Development
In 2000, Reynard introduced the 2KQ prototype, which experienced aerodynamic problems leading some customers to seek alternative chassis. Despite an upgrade package in 2001, called the 01Q, Reynard determined an all-new car was necessary. At the same time, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, reorganized the Le Mans Prototype classifications with the creation of the LMP900 and LMP675 classes.
The Reynard 02S was designed to be adaptable, capable of running in either the LMP900 or LMP675 class depending on ballast and engine choice. It was initially built around the use of a Zytek ZG348 V8, compliant with the LMP675 3400 cc engine limit. A sequential gearbox, built by Ricardo, incorporated a paddle-shift system specifically designed for the 02S. The bodywork, designed by Will Phillips, featured a low profile with a tall rear wing set to the maximum allowable height.
IRM and RN Motorsport
Following Reynard’s bankruptcy, International Racing Management (IRM) bought the rights to the 02S designs and unfinished chassis. Initially offered to the Japanese team YGK, who declined further development, the project was eventually taken up by RN Motorsport. The car debuted under the Reynard name at the 2002 Petit Le Mans before being renamed a DBA4 03S (later shortened to DBA 03S). Carsten Rae, co-owner of RN Motorsport, named the DBA moniker in honour of the Danish newspaper he owned, Den Blå Avis. Very little was changed by IRM between the initial Reynard development work and the finished product that appeared in late 2002.
Racing history – RN Motorsport
RN Motorsport chose the 2002 Petit Le Mans as the DBA4 03S’s first competitive outing. The car qualified tenth overall and third in the LMP675 class, amongst 48 entries, behind two MG-Lola EX257s. Drivers John Nielsen and Casper Elgaard managed to last six hours before cooling problems put the car out of the race. In 2003, the team competed at the 12 Hours of Sebring, qualifying fifth overall and on the LMP675 pole, but breaking a gearbox after only 73 laps in the race.
Returning to Europe, RN Motorsport competed in the FIA Sportscar Championship, where the DBA4 03S competed in the SR1 class. With John Nielsen joined by Hayanari Shimoda and Andy Wallace, the car achieved a victory at Oschersleben and a second-place finish at Estoril. Budgetary constraints caused the team to miss several rounds, ultimately finishing third in the championship.
RN Motorsport also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing the LMP675 class pole position. RN Motorsports would be amongst only three LMP675s that would finish the race, with the team taking second in class, although they were 31 laps behind the winning LMP675 class car and ranked a distant 23rd overall.
Creation Autosportif
Following the end of RN Motorsport, Creation Autosportif purchased the lone DBA4 03S chassis in 2004. The team, employing Jamie Campbell-Walter and Nicolas Minassian, achieved third-place finishes that season, earning fourth in the LMP1 championship behind three Audi R8s. They also competed in the final rounds of the American Le Mans Series, qualifying second at Petit Le Mans before an engine failure ended their race, and taking pole at Laguna Seca before mechanical issues struck again.
For 2005, Creation continued in the Le Mans Series with a modified chassis housing a new Judd V10. Minassian and Campbell-Walter secured a best finish of second at Silverstone, finishing fifth in the teams’ championship. The team also made their debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 14th overall.
In 2006, Creation focused on adapting their DBA 03S to new regulations, experiencing struggles in the early LMS rounds. By the third round, the team would once again take a second-place finish. The debut of a second CA06/H chassis at the fourth round saw Creation achieve one of its strongest performances. Both cars finished on the podium, and a fourth-place finish in the final round allowed Creation Autosportif to take second in the LMS championship.
At the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team was unable to repeat their previous year’s success due to late-race problems. They also returned to the final American Le Mans Series rounds, taking pole position at Petit Le Mans before finishing fourth, and securing a third-place finish at Laguna Seca.
Following the 2003 season, IRM partnered with Zytek Engineering, with Zytek building new chassis while IRM retained the intellectual rights. The new chassis became known as the Zytek 04S. The chassis was slightly modified as the elimination of the LMP900 and LMP675 classes in 2004 necessitated adaptation to the new LMP1 class.
The general layout of the 04S remained consistent through 2004 and 2005, before modifications were required to comply with new regulations. These regulations required older LMP900 and LMP675-based cars to be modified with new bodywork. Zytek adapted their 04S and added a larger 4000 cc 2ZG408 V8 engine, resulting in the 06S. Zytek also modified an existing 04S with a similar 4000 cc ZB408 V8 for Hitotsuyama Racing in Japan, naming it the Zytek 05S.
After 2006, the hybrid Zytek was no longer legal, prompting Zytek to build a new chassis, the Zytek 07S, which shared no mechanical components with the original Reynard 02S.
Team Jota and Hitotsuyama Racing
Team Jota purchased a Zytek 04S for the 2004 Le Mans Series, achieving a best finish of fifth and tying for sixth in the championship. They continued in 2005, taking second place at Monza and securing sixth in the championship again, and also debuting at Le Mans but failing to finish.
Hitotsuyama Racing purchased a Zytek 04S, upgraded with a 4000 cc Zytek ZB408 V8, renamed the Zytek 05S, for the 2006 Japan Le Mans Challenge. They struggled during the season, but managed a fourth-place finish in the final round. Hitotsuyama continued to run their 05S in the JLMC in 2007.
Chassis History
In total, three cars were completed using the original Reynard design. A fourth chassis shared many elements, but was altered to meet hybrid regulations. The later Zytek 07S and Creation CA07 no longer shared mechanical components with the Reynard chassis and are considered distinct designs. Chassis #01 saw service as a Reynard 02S, DBA4 03S, and Creation CA06/H. Chassis #02 was a Zytek 04S and later a Creation CA06/H. Chassis #03 was a Zytek 04S, then a 05S. Chassis #04 began life as a Reynard 02S before becoming a Zytek 04S and finally a 06S.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article “Reynard 02S”. No external sources were consulted, including primary archives, autobiographies, period programmes, or specialist publications.