Ginetta-Juno P3-15

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.[1][2]

Ginetta-Juno P3-15

Category	Le Mans Prototype (LMP3)
Constructor	Ginetta Cars
Designer(s)	Ewan Baldry
Successor	Track Day:Ginetta G57 P2 LMP3: Ginetta G61-LT-P3
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon Fibre/Aluminium Honeycomb Monocoque
Suspension (front)	Pull-rod double wishbone
Suspension (rear)	Pull-rod double wishbone
Length	4650mm
Width	1950mm
Height	1085mm
Engine	Nissan VK50DE V8
Transmission	X-Trac 6 Speed Sequential
Weight	930kg
Fuel	Various
Lubricants	Various
Brakes	6 Piston Alcon Ventilated Disks
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	Team LNT University of Bolton Lanan Racing Speed Factory Racing TKS Villorba Corse ARC Bratislava
Debut	2015 4 Hours of Silverstone
Races Wins 31 7
Teams' Championships	1 (2015 European Le Mans Series (LMP3))
Drivers' Championships	1 (2015 European Le Mans Series (LMP3))

Development

In 2013, the ACO announced a new category of Le Mans Prototypes, known as LMP3, which would replace the previous Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class in 2015.[3][4] Shortly afterwards, Juno Racing Cars announced that it would be building a car for the class, before it was purchased by Ginetta.[5] The engine is a Nissan VK50VE producing 420hp, paired to an Xtrac 6-Speed Manual Sequential Gearbox. The car had its first shakedown run at Leeds East Airport, with Ginetta chairman Lawrence Tomlinson at the wheel.[6]

The car was initially overweight, due to a misprediction of the mass of the powertrain, until the minimum weight of the class was raised to 930kg by the ACO.[7]After the 2015 season, it was announced that Ginetta would be moving on from the project, and focusing on the G57 P2 Track day car.[8] This was due to a dispute between powertrain components supplier ORECA, and Ginetta.[9]

The tub of the car is shared with its successors, the Ginetta G57 P2, the Ginetta G58, and the Ginetta G61-LT-P3, and can be upgraded with new bodywork and engine configurations to be built up into its successors.[10]

Roborace Devbot

Roborace Devbot, based on the Ginetta P3 Chassis

The car also formed the base of the Roborace Devbot, used for the development of the Artificial Intelligence software for the future electrically powered autonomous racing series.[11] The Devbot incorporates the same internal units that are used in the actual RoboCar, and is stripped off all bodywork, to provide better cooling and access.[12] The Devbot would have its initial public test during Pre-Season testing for the 2016–17 FIA Formula E Championship, at the Donington Park Circuit.

Competition History

In October 2014, the first car was announced to be sold to the University of Bolton, under its Centre for Advanced Performance Engineering (CAPE).[13] For the 2015 season, 6 cars would be run in the European Le Mans series, with 2 run by the factory Ginetta team, Team LNT.[14] The factory cars secured the 1st and 2nd in the LMP3 Championship. The Ginettas also won all races in the season[15], while the sole non-Ginetta car, a Ligier JS P3 run by Graff Racing managed a podium on its debut, at the end of the season.

Following the end of the season, after Ginetta's announcement, that it would shift its focus towards the G57 P2, the car was dropped by most teams, which switched to the Ligier JS P3.[16][17][18]The car has remained more popular in Asia since the 2015 season, although it is noted to be similarly quick to the Ligier.[19]

References

1. "Ligier Names Its 2020 LMP3 Chassis – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
2. "Ginetta At The Racing Car Show: LMP1, LMP3 & GT3 Updates – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
3. Sam (2014-07-19). "LMP3 officially launched". Racecar Engineering. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
4. Tremayne, Sam. "ACO creates new LMP3 class for European and Asian Le Mans Series". Autosport.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
5. "Ginetta-Juno reveals LMP3 prototype design". Autoblog. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
6. "Ginetta Nissan LMP3 Shakedown Video – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
7. O'Gorman, Leigh (2015-08-24). "LMP3: The state of play". Racecar Engineering. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
8. Dagys, John. "Ginetta Shifts Focus from LMP3 to New G57 Prototype – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
9. "What's New In 2016? Part 3, LMP3 & LMPC – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
10. "It's All Systems Go For LMP3 Gen II – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
11. Kannenberg, Sven. "Roborace". e-racing.net. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
12. "Roborace DevBot debuts at Donington". Current E. 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
13. "First Ginetta LMP3 Customer announced". Sportscar365.
14. "ELMS: 2015 Full Season Entry List – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
15. "Ginetta Complete 2015 LMP3 Clean Sweep". www.europeanlemansseries.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
16. "Speed Factory Switch To Ligier For 2016 ELMS & VdeV LMP3 Campaign – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
17. "United Autosports switch to Ligier for 2016 ELMS campaign". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
18. Dagys, John. "Scuderia Villorba Corse Switches to Ligier JS P3 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
19. "What's New In 2017, LMP3 (Part 1) – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.