With 2016 here I thought I would do a FIA WEC 2016 catch up with some of the big news that has been released over the last few months. So first off lets start with the LMP1 catagory.
Nissan
Nissan/Nismo ©
I guess the first thing to check off the list is the big news from December that Nissan/Nismo have canned there LMP1 project completely. They had been looking towards 2016 as having been a complete season in the WEC, but with development on the GTR been slow and expensive they have decided the money needed to bring them up to the same level as Audi, Porsche and Toyota with a unproven concept not to be worth the investment. They had recently received there new hybrid system from Renault but the new system meant some changes to the LMP1 Tub needed to be designed, made, and crash tested, the costs started to spiral. That and the new tub failed the crash test so needed to go back and be modified, this was just more set backs to a long list. Its unfortunate that we wont see the full potential of what could have been done with this new concept.
Audi
Audi Sport ©
Audi sport has already pulled the covers off there new R18 LMP1 Diesel, its a radical aero update for the proven R18 LMP1 car. The front looks more F1 influenced more than ever with the front of the tub’s shape more pronounced more than has been seen before. Audi know they need to raise there game even more after Porsches big leap up last year. A new hybrid system with lithium-ion batteries for energy storage has been developed for the 6MJ category and a new ‘efficiency-optimized’ version of the 4 litre V6 TDI engine. Now we have to wait and see what Porsche and Toyota bring to the Table.
LMP1 Privateers
Judd Engines ©
There are no big changes in the LMP1 Privateers for this year. The only news really is the announcement of JUDD engines in partnership with AIM Co. Ltd of Japan are now offering a development of there 5.5l V10 for the new LMP1 Privateer regulations. I guess we will have to wait for later in the year to see what is hopefully going to come for LMP1 Privateers in 2017.
LMP2
OnRoak ©
Greaves Motorsport will step back up to the FIA WEC LMP2 category with a new Ligier JS P2 alongside their Gibson 015S in the 2016 ELMS Championship, both cars will be powered by Nissan and will have Dunlop Tyres, with Greaves running both cars at Lemans.
We already know about Jota Sport, partnering with Arden, and moving up to LMP2 in the WEC with a Oreca 05 Nissan. In other news Tequila Patron ESM with there Ligier JS P2 are moving away from the Honda V6 Turbo engine and have joined the rest of the field with the Nissan V8 engine, personally I see this as a shame as i was always a fan of the Honda turbo lump. Strakka Racing will continue with the Gibson 015S Nissan they acquired last year while they continue the development of there new LMP1 car. Apart from that not much else can be said for LMP2 until next year, when the new regulations come into effect.
GTE
Ford ©
The biggest news is in the FIA GTE PRO where we have new regulations to make the cars faster and move them away from the FIA GT3 class. Ford are joining with the Ford GT which is powered by a EcoBoost V6 Twin Turbo, this was reported on back at Le mans, development has been running for a long time now and the car has had plenty of miles put on it over in the states where it will also compete in the IMSA WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship.
Ferrari ©
Ferrari have developed the new 488 GTE to comply with the new GTE regs and replace the out going 458. The new car will be using a version of the V8 Twin Turbo engine as found in the road car which makes the GTE Pro class have 2 new turbo engines running in it.
Aston Martin/Aston Martin Racing/Prodrive ©
Aston Martin Racing have an updated to new regs V8 Vantage. This will be used as a stand in car until Aston Martin unveil the Vantage replacement which should be in the next few years. Until then we will have the ever faithful Aston V8 bark to listen too, till that too is replaced with a expected V8 Turbo in the replacement car.
The other big news is the Porsche will not have a full factory presence this year as they are taking a year out to develop a brand new 911 GTE car for the new regulations. So for this year we will have Dempsey/Proton stepping up with one GTE pro car which Porsche have updated to the new regs. This can be seen as a semi backed Porsche team until Porsche returns in 2017 with the new car.
2016 Calendar:
We have also had confirmation of the 2016 FIA WEC calendar with the addition of a Mexico City race to make the grand total of races in 2016 to 9.
17 April 6 Hours of Silverstone Great Britain
7 May 6 Hours of Spa Belgium
18/19 June 24 Hours of Le Mans France
24 July 6 Hours of Nurburgring Germany
3 September 6 Hours of Mexico City Mexico
17 September 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas USA
16 October 6 Hours of Fuji Japan
6 November 6 Hours of Shanghai China
19 November 6 Hours of Bahrain Bahrain
