Knowledge is Power – The AER LMP1 privateer engine

Advanced Engine Research Limited’s V6 GDI twin-turbo LMP1 engine (known as the P60) debuted at COTA in September 2014 and was instantly setting the speed traps ablaze with some impressive speeds aboard the Lotus (LMP1-L as it was then known) entry.

Since the beginning of 2015 the unit has appeared again in the ByKolles LMP1 car and also in the brace of Rebellion Racing R-One (ORECA) LMP1 cars.

AER is based in Basildon, England, and was founded in 1998. As well as the P60 powerplant they also supply engines to the entire IndyLights and GP3 grids.

“We went into 2014 fairly open minded with regard to the LMP1 programme,” says AER boss Mike Lancaster.  “In particular we first had to get our new P60 engine out onto the track. The Lotus team were an excellent choice at the start of the year, so we worked closely with them during the installation and, despite their car being at a very early stage in its development, it went very well. The engine reliability was excellent and we got a lot of mileage under our belts. We proved that the engine was very fast and especially fuel-efficient, so it was nice to show our level of performance and validate all our hard work."

Although it debuted last season, the P60 programme has long since been in development, even from the early concept stage. Lancaster and his team thought long and hard about what the best specification would be to suit the ‘high-efficiency’ requirements of the new LMP1 regulations.

“When we first heard about the LMP1 fuel flow limitation regulations a few years ago we decided we wanted to introduce a new engine and we specifically designed an engine for this formula,” says Lancaster. “We have actually been developing this engine for three years and that process has been assisted significantly by the work we did for a Formula One team where we were developing gasoline, direct-injection turbo charged technology at a very high level.

“So we used the knowledge and experience gained from that programme to put into the P60. The main difference, of course, between F1 and sportscar engines is that they have different performance targets and specifically different fuel-flow characteristics so you have to chase different targets."

The AER P60 engine has many unique features, including being small and light compared to some other engines. In its base state, the all-aluminium constructed engine is just 108kgs. The turbos themselves are actually quite low mass these days so, after these are applied with other parts like intercoolers, the weight is no more than other existing engines. That time and care in the design phase of the AER P60 has paid dividends in this respect and especially in the mass distribution, which then gives a impressive C of G (Centre of Gravity) and polar moments (of inertia) improvements.

Sam Smith