HOPE Racing full of hopes

HOPE Racing will be one of the first teams to enter a hybrid car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP1 category. After a final positive test session on the Magny-Cours circuit, the ORECA SwissHytech-Hybrid went to Le Mans for the Test day on Sunday.

The stated objective of the Swiss team is to achieve energy savings and power gains in order to promote greener technology. The 4-cylinder turbo hybrid engine is associated with an SREC, as in F1. This system consists of a carbon disc (Flywheel) which rotates when the car brakes. Connected to the gearbox, it transmits the kinetic energy stored during re-acceleration when exiting a curve. This flywheel is perfectly recyclable and does not require the use of a battery. Such a system would allow a saving of 5% in energy, i.e. relays estimated to be 2 to 3 turns longer than its competitors.

The opening to hybrid vehicles responds to the ACO's desire to take environmental constraints into greater account. However, the specifications for respecting the hybrid designation are strict. “To be considered “hybrid”, an LM P1 must be able to travel the entire length of the pit lane at 60 km/h using only its kinetic energy recovery system, recalls Daniel Perdrix, International Technical Delegate. For the two cars of this type present at the Test Day (Oreca n°5 and Zytek n°23), validation will be carried out during the weekend or immediately afterwards. »

The next meeting for the Swiss team will be the second round of the ILMC, at Spa on May 7. ORECA will make its first official competition in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, with Steve Zacchia and Nicolas Marroc as drivers.