LM - 2018 onwards?

LM - 2018 onwards?

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Storer

5,024 posts

214 months

Thursday 7th September 2017
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What I would like to see is the return to cars the modern equivalent of the Group C cars of yesteryear.

IMO the series needs specialist race cars to head it. There are plenty of races for GT cars and part of the appeal of Le Mans is the variety of performances between the categories.

Costs must be reduced drastically, but structure the rules to encourage innovation.

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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I think if we lose the LMP1s next year, the LMP2s would get a higher profile and there's a lot more cars there than in LMP1. Having the three classes run would be OK for me. There are enough decent and well know drivers in LMP2 already and I'm sure that most of the current LMP1 drivers would want a seat somewhere. I'd still got to Le Mans to watch that.

I watched the WEC coverage of Mexico at the weekend and it looks like changes are in the pipeline already. Le Mans 2019 looks set to be the deciding race in the season starting next year. I'll see if I can find a link.

Here

President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Pierre Fillon, and CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Gérard Neveu, today outlined the pathway to an exciting new-look, strengthened WEC.

The plans include several innovative features which will not only continue the close and exciting competition between prototypes and GTE cars that has become the calling card of the WEC, but also offer competitors a viable and sustainable business model for the future.

The recent announcement of the withdrawal of certain manufacturers has offered the FIA and ACO an opportunity to accelerate the evolution process which was already underway, and to develop an exciting and enticing vision for the future. Full details are still being finalised and will be announced in due course, but several innovative features were revealed which will ensure the continuation of a strong world endurance championship, one that has since its inception in 2012 become a vital part of manufacturers’ marketing and technical development strategies and the draw for entrants wishing to compete at the highest level in endurance racing.

Three fundamental parameters have been taken into account during the formulation of the new-look WEC, with the calendar, logistics, sporting and technical regulations being at the heart of the decisions:
• All decisions must stay in line with Endurance Racing and the values of the discipline. The 24 Hours of Le Mans remain the point of reference.
• The major focus remains the client (the competitor), the product (the sporting competition that is delivered) and the fans.
• As a priority, for each of these decisions, the financial and economic aspects must be taken into consideration. It is essential to allow the WEC’s teams and partners to continue in the WEC with a viable and sustainable business model.

The plans have been presented to, and received the full support of, the President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Jean Todt and the FIA Endurance Commission led by its President, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones. The calendar and new sporting regulations will be presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for ratification in the coming days.

Significant calendar changes for future races; 2018/19 to be a transitional season
Five years ago, when the WEC was newly created, the desire was expressed to work on an inversed calendar, finishing at Le Mans with the flagship 24 Hour race. This has not been possible until now.

In the future, there will be a 2018/2019 season and a 2019/2020 season and so on, the season’s races straddling two calendar years…and Le Mans will close the Championship each year.
2018/19
• 5 & 6 April: The Prologue, Circuit Paul Ricard (FRA) **
• 4 & 5 May: WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
• 16 & 17 June: 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)
• 13 & 14 October: 6 Hours of Fuji (JPN)
• 03 & 04 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai (CHN)
• February 2019: Place and event TBC
• 15 & 16 March 2019: 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) *
• 3 & 4 May 2019 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
• 15 &16 June 2019: 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)

NB * The 12 Hours of Sebring will be a combined event with the IMSA WeatherTech Championship but two separate races will be held. From 10.00am to 10.00pm on Saturday, the IMSA WeatherTech race, and from 12 midnight to 12 noon Sunday the FIA WEC.

  • The Prologue test at Circuit Paul Ricard will offer teams the opportunity to complete 36-hour endurance testing in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The provisional 2018/2019 calendar, which remains subject to validation by the FIA World Motors Sport Council, will see four races taking place in 2018 and four in 2019 as part of an 18-month “Super Season” - for the same budget as in 2017.

This transition season will be exceptional and include the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps twice and, even better, a double helping of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

According to provisional calculations, in 2019/2020 an LMP2 team will run in the WEC with a budget similar to 2016; meaning 20% less than now.

With the new format of calendar, the number of races will be reduced from 9 in 2017 to 8 in 2018/2019 (over 18 months) then to 7 in 2019/2020 which is expected to be the ‘cruising speed’ for the WEC into the future.

This reduction automatically results in a cost reduction for the teams (entry fees, running costs, consumables etc) but also allows for new logistics to be used: using shipping rather than flying freight meaning that transportation costs are divided by three.
Changes to LMP1 technical and sporting regulations from 2018/2019 regulations
• From 2018/2019, and in the future, there will only be one category (and consequently one classification) in LMP1
• To make it as accessible as possible to join this category from the 2018-2019 season onwards, the level of performance of the current non-hybrid LMP1 regulations managed via equivalence of technologies will be aligned with the current LMP1 hybrid regulations.
• Each competitor entered in LMP1 will have the same potential of performance independent of the type engine power used. Very clearly there will always be a slight advantage for the hybrid engine in terms of autonomy related to lower fuel consumption.
• There will be no changes made to the current chassis regulations (only LMP1 chassis will be eligible) but to facilitate the access to LMP1, more choice and engine power options will be offered. Depending on the selected criteria, an Equivalence of Technology will be implemented between turbo compressed and normally aspirated engines (as done in the past between petrol and diesel).

All these decisions will apply for the next two seasons.

Other regulatory decisions, which are still being finalized, will be announced later on covering areas such as a reduction in the number of private tests and collective tests proposed.

The 2020 LMP1 regulations will be substantially altered as compared to the model presented during the last 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The ACO and the FIA remain wholeheartedly convinced that technology including Hybrid systems must keep its place of honour in Endurance racing, but not at any price. The budgets invested over these last years in LMP1 Hybrid are no longer sustainable and a return to reasonable budgets should allow all manufacturers to compete in this discipline.

More details on the Technical Regulations will be presented over the coming weeks.

President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, Jean Todt: “I am delighted with the new schedule and the changes to the WEC championship that will allow this great discipline within motorsport to make a fresh start."

President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Pierre Fillon, comments: “We would like to sincerely thank Jean Todt, President of the FIA and Sir Lindsay Owen Jones, President of the Endurance Commission and all the commission members for their support. Many decisions, essential for the future of the WEC, have been made in record time.

“With the support of the WEC’s friends and partners at IMSA, agreement has been reached to return to Sebring with the 12 Hours of Sebring in the WEC calendar and we are really delighted about this.

“With all these decisions, we are confident of seeing a full and very competitive grid next season. We are already discussing with several manufacturers and privateer teams who are investigating very seriously entrance from 2018/2019 season in LMP1, taking into consideration that the LMP2 and GTE grids are already strong with a high level of commitment for the future.”

Edited by VladD on Monday 11th September 13:51

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
So does that mean you can tweak* a LMP2 car for more power and enter LMP1 next season?

  • Obviously its a little bit more work than remapping a 335D

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
Can't see LMP2 replacing LMP1. Not with commitment from Ginetta, BR Engineering and Perrin... Unless they jettison Ginetta again!! (ref. LMP3 and LMP2...)

As others have said it would be excellent to see some mega Grand Tourers - bringing back the McLaren F1 chance of winning to Le Mans again. Surely some of the manufacturers are sitting on the sidelines waiting for that to be a possibility..

jonny142

1,502 posts

224 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
Quite looking forward to the next season

BMW reveal the M8 GTE tomorrow live https://www.bmw-motorsport.com/en/topics/specials/...

and the 2018 Aston seen testing at Rockingham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEoT6dpgtqk

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Can't wait for hear that Aston in June !

andy tims

5,571 posts

245 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
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I love seeing the racing in all classes, but since I started going LMP1 (or the equivalent class) has always been the main event and (as mentioned earlier) the inter-class speed differential adds so much interest.
I'm going to give attending the 24hrs in 2018 a miss & go to the classic instead. I know plenty of people do both, but with track-days etc. I've not been able to justify 2 boys trips to France per year.

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Snap, I'm tempted by the Prologue - especially if it's going to be a 36 hour 'continuous' test..

stemll

4,064 posts

199 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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eps said:
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Snap, I'm tempted by the Prologue - especially if it's going to be a 36 hour 'continuous' test..
Silverstone back on in August (should be a little warmer) and the Sebring 12 hours is now 1500 miles.

http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/world-motor-sport-co...



anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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stemll said:
Silverstone back on in August (should be a little warmer) and the Sebring 12 hours is now 1500 miles.

http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/world-motor-sport-co...
Silverstone was flipping freezing last year, so August would be nice. Hopefully, it will bump up the attendance too.

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
quotequote all
I'm a bit annoyed Silverstone seems to be on the 19th, which is a Sunday next year so I'd need the Monday off. Not sure why they can't host it on the Saturday instead?

Anybody else seen that they are launching a big fan survey today? http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/have-your-say-on-the...

They stress how important the survey was for F1 to understand what fans want, so hopefully they'll listen to the fans for WEC as well.

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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tankplanker said:
I'm a bit annoyed Silverstone seems to be on the 19th, which is a Sunday next year so I'd need the Monday off. Not sure why they can't host it on the Saturday instead?
ELMS race on the Saturday?

stemll

4,064 posts

199 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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It's always on a Sunday. Was 16th April this year

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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stemll said:
It's always on a Sunday. Was 16th April this year
I didn't know as I haven't been before.

gt6

1,422 posts

184 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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make a weekend of it, the elms race is always good and then the big race on sunday

Printertosh

563 posts

167 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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WEC qualifying on the Saturday too before the ELMS

RL17

1,231 posts

92 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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Silverstone 6 hour race on the Sunday -can't see an issue?

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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I guess it depends on how far away you live from Silverstone.. Luckily I live about 25 minutes south of Silverstone, so no problem getting there or even popping home during a 24 hour race! smile

hilly10

7,076 posts

227 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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Grahamdub said:
True, it's even the planning of the trip, the drive down there, seeing other stickered up cars at the services, sitting around a bbq talking crap into the night with the sound of the Corvettes drowning you out every time they go past ..
Bang on

FredericRobinson

3,667 posts

231 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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eps said:
I guess it depends on how far away you live from Silverstone.. Luckily I live about 25 minutes south of Silverstone, so no problem getting there or even popping home during a 24 hour race! smile
I live 5 hours north, so it's a lot closer than Spa or Le Mans!