Rebellion R-One Given Performance Break

Photo: John Dagys

The Rebellion R-One has been given a significant performance break ahead of this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The FIA Endurance Committee confirmed Sunday that the LMP1-L car will receive a 40 kg weight reduction, a 2 percent increase in maximum fuel flow, and no limit in fuel consumption per lap.

As a result, it drops the car down to a minimum weight of 810 kg, some 60 kg lighter than the factory hybrid prototypes from Audi, Porsche and Toyota.

Rebellion’s two Toyota-powered entries made their debuts in last month’s FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa, but struggled to match the pace of the LMP1-H entries.

The cars were more than 8.5 seconds off the pace from the leading Toyota at the Le Mans Test Day.

According to the FIA, the changes were made in agreement with all LMP1 competitors but are expected to be re-evaluated following the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic.

The team’s two entries are due to be driven by Nick Heidfeld, Nicolas Prost, Mathias Beche (No. 12) and Andrea Belicchi, Dominik Kraihamer and Fabio Lemer (No. 13).

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John