Strakka-Dome S103

The Strakka-Dome S103 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP2, built to the ACO/FIA Le Mans Prototype LMP2 Regulations. The car was originally eligible for use in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series as well as the IMSA sanctioned WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. Following the 2017 rule changes for the class,[2] the car is no longer eligible for use in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and the European Le Mans Series. However, it is still eligible for use in the LMP2-Am Asian Le Mans Series.[3][4]

Strakka-Dome S103

#42 Strakka Racing Strakka-Dome S103
CategoryLe Mans Prototype (LMP2)
ConstructorDome Co. LTD
PredecessorDome S102
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, Pushrod, 2 Corner with Dome Dampers
Suspension (rear)As Front
EngineNissan VK45DE 90º 4.5L V8 Naturally Aspirated
TransmissionXtrac 6-Speed
Weight900kg
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsStrakka Racing
Notable driversNick Leventis
Jonny Kane
Danny Watts
Debut2015 6 Hours of Silverstone
RacesWinsPoles
300
Teams' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Development

Initial Development (Dome S103)

In May 2013 Dome Co. Ltd announced the development of the Dome S103, with the first concept sketches of the car being released online.[5] The car was announced as meeting both the 2014 LMP1 and LMP2 Technical regulations, and was developed in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), along with a 50% scale wind tunnel model at the Furyusha Wind Tunnel in Japan.[6][7]

On 27 November 2013 Dome and Strakka Racing agreed to a long-term partnership, agreeing to jointly develop, market, and race the Dome S103, in the LMP2 "low-cost" guise, with the car becoming known as the Strakka-Dome S103.[8] The car was also announced to be powered by the Nissan VK45 4.5L V8 engine.[9]

On 24 March 2013 Strakka Racing gave the car its first shakedown, at the Turweston Aerodrome, with Jonny Kane and Danny Watts at the wheel. This was before the original intended debut of the car at the 2014 6 Hours of Silverstone, the first round of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.[10]

However, on 15 April 2014 it was announced by team principal Nick Levantis that the car would miss the first 2 rounds of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, due to teething problems and a lack of running of the car.[11] The car was originally to debut at Le Mans,[12] but this was subsequently cancelled,[13] due to extensive revisions to the rear geometry of the car, and long lead times for the parts to arrive,[14] alongside a desire to complete a further test programme.[15] Ultimately, the car would not race in 2014, after a planned debut at the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo failed, due to a homologation issue with the headrest of the car, in spite of the car running well at a preparation test for its intended debut, covering 3500 km at the Hungaroring.[16][17]

Prior to the cars debut at the 2015 6 Hours of Silverstone, the car had testing at the Motorland Aragon, completing over 4000 km of running.[18] The car was then launched at the FIA WEC Prologue at the Circuit Paul Ricard, on 26 March 2015.[19]

Strakka S103B LMP1

Following the decision to switch to the Gibson 01S chassis, following the LMP2 regulation change for 2017, a separate effort began to convert the Dome S103 to the Strakka S103B, which would run in the LMP1 class.

A tightly budgeted two-year LMP1 programme was launched in the wake of the regulation change, with design and engine supply discussions progressing prior to the program's cancellation. Owing to the escalating costs of logistics in the World Endurance Championship, and fuel flow regulations in LMP1 requiring expensive fuel metering systems, the programme was cancelled.[20]

Competition History

2014

Due to the numerous testing and homologation issues faced by the car, the car was unable to race.

2015

On its debut at the 2015 6 Hours of Silverstone, the car finished P4 on the road.[21] It was subsequently elevated to a P3 finish,[22] after the #30 Tequila Patron ESM car which originally finished P3 failed post-race scrutineering.[23] The car qualified P7 at the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps,[24] and finished in P5.[25] The car was subsequently shelved in favour of the Gibson 01S, with the team electing to use the car as a developmental mule for its proposed 2017 LMP1 project.[26][27] The LMP1 project would be subsequently shelved by the team, and the car would never be returned to competition.[28]

No Team Car
SIL
SPA
LMS
NÜR
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR		 Total

points

 Pos.
42 Strakka Racing Strakka-Dome S103 3 5 Ret 63 6th
Gibson 015S 7 7 6 6 5

References
  1. "Strakka-DOME S103". Strakka Racing. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  2. "WEC - New Year, New Regulations for LMP2". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  3. "FIA WEC: 2017 LMP2 Regulations, Key Points – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  4. "ACO reveals 2017 LMP2 regulation details". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  5. Sam (28 May 2013). "Dome S103 design revealed". Racecar Engineering. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  6. www.dome.co.jp (PDF) http://www.dome.co.jp/news/news/upimg/news%20release_domes103_may2013_en.pdf. Retrieved 12 December 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Watkins, Gary (28 May 2013). "WEC news: Dome's LMP1 prototype set to get green light for 2014". AUTOSPORT.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  8. "Strakka Racing forms long-term partnership with DOME". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  9. "Strakka confirms Dome partnership". Crash. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  10. "Successful roll out for new Strakka DOME S103 LMP2 car". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  11. "Strakka to delay LMP2 DOME debut". Crash. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  12. "The Strakka DOME S103 continues its development". lemans.org. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. Watkins, Gary. "Strakka Dome LMP2 withdraws from 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours". Autosport.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  14. "Strakka Confirm Interlagos Debut For Dome S103 LMP2 – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  15. Dagys, John. "Strakka Dome Continues Test Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  16. Dagys, John. "Strakka-Dome S103 Delayed Until 2015 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  17. "Strakka DOME S103 LMP2 car debut delayed until 2015". News Powered by Cision. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  18. "Strakka Racing's DOME completes first test of 2015". News Powered by Cision. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  19. "Strakka Dome S103 Launched – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  20. "Sportscars That Never Raced: 5, 2016 Strakka S103B LMP1 – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  21. "Strakka Racing claims fourth in DOME S103 race debut". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  22. "Strakka Racing claims fourth in DOME S103 race debut". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  23. "#30 Tequila Patron ESM HPD Excluded From Podium Finish – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  24. fiawec.alkamelsystems.com (PDF) http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/02_SPA%20FRANCORCHAMPS/81_FIA%20WEC/201505011840_Qualifying/90_Classification_Qualifying.PDF. Retrieved 12 December 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. fiawec.alkamelsystems.com (PDF) http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/02_SPA%20FRANCORCHAMPS/81_FIA%20WEC/201505021430_Race/Hour%206/05_Classification_Race_Hour%206.PDF. Retrieved 12 December 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. "Strakka Racing going forward with Gibson". lemans.org. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  27. Ladbrook, Rob. "Strakka launches 2017 LMP1 project for World Endurance Championship". Autosport.com. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  28. "Proposed New Strakka & Greaves LMP1 Privateer Programmes Hit The Buffers – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
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