Belgian revives TR Le Mans lemon

The unique Triumph TR8 Le Mans sports car is due to return to racing in 2007 thanks to Belgian Bert Smeets. Built by Janspeed with a 550bhp twin-turbo Rover-derived V8, it failed to qualify at Le Mans in 1980. “I hope to have it running next year and race at the Le Mans Classic in 2008,” says Smeets. After failure at Le Mans, the TR8 was entered in some World Sportscar Championship races in 1981 and ’82 with ADA Engineering. Drivers Ian Harrower, Ray Mallock and Bill Wykeham were first to retire in the ’81 Brands Hatch 1000Kms.