Dallara SP1
Encyclopedia
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
built by Italian firm Dallara
Dallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
. Initially used as part of Chrysler Corporation's attempt to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, the cars were later sold to customers for use series such as the FIA Sportscar Championship
FIA Sportscar Championship
The FIA Sportscar Championship was a sports car racing series created by John Mangoletsi and was eventually taken control of by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It was a series similar to the FIA GT Championship, concentrating on two classes of open-cockpit sports prototypes in...
and Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
.
Development
Following Dallara's work in constructing the Toyota GT-OneToyota GT-One
The Toyota GT-One was a racing car initially developed for grand touring style rules, but later adapted into a Le Mans prototype. It raced in the 1998 and 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans.-History:...
in 1998, Audi R8R in 1999, and Audi R8 in 2000, the company decided to use their expertise to develop their own Le Mans Prototype
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
for the LMP900 class in 2001, specifically for use by customer teams as an alternative to the factory-backed efforts.
While the design of the SP1 was still being completed, Chrysler Corporation was in the process of expanding their Le Mans program. Following years of success with their Chrysler Viper GTS-R
Chrysler Viper GTS-R
The Chrysler Viper GTS-R was a successful racing variant of the Dodge Viper developed in conjunction with Chrysler of North America, Oreca of France, and Reynard Motorsport of the United Kingdom. Officially unveiled at the 1995 Pebble Beach Concours, it has won numerous championships and famous...
program, including three class wins, Chrysler had begun development work in the use of a Le Mans Prototype, including running two Reynard prototypes in 2000. For 2001 Chrysler, with partner Oreca
Oreca
Oreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
, decided to concentrate solely on prototypes, ending their Viper program. Looking for a more capable car to replace the Reynard, Chrysler approached Dallara and decided to use the SP1 that Dallara was still in the process of completing. With a partnership agreed upon, the cars became known as Chrysler LMPs, and would use a Mopar
Mopar
Mopar is the automobile parts and service arm of Chrysler Group LLC. The term was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and has been in continuous use ever since. Mopar parts are original equipment manufactured parts for Chrysler vehicles...
6.0L V8. Oreca assisted Dallara in the development of the SP1 chassis, leading to its chassis using the designation DO (Dallara-Oreca).
Following Chrysler's withdrawal from the program, the Mopar V8 would be replaced by Judd
Judd (engine)
Judd is a name brand of engines produced by Engine Developments Ltd., a company founded in 1971 by John Judd and Jack Brabham in Rugby, Warwickshire, England...
V10s, ranging from 4.0 litres to 5.0 litres, for use by privateers. In 2005, Rollcentre Racing would install a turbocharged Nissan VQ V6
Nissan VQ engine
The VQ is a V6 piston engine produced by Nissan with displacements varying from 2.0 L to 4.0 L. It is an aluminum block DOHC 4-valve design with aluminum heads. It is fitted with Nissan's EGI/ECCS sequential multi-point fuel injection system...
based on a JGTC
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
unit, in an agreement with Nissan Motorsports
Nismo
Nismo is the motorsports and performance division of Nissan Motor Company. Formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departments, Nismo cars have participated in JSPC, Formula Nippon, JTCC, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona...
for testing the possible use of the engine in a customer program. The project would however be considered a failure. An X-Trac 6-speed semiautomatic gearbox unit would be used throughout the history of the SP1, although it was upgraded in 2005 by Rollcentre to use a paddle-shift system.
The SP1's design was very different from prototypes like the Audi R8, using many curved design elements including a large, rounded nose and footbox and sweeping fenders. The SP1 also featured a large air intake nacelle located on the side of the chassis, although this was later moved to a more tradition location on top near the rollover hoop. The design would also incorporate the use of multiple dive plans, including the first use of some on the nose. Later, vertical boards would be added to the rear tail in order to help increase downforce in conjunction with the rear wing.
Racing history
As part of their deal with Chrysler, Dallara promised to provide three SP1s for use in the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans2001 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 69th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 16 and 17 2001.On recommendation of the FIA following the incidents involving the Mercedes-Benz CLRs in 1999, the large hill on the third section of the Mulsanne straight was lowered in order to decrease the...
. However, in preparation for their Le Mans debut, Chrysler used the new European Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
The European Le Mans Series was a sports car endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans that was created in 2000 and ran its only season in 2001 before being cancelled. It was created by Don Panoz as an expansion on his successful American Le Mans Series run by IMSA...
for an opportunity to test their new car in competition. Appearing at Donington Park
2001 ELMS at Donington Park
The 2001 ELMS at Donington Park was the second race for the 2001 European Le Mans Series season as well as the third race of the American Le Mans Series season...
, the Chrysler LMP managed to qualify in fourth place behind three Audi R8s. Mechanical problems, however, saw the car finish well down the order, nearly 40 laps behind the winning R8s.
With more testing following their debut at Donington, the team was able to improve and the three Chrysler LMPs appeared at Le Mans showing some speed. One of the three entries managed to take the sixth fastest qualifying time (Olivier Beretta driving), beating out both of the Bentley EXP Speed 8
Bentley Speed 8
The Bentley Speed 8 was a Le Mans Prototype race car that was designed by Peter Elleray. EXP Speed 8 debuted in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001, the Speed 8 car finally winning in 2003...
s. During the race itself, the Chryslers were able to remain in the top ten for most of the race until mechanical woes took out one entry halfway through the race. In the final hours, while running fourth and fifth, another Chrysler LMP suffered a fire on the Mulsannes straight, taking it out of the race. The lone remaining Chrysler was left to take a fourth place finish, 23 laps behind the winning Audi R8.
Even with a fourth place finish in their debut, Chrysler Corporation decided that the Le Mans project was no longer fruitful, and they canceled the entire program at the end of 2001. Chrysler's partner, Oreca
Oreca
Oreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
, decided to continue on with the program as a privateer, replacing the Mopar V8 engines with Judd
Judd (engine)
Judd is a name brand of engines produced by Engine Developments Ltd., a company founded in 1971 by John Judd and Jack Brabham in Rugby, Warwickshire, England...
GV4 V10s. Although purchasing three SP1s, Oreca decided to use a two-car effort for Le Mans while the third car would be used in the FIA Sportscar Championship
FIA Sportscar Championship
The FIA Sportscar Championship was a sports car racing series created by John Mangoletsi and was eventually taken control of by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It was a series similar to the FIA GT Championship, concentrating on two classes of open-cockpit sports prototypes in...
. In the first race of the season, the SP1 showed its potential by finishing second behind a Pescarolo Sport
Pescarolo Sport
Pescarolo Sport is a motorsport team based in Le Mans, France and founded in 2000 by French racing driver Henri Pescarolo. They race in the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In October 2007, Henri Pescarolo purchased Jacques Nicolet's Saulnier Racing and created Pescarolo Automobiles,...
, then followed this up by gaining its first win at Autódromo do Estoril
Autódromo do Estoril
The Autódromo do Estoril is a race course in Portugal, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública. Its length is . It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996....
. For Le Mans, the SP1s continued to show the pace they had in 2001, taking the fourth fastest qualifying time behind the trio of R8s. In the race itself, both SP1s performed well, remaining immediately behind the leading R8s and Bentley
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
for the entire race, finishing in fifth and sixth place overall, both cars 16 laps behind the winner. Oreca would not continue with the SP1s, deciding to take a brief hiatus from prototypes to work on other projects.
Besides Oreca's efforts, one of Chrysler's former SP1s was purchased by American team Doran Racing for use in the Grand American Road Racing Championship
Grand American Road Racing Association
GRAND-AM Road Racing or GRAND-AM is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America...
, with drivers Didier Theys
Didier Theys
Didier Theys is an Belgian sports car driver. He is a two-time overall winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona ; a winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring ; the Sports Racing Prototype driver champion of the Grand-American Road Racing Association and the winner of the 24 Hours of Spa...
and Mauro Baldi
Mauro Baldi
Mauro Baldi is an Italian former Formula One driver who raced for the Arrows, Alfa Romeo and Spirit teams.He started his career in rallying in 1972 and turned to circuit racing in 1975 with the Italian Renault 5 Cup...
. Doran's SP1, which was lightly modified to meet the SRP regulations yet would install the Judd GV4 (later upgraded to a GV5) like Oreca, was a championship contender in the series. In its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
, the Doran took the overall win by six laps, earning the Dallara its first victory. Doran would continue with their winning ways by taking the next two rounds at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
and California Speedway
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
, with a final victory on the season at Mont-Tremblant. Doran would end up taking second place in the teams championship, a mere nine points behind Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
. Doran would also make an appearance at the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
' 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
, although it would fail to finish due to an accident.
For 2003, Doran would be the only ones to use a Dallara SP1. Due to changing Grand Am regulations, the team would not return. Instead, the team would turn to the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
, starting the season at the 2003 12 Hours of Sebring
2003 12 Hours of Sebring
The 2003 12 Hours of Sebring was the 51st running of this event, and took place on March 15, 2003. This was also the opening race of the 2003 American Le Mans Series season.-Official results:Class winners in bold...
. The car would manage a seventh place finish, again just behind a trio of Audi R8s and a duo of Bentley V8s, with a lone Panoz
Panoz
Panoz Auto Development is an American manufacturer of high-performance automobiles founded in 1989 by Dan Panoz, son of pharmaceutical and motorsport mogul Don Panoz. The company is located in Braselton, GA. Panoz products have included the Panoz Roadster and AIV Roadster, and the Panoz Esperante...
managing to beat out the privateer Dallara. The next two rounds saw Doran taking a fifth place finish, then a fourth. The team did not return for the rest of the season, though, quickly ending Dallara's involvement in 2003.
For 2004, two SP1s would be purchased by new team Rollcentre Racing of the United Kingdom. Rollcentre would debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring
2004 12 Hours of Sebring
The 2004 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring was the 52nd running of this auto racing event, and took place on March 20, 2004. This was also the opening race of the 2004 American Le Mans Series season.-Official results:Class winners in bold...
, continuing the strong performance of SP1s at Sebring by taking fifth place. Rollcentre would then concentrate on the new Le Mans Endurance Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
, earning a best finish of fifth place at Monza and taking eighth place in the teams championship. For Le Mans, Rollcentre entered a lone car, and performed well until they were taken out in a large accident for team owner Martin Short caused by damage from a previous accident. Another SP1 had also been bought in 2004, by Italian squad Spinnaker Clandesteam, for use in the Le Mans Endurance Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans. This came to a quick end after the first race of LMES saw the car fail after twenty laps; the team withdrew their Le Mans entry and were dissolved.
Nismo
Nismo is the motorsports and performance division of Nissan Motor Company. Formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departments, Nismo cars have participated in JSPC, Formula Nippon, JTCC, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona...
to experiment with the engine to test the possibility of Nissan providing it as a customer unit in the future. Rollcentre would also upgrade the SP1's gearbox with a paddle-shift unit. Rollcentre decided to debut their Nissan-powered SP1 at the 12 Hours of Sebring
2005 12 Hours of Sebring
The 2005 12 Hours of Sebring was the 53rd running of this event, and took place on March 19, 2005. The race was sponsored by Mobil 1 and was the opening race of the 2005 American Le Mans Series season run by IMSA.-Official results:...
, although the car would fail to finish due to problems with the new gearbox system. Back in Europe, Rollcentre's Judd-powered car would have strong performances, including three straight podium finishes, earning the car fourth place in the teams championship. The Nissan-powered car suffered various problems throughout the season, however, scoring no points until Nissan officially ended the project and a Judd engine was placed back in the car. For Le Mans, both cars were entered, with the Nissan-powered car yet again failing to finish, while the Judd-powered SP1 took a distant 16th place finish.
Following the 2005 season, Le Mans Prototype
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
regulations were changed, leaving the SP1s no longer legal. Although extensive modification could have allowed the SP1 to become legal in 2006, Rollcentre Racing decided to switch to a new car in a new class. Thus the Dallara SP1s career came to an end.
Chassis history
A total of six Dallara SP1s were built, with three being known as Chrysler LMPs. SP1s #DO 001 and #DO 003 were the only chassis to score victories in their lifetime, with four and one respectively.#DO 001
- Chrysler-OrecaOrecaOreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
(2001) - Doran Lista Racing (2002 - 2003)
#DO 002
- Chrysler-OrecaOrecaOreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
(2001)
#DO 003
- Chrysler-OrecaOrecaOreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
(2001) - OrecaOrecaOreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
(2002) - Spinnaker Clandesteam (2004)
#DO 004
- OrecaOrecaOreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
(2002) - Rollcentre Racing (2004 - 2005)
#DO 005
- Rollcentre Racing (2004)
#DO 006
- OrecaOrecaOreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
(2002) - Rollcentre Racing (2005)
External links
- Dallara Automobili - SP1 information
- Mulsannes Corner - Dallara SP1 review
- Mulsannes Corner - Mopar 6.0L V8 review
- Oreca - Sportscar history, including the SP1 - Brochure for sale of chassis #DO 004 and #DO 006