Reynard 2KQ
The Reynard 2KQ was a Le Mans prototype that was built at Reynard Motorsport and used by various racing teams in sports car races from 2000 to 2004.
Development history and technology
The 2KQ was originally developed as an LMP900 vehicle in late 1999. The LMP900 class was the major prototype racing class in the Le Mans 24-hour race and in the American Le Mans Series in the early 2000s . However, during development, Reynard decided to also launch the prototype for the smaller LMP675 class in order to be able to address a larger group of customers. Essential distinguishing features of a monocoque of carbon and aluminum equipped racing cars were engine performance and weight. In the only 760 kg (in Le Mans, the weight limits were adjusted again and again - 2000: 765 kg, 2001: 788 kg, 2002: 759 kg, 2003 and 2004: 761 kg) came 2-liter 4- Cylinder engines are used. The LMP900 vehicles, which weighed around 940 kg, had 4-liter 10-cylinder or 8-cylinder mid -engine engines .
The first vehicles were delivered to the customer teams in January 2000. The LMP900 version of the 2KQ made its racing debut at the Daytona 24-hour race in February of the same year. The car - which was reported by Johansson Matthews Racing - was driven by team owners Stefan Johansson and Jim Matthews . The British Guy Smith and the American Mimo Gidley were hired for this purpose. The Johansson Matthews 2KQ was powered by a Judd GV4 10 cylinder engine. In the race, after many technical problems, the quartet reached 23rd place overall after starting the race from fourth on the grid.
Racing history
For the 24-hour race at Le Mans 2000, the vehicles were not only given the additional designation LM , which means that the racing cars were on the starting lists as 2KQ-LM , but also improved rear wings. A total of five 2KQs were at the start. Two were used by ORECA in the LPM900 class, plus the Johansson Matthews wagon, also in the large prototype class. However, the first Le Mans race for these vehicles was not really successful. Yannick Dalmas got stuck in one of the ORECA-2KQ on the first lap with insufficient oil pressure. The second ORECA car, driven by Didier André , Didier Theys and Jeffrey Van Hooydonk , couldn't get past 20th place overall. The US car also retired after an engine failure. The ORECA cars were powered by an 8-cylinder Chrysler engine. The French ROC team fielded two 2KQ in the LMP675 class. The Volkswagen brand made its first appearance at the 24-hour race. A 2-liter VW 4-cylinder engine was running in the two Spyders. However, both cars failed due to engine damage.
After ORECA switched to the Dallara SP1 in 2001, the 2KQ disappeared from the large prototype class. ROC and Noël del Bello trusted in the vehicle until the end of 2004 and continued to use it in the LMP675 class. The greatest success for the 2KQ was the class win at the 2001 Le Mans 24-hour race . Jordi Gené , Jean-Denis Delétraz and Pascal Fabre achieved fifth place overall with a ROC-2KQ.
literature
- Mike Lawrence: The Reynard Story: From Formula Ford to Indycar Champions . Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1997, ISBN 1-85260-576-6 .
Web links
- Race results of the 2KQ (English)