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ORECA-Built Rebellion R13 Gibson Confirmed

ORECA to build new Rebellion R 13 Gibson LMP1 car for WEC 2018/19 season…

Image: Rebellion

Rebellion Racing will continue its relationship with ORECA in its return to LMP1 competition this year, having confirmed Monday that its new non-hybird prototype will be built by the French constructor.

Known as the Rebellion R13, the car will be powered Gibson’s new GL458 engine, an upstaged 4.5-liter normally aspirated powerplant.

As revealed by Sportscar365 in September, ORECA had been putting the pieces in place for a return to top-level prototype competition, following confirmation of revised LMP1 regulations that are set to balance hybrid and non-hybrid prototypes in a single class.

It sees an increased partnership between the two organizations, which began with the Rebellion R-One LMP1 car in 2014 and included the team’s switch to LMP2 competition last year with Oreca 07 Gibsons.

Rebellion is understood to be the exclusive customer of the new chassis, which is based on its LMP2 championship-winning car but with significant developments.

“To design this new LMP1 prototype is a wonderful challenge,” said ORECA Group CEO Hugues de Chaunac. “When the design bureau began developing the Oreca 07, we really wanted to move up to the next level, one step higher compared to the Oreca 05.

“The successes achieved last year really motivated and convinced us to now tackle the highly competitive main category.

“Fitted with an atmospheric engine, this LMP1 will face a hard task against the hybrid cars. But the Rebellion R13 will be a very determined challenger.”

Despite its expansion into LMP1, ORECA will continue its operational support of Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s ‘Super Season’ which kicks off at Spa in May.

The car is expected to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, followed by its on-track debut in the run-up to the WEC’s Prologue on April 7-8.

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

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