Zytek 07S LMP2

Three examples of Zytek’s 07S have been built, one to LMP1 regulations, the other two to LMP2. It proved to be a winner in the latter category with a first and second at Silverstone and victory at Interlagos during 2007. Indeed, the car proved to be the class of the LMP2 field in Europe, underlying its potential when it travelled to the USA to compete in the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta.

The 07S was designed with a completely new, twin roll hoop chassis but using the proven 06S aero package. Some aerodynamic updates were made. The twin roll hoops meant that a new engine cover had to be designed and the opportunity was taken to change the shape and reduce the drag. The new chassis was designed and built to LMP1 crash regulations. This means that it is particularly strong in LMP2 guise. All the FIA crash tests had to be carried out anew, the first time that Zytek as a group had done this for a chassis.

Mechanically the rear end is the same as the 06S, although the front suspension had to be modified because of the new chassis. The fuel system was completely revised. Effectively, over a two-year period, Zytek had built a car completely different from the 04S.

During practice at Monza for the first race of the 2007 Le Mans Series, Barazi-Epsilon driver Michael Vergers immediately showed the pace of the new design. At Valencia he underlined this by putting the car on the LMP2 pole. The Arena Motorsports LMP1 07S made its debut at this race and was pushing the Peugeot diesels hard at one point. At the Le Mans 24-hours, the factory run 07S was comfortably the quickest LMP2 contender, eventually finishing second behind another Zytek-engined car.

A second in class followed at the Nürburgring for the Barazi-Epsilon entry. The inevitable class win for this 07S came at Silverstone with Michael Vergers, Juan Barazi and Karim Ojjeh. However, the other 07S/2 in the hands of Danny Watts and Tom Kimber-Smith ran as high as third overall in the early stages of that race, the quickest of all the petrol-engined LMPs be they LMP1 or LMP2. The eventual result was a strong second, securing the first two places for the 07S. The LMS season was rounded off with another win for the Barazi-Epsilon trio in Brazil.

Towards the end of the year, the Arena LMP1 and the factory LMP2 travelled to the USA to compete at Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca. The former race showed America just how quick the 07S can be, Jan Charouz, Stefan Mucke and Danny Watts in the LMP2 finishing fourth overall having been as high as third in a race that included works Audis and Porsches. The LMP1 car, driven by Darren Manning and Tom Chilton, also led the race in the early stages.

The Barazi-Epsilon 07S was again entered for the Le Mans Series and for Le Mans itself in 2008 while the former factory car is now in the hands of a new team Gstaad Auto Racing Team (previously Trading Performance) headed by former Barazi-Epsilon driver Karim Ojjeh. This also appeared at Le Mans and all the LMS races. The year 2008 also saw American team Corsa Motorsports purchase the ex-Arena 07S. This ran at Petit Le Mans, alongside the workds Ginetta-Zytek 07S, the 2008 car which has since beconme a GZ09S, and the ALMS finale at Laguna Seca. This chassis will be fitted with a hybris unit in 2009 and is scheduled to compete in all ALMS races.

In Detail

type	Series Production Car
production	2
engine	Zytek ZG348 90º V8
position	Front, Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
block material	Aluminum Alloy Block & Cylinder Head
valvetrain	DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed	Zytek EMS 4.5.2 Injection
displacement	3396 cc / 207.24 in³
power	380.3 kw / 510 bhp
specific output	150.18 bhp per litre
torque	450.1 nm / 332 ft lbs
body / frame	Carbon Fiber Body over Unitary Carbron Fibre Tub Chassis
driven wheels	RWD
wheel type	OZ magnesium
front brakes	Hitco Carbon Fiber Discs
f brake size	35 x 355 mm / 1.4 x 14.0 in
rear brakes	Hitco Carbon Fiber Discs
r brake size	35 x 355 mm / 1.4 x 14.0 in
front wheels	F 45.7 x 31.8 cm / 18 x 12.5 in
rear wheels	R 45.7 x 33.0 cm / 18 x 13 in
steering	Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
f suspension	Double Wishbones w/Inboard Spring/Damper Units
r suspension	Double Wishbones w/Inboard Spring/Damper Units
wheelbase	2815 mm / 110.8 in
front track	1618 mm / 63.7 in
rear track	1556 mm / 61.3 in
length	4561 mm / 179.6 in