Ginetta’s 2018 LMP1 project formally unveiled

British manufacturer Ginetta has revealed the pricing structure and service packages for its 2018 LMP1 car today at its industry presentation at Silverstone. The first full renders of the car were also available to see.

The new LMP1 chassis, which is expected to be delivered to customers during Q1 of 2018, is set to cost £1,340,000 (approx. $1.6 million), with a full electronics package included in the price. In addition to that, the Mechachrome V6 engine (derived from its forthcoming 2018 F2 engine) lease, spares and full trackside support package from Ginetta and Mechachrome meanwhile, has been priced at an additional £594,000 (approx. $743,000).

This separation in cost means that there is scope for other engine manufacturers to enter the fray, as Ginetta technical director Ewan Baldry explained to RACER.

"The car has been designed around Mechachrome's V6 engine, so clearly we'd recommend that, but it's not essential," Baldry told RACER. "There's nothing to stop another engine being put in the car because of commitment from another manufacturer, backer or a sponsor.

"The gearbox we have for the car has been designed with that in mind. The case has been custom designed that has no bell housing, it bolts straight to the engine, and we're package protecting it to ensure that it has the ability to have an amount machined off the face so that you can package another type of engine like a V8."

Prior to its delivery, the car will undergo an extensive testing program which is set to commence this summer. Ginetta noted that it intends to match Toyota's test program, which will be conducted along with its customer teams across the UK and Europe, with a 30-hour run planned in preparation of Le Mans.

Also at the presentation, representatives from Ginetta and its technical partners Mechacrome, Williams Advanced Engineering – confirmed as the aerodynamic testing provider for the 2018 LMP1 car – Automotive Research Centre, XTrac and ARC were on hand to introduce the project to the media and industry.

Oxfordshire-based Williams Advanced Engineering will provide Ginetta with wind-tunnel services for the project.

As part of the deal Williams Advanced Engineering will work alongside American Adrian Reynard’s Auto Research Centre on the CFD work for the project. So far a number of CFD runs have already been completed with the aero work on the project set to begin this June.

“We are thrilled to be working with Williams on the aerodynamics elements of the Ginetta LMP1 project,” commented Ewan Baldry, Ginetta’s technical director, on Wednesday. "The have an impressive facility, which can run the Ginetta LMP1 model at a full range of ride heights, roll angles and yaw position and it’s fantastic to know the Ginetta LMP1 has the opportunity to be tested in the same wind tunnel which has helped Williams win multiple F1 titles.”

Williams Advanced Engineering is the technology and engineering arm of the Williams Group that features the world-famous Williams Formula One team. Over the years it has worked on various automotive, motorsport, civil aerospace, defence, healthcare, sports science and energy projects, including providing the battery technology used in Formula E.

Bart Hayden, team principal of former privateer LMP1 team Rebellion Racing, admitted to RACER that the concept of Ginetta's low-cost approach to LMP1 racing is an impressive one.

"I think the team of people Lawrence and his support staff have put together is pretty impressive," he said. "They've got a very strong set of ingredients to put in the recipe for the car. I think when you look at the budget for the engine and chassis it's pretty competitive commercially.

"The next thing is you want to see what the performance of the car is going to be. It's very interesting that from the chassis side of thing that they could have something really something really strong, but the one thing privateer teams aren't short of is chassis manufacturers, what they are struggling with is engines. So, that part of it, whilst the foundation is in place, we're not sure it's not an engine ready to go from Mechachrome.

"I quizzed them about it, and I asked if they would be able to fight with Porsche and Toyota, and they are confident that technically they can, but whether they'd be allowed to is a different story.

"The ideal criteria, and what we'd want to see is a number of other teams coming on board. What we wouldn't want is to be behind the factories and on our own, ideally you'd want to be mixing it in with the factories and racing a few others as well.

"It's pricked our interest," he admitted. "Would we want to sign up today? I think we'd need to wait to see what happens."