In a flurry of announcements revealing new sports car prototype programs, I was surprised to see the name “Vanwall” among manufacturers like Peugeot and Porsche. Vanwall was a British racing car manufacturer of the 1950s that also competed in Formula 1 and won its first world constructors championship in 1958. However, Vanwall ceased operations in in 1961.
The British company has not been lying in wait for the past 60 years. One current notable figure in motorsport has decided to revive the brand, Colin Kolles. The former Formula One headmaster turned motorsport team owner after leaving Force India in 2008. Initially, his team imported Audi R10 TDIs from the 2009 Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans race that year.
Team ByKolles may not have finished Le Mans since it first entered in 2009, but the team is still a fixture at the French endurance classic. ByKolles have imported their own LMP1 chassis powered by a Nismo three-liter turbocharged V6 in recent seasons. However, ByKolles has decided not to participate in the race in the 2021 season because it has developed the Le Mans Hypercar supercar for the new class.
Earlier this week, the Germany-based team revealed their hypercar fitted with British Racing Blue and Vanwall plastered on its sidepods for a dismantling at Zweibrücken Airport in Germany. While ByKolles have struggled to secure a spot on the FIA World Endurance Championship roster with a series of bouts, there is a bigger hurdle ahead of them.
Allegedly, ByKolles did not have the right to use the name Vanwall and faces legal action from a group based in the UK. The name Vanwall is currently licensed for a project to revive car production in the style of 1950s Vanwall F1 racers. The European Union Intellectual Property Office will decide the dispute, and if ByKolles loses, it will not be able to compete under the Vanwall name in Europe.
