Courage C41

Lore & Background

The Courage C41 was conceived in 1994 when Yves Courage decided to build a World Sports Car for the IMSA GT Championship. Paolo Catone designed the car on a limited budget, completing the design in July 1994 after an initial long-tailed concept by Marcel Hubert was scrapped upon Hubert's retirement. The chassis used a carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque with a rear shear plate that allowed multiple engine types to be fitted. The first C41 was built in October 1994, equipped with a Comptech-developed 5-litre Chevrolet V8 engine claimed to produce around 560 hp in 1995 Le Mans trim. Power went to the rear wheels via a 5-speed Intermotion SDC gearbox, with Brembo brakes and 17-inch BBS wheels, while KONI supplied suspension with double wishbones and pushrod-operated dampers.

The Chevrolet engine was used through early 1996, but by mid-1996 other engines appeared. Scott Schubot fitted an Oldsmobile V8 to his C41, and Courage installed a 3-litre twin-turbocharged Porsche 935 flat-six for the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1998, two C41s were developed into the Courage C51 specification, using a 3-litre twin-turbocharged Nissan VRH35Z V8 derived from a Nissan Group C car, while a second C51 used a 3.5-litre version of the same engine. For 1999, the C52 specification emerged, initially with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged Nissan VRH35L V8, later replaced by a 3.2-litre twin-turbocharged Peugeot A32 V6 for 2000. One C41 retained its Porsche 935 flat-six and was developed into the C50, while another was entered as a Chevrolet C41 in two events. The C41 line ended in 2000 with the introduction of the Courage C60.

Reader's Guide

The Courage C41 is notable for its long service life and engine flexibility, racing from 1995 to 1999 in both IMSA GT Championship and International Sports Racing Series events, as well as multiple appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its adaptable chassis design allowed it to accept engines from Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Porsche, Nissan, and Peugeot, making it a versatile platform that evolved through the C51 and C52 specifications. The car achieved a fourth-place overall finish at the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Didier Cottaz, Jérôme Policand, and Marc Goossens, completing 336 laps. In 1998, three C41-based cars entered Le Mans, with one finishing 15th. The following year, a C52 finished sixth at Le Mans. The C41 also won the non-championship 4 Hours of Le Mans in 1997. Its legacy lies in demonstrating how a modestly funded constructor could produce a competitive prototype that adapted to changing regulations and engine partnerships over several seasons.

Did You Know?

• The C41's chassis was designed with a rear shear plate to allow multiple different engine types to be fitted.
• The first C41 was built in October 1994 and initially used a Comptech-developed 5-litre Chevrolet V8.
• In 1998, two C41s were developed into the C51 specification for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• One C41 retained its Porsche 935 flat-six engine and was developed into the C50.