LMP2 Manufacturers and Engine Suppliers

[Maelochs]

P2 will be unchanged through the end of the 2016 season.

[Félix]

The ACO will probably want to announce new rules in advance so that new cars can be built before old ones become illegal - if they want to do it right for once... It's all a bit like the 2013 Addess Lotus LMP2 car that is designed to the 2014 LMP1 cockpit rules; teams looking at building a new LMP2 for 2015 will want to make sure their designs are future-proof.

Contrast that with Mike Newton: he got screwed over when the rules transitioned to current LMP2 when his car was penalized because it was missing a fin and wasn't homologated like the French Oreca was - and might well lose again with his updated WFR/Tiga that will be new for 2014, just before new closed cars meant for future rules appear.

[MyNameIsNigel]

A further article from motorsport-total.com where we learn that the DTM-derived V8 engine which is supposedly going to be offered by Audi to LMP1 customers would cost something in the range of 60 kGBP (70 kEUR), which appears to be an attractive price. This being said, installation of such a V8 unit in an LMP1 chassis is apparently complex and requires a special gearbox according to motorsport-total.com, which impacts installation costs. It's being reported that NBE have received enquiries for such a unit, but no firm orders yet.

The article also refers to the possible future supply by Toyota of an LMP2 engine. This was already suggested some time ago by RCE. The basis would be the V8 of the Lexus IS-F according to motorsport-total.com. The engine would be prepared by TMG and branded as such, not as a Toyota or Lexus engine. Nothing has been decided yet and it seems unlikely that we may see this LMP2 engine being raced in 2014 or 2015. Vasselon seems to suggest that one would have to wait until 2017 when the new LMP2 rules are in place.

[TF110]

Theres a link here. Funny there were talks going on about the discontinuation of the IS-F. But there has been other suggestions it will continue on. In Super GT, their 2014 car is the LF-CC (AKA RC-F). But, the car on the road will use a variation of the CURRENT IS-F engine. But more power is expected in the realm of 450-470hp. This information on the lmp2 engine being based off the IS-F engine is convenient as reports came of an RC-F GT3 car http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-19711.html. Seems logical the wait for new regs in lmp2 to introduce this engine comes around the time a unified GT class appears

[pablocomics]

We'll see the new Tiga at the end of this month (or the start of november) according to Endurance -Info
http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/act...durance-21191/

The most interesting thing. They are speaking about a likely Judd motor, but they are also speaking about a Nissan engine or a misterious AER V6. I vever heared about this LMP2 engine before...

[Pandemonium]

What about gulf racing middle east?? What's of them?

[truebeliever]

I'm curious as to how the P2 engine thing works, does a Team wanting run a new engine A. apply to have it approved/homologated, or does the manufacturer of engine A. have to do it?

Either way, is it an expensive operation? Does the cost of this process have any effect on the engine price cap?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Pandemonium

What about gulf racing middle east?? What's of them?

Who knows. I'm guessing the project has run dry.

They lost the Gulf branding and now they've seemingly lost Keiko Ihara and the money she brought.

[TR.]

Originally Posted by truebeliever

I'm curious as to how the P2 engine thing works, does a Team wanting run a new engine A. apply to have it approved/homologated, or does the manufacturer of engine A. have to do it?

Either way, is it an expensive operation? Does the cost of this process have any effect on the engine price cap?

Do you mean such cases like Zytek doing the Nissan engines and their own chassis? Or a team such as Oreca wanting to use say, a Ford (terrible example I know) block as a basis in their chassis even though one doesn't exist?

[truebeliever]

Originally Posted by TR.

Do you mean such cases like Zytek doing the Nissan engines and their own chassis? Or a team such as Oreca wanting to use say, a Ford (terrible example I know) block as a basis in their chassis even though one doesn't exist?

Yep, that is what I mean..........

If as you say team A wants to use engine B, which is from an OEM manufacturer, meets the required numbers as already being used in one of their road models, does that manufacturer have to get the engine homologated for the team arbitrarily, or can the team/tuner etc, homologate it themselves?

In which case, is this an expensive process?

I'm just trying to understand how this all works, as it seems that most of the P2 teams are using Nissan engines. Is that because they are simply the best, or that given the choice between that and a judd, they are better and a team cannot homologate an engine, so in essence you must run what is out there?

I'm not very experienced in this level of racing and really was curious as to the protocol......

[TR.]

Originally Posted by truebeliever

Yep, that is what I mean..........

If as you say team A wants to use engine B, which is from an OEM manufacturer, meets the required numbers as already being used in one of their road models, does that manufacturer have to get the engine homologated for the team arbitrarily, or can the team/tuner etc, homologate it themselves?

In which case, is this an expensive process?

I'm just trying to understand how this all works, as it seems that most of the P2 teams are using Nissan engines. Is that because they are simply the best, or that given the choice between that and a judd, they are better and a team cannot homologate an engine, so in essence you must run what is out there?

I'm not very experienced in this level of racing and really was curious as to the protocol......

A tuner can homologated an engine as far as I know. For example a Judd engine from Engine Developments ltd is a BMW block, with no relation to factory BMW Motorsport. How it works if say Oreca wanted to build its own engines, it would be fine as a manufacturer from what I know (like HPD). But for a team such as Murphy prototypes to make their own engine wouldn't be allowed as the principal of P2 is that it's customer teams.

In essence a P2 team has to buy from what is available as far as I know. The best thing to do is to get a proven engine, that the team can afford.

[Duff_44]

Originally Posted by TR.

A tuner can homologated an engine as far as I know. For example a Judd engine from Engine Developments ltd is a BMW block, with no relation to factory BMW Motorsport. How it works if say Oreca wanted to build its own engines, it would be fine as a manufacturer from what I know (like HPD). But for a team such as Murphy prototypes to make their own engine wouldn't be allowed as the principal of P2 is that it's customer teams.

In essence a P2 team has to buy from what is available as far as I know. The best thing to do is to get a proven engine, that the team can afford.

Anyone listed as a "tuner" could in theory homologate an engine:

"A Homologation Form must be filled by the Manufacturer or the tuner (*) and validated after the contradictory inspection carried out by the Homologation Group.
...
(*) The Endurance Committee should accept tuners presenting the best records.
These tuners should however get a favourable opinion from the Manufacturer to carry out such a project and the engine should not have the name of the Manufacturer."

Long story short: A "tuner" could get an engine homologated as long as it's based on a production engine, made in minimum 1000 units, and be from a GT or large production car.

[broadrun96]

An importantly get a favorable opinion on the project from the manufacturer, guess no Porsche V8 project like the Action Express DP. Also means a Ferrari P2 project would have to have their blessing.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Duff_44

Anyone listed as a "tuner" could in theory homologate an engine:

"A Homologation Form must be filled by the Manufacturer or the tuner (*) and validated after the contradictory inspection carried out by the Homologation Group.
...
(*) The Endurance Committee should accept tuners presenting the best records.
These tuners should however get a favourable opinion from the Manufacturer to carry out such a project and the engine should not have the name of the Manufacturer."

Long story short: A "tuner" could get an engine homologated as long as it's based on a production engine, made in minimum 1000 units, and be from a GT or large production car.

The mfg still has to give their blessing!





L.P.

[pablocomics]

Anyone knows what happened with the SCT LMP2 project?
http://www.sctsportscars.com/SCTindex.htm



Another unraced project to the list?

[Victor_RO]

Rear end looks far too LMP675 to be legal or even current.

[smcorolla]

yep, no cheese wedges, BH-Fin or BH-holes, looks like another still-born project.

[pablocomics]

Yep, totally true, but they was saying about a SC60 version working with the 2014 regullations.... That was written on the 2012, but there are no more news.

They had been constructed almost one sport car, but it seems to be something for hillclimbing races/track days, not a CN or a LMP. ...maybe it could be a IMSA light

[isynge]

Originally Posted by pablocomics

Yep, totally true, but they was saying about a SC60 version working with the 2014 regullations.... That was written on the 2012, but there are no more news.

They had been constructed almost one sport car, but it seems to be something for hillclimbing races/track days, not a CN or a LMP. ...maybe it could be a IMSA light

That image looks very IMSA Lite to me.

With this, the Bailey, and the flurry of LMP1 projects we heard about this year perhaps it's time to resurrect the Sportscars that never raced thread.

[Bicknell55]

Is it possible to upgade a LMPC chassis to an Oreca 03 spec?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Bicknell55

Is it possible to upgade a LMPC chassis to an Oreca 03 spec?

Possible yes, but last time I've heard it makes more sense to simply buy a new P2 car...

[Maelochs]

As far as I know an FLM09 is a P2 chassis with cheaper bits hung on it (and no fin.) I am sure it can be done, but not sure it would be cost-effective versus buying a brand-new P2 and engine lease.

[pablocomics]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Possible yes, but last time I've heard it makes more sense to simply buy a new P2 car...

Totally agree, I remember an interview made to Hughes the Chaunac saying that they weren´t going to do an upgrade bbecause it would be too expensive.

Probably it's much more profitable to sell the LMPC and buy a new LMP2 than upgrade a LMPC. The LMPC cars has a good market, those prototypes lose their value.

[FstrthnU]

http://sportscar365.com/wec/welter-r...-car-for-2014/

Welter Racing developing an LMP1 chassis that can also be converted to LMP2

[Mike E]

New Pilbeam LMP2 announced. This story has been knocking about for a while.
Not sure about the base motor. Ford, maybe?

http://sportscar365.com/wec/new-pilb...-car-revealed/