Esteban Guerrieri from Argentina, Tristan Vautier from France, and Joao Paulo de Oliveira from Brazil will be driving for the #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, is planning to make a comeback in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year. Unfortunately, they were not given a spot on the 2024 grid. However, they are determined to return and have some significant changes in store for the Vanwall Vandervell 680. Team boss Colin Kolles revealed that the car will undergo major modifications to enhance its competitiveness.
One of the main issues with the Vanwall Vandervell 680 was its underpowered naturally-aspirated 4.5L Gibson engine. This resulted in the car not meeting the minimum power output required by the Balance of Performance. Additionally, the engine struggled with straight-line speed, lacking around 80 horsepower. To address these shortcomings, the team plans to replace the engine with a 3.5L twin-turbocharged Pipo Moteurs powertrain. This powertrain, which was previously used in the Glickenhaus 007 LMH, produces around 850 horsepower. Although it exceeds the maximum power output allowed by the LMH-LMDh Hypercar convergence rules, it can be detuned to ensure reliability and reduce stress on the engine components.
While the monocoque chassis will remain unchanged to avoid the need for new crash tests, other modifications will be made. These include the introduction of an intercooler for the air intake and cooling system, as well as a new exhaust exit 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 electronics system will be overhauled.
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. Along with this, 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 the Vanwall during last year’s 6 Hours of Portimao race.
Despite not being included in the 2024 entry list, the Vanwall Hypercar operation remains committed to their goals. They now plan to participate in the 2025 WEC season. Their best race result so far was finishing in eighth position in the 1000 Miles of Sebring opener last year, which also happened to be their only points-scoring race.