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  Courage C60 Peugeot      

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Country of origin:France
Produced in:2001
Internal name:C60
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:Before December 1st, 2004
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Click here to download printer friendly versionAfter a few years dominated by production-based GT cars, sports car racing re-focused on proper Le Mans Prototypes at the end of the 1990s. This prompted Courage Competition to start with a clean slate and produce a brand new sports racer for the next millennium. Dubbed the C60, the new-for-2000 Courage replaced the C40 and C50 series that were first raced in 1995.

Designed by Paolo Catone, the C60 was built around a carbon-fibre monocoque and featured push-rod actuated in-board suspension on all four corners. Inspired by the 1999 Le Mans-winning BMW V12 LMR, it featured a single roll-over structure instead of the full-width roll-bar used for the previous generation Courages. The clean lines included a raised nose and a low mounted rear wing.

With an eye on attracting a broad range of customers, the C60 was designed to accept a range of engines. Sold to Philippe Gache's SMG team, the first chassis was fitted with the new four-litre Judd GV4 V10. Courage's own car was due to be fitted with a Nissan twin-turbo V8 but when the Japanese support was withdrawn, this C60 was set aside. Ahead of the 2001 season, Pescarolo Sport replaced their earlier Courages with a Peugeot V6-engined C60.

Only a single C60 raced during the 2000 season and it debuted with a promising fifth overall in the Le Mans test but it retired from the actual race with suspension damage. In 2001, the two Pescarolo cars were added to the roster but again the C60 was not successful at Le Mans. Pescarolo did manage to score victories at Estoril and Magny Cours. Courage debuted their car at Le Mans in 2002. Now engined with a Judd V10, it finished 15th overall. In 2003, Courage placed tenth with their C60.

Pescarolo Sport re-developed their cars with new bodywork and continued to race them with considerable success in minor events. The C60s were eventually replaced by Pescarolo Sport's own cars, which were very much an evolution of the modified C60s. Rule changes prompted Courage to redesign the Le Mans Prototype into the C60 Hybrid for the 2005 season. Raised sills, a faux second roll-over bar, a raised rear wing and enclosed rear wheels formed part of the package.

Courage Competition fielded one car in the complete Le Mans Endurance Series and a second at Le Mans. The C60s were fast but a sixth- and eighth-place finishes at Monza and Le Mans respectively were the best results. Grandfathered under the 'hybrid' regulations, the C60 was finally rendered obsolete in 2006 when the full LMP1 regulations came into effect. It was replaced by the LC70, which was the last brand-new design produced by Courage Competition.

Raced in an era dominated by the works Audi R8, the Courage C60 was nevertheless a race-winning design. Not only was it successful in the top, LMP900 category, the C65 LMP2 derivate was also a regular class winner.

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  Article Image gallery (12) Specifications