BATTLE OF THE BREADVANS
Rival low-drag cars at 72nd Members Meeting
Spectators will be treated to a unique ‘Battle of the Breadvans’ at the 72nd Members’ Meeting, with both Ferrari and Lotus versions competing in the same race for the first time ever.
For those not familiar with the Breadvan concept, a big fall-out at Ferrari in 1961 meant some key personnel including engineers Giotto Bizzarini and Carlo Chiti were forced to find new employment.
They did so at Count Volpi’s Scuderia Serenissima, but when they enquired about buying a new GTO to go racing, Ferrari refused. As a result Bizzarini and Chiti – who had both helped create the original GTO - decided to develop a GTO of their own... and to make it better.
THE BREADVAN NICKNAME
Body specialist Piero Drogo came up with a bold design that reflected state-of-the-art aerodynamic thinking, and the rebodied 250GT quickly earned the ‘Breadvan’ nickname thanks to its novel profile. Not long after the Ferrari’s completion, British racing driver Graham Capel saw the 250 and decided that perhaps a Lotus 11 with similar bodywork would be quick too. The Lotus ‘Breadvan’ was born and Capel was proved right, as the Lotus achieved many class wins.
Twyman Racing has been tasked with readying the Lotus for modern racing duty. ‘The car will race in its original Plumstead livery and it should be quite competitive,’ says Neil Tyman. ‘I’d expect the Ferrari to be at the front with the Lotus not too far off the pace, although if it rains that could all change, depending who’s driving.’
THE CARS AT GOODWOOD
Visitors to the 2012 Revival and 2009 Festival of Speed should recall seeing the Ferrari being driven in anger. If you’re wondering though why you haven’t seen the Lotus, there’s a very good reason for that. While the car has been raced at Goodwood – the last occasion was in a ten lap scratch race on the 12th September 1964 where it finished second in class.
Shortly after that the Breadvan body was removed and standard Lotus 11 panels were refitted. Part of Twyman Racing’s involvement is to get the low-drag bodywork back on in time for the Member’s Meeting. The last word from Neil Twyman: “We’re still working on it. It might be a last-minute finish, but we’ll get it done!
Bron :
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/members-meeti ... dvans.aspx
(met dank aan Stijn voor de tip)
