Mise en vente aux enchères par COYS à Nuremberg (D) le 22/07/2006
Estimate: €85,000-110,000 (+ frais)
The Venturi story goes back to the 1984 Paris Motor Show where, nestling in a corner under an unknown 'Godfroy' banner, stood a beautiful coupe. The Ventury (with a 'y') featured a space-frame chassis with Peugeot 205 McPherson suspension, wrapped with a two-tone metallic grey glass-fibre body work. At the rear was a humble 120bhp VW Golf GTI engine. It went down a storm with press and public. In 1992, Venturi embarked upon a more aggressive marketing strategy, reflected in an extended motor racing program. This eventually led to the establishment of a joint Venturi-Larousse F1 race team and the creation of a one-make racing series, the Venturi Trophy. From 1993, Venturi focused on the renewed GT championship formulas and developed several 500bhp and 600bhp GT racers for the Le Mans 24 hours races. On offer today is one of seven Le Mans racers. Manufactured in 1993 this particular car competed in the GT1 category of the 1995 classic endurance race. The car was successful up until 1998 whereupon it was completely rebuilt in 1999.
Whilst some people say that Paul Belmondo used the success of his father's career in film to vault himself into the heady atmosphere of Formula 1. You also have to appreciate the fact that to get to race GT cars is a considerable feat, let alone Le Mans, let alone F1. The grid every Sunday is peopled by the best 20 drivers in the world and their combined efforts, per lap, can be separated by hundredths of seconds. The same applies lower down the scale. Whilst Le Mans is a very different fish, it is still extraordinary to think that over 24 hrs, possibly an engine change, 9 driver changes and many more fuel stops, tyre stops and the other mechanical vagaries that afflict the cars at this infamous circuit, the times amongst the top 10 teams are still only minutes apart. The punishment absorbed by the cars on this gruelling race is also ruthless. It is always a treat therefore to be able to present a car that has made the trip to Frances mid-west and survived. There can be no greater tribute to the set-up, reliability and performance of this Venturi than to have a Le Sarthe scrutineer's sticker on the inside of the windscreen.
At time of going to press however, full details were not available. Please contact the Coys office for further information.
