Rebellion Could Use 2020-21 as “Development” Year for Hypercar

Photo: MPS Agency

Rebellion Racing could use the 2020-21 FIA World Endurance Championship season as a “development” season with its grandfathered LMP1 chassis fitted with a future Hypercar powertrain, according to Rebellion CEO Calim Bouhadra.

The Swiss squad, which is eyeing up an entry into the FIA and ACO’s new formula, is currently discussing a Hypercar entry with multiple manufacturers, although Bouhadra admitted it would be “not realistic” to have a full turn-key car on the grid for the launch season.

Instead, one of the options could be to have a hybrid-form of a LMP1/Hypercar for the first season.

“2020 is the goal but honestly 2020 is a dream,” Bouhadra told Sportscar365. “It’s too short. To build a car for 2020, I would say that is not realistic.

“The goal is to develop this car for 2020-21 but in 2020 to use the [LMP1] chassis, put in the engine of the manufacturer, try it, and use 2020 like a development program to arrive in 2021 with the joint venture we can do with the manufacturer.”

Bouhadra said he’s been in discussions with multiple manufacturers for its targeted Hypercar project, which could take a number of different forms.

It’s understood Rebellion’s current partner ORECA is also in the mix as a possible constructor for the project.

“My goal with the Hypercar is to collaborate with a manufacturer,” Bouhadra said. “There’s lots of opportunity it could happen for us.

“We can have a manufacturer that can build a chassis. We have a manufacturer who can build the engine, we can have a manufacturer [that can do] both or we can have a manufacturer with interest to collaborate with ORECA and bring an engine.

“Everything is possible. I have all of these solutions in front of me and we are discussing with all of these brands to see what is the good benefit for us.”

Bouhadra said he’s also had discussions with manufacturers on the prospect of running customer cars, presumably with Aston Martin, which has declared plans to make its Valkyrie hypercar available by as early as 2021-22.

“What is the strongest brand? What is the budget? There’s a lot of parameters to make our decision,” he said.

“One thing I will never put on the side is that if we compete in 2020-21, the [objective] is to win. So really, not doing any compromise on the fact that the car is one of the best.”

The team has committed at least one Rebellion R13 Gibson for the upcoming 2019-20 season, although has not ruled out its second car contesting selected races, amid budget constraints under the current LMP1 formula.

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