Can we (finally) take the Vanwall project seriously in Endurance?

This is the important information that can be gleaned from the input list of the WEC in 2023: Vanwall will indeed be there.

More than two years after the launch of the project, in September 2020, ByKolles finally sees its Hypercar project come to fruition. Two years of development but also two years of struggle to be part of the new golden age ofEndurance.

A first attempt at registration in 2022 was refused by the FIA ​​and the ACO, due to an imbroglio over the name Vanwall, the British team and world champion of Manufacturers in Formula 1 during the 1958 season. A year later, the team which runs under the Austrian flag took its revenge. And with arguments that weigh in the balance. What finally takes ByKolles seriously?

 

 

 

 

 

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Villeneuve: publicity stunt or poker stunt?

When the official acceptance of Vanwall into the WEC this season was announced, the first surprise was the confirmation of Jacques Villeneuve in the crew entered in Hypercar.

Alongside Tom Dillmann and Esteban Guerrieri – development drivers of the Vanwall Vandervell 680 since its first laps – the Canadian will be one of the headliners of the championship next year.

If the 1 F1997 world champion will give Vanwall certain visibility, doubt persists regarding his true level in competition.

Jacques Villeneuve will celebrate his 52nd birthday on April 9 and has not ridden at the highest level of Endurance since 2008, where he notably won a 2nd place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot .

Will he be on the pace against younger drivers with more endurance experience? Without calling into question the talent of the driver, the weight of age and the lack of driving could handicap him. Let us nevertheless recognize that ByKolles has the merit of having attracted an F1 world champion into its nets.

A title sponsor, synonymous with stability?

Another confirmation: the now certain presence of title sponsor Floyd, a company specializing in high-end travel suitcases. The German brand has been a partner of Vanwall for only a few weeks.

The arrival of a financial windfall which Colin Kolles, president and founder of ByKolles, welcomes. “We are very pleased that the cooperation with Floyd is moving into high gear. The title sponsorship is an affirmation of the link between our two brands and proof of the ambition of our common project. What unites us is the desire to fight for victory at the highest level. »

With the status of an independent manufacturer, like Glickenhaus, Vanwall will arrive on the WEC grid with a relatively limited budget and capacities compared to the behemoths that are Porsche, Toyota ou Ferrari.

The sponsorship agreement with Floyd should therefore constitute an additional cushion to ensure the survival and stability of the team throughout the season. The Vanwall Vandervell 680 will be based on a simple architecture, without a hybrid (like Glickenhaus) and with a Gibson V8 engine similar to that used in LM P2. Enough to limit costs.

The truth of the trail as the only answer

Ultimately, if the project as it is presented today seems to have gained ground, only the truth of the path will count. ByKolles' past in Endurance does not work in favor of the Austrian team. The statistic is enough to make you laugh: in 10 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, ByKolles has finished... only once! And again, it was with a proven Audi R10 TDI, in 2009.

Since then, Colin Kolles' structure has become the laughing stock of Endurance, to the point of becoming a recurring gag. In 2017, the yellow and gray car did not even reach the Mulsannes on the first lap before encountering a problem and finally giving up after 7 laps.

But the mistakes of the past build the successes of tomorrow. ByKolles can boast of a certain experience in Endurance and can count on a determined and stubborn team to succeed. The Vanwall Vandervell 680 has also been in development for two years: a period long enough to iron out the defects and test the mount.

Vanwall increased its tests in 2022, logging thousands of kilometers. It remains to be seen whether the car will be able to last for hours without breaking down... while still being competitive.

Response during 1000 Miles of Sebring, on March 17…

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