Esteban Guerrieri from Argentina, Tristan Vautier from France, and João Paulo de Oliveira from Brazil will be driving for #04 Floyd Vanwall Racing Team in the Vanwall Vandervell 680. This will take place during the Six Hours of Fuji, which is part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The race will be held in Fuji, Japan, on September 9, 2023.
The Vanwall Hypercar operation, led by ByKolles, plans to make a return to the FIA World Endurance Championship next year. Unfortunately, they were not included in the 2024 list. However, they are determined to come back and have some significant changes reserved for the Vanwall Vandervell 680. Team principal Colin Kolles revealed that the car will undergo major modifications to improve its competitiveness.
One of the main issues with the Vanwall Vandervell 680 was its naturally aspirated 4.5L Gibson engine with low power output. This resulted in the car not reaching the minimum power required by the Balance of Performance. Additionally, the engine struggled with straight-line speed, lacking about 80 horsepower. To address these shortcomings, the team plans to replace the engine with a Pipo Moteurs twin-turbo 3.5L powertrain. This powertrain, previously used in the Glickenhaus 007 LMH, produces around 850 horsepower. Although it exceeds the maximum power allowed by the LMH-LMDh Hypercar convergence rules, it can be adjusted to ensure reliability and reduce stress on the engine components.
Although the monocoque chassis remains unchanged to avoid the need for new crash tests, other modifications will be made. This includes the introduction of an intercooler for the air intake and cooling system, as well as a new exhaust outlet for the Pipo Moteurs powertrain. The team will also install a new Cosworth gearbox, increasing the number of gears from six to seven. As a result, the electronic system will be revised.
Another significant change is the implementation of a new brake-by-wire system. This system aims to improve braking performance, cornering efficiency, and stability during braking zones. In addition, different brake discs and pads will be used, and adjustments will be made to the brake cooling system. These changes are crucial, especially considering the brake failure experienced by Vanwall during last year’s 6 Hours of Portimão race.
Despite not being included in the 2024 entry list, the Vanwall Hypercar operation remains committed to its goals. They now plan to participate in the 2025 WEC season. Their best result so far was finishing eighth in the opening of the 1000 Miles of Sebring last year, which was also their only race where they scored points.
