Debora LMP296
A French prototype that helped secure a team championship in 1998.
The Debora LMP296 was a Le Mans Prototype constructed by Debora Automobiles in 1996, intended for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its initial engine was a 2-litre turbocharged Cosworth straight-four, but the car used several different engines during its three-year racing life. Two examples of the LMP296 were built. Alongside the LMP297, it helped Waterair Sport secure the International Sports Racing Series SR2 Team's Championship in 1998. The model was later developed into the LMP299 for the 2000 season.
Roger Rimmer developed the chassis, while Didier Bonnet designed the bodywork. The car had an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis and an open-top carbon fibre body. Originally, it used a 2-litre turbocharged straight-four engine derived from the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, prepared by Fochesato, with a claimed 370 hp. Power went through a 5-speed Hewland FGC transmission. The suspension was double-wishbone from KONI, and 16-inch Michelin-shod wheels were stopped by Alcon disc brakes with 4-piston calipers. In 1998, the team experimented with a 3-litre Alfa Romeo V6, then 3- and 3.2-litre BMW straight-six engines, settling on the 3-litre BMW unit after the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans.
For the 1996 Le Mans pre-qualifying, Didier Bonnet Racing entered both LMP296 chassis. The first chassis (LMP296-01) did not arrive, and the second (LMP296-02), driven by Guillaume Gomez, placed 56th and failed to qualify. The first chassis, driven by Edouard Sezionale, Jean-Claude Basso, and Thierry Lecerf, qualified 52nd but did not start the race due to engine problems. The car's first actual race was the 1996 Le Mans Autumn Cup, where Jacques Chevalier, Dominique Lacaud, and Patrice Roussel finished fifth overall and second in the LMP2 class.
In 1997, the LMP296 appeared at the first International Sports Racing Series race at Donington Park, classified as an SR1 car. Driven by Didier Bonnet and Chevalier, it retired after six laps. At Zolder, now listed as an SR2 car, it crashed during the formation lap and did not start. Neither Debora car competed at Brno, but at Jarama, the LMP296, again an SR1 car driven by Hervé Regout and David Dussau, finished fourth overall and third in class.
For 1998, Didier Bonnet Racing ran the car under the Waterair Sports banner. At Paul Ricard, it used an Alfa Romeo 3-litre V6 but retired due to exhaust damage.
- Manufacturer
- Debora Automobiles
- Year built
- 1996
- Chassis
- Aluminium honeycomb monocoque
- Bodywork
- Carbon fibre, open-top
- Original engine
- 2-litre turbocharged Cosworth straight-four (Ford Escort RS Cosworth-derived, prepared by Fochesato)
- Claimed power
- 370 hp
- Transmission
- 5-speed Hewland FGC
Lore & Background
The LMP296's chassis was developed by Roger Rimmer, while its bodywork was designed by Didier Bonnet. It featured an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis and open-top carbon fibre bodywork. The original engine was a 2-litre turbocharged straight-four derived from the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, race-prepared by Fochesato and claimed to produce 370 hp. Power was transmitted via a 5-speed Hewland FGC transmission. The car used double-wishbone suspension developed by KONI, Michelin-shod 16-inch wheels, and Alcon disc brakes with 4-piston calipers. In 1998, various engines were experimented with: a 3-litre Alfa Romeo V6, 3- and 3.2-litre BMW straight-sixes, before the team settled on the 3-litre BMW unit after the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The car first entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans pre-qualifying in 1996. Both chassis were entered, but one did not arrive and the other finished 56th, failing to qualify. The other chassis qualified 52nd but did not start due to engine problems. Its first race was the 1996 Le Mans Autumn Cup, finishing fifth overall and second in LMP2. In 1997, it raced in the International Sports Racing Series, with mixed results including a retirement and a fourth overall at Jarama. For 1998, under the Waterair Sports banner, the car ran with various engines, achieving SR2 class wins at Misano, Donington Park, and the Nürburgring. It retired from the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans after 106 laps due to gearbox failure. Waterair Sports won the SR2 Team's Championship that year. In 1999, Pierre Bruneau owned and ran the car, taking a class win at Barcelona and finishing runner-up in the SR2 Team's Championship.
Reader's Guide
The Debora LMP296 is notable as a French-built prototype that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the International Sports Racing Series from 1996 to 1999. Its significance lies in its role in helping Waterair Sport secure the SR2 Team's Championship in 1998, alongside the LMP297. The car demonstrated adaptability through its use of multiple engines—Cosworth, Alfa Romeo, and BMW—over its career. It was one of two cars built, and its design, with an aluminium honeycomb monocoque and carbon fibre bodywork, was typical of period prototypes. The LMP296's legacy includes its evolution into the LMP299 for 2000, and its contribution to the SR2 class competition. While it never achieved overall victory at Le Mans, its class wins and consistent finishes in the International Sports Racing Series underscored its competitiveness in the smaller-displacement prototype category. The car's career ended after the 1999 season, with Pierre Bruneau's team finishing as runner-up in the SR2 championship.
Did You Know?
- Two LMP296 chassis were built, designated LMP296-01 and LMP296-02.
- In 1998, the LMP296 was fitted with a 3.2-litre BMW S50 engine for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
More in Le Mans Prototypes 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced