Greaves Motorsport plans World Endurance Championship LMP2 return

The Greaves Motorsport LMP2 squad is moving towards a full-time return to the World Endurance Championship next year for the first time since 2013

Greaves Motorsport plans World Endurance Championship LMP2 return

The British squad, which has focused on the European Le Mans Series over the past two seasons in addition to contesting the Le Mans 24 Hours WEC round, is already talking to drivers about a world championship P2 campaign, according to team owner Tim Greaves.

He stressed that the WEC programme would be in parallel with a continued presence in the ELMS.

"It makes good sense for us to have one car in each championship and to have a dual programme as in previous years," Greaves told Autosport.

"We also have a couple of drivers talking to us pretty seriously about the WEC."

Greaves said that there was good interest from "quite a few drivers" in the ELMS, in which it has been a frontrunner this year with its Gibson-Nissan 015S shared by Jon Lancaster, Bjorn Wirdheim and Gary Hirsch.

The team's sponsorship from data encryption company Kairos is set to continue in the ELMS into 2016.

Greaves explained that the expansion back into the WEC full time would require the team to buy a new car because it sold one of its pair of Gibsons (nee Zyteks) to Strakka Racing during the summer.

It does have another car, the chassis of 2007 vintage with which it won the ELMS LMP2 title in '11, which it retains as a spare.

Greaves said that the "only sensible choice for next year" would be an ORECA 05 coupe, because it is the only existing LMP2 car that can be upgraded to the new rules that come into force in 2017.

The Greaves team contested both the WEC and the ELMS in 2012 and started off in both championships in '13, before dropping out of the European series.

The squad goes into this weekend's ELMS finale at Estoril one point behind the championship-leading Jota Sport squad.

shares
comments

F1 calendar clash with Le Mans in 2016 "an attack" on WEC

Toyota against new hybrid power limits for 2017 WEC

Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023

Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023

Plus
Plus
WEC
Gary Watkins

Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023 Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023

Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022

Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Autosport Staff

Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022 Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022

Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay?

Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay?

Plus
Plus
WEC
Gary Watkins

Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay? Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay?

How Toyota defeated Alpine for the 2022 WEC title

How Toyota defeated Alpine for the 2022 WEC title

Plus
Plus
WEC
Gary Watkins

How Toyota defeated Alpine for the 2022 WEC title How Toyota defeated Alpine for the 2022 WEC title

The long road to convergence for sportscar racing's new golden age

The long road to convergence for sportscar racing's new golden age

Plus
Plus
IMSA
Gary Watkins

The long road to convergence for sportscar racing's new golden age The long road to convergence for sportscar racing's new golden age

How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game

How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game

Plus
Plus
WEC
Michael Cotton

How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game

Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes

Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes

Plus
Plus
Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
Kevin Turner

Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes

The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause

The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
French GP
Stephen Mosley

The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause