This insane new 1000hp hybrid hypercar is a road-legal Le Mans racer
Published on Sep 20, 2022 at 9:29 AM (UTC+4)
by Patrick Jackson
Last updated on Sep 20, 2022 at 9:29 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
If the Mercedes-AMG One is the road-legal version of a Formula 1 car, the Vanwall Vandervell 1000 is the Le Mans-racing equivalent.
Photos of an early production version of the car that aims to resurrect the Vanwall name have been shared online.
The most prominent feature has to be its license plates because they mean this thing is road-legal.
READ MORE: Mercedes-AMG One: $2.7 million F1 car for the road is finally here!
Built by German racing team ByKolles, the Vandervell 1000 is a road-legal version of the car that the team plans to race in the 2023 World Endurance Championship.
Although a UK outfit is also looking to bring the Vanwall name back, ByKolles is clearly still pushing ahead.
The styling changes between the road car and Le Mans racer are clear, with the former losing the massive rear wing and of course the livery.
However, the company is remaining coy on details.
What has been mentioned is that it will use a V8 engine in conjunction with a hybrid electric system.
As the name suggests, it will produce 1000hp (746kW)
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That means it’s a tad behind the V12-powered Aston Martin Valkyrie and V6 hybrid AMG One.
But there’s every chance its price tag could stretch towards the same $3 million mark.
What’s the story behind Vanwall?
Vanwall was originally founded back in the 1950s.
Quickly, it became one of the most successful racing teams in Britain during that time.
Legendary drivers including Stirling Moss and staff including Lotus founder Colin Chapman were associated with the team, which won the 1958 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
Although the name was retired in 1961, it did resurface as Vanwall Cars in 2003 which produced the GPR V12, pictured below.
It might look like a car from the 1950s, but it was actually a brand new car underneath designed as a tribute to the past racing team.
Of course, the switch from F1 to endurance racing that ByKolles’ operation is taking is a clear change in direction for the name.
It’s also not the only current attempt at reviving the name; a UK-based company is looking to resurrect Vanwall’s classic racers like the GPR V12.
However, it’s certainly great to see it return after so many years.
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A car zealot from a young age, Patrick has put his childhood spent obsessing over motoring magazines and TV shows to good use over the past six years as a journalist. Fuelled by premium octane coffee, he’s contributed to Finder, DriveTribe, WhichCar, Vehicle History and Drive Section.
