What links a record beating car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans? There are several connections!

In 1987, General Motors began thinking about the best ratio between performance and fuel consumption. Their solution: a small, high revving turbo engine. Little did they know they would spark a movement some 25 years later, known as downsizing, that would be adopted nearly unanimously by manufacturers? At the time, they were only looking to demonstrate the success of their formula through the exploits of a record setting car.

Oldsmobile would be given the honour of taking on the project. In charge of the bodywork, designer Ed Welburn is naturally inspired by the cars he dreams of, the cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Porsche 917 and Chaparral 2F. From the former, he takes the idea of a "short tail" and "long tail" version, depending on the specifics of the speed ring used. From the Chaparral, he takes the idea of variable parts, with the underside of the car changing depending on what ground effects needed. As for the engine, it's named Quad 4 (four valves for each of the four cylinders) and develops close to 1000 horsepower.

To drive the prototype designed with lines recalling the Mulsanne Straight, who better than a Le Mans driver?  A.J. Foyt, winner of the 1967 edition with Ford, serves as development driver. On August 26, 1987 on an oval more than 12km long (Fort Stockton, Texas) he establishes a record for closed circuit speed at 413kph averaged. Mission accomplished, the two Aerotechs are retired to the museum...

But ironically, the same situation repeats itself in 1992, the year of a new model launch, the Aurora and its V8. How to demonstrate its efficiency? By beating records! , la même situation se répète en 1992, année du lancement d’un nouveau V8 destiné à la berline de luxe Aurora. Comment démontrer son efficacité ? En battant des records ! The Aerotech beats 47 records, including distance marks of 10,000 and 25,000 kilometres. During an entire week, the car was driven day and night covering over 6,500km in 24 hours. This would lead to other ideas about endurance. Because endurance is Le Mans!

And it would be at Le Mans that the oldest American auto maker would come to celebrate its 100 year anniversary in 1997. Powered by the famed V8 engine from the Aurora, the Riley & Scott chassis arrives at la Sarthe with wins at both Daytona and  Sebring. The driver lineup of Pace-Sharp-Taylor are hoping from a triple crown… but would retire due to a transmission issue. The worst was yet to come. In 2004, Oldsmobile ended all activities. 

Oldsmobile Aerotech "queue courte".	Oldsmobile Aerotech "queue longue".	Riley & Scott - Oldsmobile des 24 Heures du Mans 1996.

Julien HERGAULT/ ACO - Translated by Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO