Technology drawn from Honda’s new IndyCar turbo V6 program will now be shared with endurance sports cars following the introduction of the HR22T engine for LMP1 prototype cars.

The engine will appear next year with a commitment to offer additional energy recovery options in 2015, according to a Honda Performance Development (HPD) press release. The HR22T will replace the venerable naturally aspirated 3.4-liter LM-V8 engine that had been used in both WEC and ALMS competition.

The new HR22T replaces the venerable LM-V8 engine.

“This is an exciting new program for HPD and our customer teams in the World Endurance Championship, as it brings manufacturer-level engine technology to privateer teams,” says Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president and COO. “A small-displacement, direct injection, turbocharged engine with a range of energy recovery options will provide private teams with the technical sophistication they need to compete under the challenging new LMP1 regulations.”

The new engine is based on same architecture as the current 2.2-liter turbocharged V6 used in IndyCar racing the past two years. A completely revised rules package being introduced for the WEC in 2014 opens the door for HPD to introduce this new powertrain system. Starting in 2014, rather than any set engine displacement or air inlet restrictor limits, the technical regulations for the series will specify a maximum fuel-flow rate into the engine, with or without energy recovery systems.

Honda HR28TT is used in the LMP2 class.

“The new rules say that if you are a private team, you can either run without energy recovery systems or choose to add the level of energy recovery that best suits your needs. This will allow our customers to choose the ERS solution that meets their needs – everything from no energy recovery up to the full eight Megajoule maximum,” Eriksen explains. “This new regulation direction that is more conscious of environmental technologies will encourage HPD to participate from the perspectives of both developing future technologies and nurturing engineers.”

The LM-V8 was rated at 480-plus horsepower and was choked with a 40.7mm air restrictor.

Honda has enjoyed a successful LMP2 campaign, recording multiple ALMS championships and winning LeMans twice using the HR28TT 2.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine.