Wolf LMP2 Car Delayed Until 2016

Photo: John Dagys

While originally slated to debut at the end of this year, Wolf Racing Cars’ LMP2 entry has been delayed until 2016, as the Italian manufacturer looks to finalize funding for the all-new closed-top Wolf GB Tornado. (En Français)

“The study of the car is complete,” team principal Ivan Bellarosa told Endurance-Info. “The original plan was to start construction of the car on Nov. 15 in order to be ready for the upcoming season.

“We have some of the budget but we want to have it all before we start.”

Bellarosa said the GB Tornado, named after the Panavia Tornado aircraft which is based near its workshop in Italy, will have a unique look, despite some restrictions imposed in the cost-capped regulations.

Additionally, the current LMP2 regulations only run through the end of the 2016 season.

“We are well aware that the LMP2 rules are very rigid but we will have something different,” Bellarosa said. “Our LMP2 car will be scalable to enter LMP1.”

While its LMP2 project is now planned for 2016, Wolf’s family run team, Avelon Formula, could be on the grid of the European Le Mans Series next year with an existing open-top LMP2 car.

“We’ve begun discussions to run a LMP2 car that would be badged as a Wolf, like Alpine has done with the Oreca 03,” Bellarosa said. “We want to show our expertise and commitment.

“We must give visibility to the brand. The engine would be a Judd.”

A final decision is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

Bellarosa and the Avelon team are fresh off a trio of endurance races this month, having taken part in last weekend’s Gulf 12 Hours, the Asian Le Mans Series season finale in Sepang two weeks ago, as well as the Thunderhill 25 Hours on the same weekend.

All three events were contested with the Wolf GB08, its popular CN2 car, which is now competing on no fewer than three continents.

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