Ginetta G60-LT-P1
Non-hybrid LMP1 with a troubled debut and later engine change.
The Ginetta G60-LT-P1 is a non-hybrid Le Mans Prototype designed for the LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It first raced at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, having missed the season opener at Spa-Francorchamps due to financial problems.
Development began in early 2017, when Ginetta announced a new LMP1 chassis built to the 2018 non-hybrid regulations. The car was designed by Adrian Reynard and Paolo Catone, marking Ginetta’s return to the top tier of endurance racing eight years after its previous LMP1, the Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S, was made obsolete by the 2011 rules. The design used computational fluid dynamics and a 50% scale model tested in the Williams Advanced Engineering wind tunnel from June 2017. Initially expected to test in September 2017, the car only completed its first straight-line test at Leeds East Airport on 19 January 2018. It was later tested at Snetterton and Motorland Aragon before its race debut.
The car was launched at the Autosport International 2018 show. Its first engine, a Mecachrome V634P1, proved underpowered at Le Mans. Mecachrome refused to increase power output, so Ginetta switched to an AER P60B, which was test-fired in early August. For the 2019–20 season, Team LNT entered two cars powered by upgraded AER P60C engines, following private tests at Aragon, Spa-Francorchamps, and Paul Ricard. Both cars were scheduled to appear at the WEC Prologue at Barcelona on 24 July 2019.
In competition, the car’s early history was troubled. Ginetta initially sold three chassis to an unknown buyer in October 2017, but the deal fell through. Manor Endurance Racing then bought one chassis, with a second added under the CEFC TRSM banner. At the planned debut at the 2018 6 Hours of Spa, the cars missed most practice and qualifying because Ginetta withheld them due to late payments from the team. At the Le Mans test day, the cars lacked pace, falling behind two LMP2s, partly because they were not in low-drag trim. They qualified last in LMP1, with the #5 behind four LMP2s. In the race, the #6 broke down after nine hours, while the #5 finished second-to-last but was demoted to last after post-race penalties for drive-time limits.
Quick Facts
- Tyres
- Michelin
- Fuel
- Total
- Lubricants
- Various
- Brakes
- AP Racing Carbon-Ceramic
- Debut
- 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Last Event
- 2019 8 Hours of Bahrain
- Races
- 5
- Wins
- 0
- Chassis
- Carbon Fibre Composite Monocoque
- Category
- Le Mans Prototype (LMP1)
- Engine Name
- Mecachrome V634P1 95º 3396 cc Turbocharged V6 / AER P60B/C 2398 cc Turbocharged V6
- Gearbox Name
- X-Trac 7-Speed Sequential Manual
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of the Ginetta G60-LT-P1 began with an announcement on 4 January 2017, marking Ginetta's return to LMP1 eight years after the Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S was made obsolete. The car was designed by Adrian Reynard and Paolo Catone, using computational fluid dynamics and a 50% scale model tested at the Williams Advanced Engineering wind tunnel in June 2017. Initial testing was delayed; the first straight-line test occurred at Leeds East Airport on 19 January 2018, followed by tests at Snetterton Circuit and Motorland Aragon.
After its debut at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ginetta parted ways with Mecachrome due to the engine being underpowered and Mecachrome's refusal to increase power output. The AER P60B engine was installed and successfully test-fired in early August. For the 2019–20 season, Team LNT entered two cars powered by upgraded AER P60C engines, tested at Ciudad del Motor de Aragón, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, and Circuit Paul Ricard.
Competition history was marked by financial and logistical difficulties. The CEFC TRSM entry missed the 2018 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps after Ginetta refused to release the cars due to late payments. At the 2018 Le Mans test day, the cars lacked pace, qualifying last in LMP1. The #6 retired after nine hours; the #5 finished last after post-race penalties. Manor Endurance Racing later distanced itself from the CEFC TRSM team. The #6 missed subsequent rounds due to the engine change. Ginetta's planned re-entry at the 2019 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps failed due to a disagreement over fines, and its entry for the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans was rejected.
Reader's Guide
The Ginetta G60-LT-P1 represents a notable but troubled chapter in LMP1 non-hybrid development. Its design by Adrian Reynard and Paolo Catone, combined with advanced CFD and wind tunnel work, aimed to produce a competitive chassis. However, the car's early history was dominated by financial disputes, engine supplier issues, and missed races. The switch from Mecachrome to AER powerplants demonstrated the team's willingness to adapt, but the car's competition record remained mixed. In the 2019–20 season, Team LNT achieved a fourth-place finish at the 4 Hours of Silverstone, recognized as third in the championship due to ineligible entries, and the #6 car showed pace at Fuji before a late penalty dropped it to ninth. The car's legacy is one of unfulfilled potential, hampered by off-track problems rather than fundamental design flaws. It stands as a reminder of the challenges facing privateer LMP1 efforts in an era dominated by hybrid factory teams.
Did You Know?
- The G60-LT-P1 was initially powered by a Mecachrome V634P1 engine before switching to an AER P60B.
- The car's first straight-line test took place at Leeds East Airport on 19 January 2018.
- At the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #6 car broke down after 9 hours, while the #5 finished last after penalties.
- Ginetta chairman Lawrence Tomlinson filed an entry for the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it was rejected.
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