As reported on DSC over the COTA weekend Nissan were out in force, not just with Darren Cox attending to make announcements about the US, UK and Japanese bases for their forthcoming LMP1 programme, but also with plenty of NISMO engineering talent in evidence (though also in plain clothes).
The Nissan programme has meant that the development curve for the other factory teams will continue.
Toyota confirmed over the weekend that their plans for a new evolutionary 2015 car are well advanced. Guidance is though that they will not be budgeted for a third car at Le Mans, likely the only factory team not to do so.
Gary Watkins reported for Autosport this week that Porsche too are set to introduce a new car for 2015.
Both teams are understood to be investigating the potential for introducing the maximum permitted 8 mJ hybrid systems for 2015.
An effort to keep at least some of the potential development in check is to focus on the level of allowable testing by the LMP1 teams, a WEC working group of the teams agreeing to a limit of 50 days testing in 2015 with Nissan likely to be allowed 60 days as a new manufacturer to the hugely complex class.
The continuing development in the factory LMP1s is leaving the privateers struggling to keep the performance gap stable. Representations have apparently been made to the WEC organisers about the issue.
In addition to the new planned Onroak built LMP1-L contender at least one other new privateer car might well appear during 2015 (though more likely 2016) with a potential customer already in discussion about obtaining a car.
In LMP2 ESM’s surprise announcement about a further WEC outing, this time for both of their HPDs, at Shanghai, led to a flurry of questions and speculation about the potential for a full WEC effort in 215 with their new HPD Coupes. DSC currently believes that is currently not in the team’s plans (but neither is it entirely counted out) but that the current public statement of Le mans plus one pre-Le Mans race will likely morph into a more extensive WEC campaign.
ESM’s team for Shanghai meanwhile will include prospective future LMP2 team owner David Brabham.
There will not be a change to all-Pro crews in LMP2 for the WEC, the earlier proposal now rejected and avoiding the potential for a split LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
LMP2 grid numbers are currently set to be boosted to 5 for Fuji with the addition of an Oak Racing Morgan Judd, then 7 for Shanghai with the two ESM HPDs, back to 5 for Bahrain and 5 again for the season finale (no Morgan Judd but set to see the debut of the Strakka Dome 103).
Look out in the coming days for a major update on GTE prospects in FIA WEC and beyond on DSC.
The Corvette Racing one-off for COTA is currently unlikely to spawn a full season effort though it has real moral support from the team there is no immediate funding available. Efforts are though being made to investigate whether a funding package might be available.
