Ascari FGT-LM

**FIRE** · 30 Aug 2003, 18:22 (Ref:703480)

I was looking at the Le Mans Register website. In 1995 there was on the entry list an Ascari FGT-LM, one of the drivers was Klaas Zwart. According to this website the car didn't take part in pre-qualifying.
I thought always the Ascari A410 was Klaas Zwart's first own car. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Had the car a Chevrolet (according Le Mans Register) or a Ford (according www.racingsportscars.com) engine?

Somebody more info or photo's of this car?

KA · 30 Aug 2003, 19:12 (Ref:703509)

The Ascari FGT first appeared in British GT back in 1995. I think the engine was originally a Ford V8- I don't remember a Chevy, but can't be sure.

It appeared fairly regularly during the 1995-7 period, although never did a full season. Drivers were usually Klaas Zwart, either driving solo or sharing with either Tiff Needell (1996) or William Hewland (1997).

From memory it tended to be fairly quick but unreliable- although there was one race win in 1995 (British GT rounds at that time ran as 2 short sprint races of 15-20 laps).

At some point in the 1997 season, they abandoned the Ford engine in favour of a BMW V8 turbo.

I believe a roadgoing version was built in small numbers, I think this had the BMW

KA · 30 Aug 2003, 19:38 (Ref:703524)

Although it didn't appear at the race, the FGT did run at Le Mans during the 1995 test weekend -it may have also raced in one of the non-championship 'Autumn Cup' races held on the Bugatti circuit in 1995/6?

**FIRE** · 30 Aug 2003, 19:52 (Ref:703539)

Found more info: http://www.pistonheads.com/fastcars/ascari.htm :

Quote:

Ascari are still refining the model which is why so little has been heard of it since a debut at the Motor Show in 1995. The original design was by Lee Noble (also worked on the McClaren F1, now working on a rival to the Lotus Elise) back in 1993...

...The prototype (named FGT) used a six litre fuel injected Chevrolet engine. That was to be replaced with a 4.6 litre 32 valve V8. However the development has lead in a different direction - to a BMW V8. Not just a standard V8, but a Hartge tuned 4.4 or 4.7 litre unit. Hartge have been active in the BMW arena for many years and comfortably get 400bhp from the larger engine, and around 300bhp from the 4.4...

Thumper · 31 Aug 2003, 20:12 (Ref:704225)

The car did indeed run in the 1995 pre-qualifying session in an all-white livery. It experienced engine problems and coasted to a halt just after the Dunlop Bridge, pulling over onto the old slip road that linked round onto the Bugatti circuit. I was happily snapping away down there at the time and have some shots (somewhere!) of Klaas climbing out of the cockpit. They were taken in pre-digital days, so I might have to dig out some negs and try some scanning — if anyone is sufficiently interested?

RM40 · 31 Aug 2003, 21:10 (Ref:704268)

I'm pretty intrigued. I have never heard about this car, and cannot find pictures of it on the internet as of late. If you don't mind going through the trouble, I'd like to see.

KA · 1 Sep 2003, 11:49 (Ref:704731)

Some history on the Ascari FGT (in French) plus a couple of photos- one of which looks as if it's at the LM Test weekend, (car in plain white as Thumper mentioned)

http://gto-racing.nexenservices.com/..._ascariFGT.htm

**FIRE** · 1 Sep 2003, 16:14 (Ref:704897)

The car looks not bad. The red-white car looks a little bit like Thomas Bscher's West McLaren. (Thanks KA for the photo's)

Why didn't they continue this project? I ask this because they stopped the LMP project to concentrate on the Ascari GT car. This GT was based on the Ascari FGT. So first they build a GT road car/race car, after that a LMP and than they went back to the GT road car. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Speck · 1 Sep 2003, 23:08 (Ref:705188)

Any relation to the Ascari Ecosse road car?

mickj · 2 Sep 2003, 03:45 (Ref:705318)

Brother or sister to the Ascari Ecosse

Fab · 2 Sep 2003, 05:22 (Ref:705339)

Quote:

Originally posted by KA
Some history on the Ascari FGT (in French) plus a couple of photos- one of which looks as if it's at the LM Test weekend, (car in plain white as Thumper mentioned)

http://gto-racing.nexenservices.com/..._ascariFGT.htm

Just wanted to point out here that the pics were taken by our french member Bernard Brothier...

If you ask kindly, he could have some more !

**Aysedasi** · 2 Sep 2003, 08:19 (Ref:705418)

Bernard gets about a bit then......

**FIRE** · 2 Sep 2003, 16:10 (Ref:705788)

Quote:

Any relation to the Ascari Ecosse road car?

If you look to the photo of the FGT and the Ecosse, I think the answer is yes.

bernard b · 2 Sep 2003, 17:39 (Ref:705853)

Quote:

Originally posted by Fab
If you ask kindly, he could have some more !

unfortunately, I don't!

Speck · 2 Sep 2003, 23:44 (Ref:706268)

So it IS the same car!! Why the heck doesn't Ascari make a race car out of it, again? I'm sure this'll be a great Porsche beater.

Splatz the Cow · 3 Sep 2003, 23:06 (Ref:707576)

Bernard do you have any pics of the BPR sries of 1996?

I have those that were on the site p9.com (which has now ended.)

Thumper · 4 Sep 2003, 14:22 (Ref:708118)

Sorry, I lost track of this thread somewhat and forgot to keep my promise. In the end I scanned from prints - it's quicker, but they always tend to look a bit dark. Anyway, here's one of the series I took of Klaas bowing out of Le Mans Prequalifying in 1995. The car never did set a representative time after this and failed to make the cut.

Thumper · 4 Sep 2003, 14:26 (Ref:708124)

In the same year, 1995, Klaas ran the car in the British GT Championship. When it worked it was astonishingly quick, and often disappeared off into the distance leaving everything else trailing in a swirl of dust. Unfortunately, these occasions usually ended in retirement, but it was impressive while it lasted. This shot was taken at Thruxton, and also shows the Richard Austin Harrier in the background - another very quick but fragile car but one that actually won a few times.

Thumper · 4 Sep 2003, 14:34 (Ref:708127)

Quote:

Originally posted by Splatz the Cow
Bernard do you have any pics of the BPR sries of 1996?

What are you looking for?

bernard b · 4 Sep 2003, 19:21 (Ref:708340)

Quote:

Originally posted by Splatz the Cow
Bernard do you have any pics of the BPR sries of 1996?

none

only Le Mans

Splatz the Cow · 4 Sep 2003, 22:22 (Ref:708507)

I'm interested in all of the cars really from the BPR series in 96, and also at LM (the GT1 cars).

There seems to be very few photos of the BPR, and particularly not many of the Porsche 911 GT2 (Evo) from GT1. (GT1 cars can be identified by the red number on the car as opposed to the GT2 black car number.) Also not many pics of the Vipers, or McLarens #8, 9, 24, 25.

#8 is red and black
#9 is orange and black
#24 + 25 are white and blue with red.

Can't find many photos of the Porsche 911 GT2 Evo's,
#4 white
#7 unknown
#11 Konrad white and teal
#12 yellow
#14 Repsol
#16 yellow
#42 blue
#47 unkown
#48 blue

Also any pics of the GT2 porsches,
#55 Black
#56 Red
#65 Black
#88 Konrad

er.. lots of info I know but .. thats what I'm trying to find. As I mentioned earlier, I've contacted the BPR website that used to be up and have fot there stuff from the net archives, there are not many pics of the cars I mentioned above.

*crosses fingers*

Do you have any photos like these?

Graham Goodwin · 4 Sep 2003, 22:57 (Ref:708547)

Drop me a PM Splatz I may have a source for some of these

Thumper · 5 Sep 2003, 17:58 (Ref:709379)

Forgot to mention that the Harrier in the Thruxton shot was often driven by Win Percy. Win is curently facing an op in hostpital to sort out what I believe is a back problem. It's likely to keep him off racing for a while, so best of luck Win and get better soon. A real gentleman.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ascari?	paul-collins	Sportscar & GT Racing	10	30 Sep 2004 04:14
Ascari?	IanGrohse	Sportscar & GT Racing	12	3 Mar 2003 13:42
Ascari	cybersdorf	Sportscar & GT Racing	9	1 Jul 2002 14:13
Ascari	pink69	Sportscar & GT Racing	3	21 Apr 2002 16:51
Ascari	Invincible	Sportscar & GT Racing	1	31 Aug 2001 21:36