RE: FIA confirms hypercars for Le Mans

[Vocal Minority]

Toyota were at the table when the rules were being thrashed out.

You never know.

[generationx]

df76 said:

Vitorio said:

Then again, it also probably means the end of le-mans for toyota

Pretty sure that their project will end at the conclusion of the current super season in any case.

Are you sure?

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

[//j17]

Vitorio said:

Aw that is kinda sad, if it means current LMP1 cars are done for, i rather love the futuristic look of prototypes right now...

Don't start crying for them just yet. Despite the language used in Matt Bird's story on PH if you read some reports based on all the words in the FIA announcement it's a slightly different story. Mr Bird's "FIA confirms hypercar design for Le Mans" should really be "FIA discussing hypercar design for Le Mans". As highlighted on DailySportscar.com: "The announcement in the WMSC bulletin is a surprise only in that the concept as described above is not referred to as being ‘approved’ but merely, at this stage ‘under discussion.".

[CrutyRammers]

cvega said:

CrutyRammers said:

Electric Rallycross ? No more one-off mental supercars?

500kW not enough for you ?

It's not the power figures. It's replacing a series where you have a variety of fire-spitting rowdy one-offs with the nuts tuned off them, and which are all different, with a spec series where everything is the same, and which will make no noise apart from that hideous whine. For the spectator, power is nothing without the sound and fury to go with it.

[GrahamG]

Matt Bird said:

Have you just emailed as well? Thanks for being thorough! Making amends now.

Thanks Matt - FIA's release was misleading - we'll hear a lot more next Friday at LM

[oliwright]

I'd be disappointed to lose the Le Mans prototype look but if they just take styling cues from hypercars then it might be ok. I never had much love for the GT1s personally.

And as for RallyX, it'll die a death very quickly with whiney electric cars. I wanted to give electric cars a go, but they are a hideous aural experience.

[saxy]

Slb89 said:

I think as above says,

the race is Toyota's to lose, I don't see any real challenge coming from any of the other teams, only Toyota's reliability is at question in this one... this is why LMP1 class has lost its appeal for a lot of us.

so this would add a very cool class of cars to the mix, LMP1 still needs a revision or shake up to me, or just removed altogether, i'd prefere to see it stay but only if they can have 6-8 cars all with a genuine challenge else, the 6 other cars may as well be in their own class as clearly the hybrid has an advantage if it doesn't brake down.

The rebellion Car managed to get in the 3:19s. So if there’s any hiccups on Toyota’s part, others will be in to swoop up the victory. If there’s only about 1-2 second difference then I’d take the more simple ICE design over a 24hr course

[MG CHRIS]

Ahonen said:

MrBennStep said:

Even when we had Audi, Porsche and Toyota a few years ago they only had two cars each, and possibly one or two Rebellions.

There were at least three Audis for LM for many years (sometimes four), plus three Porsches in '15 at least. And two Toyotas, three Nissans and the Rebellions.

The difference then was that eight cars were in the fight for the lead. This year that won't be the case.

Nissan was one year only and they were slower than the lmp2 cars, Audi either run 2 or 3 cars the last time they run 4 was 10 years back or more with the r8 and they weren't full manufacture teams. Porsche and Toyota either between 2-3 cars depending on years. Even then Toyota had some quiet years where they weren't anywhere near the pace.

If aco hadn't reduced cost for this year we be lucky to even have Toyota on the grid certainly not the other new teams.

This is welcome news and something that should have happened ages ago.

[EDLT]

Are the new "Hypercars" still going to be hybrids?

[37chevy]

EDLT said:

Are the new "Hypercars" still going to be hybrids?

Yes

[Red Firecracker]

MG CHRIS said:

Nissan was one year only and they were slower than the lmp2 cars, Audi either run 2 or 3 cars the last time they run 4 was 10 years back or more with the r8 and they weren't full manufacture teams. Porsche and Toyota either between 2-3 cars depending on years. Even then Toyota had some quiet years where they weren't anywhere near the pace.

The Nissan LM GTR was quick, mighty quick. Yes, agreed, the laptime wasn't spectacular, but only the LMP2 pole sitting KCMG Oreca was faster than the No 21 Nissan by 5.5 tenths. The other two GTRs were quicker. When you consider the immense useless ballast they had to carry, the non-working hybrid system, then their performance was actually very impressive. A much maligned project that unfortunately was doomed by personality and ego to some extent. The engine is doing sterling work in the back of the ByKolles.

Audi's last 4 car entry was 2012 with the split R18 Hybrid / non Hybrid entry. Interestingly, to draw a parallel with the Nissan, the year that featured the embers of the Aston LMP1 project resurrected as a Pescarolo. That went well...

The new regs will hopefully see the Championship moving in the right direction to actually maintain some stability and grow some OEM input. A big balancing act, and of course the French can still grasp disaster from the jaws of brilliance, but a little revolution every now and again is a good thing. One thing is for sure, if you've just punted a shed load of cash into building an LMP1 chassis, you'll be watching very very closely and crossing your fingers.

[Vocal Minority]

37chevy said:

EDLT said:

Are the new "Hypercars" still going to be hybrids?

Yes

Can either develop their own, or buy an off the shelf version.

The regulations will be geared towards much simpler and cheaper hybrid systems than currently in use

[BraveSirRobin]

So are they going for something similar to the IMSA series, where this is an Acura (Honda):

and this is a Mazda?