[LM24] Prodrive takes Ferrari back to Le Mans

[SJ Spode]

From Crash.net today

"Prodrive has announced plans to take the best known marque in motorsport, Ferrari, back to the most famous race in the world, the Le Mans 24 Hours.

"The Banbury-based engineering concern will run two Ferrari 550 Maranellos in the GTS class at Le Mans in June, subject to its entries being accepted. Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell are already confirmed as drivers and Prodrive is currently talking to a number of other candidates to make up the full team.

"A front-engined Ferrari, the 275 GTB, last competed at Le Mans in 1966 and Ferrari last won the classic race the year before with the 250LM in the hands of Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory. In 2002, Prodrive is aiming for a podium finish for its 550 Maranello in the GTS class."

[rdjones]

Now that will be a site to see, let's hope they employe Menu, Rydell, Kox to drive one of the car's

[Nordic]

Don't forget the 512bb's of the early 1980's
Lovely car.

[paulzinho]

Excellent news, the GTS class is really hotting up.

Love to see the Prancing Horse back again!!!

[fausto]

And don't forget the Daytona, that's aa front engined car, too.....

[Aysedasi]

I agree, great news - if it happens. How much can we rely on it though - is it a case of "I'll believe it when I see it?"

[Logan]

Autosport are reporting that it will be factory 'backed' campaign, whatever that means. I can't see them giving it too much support as it woudn't go down too well with Honda and the BAR F1 gang.

Bad news is that they are pulling out of the FIA GT's, what with Rafanelli going back to the ALMS with his cars it looks like we are down to 1 Ferrari (the original First/Wieth Racing car) unless some privateers start snapping up the Prodrive built customer cars.

Logan.

[fausto]

The WIETH car isn't the original FIRST/Italtechnica. Infact it was developed indipendently by the team.
However here in Italy there are rumours that TouringCar private frontrunner team AGS will race a Italtechnica 550 in FIA GT...

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Logan
Autosport are reporting that it will be factory 'backed' campaign, whatever that means.

I got the impression that the "factory backed" bit referred to Prodrive's factory not Ferrari's!

Anyway, great news. A proper Ferrari racing!

[Splatz the Cow]

There's an error in the reporting there somewhere because the Ferrari is all set to go by the look of things. What other support is neccesary, Ferrari support will be a hinderance not a help anyway, they'd fire all of the Prodrive staff and finish with a worse car. Ferrari have made it clear that anyone going GT racing does it alone, while Prodrive are now trying to take on the challenge shown in GT racing. Visit their website for extra info.

Specs of the car are:

6.0L V12
605 BHP (so far) @ 7000
655 Nm
1,100Kg (class min.)

5.5L and 5.8L versions have been made previously.

These are not all available from their site.

[Logan]

You're right I think the works 'backing' quoted on Autosport refers to Ferrari saying 'feel free - go ahead and do it' rather than any sort of technical or mechanical assistance.

If they do race at LM I wonder how they will do against the Corvettes? Could be very interesting!

I just hope someone buys up a couple of versions for the FIA - I did hear there was a possibility that Dave Price was looking at a 2 car team? If it just goes back to Listers vs. Vipers I could start to get bored!

Logan.

[touringlegend]

In my opinion these cars are one of the most beatiful cars around, and Le Mans can only be enhanced by them.