Vanwall: “Time Running Out” to Be Granted 2025 Entry

Vanwall Racing boss Colin Kolles says “time is running out” for the team to be granted an entry for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship with a heavily revised version of its Vandervell 680 Le Mans Hypercar.

The Austrian outfit, formerly known as ByKolles, has been absent from the WEC grid this year after its application for an entry with the Pipo Moteurs-powered Vandervell LMH that contested the 2023 season with Gibson power was denied.

But work has progressed on preparing a significant upgrade of the car with the target of returning to the series in 2025, pending approval by the WEC’s Selection Committee.

Vanwall released images of what appeared to be the revised Vandervell 680 undertaking straight line testing in late August at the Catesby Tunnel Vehicle Test Facility in the UK with Tristan Vautier at the wheel (pictured top).

While preparations proceed for a return to the WEC, Kolles said in an interview with Sportscar365 that Vanwall can’t wait too much longer for an answer about next season, with further testing on hold until the marque is given the green light for a 2025 entry.

“My personal assessment is that the decision [to deny Vanwall an entry in 2024] was wrong,” said Kolles. “Isotta Fraschini is already gone and certain others are struggling.

“So far we haven’t been told yes or no. We can field two cars, but time is running out.

“We want to be welcomed. But it’s their decision. It’s not dependent on us. We have a Plan A and B, but in both plans the car will be racing.”

Kolles added that he is seeking a long-term commitment for Vanwall to be on the grid, as he feels returning for just one season wouldn’t be worthwhile.

“What we don’t want is that they accept us [for 2025] and one year later, Hyundai is coming and they tell us the grid is full again,” he said.

Kolles explained that the images of the straight line test were in fact of the track day version of the car with the new aero, with the revised WEC car yet to turn a wheel.

“The WEC car will look a little bit different to the track day car,” he added. “So far we only did aero tests with components of the WEC car.”

Kolles explained that the decision to overhaul the Vandervell 680 stemmed from the change from Gibson power to the same 3.5-litre Pipo Moteurs twin-turbo V8 engine that used to power the Glickenhaus 007 LMH, as was revealed at the end of last year.

He added he is confident that the revised version of the car, which he described as “95 percent new”, can be a competitive proposition if it is granted an entry in the WEC.

“Originally we planned just to change engines from Gibson to Pipo Moteurs, for the reason that we were lacking 60kW [of power] in the 2023 season,” Kolles explained.

“But then we decided to do a complete overhaul of the car, so basically we have a completely new car aero-wise and mechanically: new brakes, new suspension, new steering. The gearbox and bell housing have also changed.

“With the change of engine, we need a completely new cooling system as it changes the heat rejection compared to a normally-aspirated one. The monocoque is still the same, but with different mounting points. It’s 95 percent a new car.

“Our opinion is that we had a good chassis in 2023, but if you are lacking 60kW, you have a problem. But now we have improved even more with the latest modifications.”

As well as Vautier, Kolles explained that Vanwall has ongoing relationships with Esteban Guerrieri and Joao Paulo de Oliveira, both of whom drove for the team in the WEC last year, and has also begun working with another experienced endurance racing driver in a management capacity whose identity remains secret.