Hypercars 2025

After I posted the review on my g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s 9X8, I was thinking about Hypercars in general. When the LMH class was introduced in 2021, I was over the moon. After the boring final years of LMP1, Le Mans deserved a better top class. Not that the race per se had become boring, mind you. After all, in the “junior” classes the battles continued VERY competitive. With that, a new competitive top class was very welcome news. At first things started slow, with just Toyota and Glickenhaus. Very soon, however, the future brightened up. A lot! We got news that Porsche would be joining LMH, as would Alpine, Isota Fraschini, Cadillac, Peugeot, Vanwall, BMW and also the Italians Lamborghini and even Ferrari.

I don’t think we had such a diverse lineup in the top class at Le Mans like in 2023. Not even in the Group C days do I remember so many big dogs up front. And that was the idea behind the new class. In essence, LMH would be much cheaper than the previous LMP1 class, and that was a major incentive for manufacturers. Nonetheless, running cars in the top class at Le Mans is still VERY expensive and is not for everyone. So, as expected, the initial enthusiasm died down and consequentially we had quite a few dropouts. After the 2024 race, Isota Fraschini, Glickenhaus, Lamborghini and Vanwall had abandoned the fight.

So, what can we expect for 2025? Doing the math, in LMH we’ll have Aston Martin (newcomer), Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota. There was a rumor that Mercedes would also come back to La Sarthe, and it was true. However, in 2025 they will compete in GT3-LM, not LMH. Which in my book is still great. Unfortunately though, Lamborghini dropped out from LMH and GT3-LM. Even so, I’m still happy with the perspectives for this year’s race. I expect to see a knife fight between Porsche, Toyota and Ferrari (and maybe Cadillac too?). Aston, BMW and Peugeot, on the other hand, are unknown quantities, so how will it all go down? Tough question 🤔.

Well, though I think it’s impossible to predict results, I’m positive that it’s going to be a heckuva year 😎.

Top 5 – 2024

Oh well, there goes 2024… You know the the expression “time flies”? I’m certain you already heard it. However, trust me, it only acquires meaning after you reach a certain age. And yes, I’m already over that age. The year came and went and here am I writing a new Top 5 list. The year of 2024 was a bit rough, with few new models. Specially in terms of Le Mans cars. It started out slow, totally stopped by mid-year and only got going in the second semester. There were months that I didn’t get a single new model…🙄 Even so, as of this writing, the W-143 Garage is at 560 models. It was a slim year, however good enough to make the Top 5 Models of 2024 list (in chronological order):

1985 Volkswagen LT 45 LWB “HB Audi Rally Assistance”

1️⃣ First things first: even to me it sounds a bit weird to post a van in a Top 5 list. Nonetheless, Ixo did a heckuva job on the model and it looks FANTASTIC with my Quattro S1 E2 towed behind. As I said before, a shame Ixo doesn’t also make Le Mans’ service vehicles.

1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo #4

2️⃣ This one is easy to justify: GRAIL MODEL, period. The Delta is one of my all-time favorite cars, and a rally version, from Spark? Puh-leeze, just take my money.

2023 Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid #37

3️⃣ Another rally car? And a Toyota 🤨?!? As I’m certain you noticed by now, I’m always complaining about dull liveries. Yeah, those bland, flavorless and boring red-white-black-silver corporate affairs that big manufacturers insist for their cars. And here you have a works car from Toyota (yes, TOYOTA!) with a cool off-the-wall livery. Awesome!

2023 Porsche 911 RSR-19 #56 “Rexy”

4️⃣ Rexy: a Porsche painted as a green T-Rex racing at La Sarthe. The coolest Le Mans livery of all times? If not, in my humble opinion certainly one of the Top 5. No doubt, like the Pink Pig or the Calder BMW, one of the greatest.

1951 Porsche 356/2 SL “Gmünd Coupe” #46

5️⃣ This one is also very easy to explain: the first Porsche that won at Le Mans. With the 356 Gmünd Coupe, Porsche began it’s long relation with La Sarthe. And finally, in the second semester of 2024 Spark released their version of the car. Another case of take-my-money.

Shop Tour 2024 2.0

The last update I posted was in the beginning of the year, and as expected, my shop grows 😎. So, what’s new? I think that the biggest news is that I bought a circular hand saw. From Bosch, it’s a GKS 18v-57: 18v and with a 165 mm blade. Not the biggest of blades but for my needs perfect, and with a custom track guide that I made, just awesome. Though I was salivating for a circular hand saw for some years, I have to say it was not my best acquisition this year. That would be the GDR 12v-110 impact wrench. Also from Bosch, 12v and small, and yet let me tell you: I should have bought one years ago. One of those tools that you really don’t need, but once you have one, you don’t know how you you would live without it. Damn how it simplifies and speed up a LOT of jobs!

Moreover, I also got a small auxiliary work bench (Worx WX01), since my 40+ years old Black & Decker one was kind of tired (and a bit crooked 😁). Besides that, more clamps, an anvil (made from a train track section!), new wall signs, a new drill set and other small stuff. Oh, and I almost forgot: with the GKS 18v-57 I made a couple of stools. In fact, one of them I made specifically for the shop. With wheels, now I can role around the shop with my butt firmly seated 😂. All in all, a productive year for my little shop.

The 959 at the Paris Dakar Rally

A few days ago, the great John Ficarra, through VINwiki, released an AWESOME video about the Porsche 959 at the 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally. As always, John Ficarra’s ability to spin a delightful tale is just outstanding. If you have 15 minutes and have at least a minor interest in the 959, I urge you to watch it. Absolutely fantastic! 😎😎😎