WEC: Strakka Dome targeting COTA debut

The as-yet-unraced Strakka Dome LMP2 coupe is undergoing rear-end revisions before it resumes testing. The team plans to give the car its race debut at the next round of the World Endurance Championship at Circuit of The Americas on Sept. 20.

Strakka has revealed that the rear geometry of the Nissan-engined S103 is being revised in the wake of the accident in testing at Spa in May that resulted in the car's non-appearance in the Le Mans 24 Hours the following month. Dan Walmsley, who has returned to Strakka Racing as team principal, explained that geometry changes to the rear suspension required a new gearbox casing.

"A gearbox casing is a long lead-time item, which explains why we have not been out testing since Spa," he explained.

Walmsley said that the original geometry "made it difficult to control the rear contact patch [of the tires] as accurately as we wanted to. We believe we have got the bottom of the problem and now it is a question of getting it through manufacture."

Strakka, which has entered into a joint venture with Japanese constructor Dome to build, develop and sell the S103 coupe, should firm up its plans for testing over the next week. Walmsley said that "every effort" was being made to ensure that the Strakka Dome is on the grid for Austin in September.

"We are committed to racing the S103 soon as possible, so we can be in a position to sell cars for 2015," he stated.

The need for testing means that the car will not be sea-freighted to the USA with the majority of the WEC grid, because the boat leaves at the end of this month.