Manor announces LMP1 move for 2018/19 WEC superseason with Ginetta
Manor will step up to the LMP1 division of the World Endurance Championship for the 2018/19 'superseason', becoming the first team to commit to using Ginetta's new prototype
Manor entered the WEC at the start of the 2016 campaigns in the LMP2 class, and has spent the last two seasons running ORECA machinery in the secondary prototype division.
But it made little secret of its ambitions to eventually step up to LMP1, and was strongly linked to a tie-up with Ginetta when the British constructor unveiled its plans to design and build a new privateer car to contest WEC's top division at the start of 2017.
The two parties have now confirmed Manor will move up to LMP1 with Ginetta, ahead of this weekend's penultimate round of the 2017 season at Shanghai.
The project will be a one-car effort.
Manor will continue its partnership with the Chinese TRS organisation that began this season.
It has yet to name any drivers for its new venture, and is also yet to specify which engines it will run.
"We are very happy to be entering the LMP1 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship," said Manor team prinicpal John Booth.
"We have been learning this championship for the last two years and we are confident that the time is now right for us to step-up to the LMP1 category.
"We have known the people at Ginetta for many years and we believe that, working together, we will be able to develop a competitive LMP1 package."
Ginetta revealed last month it had taken its first orders on its new design, which is set to go up against rival privateer LMP1 machinery from ByKolles and Dallara/BR Engineering, as well as Toyota if the Japanese manufacturer elects to continue its LMP1 programme.
"I'm delighted with the confirmation of the selection by TRS Racing and Manor Endurance Racing of the Ginetta LMP1 for their programme," said Ginetta boss Lawrence Tomlinson.
"The opportunities for all involved here are tremendous, for Ginetta, for the team, and for their backers.
"To take on endurance racing at this level is one of the toughest technical challenges in the world.
"It's great to have a racing partner who relishes those challenges just as much as we do."
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