Vanwall Vandervell 680

The Vanwall Vandervell 680 is a sports prototype racing car designed and built by Vanwall Racing Team. It is designed to the Le Mans Hypercar regulations and made its debut in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship at the season-opening 1000 Miles of Sebring.[3]

Vanwall Vandervell 680
CategoryLe Mans Hypercar
ConstructorVanwall Racing Team
Designer(s)Julian Thiele (Head of Design)
Edgar Refenius (mechanical design engineer)
Eric Zenner (aerodynamicist)
Felix Nöcker (composite design engineer)
PredecessorENSO CLM P1/01
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon fibre composite monocoque
EngineGibson GL458 4.5 litre V8 naturally-aspirated, 90° cylinder angle mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Torque410 lb⋅ft (556 N⋅m)
Transmission7-speed sequential
Power500 kW (680 PS; 671 hp)[1][2]
Weight1,030 kg (2,270 lb)
FuelTotalEnergies
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrants
Notable drivers
Debut2023 1000 Miles of Sebring
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
30000
Teams' Championships0
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

History

In June of 2019, Vanwall Racing Team, then known as ByKolles Racing, announced that they would commit to the new Le Mans Hypercar regulations in the FIA World Endurance Championship that would come into effect in the 2021 season.[4]

On 18 September 2020, the team officially unveiled renderings of their new hypercar, initially dubbed the PMC Project LMH.[5] ByKolles Racing intended to debut the car during the 2021 season, however, the project was delayed for the 2022 season.[6] The team later acquired the rights to use the Vanwall name and the car was rebranded as a Vanwall LMH.[7] ByKolles Racing officially applied to race in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship, however, they were rejected by the FIA and ACO due to the car not completing the homologation process.[8]

In 2023, ByKolles Racing officially rebranded to become the Vanwall Racing Team, and the car's name was officially revealed as the Vanwall Vandervell 680, named after Vanwall founder Tony Vandervell. On 12 January 2023, the team was approved by the FIA and ACO to race in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship.[3]

Road car

Vanwall also intend to sell a road version of the hypercar, called the Vanwall Vandervell 1000.[9]

Development

The car was designed and developed entirely in-house at the Vanwall Racing Team base in Greding, Germany.[5] ByKolles Racing planned to use a Gibson LMP1 engine for its non-hybrid Le Mans Hypercar, as its development continues ahead of its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The team had to abandon the Gibson V8 engine for a more powerful unit when Aston Martin committed to the class last June with its 1,160 hp Valkyrie hypercar. However, following Aston's subsequent withdrawal and the recent announcement that LMH power levels will be reduced, ByKolles can now use its original plan of using the Gibson GL458 V8 engine, which produces around 700 hp.[1] The car is without a hybrid system, unlike other major car manufacturers involved in LMH and LMDh. However, the team does not expect the absence of a hybrid system to provide a decisive advantage in the early races, despite some teams facing difficulties in their preparation.[10]

Racing history

2023

At Sebring, the #4 Vanwall Vandervell 680 was last on the grid in its class. From the start of the race, Tom Dillmann managed to overtake the non-hybrid Glickenhaus 007. Moreover, thanks to the difficulties encountered by the Peugeot 9X8 and the #51 Ferrari 499P, the team managed to climb to seventh place with only an hour and a half left in the race. However, the #51 Ferrari was finally able to close the gap and pass the #4 car. The standings remained unchanged for the remainder of the race, with the Vandervell 680 Vanwall coming in eighth.

In the second race of the competition, the Vanwall once again started last in class. This time, the crew suffered a technical failure. While Jacques Villeneuve was behind the wheel, the car's right front brake started to smoke and quickly caught fire. The driver lost control of the car, which ended up crashing into the safety barrier. Fortunately, the accident was not serious, the driver was unhurt and the car suffered only minor damage. The team decided to withdraw from the race.

Complete World Endurance Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
Year Entrant Class Drivers No. Rds. Rounds Pts. Pos.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2023 Austria Floyd Vanwall Racing Team Hypercar France Tom Dillmann
Argentina Esteban Guerrieri
Canada Jacques Villeneuve		 4 All
All
All		 SEB
30		 POR
Ret		 SPA
Ret		 LMN
 MON
 FUJ
 BHR
 6* 13th*

* Season still in progress.

References
  1. Lloyd, Daniel. "ByKolles to Retain Gibson LMP1 Engine for Hypercar – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com.
  2. "Gibson Technology's New GL 458 LMP1 Engine | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com.
  3. Smith, Fred (January 12, 2023). "The ByKolles Vanwall Hypercar Will Race at Le Mans". Road & Track. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  4. "ByKOLLES Racing | official by motioncompany - ByKOLLES Racing announces its programmes". www.bykolles.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  5. "ByKOLLES Racing | official by motioncompany - ByKOLLES confirms PMC Project LMH for 2021". www.bykolles.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  6. "ByKolles unlikely to race in WEC in 2021 but is pushing on with LMH project". www.autosport.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  7. "ByKolles-built Vanwall Le Mans Hypercar rolled out". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. Lloyd, Daniel. "ByKolles Hypercar Entry with Vanwall LMH Rejected – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  9. "ByKolles Show 'Vanwall Vandervell 1000' Roadgoing Hypercar | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  10. "Vanwall missing 2022 WEC entry was "positive thing" - Dillmann | motorsport.com". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
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