CREATION AUTOSPORTIF

Creation CA07: the British race car from Creation Autosportif and KW Motorsport

After transforming the old Reynard/DBA 03S into the competitive CA06/H, the small Creation Autosportif team decided to take an even more ambitious step. For the 2007 season, the British manufacturer commissioned engineer Kieron Salter—through KWM Motorsport—to design an entirely new prototype for the LMP1 category. Thus, the Creation CA07 was born; it was the first car developed entirely in-house by Creation and represented their most sophisticated racing project to date. New technical regulations demanded a different design approach, and the CA07 was created from scratch specifically for the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Its architecture followed the classic formula for endurance prototypes of that era: a carbon-fiber and aluminum composite monocoque, open-cockpit bodywork, a mid-longitudinal engine, and rear-wheel drive. The independent suspension featured double wishbones on all four corners, with pushrod-actuated springs and dampers, while braking was handled by ventilated carbon-ceramic discs. A Ricardo 6-speed sequential transmission rounded out a package engineered to combine low weight, aerodynamic efficiency, and mechanical durability for long-distance endurance races.

For its debut, Creation selected the well-known Judd GV5.5 engine: a naturally aspirated 5,496 cc V10 featuring an aluminum block and cylinder heads, dual overhead cams, and four valves per cylinder. Mounted longitudinally behind the driver, the engine produced approximately 650 hp at 7,000 rpm and 657 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, while weighing just around 121 kg. With the complete CA07 weighing in at approximately 925 kg, the power-to-weight ratio reached an impressive 0.70 hp/kg. The first unit, identified as CA07-001, was completed just days before the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its speed was evident as early as the official test in June: driven by Jamie Campbell-Walter, Shinji Nakano, and Filipe Ortiz, the prototype posted the ninth-fastest overall time. In qualifying for the race, it again secured ninth place with a time of 3:36.279, making it the fourth-fastest car among the gasoline-powered prototypes. For a small privateer team that had just finished building its first all-new car, the result was extraordinary.

However, the debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans did not end the same way. The #9 CA07 showed competitive pace during the race, but a combination of incidents and overheating issues ultimately forced its retirement. Even so, Creation quickly demonstrated that the new prototype had potential. At the 1,000 km of Nürburgring, the CA07 finished fifth; at Silverstone, it achieved an impressive fourth-place finish; and, to close out the Le Mans Series season, it took third place at Interlagos with Campbell-Walter, Stuart Hall, and Filipe Ortiz.

The CA07 also crossed the Atlantic in 2007. Creation entered the prototype in the final two rounds of the American Le Mans Series, including Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, where it finished fifth overall and second in the LMP1 class. Shortly thereafter, back in Brazil, the same CA07-001 chassis returned to the podium—this time at the Interlagos 1,000 Miles—cementing its reputation as one of the fastest privateer entries on the grid.

For 2008, the project underwent a significant evolution thanks to a partnership with the Japanese company AIM, which funded the development of a new engine derived from the Judd unit. The AIM YS5.5 retained the 5.5-liter displacement and V10 configuration but adopted a 90-degree bank angle, compared to the 72-degree angle of the original GV5.5. This new architecture allowed for a lower center of gravity and improved engine-to-chassis integration. Two new CA07 chassis were built for the season, while the original car also received the new powertrain.

The CA07’s career extended through 2009, including campaigns by customer teams. The model was fielded by Autocon Motorsports at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, while AIM-powered cars continued to compete in the Le Mans Series. However, the program faced financial and technical challenges during a particularly difficult time for small independent teams, coinciding with the moment the global economic crisis began to deeply impact professional motorsport.

Despite never securing an outright victory, the Creation CA07 left a significant mark. It was designed by an independent company, built in limited numbers, and immediately pitted against prototypes backed by manufacturers and major racing organizations. In its Le Mans debut, it was the fourth-fastest gasoline-powered LMP1 in qualifying, and throughout 2007, it achieved results such as fifth place at the Nürburgring, fourth at Silverstone, second at Petit Le Mans, and third at Interlagos.

More than just a replacement for the CA06/H, the CA07 represented the pinnacle of Creation Autosportif’s journey. Its carbon monocoque, 5.5-liter Judd V10 engine, Ricardo 6-speed gearbox, and sophisticated aerodynamics demonstrated that a small British constructor was still capable of designing a world-class prototype virtually from scratch. The CA07 thus stands as the final great testament to an era when independent teams could arrive at Le Mans with their own cars and take on the giants of endurance racing—a quality that makes this understated British prototype particularly fascinating in the modern history of long-distance racing.

Autonews