The new challenge of Pipo Engines with Glickenhaus

A few minutes after seeing Le Mans 66 at the cinema, the director of Pipo Motors, Frédéric Barozier, indulges in a few confidences. “I said when leaving the room that Le Mans was one of my ambitions, he remembers.

Just like Pikes Peak and the Dakar, which we participated in at the beginning of the year with RD Limited (Romain Dumas’ team. Editor’s note) and Overdrive buggies.

It was in December. A few days later, the man who partnered with Eximium in the takeover of Pipo Matériaux at the end of 2017 – after the retirement of its founder Jean-Pierre Fleur – received a phone call from Igor Zanetti.

The latter, project manager at Podium Advanced Technologies (which manages SCG's track activities) is looking for an engine for the SCG 007 meeting the Le Mans Hypercar regulations.

" Surprised ? Yes, I was, recognizes Frédéric. But it's nice, because it proves that the communication campaign put in place for almost two and a half years is starting to bear fruit. I try to make us known and diversify our activities. »

Pipo, although having a background in Tourism and the origin of the twin-turbo V8 equipping the Bentley Continental GT3, is best known for his activities in WRC. From 1998 to 2005 with Peugeot , from 2006 to 2012 with Ford, then from 2014 to 2016 with Hyundai who then entrusted him with the R5 and TCR projects with the success that we know.

En Rallycross, Pipo worked with Ken Block in 2012, but above all won two World RX titles with Petter Solberg in 2014 and 2015.

“When SCG called us, we didn’t procrastinate for long, continues our interlocutor. James wanted a twin-turbo V6 because he wanted to base it on an engine Alfa Romeo. But starting from a production engine, we did it for 20 years and stopped because it is more expensive and complicated than making your own engine. »

A completely new block then? Not really. “A few years ago, we developed our own 4-cylinder turbo based on our 20 years of experience in WRC and we continue to evolve it every year for the WRX, the boss of the Guilherand-Granges (Ardèche) company told us.

The architecture of the twin-turbo V8 is in fact based on the 2020 version of this turbocharged inline 4-cylinder, one of Pipo's jewels. Its development is financed by the American firm, but it will be available for sale.

“We keep the architecture of the cylinder head, valves, distribution, combustion chamber, injectors, pistons, etc. In short, everything that works well on a 4-cylinder developing between 400 and 600 hp, Barozier explained to us.

Current regulations call for around 850 horsepower, which would be 425 per bank of cylinders, a little more than a 2017 WRC with the big flange and a little less than a 2.0-liter rallycross engine.

Afterwards, we made the second row of cylinders in symmetry with a new cylinder head casting then we will have to draw the block. We are making good progress and hope to put the engine on the bench in October. »

Nine months, is that all? “It goes very quickly at the beginning, because we are “free”, emphasizes Frédéric. But it will take more time when we tackle the water and oil circuits and all the peripheral systems. We will have to see – depending on the chassis – how to position the alternator, oil exchanger, etc., but it is fascinating.

Making a V8 for Le Mans cannot be refused. Even more so in our own name, which is important as we have fewer partnerships with major manufacturers. If I want to continue developing engines for projects, I want to be able to communicate around them.

When I approach, people tell me that they don't know Pipo Engines. When I mention the Peugeot 206 WRC, their outlook changes. Everyone knows what we did, but no one knows we were behind it. »

After having triumphed in white label in Tourism, Rally and Rallycross, Pipo wants to use theEndurance to make a name for himself.