ACO Confirms Garage 56 Entries for 2016, 2017

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest today formally announced the Garage 56 entries for the 2016 and 2017 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Quadruple amputee Frederic Sausset and his Sausset Racing Team 41 will occupy Garage 56 next year with a specially adapted Morgan LMP2 chassis.

It was also confirmed that Welter Racing is set to make its return to Le Mans, with the BW Biogas Le Mans 2017.

The car, which was announced at the end of last year with the aim of taking the Garage 56 entry in 2016, will run on liquid biomethane (biogas).

As previously reported the prototype will feature a 450 bhp, 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine. By using biogas, the car will not be using fossil fuels and will not pollute the atmosphere.

“We’ve already built the monocoque and are currently working on the engine and all the other technical parts,” said WR’s Gerard Welter.

“Our aim is to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017. We’ve dreamt of running an environmentally-friendly car for some years now. The project is done on a modest budget.”

By entering Le Mans in 2017, Welter will have time to further develop the car and find the best possible drivers for the task.

“We have not made any decision yet on our driver lineup. We’re looking at the right partners first now,” he said.

The ACO added that the the 1,500 m3 of methane required to run the car for 24 hours equals the amount of treated waste of 160,000 people in one day.

The facilities at the Le Mans event would be able to produce enough biomethane for two cars.