Corsa Motorsports has been forced to delay the debut of the new hybrid engine that was set to appear on the American Le Mans Series grid this weekend at Road Atlanta.
Having elected to move from GT2 up to LMP1 with a Ginetta-Zytek 07S, the team had revealed plans to run the car with a hybrid engine, featuring a KERS system similar to that which will be introduced into
Formula One next season.
However, the debut of the hybrid engine has been delayed due to systems development and integration which the Corsa/Zytek works venture has placed into a hold because of the complexity of bringing forth the first ultra-hybrid powered car that will actually compete in a sanctioned event.
As a result, Johnny Mowlem, Gunnar Jeanette and Stefan Johansson will race in the Petit Le Mans using a regular 4.0 litre Zytek engine to continue getting to grips with prototype machinery.
“We're disappointed that we're not here competing with the hybrid system,” Steve Pruitt, team owner and principal, said. “We've worked closely with Zytek to prepare the equipment for the Petit event but unfortunately the hybrid portion of the package demands that the entirety of the hybrid components (the electric motor, inverter, battery, kinetic energy recovery system and attendant wiring, cooling and management systems) to be thoroughly tested.
“Although we are anticipating delivery and in-car testing, we believe Zytek has passed the first of our three-step requirements – safety. Reliability and competitiveness yet remain and the reliability component is being rigored on the Zytek dyno. From there, it will be our obligation to make the system competitive.”
The car will start 17th on the grid for the race.
