Rebellion Racing has announced that it will run just the #13 R-One of Mathéo Tuscher, Dominik Kraihamer and Alexandre Imperatori for the remaining rounds of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship. The team has confirmed though, that it will compete in the 2017 WEC season in LMP1.

This news comes despite the fact that the #12 of Nick Heidfeld, Mathias Beche and Nicolas Prost leads the FIA Endurance Trophy For Private LMP1 Teams by 25 points over the sister car after winning the class and scoring double points at Le Mans. The freed up resources by pulling the #12 car from the series however, is being used to concentrate and prepare for a 2017 campaign in LMP1 with the new regulations.

The #13 car has had a successful season so far in the three-car LMP1-L class, finishing on the overall podium at both Silverstone and Spa.

“It has of course been a very difficult week, some of out long-serving temporary staff not joining us for the reminder of the season,” team principal Bart Hayden said. “But the very good news behind what at first sight appears to be very bad news, is that we are committed to returning to the full WEC in LMP1 next season.

“We have decided to continue racing with the Rebellion R-One number 13 as that car is closer in the LMP1 Privateer Teams championship points standings to our rivals at ByKolles and it makes the fight for the championship a bigger challenge.”

The ACO and FIA confirmed changes to the LMP1 non-hybrid technical regulations with the aim of trying to close the gap to the factory hybrid entries and to make the class more attractive to new privateer entrants.

The technical regulations for LMP1 Privateer non-hybrid cars for next season include changes in the weight and the aerodynamics of the cars. The engine regulations will also be impacted.

It’s good news for the fan-favourite P1 team, which puts paid to the rumours published elsewhere of the withdrawal by Rebellion for the remainder of the 2016 WEC season.