Strakka-Dome S103

{{Infobox racing car|Image=250px
#42 Strakka Racing Strakka-Dome S103|Weight=900kg|Engine name=Nissan VK45DE 90º 4.5L V8 Naturally Aspirated|Gearbox name=Xtrac 6-Speed|Designer=Hiroshi Yuchi|Races=3|Poles=0|Wins=0|Tyres=Michelin|Constructor=Dome Co. LTD|Chassis=Carbon fibre monocoque|Category=Le Mans Prototype (LMP2)|Team={{flagicon|GBR}}Strakka Racing|Debut=2015 6 Hours of Silverstone|Drivers={{flagicon|GBR}}Nick Leventis
{{flagicon|GBR}}Jonny Kane
{{flagicon|GBR}}Danny Watts|Drivers_champ=0|Teams_champ=0|Predecessor=Dome S102|Front suspension=Double wishbone, Pushrod, 2 Corner with Dome Dampers|Rear suspension=As Front|Technical ref={{cite web | url = http://www.strakkaracing.com/wp/world-endurance-championship/car/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150317173154/http://www.strakkaracing.com/wp/world-endurance-championship/car/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 17 March 2015 | title = Strakka-DOME S103 | publisher = Strakka Racing | accessdate = 25 August 2019}}}}

The Strakka-Dome S103 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP2, built to the ACO/FIA Le Mans Prototype LMP2 Regulations. The car was originally eligible for use in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series as well as the IMSA sanctioned WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. Following the 2017 rule changes for the class,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fia.com/news/wec-new-year-new-regulations-lmp2|title=WEC - New Year, New Regulations for LMP2|date=2017-01-16|website=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} the car is no longer eligible for use in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and the European Le Mans Series. However, it is still eligible for use in the LMP2-Am Asian Le Mans Series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/06/11/fia-wec-2017-lmp2-regulations-key-points.html|title=FIA WEC: 2017 LMP2 Regulations, Key Points – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2018-12-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/aco-reveals-2017-lmp2-regulation-details/610489/|title=ACO reveals 2017 LMP2 regulation details|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}}

Development

= Initial Development (Dome S103) =

In May 2013 Dome Co. Ltd announced the development of the Dome S103, with the first concept sketches of the car being released online.{{Cite web|url=http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/dome-s103-design-revealed/|title=Dome S103 design revealed|last=Sam|date=2013-05-28|website=Racecar Engineering|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-12}} The car was announced as meeting both the 2014 LMP1 and LMP2 Technical regulations, and was developed in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), along with a 50% scale wind tunnel model at the Furyusha Wind Tunnel in Japan.{{cite press release |title=DOME starts developing DOME S103 |url=http://www.dome.co.jp/news/news/upimg/news%20release_domes103_may2013_en.pdf |website=www.dome.co.jp |access-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426044009/http://www.dome.co.jp/news/news/upimg/news%20release_domes103_may2013_en.pdf |archive-date=Apr 26, 2014 |language=en |date=24 May 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107738|title=WEC news: Dome's LMP1 prototype set to get green light for 2014|last=Watkins|first=Gary|date=2013-05-28|website=AUTOSPORT.com|access-date=2018-12-12}}

On 27 November 2013 Dome and Strakka Racing agreed to a long-term partnership, agreeing to jointly develop, market, and race the Dome S103, in the LMP2 "low-cost" guise, with the car becoming known as the Strakka-Dome S103.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/strakka-racing-forms-long-term-partnership-with-dome/443636/|title=Strakka Racing forms long-term partnership with DOME|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} The car was also announced to be powered by the Nissan VK45 4.5L V8 engine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/sportscars/news/198628/1/strakka-confirms-dome-partnership|title=Strakka confirms Dome partnership|date=2013-11-27|website=Crash|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}}

On 24 March 2013 Strakka Racing gave the car its first shakedown, at the Turweston Aerodrome, with Jonny Kane and Danny Watts at the wheel. This was before the original intended debut of the car at the 2014 6 Hours of Silverstone, the first round of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/successful-roll-out-for-new-strakka-dome-s103-lmp2-car/447976/|title=Successful roll out for new Strakka DOME S103 LMP2 car|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}}

However, on 15 April 2014 it was announced by team principal Nick Levantis that the car would miss the first 2 rounds of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, due to teething problems and a lack of running of the car.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/sportscars/news/202261/1/strakka-to-delay-lmp2-dome-debut|title=Strakka to delay LMP2 DOME debut|date=2014-04-15|website=Crash|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} The car was originally to debut at Le Mans,{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemans.org/en/news/the-strakka-dome-s103-continues-its-development/15266|title=The Strakka DOME S103 continues its development.|website=lemans.org|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} but this was subsequently cancelled,{{Cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/114165/strakka-withdraws-from-le-mans|title=Strakka Dome LMP2 withdraws from 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours|last=Watkins|first=Gary|website=Autosport.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} due to extensive revisions to the rear geometry of the car, and long lead times for the parts to arrive,{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2014/08/08/strakka-confirm-interlagos-debut-for-dome-s103-lmp2.html|title=Strakka Confirm Interlagos Debut For Dome S103 LMP2 – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2018-12-12}} alongside a desire to complete a further test programme.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-dome-continues-test-program/|title=Strakka Dome Continues Test Program – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-12}} Ultimately, the car would not race in 2014, after a planned debut at the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo failed, due to a homologation issue with the headrest of the car, in spite of the car running well at a preparation test for its intended debut, covering 3500 km at the Hungaroring.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-dome-s103-race-debut-delayed-until-2015/|title=Strakka-Dome S103 Delayed Until 2015 – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-12}}{{Cite web|url=http://news.cision.com/strakka-racing-donotuse/r/strakka-dome-s103-lmp2-car-debut-delayed-until-2015,c9680945|title=Strakka DOME S103 LMP2 car debut delayed until 2015|website=News Powered by Cision|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}}

Prior to the cars debut at the 2015 6 Hours of Silverstone, the car had testing at the Motorland Aragon, completing over 4000 km of running.{{Cite web|url=https://news.cision.com/strakka-racing-donotuse/r/strakka-racing-s-dome-completes-first-test-of-2015,c9723341|title=Strakka Racing's DOME completes first test of 2015|website=News Powered by Cision|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} The car was then launched at the FIA WEC Prologue at the Circuit Paul Ricard, on 26 March 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/03/26/strakka-dome-s103-launched.html|title=Strakka Dome S103 Launched – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2018-12-12}}

= Strakka S103B LMP1 =

Following the decision to switch to the Gibson 015S chassis, following the LMP2 regulation change for 2017, a separate effort began to convert the Dome S103 to the Strakka S103B, which would run in the LMP1 class.

A tightly budgeted two-year LMP1 programme was launched in the wake of the regulation change, with design and engine supply discussions progressing prior to the program's cancellation. Owing to the escalating costs of logistics in the World Endurance Championship, and fuel flow regulations in LMP1 requiring expensive fuel metering systems, the programme was cancelled.{{Cite web|title=Sportscars That Never Raced: 5, 2016 Strakka S103B LMP1 – dailysportscar.com|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/05/09/sportscars-that-never-raced-5-2016-strakka-s103b-lmp1.html|access-date=2020-08-24|website=www.dailysportscar.com}}

Competition History

= 2014 =

Due to the numerous testing and homologation issues faced by the car, the car was unable to race.

= 2015 =

On its debut at the 2015 6 Hours of Silverstone, the car finished P4 on the road.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/strakka-racing-claims-fourth-in-dome-s103-race-debut/552013/|title=Strakka Racing claims fourth in DOME S103 race debut|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} It was subsequently elevated to a P3 finish,{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/strakka-racing-claims-fourth-in-dome-s103-race-debut/552013/|title=Strakka Racing claims fourth in DOME S103 race debut|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}} after the #30 Tequila Patron ESM car which originally finished P3 failed post-race scrutineering.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/04/13/30-tequila-patron-esm-hpd-excluded-from-podium-finish.html|title=#30 Tequila Patron ESM HPD Excluded From Podium Finish – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2018-12-12}} The car qualified P7 at the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps,{{cite web |title=Final Classification |url=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/02_SPA%20FRANCORCHAMPS/81_FIA%20WEC/201505011840_Qualifying/90_Classification_Qualifying.PDF |website=fiawec.alkamelsystems.com |access-date=21 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506203334/http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/02_SPA%20FRANCORCHAMPS/81_FIA%20WEC/201505011840_Qualifying/90_Classification_Qualifying.PDF |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |language=en |date=1 May 2015 |url-status=live}} and finished in P5.{{cite web |title=Final Classification |url=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/02_SPA%20FRANCORCHAMPS/81_FIA%20WEC/201505021430_Race/Hour%206/05_Classification_Race_Hour%206.PDF |website=fiawec.alkamelsystems.com |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506203335/http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/02_SPA%20FRANCORCHAMPS/81_FIA%20WEC/201505021430_Race/Hour%206/05_Classification_Race_Hour%206.PDF |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |language=en |date=2 May 2005 |url-status=live}} The car was subsequently shelved in favour of the Gibson 015S, with the team electing to use the car as a developmental mule for its proposed 2017 LMP1 project.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemans.org/en/news/strakka-racing-going-forward-with-gibson/21499|title=Strakka Racing going forward with Gibson|website=lemans.org|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/119911/strakka-launches-2017-lmp1-project|title=Strakka launches 2017 LMP1 project for World Endurance Championship|last=Ladbrook|first=Rob|website=Autosport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-11}} The LMP1 project would be subsequently shelved by the team, and the car would never be returned to competition.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/11/03/proposed-new-strakka-and-greaves-lmp1-privateer-programmes-hit-the-buffers.html|title=Proposed New Strakka & Greaves LMP1 Privateer Programmes Hit The Buffers – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2019-08-11}}