Hyper Car news?
Discussion
Does anyone know what is going on with the proposed new format? A couple of weeks ago they were having a meeting to confirm manufacturer commitment, with a view to making a decision about the Hyper Car format a week ago Thursday - I can't find any outcome since. Does anyone know anything?
There was talk about plan B being to follow the regs in the US series.
Interested to know what the future actually holds - I'm assuming I'm right in thinking next year Le Mans is the last for the current format still?!?
There was talk about plan B being to follow the regs in the US series.
Interested to know what the future actually holds - I'm assuming I'm right in thinking next year Le Mans is the last for the current format still?!?
There's no official word but at the moment it looks like the proposed hypercar regs. are a dead duck.
Basically when the ACO/FIA went back to all the manufacturers who's been shouting and demanding the hypercar regs. and said "OK, who's in then?" they all started shuffling their feet and mumbling things about planning, and considerations, and maybe joining a year or two in to the new regulations. The only serious manufacturer who actually said they WOULD be in are Toyota - but only if there was a place for prototypes alongside the hypercars. I think there's also been a lot of grumbling from lower down the classes too. Hypercars WILL be slower than current LMP1s, and probably slower than current LMP2s - but even now LMP2s are only a little faster than the GTEs on a lot of circuits, and who want sto be asked "So, do you want to come race your LMP2/GTE next season, going significantly slower than you did last year?"...
Basically when the ACO/FIA went back to all the manufacturers who's been shouting and demanding the hypercar regs. and said "OK, who's in then?" they all started shuffling their feet and mumbling things about planning, and considerations, and maybe joining a year or two in to the new regulations. The only serious manufacturer who actually said they WOULD be in are Toyota - but only if there was a place for prototypes alongside the hypercars. I think there's also been a lot of grumbling from lower down the classes too. Hypercars WILL be slower than current LMP1s, and probably slower than current LMP2s - but even now LMP2s are only a little faster than the GTEs on a lot of circuits, and who want sto be asked "So, do you want to come race your LMP2/GTE next season, going significantly slower than you did last year?"...
That doesn’t sound promising.
I’m not sure what route things should go to get back to multiple works entries fighting for the overall win.
It’s needs to urgent attention though. We’ve had it good for quite some time and things have taken a bit of a slump. Though GTE is excellent to watch when they are balanced out fairly.
Definitely scope to have a step up like GT1 days over current GTE, with LMP2 not too far off the pace to keep them in the hunt also.
I wish there was a global standard established for GT and a prototype classes to open up things and make cross continent racing possible and give more return to investment.
The LMP1 class has been incredible for the speed and tech but that just doesn’t make private entries realistic.
Knowing Toyota will win if they keep going isn’t great. The rest of lmp1 isn’t really competition.
I’m not sure what route things should go to get back to multiple works entries fighting for the overall win.
It’s needs to urgent attention though. We’ve had it good for quite some time and things have taken a bit of a slump. Though GTE is excellent to watch when they are balanced out fairly.
Definitely scope to have a step up like GT1 days over current GTE, with LMP2 not too far off the pace to keep them in the hunt also.
I wish there was a global standard established for GT and a prototype classes to open up things and make cross continent racing possible and give more return to investment.
The LMP1 class has been incredible for the speed and tech but that just doesn’t make private entries realistic.
Knowing Toyota will win if they keep going isn’t great. The rest of lmp1 isn’t really competition.
The ACO are too stubborn to accept the IMSA DPi rules work. Manufacturers won't commit to something that only has limited marketing value, Ford and BMW are proof of that, and you can't blame Toyota because they can only race who lines up on track alongside them, even if the cars are unequal. For pure racing the LMP2 and GT classes are the reason to watch
Thanks for the replies. I have read that an announcement should come out at the official press conference at Le Mans 24. ]
I've also read the US format is on the way out.
Racing seems to have its peaks and troughs, we had it really good 3 years ago, I guess at some point it will come back when its a bit empty and manufacturers start to spot an "easy" opportunity again. That said, it can't get any worse - the lack of competition in LMP1 makes it pretty dull unfortunately. I'd love to see 2 or 3 manufacturers battling against each other for the overall win.
I've also read the US format is on the way out.
Racing seems to have its peaks and troughs, we had it really good 3 years ago, I guess at some point it will come back when its a bit empty and manufacturers start to spot an "easy" opportunity again. That said, it can't get any worse - the lack of competition in LMP1 makes it pretty dull unfortunately. I'd love to see 2 or 3 manufacturers battling against each other for the overall win.
Big Robbo said:
The ACO are too stubborn to accept the IMSA DPi rules work.
What, the IMSA DPi rules that are due to expire in 2021 and who don't seem to be making an awful lot more progress than the FIA/ACO on what the new rulebook will be?Big Robbo said:
...and you can't blame Toyota because they can only race who lines up on track alongside them
Yea, you can't blaim Toyota for being one of the teams that forced the ACO to write in to the rulebook a guaranteed performance advantage of HY cars over non-HY ones in LMP1...Edited by //j17 on Wednesday 29th May 16:10
//j17 said:
Big Robbo said:
The ACO are too stubborn to accept the IMSA DPi rules work.
What, the IMSA DPi rules that are due to expire in 2021 and who don't seem to be making an awful lot more progress than the FIA/ACO on what the new rulebook will be?Big Robbo said:
...and you can't blame Toyota because they can only race who lines up on track alongside them
Yea, you can't blaim Toyota for being one of the teams that forced the ACO to write in to the rulebook a guaranteed performance advantage of HY cars over non-HY ones in LMP1...Edited by //j17 on Wednesday 29th May 16:10
If Toyota influenced the regulations that much then why do SMP and Rebellion bother??
The manufacturers haven't shown any appetite for DPI style regulations in the WEC though, although I'm sure some would come over from America for Le Mans, it's what happens for the rest of the series that's the issue for the ACO and FIA, could be the end for the WEC if they can't come up with something.
Big Robbo said:
Then please explain why manufacturers are happy to work to the DPi regulations...
Because if you want to race prototypes in North America that's the main series and you either accept the DPi rules or don't race. Just adopting the DPi rules for WEC wouldn't magically produce more manufacturers to thr WEC.Big Robbo said:
...and overall the RACING is more competitive??
What, competitive just like LMP2 is competitive. I mean, it's almost like DPi cars are built on LMP2 chassis, just with a few more options on engines and limited bodywork tweaks...Big Robbo said:
If Toyota influenced the regulations that much then why do SMP and Rebellion bother??
Because they are caught in a bit of a trap. As teams they have the knowledge, expertise, and desire to do more than just pick a chassis from a range of 4 and change the tyres, so don't fit in to the LMP2 box and have to fit in to the LMP1 box instead. I think their move was also based on an understanding that yes, initially there would be a built in advantage for HY cars but this would be, and has been, reduced over time. I think for this year's Le Mans the 1 lap fuel advantage is removed and from the start of the next WEC season there will be a performance balance across the LMP1 cars, with non-HY probably having a higher top speed than HY but HY having more grunt out of the corners.No hypercar news but a further closing of the HY/non-HY gap for the 19/20 WEC - http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/05/30/aco-respo...
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