The Worst Sportscar Effort?

lj79 · 1 Jul 2005, 17:11 (Ref:1344869)

Following the thread on virtuoso efforts in Sportscar racing, let's turn it on its head and recall worst bits of driving or biggest let downs you may have seen in person, on TV or video.

For me its Derek Warwick at the start of Jerez in 86. Truly dreadful - and it cost him the WSPC drivers' title that year.

The Merc effort at Le Mans in 98 was a massive let down too, but nothing can beat Delboy's single-handed obliteration of the 3 car Jag team at the first corner at Jerez.

**PascaLM** · 1 Jul 2005, 17:27 (Ref:1344876)

The two Alpine-Renault A442 out together in the first lap at their first race in 1976...and first winning for the Porsche 936.
A great moment.

**Aysedasi** · 1 Jul 2005, 17:34 (Ref:1344880)

The Mercs in 99. Phenomenally appalling for such a major manufacturer to fail in such a fashion - and after miserable failure the year before as well.

BTW, I've changed the title slightly.

cybersdorf · 1 Jul 2005, 21:47 (Ref:1345035)

Cadillac, Cadillac, Cadillac!

Pete Fenelon · 1 Jul 2005, 22:57 (Ref:1345067)

Ford C100. It was going to conquer the world, and considering the amount of money, top-level corporate politics and different engineering programmes that went into the C100 effort, it damn well ought to have done.

As it was, the entire thing was a chaotic muddle from beginning to end - Stuart Turner did exactly the right thing killing it off as soon as he took over motorsport at Ford again.

Osella · 2 Jul 2005, 18:22 (Ref:1345518)

I was most agrieved by Uwe Alzen knocking Brabham's (I think) Panoz off the road at Silverstone 98... hardly the worst driving ever but I have borne a grudge since - I don't think a Panoz had led on the road prior to then!

vs346 · 3 Jul 2005, 04:41 (Ref:1345720)

can someone enlighten me about the two alpine renaults out on the first lap in 1976? Did they crash each other out or was it just horrible coincidence?

lj79 · 3 Jul 2005, 07:02 (Ref:1345783)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PascaLM

The two Alpine-Renault A442 out together in the first lap at their first race in 1976...and first winning for the Porsche 936.
A great moment.

I thought one kept going until just after midnight

Fab · 3 Jul 2005, 07:36 (Ref:1345792)

Mercedes 98-99
Biela's fuel shortage
Andretti's mistake in 1995
... all at LM.

Silk Cut Jaguar · 3 Jul 2005, 14:36 (Ref:1346014)

The recent string of WR entries?

rdjones · 3 Jul 2005, 14:38 (Ref:1346016)

BMW at Le Mans in 1998, both car's where out in under 4 hours.

BSchneiderFan · 3 Jul 2005, 15:39 (Ref:1346042)

I hate to say it, but Toyota's Le Mans efforts in 1998 and 1999; big money, big names, fast car - but nothing to show for it. NISMO didn't do much better in 1997/98.

**Aysedasi** · 3 Jul 2005, 16:05 (Ref:1346073)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

I hate to say it, but Toyota's Le Mans efforts in 1998 and 1999; big money, big names, fast car - but nothing to show for it. NISMO didn't do much better in 1997/98.

I agree - in a sense - but forgive Toyota for producing such a phenomenally beautiful car.........

**Aysedasi** · 3 Jul 2005, 16:06 (Ref:1346074)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silk Cut Jaguar

The recent string of WR entries?

No, not the worst, The most embarrassing perhaps - embarrassing that WR get their two entries every year at Le Mans come what may, and no matter how many other more deserving entries there might be.

JAG · 3 Jul 2005, 16:07 (Ref:1346075)

What about Nissan in 1990.

A 6 or 7 car entry, but internal politics between the US and UK teams led to all sorts of problems.

lj79 · 3 Jul 2005, 18:25 (Ref:1346200)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdjones

BMW at Le Mans in 1998, both car's where out in under 4 hours.

Both Mercs out in an hour that year

**PascaLM** · 3 Jul 2005, 18:47 (Ref:1346217)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lj79

I thought one kept going until just after midnight

It was the beginning of the championship, a 6 hours race but I can't remember the circuit.

jna · 3 Jul 2005, 19:28 (Ref:1346250)

Bearing ming the fanfare that accompanied their appearance in 1991, how about Peugeot. One car out after two hours, and the other after less than six. Did a bit better over the next couple of years though!

lj79 · 3 Jul 2005, 20:55 (Ref:1346325)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PascaLM

It was the beginning of the championship, a 6 hours race but I can't remember the circuit.

Nurburgring

Fab · 4 Jul 2005, 05:10 (Ref:1346532)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jna

Bearing ming the fanfare that accompanied their appearance in 1991, how about Peugeot.

I forgot that one : Rosberg leaving the car alone in the Hunaudières, when the car could have been brought back to the garage to be repaired... Todt went mad for that...

jna · 4 Jul 2005, 07:57 (Ref:1346581)

It was either at Le Mans or at the Spa 24 Hours that Rosberg told his team that he wasn't prepared to drive at night.

cybersdorf · 4 Jul 2005, 09:16 (Ref:1346638)

Ah yes Keke Rosberg, the Gentleman of Racing.

There were a few projects that went wrong toward the end of Gp.C/GTP - Brun, Konrad, the Mazda 972 or 792 or whatever its name was

, the Judd-engined TWR-Mazda was a bit of a failure as well; BRM, Allard,..

Although hardly the biggest failure by any stretch, the Lancia LC2 did not do so well considering the company's investment, and certainly not compared to its predecessor, the Beta Montecarlo.

cybersdorf · 4 Jul 2005, 09:20 (Ref:1346642)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

The Mercs in 99. Phenomenally appalling for such a major manufacturer to fail in such a fashion - and after miserable failure the year before as well.

That was the track's fault.

ChevronB16 · 4 Jul 2005, 10:06 (Ref:1346678)

A few of these have already been mentioned...

The WRs - mobile chicanes as Jame Hunt would say
The Cadillacs - although the final version looked the business
The geriatric Del Bello (?) Reynard winning LMP2 at LM in 2002(?)
The Morgan at LM - 50s throwback (and that's being generous!)? No thanks.

cybersdorf · 4 Jul 2005, 10:38 (Ref:1346701)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevronB16

The geriatric Del Bello (?) Reynard winning LMP2 at LM in 2002(?)

I wouldn't exactly call that a failure, though - unrivalled value for money!

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