Mecachrome on all fronts in 2018

Mecachrome Motorsport will be present in many championships next year. The French engine manufacturer whose workshops are based in Aubigny-sur-Nère (Cher) is working in particular on the 6l turbo V3.4 which will be the exclusive unit of the Ginetta LMP1 chosen by the Manor TRS Racing team in WEC.

The engine block is based on the one currently used in the GP3 Series (in atmospheric version) and which will arrive in F2 next year, where Mecachrome is also the exclusive engine manufacturer.

Performance will be optimized with direct injection at 250 bars. Changes will also be made to the turbo, combustion chamber, piston and distribution. Almost all components are developed in-house, except the valve springs (made by NHK in Japan), the valves (made in Zanzi in Italy) and the pistons and connecting rods (made in Pankl in Austria).

“The program for this new V6 began around two and a half years ago, comments Bruno Engelric, director of Mecachrome Motorsport. We had been selected to produce the engines for the GP3 Series and the FIA ​​Formula 2 championship and when we decided to launch the LMP1 project, it was obvious that this engine would be the ideal platform. »

“There are obviously a lot of competitors in the WEC Private LMP1 category and we will have to push our limits. We have had to adapt many engine parameters but we are not limited by the regulations – our development program simply depends on the budget of the teams we will be working with. »

“The single turbo will be installed in the center of the “V” and it will be different from the one used in F2. We studied the possibility of installing a twin turbo, but we think that the best compromise – due in part to the characteristics of the engine – remains to have just one. We should know where we stand in the hierarchy after Le Mans, but we already have a list of parameters that we can adjust. This project is exciting and we would be delighted to be able to partner with other teams,” added Bruno Engelric.

Mecachrome also plans to produce a motor suitable forIMSA based on the 6l V3.4. The French engine manufacturer is also responsible for the machining and assembly of the 4-cylinder turbo which will be installed on the Citroën C3 R5.