[WEC] Kolles Prototype

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Richard117

Spyker is now owned by Russians (SMP / BR). Given the current situation, I don't think that will really help.

I know, my reply was not serious.

[Akrapovic]

This car demonstrates a large problem with the current plan the ACO has.

LMP2 is now for purely customer teams. You cannot build your own things in there. Ok that's fine. HyperCar is for manufacturers. You musty be a car brand to run in that.

Ok, so where do there in between go? Where does ByKolles and the likes actually go? They've been regulated out of everything. Same with Rebellion. Look back at all the weird LMP1 and LMP2 cars we had before, that now we can't have.

And of course the big one, that the ACO still hasn't learn from - when you build your bridge based on manufacturers, your bridge can collapse at any point. They still don't have the enthusiastic privateer entries to fall back on, because they literally regulated them out.

Let the ByKolles run. Without Vanwall branding. Regardless of its abilities (or lack thereof), these sort of teams provide the backbone to the series when manufacturers leave - which they always do.

[S griffin]

I can sympathise with Kolles here, but maybe they are asking too much here. Times have moved on.

That said while it's great having the manufacturers in the series, they shouldn't rely wholly on them. I'm sure there will still be plenty of manufacturers for years to come, but let's keep the field open for private outfits.

Be great to have the Vanwall brand back all the same, means more than just Kolles to be frank

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I can sympathise with Kolles here, but maybe they are asking too much here. Times have moved on.

What are ByKolles asking for that's too much?

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Let the ByKolles run. Without Vanwall branding. Regardless of its abilities (or lack thereof), these sort of teams provide the backbone to the series when manufacturers leave - which they always do.

I would like to understand the thinking behind this no privateer constructor rule. Are they just hung up on Hypercars having some connection to road cars even if it is just funny car styling? Or is BoP the elephant in the room? Can't have Ferrari finally returning only to be beaten by an amateur enthusiast with some extra boost!

There is a wider responsibility too, I think. Spec racing and LMP2-style de facto spec racing has closed off almost every avenue for start up constructors and engine builders at the international level.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Mike E

There is a wider responsibility too, I think. Spec racing and LMP2-style de facto spec racing has closed off almost every avenue for start up constructors and engine builders at the international level.

And further to this, BoP provides an obvious solution. There is little point out spending your competition in a BoP formula, which opens up the opportunity to encourage privateers to have a go.

[Akrapovic]

Presumably the ACO still loves the short term gain of chasing the magical activation money. Which is why we ended up with 4 GTE-Pro Teams a time, whilst losing privateer teams.

[joeb]

Thinking more about this Kolles car, while the aero looks incomplete to me with not much visible ventilation around the wheels, this is how they have always presented the car in the drawings as well:

https://twitter.com/ByKOLLES/status/...Ruf196XTJvuf9Q

[S griffin]

Kolles have done well to get where they are, so I hope they find someway to get on the grid this year

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Kolles have done well to get where they are, so I hope they find someway to get on the grid this year

I'm not sure they've actually got anywhere yet!

[Adam43]

Has the car actually run? Has it got any mechanicals? I'm with joeb here. Maybe it has and I missed it, but the recent links above at a glance look a bit like the renders!

I'm down with the discussion with Mike E and Akrapovic et al. on privateers in the top class and building their own car. Would love to see, although actually building cars is rare in the history, more running customer cars for privateers. This the ACO are encouraging. I would like a WM, Rondeau, Pescarolo, or whatever. But ByKolles aint that entry!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Has the car actually run? Has it got any mechanicals? I'm with joeb here. Maybe it has and I missed it, but the recent links above at a glance look a bit like the renders!

I'm down with the discussion with Mike E and Akrapovic et al. on privateers in the top class and building their own car. Would love to see, although actually building cars is rare in the history, more running customer cars for privateers. This the ACO are encouraging. I would like a WM, Rondeau, Pescarolo, or whatever. But ByKolles aint that entry!

has the car run? I don't know, but they did have a video on Twitter showing the tub with the engine and transmission and all the bits in the back that make this thing go running in the shop.

I don't have the link handy, but when I was posting the pics of the render going through their Twitter feed it was definitely the same tub as the car that they are now showing. There is that identifiable circle with vertical lines behind the door in both videos.

[Richard117]

According to pictures on Twitter, today the car had a shakedown on an airport or something like that. Christophe Bouchut behind the wheel.

[GT6]

Well i have the feeling that some people will never give kolles a chance and unless they see it running in person they will still not believe it

[canaglia]

this "new" car is just the old CLM-gibson with a much cooler bodywork... as CLM was the old adess/lotus T128 with different bodywork and powertrains across the years.

[S griffin]

I think we've all given Kolles a chance, but we haven't seen much to convince ourselves so far. They need to start backing up their words with actions

[Tique]

The feedback of Christophe Bouchut after the test done today.


https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...la-vanwall-lmh


Apparently, no problem

[Aysedasi]

Well, it may be a sheep in wolf's clothing, but I guess it has at least run. Have they resolved the Vanwall name issue now?

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Well, it may be a sheep in wolf's clothing, but I guess it has at least run. Have they resolved the Vanwall name issue now?

They aren't being shy about the branding on the car.

[Coach Ep]

According to Colin Kolles they have. And we know we can definitely trust his word...

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well i have the feeling that some people will never give kolles a chance and unless they see it running in person they will still not believe it

Well not me. Up for it.

Not blindly giddy for it though and not convinced it’ll amount to much either. And neither are the ACO it seems.

But, one of the great things in life is being wrong. Great to read the posts saying it’s run. Still not expecting much, but I never really have from this team. I suppose that comes from experience! Not sure that counts as not giving them a chance.

[Aysedasi]

Just to be clear, I'd love to see it run and compete in the WEC and at Le Mans in particular, I'm just not holding my breath.

[joeb]

The comments on the EI article had a link to a video of the car moving!

https://www.reddit.com/r/wec/comment..._lmh_fires_up/

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by joeb

The comments on the EI article had a link to a video of the car moving!

https://www.reddit.com/r/wec/comment..._lmh_fires_up/

looking at their truck
"bykolles CORSE CLIENTI"

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by joeb

The comments on the EI article had a link to a video of the car moving!

https://www.reddit.com/r/wec/comment..._lmh_fires_up/

It's aliiiiiiive!