After completing its first high speed test at Leeds East Airport, Mecachrome takes off the cover of the Ginetta G60-LT-P1 and shows its V6 LMP1 engine for the first time.
Unveiled at the Autosport International Show on 11 January, the Ginetta LMP1 with Mecachrome’s newly developed direct-injection LMP1 engine, took to the Yorkshire runway to partake in several high-speed runs, as they prepare for the 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season.
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| © Chris Wallbank/Ginetta |
Pleased at the performance in these early stages, Mecachrome Motorsport Director, Bruno Engelric, said: “We have a great partnership with Ginetta and overall the installation went really well, especially when you consider before this project we had not worked together and are both discovering the LMP1 class.
“There’s a small adjustment to make regarding the position of multi-connection boxes. On the GP3 and F2 engines, they are under the plenums, but in this case, we have to move them up so that they’re more accessible. We expected this adaptation and this change will be made for testing later next month. We also have to make slight modifications to the alternator position, as right now its location is very tight and won’t work when the car goes over kerbs. We have a solution that is due to arrive towards the end of February, as we anticipated this issue.”
Ewan Baldry, Ginetta Cars Technical Director said: “We have really enjoyed working with Mecachrome Motorsport to date. It is clear that they are a very serious, professional and committed company. The packaging of the engine into the chassis has gone smoothly and initial testing runs have proven to be very encouraging. The Mecachrome Motorsport technical staff have been on hand at each of the test events to date, which has given a great feeling of collaboration. Clearly we have a long way to go, but we are confident and excited about what the future will bring.”
Following the initial shakedown, a thorough test plan is planned for the coming weeks ahead of the FIA WEC prologue at Paul Ricard in April and the season opening race in Spa-Francorchamps.