Melchester plans two-class entry, biofuel.

Melchester Racing and Radical Motorsport have revealed that they are to work together over the next few seasons to develop the latter's SR9 prototype in both LMP classes of the Le Mans Series.

Radical will continue to run its own LMP2 car, and plans to provide a second car to Melchester. The team, however, has bigger ambitions, and would also like to acquire another chassis, both to be from its new race HQ in Surrey. As revealed last year, Melchester and Radical are also striving to put together a deal to run at least one SR9 in LMP1 guise, but running on biofuel with one eye on gaining an invitation to the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. No drivers have been named to any of the cars as yet, as Melchester attempts to gets in plans in place.

"The SR9 was truly the most competitive new car of 2006 and, with the lessons learned from its first season on the track, it will surely be a frontrunner in 2007," Melchester's Brian Morris said, "The original design is basically to LMP1 regulations and, therefore, we see great synergy in running both classes in parallel. In working with Radical over the past few months, we see the benefits of running the programme together, but in competition on the track.

"The technical agreement with Ricardo for our biofuel project brings added expertise and experience, and should ensure that our partnership with the Radical factory and Judd Engines is optimised. Our longer term aim will be to run a biodiesel engine, and Judd and Ricardo have started making strides in this direction. An exciting year beckons."

Commenting on the alliance between the works operation and Melchester, Radical chairman Tim Greaves admitted that he was delighted with the commitment being shown by the privateer team, claiming that he was satisfied that it would contribute to the overall on-track performance of the SR9. Greaves also confirmed that the Radical factory operation would will run its own singleton entry as a development car.