New CvO CN Chassis
While Yves Courage has been watching his cars race to some stunning
successes recently, another French manufacturer is making progress
in the Technoparc at Le Mans – writes Claude Foubert.
Just in front
of Pescarolo Sport’s workshop, Christian Van Oost and his
staff are currently assembling the second CvO R01, CN Class chassis.
Compared to the first one, it’s a significantly different
car, with many new parts. The car is lighter (30 kgs less, weight
now 570 kgs) and is now under the CN limit (600 kgs), so the team
will be able to put the ballast wherever they want. The engine is
now lower and so is the centre of gravity, there is a new suspension
and a new rear wing. The chassis is now carbon and steel. Many parts
of the car, formerly aluminium parts, are now carbon parts.
The first race
for this chassis is next Sunday at Dijon in the VdeV Championship.
Thierry Perrier, Christian Van Oost’s partner, will enter
the car, with a stunning blue livery, and will drive it himself
alongside Romain Rautureau. The event is the 3 Hours of Dijon Modern
(race length: 4h05!!).
The first CvO
R01 chassis will race too, entered and driven by Christian Demigneux,
2003 FFSA GT French Cup winner. For his first race this car, at
Val de Vienne, Demigneux set the second and fourth quickest lap
times.
Next month,
the team will have a new 100% carbon chassis and if everything goes
to plan, will begin its LMP2 project by the end of the year. Christian
Van Oost aims to enter this car at Le Mans in 2006 – entry
permitted - and would like to enter the car in the last 2005 LMES
race, as preparation for the following year.
So, a tough
but exciting challenge for CvO, which has Dunlop and ATS as partners.
The car will be on display for the Le Mans FFSA GT round, on 25-26
September and maybe at the 2005 Birmingham Motor Show.
Christian Van
Oost is shown with his new chassis.



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