The Japanese have been attacking Le Mans since the 1970s

The links between Japan and the 24 Hours of Le Mans are many and complex. For a long time, victory at the world's greatest endurance race was denied to a Japanese manufacturer. Mazda was the first to win in 1991 with the legendary 787B, before Toyota set the benchmark for the LMP1/Hypercar hybrid era with five consecutive victories from 2018 to 2022. It was not until 1995 that a Japanese driver became the first to win the Double Time Trial (with Masanori Sekiya). Alongside the exploits of major manufacturers such as Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota. Other epics from the Land of the Rising Sun have also left their mark on the history of Le Mans, most notably Dome's many appearances at the Sarthe. Dome's adventure at Le Mans stretches from the 1970s to mid-2010, culminating in the 2001-2005 editions with the S101.

  

A long tradition for Dome at Le Mans

Dome's first steps into the world of sports prototypes date back to 1978 with the Dome-Zero. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, it immediately caught the eye of the public. It was a styling study with the intention of entering a competition. The manufacturer managed to raise enough money to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans... thanks to the sale of miniature Zeros! 

The Dome-Zero remains a "model". 

The Dome-Zero, which was very popular even before it took to the track, was extensively modified for the Sarthe and became the DOME-ZERO RL in 1979, designed exclusively for high speeds on the Hunaudières straight. Its creators admit it. Due to a lack of time - and budget - everything was designed to achieve the highest possible speed in the French countryside by optimising the Zero's already highly aerodynamic design. From 1978 to 1988, Dome regularly entered prototypes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the same time as Dome's involvement in the Ciglée cars, its links with Toyota grew stronger.

In 1985, two Toyota Tom's 85Cs, developed with Dome's support, competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours. 

The 1985 Dome largely foreshadowed the 1988 Toyota 88C.

The first page in Toyota's Le Mans history had been written, with Dome as a major partner. This association was to be repeated in 1986, before Dome turned his attention to single-seaters.

 

Dome prepared for its return to Le Mans by redesigning the BMW V12 that was to be the forerunner of the Dome S101.

At the turn of the 20th century, just as Le Mans was coming to the end of two emblematic editions (1998 and 1999), Maibara was once again taking an interest in prototype sports. Firstly by buying a BMW V12 LM98 (chassis #002/98) in order to make substantial modifications to it, and then by launching the Dome S101 project. The Goh team's BMW V12 LM98 served as a working base for the Dome engineers. By modifying it to optimise its aerodynamics, Dome honed its expertise. With its new bodywork designed by Dome, the 1998 German car is unrecognisable. The prototype may have sported a BMW badge on its bonnet, but it was very much a precursor to the birth of a new car... the Dome S101. The BMW received a reworked front end incorporating a completely new cooling architecture and a redesigned engine induction system. The changes to the front are designed to generate more downforce at the top of the car.  The area on either side of the passenger compartment has been freed up by relocating the intake system.  The result is a slight reduction in the frontal area in this zone.  The airflow at the rear of the car has also been optimised. According to Dome, the new bodywork reduces drag by 5% and increases downforce by 10%.  The results were confirmed during testing at Fuji, with telemetry indicating an increase in downforce of between 10 and 15%.  

Top speed also increased substantially.  At the Fuji test in 1999, the top speed of the BMW V12 was 308 km/h (191 mph).  This was increased to 322 km/h (200 mph) in 2000 during private testing. This BMW / Dome was also used to develop the Judd engine block, which was to form the basis of the future Dome S101.

 

Dome S101: A design worthy of the best factory cars

The Dome S101 was a synthesis of the best of the time... but not only that. Compared to the Lola B2K/10 and the Reynard 2KQ, other open prototypes that appeared at the same time, the S101 stood out for its sleeker, more elegant design and impressive build quality. It was based on the lines of the Toyota GT-One. The front end of the two cars is very similar. 

The bonnet of the Dome S101 has a clear family resemblance to the GT One.

Not so illogical, given the strong links with the Japanese manufacturer. But the real inspiration is the BMW V12 LM98, as we have already seen. Akiyoshi Oku is responsible for the design of the S101, with development taking place in the in-house wind tunnel at Dome, near Kyoto. The in-house chassis is made from carbon fibre. 

JUDD GV4 V10 engine

Powered by a Judd GV4 V10 engine with a displacement of 4 litres, the available power is 740 bhp without restrictors. This power is reduced to 640 bhp with the restrictors required by the 2001 regulations. It should be noted that the first three Dome S101 chassis were all powered by the Judd GV4 V10 engine block. It wasn't until the fourth chassis, S101-04, that we saw another combination with the use of the MUGEN MF408S V8 block. The car was entered in the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans (in distinctive red and black Yokohama ADVAN livery).

XTRAC sequential gearbox with paddle shifters - Carbon brakes

The transmission is an X-Trac 6-speed sequential gearbox with pneumatic paddle shifters developed by former Lotus F1 driver Ian Foley. Carbon brakes are supplied by Carbone Industrie. With all these technologically advanced components, the Dome S101 has a total weight of 912 kg, very close to the minimum weight for its category. 

Low drag for Le Mans and high downforce for slower circuits

Designed for the Sarthe and its long straights, the S101 is homologated with a low drag body kit (with a very low spoiler) and a high downforce kit for slower circuits.

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Iconic black and white chequered livery

Jan Lammers' Dome S101 is also characterised by its black and white livery. Its origins are simple. In 2001, Jan Lammers was faced with the withdrawal of his main sponsor, Talkline, who had largely financed his last two Le Mans 24 Hours appearances in 1999 and 2000. In order to finance his project, Lammers realised that it would be difficult to find a main partner capable of providing a large part of the budget. So he set about creating a livery that divided the car into small black and white rectangles, in reference to the chequered flag. Each rectangle was allocated to a sponsor in return for a commission. Small streams make big rivers... For several years in a row, he was able to raise the necessary funds by multiplying the number of 'small' partners. In 2002, he had to pay 5,000 Dutch guilders (between 2,000 and 2,500 euros for a rectangle). Over time, this camouflage decoration became as emblematic as those of the most beautiful art cars at Le Mans. In 2004, the rectangles became bigger... it has to be said that the sponsors were not very visible on the original livery... In 2005, the colour orange appeared in a nod to Holland. Jumbo had become the team's main sponsor, so there was less need to sell 'small' advertising space.

 

The Dome S101 is the fastest in terms of top speed... the AUDI R8s are right behind!

The Dome S101 has the fastest top speed at Le Mans with over 330 km/h at the Hunaudières.

From 2001 to 2005, S101s regularly achieved the fastest top speed at Le Mans against the Bentley Speed 8s and Audi R8s, thanks to the car's excellent design and Le Mans style aero kit. 

In 2001, an S101 was the fastest during testing at 335 kph (the best race speed was achieved by a Bentley Speed 8 at 321 kph in the rain). 

It was the same in 2002. 337 km/h in practice and 340 km/h in the race for an S101. The R8 was beaten by just one kilometre per hour. 

In 2003, the Dome S101s again broke the 330 km/h barrier, making them the fastest cars on the track. Finally, in 2004 and 2005, the S101 and S101H were still among the best. 

Anecdotal performance? Absolutely not! 

A real legacy of Japanese know-how. In 1982, a Ford-powered Dome had the luxury of being the fastest car in the race at 352 km/h. In the first Group C event, it wasn't a Porsche 956 that was the fastest through the trees of the Tertre Rouge at Mulsanne. It was a Dome! The 1982 Dome was already the speed record holder on the Sarthe. A family tradition!

 

The Dome S101 won the FIA Sportscar Championship in 2002 and 2003.

The Racing for Holland team was third in 2001, then champion in 2002 and 2003.

Jan Lammers won two drivers' titles. In 2002 he won the championship with Val Hillebrand in chassis S101-02, followed by chassis S101-03 at the end of the season. 

In 2003 he teamed up with John Boch in the S101-03 chassis. Each year the Dome S101s won three races, beating the likes of the Lola B98/10, Ferrari 333SP, Dallara SP1, Courage C60, Riley & Scott MKIII, DBA4 03S and Audi R8. 

Dominance and podium finishes on a variety of circuits from Brno to Magny-Cours, Dijon, the Lausitzring, Donington, Monza and Spa. The car is extremely versatile. Thanks to its two body kits, it can be adapted to any type of track.

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A dazzling debut at Le Mans 2001: the Dome S101 takes on the Audi R8s

Dome returned to Le Mans under the impetus of Dutchman Jan Lammers, a former winner of the event in a Jaguar and already linked to Dome via the single-seater. He signed a 3-year contract with the Japanese manufacturer to drive the Dome S101s. Under the banner "Racing for Holland", the chequered car caused a sensation in June 2001. Like the Panoz "Batmobile", the Dome attracted a lot of attention. The 4-litre Judd V10 engine made a unique sound in the Dome, delighting the ears of Le Mans fans, and what's more, it was allowed to play up front!

From the moment it appeared in 2001, the Dome S101-02 shook up the hierarchy. 

After the triple victory in 2000, the Audi manufacturer watched the first laps of the Dome with excitement. This was reported on the official 24 Hours of Le Mans website on Wednesday evening after the first practice sessions: "The Audis had to fight hard to place two cars in the top two positions in Wednesday's first practice session. Their dominance was challenged by Lammers' Racing for Holland and Brundle's Bentley. Jan Lammers "confirmed the good form of his Dome", just 1.472s behind Rinaldo Capello and his Audi R8, the fastest car on the first day. "The Dutchman proved that he is a serious customer when it comes to upsetting the German cars. Jan Lammers will start the Le Mans 24 Hours on the second row, preceded by three Audi R8s and followed by the fourth R8 to compete at Le Mans. There was no doubt that Dome would cause problems.  During the race, an electrical failure prevented it from finishing. But the Dome made its mark! 

 

Dome S101 Chassis S101-03 from 2002

In 2002 the competition was at its peak. The forces present at Le Mans were impressive: Audi, Bentley, Cadillac, MG, Riley & Scott, Panoz, Courage, Dallara... After taking part for the first time in 2001 with the Dome S101 chassis S101-02, the Racing for Holland team returned in 2002.  This time, however, the aerodynamics were improved. In fact, it was a completely new chassis, the S101-03, that ushered in the aerodynamic developments.

After finishing third in the Wednesday practice session during the week of the Le Mans 24 Hours, the car qualified fifth with a best lap time of 3.3273 minutes. 

Just as it was holding on to fifth place in the race, the S101-03 was the victim of a run-off by Tom Coronel, which relegated it to eleventh place. At the eleventh hour, it was back in seventh place. It finished the Le Mans event in eighth place and contributed to the success of the Judd engine! The top eight positions were taken by five Audi-powered cars (Audi R8 and Bentley) and three Judd-powered cars (Dallara and Dome). The engine manufacturer demonstrated its expertise and successful transition to endurance racing.

 

The Dome S101 is suspected of hiding the ambitions of a major Japanese manufacturer.

The S101 is also seen by observers as a possible basis for a major project from Japan. 

In Auto-hebdo (No. 1346, 19 June 2002), for example, we read that the S101 is "a formidable machine whose efficiency begs the question: which manufacturer's pilot fish is the Dutchman? After all, it's hard to believe that such a small structure, operating without sponsorship, does so simply to keep Holland happy". An impressive machine, especially in the hands of Jan Lammers' team... and with this unique decoration. 

 

Chassis S101-03 helps Jan Lammers win the 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship

In the FIA Sportscar Championship, S101-03 won the race at Dijon and finished second at Spa, driven by Jan Lammers and Hildebrand. This enabled Jan Lammers to secure the 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship title.

 

In 2003, the Dome S101-03 was at its best, qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in P4, finishing in P6 and winning the FIA Sportscar Championship.

At the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours, Jan Lammers caused a sensation at the wheel of the S101-03 by qualifying in fourth place. He was just behind the two Bentley EXP Speed 8s that would later complete the one-two and the Audi R8 driven by F Biela, P McCarthy and M Salo. In the process, he relegated the #5 and #6 Audi R8s to fifth and sixth place respectively. Once again starting from the second row, Jan Lammers drove a superb race at the wheel of the S101-03 to finish 6th, just 16 seconds behind the Panoz in front of him. At the front we find an armada of Ingolstadt prototypes with the two Bentley EXP Speed 8s and two Audi R8s.

S101-03 reigns supreme in FIA Sportscar, wins 2003 championship

The S101-03, driven by Jan Lammers and John Bosch, reigned supreme in the FIA Sportscar Championship, winning the championship with a podium at Spa and three victories at the Lausitzring, Monza and Donington.

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2004. New regulations and tighter schedule at Le Mans for the Dome S101-03

The regulations changed in 2004. The ACO wanted to slow down the cars. The stated aim of the new regulations is to reduce the performance of the LMP900s by 10%. The prototypes in the premier class will now be LMP1 cars. Like all the manufacturers present at Le Mans in previous years, Dome modified the S101 to comply with the new regulations. The fuel tank capacity has been reduced from 90 to 80 litres. The diameter of the throttle bodies was reduced, resulting in a loss of power. Aerodynamically, the cars lost downforce: the flat floor was modified and the width of the rear wing was reduced from 200 cm to 180 cm. The Dome and other LMP1 cars were also fitted with wingtips.

7th place in the 2004 Le Mans 24 Hours

At Le Mans 2004, the S101-03 wore number 15 and was fitted with Dunlop tyres (replacing Michelin tyres), which necessitated some adjustments to the suspension. Objectively, this is not good news for the team. Michelin tyres are known to perform better than Dunlop tyres. 

As the FIA Sportscar Championship was not renewed, Le Mans was the first race in which the Dome S101-03 was entered in 2004. Due to limited financial resources, the Dutch team did not participate in the first season of the Le Mans Endurance Series (now the European Le Mans Series). 

At the end of the qualifying session at Le Mans, the #15 S101 was 8th on the grid with a time of 3'36''353. Jan Lammers was not far off his 2003 time (3'36''156), but the competition had got tougher in 12 months, especially with the more numerous Audi R8s, the Pescarolo C60s and the surprising Zytek 04S.

Car n°16 (the second car entered by Jan Lammers' team) got off to a good start with Tom Coronel and Justin Wilson driving the S101 up to 4th place in the first two hours. However, gearbox problems and a lengthy pit stop saw the car drop down the order... It was then the turn of its sister car, the #15, to take up the torch. At the foot of the provisional podium, the #15 Dome S101 (chassis 3) set off to attack the Audi R8 at sunset. But a fuel supply problem meant that the car had to be serviced for more than 40 minutes, dampening Jan Lammers' hopes. Repeated punctures on Sunday made things even more difficult for the three drivers, who were now hovering around fifteenth place as the sun rose over the Sarthe. In seventh place, the number 15 covered more than 4,650 kilometres and was one of the few prototypes to finish the race this year (11 out of 25 LMP1 and LMP2 starters). 

 

2005: Back at Le Mans with another seventh place and still the speed record!

In 2005, the Dome S101 Racing for Holland underwent a radical change of livery, with a predominance of orange, the colour of the Netherlands! This time our car wore number 10 and finished eleventh in qualifying with a time of 3'41''930.

The top speed in 2005 was 319 kph, well down on 2002.

This unusual ranking for the Dome S101-03 is mainly explained by the use of an innovative hydraulic suspension system. Tests had been carried out at Paul Ricard and Magny-Cours, but the arrival of rain during the Le Mans tests made it impossible to take advantage of the new suspension. On Thursday it was decided to revert to the original suspension with coil springs and metal shock absorbers. This step back meant that time was lost to improve the car's performance in the face of fierce competition. In the race, the Dome S101-03 once again managed to spring a surprise, finishing in seventh place. However, there were some warning signs. A crack in the left radiator was discovered during the night and had to be replaced when the car was in fourth place.

After this final Le Mans 24 Hours, the Dome was entered in the Le Mans Endurance Series at Monza and Silverstone before being retired.

 

End of career and restoration by Scott Sport

At the end of the 2005 season, S101-03, now owned by Jumbo's owner Frits van Erde, was stored at Davytec in Holland. It was acquired by a Swiss collector in 2015 and remained at Davytec for maintenance before being acquired by the Ascott Collection in 2022. It was entrusted to Scott Sport for a full restoration. After a first-class restoration, this fabulous Dome S101 is now ready for its first test, scheduled for the spring of 2024. Its original paintwork has been carefully preserved! It will be entered by Xavier in the Endurance Racing Legends and, of course, in the Le Mans Classic!

 

Vintage photo credit: John Brooks