Teams & Drivers

The new LMP2 from Le Mans prototype manufacturer Courage

The C65 has been one of the most successful cars designed by Courage, winning no less than 11 races in only 2 years, winning team, driver and manufacturer championships in the world. In April 2005 Yves Courage decided to start working on the new generation Le Mans Prototypes and that in order to give customers again an unique car to compete and win in the even more competitive LMP2 Class.

© Courage Competition

Today the new Courage LMP2 is ready.The project named C7x had as objective to develop a brand new LMP2 answering the latest ACO regulations, meeting the customers wishes and needs in this class of racing after the 2 years of experience with the C65 and again be based on the 4 key elements the Courage chasis? are known for (reliability, security, modularity and performance) resulting in a unique car to win races and championships with.

In the early stages of the project it became clear that aerodynamics and production methodology would be the key elements of the project. Therefore the project has been granted the highest investment in people, tools, time and money that Courage has ever made in it’s 24 years of existence. Even a joint venture with specialists in their own fields has been created to guarantee the success of the project.

© Courage Competition

From the experience Yves Courage has developing and building his own prototypes, he created a joint venture with the following parties :

• in house design, development and production departments
• SLC (owned by ATR) for design development and production methodology with:
• Paolo Catone as chief designer Ben Wood as chief aero
• Dassault Systems for all CAD/CFD software
• ESI Group for all simulation software
• Magny-Cours ACE windtunnel
• Mecachrome as engine supplier for on track development

The design team (14 people) managed by Paolo Catone and Yves Courage came up early with the basic shape of the car. After the study of the monocoque the final design of the car was approved and the model could be started for the wind tunnel sessions.

The most important part in the development of the new LMP2 was the aero part. In the ACE windtunnel at Magny- Cours the team, with chief aero Ben Wood, experienced immediately that the new car had outstanding aero results which motivated the team to even develop additional elements that will be used in the coming years. It’s at that time that the new LMP2 got its name. When Yves Courage discovered the aero results, he immediately named the car LC in memory of his beloved wife Liliane Courage.

The production of the monocoque started in November. The bodywork elements went into production after the last windtunnel session in December. All the team wanted to see the car on track in the first week of 2006 and worked hard through the holiday season. Finally the big day for all involved came on the 5th of January. At 11h00 the LC75 started its shakedown on a dry and cold Maison Blanche track and did 400 km trouble free with the installed Mecachrome engine.

LC75, the details:

• Eligibility: LMP2 Class at Le Mans 24 Hours/LMS/ALMS/JLMC, Based on the latest 2005 ACO technical regulations
• Minimum weight: 775kg minimum for complete car in LMP2
• Configuration: Two seater, open roof, central rear engine, propulsion
• Chassis: One piece carbon fiber/honeycomb aluminum monocoque, Twin symmetrical rollover hoop
• Bodywork: Suit revised 2005 aerodynamic regulations, Carbon/Kevlar/honeycomb with aeronautical fixations, Lightweight carbon fiber composite rear wing
• Suspension: Steel double wishbones with pushrod and rocker operated spring-shock absorber, Front and rear uprights fabricated from aircraft specification steel and TIG welded
• Steering: Rack and pignon type, Power steering available at extra cost
• Electrical system: Military specification chassis wiring loom supplied
• Fuel system: Fuel cell with 90 liters capacity, Bosch fuel pumps
• Transmission: Courage designed 6 speed TLSE sequential gearbox, Bellhousing adaptor to suit any engine choice, Semi-automatic shift system available at extra cost
• Wheels: 18 inch rims according to customer choice
• Brakes: Brembo calipers, carbon discs and pads, 15 inch front discs, 14 inch rear discs
• Engine: Accept any LMP2 engine Currently available installation kit for Mecachrome V8, Judd V8, AER 2l Turbo LC75.

Yves Courage about the LC75: “I’m very happy and very pleased to present the new LC75 LMP2 today. It’s the result of 24 years of experience in building sport protypes. This project couldn’t have existed without the hard work of all people involved and the joint venture we installed at the beginning of it. I want to thank all of them for the efforts they have put in this fabulous journey. I have also a very special thought for Liliane and I’m convinced that she would have been very proud of this new Courage. With the LC75 a new era starts for Courage as a manufacturer and we are convinced that the LC75 will equalize and even improve the results obtained by its predecessor.”

Mr C. Contzen Mecachrome: “The V8 3.4L engine installed in the LC75 took advantage from the experience won with the V8 4.0L engine used in the GP2 series in 2005. The last tests were very promising and attest very good performances of our LMP2 engine. The reliability proven on the dyno and the increase of power have to be confirmed in the races. Our intention is to participate at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the LMS if we are in a position to obtain convincing results.”

Technical engine details:

• Configuration: V8 90ª
• Capacity: 3.4 L
• Bore & Stroke: 92 mm x 63,9 mm
• Height of crankshaft: 96 mm
• Height of center of gravity: 220mm/bottom floor
• Dimensions: L/W/H 468mm/712mm/520mm
• Weight: 123 kg
• Power: +500hp at 10.000 rpm
• Torque: 370Nm/7.000 rpm
• Max rev: 10.500 rpm
• Engine Management/Data: Magneti Marelli Marvel 8.

© 2006 Planetlemans.com.