Debora LMP299

The Debora LMP299 was a Le Mans Prototype, built by Debora in 2000 for use in the Sports Racing World Cup. Initially fitted with a 3-litre BMW straight-six engine, it was fitted with a 3.2-litre BMW straight-six for the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a 3-litre Nissan V6 for the 2002 season.^[2] One car is known to have been built, with the chassis originally having started out as a Debora LMP296.^[3]

Racing history

2000

The Debora LMP299 made its debut at the opening round of the 2000 Sports Racing World Cup season (SRWC), held at Barcelona. The car started out as a Debora LMP296, and was fitted with a 3-litre BMW straight-six engine, allowing it to be classified in the "SRL" category.^[4] Pierre Bruneau and Marc Rostan drove the car for Bruneau's PiR Bruneau team, and finished second in the SRL class, eleventh overall.^[5] An ignition problem forced the pair to retire from the 500 km Monza after 56 laps,^[6] before the team took sixth overall at Spa-Francorchamps, and third in the SRL category.^[7] Although the team entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and fitted the car with a 3.2-litre BMW straight-six, they were not invited to compete.^[8] The team then entered the 1000 km of Nürburgring, part of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS); the car was refitted with the 3-litre BMW straight-six, and was classified as a LMP car.^[9] The team finished fourteenth overall, tenth of the LMPs, and third in the LMP675 subclass.^[10] The team then returned to the SRWC for the Brno round, with Bruneau being partnered by Robert Pergl and Dominique Lacaud; a broken axle forced them out after three laps.^[11] Bruneau was partnered by Rostan and Piers Johnson at Donington Park, but the team retired again; this time due to gearbox failure after 69 laps.^[12] Rostan and Bruneau were the two drivers for the penultimate round of the season, held at the Nürburgring; the team finished 17th overall, and sixth in the SRL class.^[13] At the final race of the season, held at Magny-Cours, Bruneau and Rostan were joined by Ludovico Manfredi, and the trio took twelfth place overall, and sixth in the SRL category.^[14] At the end of the season, PiR Bruneau were classified sixth in the WSRP SRL Team's Championship, with 39 points,^[15] whilst Bruneau and Rostan were classified joint ninth in the SRL Driver's Championship.^[16] Their single race in the ALMS was enough for them to finish 16th in the ALMS LMP Team's Championship, with 15 points.^[17]

2001

In 2001, PiR Bruneau remained in the Sports Racing World Series, which had now been renamed to the FIA Sportscar Championship. The team retained their LMP299, which was now classified as a "SR2" car, and hired Arturo Merzario to partnered Bruneau and Rostan for the opening round, held at Barcelona.^[18] The team took eleventh place overall in that race, and seventh in the SR2 class.^[19] At the next round, which was the 1000 km of Monza, the team were forced to retire due to accident damage after 81 laps.^[20] The team were classified 13th at Spa-Francorchamps, and seventh in class, but retired after 55 laps.^[21] The team suffered more problems at the following round, held at Brno; they finished the race, but were classified fourteenth overall and last (seventh in class), having completed 47 laps – this was 19 less than the car ahead.^[22] For Magny-Cours, Merzario was replaced by Manfredi, but the team retired again; this time, a gearbox failure after 27 laps was to blame.^[23] Donington Park would prove to be more successful; the team finished eleventh overall, and fourth in the SR2 class.^[24] Rostan was partnered by Arnie Black for the penultimate round of the season, held at Mondello Park; the team finished last again, although this time that equated to tenth overall, and fourth in the SR2 class.^[25] Bruneau returned to partner Rostan in the final race of the season, held at Nürburgring; the team finished ninth overall, and seventh in the SR2 class.^[26] The team were again classified sixth in their class in the Team's Championship,^[27] whilst Rostan was the highest classified driver, taking tenth with 38 points.^[28]

2002

In 2002, PiR Bruneau expanded to a two-car operation; they purchased a Pilbeam MP84, and ran it alongside the Debora LMP299; the latter car had been refitted with a 3-litre Nissan V6 engine.^[29] Philippe Hottinguer and Paul Daniels were selected to drive the LMP299 in the opening round at Barcelona, but retired due to a drive shaft issue after 35 laps.^[30] At Estoril, Pedro Couceiro and Manuel Gião drove the LMP299, and finished eleventh and last overall, sixth in the SR2 class.^[31] Bruneau partnered Daniels at Brno, but the pair did not start the race due to engine problems.^[32] At Magny-Cours, Hottinger returned to partner Daniels; however, the engine failed again, forcing the team to retire after 61 laps.^[33] For Dijon-Prenois, Daniels drove alongside Rob Croydon; this time, the team were able to finish the race, but finished ninth and last – sixth in the SR2 class.^[34] At Spa, Frédéric Bouvy, Christophe Geoffroy and David Sterckx were selected to drive the LMP299, but crashed out of the race after 22 laps.^[35] This was the last time the car was entered in a race.^[36]

References