Strakka, Dome Join Forces for LMP2 Program

Image: Strakka Racing

Strakka Racing and Dome announced Tuesday a new partnership that will see the two organizations team up to develop and market a brand-new LMP2 car that will initially be entered in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.

The British squad, which has campaigned HPDs for the last six years in sports car competition, will make the switch to the new Strakka Dome S103-Nissan for 2014, a new collaborative project from the Japanese manufacturer.

Dome’s new closed-top prototype is derived from its S102.5LMP1 car, which was fielded by Pescarolo Team in last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French squad had since gone into administration for the second time.

“Strakka Racing’s results at Le Mans and performances in both the Le Mans Series and World Endurance Championship racing have impressed us, and our joint sports car racing expertise will enable us to maximize the car’s full potential,” said Dome President Hiroshi Fushida.

“We are confident the Strakka Dome S103 will become a very competitive and desirable cost-capped LMP2 race car.”

Strakka’s new program comes after withdrawing mid-season from the WEC in order to focus its resources on its 2014 program.

It’s understood the team had initially been evaluating options to remain in LMP1, but ultimately decided to commit to a new manufacturer partnership in the cost-capped prototype ranks.

“Our new partnership with Dome signals an exciting new chapter in the history of Strakka Racing and reinforces our commitment to sportscar racing,” said team manager Dan Walmasley.

“Following the difficult decision not to compete in the remaining races of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship, we’ve focussed on the engineering challenge of building and testing a brand new car ahead of the start of the 2014 season, with the opening race of the WEC only five months away.

“It’s a very tight schedule, but between Strakka Racing and Dome, we’re confident we have the best team of skilled engineers to hit our targets and to debut a fast, reliable and competitive car.”

No specific timeline has been set for the on-track testing debut of the Strakka Dome S103.

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