Ginetta to smash LMP1 competitors!
What will happen at this year's 24-hour race in Le Mans?
The British racing and sports car builder Ginetta, founded in 1958 with its headquarter in Leeds/UK, have scented their big chance! This year's 24-hour race in history-charged Le Mans is what they are aiming for. And it's not only the idea of taking part that is driving their effort. The chance to win the race is actually within their reach. Ginetta have built a LMP1 car. It's the G60-LT-P1 and it could smash what is left as competitors.
The 24-hour race of Le Mans happened to be abandoned by almost all factory teams leaving Toyota as the only one building Le Mans Prototypes. The big winners from the past, Audi and Porsche, left in 2016 and 2017, respectively, leaving a gap as big as the moon. But Ginetta boss Tomlinson jumps to the rescue to diminish the gap!
As there will be no works G60, the new Ginetta is a non-hybrid LMP1 design, propelled around the famous track by private teams. Recent reports talk about teams being Chinese based Talent Racing Sprots (TRS), stepping up from LMP2 after two seasons, and Manor Endurance Racing, based in Banbury/UK. Another not yet confirmed deal would raise the contingent of G60 cars in Le Mans to four.
So what is the new British LMP1 competitor all about?
The less mechanically complicated and very successfully tested G60 has serious chances to beat the trouble stricken Toyota. An extra stiff gear box together with a direct injection version of a Mecachrome turbo V6 is the weapon of Ginettas choice. The decision to go for better visibility with thinner screen pillars instead of saving weight and things like an extra accurate fuel gauge that can give the driver a cutting edge when it comes to that one extra lap you can do, let me believe, that this could end in a very exciting fight for victory.
With this new designs, developed "from a blank page", as Lawernce Tomlinson has put it, and a carbon chassis as well as mechanics specifically optimised for 2018 regulations, Tomlinson is convinced, that they will have "a pretty good chance" to succeed at the 24-hour race.
If you want to see the G60 live and moving, join the opening of the WEC super series 2018/2019 at the race track of Spa-Francorchamps on May 5th.
Watch the roll out of the Ginetta G60-LT-P1 at Leeds East Airport:
#24h-race #lemans #ginetta #LMP1 #Manor #TRS #race #24hour #motormuses #G60 #british
All picutres and video by ginetta.com
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Comments (11)
Very nice work Victoria! Cheers
Thank you, Ben!
The toyota's will still have a significant power advantage but with lemans you never know. No hybrid system means less stuff to go wrong or break. Its davids vs goliath.
Exactly. Easy and reliable could be the critical factor.
Plus there is the fact that Toyota seems cursed at Le mans.
This is very exciting! Fantastic article, Vicky.
Yes, it is! Thank you, Helene.
Bumped to best of motorsport. Though I do think it's a bit optimistic 😉
Haha, yeah. But I like to exaggerate and get myself excited! Thank you!!