Rebellion Racing say it has no plans to upgrade its LMP1 racer to a hybrid for next season's World Endurance Championship.
The Swiss-based outfit had considered running the lower hybrid sub-classes for its debut season but opted for conventional fuel energy when it debuted its ORECA-developed Rebellion-Toyota R-One at the Spa WEC round in May and has no plans to revisit the decision next year.
"We did look at moving into the two megajoule class, but I think it is beyond our budget at the moment” said Team boss Bart Hayden. “We need to try to consolidate."
Rebellion (and any other team running in the LMP1-L (Light) category would also run the risk of losing dispensations afforded by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest if it converted to a hybrid in the LMP1-H (Hybrid) category – despite the class distinction being scrapped for the 2015 season.
"The way the rules are written people could consider that they are fighting for a secondary category and we want to remove this” ACO sporting manager Vincent Beaumesnil told Autosport. "The value you get as a team competing in LMP1 is to fight for the overall win."
Beaumesnil believes ACO and the FIA will find ways to help privateers running non-hybrid machinery to be competitive, despite being some 5 seconds off the pace in qualifying trim.
Image: Richard Washbrook Adrenal Media/FIA WEC