The Tuscan R Story

How did TVR work its way up to Le Mans? We look back at the GT cars that paved the way.

By PH Staff / Thursday, 12 June 2003 / Loading comments

TVR have produced a number of GT cars over the last few years and the T400R demonstrates how much they've learned in that time. Since the first Speed 12 rolled out, they've been reevaluating their designs.

That first awesome Speed 12 used a brute force approach to racing with an 800bhp V12 engine in a spaceframe chassis. Although devastatingly powerful the shortcomings of a spaceframe chassis soon became apparent with replacement of parts being hampered by the single chassis structure. Cooling was also an issue with centrally mounted exhaust pipes creating immense heat within the structure of the car.

Next out was the Cerbera Speed 12 in 2001. With a more modern tub and sub-frame structure the car could be disassembled with much greater ease allowing quicker repairs and maintenance. Exhausts routed around the outside of the immense body helped matters on the temperature side.

Both Speed 12s proved useful on the PR front, but only achieved moderate success on the track.

The first car to prove a real worry to the opposition was the Rollcentre Cerbera Speed 6. Although an AJP V8 4.5 litre Cerbera had raced before, the regulations required air restrictors which strangled the engine. The Speed 6 wasn't subject to such restrictions and in the hands of Martin Short would prove a much more competitive machine.

Rollcentre went through a long development cycle with many problems associated with overheating differentials and the car ended up as a mass of cooling ducts. It did however prove successful, winning at Spa (beating the Porsche GT3) and finishing 6th in the British GT series. Short also completed the Spa 24 race - a momentous event in TVR's history.

Tuscan R

Later in 2001, Short moved on to the car we are more familiar with today - the Tuscan R or T400R/T440R. Again the Rollcentre team did much of the development work and later in the year TVR produced more cars and they're now a familiar sight in GT racing.

The bodywork of a Tuscan R is all carbon fibre resulting in a strong yet lightweight body. Within that body is the driver's cell made up of strong aluminium honeycombe ensuring the best protection for the occupants. A carbon fibre floor sites atop the steel chassis and a full rollcage is built in from the start.

Under the curvaceous bonnet is TVR's own straight six engine. It's an engine that's been dogged with a poor reputation for reliability in both road cars and race cars but when in good form is an absolute peach. Unrestricted it's capable of producing well over 400bhp delivered in a wonderfully smooth manner. TVR claim that's enough power to take the Tuscan R to 215mph. Hewland gearboxes have been used in these cars and TVR also have their own sequential box under development.

Until the last couple of years TVR haven't shown much enthusiasm for wind tunnels. That changed with the Tuscan R. An impressive drag co-efficient of 0.32 is the result of an almost flat floor and the smooth, flowing lines. The front splitter and rear diffuser work together to give it high speed stability necessary for GT racing.

Le Mans

At Le Mans, TVR are running two cars under the guise of Racesport Salisbury. They first raced the Tuscan R at Sebring in a twelve hour race earlier this year. Although 'only' over twelve hours, it's a very hard race with many more twists and turns than the eight mile Le Mans circuit. The car performed almost faultlessly with only some electrical gremlins threatening the finish. With those sorted, the TVR finished sixth in class and surprised many of its critics. That set the scene for the Le Mans entry - assuming they would be invited, which they were!

This DeWalt backed team is working with legendary GT manager Hugh Chamberlain. He's achieved great things with other teams in the past and was a good catch for TVR and Racesport. His experience will count for a lot in the heat of the battle.

The Tuscan R's will be up against multiple Porsche GT3-RSs, Ferraris and the Dutch Spyker. Homologation regulations dictate that the TVRs have to run with air intake restrictors which will rob them of around 40bhp. Not only that they have a sizable weight penalty in the form of lead weights secured around the car. They'll have a tough job to keep up with the mightily experienced Porsches.

What sort of result can we expect? Tough call. Finishing Le Mans is the first hurdle - it's an incredibly tough race. Any team that can finish is in with a shout of glory...