Old car - VBM 4000

TheNewBob · 3 May 2005, 21:34 (Ref:1292376)

'lo folks

Was pondering around Racing Sports Cars website - came across a car called a "VBM 4000" in the French GT championship from a race in '99. pic is here: http://www.racingsportscars.com/phot...-09-12-003.jpg

I've not seen this car before, looks like a cross between a McLaren F1, a Lister GTL, and a Porsche 911-GT1!

Anyone know much about this car and whatever became of it? It's a stunner, there's another picture of it on the site from the previous year in a sleek black.

Graham Goodwin · 3 May 2005, 21:46 (Ref:1292400)

Always thought it looked more like a very breathed upon GT40, particulalry from the front

**Adam43** · 3 May 2005, 21:48 (Ref:1292403)

Throw in a little GT40 with the ducts and headlights on the front! (see here It wouldn't look out of place in JGT either.

Sorry I have no info other than it seemed quite mid-field in the French championship.

TheNewBob · 3 May 2005, 22:03 (Ref:1292426)

actually from those angles there is a little GT40 inspiration... I did find out it was in the GT2 class - which I'm presuming would now be GT1, even in France? not sure of any French GT classes

**skycafe** · 4 May 2005, 01:40 (Ref:1292507)

Is this car related to the Venturi?

Are Venturi still around? Is VBM still around for that matter?

robert

fausto · 4 May 2005, 07:09 (Ref:1292591)

http://gto-racing.nexenservices.com/...VBM4000GTC.htm

**Adam43** · 4 May 2005, 11:56 (Ref:1292773)

It seems that Mazza stole some design keys from this http://gto-racing.nexenservices.com/...M4000GTC_4.htm

Clip those wings

**PascaLM** · 4 May 2005, 14:20 (Ref:1292872)

The similarity with the GT40 was delibarate when VBM designed the 4000 ; a kind of tribute. VBM tried to prequalify at Le Mans in 1995 and 1996.
In 1995, after having built in a very short time, this car received a provisional approval by the Services des Mines (The French official service for weights and measures to vehicles). The engine was a classical V6 PRV (Peugeot/Renault/Volvo) twin turbo (WM, Venturi...). Patrick Bornhauser and Jean-françois Metz (the B and M of VBM), didn't do better than 4'46"88.
In 1996, they chose a Renault V6 with 12 valves instead of 24. Dominique lacaud did 4'32"700. But the engine broke at the end of prequalifs, and the team decided to sportingly leave their place for a Ferrari F355.

**PascaLM** · 4 May 2005, 14:40 (Ref:1292883)

Here is a story of Venturi, but in French :
http://www.automobile-sportive.com/g...ri/venturi.php
A businessman of Monaco bought Venturi several years ago.

GT-Eins · 5 May 2005, 04:58 (Ref:1293378)

As I remember the car has been converted to a road-going version now and is not racing anymore.
I wonder what the basis was. Was an old GT40 or a replica of it modified or did VBM build that from scratch?

Fab · 5 May 2005, 06:30 (Ref:1293411)

Patrick Bornhauser still races in FFSA-GT... wasn't he 2004' champion, with a Viper ? Can't remember right now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT-Eins

As I remember the car has been converted to a road-going version now and is not racing anymore. I wonder what the basis was. Was an old GT40 or a replica of it modified or did VBM build that from scratch?

At my knowing, the car was build from nothing. Patrick Bornhauser decided to stop the car's carreer at the end of the 2001' season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skycafe

Is this car related to the Venturi?

No. VBM were from Orléans (my birthplace), when VBM is from Nantes (where I live). At my knowwing, Bornhauser is from a family of the building industry, Bornhauser-Molinari (Public Works).

I thought that Venturi was dead, but the brand is still alive, in spite the fact that they don't build cars in Couëron (Nantes' suburb) anymore. Thanks for the link, Pascal !

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