CHRYSLER AND ORECA ANNOUNCE NEW LMP

Chrysler Team ORECA will continue to field two of the most successful endurance racing drivers of all time in 2001, as Olivier Beretta and Yannick Dalmas sign to drive the new Mopar-powered 6.0-litre V8 prototype in the 69th running of the Le Mans 24Hours.


The news comes as ORECA unveils the Dallara-penned LMP prototype that it hopes will allow it to challenge the likes of Audi and Panoz at the head of the sportscar grid this year.

The team intends to build on the success that it achieved with Chrysler's Viper GTS R/T, the car that won three consecutive FIA GT championships, three class victories at Le Mans, two American Le Mans Series titles and outright victory at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona last year The development of the Chrysler LMP is a progression from the high-volume production car GTS class to the specialised LMP900 prototype division as Chrysler and Team ORECA seeks, for the first time, outright victory at Le Mans against some of the largest and most prestigious manufacturers in the world.

This year's Le Mans prototype has been designed and developed by Chrysler's engineers in Auburn Hills, Detroit, in association with the Signes-based French ORECA Team and with significant input from Italian chassis specialists Dallara. Chrysler's performance parts division, Mopar, has been instrumental in the development of the 6.0-litre V8 engine, utilising design and manufacturing facilities in Detroit.












The 6.0-litre Mopar V8 engine has already achieved success in its previous guises, first as a 1,800bhp drag-racing engine, and then in an 800bhp version for the World of Outlaws dirt track series.

The unit won championships in both disciplines before a plan was conceived to develop it into an endurance engine. In association with the engineers of Mopar, Chrysler's performance parts division, and ORECA, engine tuner John Caldwell became involved in developing the 6.0-litre V8. The engine shares the same aluminium block as its two predecessors and hit the track late in 1999 in preparation for the 2000 Le Mans 24 hours.

The team of engineers set about producing a 5.0-litre engine before it was decided that rule changes would better suit a 6.0-litre. The changes were swiftly implemented and the engine was tested, producing around 585bhp with the necessary Le Mans restrictors.

"Of course, running on a dyno is completely different to running in a race car, and different again to running in a race," says Caldwell.

The early engine formed a basis to make swift progress with a redesign making it more compact and technically simpler in time for its race debut at Le Mans. The team of engineers redesigned the front of the unit to reduce the number of belts and thus the size of the unit. The engine was reduced in weight from 400lbs to 380lbs and this year's unit is another 5lbs lighter.

At Le Mans itself, one engine ran right through the 24 hours, completing nearly 4000kms, and took the flag together with the three Chrysler Viper Team ORECA Viper GTS R/Ts, needing just a throttle and alternator repair. The other engine suffered an oil pressure problem early in the race at the daunting 13.6-mile circuit near the Loire valley.

The fact that last year Chrysler's LMP900 completed nearly 4000kms at Le Mans, a significant achievement on its open-top prototype debut, provided Chrysler's motor racing programmes with a platform on which to base development for high performance production car parts.

Beretta, the reigning American Le Mans Series GTS-class drivers champion, has renewed his contract with ORECA, the team with which he has won four prestigious titles in the last three years on both sides of the Atlantic, at the wheel of a Chrysler Viper GTS R/T, while Dalmas, a four-time winner at Le Mans with Peugeot, McLaren, Porsche and BMW, last year signed a two-year contract with Chrysler Team ORECA at Le Mans.












CHRYSLER LE MANS PROTOTYPE MOPAR ENGINE 
Engine

Capacity: 6.0-litre, 90° V8
Construction: Aluminium alloy block, Mopar aluminium heads
Bore and stroke: 4.1in. x 3.3in. (104.1mm x 83.8mm)
Valve gear: 2 valves per cylinder, modified Mopar crankshaft; Pushrod valve actuation with T&D rocker
arms
Pistons: CP Pistons, Carillo rods
Lubrication system: BDE oil pump with 1 pressure and 5 scavenge stages
Engine management: Bosch 
Engine weight: 170kg (375lbs)

Dimensions: 

Height: 60.7cm (23.9in.)
Width: 59.7cm (23.5in.)
Length: 62.9cm (24.75in.)


CHRYSLER LE MANS PROTOTYPE CHASSIS 

Chrysler LMP 2001 specifications. 

Chassis

Type: LMP 900 ACO spec, sport-prototype car
Construction: Carbon composite monocoque, nose box,
and bodywork
Drivetrain: Longitudinal rear engine, rear wheel drive

Dimensions:
Length: 4650mm (183.7in.)
Width: 1998mm (78,7in.)
Height: 1060mm (41.5in.)
Front Track: 1630mm (63.9in.)
Rear Track: 1590mm (63.3in.)
Weight: 900kg (1984.5lbs)                 

Fuel Capacity: 90 litres
Gearbox: Xtrac six speed sequential
Clutch Type: Tilton carbon clutch
Suspension front and rear: Independent double wishbone suspensions, steel fabricated ventilated
uprights, steel fabricated 
shock absorbers; dynamic coil-over dampers, operated by push-rod, four-way adjustable in bump and
rebound

Wheels: OZ centre-locked, one-piece forged magnesium
Size: 13.5in.x18in. front, 14.5in.x18in. rear
Tyres: Michelin Radial X
Size: 33x65x18 front, 36x71x18 rear
Brakes: Brembo six piston racing calipers front and rear; Carbone Industrie 380mm (15in.) carbon discs
front with carbon pads; 355mm (14in.) carbon discs rear with carbon pads



Chrysler LMP Track Photos

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Last updated Jan.16,2001