2011 Riley Mk XXV LMP2

This year, the Le Mans series will have extensive regulations imposed meant to lessen costs and increase competition, all while pushing forward with new technologies. North Carolina-based Riley announced their intention to take on this challenge and provide an LMP2 prototype chassis for the American Le Mans Series.

Riley has created two versions of what it calls the MKXXV. The car will either be a coupe or an open cockpit design. Riley started out with a clean sheet. Then, using Computational Fluid Dynamics technology, the company created a chassis design that was meant to hit intended targets in performance, while also staying within a specific price.

The basic premise of the design's starting point was to create a very clean car that would enable large volumes of airflow to pass through the car, instead of directing it around or over the car. This is a similar approach to that taken by Audi and its R15. By designing a car to allow the airflow to flow through it, airflow becomes utilized to provide maximum amounts of downforce without dramatic increases in drag. Instead of features either at the front or rear of the car meant to create downforce, airflow passing through a car can be utilized to help generate downforce all-along the chassis without paying a large drag penalty.

To help channel the air through the car, Riley have adopted the narrow, raised-nose similar to Peugeot's 908. The nose is supported by pillars on either side and directed away from the nose to the front splitter at a forty-five degree angle. This helps to free up airflow passing underneath the nose and channeled by the splitter under the nose to either of the deep channels created by the inside of the front wheels and the chassis. While Riley has focused on directing large amounts of airflow over the top of the front splitter and through the car, the airflow going underneath the splitter has also been increased. In fact, Riley's new front splitter design is deeper and wider than any other design currently used in the LMP2 class.

To further help the airflow remain unimpeded, Riley have chosen to utilize a unique front-suspension design. This front-suspension element design further helps to direct airflow through the car, and then, around the side of the car.

The front wheel fairings extend back a good distance from the wheel well and are not directly part of the chassis. The MKXXV's sidepods are similar to designs incorporated in Formula One cars, and now, in Le Mans Series prototypes. The sidepods are much more rounded, opening up a clear channel for the air to pass around the sides of the car. To help control this airflow around the side of the car and over the top of the sidepods, the front wheel fairing is connected to the car through a number of shutters set at different angles. These shutters help the air passing through the car to remain in tight to the chassis and cause as little disturbance with air flowing around the car as possible.

While it is a clean-sheet design, depending upon which version of the car one is looking at, an amalgamation of current competitive chassis can be readily seen. In its closed-cockpit, coupe version the car bears striking resemblance to Peugeot's 908 HDI FAP. It also features design elements similar to that of Audi's R15 and R15 Plus. When looking at Riley's open-cockpit concept, Audi's R10 and R15 becomes very apparent.

The coupe version is similar in design to Peugeot's 908, while the open-cockpit design uses the twin-roll-over hoop design with which Audi has become synonymous. Both designs incorporate the mandatory vertical fin running along the spine of the car. Riley has decided to take the vertical fin and attach it directly to the rear wing. Besides the endplates being attached to the R15 Plus and 908-inspired rear end, the rear wing is also supported two smaller pillars.

While the MKXXV represents an all-new design for the Riley company, it has relied heavily upon the relationships with other part suppliers it has been able to foster and maintain over its 20+ years of existence in order to fashion its new car without having to bear the burden of costs associated with creating an all-new car from the ground up. This enables Riley to build a competitive prototype without the large costs associated with building every component 'in-house'.

Part of Riley's focus is building a competitive car for many different customers. This means offering a car as varied and adaptable as its customers. To achieve this goal, Riley set out to build a carbon-fiber tub that is capable of housing a wide variety of engine packages. It is expected the car will be able to house either normally-aspirated or turbo-powered engines. It is also expected to be able to house other engines, such as the Roush-Yates V6 EcoBoost, the HPD V6 twin-turbo, the Judd and the Nismo/Zytek.

Back in 2004, Riley debuted its new chassis for the Grand Am series. At Daytona, that same year, Riley chassis occupied the front row for the Rolex 24 hour race. Many other teams that have used the Riley chassis have been found to be competitive almost immediately. This history has led Riley Technologies Director Bob Riley to be very excited about the company's new LMP2 prototype and its ability to offer competitive performance straight-away. When Riley announced their new LMP2 chassis Bob Riley was quoted as saying, 'We are very excited about this all-new LMP2 design and feel like we will have a car that will give our customers the speed and reliability they need to be competitive.'

Riley has become renowned the world over for its competitive cars and exceptional customer service. While the company is currently exploring options for a European-based dealer, Riley has announced its new MKXXV will provide customers of the American Le Mans Series a competitive car for the LMP2 category, backed up with Riley's exceptional customer support. As Riley Technologies President Bill Riley remarked, 'We plan on giving our customers the same kind of support that we always have. We hope to finalize the first build in the coming days and have the car ready to go, and be competitive, at Sebring.'

The prototype's expected debut will come at the 59th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 19th.

By Jeremy McMullen