Gregor Fisken driving his Blue and Green, 2001, Dallara SP1, exiting the pit lane at the start of Masters Legends Endurance Race.
The Dallara SP1, also known as the Chrysler LMP, was a Le Mans Prototype built by Italian firm Dallara. Initially used as part of Chrysler Corporation's attempt to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the cars were later sold to customers for use series such as the FIA Sportscar Championship and Le Mans Dallara's work in constructing the Toyota GT-One in 1998, Audi R8R in 1999, and Audi R8 in 2000, the company decided to use their expertise to develop their own Le Mans Prototype for the LMP900 class in 2001, specifically for use by customer teams as an alternative to the factory-backed efforts. While the design of the SP1 was still being completed, Chrysler Corporation was in the process of expanding their Le Mans program. Following years of success with their Chrysler Viper GTS-R program, including three class wins, Chrysler had begun development work in the use of a Le Mans Prototype, including running two Reynard prototypes in 2000. For 2001 Chrysler, with partner Oreca, decided to concentrate solely on prototypes, ending their Viper program. Looking for a more capable car to replace the Reynard, Chrysler approached Dallara and decided to use the SP1 that Dallara was still in the process of completing. With a partnership agreed upon, the cars became known as Chrysler LMPs, and would use a Mopar V8. Oreca assisted Dallara in the development of the SP1 chassis, leading to its chassis using the designation DO (Dallara-Oreca). Following Chrysler's withdrawal from the program, the Mopar V8 would be replaced by Judd V10s, ranging from litres to litres, for use by privateers. In 2005, Rollcentre Racing would install a turbocharged Nissan VQ V6 based on a JGTC unit, in an agreement with Nissan Motorsports for testing the possible use of the engine in a customer program. The project would however be considered a failure. An X-Trac 6-speed sequential-shift gearbox unit would be used throughout the history of the SP1,
Size: 4716px × 3184px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2001, 2023, 4000cc, blue, circuit, dallara, endurance, festival, fisken, front, green, gregor, international, lane, le, legends, mans, masters, northamptonshire, pit, prototype, race., silverstone, sp1, towcester, view
