CLM P1/01

Lore & Background

The CLM P1/01 was originally intended to use a 4-litre, naturally aspirated Audi V8, but the deal collapsed for unknown reasons, leading to the fitment of a 2.4-litre twin turbo V6 from AER. The car made its public debut at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans under the name Lotus P1/01, but was unable to run in any session due to the engine change. Its racing debut came at the 2014 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, where it finished second in the LMP1-L class despite not qualifying. The car suffered a fuel-line fire at Fuji in 2014, after which driver Christophe Bouchut left the team.

For 2015, minor changes were made to the transmission casing and bodywork, and the car claimed its first two wins in the Privateer class at the Nürburgring and Circuit of the Americas. However, it was excluded from the 24 Hours of Le Mans results due to incorrect driver weight ballast. In 2016, radically changed bodywork and a 7-speed gearbox were introduced, but reliability issues persisted, including fires at Le Mans and the Nürburgring. The car won the 2016 6 Hours of Shanghai after the competing Rebellion R-One had technical issues, and finished second in the Private LMP1 Teams championship. Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica tested the car at the post-season rookie test in Bahrain.

In 2017, the P1/01 was the only non-hybrid entry in LMP1, and no trophy existed for private LMP1 teams. It received the Nissan Nismo VRX30A Evo engine from Nissan's GT-R LM program, along with aerodynamic improvements and weight reduction. The car retired from Le Mans after debris broke the steering on the opening lap. After the Nürburgring round, ByKolles retired for the remainder of the season to focus on the 2018–2019 season. For the 2018–2019 super season, the car retained the Nismo engine but was joined by other non-hybrid LMP1 entries. It retired from Le Mans after a collision with a GTE-Am Porsche. In early 2019, ByKolles missed the 1000 Miles of Sebring after a dispute with Nissan over performance and payment, then switched to the Gibson GL458 4.5 litre V8.

Reader's Guide

The CLM P1/01 represents a persistent but often troubled privateer effort in the top class of endurance racing. As the only non-hybrid LMP1 entry in 2017, it was consistently outclassed by the factory hybrid teams from Porsche and Toyota, yet it continued to compete, often finishing races despite mechanical issues and accidents. The car's history is marked by frequent engine changes—from the original AER unit to the Nissan Nismo VRX30A Evo and finally to the Gibson V8—reflecting the team's ongoing search for a reliable and competitive powerplant. Its record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was particularly unfortunate, with retirements in multiple years due to debris, collisions, and fires. Despite these setbacks, the P1/01 achieved class wins at the Nürburgring and Circuit of the Americas in 2015, and a victory at Shanghai in 2016. The car's legacy is that of a determined independent entry that kept a non-hybrid LMP1 presence on the grid through several seasons of the World Endurance Championship, adapting to regulatory changes and supplier disputes. ByKolles continued to develop the car into the 2019–2020 season, using it in selected races while preparing for the Le Mans Hypercar regulations. As late as 2024, the P1/01 was entered in the Masters Endurance Legends series, winning a race at Mugello with Christophe Bouchut driving.

Did You Know?

• At its 2014 debut, the car finished second in the LMP1-L class at the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas despite not qualifying.
• The car was the only non-hybrid LMP1 entry in the 2017 World Endurance Championship season.