Goodbye LMP 1 hello Hypercars
Discussion
Im struggling to understand why this is happening AGAIN. Based on the dismal failure by the ACO to provide a level playing field in LMP 1 in the 2019/20 season, Im struggling to feel confident that this new proposal isn't just another attempt to bring change for change sake.
This sounds remarkably like GT1 from the 90's
This sounds remarkably like GT1 from the 90's
Red Firecracker said:
OEMs, it's all about OEMs.
The ACO need OEMs in WEC (all hail the three letter acronym) and with a disinterest in LMP1 from them now that Audi and Porsche have moved on (for now), they need something with relevance to attract the factory cars (and their money).
Will it work? As good a chance as anything else, to my mind. Will they have a full category of Hypercars by the start of the new regulations? Probably not, so LMP1 grandfathering (with privateer teams who are already leaving, such as SMP and a Rebellion team with possibly only 1 car this coming season) will happen.
Still, at least the kerfuffle keeps the mind off the growing issues of LMP2, where even the Ligier UK distributor is now going to run the only sensible option, an Oreca and that's before all the BoP adjustments that will accompany Hypercar and the 3:30 target lap time.
The French do love to live a complex life.
As Jacky Ickx said at last year's ACO press conference, "Never forget, Le Mans is here for the amateur drivers and teams, not just for the manufacturers”. Some would be well advised to heed those words, to my mind.
Great postThe ACO need OEMs in WEC (all hail the three letter acronym) and with a disinterest in LMP1 from them now that Audi and Porsche have moved on (for now), they need something with relevance to attract the factory cars (and their money).
Will it work? As good a chance as anything else, to my mind. Will they have a full category of Hypercars by the start of the new regulations? Probably not, so LMP1 grandfathering (with privateer teams who are already leaving, such as SMP and a Rebellion team with possibly only 1 car this coming season) will happen.
Still, at least the kerfuffle keeps the mind off the growing issues of LMP2, where even the Ligier UK distributor is now going to run the only sensible option, an Oreca and that's before all the BoP adjustments that will accompany Hypercar and the 3:30 target lap time.
The French do love to live a complex life.
As Jacky Ickx said at last year's ACO press conference, "Never forget, Le Mans is here for the amateur drivers and teams, not just for the manufacturers”. Some would be well advised to heed those words, to my mind.
Edited by Red Firecracker on Sunday 14th July 08:30
Big Robbo said:
The hypercar rules look good but at least for the first year it will just be Toyota against Aston Martin. McLaren will watch, figure out if they can win decide against it and in two years time the ACO will be back to square one all because they are too stubborn to see IMSA has the right idea with DPi
YES, but I would like to suggest it may not be stubbornness, but possibly an over inflated opinion of who they are. PrideEdited by Trackdayguy on Friday 19th July 02:22
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