BR Engineering Evaluating Future Prototype Options

Photo: John Dagys

With its LMP2 chassis bid having been rejected, BR Engineering is in the process of evaluating its strategy for the future, which could include a foray into LMP1. (En Français)

The Russian manufacturer, which is coming off a podium finish for its new BR01 LMP2 car in last weekend’s European Le Mans Series round at the Red Bull Ring, has a number of options, according to managing director Benjamin Durand.

“It makes no sense for us to go into LMP3 because we’ve not been retained in LMP2,” Durand told Endurance-Info. “Otherwise, we would have certainly studied the possibility.

“An entry into LMP1 non-hybrid is among the possibilities but for this we must have guarantees on the regulations.”

While sister operation SMP Racing currently campaigns the only two Nissan-powered BR01 cars, Durand hasn’t ruled out seeing an additional Russian prototype in the hands of a customer later this year.

He revealed that Murphy Prototypes is evaluating the purchase of a car for an end-of-year run in the Asian Le Mans Series, a championship which will see the current LMP2 cars eligible through 2018.

As for next year’s program, Durand said all options are on the table.

“For the moment, the priority is given to the European Le Mans Series with the BR01,” he said. “We will know more about the 2016 program after Estoril.

“We think that will be with the BR02, and how it will be done.”

Durand reaffirmed SMP Racing’s commitment to the GTE ranks, with Alexey Basov, Andrea Bertolini and Victor Shaytar in title contention in the FIA World Endurance Championship following their GTE-Am class victory in last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It’s understood the team is also evaluating a potential future move into the GTE-Pro ranks, with what would be Ferrari’s new 488 GTB.

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