Some interesting, if ultimately inconclusive, comparisons can be drawn from the very first opportunity to examine some times posted by the new for 2017 LMP2 cars at Sebring’s IMSA test last week.

Both the DPi and Gibson engined LMP2 cars ran on Continental rubber at the test, the combined grid features Continental as their ‘spec’ tyre supplier.

Despite efforts to reel in the Cadillac DPis with a balance of performance adjustment the trio of cars on track went 1,2,3 in the overall times with the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing machine topping the session times with a 1:49.600 (6 tenths fastest than last season’s pole position time). The fastest Gibson-engined LMP2 meanwhile was the #85 JDC Miller Oreca 07 with a best lap of 1:50.6.

A direct comparison there then of the established fastest DPi vs the Oreca, understood by most to currently be the quickest of the P2s.

Sebring though has also seen 2017 LMP2 cars testing on Dunlop rubber, the test back in December saw a single example apiece of the Oreca, Ligier and Dallara chassis – all with Gibson power – on track over a three day test.

No official times were released from that test but DSC understands that the fastest time set was under 1:46 with a number of laps set in the low 1:46s as Dunlop worked on their 2017 rubber with the new cars for the FIA WEC and ELMS.

That compares very well indeed to the pole position time set at the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring (the very first round of the FIA WEC) by the Andre Lotterer in the #1 Audi R18 TDI, 1:45.820. Neither of the other Audis broke 1:46.

The fastest ALMS LMP1 time that year in Qualifying came from the Muscle Milk HPD, 4th fastest overall and behind the trio of Audis with a 1:47.5

The LMP2 pole time at that same race came from Olivier Pla in the Oak Racing Morgan Judd, 1:50.4