Ginetta develops an LM P1 chassis for 2018

Already widely involved in LM P3 and at the origin of the G57 prototype, Ginetta will move to the next level next year, via the development of an LM P1 chassis. The firm aims to build ten examples, but will not launch a factory program.

Customer teams, which have already shown keen interest according to Ginetta, will however be supported. This project comes on the heels of that announced a few weeks ago by BR Engineering, which will work with Dallara.

The project will notably be under the leadership of the aero part of Adrian Reynard, founder of Reynard Motorsport, which developed a number of Formula Ford racing cars, Formula 3000, CART / IndyCar (including Jacques Villeneuve's winning car at the Indy 500 in 1995). Paolo Catone, who had worked on the Peugeot 908 HDi, will also be involved.

“The capabilities of the Ginetta design team have already been proven with the Ginetta LM P3 and G57, comments Lawrence Tomlinson, president of Ginetta. With Adrian and Paolo with us, the performance of the Ginetta LM P1 is going to be incredible. We now offer a true pyramid for our customers, from their first race all the way to Le Mans, which is incredibly exciting for me. »

This new LM P1 prototype should be around 60 kg lighter than an LM P2, and should benefit from 200 hp more. Discussions with Mecachrome for the engine, and Xtrac for the transmission are underway.

On the ACO side, the information is obviously received with enthusiasm. “Here is good news for endurance, underlines Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO. Arriving in LM P1 seems to be an obvious choice for Ginetta in its continued development. »

The first tests should begin with the 2017 edition of 24 Hours of Le Mans.