2017 LMP2 Spec Engine Open to Team-Specific Branding

Photo: John Dagys

LMP2 teams competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European and Asian Le Mans Series will be able to brand the new-for-2017 spec engine, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has revealed.

ACO Sporting Director Vincent Beaumesnil confirmed that the tender for the common powerplant to be used in the three championships will not feature manufacturer branding, opening the door for teams to badge the engines themselves.

“Being able to put different names on the engines can help teams to find partners and that’s where we are heading,” Beaumesnil told Endurance-Info. “We have already seen in the past and this was no problem.”

Beaumesnil said the tender for the spec LMP2 engine is aimed at independent tuners, such as the likes of AER and Judd, and not car manufacturers, which have previously supported the second-tier prototype ranks.

A decision on the engine tender is expected to be made in July, along with the selection of approved chassis constructors, which had initially been proposed as a limit of four manufacturers.

However, the ACO and FIA have yet to confirm an exact number.

“This figure was never mentioned by the ACO,” Beaumesnil said. “Discussions are ongoing and we can ay they are moving in the right direction.

“The presentation of the future regulations for LMP2 will be held at Le Mans. Each manufacturer must meet a certain specification.”

Beaumesnil said nothing has been decided on the possibility of branding chassis as well.

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