Mike Newton on chassis regs in LMP3:
Quote:
“The final specification is at best perplexing. The latest LMP3 seems to carry all the increased cost elements of an LMP2 package (18″ wheels, 900kg, Coupe / aircon ) but for less than a third the budget excluding engine. Apparent cost savings such as round section suspension arms, just guarantee that no shared IP carries over.”
“It will either take someone like Ginetta creating volume with some related one make style series, or perhaps multiple chassis manufacturers taking a leaf out of the production automotive world and sharing a chassis platform.”
“It’s no surprise that people like Ligier have pulled back so much at the current spec and cost cap. Especially when the revised LMP2 Coupe cost cap has just moved into a more viable zone.”
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With the bold part in mind, I wouldn't assume that the push for more spec-parts in future-P2 is exclusively coming from IMSA, it could also be the ACO's way of helping the smaller constructors to stay in the game by spreading the cost for chassis design. Especially when they are trying to reduce running costs by 30%, which necessarily also means decreasing the cost of consumables...