The Fall of LMP1? I Don't Think So

29 Jul 2017

As Porsche announces their departure from LMP1 for Formula E, similarly to Audi, many people have been expressing concern that the LMP1 category will be gone for good. With nobody to compete with remaining competitor Toyota, the future of the category looks bleak. LMP1 however is very much here to stay.

LMP1-H - The Fall from Glory

As it stands Toyota is the only manufacturer remaining in the top spec hybrid class and is discussing its future in the category. Without other manufacturers to compete against continuing in the category would reap little to no benefit for Toyota, and at this stage in the year no other manufacturer has time to develop a car and join the hybrid class by 2018. By the end of this year we may see Toyota end its participation as Audi and Porsche have, leaving LMP1-H with no competitors, killing the category. While these cars paved the way for numerous technological advancements, the cost of running them was simply too great. Nissan was only able to sustain one year in the category before they suddenly shut down their LMP1 operation. There isn’t a future for LMP1-H, the cost is too high and there aren’t enough competitors currently. The future of LMP1 lies in a place that people saw no promise in until recently.

LMP1-L - Rising from the Ashes

As the leading hybrid class falls, the secondary LMP1-L privateer class rises to take its place. Several teams have been confirmed, with four different chassis competing. For more background information, read my earlier article on the class linked at below.

Below are some details on the four chassis that will be competing in 2018.

BR Engineering/SMP Racing

The Russian company BR Engineering found nowhere to go when the LMP2 regulations changed for 2017, leaving all but four chassis manufacturers out in the cold. Without the ability to develop a chassis for LMP2 they turned to the privateer LMP1-L class, which allows any team to build a chassis. Engines have yet to be confirmed but SMP racing is expected to run one car, and BR Engineering has reportedly been approached for customer entries and may supply some other teams as well.

Ginetta

Ginetta was the first new manufacturer to announce an LMP1 program for 2018 after having their LMP2 chassis bid rejected. They will have built six cars by the 2018 season and will be able to supply three two car teams. They reportedly have customers in the works. This car alone will seriously pad the grid. Engines have yet to be confirmed similar to the BR Engineering car.

ByKolles

The ByKolles team has been a constant in the LMP1-L class for the past few years and has always been plagued with problems. They will be back next year with a one car entry once again. Hopefully they can sort their reliability issues and keep up with the newcomers to the grid.

Perrinn

Perrinn has been promising an LMP1 chassis since 2014 when the LMP1-L category was originally created, and while they had a rolling chassis produced in 2015, the open source LMP1 project has finally come to life with the new 2018 car. They have sold two chassis to one team to run them in 2018, and may supply other teams in the future.

With all of these new LMP1-L cars, the loss of the hybrid class doesn’t mean the loss of competitive fast paced racing at Le Mans. the LMP1 category is here to stay and will have more entrants next year than there have been for a long time. With all of the so far announced competitors the grid will consist of ten cars, 12 if Toyota sticks around. But as BR Engineering may have other customers that have yet to be confirmed there may be even more. And the story doesn’t end there. Peugeot has expressed interest in going back into LMP1 if they can compete for wins without a hybrid car. As it stands the LMP1-L class is only open to privateer entrants, but if it were opened for manufacturer involvement we may see the LMP1 class grow similarly to Group C in the 80s.

LMP1 is not dead, it’s just going through a painful rebirth.

Sources:
http://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/8824/porsche-officially-unveil-the-919-hybrid-for-2017
http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/04/02/lapierre-quickest-for-toyota-on-second-day-of-wec-prologue/
https://www.crankandpiston.com/editors-picks/interview-ginetta-le-mans/#prettyPhoto
https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/br-engineering-on-target-for-wec-2018-with-lmp1-design-888350/
http://www.endurancesportscar.net/aco/bykolles-racing-move-aer-nismo-powered-engines/
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129584

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Comments

Stubaru(Subie Maniac)(Car Noob) adam Thatcher

McLaren P1 (McLaren squad) (#CTthegame)

Kyle Ashdown I hate tagging staff but I noticed a post from yesterday about Porsche’s exit from Le Mans and I think this complements it rather well. I was trying to tag Jack Leslie, the original author of the Porsche post but for some reason was unable to. Thanks

It’s a good chance for the new comers to establish themselves.

LMP1-L is the literal Phoenix of the WEC

Yep, that’s the way I modeled the article. It’s surprising that people still have no idea how many people are joining that class and are all freaking out about the death of Le Mans

When a lemans class “dies” there’s always an awesome follow up. for example After the demise of group c came the bonkers gt “roadcars”.

I’ve seen the ByKolles in person at the 6h of Nürburgring and they really have to improve that car. Although they managed to drive the complete race without major issues, they weren’t even able to beat the LMP2 cars. And the Nismo engine sounds rather strange

Great post. I had forgotten the recent expansion in LMP1-L because of the hype around Porsche. It’ll be interesting to see how the FIA and ACO will handle this.

They’ll probably have to make them a damn side faster to better differientiate them from a surging LMP2. More aero and more power should do it.

I’m sure Toyota will call it quits, as a non-hybrid formula is of no interest to them. Would be great if they picked up F1 in 2021 instead. Now it’s just waiting for a response from the FIA, ACO, Toyota and Peugeot.

Thank you. I agree, there definitely has to be better aero and power, but then again nobody really knows how fast they will be currently because ByKolles is in no way an indication of the overall speed of the class. If they can get reliable engines with at least 750hp they should easily outstrip the LMP2 class, and the aero package for LMP1 is already far more advanced than LMP2.

Good post, didn’t realise there were new LMP1 cars for next year. I do hope this ‘privateer’ class can effectively take the reins from the big-budget hybrids.