WEC: Signatech plans switch to new coupe

The Signatech Alpine LMP2 squad will upgrade to a new coupe for its 2016 World Endurance Championship campaign.

The French team has revealed that it will replace its existing open-top ORECA 03R, which is badged as an Alpine A450b, and is talking to multiple constructors.

"You can imagine that we are talking to all the constructors, but mainly ORECA for obvious reasons," Team boss Philippe Sinault told AUTOSPORT. "Logically, it only makes sense to buy an ORECA [because its 05 coupe can be update to the 2017 P2 rules], but the project has to match with what Alpine wants to do."

Sinault, whose squad graduated to the WEC for this season after winning the European Le Mans Series in 2013-'14, explained that his first priority was to seal a deal to run one car again in a full WEC program and that he would then look at the possibility of a second entry. He did not rule out running an additional 03R at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

ORECA has revealed that it has now sold eight of its coupes, although it is unclear if this number includes a car or cars for Signatech. KCMG, winner of the P2 class at Le Mans in June, has two chassis, while the French TDS Racing squad has one car it is running in the ELMS.

The U.S. DragonSpeed squad, currently racing a Ferrari in the Blancpain Endurance Series, has purchased one for an ELMS assault in 2016, and Jota Sport announced earlier this month that it had bought a pair of 05s for a one-car assault on the WEC next year. ORECA said that the purchasers of the other two cars would announce their plans at a later date.

The ORECA 05 uses a monocoque built to the 2017 safety regulations and bodywork that conforms to the narrower dimensions to be introduced. It is expected that an upgrade kit will cost 150,000-170,000 euros, although the final price has yet to be determined.

Originally on Autosport.com