ALMS: Reynard 01Q Sportscar Set to Racin in USA and Europe

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

The Reynard 01Q sportscar, evolved from the original 2KQ model launched in 1999, is set to race in the American Le Mans Series and the FIA Sportscar Championship and Le Mans 24 Hour race this year, with three top teams fielding cars.

The Dick Barbour Racing Team will race at the Donington round of the American Le Mans Series ahead of a Le Mans 24 Hours debut in the LMP675 class. They will then contest the remaining events in the ALMS. The team will be using the KV675 Judd V8 engine. Redman Bright will be contesting the FIA Sportscar Championship and entering Le Mans 24 Hour race in the LMP900 class with their 01Q GV4 Judd V10, a single car entry, driven by Peter Owen and Reynard Managing Director, Mark Smithson. The France based Roc Auto team, with a VW 2litre 4 cylinder turbo powered Reynard 01Q is also planning to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hour race, in addition to a number of rounds of the European Le Mans Series.

Reynard has been working hard over the last year on its sportscar plans, with an intensive research and development programme, designed to improve the car to suit both LMP900 and LMP675 racing classes. Reynard will be working alongside the three teams out on track this year to provide engineering support from their UK and USA based departments, to help in maximising the potential of the car and teams' success in each of these important Sportscar series. The design team is led by Will Philips as Chief Designer, with Nick Carpenter as Assistant Chief Designer, supported by a core of research and development specialists.

Mark Smithson, Managing Director, Reynard Motorsport, comments on the 2001 plans, saying, "This year will be a critical one for our sportscar programme. We've made enormous progress with this evolution of the 2KQ, through the 2KQ-LM and now the 01Q, with the LMP675 version of the car being an important move. Roc Auto showed us last year how competitive the car could be in this category and with Dick Barbour Racing, I'm sure the Reynard will be a real contender for class honours."

On driving the 01Q in the FIA Sportscar Championship, Smithson adds, "I will also be able to experience at first-hand the capabilities, driveability and potential for the car with the Redman Bright team. I hope this will be valuable to both Reynard and the other teams and I've no doubt that they will be watching me closely to see how I perform!"

The Reynard 01Q is the second stage of the development of the companies' sportscar programme. At the end of this year, further plans will see the famous racecar constructor look towards the development of an all-new sportscar which will build on the development of the 2KQ and 01Q for 2002. This year the focus for Reynard Motorsport is the building of a strong engineering team, developing an effective product and healthy market for 2002 and beyond.

Text Provided By Alison Hill

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