2001 Saleen S7-R GT1

1 OF 16 FACTORY BUILT COMPETITION EXAMPLES 

COMPETED IN MAJOR RACES SUCH AS LE MANS 24, SPA 12, SEBRING 12 AND PETIT LE MANS 

FOUR POLE POSITIONS IN THE 2004 FIA GT CHAMPIONSHIP

ELIGIBLE FOR LE MANS CLASSIC AND ENDURANCE RACING LEGENDS

The GT1 era at Le Mans is one of the most legendary eras in Le Mans history. Producing such iconic cars as the Porsche GT1, McLaren F1 GTR, Mercedes CLK, Aston Martin DBR9, Chevrolet Corvette C6R and Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT to name a few. However, there was one brand which sprung out of nowhere and captured the hearts of countless fans. On top of this it proved competitive, not just at Le Mans, but across the globe against the might of the major works efforts.

Saleen is a name that some could be forgiven for not being familiar with, yet in a short space of time it rose to produce not just iconic supercars, but their mighty racing variants.

With its all new S7R, Saleen combined cutting edge European engineering expertise with American power to create one of the fastest cars in GT1 history. Renowned engineering firm Ray Mallock (RML) was initially tasked with construction of the cars whilst Phil Frank was tasked with the stunning styling. When coupled with its mighty Roush-developed 7-litre Ford V8, the result was incredible.

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In 2001 the S7R made its competition debut and it did not disappoint, bringing home a podium for the American manufacturer. Once this result showed what the car was capable of, there was no turning back for Saleen and their GT1 programme. More success soon followed, not just in all major European series but also on its home turf in the American Le Mans Series. It wasn’t long before GT1 rivals viewed S7Rs as a serious threat.

Whilst the first half of S7Rs were built by RML in the UK, after 2003 production shifted to Saleen’s native California. From this point all new cars received a number of upgrades aimed at improving reliability, speed and the overall driveability of the car to keep it competitive. It should be noted that most of the early production still in active duty also received these upgrades eventually. What is remarkable is the longevity of the S7R, which remained competitive across 10 seasons, an accomplishment no other GT1 car holds.