Entries For Le Mans

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 12

Entries For Le Mans

TT is now less than two weeks before entries for the famous Le Mans 24-hour race, and many rumours are going the rounds overseas about the 1 cars that may compete this year.

One of the most interesting is a suggestion that a special B.R.M. car with a Rover gas turbine engine may enter the lists. The Owen organisation has issued a statement saying “exploratory talks” have been taking place with the Rover Company and a gas turbine engine made by Rover might be installed in a prototype sports car.

The car would be entered in “suitable” sports car races if tests proved satisfactory. No announcement has been made about the stage of development already reached, but reports from both Britian and the Continent suggest that when Le Mans entries close on Feburary 28 a B.R.M. -Rover may be among them.

The Le Mans organisers have made racing of a turbine car an attractive proposition. for there is a special prize of 25,000 francs for a gas turbine car which completes the race and

covers at least 3600 kilometres. Last year the winning car covered nearly 4500 kilometres.

Other cars which are expected to appear at LeMans include at least one Aston Martin from the David Brown organisation. This organisation was a regular competitor at LeMans for many years, frequently having victory taken from its grasp by very bad luck. Last year it raced a very promising prototype which made an excellent showing before retiring with engine failure. It is probable some E-type Jaguars will be entered, but no entries are expected from the factory. The German NSU concern is expected to enter a sports car powered by the Wankel rotary piston engine. A Wankel-engined car is scheduled to go on sale next year.

Entries are also expected from the United States. American cars have been entered at Le Mans before, but with little success. The expected entry of several V 8 Sting Ray Corvettes may prove more successful. Ford of America will almost certainly be represented by some V 8 Falcons, which showed a great

potential in the Monte Carlo rally this year. Ferrari will have a big entry, but rumours of a Mercedes entry seem to have faded. An official Porsche entry is fairly certain and several of these cars will be entered by private owners.