ByKolles Racing’s work to put together its Hypercar continues with its head down, trying to get to 2023 ready for the debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
After the refusal to register for the series, the Austrian team showed that the project exists and is proceeding, both from a technical and bureaucratic point of view.
Colin Kolles himself is confident of having the OK from the FIA WEC and ACO, explaining what has not gone the right way in recent months.
“Frankly, they did not give us an official reason for the refusal of registration – explains Kolles to Motorsport.com – We also presented all the necessary documentation. The only thing is that the homologation deadline could not be respected”.
“We had problems with the gearbox and the project was delayed for 6 months in 2021 because it could not be installed in the frame. Our supplier X-Trac therefore produced a new gearbox, but with the pandemic and customs bureaucracy we took a while to arrive. “
“Everything was delivered to us on Christmas Eve and of course it was not possible to complete the first test in view of homologation. You too will understand that it is difficult to drive without a gearbox.”
A couple of weeks ago, the images of the first start-up of the car were shown, while a question still remains about what should be the agreements with Vanwall for the use of the English brand name.
“There are talks to resolve the matter in a timely manner. The plan is to compete like a real factory team. I am convinced that we have a great product, but if there are interested teams who want to use the car as customers, then we we will overshadow “.
Hypercar Vanwall Racing ByKolles livery
Photo by: Vanwall Group
In ByKolles the plan remains to build the hypercar in three versions (road, track and racing). What we need to understand is how the Vanwall trademark can be combined with them, given that it has been registered in Germany, the United States, China and other countries.
Now all the rights to the name have been taken over by PMC Motorsport and ByKolles and the car that should go to race in the World Championship will be called Vanwall Vandervell LMH.
However, Kolles did not go down with the treatment that was reserved for his team during the registration phase compared to others.
“They have created an unpleasant precedent because if there is a deadline for homologation, then this must be respected by everyone and also apply to cars like Ferrari and Peugeot.”
“The 9X8 LMH is not yet homologated, yet its registration has been accepted, despite the fact that they have already said that they will not go to Sebring. Compared to us, in the end they were only doing a roll-out before Christmas and still today. they are in the testing and development phase, without knowing if and when they will debut. “
However, the promise remains to have a car designed and built at home, without using external help just to be there.
“It is a philosophy of life and it will never happen that we will take someone else’s car to race. Why should I do it? What my men can do not everyone has the opportunity to do, so we will go on like this.”
#WEC #ByKolles #thunders #equal #rules