Is this the end of Glickenhaus’ American dream? The humble manufacturer, the brainchild of a car-loving film producer with his own established image, reached the FIA World Endurance Championship at the 8 Hours of Portimão (Portugal), in June 2021. The Hypercar class was then in its infancy with Toyota as the only factory team to enter cross-country Prototypes for the new era, Alpine’s presence with the rebadged ex-LM P1. Jim Glickenhaus blasting in his red and white cowboy hat 007 LMH was a curiosity for heroism in the reconstruction. Just under two years later, as the WEC prepares to return to the hilly Algarve Road next week (April 14-16), the New Yorker’s hypercar no longer holds the leading role, pushed to the background by successive entrants from Peugeot, Cadillac, Ferrari and Porsche.
The harsh reality on earth
” To be honest with you, I enjoy every ride Jim answers when we ask him if this return to Portuguese soil will be emotional. ” Every event is special, and we try to do our best “, he insists. At Sebring (USA), at the 2023 season opener, the trio of Frenchmen Romain Dumas and Olivier Pla as well as Australian Ryan Briscoe had a bad week, punctuated by an early retirement in the race.” Broken wire soldered to the ignition circuit Glickenhaus says. The item was repairable, but the car was pulled over by the commissioner
