Engine Developments is pleased to confirm it is developing a new LMP1 engine for private teams competing in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.

The engine is a lean-burn derivative of an existing V8 platform, increased in capacity to 4,4 litres to give the best combination of power and fuel economy as required by the new fuel-limited regulations being introduced in 2014.

“After lengthy discussion with various chassis manufacturers and simulation work we chose the V8 naturally aspirated path as the most sensible and cost efficient way in which to provide a reliable and competitive powerplant to customer teams in 2014 and beyond”, explains John Judd, Managing Director of ED.

“It became clear as a result of our work and these discussions that the V8 N/A engine was the correct configuration. In some respects our V10 platform may have been an attractive proposition but amongst other considerations it was felt that this option was not ideal with the reduced minimum weight for LMP1 cars in 2014. Having chosen the V8 option we are pleased that our simulation work has been confirmed. We are very happy with the performance of the engine to date and have met all our targets.”

The new engine has been running since early July and has already completed an extensive dyno test program. Direct injection, drive by wire and associated engine control electronics are now being evaluated and refined. Further dyno testing is planned in the months ahead and it is hoped that the engine will be track tested in early 2014.

“We have a significant amount of development work still to do, but the testing to date has gone very well and the early results are very encouraging”.

More details of the engine will be available in due course.