ASCARI A410

An all new project for Le Mans 2000, but both the man behind the Ascari A410 and the car itself have links back to previous efforts in France. So does the engine.

In the warm up for the 1992 race, Heinz-Harald Frentzen was fastest of all: faster than the race winning Peugeots, faster than the Mazdas, faster than the Toyotas. The German was a late addition to the Euro Racing Lola T92/10 line-up, this an all new carbon monocoque from the British manufacturer. It was a customer car, but the 3.5 litre rules didn't endear themselves to customer participation - Peugeot and Toyota saw to that. They dominated for two years, then the category folded.

The 3.5 litre Judd V10 saw Frentzen, Zwolsman and Kasuya through 271 laps of Le Mans, but chronic gearbox troubles delayed them for long periods and eventually saw a 13th place at the end. The sister car (Zwolsman started this one, Euser and Pareja also drove) went out early with more gearbox maladies.

Klaas Zwart himself appeared at Le Mans in 1995, driving his Ascari FGT LM, but a 4:15.99 in Pre-Qualifying wasn't enough to get him into Qualifying for the main event. This car then contested the Privilege GT Championship, in two forms. Initially with the same 5.7 litre Ford V8, then with a 4 litre BMW twin-turbo V8.

Meanwhile, the Lola T92/10 had become the McNeil Engineering Lola 981-Judd, which raced in the 1998 ISRS. Robbie Stirling and Klaas Zwart completed the season at Kyalami, with the open car powered by the four litre version of the Judd V10, the GV4.

No sign of the McNeil Lola in 1999, but January 13 2000 saw an outwardly similar car launched at the NEC, the Ascari A410. First race - Le Mans.

"Team Ascari is looking to field a front-rank driving squad for a two car entry," explained Klaas Zwart. "I believe candidates for a seat will find the A410 package highly attractive. We are also building a third car, which will be available for sale."

The Aberdeen-based Dutchman is currently in the driver line-up, but he has already stated that if he is off the pace, he will not hesitate to stand down. Five wins in his Footwork Arrows in the Boss Series and Interseries racing in '98 and '99 suggest that a shortage of speed won't be a problem.

The A410 conforms to Le Mans and all other sportscar series regulations, and although it was presented with a full roll hoop, it can be converted from one configuration to the other. Wind tunnel work thus far has concentrated on low drag Le Mans spec., but high downforce bodywork is available for shorter circuits.

McNeil Engineering are responsible for the construction of the cars and for track testing and development. Klaas Zwart himself is underwriting the Team Ascari Le Mans challenge, freeing the team "from the pressures of pursuing sponsorship." Talks are underway with a number of potential drivers.