BR Engineering BR1

The BR Engineering BR1 is a sports prototype non-hybrid racing car built for the SMP Racing and DragonSpeed teams.[4] It is designed to meet the 2018 LMP1 regulations for Le Mans Prototypes in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The BR1 debuted at the 2018 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the first round of the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship.

BR Engineering BR1
CategoryLe Mans Prototype
(LMP1)
ConstructorBR Engineering (Dallara)[1]
Designer(s)Luca Pignacca[2]
Technical specifications[3]
ChassisCarbon fibre composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Independent double wishbones with adjustable dampers
Suspension (rear)Independent double wishbones with adjustable dampers
EngineAER P60B 2.4 L V6 turbocharged (SMP Racing)

Gibson GL458 4.5 L V8 naturally aspirated (DragonSpeed)
TransmissionX-Trac 6-speed sequential manual
PowerAER 2.4L V6 Turbo:
720 bhp (730 PS; 537 kW)

Gibson 4.5L V8 N/A:
700 bhp (710 PS; 522 kW)
Weight833kg (1836.5 lb)
FuelGazprom Energy
Gulf
BrakesCarbon Fibre Discs Ventilated
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsRussia SMP Racing
United States DragonSpeed
Notable driversRussia Mikhail Aleshin
United Kingdom Jenson Button
Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi
United Kingdom Ben Hanley
Sweden Henrik Hedman
Russia Matevos Isaakyan
Russia Egor Orudzhev
Russia Vitaly Petrov
France Stéphane Sarrazin
Netherlands Renger van der Zande
Australia James Allen
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
Belgium Stoffel Vandoorne
Russia Sergey Sirotkin
Russia Kirill Ladygin
Russia Viktor Shaytar
Debut2018 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
80500
Teams' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0
A DragonSpeed liveried BR Engineering BR1 LMP1 car, competing at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in 2018

Development

SMP Racing were participating in the European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class, fielding a Dallara P217 chassis. In 2017, with the help of Dallara, BR Engineering and Russian university students designed and built a brand-new chassis, the BR1.[5] Mikhail Aleshin had an arm injury during the first test at Ciudad del Motor de Aragón due to car failure.[5] Prior the official launch at Bahrain the car was also tested by Kirill Ladygin, Vitaly Petrov, Viktor Shaytar and Sergey Sirotkin.[6]

Competition history

2018-19

For the 2018-19 super season, three BR1 chassis were entered; two by SMP Racing and one by DragonSpeed. The cars for the two teams differed by their engine choices; SMP utilizing AER-built P60B 2.4 litre V6 turbocharged engines and DragonSpeed utilizing the Gibson-made GL458 4.5 litre V8 naturally aspirated engine, the same engine used by Rebellion in their R13 prototypes.

The debut of the car at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was overshadowed by a qualifying accident involving DragonSpeed's driver Pietro Fittipaldi, in which he sustained fractures to both legs. The car suffered from an electrical problem which caused the car to lose control and run straight into the wall whilst climbing Raidillon and could not be entered into the race.[7] SMP Racing also had technical issues with their #17 entry. Despite this, their #11 entry was able to finish fifth in qualifying.[8] Come race time, car #17 was involved in an accident at the top of Raidillon which sent it flipping through the air.[9] The #11 managed to finish 5th overall.

At Le Mans, DragonSpeed's #10 BR1 crashed at the exit of the Porsche curves with roughly 7:40:00 left in the race, retiring it from the event. The #17 also had an accident at the Porsche curves, severely damaging its rear. Matevos Isaakyan attempted to get it running again but the engine was damaged beyond repair, stopping the car again after rolling for a few meters. The #11 experienced technical issues earlier in the race but was able to rejoin later, finishing in 14th overall and 5th in-class.

At Silverstone, the #11 SMP Racing BR1 experienced an engine failure, retiring it from the race. However, due to both Toyota hybrids being disqualified, the #17 finished third overall behind both Rebellion R13s. Dragonspeed's #10 experienced technical issues, causing it to finish 25th overall but still 4th in-class.

At Fuji, SMP's #17 BR1 lost its front right wheel after it became dislodged. It also experienced technical issues and had to be towed off the circuit. Despite this, the #11 finished 4th overall. Dragonspeed's #10 also developed technical issues and had to be towed off the circuit.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Pos
Belgium
SPA		 France
24H		 United Kingdom
SIL		 Japan
FUJ		 China
SHA		 United States
SEB		 Belgium
SPA		 France
24H
2018 - 2019 United States DragonSpeed LMP1 United Kingdom Ben Hanley 10 DNS Ret 4 Ret 6 Ret Ret 8.5 5th
Sweden Henrik Hedman DNS Ret 4 Ret Ret
Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi DNS
Netherlands Renger van der Zande Ret 4 6 Ret Ret
Australia James Allen Ret 6
Russia SMP Racing Russia Mikhail Aleshin 11 5 Ret Ret 4 3 3 3 3 94 4th
Russia Vitaly Petrov 5 Ret Ret 4 3 3 3 3
United Kingdom Jenson Button Ret Ret 4 3
New Zealand Brendon Hartley 3
Belgium Stoffel Vandoorne 3 3
France Stéphane Sarrazin 17 Ret Ret 3 Ret NC NC 4 Ret 27 14th
Russia Egor Orudzhev Ret Ret 3 Ret NC NC 4 Ret
Russia Matevos Isaakyan Ret Ret Ret NC
Russia Sergey Sirotkin NC 4 Ret

See also

References
  1. Goodwin, Graham (17 November 2016). "BR Engineering, Dallara & ART Grand Prix Combine For New For 2018 BR1 LMP1 L Programme". dailysportscar.com. Dailysportscar. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. "New age of Russian motorsport as BR1 LMP1 is revealed for 2018/19 WEC". fiawec.com. FIA World Endurance Championship. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018. The presentation of BR1 was attended by many VIPs including Boris Rotenberg, founder and head of BR Engineering; Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO; Gérard Neveu, FIA WEC CEO; Luca Pignaca, Dallara chief designer; Dmitry Samorukov, SMP Racing CEO; and Russian motorsport development program SMP Racing drivers: Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov and Matevos Isaakyan.
  3. "BR1". www.brengineering.ru. BR Engineering. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  4. Smith, Luke (17 November 2017). "DragonSpeed Confirms BR1 Gibson for WEC". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  5. Dagys, John (23 November 2017). "Dallara-Built BR1 a "Completely New" Car". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. Smith, Luke (17 November 2017). "BR Engineering BR1 Unveiled". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  7. Dagys, John (4 May 2018). "Fittipaldi Airlifted to Hospital With Broken Legs". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  8. Dagys, John (4 May 2018). "Toyota Dominates Qualifying at Spa". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  9. Dagys, John (9 May 2018). "Video Emerges of Isaakyan's Wild Airborne Crash at Spa". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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