The global race debut of the four 2020 LMP3 cars is edging closer. With that in mind, DSC has been working on a four-part series analysing the current state of each of the new chassis. Yesterday, Part 3 looked at the Ginetta G61-LT-P3, today Part 4 covers the Adess 03 Evo.
Stephane Chosse’s ambitions for the 03 Evo are refreshingly modest. The Portugal-based manufacturer is working hard to ensure it can provide customers with a strong, cost-effective package. Currently, it is still searching for a team to carry forward the programme through its developmental phase and compete in the European Le Mans Series next year.
The last time DSC saw the car, it was on display at the European Le Mans Series finale at Portimao back in October. The 03 Evo was seen by many prospective customers over the weekend, but did not test in the post-season test organised by United Autosports alongside Duqueiene and Ligier’s new chassis.
Why? Chosse told DSC that “key members of the engineering staff were unavailable to run the cars.” So instead, Adess chose to focus on private testing. It is clear that the team behind the scenes are keen to pick and choose their moments to show off the car carefully.
Since Portimao, the car has been out testing, though it is not known just how much mileage it has racked up since its shakedown at Algarve back in September. The levels of performance too are a somewhat of a mystery at this point, though more details on its capabilities are expected to emerge over the winter.
What is the plan for the car now? It will be on display during the GT4 South European Series meeting at Estoril this weekend before it heads to Ascari for an important test.
In Spain, at the Ascari circuit, the Adess development chassis will be running with two potential customer teams present, and four drivers. Following that, Adess will head to Barcelona for further running during December for multiple days of track time.
After making various minor tweaks to the chassis at the request of the ACO since September, the car has now been fully homologated. Adess now moves on, pleased that its 03 Evo has been designed, built, shaken down and homologated on schedule.
“We have two cars in build, which will be completed by the end of this year, early next year,” Chosse told DSC. “We also have the capacity to build two more in that time if there is demand, to bring the total number of chassis produced to five.
“We are working really hard. We know we have to play catch up, like Ginetta does, to Ligier and Duqueine. But we are positive, we are in talks with multiple teams. We hope to bring you more news about the car very soon.”
In related news, Adess’ is continuing to spend a significant amount of time and energy with those associated with the H24 project. DSC understands that Adess’s relationship with Green GT, H24, the ACO and TOTAL is set to continue into 2020.
Next year, the plan, as previously written on DSC, is for a hydrogen-powered H24 LMP3 car (using an Adess chassis as the base) to race in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, building on the LMPH2G’s appearances at Spa and Portimao this year.
So there we have it, DSC’s update on the four chassis.
At this stage, three of the four 2020 LMP3 chassis are now homologated following a two-day meeting in Le Mans last week. Last Thursday, the new cars from Ligier, Adess and Ginetta were all present for inspection by the ACO, before an LMP3 Technical Working Group meeting on Friday.
Duqueine’s D08 was the only car not present, telling DSC that it wasn’t mandatory. It did have representatives at the Working Group meeting on the Friday though. The status of the D08’s homologation is currently unknown.
LMP3 2020 is almost here, though there is still plenty more testing and work behind the scenes required from all four marques over the winter.
When will customers begin running them? The first customer deliveries are expected to take place as early as next week, by Ligier, which plans to hand over five cars to teams before the end of this month. From then on, the dominoes will begin to fall.
Missed the earlier parts to this story? Click the links below:
PART 1: LIGIER’S JS P320 | PART 2: DUQUEINE’S D08 | PART 3: GINETTA’s G61-LT-P3
