World Championship Motorsports must mean something to you, right? Do you remember this team? But yes, remember Gary McCoy, or Régis Laconi's victory at the 1999 Valencia Grand Prix. Still nothing? Come with us for the story of this remarkable team from the end of the 1990s.
The world story began in 1992. Yamaha decided to make YZR 500cc engines available in order to attract many private individuals, who could, therefore, run competitive machines at a lower cost. The ROC chassis company, based in Annemasse, is in pole position. Thus, no less than eleven ROC-Yamaha raced on the tracks of the 1992 world championship. WCM is one of the teams using Franco-Japanese machines.
Ellison on the Blata WCM at Donington in 2005.
Jointly founded by Bob McLean and Peter Clifford, the team has big ambitions. For this first season at the highest level, the very young Peter Goddard is selected to represent the Valvoline/WCM banner. The experience turns into a nightmare. Goddard, irregular and injured, cannot keep up the pace.
Against all odds, he scores points for fifth place at Donington. The years follow each other and are similar.
The engagement of interesting profiles like Niall Mackenzie or Neil Hogdson allows us to stay on course and stay in Yamaha's sights. In 1997, everything changed. The private Promotor Racing team, which used real factory YZR500s, is withdrawing. In order to reward WCM, the Japanese firm is providing the two machines, on which Luca Cadalora and Troy Corser were racing, two remarkable drivers.
It was at this moment that Red Bull, a still discreet brand, approached the organization. Hence the iconic livery used for many years. In 1998, WCM achieves a tour de force by winning the British Grand Prix thanks to Simon Crafar. This victory sounds like an achievement, since it is the only one that was not attributed to Honda this season.
Our national Régis Laconi repeated the feat in the wet in Valencia the following year. This is only the third time that Marseille has sounded in 500cc, fourteen years after Christian Sarron. We will have to wait for the triumph of Fabio Quartararo in Jerez in 2020 to relive such emotions. The “king of sliding” Gary McCoy, present in the team to replace Crafar, finished on the third step of the podium. A double for such a charismatic team is not that common.
The Australian established himself, in 2000, as the best driver in the team's history. Three victories, accompanied by three other podiums, propel him fifth overall, just nine points behind Max Biaggi, official driver.. Unfortunately, the move to the four-stroke era killed WCM. The results have not been following for some time. Red Bull left the ship in the direction of the 125cc, much more promising and consistent with the brand image.
Another photo of James Ellison in 2005, another forgotten driver.
The production of a less expensive machine was necessary, but it did not comply with the regulations to the letter. It was the beginning of a long fight with the FIM, like the end of an era. Absolutely nowhere in the rankings in 2004, the team tried everything by partnering with Blata. This probably doesn't mean anything to you (and that's normal). Blata is a Czech mini-motorcycle brand that decided to make a Grand Prix machine equipped with a V6. The motorcycle was ultimately never ready on time; an eternity later, we could see it on the circuits, but not as promised.
In short, another missed appointment. The team that not so long ago hosted Alex Hofmann, James Ellison, Gary McCoy and Luca Cadalora was no longer able to obtain the necessary financial resources. It's heartbreaking, but also the harsh law of sport. At the end of 2006, the beautiful story ended definitively in total indifference. When mentioning the great private teams, McCoy and his moments of grace, just like the French flag proudly brandished by Laconi in Valencia, immediately come to mind. We have to accept it, but this is all in the past.
Did you keep any memories of this team?
Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Yamaha Community
