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Perrinn LMP1 Project Returns, Two Cars Sold for 2018

Two Perrinn LMP1 chassis sold for 2018, project reappears…

Photo: Perrinn

Photo: Perrinn

The Perrinn LMP1 project has resurfaced after originally being announced in 2014, with an announcement coming on Thursday that a European team has purchased two chassis to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year.

The UK-based constructor revealed plans for an open-source LMP1 car three years ago, with a 2015 debut originally planned.

However, the project was eventually put on standby, until Nicolas Perrin brought the program back earlier this year.

The as-yet-unnamed car is expected to be revealed in November, ahead of testing, which will start in December.

Design work on the LMP1 non-hybrid prototype is already completed, while preliminary crash tests have also taken place.

The rolling chassis has been priced at £1.2 million ($1.56 million), which is cheaper than Ginetta’s similar 2018 LMP1 car which will cost £1.34 million ($1.74 million).

“Increased support and stability from the FIA and ACO, coupled with programs from other manufacturers has meant we’ve had a lot of discussions with teams seeking more freedom than the new LMP2 category,” said Perrin.

“LMP1 offers a route to progress from an engineering and pace point of view. In just a few short months, the program has progressed very quickly to the point where we’ll have two cars plus enough spares to build another car within six months.

“We have ensured we have capacity to do more should some of our other discussions develop.”

The identity of the European team that has purchased the two cars has yet to be revealed.

Perrin has again stressed the importance of the project’s open-source nature, which was one of the defining aspects when the program was first announced.

“I am using open source as a way to focus resources and talents around our project,” he said.

“I want Perrinn to achieve success at Le Mans by becoming a much bigger organization than it can be if we limit ourselves to a centralized closed company.

“Our workforce is decentralized and global. Our team is open and accessible.”

Perrinn joins Ginetta and a joint project between Dallara and BR Engineering in developing non-hybrid LMP1 chassis for next year, with a grid that could now see up to eight cars in the LMP1 Privateer ranks.

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.

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