WEC: Strakka confirms plans to enter LMP1 in 2017 - MotorSportsTalk

Strakka Racing has confirmed its intention to enter the LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2017 season, coinciding with the planned regulation change in LMP2.

As of 2017, LMP2 cars in the WEC, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will use a chassis from one of four constructors that were named on Thursday.

Subsequently, Strakka has decided to make the step up to the LMP1 privateer class, which currently comprises of Rebellion Racing and Team ByKolles.

“Strakka Racing will develop a new LMP1 car for the team to run in the privateers’ category of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship,” a statement from the team reads.

“The car, the first to be designed in-house by the British team, will be built at its recently expanded facilities at Silverstone, to compete in the growing LMP1 Privateers’ category of the championship.

“The new car will draw upon advances in 3D printing and additive manufacturing that Strakka Racing has pioneered to shorten manufacturing lead times and reduce project costs, both of which are part of Strakka’s long-term business goals.”

Team principal Dan Walmsley confirmed that the regulation change in LMP2 prompted Strakka to rethink its endurance racing programme before deeming LMP1 to be the most suitable level.

“The 2017 LMP2 regulation changes that restrict the number of chassis manufacturers meant we had to evaluate our current business strategy and seriously look at projects that would enable us to draw on the experiences we have from our LMP2 car,” Walmsley said.

“After evaluating all the options, the LMP1 Privateers’ category now offers the best arena to create our own car, which we will use to showcase our growing knowledge of new design and manufacturing processes to build a cost effective car in the shortest timeframe.

“Strakka Racing is continuing to develop and this will be another step forward to becoming a true sustainable motorsports business.”

The team also confirmed that it would be using a Gibson chassis for the remainder of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship season whilst its home-built Strakka Dome S103 is used to help develop the LMP1 car.

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

Read more about SuperMotocross