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Category | LMP3 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Constructor | Norma Auto Concept | ||||||
Designer(s) | Norbert Santos | ||||||
Successor | Duqueine D-08 | ||||||
Technical specifications [1] | |||||||
Chassis | carbon fiber monocoque | ||||||
Suspension (front) | Double wishbone Öhlins TTx dampers | ||||||
Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone Öhlins TTx dampers | ||||||
Length | 460 cm (460.0 cm) | ||||||
Width | 190 cm (190.0 cm) | ||||||
Height | 110 cm (110.0 cm) | ||||||
Wheelbase | 290 cm (290.0 cm) | ||||||
Engine | Nissan VK50VE - power 420 Hp - torque 550 Nm 5,000 cc (305.1 cu in) V8 | ||||||
Transmission | Xtrac six-speed Sequential manual transmission | ||||||
Weight | 900 kg (1,984.2 lb) | ||||||
Competition history | |||||||
Notable entrants | DKR Engineering Duqueine Engineering Oregon Team M.Racing - YMR Ultimate | ||||||
Debut | 2017 IMSA Prototype Challenge round 1 | ||||||
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The Norma M30 is an LMP3-spec sports prototype. The car is built by French constructor Norma Auto Concept and designed by company co-founder Norbert Santos. The Norma M30 won the 2017 Michelin Le Mans Cup in its debut year entered by DKR Engineering.
The LMP3 class was launched by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) in 2015. Five constructors were selected by the ACO to build chassis for the class. Besides Norma, ADESS, Ginetta, Ligier and Riley were selected. Ligier, ADESS and Ginetta launched their cars during the late 2015 and 2016 seasons. Norma launched their LMP3 prototype in February 2017. Nissan was appointed as the sole engine provider. The Nissan VK50VE engine produces 420hp. The engine was previously used in road going vehicles such as the Infiniti QX70. Romain Dumas tested the M30 at Nogaro and Pau Arnos. [2]
American driver Colin Thompson was the driver for the M30's racing debut. Thompson, racing with Kelly-Moss Road and Race, raced the car at Sebring International Raceway during the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend. After a troubled first race, Thompson finished second in the second race. The Norma M30 was only beaten by a Ligier JS P3, raced by Nico Jamin. [3]
In Europe the car competed in the 2017 European Le Mans Series, 2017 Michelin Le Mans Cup and other national series. Erwin Creed and Ricky Capo won the 2017 4 Hours of Monza with the Norma, entered by M.Racing-YMR. [4] In the Michelin Le Mans Cup, a supporting series to the European Le Mans Series, the LMP3 cars were the fastest on track. DKR Engineering, with Jean Glorieux and Alexander Toril, won three straight races. The team won also at Le Mans, Red Bull Ring and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The European Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The European Le Mans Series is similar to the former American Le Mans Series (ALMS) based in the United States and Canada that was running with ACO and IMSA between 1999 and 2013. ELMS team champions and runners-up receive an automatic entry to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Originally titled the Le Mans Endurance Series before becoming simply the Le Mans Series in 2006, the series was renamed once more in 2012, reusing a name previously utilized by IMSA in 2001.
A Le Mans Prototype (LMP) is a type of sports prototype race car used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, and Asian Le Mans Series. Le Mans Prototypes were created by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The technical requirements for an LMP include bodywork covering all mechanical elements of the car. As of 2023, there are two classes within Le Mans Prototypes, designated LMP2 and LMP3.
The IMSA SportsCar Championship, currently known as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship under sponsorship, is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada and organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). It is a result of a merger between two existing North American sports car racing series, the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series. At its inception, the name was United SportsCar Championship, which subsequently changed to IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2016. Rolex SA's Tudor brand was the championship's title sponsor in 2014 and 2015, and since 2016 WeatherTech has served as title sponsor.
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The Ligier JS P3 is an LMP3 Le Mans Prototype. It was created by Onroak Automotive, and named in partnership with former French driver Guy Ligier. It was built to meet ACO LMP3 standards, and is active in various LMP3 championships worldwide, such as the European Le Mans Series, IMSA Prototype Challenge, and the Asian Le Mans Series. The car has proven to be immensely popular in the category, with over 100 cars being produced since 2015. It has also proved to be one of the most successful prototypes in the class, with a total of 103 overall wins and class victories from 132 races entered by the car. It is set to be succeeded in 2020, by the Ligier JS P320, when new LMP3 regulations are set to come into place.
The Ginetta-Juno P3-15, also known as the Ginetta-Juno P3 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations. It was designed by Ewan Baldry, and built by Ginetta Cars. The car was the first car to launch, and run in the class, with it making its debut at the 2015 4 Hours of Silverstone. It subsequently formed the basis of the G57 P2, and the later G58. A direct successor to the P3-15, the G61-LT-P3, was developed to meet the new 2020 LMP3 regulations, while retaining the original tub utilised in the P3-15.
The Ligier JS P320 is an LMP3 Le Mans Prototype. It was created by Onroak Automotive, and named in partnership with former French driver Guy Ligier. It was built to meet ACO Generation II LMP3 standards, and can be built through an update kit for its predecessor, the Ligier JS P3. The car is set to be eligible in a series of Championships worldwide, such as the Michelin Le Mans Cup, Prototype Cup Germany, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, IMSA Prototype Challenge and IMSA SportsCar Championship. The car was launched on 4 June 2019, and was the first Gen II LMP3 to be revealed.
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The Ginetta G61-LT-P3 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations. It was designed, and built by Ginetta Cars. The car is the successor to the original Ginetta-Juno P3-15, which was the first LMP3 Prototype. The car can be built from its predecessor, and is set to be eligible in a series of Championships worldwide, such as the European Le Mans Series, and the IMSA Prototype Challenge. The car was launched on the weekend of the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, being publicly unveiled alongside its competitors.
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