The Ginetta G60-LT-P1 is a non-hybrid Le Mans Prototype built by Ginetta for use in the LMP1 category for the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The G60-LT-P1 had its competition debut at the 2018 24 Hours Of Le Mans, after financial issues led to the withdrawal of the car at the initial round of the 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours Of Spa Francorchamps.
Development
Initial Development (Ginetta-Mecachrome)
On 4 January 2017, Ginetta announced a new LMP1 chassis, built to the 2018 LMP1 non-hybrid rules, and designed by Adrian Reynard, as well as Paolo Catone. The car would mark the return of Ginetta to the top tier of endurance racing, LMP1, 8 years after the previous LMP1 built by Ginetta, the Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S was made obsolete by the 2011 LMP1 regulations. The car was launched at the Autosport International 2018 motorsport tradeshow. The car was initially developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A 50% developmental scale model of the car also undertook several wind tunnel runs, at the Williams Advanced Engineering wind tunnel, with the initial runs being done in June 2017. The car was initially expected to undergo its first tests in September 2017, but it only underwent its first straight line test, at Leeds East Airport, on 19 January 2018. Prior to the 2018–19 FIA WEC Season, the car was also tested at Snetterton Circuit, as well as at Motorland Aragon.
Ginetta-AER
Following the cars debut at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, due to the refusal of Mecachrome to increase power output of the engine, and the engine being underpowered on its debut, Ginetta announced that it would part ways with Mecachrome, opting to install the AER P60B in place of the Mecachrome V634P1. The engine was successfully test fired on the car in early August.
In June 2019 a two car Ginetta-AER entry was announced for the 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship from Team LNT.
After the conclusion of its private testing programme at the Ciudad del Motor de Aragón, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and the Circuit Paul Ricard, Ginetta announced that both cars would be powered by upgraded AER P60C engines, replacing the AER P60B engines. It was also announced that both Ginettas were also set to appear at the 2019/20 FIA WEC Prologue test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain on 24 July 2019.
Competition history
2018–2019 FIA World Endurance Championship
Initially in October 2017, a Ginetta announced that it had sold 3 chassis to an unknown buyer, although plans for the sale subsequently fell through. Later, Manor Endurance Racing was announced to be purchasing 1 chassis, before a 2nd car was announced, with the cars to be run in collaboration with Talent Racing Sports, under the CEFC TRSM banner. However, on the planned debut of the cars at the 2018 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the cars sat out most of the Practice and Qualifying sessions, with the team initially refusing to disclose why. Subsequently, it was revealed by Ginetta that they had refused to release the cars to run, as the team had been late on its payments to Ginetta.
During the Test day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the cars were lacking in pace, even falling behind 2 LMP2s in the testing times, partly due to the fact that the car was not in low-drag trim. The cars qualified last in the LMP1 class, with the #5 falling behind 4 LMP2s. During the race, the #6 broke down after 9 hours, while the #5 finished the race, being the 2nd last classified finisher. However, it was subjected to post-race penalties, for drive time limits and was subsequently demoted to being the last classified finisher. Following the 24 Hours Of Le Mans, the #6 was originally supposed to continue its planned full-season program. However, due to the refusal of Mecachrome to increase engine power of the engine, and a late change of engine to the AER P60B, the car was unable to participate in the 6 Hours of Silverstone.