is where the big money is, these are the very rich men who pay for teams, cars and drivers, they HAVE to accommodate that aswell as Hypers, and that is a very important consideration in WEC these days,

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

even Porsche are only in GT through third parties, makes you wonder how damn quick a factory 911 would be!!

These cars are run by Manthey who are an ex-factory team for Porsche in GTE so that's as close to factory as you can get. Remember in the WEC you can't go full factory in GT3, obligatory Bronze driver and a non-factory team (at least on paper) are necessary. You can only go full factory in the Weathertech championship.

[broadrun96]

And look at how much faster they aren't always in IMSA. but that's a factory shoe in the quick seat, usually

[flatlandsman]

I am aware of all this, I was merely making the point!!

[Tique]

Fingers crossed, will be nice to have them on the grid next year. With IF gone, let see

[FIRE]

Kolles needs a new Interserie.

[TF110]

Nice looking car still. The updates are not immediately noticeable but hopefully they can get their car together and get 2 spots next year.

[tomcug]

Wouldn't mind seeing that since Glick's hypercar is a dead project now. We need a garagist entry to root for

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by tomcug

We need a garagist entry to root for

You have two for a total of four cars, teams Baguette/camembert-beurre are here to satisfy you follish wishes! May be we could ask for a supplément corninchon!

[tomcug]

Have a little faith in those French cars

[v8supes]

"***Work has progressed on the Vanwall Vandervell 680 LMH car, which recently completed a rolling wind tunnel test at the Catesby Tunnel Vehicle Test Facility in the UK with its new powerplant from Pipo Moteurs. Tristan Vautier carried out driving duties of the Hypercar.

***Vanwall previously expressed hopes of returning to the WEC grid next year, which could now become a reality depending on the outcome of Isotta Fraschini’s attempt to find a new operational partner. The entries are all subject to the WEC selection committee."

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...y-notebook-11/

[flatlandsman]

Great news, I think if they expand the Hypercars to other ACO series these cars like the Vanwall and Isotta might come into their own a little more, but I guess the further down you go the budgets get less and people want to be able to win just as much

[Gerard C]

https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...endre-la-piste
https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...ristan-vautier

[hondafan37]

Vanwall: “Time Running Out” to Be Granted 2025 Entry

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ed-2025-entry/

[tomcug]

“Originally we planned just to change engines from Gibson to Pipo Moteurs, for the reason that we were lacking 60kW [of power] in the 2023 season,” Kolles explained.

That power loss seems to be growing with time passing!

[joeb]

When was the application deadline for 2025? has it passed?

[v8supes]

They wont get an entry now, its going to go to an AMG GT3 team, although i like the Vanwall car, this is probably better news because having Mercedes on the grid would be welcome.

[Adam43]

All those modifications to the car. I’d be interested to know which they’ve done.

[flatlandsman]

I doubt any of it has been done, knowing Kolles I feel for the people involved, but if you were ACO who would you be happy to see, Hyundai and potentially an AMG factory GT team or some bloke who has had numerous attempts, failed miserably at all of them.

As I say there ought to be space for the Glicks, Vanwalls and Isottta's but sadly as is always the case the ACO ONLY care a damn about manufacturers and even if they did not there is not the space unless you got rid of a bunch of GT cars.

There however IS space in other linked series, as has been mooted on here before I cannot see why the Asian series or something else cannot be opened for a limited number of Hyper cars, there is plenty of money there, if you lower the skills requirements (potentially hazardous but it seems to be OK with everything else) that way you could possibly have Glick, Vanwall, and one or two others back, just no full spec factory cars, and you give the winner a LM entry or something. Or a place on WEC grid year after.

[tomcug]

With Isotta out I'd really like to see the "Vanwall" back but I also think they'll give the slots to some GT3 manufacturer. Still top class should have priority, even if it's a garagist entry like Kolles.