Birmingham (UK), January 1992 :

The Allard name that had been dormant for 26 years was resurrected on the body of a striking and avant-garde prototype. While contemporary prototypes of the time, the Peugeot 905 and Toyota TS010 were smooth and sleek, it was instead characterized by rather tortuous lines following closely the contours of the mechanical components. Following the same logic, the wheels are separated from the streamlined body of the machine, perhaps an echo of the original Allard J2 that finished 3rd overall at Le Mans in 1950.

Innovative yes, but what about performance?

To convince investors Acura (Honda), three tests were organized in America (Mid-Ohio, Talladega, Road Atlanta) between August and November 1992. Despite a few teething problems, the concept appeared convincing in the eyes of its creators. However, the reluctance of the Japanese forced them to seek an alternative solution ... that they never found.

Three laps, and then ...

The Allard came to the test day of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1993. Covering only very few laps and displaying lap times slower than the best GT, the car did not convince organizers ... Not even its own team! It reappeared in the hands of yet another group in July during a round of the Amrican championship at Laguna Seca. In her new red livery, it finished 9th, 17 laps behind the victors, then disappeared forever from competition without having proved itself.

A failure?

And yet, the future would confirm the relevance of the concept since, twenty years later, its forms still don't seem outdated compared to current references such as the Audi R18 and Toyota TS030. Moreover, its designer John Iley has proved his worth by leading the Scuderia Ferrari to two F1 titles while he held the position of chief aerodynamicist.

The debate!

The question remains : Was the Allard Le Mans project 'flawed genius' or a big mess? 

Photos : Goodwood Festival of Speed ; Caterham F1 Team ; Toyota Hybrid Racing