LMP2 CARS COULD JOIN NEW BRITCAR SERIES
LMP2 cars could race in a British series for the first time after an agreement between Tiga Race Cars and Britcar’s new Prototype Series was reached to produce a low-cost prototype engine.
After the series’ inaugural round at Silverstone last month, organisers are making a number of changes to the rules and have also struck a deal with Tiga, which will develop a turnkey motor producing 430bhp based on the Chevrolet LS3 engine.
The series is aiming to take advantage of the change in ACO LMP2 regulations next season, which will leave the current crop of cars redundant.
Tiga boss Mike Newton said: “The Britcar Prototype Series is an excellent platform for the large number of legacy pre cost-capped LMP2 cars that have been languishing in garages, and also the cost capped LMP2 cars that will be surplus at the end of the 2016 season. We believe the secret to a big success for the series is for a modestly priced package to provide a ‘push button’ engine with low ongoing operating costs.”
Series organiser Rob Hedley has met with a number of prototype manufacturers and teams, including Ginetta, Radical, Gibson and Greaves Motorsport, to help construct the new regulations.
A new class structure will be introduced from the next round at Donington Park in July, after concerns at the way the Ginetta G57 dominated the opening races would put off prospective entries.
The top class will be for LMP3 cars run to ACO regulations, while the next LMP Evo class will be open to non-homologated LMP2 and LMP3 cars, as well as the Ginetta G57.
“Ginetta wanted open rules so it could do what it wants but we wanted to make a level playing field,” said Britcar director Hedley. “The LMP3 class will have a 900kg minimum weight and maximum power of 420bhp. Then the LMP Evo class will have a minimum weight of 920kg and maximum power of 430bhp giving exactly the same power-to-weight ratio.”
There will also be another class for Radical SR8S and RXCS and two divisions for Cn-spec cars – for spaceframe and carbonfibre chassis.
“We want to get the championship as strong as possible before the GT Cup [prototype] series has its first race later this year,” added Hedley, who wants the series to secure championship status for 2017.”