There are changes galore for the biggest full-season LMP2 grid on the planet with the introduction of a new Pro-Am sub-class for teams featuring a Bronze-ranked driver, and then, just days before the start of the season, a raft of performance-limiting changes as part of the ACO’s efforts to separate the LMP2s from the incoming WEC Hypercars.
Against the spec of the cars in 2020 there are three major changes. Engine power is down by 50 kw, weight is up by 20 kg to 950 kg and, from Round 2 in Austria, the cars will be mandated to run with the previously Le Mans-only bodywork spec., lower downforce and lower drag. It would be fair to say that many of the teams are less than happy with both the changes and their timing!
All cars will now run on Goodyear rubber different from that initially planned, the 2021 selection a blend of compounds that have been raced before during the current LMP2 rules cycle (from 2017) but with a new-for-2021 construction, over fears of drivability o the proposed 2021 tyres for the non-Pro drivers.
Each driver is listed below with their 2021 FIA grading and the fastest lap time they achieved at the two-day pre-season test at Circuit de Catalunya.
LMP2: 9 Cars
#22 United Autosports – ORECA 07 Gibson – Philip Hanson – 1:33.322 (G), Jonathan Aberdein – 1:35.195 (G). Tom Gamble – 1:35.804 (S)
The Championship-winning team returns with a very different-looking driver line-up.
Returning Champion Phil Hanson is now ranked as a Gold so will lead this line-up, joined by DTM refugee Jonathan Aberdein in his first LMP outings, and by Tom Gamble, who serves as the team’s Silver-ranked driver and is elevated to the LMP2 squad after helping the #2 Ligier to the LMP3 title last year.
#24 Algarve Pro Racing – ORECA 07 Gibson – Ferdinand Habsburg (G), Richard Bradley (G), Diego Menchaca (S) (Drivers did not drive at test)
In addition to the preparation and support for the two-car G-Drive effort, Algarve Pro Racing are also fielding a third Oreca under their own banner for reigning Asian Le Mans Series Champion Ferdinand Habsburg, joined by 2015 Le Mans LMP2 winner Richard Bradley and Silver-ranked ex GP3 racer, Mexican Diego Menchaca who arrives via a season with FFF in the Blancpain Endurance Cup in 2019.
The team are running with an all-new livery which pushes Habsburg’s backing for the ‘Drive Fast, Act Faster’ campaign to encourage carbon-neutral racing.
#26 G-Drive Racing – Aurus 01 Gibson – Roman Rusinov – 1:35.217 (G), Nyck de Vries (Not at Test) (P), Franco Colapinto – 1:34.445 (S)
Another potential title contender, G-Drive’s Aurus 01 badged effort moves to Algarve Pro Racing for 2021 and has already scored title-winning success in Asia.
Roman Rusinov returns once again of course but is joined in the #26 by an all-new supporting cast that will have the opposition shuffling nervously!
Nyck de Vries is a known force in LMP2 via his efforts for Racing Team Nederland and is being relied upon here to provide similar pace. He’s joined by the eye-opening teenage talent that is Argentinian Franco Colapinto, if his racecraft comes close to matching his pace then this will be the car to beat.
#28 Idec Sport – Oreca 07 Gibson – Paul Lafargue – 1:36.622 (S), Paul-Loup Chatin – 1:34.794 (G), Patrick Pilet – 1:35.859 (P)
The 2019 ELMS Championship-Winning team is looking to get back to form after a simply terrible season last year.
Paul Lafargue will be looking to re-find his footing, and Paul Loup Chatin will want a car capable of showing off his undoubted pace.
The addition to the story this year is the arrival of ex Porsche Factory Driver Patrick Pilet, a very late stand-in to spectacular effect for an injured Dwight Merriman at Le Mans last year, he’s been snapped up by IDEC Sport, this will be an effort to keep an eye on!
#30 Duqueine Team – Oreca 07 Gibson – Rene Binder – 1:34.707 (S), Tristan Gommendy – 1:34.829 (P), Memo Rojas (G) – 1:36.585
It’s a new look for Duqueine Engineering with new colours and two new drivers.
The #30 Oreca has a green look and the driver squad sees the return of the rapid and evergreen Tristan Gommendy alongside Silver-rated Rene Binder who impressed with consistency and pace in the Asian Le Mans Series (with G-Drive) were he took the title.
Double ELMS Champion Memo Rojas is back for more once again to try for a record third title with Duqueine looking to sweep away the frustrations of several seasons of ‘close but no cigar’.
#32 United Autosports – Oreca 07 Gibson – Job van Uitert – 1:34.830 (G), Nico Jamin – 1:36.293 (G), Manuel Maldonado – 1:37.054 (S)
It’s almost all-change too for United’s #32 car, the second-placed car last year looking to go one better with Job van Uitert the driver carried over from 2020.
Nico Jamin arrives from Panis Racing, and Duqueine before that, he has no lack of LMP2 experience and needs now to show his pace. Manuel Maldonado shares the positive outlook of his ex-F1 and WEC driver cousin and showed flashes of the family pace too in the Asian Le Mans Series helping to secure the LMP3 title for United Autosports.
#35 BHK Motorsports – Oreca 07 Gibson – Sergio Campana – 1:37.474 (G), Francesco Dracone – 1:37.518 (S), Markus Pommer – 1:36.338
The UK-flagged but Italian-based squad return for another crack at the ELMS having shown at least some flashes of speed last season. There’s a brand new look to the car and to the pit crew too with a number of the 360 Racing crew in evidence.
The team is trying to make a step, and they need to in this company!
#41 Team WRT – Oreca 07 Gibson – Robert Kubica – 1:33.991 (P), Louis Deletraz – 1:33.173 (G), Yifei Ye -1:35.376 (S)
WRT is an exciting addition to the full-season grid in 2021 with the Belgian team one of the world’s best in GT3. This effort sits alongside a parallel single-car WEC entry with both cars set to race at Le Mans too.
The driver squad is no less of a potential head-turner: Robert Kubica brings a solid Polish fan base with his undoubted talent, Louis Deletraz already had LMP race form as part of the Rebellion squad that finished fourth at Le Mans last season, and Silver-Ranked Chinese driver Yifei ye showed well and contributed fully to the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series title with G-Drive. This is a crew to watch!
#65 Panis Racing – Oreca 07 Gibson – Will Stevens – 1:34.864 (P), James Allen – 1:34.779 (G), Julien Canal – 1:34.673 (S)
Panis Racing has opted for stability going into 2021 and with the rapid Will Stevens and the still highly consistent (and still quick) Julien Canal that seems a very sensible policy. James Allen moves over to complete a trio that looks capable of being in the mix for podiums at least.
LMP2 Pro-Am: 7 Cars
#17 IDEC Sport – Oreca 07 Gibson – Dwight Merriman – 1:41.899 (B), Kyle Tilley – 1:37.316 (S), Ryan Dalziel – 1:35.639 (G)
Era Motorsport is the force behind this second IDEC Sport entry, the French team tempting Era back where they raced at Le Mans last year against a serious bid from Jota, who hosted the Era effort in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Dwight Merriman and Kyle Tilley also bring Ryan Dalziel over for the ELMS effort from their IMSA campaign, the Scot racing in a full season in Europe for the first time since Superleague Formula in 2008! He though has significant LMP2 form including the inaugural WEC class title with Starworks in 2012!
#21 DragonSpeed USA – Oreca 07 Gibson – Henrik Hedman – 1:38.955 (B), Ben Hanley – 1:33.682 (G), Ricky Taylor* – 1:34.825 (P)
*Round 1 Only
DragonSpeed is an ex ELMS title-winning squad and returns to their LMP racing roots with Henrik Hedman, still the only bronze-rated driver to win an ELMS race in the Gibson-powered LMP2 era, again paired with the mercurial Ben Hanley.
The third driver slot is, we are promised, set to be graced by a variety of ‘guest stars’, IMSA Champion Ricky Taylor certainly qualifies on that count!
#25 G-Drive Racing – Aurus 01 Gibson – John Falb – 1:38.102 (B), Pietro Fittipaldi – 1:34.694 (G), Rui Andrade (did not drive at test) (S)
The second G-Drive Aurus sees the rapid Bronze John Falb teamed with Rui Andrade who impressed in the Asian Le Mans Series on his LMP debut after single-seaters. Pietro Fittipaldi returns to LMP racing after his misadventures in DragonSpeed’s LMP1 two years ago, and after his double F1 appearance at the end of last season for Haas. An interesting combo for the Pro-Am class.
#29 Ultimate – Oreca 07 Gibson – Francois Heriau – 1:37.536 (B), Jean-Baptiste Lahaye – 1:37.245 (S), Matthieu Lahaye – 1:34.848 (G)
After COVID-19 interrupted their planned debut entry into the ELMS LMP2 class last year the previous LMP3 race-winning trio of Francois Heriau and brother Jean-Baptiste, and ex OAK Racing LMP1 and LMP2 star Matthieu Lahaye are ready to roll in their beautifully liveried Oreca.
#34 Racing Team Turkey – Oreca 07 Gibson – Salih Yoluc – 1:38.847 (B), Charlie Eastwood – 1:37.261 (G), Harry Tincknell – 1:34.872 (P)
One of the very interesting newcomers to the LMP2 class in 2021 is Racing Team Turkey, entered via TF Sport and with significant technical support from Jota.
This is Salih Yoluc’s first step into a contemporary LMP2 after sampling both LMP3 and LMP2 Am in previous seasons elsewhere. He’ll be sharing the team’s brand new Oreca with his 2020 WEC GTE AM team-mate Charlie Eastwood and LMP2 and DPI race winner Harry Tincknell.
If Salih finds his feet quickly the could be an effort to watch!
#37 Cool Racing – Oreca 07 Gibson) – Antonin Borga – 1:35.096 (S), Alexandre Coigny – 1:38.849 (B), Nicolas Lapierre – 1:33.494 (P)
New livery, and a new team operating the car, this time with Nico Lapierre himself at the helm, the Cool racing effort is in consolidation mode in 2021 with no WEC effort and no Le Mans entry, the regular trio have proved very capable together and it will be interesting to see how this well-established squad matches up in the new LMP2 Am field.
#39 Graff Racing – Oreca 07 Gibson – Vincent Capillaire – 1:36.691 (S), Arnold Robin – 1:38.871 (B), Maxime Robin – 1:36.167 (S)
An all-Sartheoise driver squad that is heading for Le Mans alongside this ELMS effort, but there are some unknowns here on season-long pace. Capillaire is capable of pushing on, but the competition here has real depth. We’re about to find out whether Graff’s 2021 picks can match it!
‘Innovative Car’
#84 La Filière Frédéric Sausset by SRT 41 ** – Oreca 07 Gibson – Takuma Aoki – 1:39.850 (S), Nigel Bailly (did not drive at test) (S), Pierre Sancinéna – 1:39.210 (S)
** car entered for pre-Le Mans races only
With a pair of ELMS outings before the Le Mans effort, there will be plenty of track-time for the team bound for Garage 56 at Le Mans to get their heads around the task in hand.
The car will be operated with assistance from both Oreca and Graff Racing with ex Moto GP rider Aoki San ad Nigel Bailly the two graduates from Fred Sausset’s academy effort to assist more physically impaired drivers into international motorsport.
Third (and able-bodied) driver Sancinèna is currently slated for the ELMS races only.
