Wednesday 4th January 2017

Ginetta confirms 2018 LMP1 chassis

Ginetta to join the WEC's premier category following success in LMP3

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With Audi having left LMP1 in rather awkward circumstances, and Rebellion not competing as privateers in 2017 either, the category was arguably in need of a shake up. So the news of Ginetta working on an LMP1 entry for 2018 is probably even more significant news than it would have already been.

The new car follows success with the LMP3 car and G57, plus confirmation of the 2017 LMP1 rules for non-hybrid cars (see the full 73 pages here). Now fixed for five years, the legislation "offers an open forum for design comparative to the more controlled formula of P2" according to Ginetta. As a result Ginetta believes it will create "an extremely competitive car."

New additions to the team aim to make this possible. Adrian Reynard will lead aero development, working with an as-yet-unnamed Head of Aerodynamics "who brings LMP1-H experience". Paolo Catone, designer of the Peugeot 908, will also be involved. Discussions are ongoing with Mecachrome and Xtrac for the engine and gearbox, promising another 200hp above a P2 car.

However, this car will not be a Ginetta factory effort. Instead it will be built for customer teams, the current aim to build 10 chassis for a group of two-car teams. Already Ginetta says that "significant interest" has been expressed from its G57 customers PRT Racing and ARC Bratislava for 2018.

Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson has said the performance of the LMP1 is going to be "amazing", with ACO President Pierre Fillon adding: "The valued expertise of Ginetta's partners for this programme is also very promising for the 2018 FIA WEC."

Exciting times ahead then, for both the championship and Ginetta. Testing is expected to begin after Le Mans this year, so expect more information around then. Don't forget 2018 will be a Le Mans Classic year too...

[Sources: Sportscar365, FIA]

 

[Glosole]

Personally now Audi has gone the LMP1 concept has died a death why not scrap the Class upgrade the healthy P2 class slightly using the engines availible homoligated in the GT class , Ferrari , Porsche ,Aston , Ford and Chevy etc. Hybrids who needs them rather have 30 top rated cars with the drivers topped up with F1 stars at Le Mans like group C did back in the day. Now that would rekindle the excitment of the series.

[ecsrobin]

Glosole said:

Personally now Audi has gone the LMP1 concept has died a death why not scrap the Class upgrade the healthy P2 class slightly using the engines availible homoligated in the GT class , Ferrari , Porsche ,Aston , Ford and Chevy etc. Hybrids who needs them rather have 30 top rated cars with the drivers topped up with F1 stars at Le Mans like group C did back in the day. Now that would rekindle the excitment of the series.

I'm guessing you're an Audi driver then?

Come 2018 you'll have in LMP1 ginetta, Toyota, Porsche, BR Dallara, Rebellion to name but a few.

WEC is easily the pinnacle of Motorsport these days after F1 died about 5years ago. The problem with Getting F1 drivers is they don't have the time the F1 calendar is huge these days plus Bernie generally likes to clash with the events to avoid them realising how good WEC is.

[Truckosaurus]

Glosole said:

.... upgrade the healthy P2 class slightly using the engines availible homoligated in the GT class , Ferrari , Porsche ,Aston , Ford and Chevy etc. ....

You've been able to use GT homologated engines in LMP2 for several years but no-one did (I assume any cost savings on the engine would be lost in the extra development needed over buying an off-the-shelf Nissan race engine that the chassis had been designed around).

[TheHoof]

ecsrobin said:

I'm guessing you're an Audi driver then?

Come 2018 you'll have in LMP1 ginetta, Toyota, Porsche, BR Dallara, Rebellion to name but a few.

WEC is easily the pinnacle of Motorsport these days after F1 died about 5years ago. The problem with Getting F1 drivers is they don't have the time the F1 calendar is huge these days plus Bernie generally likes to clash with the events to avoid them realising how good WEC is.

And then you look further into the future with Peugeot having stated their desire to return to LMP1 (subject to certain criteria, namely reduced cost).

I look forward to seeing a proper LMP1-L class. It's a shame the Strakka Dome project never came to fruition.