Debora LMP296

Debora Automobiles

Industry	Automotive, Motorsport
Founded	1996
Headquarters	France
Products	Racing cars, including the Debora LMP296, LMP297, and LMP299

The Debora LMP296 is a Le Mans Prototype constructed by Debora Automobiles in 1996, specifically designed for the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Initially, it featured a 2-litre turbocharged straight-four engine from Cosworth, but throughout its three-year competitive tenure, it utilized several different engines. Only two chassis were manufactured. Together with the LMP297, this vehicle played a key role in Waterair Sport's achievement of the SR2 Team's Championship during the 1998 International Sports Racing Series. The LMP296 was subsequently upgraded and rebranded as the LMP299 for competition in the 2000 season.

Design and development

The LMP296 was built around an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis engineered by Roger Rimmer, complemented by body panels crafted from carbon fibre and designed by Didier Bonnet. Its original powerplant was a turbocharged 2-litre straight-four engine derived from the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, prepared for racing by Fochesato, delivering an officially stated output of . Power transmission was managed through a 5-speed Hewland FGC gearbox. The suspension setup included double-wishbone units developed by KONI, while braking was handled by Alcon four-piston disc brakes mounted behind 16" Michelin wheels. During 1998, the team experimented with several engines such as a 3-litre Alfa Romeo V6 and BMW straight-six engines ranging from 3 to 3.2 litres, ultimately opting for the 3-litre BMW unit after the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans event.

1996

The Debora LMP296 made its first appearance at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans pre-qualifying session, entered by Didier Bonnet Racing. The chassis designated LMP296-02, piloted by Guillaume Gomez, completed in 56th position but did not qualify for the main race. Meanwhile, the LMP296-01 chassis secured 52nd place during qualifying with drivers Edouard Sezionale, Jean-Claude Basso, and Thierry Lecerf, yet was unable to start due to engine complications. The car’s initial competitive outing occurred at the 1996 Le Mans Autumn Cup, where drivers Jacques Chevalier, Dominique Lacaud, and Patrice Roussel achieved fifth overall and second in the LMP2 category.

1997

In the following year, the LMP296 participated in the inaugural round of the International Sports Racing Series held at Donington Park, competing as an SR1 class entry with Didier Bonnet and Chevalier behind the wheel; however, it retired after completing six laps. Its counterpart, the Debora LMP297, also withdrew while running in the SR2 category. At Zolder’s second round, the LMP296 was classified as SR2 but crashed during the formation lap and did not commence the race. Both Debora vehicles were absent from Brno but returned at Jarama for the season finale, where drivers Hervé Regout and David Dussau brought the LMP296 home fourth overall and third within its class as an SR1 competitor.

1998

During 1998, Didier Bonnet Racing ran the car under Waterair Sports in the International Sports Racing Series. The vehicle initially used a 3-litre Alfa Romeo V6 at Paul Ricard but suffered exhaust damage leading to early retirement. Subsequently, it attempted pre-qualification for the 24 Hours of Le Mans equipped with a BMW 3-litre straight-six engine, securing 51st on the grid. Drivers Lionel Robert, Edouard Sezionale, and Pierre Bruneau contested the race powered by an upgraded 3.2-litre BMW S50 engine; nevertheless, their campaign ended prematurely due to gearbox failure after completing 106 laps.

Following Le Mans, the car reverted to its 3-litre BMW engine and competed as Waterair Sports in the International Sports Racing Series. At Misano, Sezionale teamed with André Cholley and Jean-Claude de Castelli to win the SR2 class as sole entrants in that division. They replicated this success at Donington Park, finishing fifth overall with de Castelli and François Jakubowski sharing driving duties. The Anderstorp event proved less fruitful: while the LMP297 did not start, the LMP296 retired early following a spin.

At Nürburgring, Waterair Sports achieved a one-two finish in SR2 with the LMP296 placing seventh overall. This marked its final race completion of that year since it retired at Le Mans and failed to start at Kyalami later on. Despite these difficulties, Waterair Sports secured the SR2 Team's Championship title—bolstered by victories from the LMP297—and concluded joint twelfth in overall standings.

1999

In 1999, the International Sports Racing Series was rebranded as the Sports Racing World Cup. The vehicle was acquired by Pierre Bruneau, who also took charge of his own racing team. Alongside Marc Rostan and Martin Henderson, Bruneau achieved ninth place overall and a class victory at the season's opening event held at Barcelona. Nonetheless, the team faced difficulties at Monza, finishing last both overall and within their class. At Spa-Francorchamps, they secured ninth overall and second in their category. Following a retirement at Pergusa, the team rebounded by claiming third in class (twelfth overall) at Donington Park. Their final classification came at Brno, where they finished seventh overall and won their class as other SR2 competitors dropped out. The team withdrew from the last three races, ending the season as runners-up to Cauduro Tampolli Team in the SR2 Team's Championship and placing eleventh in the overall Team's Championship.

1997

The Debora LMP297 made its first appearance during pre-qualifying for the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans, competing in the LMP650 category with Didier Bonnet Racing at the helm, powered by a 2-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine. It finished 46th but did not advance past pre-qualifying, thus missing the race itself. Later, it entered the International Sports Racing Series season opener at Donington Park with drivers Glenn Dudley and Paul Cope, now fitted with a 3-litre BMW inline-six engine; however, it retired after completing 22 laps. At Zolder, piloted by David Dussau and Bernard de Dryver, the car retired due to an accident after 39 laps. The LMP297 finally completed a race at the season finale in Jarama, where drivers Patrice Roussel and Bruno Boccard achieved fifth place overall and second in their class.

1998

During 1998, Didier Bonnet Racing competed under the Waterair Sports name. The vehicle was introduced at the fifth round held at Anderstorp, although it did not start that race. At Nürburgring, drivers André Cholley and David Dussau finished tenth overall and secured second place in class. Cholley teamed up with Pierre Bruneau to claim class victories at both Le Mans and Kyalami, being the sole SR2 entry to finish these events. The combined points earned by both the LMP296 and LMP297 contributed to Waterair Sports securing the SR2 class championship for 1998, with a joint twelfth place overall. Despite being entered for the 1999 Sports Racing World Cup round at Donington Park, the car did not appear and was subsequently retired from competition.

2000

The Debora LMP299 made its debut during the opening round of the 2000 Sports Racing World Cup season at Barcelona, equipped with a 3-litre BMW inline-six engine and competing in the "SRL" category. Representing PiR Bruneau, drivers Pierre Bruneau and Marc Rostan secured second place in SRL and eleventh overall. An ignition failure forced retirement during the 500 km Monza event, but they bounced back with a sixth-place finish overall and third in SRL at Spa-Francorchamps. Although entered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an upgraded 3.2-litre BMW engine, they were ultimately not invited to participate.

The team took part in the 1000 km of Nürburgring under ALMS regulations, reverting to the 3-litre BMW powerplant and classified within the LMP category. They finished fourteenth overall, tenth among LMP competitors, and third in the LMP675 subclass. Subsequent rounds of the SRWC yielded mixed outcomes: an axle failure caused an early exit at Brno; gearbox issues led to retirement at Donington Park; while finishes included seventeenth overall (sixth in SRL) at Nürburgring and twelfth overall (sixth SRL) at Magny-Cours. Drivers involved throughout included Bruneau, Rostan, Robert Pergl, Dominique Lacaud, Piers Johnson, and Ludovico Manfredi.

PiR Bruneau concluded the year sixth in the WSRP SRL Team Championship with 39 points, while drivers Bruneau and Rostan tied for ninth place in the SRL Driver's Championship. Their single ALMS appearance earned them sixteenth position in that series’ LMP Team Championship with 15 points.

2001

During the 2001 campaign, PiR Bruneau remained active in the Sports Racing World Series, which had been rebranded as the FIA Sportscar Championship. The squad retained their LMP299, now categorized as an "SR2" vehicle, and enlisted Arturo Merzario to co-drive alongside Bruneau and Rostan for the opening event at Barcelona. Their effort resulted in an eleventh-place finish overall and seventh within the SR2 category. At the 1000 km of Monza, the team was forced to retire after completing 81 laps due to damage sustained in an accident. At Spa-Francorchamps, they secured 13th place overall and seventh in class but withdrew after 55 laps. The Brno round saw them conclude in fourteenth position overall—last among finishers—and seventh in class, having completed 47 laps, which was 19 fewer than the preceding car.

For the Magny-Cours race, Manfredi took over from Merzario; however, a gearbox malfunction after 27 laps led to retirement. The team showed progress at Donington Park, finishing eleventh overall and achieving fourth place in the SR2 category. At Mondello Park, Rostan teamed up with Arnie Black, securing tenth overall and fourth in class. Bruneau returned to partner with Rostan for the finale at Nürburgring, where they finished ninth overall and seventh in SR2.

Ultimately, the team achieved sixth place in their class's Team Championship standings, with Rostan leading as the highest-ranked driver in tenth position, accumulating 38 points.

2002

In the 2002 season, PiR Bruneau expanded operations by running two cars: a newly added Pilbeam MP84 alongside their Debora LMP299, which had been upgraded with a 3-litre Nissan V6 engine. The LMP299 was piloted by Philippe Hottinguer and Paul Daniels at Barcelona but suffered a driveshaft failure after 35 laps, forcing retirement. At Estoril, Pedro Couceiro and Manuel Gião completed the race in eleventh place overall and sixth within SR2. Unfortunately, Bruneau and Daniels were unable to start at Brno due to engine troubles. At Magny-Cours, Hottinguer and Daniels retired after 61 laps following another engine failure. For the Dijon-Prenois event, Daniels joined forces with Rob Croydon, finishing ninth overall and sixth in SR2. At Spa, drivers Frédéric Bouvy, Christophe Geoffroy, and David Sterckx were involved in a crash after 22 laps; this marked the final appearance of the LMP299 in competition.