Strakka Racing will conduct the first test of the 2013 version of the LMP1 HPD chassis next week at the Spanish Aragon circuit.
Jonny Kane and Nick Leventis – two-thirds of the line-up that finished second in the LMP1 teams’ standings of the FIA World Endurance Championship for Strakka Racing – will share track time with Klaus Graf who won the LMP1 championship of the American Le Mans Series for HPD alongside Lucas Luhr.
After successful seasons in the 03a evolution of the HPD design the trio will drive the Strakka chassis upgraded to 03c specification, running larger front tyres among other improvements in a Wirth Research designed package.
The change in tyre widths is an echo of one of the major traits of HPD’s short lived ARX-02a LMP1 design that featured same sized front and rear tyres.
“In 2009, HPD showed the future direction ofLMP1 car design by pioneering the use of large rear tires on all four wheels of its radical, championship-winning LMP1 prototype,” said HPD vice president Steve Eriksen.
“Since then, all rival LMP1 manufacturers have adopted this concept, and the 2013 HPD ARX- 03c will feature this large front-tire format, along with a raft of aerodynamic and mechanical updates, boosting all-around performance.”
While the work on the test is being done by men experienced in HPD machinery their work will no doubt be of interest to other teams and drivers as they assess the possibilities for their own 2013 season.
