Jump to content


Photo
* * * * * 3 votes

Best looking prototypes of the last 15 years


  • Please log in to reply
113 replies to this topic

#1 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 29 September 2014 - 23:50

I'm getting a little weary of the F1 threads, so it's time to get back to sports cars. What, in your opinion, is the best looking P car since 2000? Car/livery combinations that have raced in the major international series like ALMS, Grand Am, ELMS, WEC, TUSCC, Le Mans, whatever. My top 5 are-

5. Highcroft Acura ARX01
AcuraLMP212HourtestFeb2007-1.jpg

4. Drayson Lola Judd coupe
527ca2eb74f5c.jpg

3. Epsilon Euskadi EE1 Judd
3687-2.jpg

2. AMR Lola Aston
spa09_race03.jpg

1. BMW V12 LMR (only raced in the ALMS in 2000 and then retired, but still...)
BMW-V-12-LMR-Climbing-Hill-Sears-Point.j

It's no coincidence that all 5 of these sound fantastic as well...

Advertisement

#2 InSearchOfThe

InSearchOfThe
  • Member

  • 2,622 posts
  • Joined: June 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:07

Bimmer.



#3 OO7

OO7
  • Member

  • 23,378 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:11

I think the 2000 Panoz, 2000 BMW and 2001 Audi R8 where the best looking cars.  As time has past, the prototypes have become more and more obscene in my book.

 

119028-6584558-503-Panoz-8x10_copy.jpg

532315c194a656db2d8b463a.jpg

dsc_7122.jpg


Edited by Obi Offiah, 30 September 2014 - 00:26.


#4 montoyasminion

montoyasminion
  • Member

  • 387 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:15

I loved the Bentley. That was my go-to car in the original Forza Motorsport.

#5 Disgrace

Disgrace
  • Member

  • 31,165 posts
  • Joined: January 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:16

Four posts in and no mention of the Toyota GT-One?



#6 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:21

I set the cutoff at 2000, the Toyota last raced in 1999. If we go back to the 90s there are too many options to list... 333SP, GT One, R8C, XJR-14, Merc C11, ect.

 

The Bentley is a good honorable mention, it could easily take the place of the Drayson in my list-

 

Bentley-EXP_Speed_8_2001_800x600_wallpap


Edited by Dan333SP, 30 September 2014 - 00:22.


#7 drag

drag
  • Member

  • 162 posts
  • Joined: October 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:24

That Epsilon Euskadi EE1 and BMW V12 LMR look proper racing beasts 



#8 FerrariV12

FerrariV12
  • Member

  • 934 posts
  • Joined: October 04

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:26

Nissan R391 for me (only just meeting the last 15 years criteria, mind)

 

Nissan_R391_2003.JPG

 

Although generally speaking I was always a sucker for any open top prototype with a full-width roll hoop

 

EDIT: Only read the '15' years bit and not 'from 2000', which probably leaves it as the Lola B2K/10 or Reynard 2KQ by default :)


Edited by FerrariV12, 30 September 2014 - 00:36.


#9 Disgrace

Disgrace
  • Member

  • 31,165 posts
  • Joined: January 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:26

It's true sign of a brilliant forum when moderation cannot read. Probably an unpopular choice, but I quite liked the first version of the Audi R15 TDI. Wide noses always look right to me on a racing car.



#10 OO7

OO7
  • Member

  • 23,378 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:29

It's true sign of a brilliant forum when moderation cannot read. Probably an unpopular choice, but I quite liked the first version of the Audi R15 TDI. Wide noses always look right to me on a racing car.

Please ban yourself for 3 days.



#11 OO7

OO7
  • Member

  • 23,378 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:33

What I do like about modern prototypes and racing cars in general is the detailing.  A lot of contemporary racing cars in terms of overall shape look quite appalling such as GP2 cars and LMP1 cars, however the detail of the aerodynamics, headlights and overall finish looks great.



#12 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 00:40

Another honorable mention goes to the Ascari A410. Anything with the 4L Judd V10 was a favorite of mine, and this one was particularly sleek. Basically a re-bodied 10 year old Group C Lola chassis, but still managed to do well in the FIA series of the time.

17696.jpg



#13 CoolBreeze

CoolBreeze
  • Member

  • 2,440 posts
  • Joined: January 12

Posted 30 September 2014 - 01:22

The Toyota GT-One



#14 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 01:46

What I do like about modern prototypes and racing cars in general is the detailing.  A lot of contemporary racing cars in terms of overall shape look quite appalling such as GP2 cars and LMP1 cars, however the detail of the aerodynamics, headlights and overall finish looks great.

That's the best part of attending a sportscar race. Most grid walks are open without requiring a special pass before the race start, and you get a chance to inspect all the tiny little aero elements and details up close and personal. Definitely a highlight of my trips to Sebring and PLM, particularly with the factory turbo diesels in '09/'10.



#15 Afterburner

Afterburner
  • RC Forum Host

  • 9,125 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 30 September 2014 - 01:59

The Epsilon Euskadi looks proper prototype hotness. My heart belongs to one particular prototype above them all, though: the HPD ARX-02a. Perhaps my favourite car ever conceived.

3750984548_faf6b1d1e1_z.jpg
3800253508_7ebd2083b8_z.jpg

Driven by iconic names of US racing such as Dario Franchitti, Gil de Ferran, Scott Dixon, and Simon Pagenaud. Pioneer of the 'over the top' wing mounts as well as the equal-width front/rear tyres, both later borrowed by Audi on the R18/R18 e-tron. Won all but two races it participated in: Sebring and the Petit Le Mans--the first saw it lacking the unique-width front tyres it needed (developed late, never arrived), the second was shortened before half-distance due to heavy rains. The car potentially exhibited Audi-slaying speed once it got the tyres sorted (think Brawn GP in LMP1) and then HPD abandoned development early in 2009 shortly after the plug was pulled on the F1 program, just before Sebring. It fell behind its European competition by the Petit Le Mans and hasn't run a race since 2009--and probably never will be seen at speed again.

Just thinking about the sound gives me chills.



One only wonders what kind of year 2009 would've been for Honda had they kept funding flowing towards their LMP1/F1 projects. :well:

Edited by Afterburner, 30 September 2014 - 02:02.


#16 SKL

SKL
  • Member

  • 1,404 posts
  • Joined: August 99

Posted 30 September 2014 - 02:14

The Peugeot is wicked in my book, but the all time winner is the Gulf-Porsche 917...

 

 

 


Edited by SKL, 30 September 2014 - 02:15.


#17 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 02:56

The Epsilon Euskadi looks proper prototype hotness. My heart belongs to one particular prototype above them all, though: the HPD ARX-02a. Perhaps my favourite car ever conceived.

3750984548_faf6b1d1e1_z.jpg
3800253508_7ebd2083b8_z.jpg

Driven by iconic names of US racing such as Dario Franchitti, Gil de Ferran, Scott Dixon, and Simon Pagenaud. Pioneer of the 'over the top' wing mounts as well as the equal-width front/rear tyres, both later borrowed by Audi on the R18/R18 e-tron. Won all but two races it participated in: Sebring and the Petit Le Mans--the first saw it lacking the unique-width front tyres it needed (developed late, never arrived), the second was shortened before half-distance due to heavy rains. The car potentially exhibited Audi-slaying speed once it got the tyres sorted (think Brawn GP in LMP1) and then HPD abandoned development early in 2009 shortly after the plug was pulled on the F1 program, just before Sebring. It fell behind its European competition by the Petit Le Mans and hasn't run a race since 2009--and probably never will be seen at speed again.

Just thinking about the sound gives me chills.



One only wonders what kind of year 2009 would've been for Honda had they kept funding flowing towards their LMP1/F1 projects. :well:

 

 

I loved that car too. At some point during 2007/08 they changed the trackside sound decibel limit, so the LMP2 and LMP1 cars had little mufflers placed on the exhausts. They still sound great, just not quite the same impact. Cars like the Aston Lola were especially muted. Here's a crap cell phone video of an early test of the Acura LMP2 car at Sebring, pre-mufflers. It really echoes around the track, it's a brilliant sound.

 



#18 MikeV1987

MikeV1987
  • Member

  • 6,371 posts
  • Joined: July 12

Posted 30 September 2014 - 03:54

The Epsilon Euskadi is my personal favorite,

 

2008_21_Essais.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but I also really like the 02(?) Cadillac Northstar LMP

 

Cadillac12.jpg


Edited by MikeV1987, 30 September 2014 - 04:58.


#19 jonpollak

jonpollak
  • Member

  • 43,951 posts
  • Joined: March 00

Posted 30 September 2014 - 04:10

Decided to use a more flattering angle for my favorite.

Car_6_LMP2_S.Maassen_P.Long_Porsche_RS_S

Jp



Advertisement

#20 DanardiF1

DanardiF1
  • Member

  • 10,082 posts
  • Joined: February 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 05:21

Quite honestly? My favourite sportscar of the last 15 years is... this year's Toyota.

 

2014-toyota-ts040-hybrid-le-mans-prototy

In it's high-downforce trim like shown it just looks so purposeful and focussed. The narrower cars for this year have meant full-width rear wings again and this is just extra thumbs-up from me. The only thing I'd change is the outer endplate should be a constant width IMO and I'm still not completely sold on the lightning bolt-inflected blue...

 

6dbf961359548665222b7213e81c222c.jpg

Added this shot as well as this one has the aerodynamic wheels too which look even better...



#21 DanardiF1

DanardiF1
  • Member

  • 10,082 posts
  • Joined: February 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 05:22

Afterburner: I'm a big fan of the P1 Acura as well... always though the Wirth cars were very pretty but that thing was a complete beast of a car!



#22 Ali_G

Ali_G
  • Member

  • 32,872 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 30 September 2014 - 08:02

I set the cutoff at 2000, the Toyota last raced in 1999. If we go back to the 90s there are too many options to list... 333SP, GT One, R8C, XJR-14, Merc C11, ect.

 

The Bentley is a good honorable mention, it could easily take the place of the Drayson in my list-

 

Bentley-EXP_Speed_8_2001_800x600_wallpap

 

Best prototype from 2000 onwards, easily in my mind.

 

The recent LMP cars since Peugeot has changed design philosophy have been down right ugly.  The fin has made them even worse.



#23 OO7

OO7
  • Member

  • 23,378 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 30 September 2014 - 08:34

Quite honestly? My favourite sportscar of the last 15 years is... this year's Toyota.

 

In it's high-downforce trim like shown it just looks so purposeful and focussed. The narrower cars for this year have meant full-width rear wings again and this is just extra thumbs-up from me. The only thing I'd change is the outer endplate should be a constant width IMO and I'm still not completely sold on the lightning bolt-inflected blue...

 

 

Added this shot as well as this one has the aerodynamic wheels too which look even better...

Quite honestly, the front end of that car looks like it has already been involved in an accident.



#24 TopDog85

TopDog85
  • Member

  • 204 posts
  • Joined: September 14

Posted 30 September 2014 - 09:00

This has got me thinking, with all the talk of making cars harder to drive I think it's time an ex or current F1 engineer designs a prototype showing the world what is achievable if the reins are freed.

Adrian Newey, if you're reading this I want you to design a car with the downforce levels of 2010, the power of the 2004 V10 cars and big fat slick tyres. I then want you to get one of your drivers and unleash it on the Redbull Ring, go!!

#25 OvDrone

OvDrone
  • Member

  • 16,115 posts
  • Joined: January 13

Posted 30 September 2014 - 09:45

Hands down, the Bentley.



#26 noikeee

noikeee
  • Member

  • 23,156 posts
  • Joined: February 06

Posted 30 September 2014 - 09:52

My knowledge of prototypes is crap but from the pics in this thread my favs are by a large margin the Epsilon Euskadi and the Gulf Lola Aston Martins of the opening post. The liveries help a lot, of course (the all black EE trim is awesome for a car like this). Not really a fan of any of the others and that recent Toyota takes the biscuit as the wackiest ugliest one.



#27 gramsy1977

gramsy1977
  • Member

  • 325 posts
  • Joined: February 07

Posted 30 September 2014 - 10:08

bentley-at-le-mans-628.jpg



#28 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 10:10

For me, the car's looks declined when they forced the teams to run a narrower rear wing (2010? Around there) and again when the Audis and Pugs started emphasizing the open nose aero like with the R15. The new narrow bodied cars are certainly interesting, but the proportions are off and the fins look absurd. That Epsilon is great because it has a full width wing and chassis, and the black paint scheme hides the stepped floor on the sides which looks awkward on certain cars of the era. Too bad it was probably the least competitive car of all the ones we've mentioned so far.

#29 Donkey

Donkey
  • Member

  • 947 posts
  • Joined: June 11

Posted 30 September 2014 - 10:40

This has got me thinking, with all the talk of making cars harder to drive I think it's time an ex or current F1 engineer designs a prototype showing the world what is achievable if the reins are freed.

Adrian Newey, if you're reading this I want you to design a car with the downforce levels of 2010, the power of the 2004 V10 cars and big fat slick tyres. I then want you to get one of your drivers and unleash it on the Redbull Ring, go!!

He already did and Vettel drove it ;)

 

 

(Ok it would probably be impossible to drive that quickly by any human given the lateral acceleration peaking at 8.75G!)


Edited by Donkey, 30 September 2014 - 10:41.


#30 TheRacingElf

TheRacingElf
  • Member

  • 2,267 posts
  • Joined: April 14

Posted 30 September 2014 - 10:54

Ever since they introduced those stupid fins and narrower wings/cars there hasn't been a really appealing car in my opinion. I would love to see a wider, fin-less TS040 :love:



#31 TopDog85

TopDog85
  • Member

  • 204 posts
  • Joined: September 14

Posted 30 September 2014 - 11:06

He already did and Vettel drove it ;)

https://www.youtube....h?v=nu5UvgIcMOg

(Ok it would probably be impossible to drive that quickly by any human given the lateral acceleration peaking at 8.75G!)

I was talking about something that is actually drivable, they would need to get in the air crash investigation if one of those was in an accident ha.

Edited by TopDog85, 30 September 2014 - 11:06.


#32 Anja

Anja
  • Member

  • 10,257 posts
  • Joined: November 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 11:36

For me it's Epsilon Euskadi ee1, without any doubt. It's just so sleek and elegant. Bentley isn't far off. I'm not a fan of open-top prototypes in general aestethically speaking.



#33 Nonesuch

Nonesuch
  • Member

  • 15,870 posts
  • Joined: October 08

Posted 30 September 2014 - 11:38

I've always liked Team Goh's liveries, particularly on the Porsche Spyder.

 

Qd5d6oY.jpg

 

More to follow! :p



#34 maverick69

maverick69
  • Member

  • 5,975 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 11:47

Ferrari 333SP. Lots of the beautiful Alfa Tipo 33/3 in there if you squint hard enough....... 

 

 

ferrari-333-sp-06.jpg



#35 Sabre1977

Sabre1977
  • Member

  • 610 posts
  • Joined: October 08

Posted 30 September 2014 - 11:56

1999_audi_r8c1.jpg?w=614&h=363

 

AUDI R8C

 

 


Edited by Sabre1977, 30 September 2014 - 11:57.


#36 JHSingo

JHSingo
  • Member

  • 8,930 posts
  • Joined: June 13

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:19

Decided to use a more flattering angle for my favorite.

Car_6_LMP2_S.Maassen_P.Long_Porsche_RS_S

Jp

 

Damn, you beat me to it. The RS Spyder, particularly in DHL yellow, also gets my vote. Not just one of my favourite prototypes, but one of my all time favourite race cars.

 

Miss those brilliant days of ALMS in 2007-2008 when the LMP2 Porsches and Acuras could compete against the LMP1 Audis. :up:

 

The current crop of cost-capped P2s are positively bland in comparison.

 

And another Porsche. The 1998 911 GT1 that won Le Mans.

 

porsche-gt1-897096.jpeg

 

Had a Hot Wheels model of that when I was a kid. It was my favourite.


Edited by JHSingo, 30 September 2014 - 12:22.


#37 Arry2k

Arry2k
  • Member

  • 424 posts
  • Joined: January 12

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:22

Surprised there is no love for the Mercedes CLR in here. I know it was fundamentally flawed/dangerous, but it sure looked good, well, to me at least.



#38 Jeeves

Jeeves
  • Member

  • 1,089 posts
  • Joined: November 11

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:23

Nice thread. :up: There should be one for GT's as well. :cool:

 

A vote for the Oreca 01:

 

00_Presentation_ORECA_01_3.jpg


Edited by Jeeves, 02 October 2014 - 11:28.


#39 grunge

grunge
  • Member

  • 5,393 posts
  • Joined: May 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:35

surprised no ones mentioned the Audi R8 yet....simple yet one of the most elegant cars ive seen.

 

 spyshots-audi-working-on-road-legan-r8-g


Edited by grunge, 30 September 2014 - 12:37.


Advertisement

#40 Imateria

Imateria
  • Member

  • 2,424 posts
  • Joined: January 14

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:51

surprised no ones mentioned the Audi R8 yet....simple yet one of the most elegant cars ive seen.

 

 spyshots-audi-working-on-road-legan-r8-g

Lol, not a "real" R8 and definitely not a Prototype.

 

I always really liked the Rollcentre Racing Dallara's.

rollcentredallaraMonza2005_zps38b9d973.j


Edited by Imateria, 30 September 2014 - 12:53.


#41 JHSingo

JHSingo
  • Member

  • 8,930 posts
  • Joined: June 13

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:55

Oops, only just realised the error in my last post.

 

Maths never was my strong subject in school. :lol:



#42 BRG

BRG
  • Member

  • 25,883 posts
  • Joined: September 99

Posted 30 September 2014 - 12:59

I set the cutoff at 2000, the Toyota last raced in 1999. If we go back to the 90s there are too many options to list... 333SP, GT One, R8C, XJR-14, Merc C11, ect.

I think that you did this because subconciously you knew that almost everything pre-2000 was better looking. 

 

As Obi Offiah said:  "As time has past, the prototypes have become more and more obscene in my book."

  

So the real answer is Lola T70.



#43 Imateria

Imateria
  • Member

  • 2,424 posts
  • Joined: January 14

Posted 30 September 2014 - 13:17

You know, I'd take anything from the last 14 years against the Riley & Scott Mk III (especially the Mk III C) or any number of god awful, bulbous prototypes produced on shoestring budgets during the 90's. 



#44 midgrid

midgrid
  • RC Forum Host

  • 10,126 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 13:36

Rebellion Lola B10/60 (2011)

 

PI64082-hr.jpg



#45 Dan333SP

Dan333SP
  • Member

  • 4,681 posts
  • Joined: March 10

Posted 30 September 2014 - 13:53

I was thinking about that Rollcenter Dallara as well, the pontoon fenders aren't exactly the best look but from the rear 3/4 angle the car is lovely, the rear deck is so low and the car is such a clean design, obviously for Le Mans.

Dallara-BC9.jpg

Obviously I agree with the 333SP given my user name, but I consider it more of a '90s car, even though it raced into 2002/3. The Risi version that ran at Daytona with McNish/Kelleners was especially elegant...

P1310084es-L.jpg

#46 KinoNoNo

KinoNoNo
  • Member

  • 378 posts
  • Joined: May 11

Posted 30 September 2014 - 15:40

yoAtmrp.jpg

 

I've been using this picture as an avatar since day1. So yes the Bentley is my favourite prototype. 



#47 Vepe1995

Vepe1995
  • Member

  • 162 posts
  • Joined: November 11

Posted 30 September 2014 - 15:58

I always liked the WR-Peugeot's

 

NDA-WR-LM2001-25.jpg



#48 Andrew Hope

Andrew Hope
  • Member

  • 7,911 posts
  • Joined: October 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 16:11

Panoz_LMP01.jpg

 

Note that when the Panoz ran in patriotic colors Bruce Springsteen was often employed as a right-side tire changer.



#49 FNG

FNG
  • Member

  • 5,736 posts
  • Joined: June 01

Posted 30 September 2014 - 16:41

Bentley is pretty damn nice. A few others too. I only like the closed cockpit cars. I find the open cockpit cars damn ugly



#50 grunge

grunge
  • Member

  • 5,393 posts
  • Joined: May 09

Posted 30 September 2014 - 16:46

Lol, not a "real" R8 and definitely not a Prototype.

 

I always really liked the Rollcentre Racing Dallara's.

rollcentredallaraMonza2005_zps38b9d973.j

 

 It is as real as R8s get ...labelling only the Lemans version as the 'real' R8 is nothing but your own opinion.

 

 And it is a ''Sports Prototype'' vehicle...Its a road car per se but it was based on the 2003 Audi Lemans Quattro concept car which was the quintessential prototype .


Edited by grunge, 30 September 2014 - 16:47.