Next month’s 1000km of Zhuhai in China will be the international swansong outing for the Larbre Compétition-run Saleen S7R LMGT1.

It was in 2000 that the American Ford Mustang specialist Steve Saleen decided to take on the Dodge Viper, Corvette C5.R and Ferrari 550 Maranello in endurance racing with the S7R, a short version of the seven-litre Ford V8-engined S7.

The Saleen S7R will be ending its international endurance career at Zhuhai

The car’s first event bagged a surprise win in the 2001 12 Hours of Sebring in the hands of Konrad Motorsport, with Borcheller, Gavin and Konrad sharing the driving.

That, unfortunately, would remain the car’s only major success until last June’s Le Mans 24 Hours when Larbre Compétition’s Saleen S7R celebrated its final attempt at the French classic by claiming the GT class win!

Although the past decade has seen the Saleen S7R secure other laudable results, its fragile mechanicals have led to numerous retirements, including at Le Mans in 2003 when its run was halted on the very last lap!

In 2006, Oreca took over the striking car’s development and went on to win the Le Mans Series.

The following year, even though the Saleen S7R was no longer produced in the USA, Jack Leconte (Larbre Compétition) acquired Oreca’s two cars and, this season, the French operation succeeded in beating the new Ford GTs and Aston Martins to secure a class victory at Le Mans, plus LMGT1 honours in the 2010 Le Mans Series.

The Saleen S7R’s time in international racing consequently comes to a stop in China, spelling an end to the competition career of one of the discipline’s funkiest machines which has also starred on the silver screen (Redline, Iron Man), as well as in 50 Cent’s Candy Shop video.

Labre Competition, Saleen, Zhuhai