LMP2 Manufacturers and Engine Suppliers

[kvenom]

2017 WEC/LeMans is going to be interesting given the disaster that the global LMP2 has been in IMSA so far.

[Dyson Mazda]

Originally Posted by kvenom

2017 WEC/LeMans is going to be interesting given the disaster that the global LMP2 has been in IMSA so far.

Yeah, the Oreca's have been pretty terrible thus far. I still cannot figure out why people went that route over the Dallara.

[Akrapovic]

ORECAs LMP2 was rock solid for years, whilst Dallara haven't been making one. It's easy to see why people went that route when the cars weren't even built yet.

I wouldn't say things have been a disaster in IMSA. There was an LMP2 on the overall podium, and the ORECA is no worse than the Mazda or Nissan. It'd be more accurate to say the only car that's properly solid in every way is the Caddy. Everything else is having various problems, or is an unknown. New cars have teething issues - the Caddy is the exception that proves the rule, which shows how good a job they did.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

New cars have teething issues - the Caddy is the exception that proves the rule, which shows how good a job they did.

Yup - though Caddy has the unfair advantage of not having to be financially viable in the same way that Oreca or Ligier have to. If the specialist chassis builders pour too much money into their development program, they'll have a hard time breaking even under the cost cap. The guys at Caddy, on the other hand, only need to keep the board room happy and running at a deficit is basically a given for them.

[chernaudi]

Not to mention that though DPI is sort of a cost cap, BOP class, the Cadillac still doesn't suit the "spirit" of the ACO regs as a factory developed car, even if it uses the chassis and much of the bodywork of the Dallara as a starting point.

Not to mention that I think that though some of the electronics on the Caddies are from Cosworth, I believe that they use a Bosch ECU and some other parts that weren't originally part of the Cosworth package.

So far, the Gibson engine itself has been solid, but the Cosworth electronics have been far less than stellar.

[TF110]

I think most if not all the issues are stemming from electronic issues. It's kinda obvious that they have been hampering every team but Cadillac seems on top of it.

[wdave0]

Originally Posted by TF110

I think most if not all the issues are stemming from electronic issues. It's kinda obvious that they have been hampering every team but Cadillac seems on top of it.

The Caddies had their problems in the tests and apparently fixed them. The P2s had problems then too but haven't fixed them, but don't forget Cosworth is English just like Lucas.

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

Yeah, the Oreca's have been pretty terrible thus far. I still cannot figure out why people went that route over the Dallara.

Because they could update the 05s they already had and because the Oreca was fastest in pre-season testing

[bentley speed 8]

Besides, we still don't know how the stock Dallara with the Gibson engine (and Cosworth electronics) performs.

[Maelochs]

JDC-Miller runs an Oreca, and that Oreca runs very well. Rebellion has been fast everywhere except during races.

On the other hand, Whelen had terrible electronic issuers at the Rolex.

I hope the Euro teams have done a ton of testing ... I certainly don't want to see 90 percent of the field in the garages trying to push-start their cars.

[TF110]

Does Cosworth do the engine management on the p2's? I wonder if they do most of the electronic elements on these cars?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

JDC-Miller runs an Oreca, and that Oreca runs very well. Rebellion has been fast everywhere except during races.

On the other hand, Whelen had terrible electronic issuers at the Rolex.

I hope the Euro teams have done a ton of testing ... I certainly don't want to see 90 percent of the field in the garages trying to push-start their cars.

Rebellion was fast at Sebring. Ran as fast, and faster than the Caddys at the start, and after the first problem they had. Rebellions issue at Sebring was reliability.

[Maelochs]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Rebellion was fast at Sebring. Ran as fast, and faster than the Caddys at the start, and after the first problem they had. Rebellions issue at Sebring was reliability.

yes, my poor communication.

Rebellion was fast when it ran. Overall it was slow .... stationary in fact.

JDC-Miller finished four laps down, two laps behind the third-placed Cadillac. can't even say why yet---no news trackside and I haven't watched the replay yet.

PR1 was quick early on. The speed is there in the LMP2s. if the Euro teams are better prepared than the U.S. teams, P2 should be great in WEC and ELMS.

If not, ELMS could be comical.

[Matt]

JDC's problem was it's driver lineup.

[Ospi]

Originally Posted by TF110

Does Cosworth do the engine management on the p2's? I wonder if they do most of the electronic elements on these cars?

Yep, basically everything is cosworth from ecu to power distribution to steering wheel. The aco went down that route as a cost cutting and simplification exercise and it has been neither. The world would be a better place if they had used an all motec system in the car.

The problem with the systems in these cars is its rarely something the teams themselves can fix and they require updates to come from cosworth themselves which is understandably frustrating.

[chernaudi]

Either all Motec or all Bosch. Neither Bosch or Motec have had many issues over the years.

[TF110]

Doesn't Cadillac use Bosch for engine management? If so that's a good reason for their lack of issues compared to basically everyone else.

[Maelochs]

Originally Posted by TF110

Doesn't Cadillac use Bosch for engine management? If so that's a good reason for their lack of issues compared to basically everyone else.

Whelen had major issues at the Rolex---cost them the race IMO. They were fastest until their car stopped starting.

[TF110]

And even with that, it's still a lot better than the other non-caddy's. Fitting that, the Whelen car had an issue restarting at Sebring after the contact with the ESM.

[Mike E]

Interesting top speed comparisons from Monza. And look at those lovely, fin-free cars...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...-compared.html

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Interesting top speed comparisons from Monza. And look at those lovely, fin-free cars...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...-compared.html

Perhaps someday they will return!

[JoeW04]

https://youtu.be/yhSQkGOLMec

You might not agree with the direction they have gone... at least they sound good

[Mitchi_S]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Interesting top speed comparisons from Monza. And look at those lovely, fin-free cars...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...-compared.html

Oh, the Charouz Aston Lola/Lola Aston Martin/Aston Martin-engined Lola ... The Epsilon Euskadi ... fantastic!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JoeW04

https://youtu.be/yhSQkGOLMec

You might not agree with the direction they have gone... at least they sound good

Nice video, and yes that Gibson motor sounds great!

[August]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Interesting top speed comparisons from Monza. And look at those lovely, fin-free cars...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...-compared.html

Now that IndyCar is doing away with the airbox and the rear wheel guards, the LMP (and F1) fins are the eyesores I'd like to get rid of.

Would NASCAR style flaps work on prototypes to avoid them getting airborne? IndyCar already has similar flaps for the superspeedways.