Derbyshire-based Gibson Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance LMP1 and LMP2 powertrains, has won a contract to supply LMP1 engines to Germany-based ByKolles Racing for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Super Season, which includes the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Gibson’s new LMP1 engine — the GL458 — is based on its successful LMP2 engine — the GK428. Production of the GL458 will take place at Gibson’s ‘state of the art’ Repton facility, with the first engine scheduled for delivery to ByKolles Racing during April for testing, before competing at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium in May.

ByKolles team principal Manfredi Ravetto said: “We are very confident that a Gibson-powered ByKolles Enso car will give us the results that our relentless work and investment deserve.

"It’s a massive challenge to be ready for Spa, but our small and dedicated team in Greding loves these challenges, as we’ve proven before in F1 and WEC.”

John Manchester, Gibson Technology’s operations director (www.gibsontech.co.uk), said: “Everyone at Gibson Technology is delighted that our engines have been chosen by yet another top-flight team.

"We are all looking forward to being part of this new phase in the history of ByKolles Racing, which will enable us to further develop our engine technology to compete against some of the top sports-car and engine manufacturers in world sports-car racing.”