Monopoles X89
The Monopole X89 was a sports car that was built by Monopole in France in 1956 .
Development history
Monopole, the small manufacturer of racing vehicles, which after the Second World War designed and built racing cars almost exclusively for the 24-hour race at Le Mans in western France, strengthened the existing relationship with Panhard after the 24-hour race at Le Mans in 1955 . After the fatal accident , Paul Panhard decided to retire from racing with Panhard & Levassor .
In addition to the owners Jean and Pierre Hémard and their race director and chief designer Jean de Montrémy, only eight people worked in Poissy . They were joined by Panhard technicians Pierre Durand and Louis Delagarde with additional staff and material. The agreement stated that Monopole continued to be responsible for the bodies, the use of the cars and the commitment of the drivers. Panhard took over the construction of the entire technology, from the chassis to the engines.
The X89 was a further development of the X86 and X88 . The aim was to enter the GT class in international sports car racing with the racing car. In order to achieve homologation , the production of 200 vehicles had to be proven, a goal that was far too ambitious and that was far not achieved. The car had an elegant, aerodynamic body, but it was far too heavy. The 0.7-liter 2-cylinder Panhard boxer engine was also too inefficient for the heavy vehicle . The project was abandoned.
Races
The X89 was only used three times, each time at Le Mans. In 1956 , Pierre Hémard and Pierre Flahault drove the car. In the seventh hour of the race there was an engine failure and the team had to give up. In 1957 , Hémard competed in the race with Pierre Chancel . The 18th place in the overall standings was also the third final place in the class for sports cars up to a displacement of 0.7 liters, behind the Lotus Eleven by Cliff Allison / Keith Hall and the DB HBR by Louis Cornet and Henri Perrier .
It was last used in 1958 . Driven by Maurice van der Bruwaene and Jacques Lefourel , the car broke down this time due to a gearbox damage .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ The history of monopolies ( Memento of the original from August 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Picture of Monopole X89
- ^ 24 Hours of Le Mans 1956
- ^ 24-hour race of Le Mans 1957
- ↑ Le Mans 24-hour race in 1958
