2021 Glickenhaus SCG 007 LMH #708 Pilots: P. Derani, F. Mailleux, O. Pla Team: Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus Race: 4th overall (fourth in LMH class) at Le Mans in 2021 Spark - S8233 (resin)
Published 12/14/22
Up until the late 90s, James Glickenhaus was a wealthy American film producer and director. Though with quite a few titles to his name, by that time he was struggling to keep up as an independent filmmaker. Moreover, he had a quite large and impressive car collection. And I mean impressive, with jewels like a GT40, Ferrari 412P, Dino Competizione, among many others. Reportedly, around 2004 Andrea Pininfarina asked him a question. “If you could build any car, what would it be?” So, as any car collector and millionaire, what did he do? He became an automaker. He founded Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, to develop low-volume high-performance racing cars. Their first car was the gorgeous Ferrari P4/5, designed by Pininfarina. Well, in essence it was Glickenhaus’ own Ferrari Enzo with a new body, yet fantabulous nonetheless. And of course, they began making race cars.
First announced in September of 2012, the SCG 003 was their first model. With production beginning in 2014, the SCG 003 became popular at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The competition version of the 003 (SCG 003C – “Competizione”) used a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged Honda V6. The company currently offers three versions of the 003, the 003C, 003S (“Stradale”) and the 003CS (“”Competizione Stradale”). However, from the beginning James Glickenhaus wanted to race in the 24 Heures du Mans. Yet, the SCG 003C, a car for WEC’s SP-X class, would not be enough for regular Le Mans competition. Concurrently, in 2018, FIA announced the new Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) class, that would replace LMP1. The new LMH rules were much more “inclusive” than the prior LMP1 regulations. That being so, minor manufacturers like Glickenhaus had a competitive chance.
FIA scheduled the new LMH class to debut in 2021. Right away Glickenhaus began working on their LMH car – the SCG 007 LMH. However, Glickenhaus would not have conditions to manufacture the car AND race it on its own. Therefore, they outsourced and established the necessary partnerships. French Pipo Moteurs would be responsible for the engine, while Sauber would take care of aerodynamics. And Joest Racing would handle track-side operations. With everything ready, SCG presented the SCG 007 LMH officially on July 27th, 2018. Interestingly, Glickenhaus was the first manufacturer to join the new class. Even before the big dogs (Toyota, Porsche, Peugeot, etc)!
As expected, the 007 LMH is heavily based on the 003C. The chassis is a carbon fiber composite monocoque, with a double wishbone suspension system front and rear. Per class rules, an LMH car has to weigh at least 1030 kg and deliver a maximum power output of 670 hp. Pipo Moteurs’ engine is a 3.5 liter biturbo V8. Longitudinally mounted at midships, at 9000 rpm it can deliver up to 690 hp. That power goes to the rear wheels through an X-Trac 7-speed sequential manual transmission. A very interesting detail is that the 007 LMH is NOT a hybrid. In other words, the car is solely powered by its ICE. Initially Glickenhaus built two chassis, and their first race would be the 24 Heures du Mans of 2021.
Glickenhaus’ new car was ready in March of 2021, when it did a full shakedown at Vallelunga. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Le Mans race would happen on August 21st and 22nd. Testing occurred one week prior, and Glickenhaus arrived with two cars, 007 #708 and #709. There were five LMH cars on the grid, the two 007 plus two Toyota GR010 and one Alpine A480. The 007 LMH started out in fourth (#708) and fifth (#709), and finished in the same positions. Their race was not very eventful, yet in the end it was a predictable 1-2 Toyota win. I honestly don’t think this result was unexpected, yet what Glickenhaus achieved was no small potatoes. They went up against juggernaut Toyota and held up to the end! And that reminds me a lot of a certain Jean Rondeau… Therefore, an underdog, so a must buy for me.