The FIA confirmed a very brief outline of what the new version of the LMP1 category would feature last week. Now the WEC and the ACO have fleshed out the rules and regulations a bit more and the goal seems to be to get more manufacturers thinking about getting involved. Keeping the regulations stable for five years makes entering the sport much more manageable in terms of setting out budgets and designing cars. WEC won’t have annual reshuffles like Formula 1, for example…
The new LMP1 class is yet to be given an official name for 2020, but new details have arisen from the FIA, including a design brief that puts manufacturer design before aerodynamics so that cars look more like their road-going counterparts. Underbody aero will be even more of a factor and the cars should be able to lap Le Mans at a similar pace to what they do at the moment.
Cost-capping also takes centre stage, but in a non-intrusive fashion. The goal is to reduce LMP1 budgets by 75 per cent through technical regulations rather than setting an actual cap, which seems ominous at the moment, but is likely the only route for cost capping any motorsport format in the 21st century.
Another positive aspect of the changes is that there will be no restriction on engine selection with the championship aiming to promote itself as one of variance and freedom in this area, during a climate in which engine-related restrictions are suffocating some other series.
They’ll still be hybrid, too, with a KERS system powering the front wheels. On top of that, any manufacturer hybrid system must be made available for privateers to buy and use, which should hopefully encourage independent teams to continue in the class, but at a more competitive level. There’s even the hope of introducing a category for hydrogen-powered cars at Le Mans in 2024.
WEC boss Gerard Neveu said of the regulations:
“The direction for the new regulations announced today jointly by the ACO and the FIA is a supremely positive one. The 2020-24 regulations are, for competitors, both technically interesting and sustainable, with the controlled budgets being a key factor.
We are confident that we will welcome an increased number of world-class manufacturers and international teams to the WEC and that all the elements are in place for them to be able to compete at the highest level, with the pinnacle, of course, being the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
The news emerges just before this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which the No.8 Toyota car sits on pole. The car’s three drivers, Fernando Alonso, Fernando Alonso and Fernando Alonso will be looking to transfer this into victory in one of the ultimate tests of man and machine in motorsport.
