Mecachrome Responds to Ginetta Engine Change

Mecachrome Motorsport has responded to the news that Ginetta has switched to an AER engine for its TRSM Racing-entered LMP1 program.

Ginetta revealed on Friday that it will run the AER P60B twin-turbo V6 in its G60-LT-P1s when it returns to the FIA World Endurance Championship following the Six Hours of Silverstone, which it will be forced to miss as a result of the late engine change.

The pair of Ginetta LMP1s utilized the Mecachrome 3.4-liter V6 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and were set to continue with the powerplant for the rest of the season.

A statement released by Mecachrome on Monday morning clarified several aspects of the relationship from the engine constructor’s viewpoint, stating that it initially had an agreement to supply Ginetta with engines for the entire Super Season.

The deal was set to include continuous development of the engine, with an update potentially introduced after Le Mans ahead of a third iteration at Le Mans in 2019.

The statement explained that commercial relations became “strained” before the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, from which the Ginettas were withdrawn, with the full Super Season contract yet to be signed.

“Finally a revised contract between Ginetta and Mecachrome saw the racing programme of the two cars reduced further to just encompass Le Mans,” the statement read.

Mecachrome Motorsport Director Bruno Engelric says that the limited running of less than 3000 km (1864 miles) ahead of Le Mans contributed to mechanical problems at the French endurance classic.

“This lack of running in the build-up to Le Mans meant that we continued to develop the car over the course of Test Day and race week,” Engelric said.

“We had some questions over the performance of the engine when installed in the car compared to its dyno running, but this is crucial information you can only obtain with on-track testing.

“There were regular complaints over the engine not being powerful enough in comparison to other units on the market, but from day one, Ginetta and Mecachrome had agreed that the main objective was to finish Le Mans with the original engine specification.

“If we were running with an additional 50 bhp, the end result would have been the same, or possibly worse.”

The statement released by Ginetta on Friday said that Mecachrome was unable to make changes to the engine’s performance to provide the “additional power that was missing on the G60-LT-P1’s competitive debut at Le Mans.”

Mecachrome responded to this, claiming that it could not continue the engine’s development “without any guarantees”, owing to the “recurrent financial uncertainty over the programme.”

“From a technical and performance perspective, Mecachrome has delivered on its promised and agreed commitments from day one,” said Engelric.

“The business and financial issues before the Super Season even started did not help the commercial relationship; on the technical side, and despite the lack of testing and running, we have delivered what we committed to.

“We are surprised by Ginetta and Manor’s choice to go with an engine which has been developed for years, yet failed to finish at Le Mans in June.

“To see the chequered flag in its first participation shows the quality of our work and the potential of the Mecachrome engine.”