24h Le Mans
In 2016, the LM P2 class was more hotly disputed than ever, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series. Next season, four constructors will be authorised to build LM P2 chassis and we shall be seeing new-generation prototypes from Oreca, Onroak Automotive, Dallara and Riley/Multimatic.
Before the new regulations come into play, let’s review the past year. In 2016, Oreca, Alpine, Ligier, Gibson, Morgan and BR laid on a superb show.
French engineering dominates the World Endurance Championship - All nine rounds of the 2016 championships were won by French constructors. The Alpine A460 claimed four victories and the FIA Endurance Trophies for LM P2 Drivers and Teams. The A460 is based on the Oreca 05 chassis, with which Russian team G-Drive Racing took three consecutive wins. The other two rounds went to RGR Sport’s Ligier JS P2, designed by Onroak Automotive.
European Le Mans Series, diversity and competitiveness - For the second year in a row, the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) was won by the Gibson 015S (previously Zytek), the oldest chassis in the LM P2 class. G-Drive Racing took the crown from title-holder Greaves Motorsport. Greaves won two rounds and the remaining four went to the Oreca 05, with three victories for Thiriet by TDS Racing and one for DragonSpeed. SMP Racing’s BR01 proved remarkably reliable again this season, with another third place in LM P2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the ELMS championship.
Hats off to Gibson, Morgan and Oreca - This was the last season for open cockpits as the 2017 regulations exclude them. However, they made a stylish exit. The Gibson 015S won an ELMS title with G-Drive Racing and also finished a commendable fourth at Le Mans with Strakka Racing. Having won the class at Le Mans in 2013, the Morgan chassis attracted plenty of attention this year by rising to the challenge of Frédéric Sausset’s innovative project. As for the Oreca 03R, it won the first two rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series 2016-2017 thanks to Jackie Chan DC Racing and Race Performance.
Photo: Quadruple amputee Frédéric Sausset raced the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans in a specially-adapted Morgan LM P2.
