[WEC] Rebellion Racing

[Hawkwood]

I'll be honest, I don't see either of those two things as an issue at all.

Oreca is a business. If a customer is willing to pay for something to be altered, Oreca will alter it.

And the ACO didn't see Rebellion's Toyota engine as any sort of works effort. I don't know why they'd see the Nissan engine any differently.

[Akrapovic]

ORECA won't care what engine is in the back. They currently supply LMP2s to customers who use Nissan engines. And since Toyota isn't selling anything to Rebellion anymore, it doesn't matter what goes in the back. I highly doubt Toyota have a "don't work with other Japanese manufacturers in other classes" clause with ORECAs organisation.

I also don't see why it would be considered a works Nissan effort just because the engine originated in a failed LMP1. The DeltaWing wasn't a works Aston Martin effort just because it came the chassis came from the AMR-One.

[TF110]

Yeah it makes little sense to Oreca to not be allowed another Japanese engine just because HDC is in the Toyota garages.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I also don't see why it would be considered a works Nissan effort just because the engine originated in a failed LMP1. The DeltaWing wasn't a works Aston Martin effort just because it came the chassis came from the AMR-One.

Because they would probably want to slap giant NISSAN stickers on the entire sides of the Oreca and to rebrand the team as Rebellion Nissan Racing or something?

(not that such camouflage would really matter)

[wolfhound]

I see Rebellion will be in LMP2 next year. Is that the death of private LMP1?

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/r...n-2017-835475/

[Ephaeton]

Now the stage's set for Rebellion to be at the Daytona 24...

[JPS66]

Will Sebah still run the Rebellion cars next year?
TDS Racing gets some Rebellion sticker this season and is already running P2...

[Damian Baldi]

Well, this is not a surprise. The P1-L have no sense with just two teams, the P2 going faster and cheaper, and the P1-H extremely faster.

I would love to see Rebellion at Daytona and other IMSA races, plus at the WEC.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

Now the stage's set for Rebellion to be at the Daytona 24...

I'd guess at least at the Roar to treat their new toy and see what things look like. And maybe test some drivers. Could they run their current line up in LMP2, WEC or ELMS? Know nothing about most of their line up from 2016.

[Deleted]

God damn it.

Having them run proam spec Oreca-Zyteks against proam spec Oreca-Zyteks and Onroak-Zyteks at Le Mans is gonna be dire.

Thanks for the run Rebellion, but it's over.

[TheMightyM]

Here’s the big question to which we don’t yet know the answer: Two months ago, Rebellion said that it would be back in the WEC in 2017 in LMP1. So what happened between then and now to convince Rebellion to step down to LMP2?

[chernaudi]

Cheaper route, already have connections with Oreca, and their current driver line up in their one remaining car is current LMP2 legal (?).

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Cheaper route, already have connections with Oreca, and their current driver line up in their one remaining car is current LMP2 legal (?).

And all that was true two months ago. So why the change of direction now?

[Damian Baldi]

I think is just money. Teams always say something positive, because there are sponsors and partners behind. I'm sure they made a detailed calculation about cost-benefit to stay on P1 and then decided that is not the best to stay, as simpel as that. Next year the P2 will be almost as fast as the current P1-L at a lower price, so, why to stay on P1-L racing against a poor team as ByKolles? Now, they are free to race at IMSA and WEC if they upgrade the Oreca to 7 spec and fight for real victories.

Today Boris Bermes from ByKolles said that they will keep running next year, but I'm almost sure they won't. But they can't say today they won't next year.

[bentley speed 8]

I believe they have gone to LMP2 mostly because next year the LMP2 cars are getting faster, and fielding a slower, more expensive and potentially less reliable LMP1 car is pointless.
I do think they will probably return to LMP1 IF it becomes viable again.

Now that leaves Bykolles alone. Wonder what they will do?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

I believe they have gone to LMP2 mostly because next year the LMP2 cars are getting faster, and fielding a slower, more expensive and potentially less reliable LMP1 car is pointless.
I do think they will probably return to LMP1 IF it becomes viable again.

Now that leaves Bykolles alone. Wonder what they will do?

That's how I see it too. They want to run in LMP1-L, but why spend a lot of money to be slower than a sped up P2 class? It just doesn't make sense.

[truebeliever]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

That's how I see it too. They want to run in LMP1-L, but why spend a lot of money to be slower than a sped up P2 class? It just doesn't make sense.

I think it still remains to be seen "IF" the new P2, will be that much quicker after all? Does the Gibson have the power they say it does, as it seems a little optimistic to think so from the size and heritage.

[LC2guy]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

Now that leaves Bykolles alone. Wonder what they will do?

Buy a Bigger Trophy Cabinet ?

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

Now that leaves Bykolles alone. Wonder what they will do?

They have said they will continue.

[bentley speed 8]

Well Rebellion themselves were planning to continue, and according to what they said, they parked the #12 to focus on development for next year's car...

[pach233]

I've been rooting for Rebellion for years now and have been a huge supporter of them challenging in P1 and continuing on in the spirit of Pescarolo, Racing for Holland etc. However, with the new P2 regs, I think this is the right move for them. If I were them, I'd be taking a long hard look at running in IMSA or at least the NAEC alongside whatever they are doing in Europe.

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by pach233

If I were them, I'd be taking a long hard look at running in IMSA or at least the NAEC alongside whatever they are doing in Europe.

I don't think a full IMSA attack is feasible (logistics/date wise), but with the freed up budget they should be able to do NAEC and possibly ELMS on top. Curious to read about their further plans.

[Maelochs]

How will ByKolles feel if they are the only car in class and still never win because they can't finish a race?

P1-L sounds pretty dead to me. It was always pretty much of a zombie class, anyway ...

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

How will ByKolles feel if they are the only car in class and still never win because they can't finish a race?

P1-L sounds pretty dead to me. It was always pretty much of a zombie class, anyway ...

That 70% race distance is a mighty goal for them.

[Coach Ep]

Chassis availability might affect an potential entry to the early IMSA NAEC races (not to mention the WEC test days directly after the Sebring 12H...) and sounds like a big factor unless they put in order some time ago to get to the front of the line (???).