BR Engineering BR1

Last updated
BR Engineering BR1
SMP Racing BR Engineering BR1 Sarrazin Silverstone 2018.jpg
Category Le Mans Prototype
(LMP1)
Constructor BR Engineering (Dallara) [1]
Designer(s) Luca Pignacca [2]
Technical specifications [3]
Chassis Carbon fibre composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Independent double wishbones with adjustable dampers
Suspension (rear)Independent double wishbones with adjustable dampers
Engine AER P60B 2.4 L V6 turbocharged (SMP Racing)

Gibson GL458 4.5 L V8 naturally aspirated (DragonSpeed)
Transmission X-Trac 6-speed sequential manual
Power AER 2.4L V6 Turbo:
720 bhp (730 PS; 537 kW)

Gibson 4.5L V8 N/A:
700 bhp (710 PS; 522 kW)
Weight833kg (1836.5 lb)
Fuel Gazprom Energy
Gulf
Brakes Carbon Fibre Discs Ventilated
Tyres Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants Flag of Russia.svg SMP Racing
Flag of the United States.svg DragonSpeed
Notable drivers Flag of Russia.svg Mikhail Aleshin
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jenson Button
Flag of Brazil.svg Pietro Fittipaldi
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Hanley
Flag of Sweden.svg Henrik Hedman
Flag of Russia.svg Matevos Isaakyan
Flag of Russia.svg Egor Orudzhev
Flag of Russia.svg Vitaly Petrov
Flag of France.svg Stéphane Sarrazin
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Renger van der Zande
Flag of Australia (converted).svg James Allen
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Hartley
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stoffel Vandoorne
Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Sirotkin
Flag of Russia.svg Kirill Ladygin
Flag of Russia.svg Viktor Shaytar
Debut 2018 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
RacesWins Podiums Poles F/Laps
80500
Teams' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0
A DragonSpeed liveried BR Engineering BR1 LMP1 car, competing at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in 2018 Dragonspeed BR Engineering BR1 Hanley Silverstone 2018.jpg
A DragonSpeed liveried BR Engineering BR1 LMP1 car, competing at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in 2018

The BR Engineering BR1 is a sports prototype non-hybrid racing car built for the SMP Racing and DragonSpeed teams. [4] It is designed to meet the 2018 LMP1 regulations for Le Mans Prototypes in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The BR1 debuted at the 2018 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the first round of the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Contents

Development

SMP Racing were participating in the European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class, fielding a Dallara P217 chassis. In 2017, with the help of Dallara, BR Engineering and Russian university students designed and built a brand-new chassis, the BR1. [5] Mikhail Aleshin had an arm injury during the first test at Ciudad del Motor de Aragón due to car failure. [5] Prior the official launch at Bahrain the car was also tested by Kirill Ladygin, Vitaly Petrov, Viktor Shaytar and Sergey Sirotkin. [6]

Competition history

2018-19

For the 2018-19 super season, three BR1 chassis were entered; two by SMP Racing and one by DragonSpeed. The cars for the two teams differed by their engine choices; SMP utilizing AER-built P60B 2.4 litre V6 turbocharged engines and DragonSpeed utilizing the Gibson-made GL458 4.5 litre V8 naturally aspirated engine, the same engine used by Rebellion in their R13 prototypes.

The debut of the car at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was overshadowed by a qualifying accident involving DragonSpeed's driver Pietro Fittipaldi, in which he sustained fractures to both legs. The car suffered from an electrical problem which caused the car to lose control and run straight into the wall whilst climbing Raidillon and could not be entered into the race. [7] SMP Racing also had technical issues with their #17 entry. Despite this, their #11 entry was able to finish fifth in qualifying. [8] Come race time, car #17 was involved in an accident at the top of Raidillon which sent it flipping through the air. [9] The #11 managed to finish 5th overall.

At Le Mans, DragonSpeed's #10 BR1 crashed at the exit of the Porsche curves with roughly 7:40:00 left in the race, retiring it from the event. The #17 also had an accident at the Porsche curves, severely damaging its rear. Matevos Isaakyan attempted to get it running again but the engine was damaged beyond repair, stopping the car again after rolling for a few meters. The #11 experienced technical issues earlier in the race but was able to rejoin later, finishing in 14th overall and 5th in-class.

At Silverstone, the #11 SMP Racing BR1 experienced an engine failure, retiring it from the race. However, due to both Toyota hybrids being disqualified, the #17 finished third overall behind both Rebellion R13s. Dragonspeed's #10 experienced technical issues, causing it to finish 25th overall but still 4th in-class.

At Fuji, SMP's #17 BR1 lost its front right wheel after it became dislodged. It also experienced technical issues and had to be towed off the circuit. Despite this, the #11 finished 4th overall. Dragonspeed's #10 also developed technical issues and had to be towed off the circuit.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

YearEntrantClassDriversNo.12345678PointsPos
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
SPA
Flag of France.svg
24H
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of Japan.svg
FUJ
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
SHA
Flag of the United States.svg
SEB
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
SPA
Flag of France.svg
24H
2018 - 2019 Flag of the United States.svg DragonSpeed LMP1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Hanley 10DNSRet4Ret6RetRet8.55th
Flag of Sweden.svg Henrik HedmanDNSRet4RetRet
Flag of Brazil.svg Pietro Fittipaldi DNS
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Renger van der Zande Ret46RetRet
Flag of Australia (converted).svg James Allen Ret6
Flag of Russia.svg SMP Racing Flag of Russia.svg Mikhail Aleshin 115RetRet43333944th
Flag of Russia.svg Vitaly Petrov 5RetRet43333
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jenson Button RetRet43
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Hartley 3
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stoffel Vandoorne 33
Flag of France.svg Stéphane Sarrazin 17RetRet3RetNCNC4Ret2714th
Flag of Russia.svg Egor Orudzhev RetRet3RetNCNC4Ret
Flag of Russia.svg Matevos Isaakyan RetRetRetNC
Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Sirotkin NC4Ret

See also

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References

  1. Goodwin, Graham (17 November 2016). "BR Engineering, Dallara & ART Grand Prix Combine For New For 2018 BR1 LMP1 L Programme". dailysportscar.com. Dailysportscar. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. "New age of Russian motorsport as BR1 LMP1 is revealed for 2018/19 WEC". fiawec.com. FIA World Endurance Championship. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018. The presentation of BR1 was attended by many VIPs including Boris Rotenberg, founder and head of BR Engineering; Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO; Gérard Neveu, FIA WEC CEO; Luca Pignaca, Dallara chief designer; Dmitry Samorukov, SMP Racing CEO; and Russian motorsport development program SMP Racing drivers: Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov and Matevos Isaakyan.
  3. "BR1". www.brengineering.ru. BR Engineering. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  4. Smith, Luke (17 November 2017). "DragonSpeed Confirms BR1 Gibson for WEC". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 Dagys, John (23 November 2017). "Dallara-Built BR1 a "Completely New" Car". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. Smith, Luke (17 November 2017). "BR Engineering BR1 Unveiled". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  7. Dagys, John (4 May 2018). "Fittipaldi Airlifted to Hospital With Broken Legs". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  8. Dagys, John (4 May 2018). "Toyota Dominates Qualifying at Spa". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  9. Dagys, John (9 May 2018). "Video Emerges of Isaakyan's Wild Airborne Crash at Spa". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.