Although the tests for Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus have been going well for the self-built 007 LMH Hypercar, the team still has doubts as to whether they will be able to enter the opening round of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
It has been a bit of a turbulent start to 2021 for Glickenhaus and WEC, as COVID-19 restrictions still hamper the racing series. Originally due to start mid-March, WEC had to postpone the beginning of the season twice to accommodate travel restrictions. The delay to the start of the season gave Glickenhaus hope that, even amidst their own delays, they could have their 007 tested and homologated in time for the opening round. However, as COVID continues to push delays onto the team, May 1st may still be too soon for the car to be ready to get out on track.
“We’re making a car that’s going to be eligible to race for five years,” James Glickenhaus, Glickenhaus team Founder, told Motorsport.com. “To rush before we are ready would be completely stupid.
“I think we’re going to go to Spa, but it’s very hard to get things done. We have just got the crash test done. We’re now trying to schedule the aero test, and the aero test people are not giving us dates, because they have issues with their staff and COVID and this and that. So they are pushing [the dates] back. And eventually we are getting pushed to a deadline where it would be impossible for us to race at Spa. Then we would start at Portimao.
“I would like to race at Spa, but I just don’t know. It’s such strange times.”
So far the SCG 007 LMH has completed three tests: a roll-out at Vallelunga last month, a two-day test at Audromo Nationale Monza and a 30-hour test back at Valleluga where the car suffered a crash during an out-lap. The team reports that they have set over 100 laps in the car and are satisfied with the progress and mileage they have made with the package since the start of the year.
“The car is very strong, it runs very strong. There is a big learning curve for the drivers, because it is not like an LMP1. It is more or less a ‘Super-super GT car’, a [1990s] GT1 or something like this.”
