Published January 26, 2026 | Last update January 26, 2026 | 20 models in collection
In 1971, Canon introduced the Canon F-1, a high-end SLR camera, and the FD lens range. In 1976, Canon launched the Canon AE-1, the world’s first camera with an embedded micro-computer. The timing was great to start advertising
First sponsoring
1973 Le Mans 24h, Sigma MC73. Mazda entered a rotary engined racing car for this year’s Le Mans. It was the first Japanese car that qualified for the 24 hour race. Unfortunately, the little Sigma retired with a broken clutch after only 79 laps. If you look well, some small Canon stickers are visible.
Tetsu Ikuzawa (J) / Hiroshi Fushida (J) / Patrick Dal Bo (F) – DNF
Sigma MC73 – 1.2 liter Mazda 12A 2-rotor, approx. 250 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 690 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- BIZARRE Mazda Rotary Le Mans History 26 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
1974 Le Mans 24h, Sigma MC74. The next year in 1974, Sigma managed to finish the race but too many laps behind, so it was not classified in the end. The Canon sponsoring was already more present.
#25 Yojiro Terada / Yasuhiro Okamoto / Harukuni Takahashi – DNC
Sigma MC74 – 1.2 liter Mazda 12A 2-rotor, approx. 250 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 690 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- BIZARRE Mazda Rotary Le Mans History 25 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
1979 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379. Local hero Jean Rondeau once again proved how reliable his cars are. The Rondeaus were entered as Group 6 prototypes for the first time. Ragnotti and Darniche piloted the #5 car which finished 10th overall and 2nd in class. Canon was present on a European entry at Le Mans for the first time.
#5 Jean Ragnotti (F) / Bernard Darniche (F) – 10th / 2nd group 6
Rondeau M379 – 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 765 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M379 #002
- QUARTZO QLM 99044 & QLM 99018 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
Richard Lloyd / GTi Engineering
1982 Le Mans 24h, Porsche 924 GTR. After the Porsche factory team raced 924 GTP’s at Le Mans in 1980 and 1981, they turned again to the prototypes. Richard Lloyd Racing and some other privateers took over and raced Porsche 924 GTR’s (the group B car) at Le Mans. The British entry retired early in the race. Canon was the main sponsor and would remain that for some years.
#84 Andy Rouse (
GB) / Richard Lloyd (GB) / Jeff Allam (GB) – DNF /gearbox
Porsche 924 GTR – 2.0 liter Porsche M31.50 straight-4 turbo, approx. 360 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 965 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #BS70006
- SPARK S0989 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
1983 Nürburgring 1000 km, Porsche 956K. Richard Lloyd was among the first privateers that could race the mighty Porsche 956. Lammers and Palmer piloted the Canon Porsche the entire season, at the Nürburgring the team was enforced with guest driver Keke Rosberg. The three of them took 3rd place.
#14 Jan Lammers (NL) / Jonathan Palmer (GB) / Keke Rosberg (FIN) – 3rd
Richard Lloyd Racing Porsche 956K – 2.6 liter Porsche 935/79 flat-6 twin turbo, approx. 620 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 840 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. #106.
- QUARTZO Q 3058 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
1983 Le Mans 24h, Porsche 956L. At Le Mans the RLR Porsche used the low drag configuration with the lower rear wing. Richard Lloyd himself was the third driver. Lammers was very eager to take the lead in the opening lap and collided with Ickx while braking for Mulsanne corner. Both cars had minor damage but lost some time.
#14 Jan Lammers (NL) / Jonathan Palmer (GB) / Richard Lloyd (GB) – 8th
Richard Lloyd Racing Porsche 956L – 2.6 liter Porsche 935/79 flat-6 twin turbo, approx. 620 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 840 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. #106.
- MINICHAMPS MC 430 836514 limited 2106 pcs (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
- IXO Altaya Les montres sacrés de l’endurance 4, racedirt version (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
1984 Le Mans 24h, Porsche 956L. The Porsche factory team was not present in Le Mans in 1984. So the privateer teams, such as the team from Richard Lloyd had all chances, he entered two Porsche 956s under the banner of GTi Engineering. Unfortunately both cars failed to finish. This #16, a former factory car, recognizable by the chassis number that starts with 0, was disqualified because it retrieved outside assistance. At the #14 driven by Lammers and Palmer, the cooling fan broke down.
#16 Richard Lloyd (GB) / René Metge (F) / Nick Mason (GB) – DSQ
Richard Lloyd Racing Porsche 956L – 2.6 liter Porsche 935/79 flat-6 twin turbo, approx. 640 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 820 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. #007.
- MINICHAMPS MC 430 846516 limites 1008 pcs (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
1985 Le Mans 24h, Porsche 956 GTi. The team of Richard Lloyd, GTi Engineering, entered only one car this year. It was the self-built 106B aluminium honeycomb chassis and Goodyear tires for the first time. The team missed out on a possible victory because of an unscheduled stop to cure, as it turned out, a faulty water temperature sensor.
#14 Jonathan Palmer (GB) / James Weaver (GB) / Richard Lloyd (GB) – 2nd
Richard Lloyd Racing Porsche 956 GTi – 2.6 liter Porsche 935/79 flat-6 twin turbo, approx. 650 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 820 kg. Aluminium honeycomb monocoque, chassisnr. #106B.
- HPI 940 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
Meanwhile in Japan
1984 Japanese Silhouette Saloon Championship, Nissan Bluebird turbo. Central 20 didn’t only race the turbo Bluebirds but also the LM03 Nissan prototypes. Yanagida took the title in 1983 and 1984 which was the last year of the Silhouette Series.
#20 Haruhito Yanagida (J) – 1st championship
Central 20 Nissan Bluebird turbo (K910) – 2.1 liter Nissan LZ20B straight-4 turbo, approx. 570 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1000 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown
- TRUE SCALE MINATURES TSM 104315 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
1984 Fuji 500 km, Nissan Fairlady Z Turbo C. In 1983 and 1984, Central 20 Racing Team was supported by Nissan. Central 20 relied on the Japanese built LM chassis with the same 4-cylinder Nissan engine as the Silvia turbo C.
#20 Haruhito Yanagida (J) / Takao Wada (J) – 3rd
Nissan Fairlady Z turbo V – 2.1 liter Nissan LZ20B straight-4 turbo, approx. 600 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 920 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. LM 03C #unknown
- TRUE SCALE MINIATURES TSM 104317 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
1985 Fuji 1000 km, Nissan GTP ZX-T. Central 20 saw that their LM 03C couldn’t compete with the mighty Porsches and choose a different solution. The LM was replaced by a Lola T810 chassis that was developed for IMSA GTP, but could be used in Group C as well. The 4-cylinder engines were traded for a 3.0 V6 turbo engine.
#30 Haruhito Yanagida (J) / Aguri Suzuki (J) – 8th
Central 20 Nissan GTP ZX-T – 3.0 liter Nissan VG30T/C V6 90º twin turbo, approx 650 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 900 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. Lola T810 #HU03
- TRUE SCALE MINIATURES TSM 09436 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
1985 Fuji 1000 km, Tom’s 85C-Toyota. The first Group C Toyota was the 83C which wasn’t that successful. In 1985 the second generation appeared on track. The chassis were built by Dome and raced by Dome and Toyota’s partner TOM’S in the Japanese championship and also the 1000 km race that counted for the world championship.
#37 Tiff Needell (GB) / James Weaver (GB) – 10th
Team Ikuzawa Tom’s 85C – Toyota 4T-GT straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 950 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. Dome #unknown
- EBBRO Racing Series 45018 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
Audi
2003 Le Mans 24h, Team Goh Audi R8. In 2003, the Joest Audi’s didn’t compete as the Bentley was supposed to win. The customer Audi teams played second fiddle.
#5 Seiji Ara (J) / Jan Magnussen (DK) / Marco Werner (D) – 4th
Goh Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #602
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM049 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2003 Sebring 12h, Joest Audi R8. The all new Bentley was the car to beat this year. In the first race of the year this is exactly what Audi did, the Joest entered car won the 12 hour race of Sebring. Joest decided to compete only in the American Le Mans Series this year, leaving Le Mans for Bentley to win.
#1 Frank Biela / Marco Werner / Philipp Peter – 1st
Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi / Dallara #604
- MINICHAMPS MC400 031391 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2003 Sebring 12h, Audi Sport UK Audi R8. The all new Bentley was the car to beat this year. In the first race of the year this is exactly what Audi did, the Joest entered car won the 12 hour race of Sebring. This Audi UK entry only managed 6th, behind two Audi’s and the Bentley’s, they even had to give way to a Panoz.
#9 Perry McCarthy (GB) / Mika Salo (FIN) / Johnny Kane (GB) – 7th
Veloqx Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM051 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2003 Le Mans 24h, Audi Sport UK Audi R8. Audi was the underdog, but this was the fastest of the Audi’s. The team retired early in the race because Biela missed the entrance of the pit lane and was forced to do another 9 mile lap, which he couldn’t complete ….
#10 Frank Biela (D) / Perry McCarthy (GB) / Mika Salo (FIN) – DNF
Veloqx Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- MINICHAMPS MC400 031399 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2004 Sebring 12h Audi Sport UK Audi R8. At Sebring, the two Veloqx Audis battled with the Champion Audi for the win and all three stood on the podium. In the end the #28 Audi won with a five lap advantage over the Champion car.
#28 Allan McNish (GB) / Frank Biela (D) / Pierre Kaffer (D) – 1st
Veloqx Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603
- MINICHAMPS MC 400 041328 limited 1344 pcs (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
2004 Le Mans 24h, Audi Sport UK Audi R8. The semi-works Audi’s from Team Veloqx were among the favourites. The fastest Audi UK car finished in 2nd place 35 seconds behind the winning Goh Audi. McNish crashed his car and his teammates had to drive it after repairs to the finish together because McNish was not able to continue. They managed to finish in 5th spot after all.
#8 Allan McNish (GB) / Frank Biela (D) / Pierre Kaffer (D) – 5th
#88 Johnny Herbert (GB) / Guy Smith (GB) / Jamie Davies (GB) – 2nd
Veloqx Audi R8 (2002) – 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #603 and #604
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LMM059 & LMM060 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
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