In the modern era, the 1999 BMW LMR V12 was an incredible machine. This was the car that literally threw down the gauntlet at the beginning of the ALMS. The car won in its debut at Sebring and later at Le Mans, setting the standard that Audi followed with the R8 in 2000. Seen at Sebring with original Beck's livery, the LMR V12 perhaps looked its best as Team Director Gerhard Berger progressively started peeling the colors off the cars until they were virtually "Sponsor Me White" by the end of the 1999 season BHW Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
And, sorrowfully, never picked it back up.... As a bimmer fan since the CSLs, I miss it (BMW) sorely.
Yeah, BMW announced their F-1 plans soon after so development of the LMR V12 came to a halt even though they came back in 2000. I worked for Beck's Beer/BMW Motorsport at Sebring in 1999 and it was an incredible experience with a lot of great memories and friends made from Munich. Those cars were the real deal, built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering and mated with the 6.0 litre V12s similar to the engines in the McLaren F1s, they sounded as good as they looked. Tom Kristensen described the V12 motor, "Like having a gorilla on your back instead of a monkey" as it was heavy. But the torque of that V12 left the competition in the dust, until Audi got their act together. I remember the 3.0 CSLs at Daytona and Sebring as well from 1975 and 76. Those cars were nearly bullet proof. BHW
The Mach 5 was reportedly inspired by the original Testarossa. With Speed being a combination of James Bond, and Elvis Presley's character in "Viva Las Vegas".
I was always partial to the F2003 GA and the McLaren MP4-14. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
True... the Mach 5 was a modernist take on the original TR design features. Always like the 312 T also..... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hmmmmm....deja-vu all over again. That's s'posed to be a 'vette? A few months back... 'Still looks like an S7R to me. However, they do say that imitation is the purest form of flattery...: Image Unavailable, Please Login
She sounds as purrrrrr-ty as she looks, lads....... [ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VMP7fW7tj3w[/ame]
Definitely. Tg starts up again next week and previews look great. think c harris patterns himself a bit on alains style
This thread probably should have sub-categories, such as sports racing, prototypes and formula (F1 and Indy) cars. As for the formula car entrants, in addition to the Gurney Eagle and Lotus 49, I offer the Lotus 38...simply stunning in its simplicity. Photo from Amelia Island: Image Unavailable, Please Login
