1995 Sportscar Information
GT1
Lister Storm
A Jaguar conversion specialist, it released iits own supercar in 1993. The in-house team is largely unproven, but with designer Tony Southgate and driver Geoff Lees, as well as Group C Jaguar V12 engines from TWR, the package should be competitive.
Engine: 7.0 litre jaguar V12
Power: 600bhp
Weight: 1000kg
Cost: œ200,000
Venturi 600LM
One of the main competitors in 1994, could be a minor player in '95. One factory entered car, with Venturi hoping to improve is dreadful reliability.
Engine: Twin-turbo 3.0 litre Renault V6
Power: 580bhp
Weight: 1030-1100kg
Cost: œ170,000
Dodge Viper
Powered by a truck engine, two entries at Le Mans in '94 were unreliable, although one just managed to finish in 12th place to claim GT1 honours. Basically a kit, bodywork designed by naval architect Gilles Ollier (America's cup yacht designer), engines
tuned by Luigi. Due to appear at Paul Ricard, the Rent-a-car team is an unknown quantity.
Engine: 7.9 litre Chrysler V10
Power: 600bhp
Weight: 1340kg
Cost: ? - unavailable in shops
Ferrari F40LM
Originally built mainly for museums. Run by Micheletto tuning company, this year will see a new rollcage to improve rigidity, revised aerodynamics and a six-speed sequential gearbox. The Ferrari Club Italia and Aldix Computer Racing teams will start late
in the season, but will have three ex-F300 drivers (Paul Belmondo, Michel Ferte, Massimo Monti)
Engine: Twin-turbo 3 litre V8
Power: 650-700bhp
Weight: 1080kg
Cost: œ300,000
McLaren F1 GTR
McLaren reckons it will be difficult to recover development costs, despite its price tag.... Only received go-ahead last June, but done more than 2000 miles of testing, more than most teams. Maurizio Sala, Pierre-Henri Raphanel and John Nielsen are lined
up as drivers, and the teams are GTC Motorsport, David Price Racing and Giroix-Jacadi, probably the best in the series. A relatively short chassis and tall engine, plus synchromesh gearbox could be a problem, the the latter never was a problem to Porsche.
Engine: 6.1 litre BMW V12
Power: 630bhp
Weight: 1100kg
Cost: œ625,000 if you want the words McLaren all over it, œ775,000 otherwise
De Tomaso Pantera
Italian chassis, american engine, british preparation. Car has been up and running for about a year, and Andy Wallace and Thorkild Thyrring are set to drive it.
Engine: 5-litre Ford V8
Power: 600bhp
Weight: 1150kg
Cost: œ125,000
Callaway C7R
Only purpose built GT racing car. Uses Chevrolet push-rod engine, and has Carbon-fibre chassis. Driven by Enrico Bertaggia and Boris Said III.
Engine: 6.3 litre Chevrolet V8
Power: 600bhp
Weight: 900kg
Cost: œ180,000
Jaguar XJ220
Run by three private teams: Chamberlain Engineering, PC Automotive and LLoyd-Hassan-Priestnall.
Engine: Twin-turbo 3.5 litre V6
Power: 600-650bhp
Weight: 1200-1300kg
Cost: œ360,000 ex-works, plus tuning and devlopment
GT2
Porsche 911 GT2
Chassis: Unitary monocoque with multi-triangulated rollcage
Engine: 3.6 litre 12-valve Porsche flat-six with twin-turbo
Power: 450bhp with Le Mans air-restrictors
Transmission: Six speed synchromesh
Brakes: 4-pot, ventilated and cross-drilled discs, with ABS
Suspension: Front - McPherson Struts, Rear - Multi-link axle
Weight: 1050kg
Callaway Supernatural Corvette LM
Chassis: Steel perimeter frame with tubular rollcage
Engine: 6.3 litre 16-valve Callaway tuned Chevrolet V8
Power: 450bhp with Le Mans air-restrictor
Transmission: Six speed sequential Xtrac gearbox (or ZF Six speed)
Brakes: Brembo 4-pot, ventillated and cross-drilled discs
Suspension: Front - unequal length A-arms, Rear - Five link axle
Weight: 1100kg