Courage C41
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| Category | World Sports Car/LMP | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Courage Compétition | ||||||
| Designer(s) | Paolo Catone | ||||||
| Predecessor | Courage C36 | ||||||
| Successor | Courage C60 | ||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||
| Chassis | carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque | ||||||
| Suspension (front) | Fabricated steel double wishbones pushrod-operated dampers with coil springs | ||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Fabricated steel double wishbones pushrod-operated dampers with coil springs | ||||||
| Length | 4,635 mm (182.5 in) | ||||||
| Width | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) | ||||||
| Height | 1,020 mm (40.2 in) | ||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,628 mm (64.1 in) Rear: 1,560 mm (61.4 in) |
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| Wheelbase | 2,812 mm (110.7 in) | ||||||
| Engine |
Comptech-Chevrolet 5,000 cc (305.1 cu in) 16 valve, OHV V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted, rear wheel drive Oldsmobile V8 Porsche 935 2,994 cc (182.7 cu in) 12 valve, SOHC F6, twin-turbocharged Nissan VRH35Z 3,000–3,496 cc (183.1–213.3 cu in) 32 valve, DOHC V8, twin-turbocharged Nissan VRH35L 3,496 cc (213.3 cu in) 32 valve, DOHC V8, twin-turbocharged Sodemo-Peugeot A32 3,199 cc (195.2 cu in) 24 valve, DOHC V6, twin-turbocharged |
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| Transmission |
Intermotion FDC 5-speed Porsche 5-speed Hewland L 6-speed sequential manual |
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| Weight | 841–900 kg (1,854–1,984 lb) | ||||||
| Tyres |
Goodyear Michelin Pirelli |
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| Competition history | |||||||
| Notable entrants |
Courage Compétition Wheel Works Racing Equipe Promotion Racing Pescarolo Sport Nissan Motorsports |
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| Debut | C41: 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans C51: 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans C50: 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans C52: 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans |
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| Teams' Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||
The Courage C41 was a sports prototype racing car built by Courage Compétition in 1994, and used in international sports car races from 1995 until 1999. Designed by Paolo Catone, it initially used a 5-litre Chevrolet V8 engine, developed by Comptech, and later used the 3-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine from a Porsche 935, as well as an Oldsmobile V8. In 1998, two of the C41s were developed into the Courage C51, which used a 3-litre twin-turbocharged Nissan VRH35Z V8 engine, and was used in that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1999, the C41s were mostly converted to the C52 specification (although one retained its Porsche 935 flat six, and was developed into the C50, whilst another was entered as a Chevrolet-entered C41 in two events); this initially used a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged Nissan VRH35L V8, which was then replaced by a 3.2-litre twin-turbocharged Peugeot A32 V6 engine for 2000. In 2000, the C41 line was replaced by the new C60.
In 1994, Yves Courage decided to build a World Sports Car for the IMSA GT Championship, which was the Paolo Catone-designed C41. Although the C41 was entirely designed by Catone, Marcel Hubert had initially developed a long-tailed concept model for the car, but this design was scrapped after Hubert retired. Catone began to design the car, on a limited budget, in early 1994, and completed it in July 1994. The C41 used a carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis, with a rear shear plate designed to allow the usage of multiple different types of engine. The first C41 was built in October 1994, and it was fitted with a Comptech-developed 5-litre Chevrolet V8 engine, which, in 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans trim, was claimed to produce around 560 hp (418 kW; 568 PS). The power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a 5-speed Intermotion SDC gearbox, whilst Brembo brakes were used to slow the 17 in (432 mm) BBS wheels.KONI developed the suspension, which consisted of double wishbones made out of fabricated steel, and pushrod-operated dampers with coil springs.
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