I just read the
RCE article on the unraced 908 HYbrid 4. It seems that Peugeot was highly successful at influencing the hybrid regulations to their advantage.
1) Peugeot convinced the ACO to reduce the capacity of hybrids from 1 MJ to 500 kJ. Peugeot states "economic reasons", but in reality they could not do 1 MJ with their battery based system.
Quote:
|
We thought that 1 MJ was too much, and fought to get it reduced, for economic reasons, and we had good compromise with the level of power and storage level to use the rule as it is. We were working with the ACO and FIA to adjust the rule because we were discovering new things together. One of the question was that the technical rules say you can deliver the 500 kJ between two braking areas. But what is a braking area, and how many are there in the Le Mans track?
|
2) Peugeot lobbied hard for the 120 km/h rule that currently hampers the hybrid system from Audi.
Quote:
|
We had to decide with the main manufactuers, the ACO and the FIA. And we had a big fight about the 120 kmh rule, to reduce the advantage of a four-wheel drive car. At least it was something! We were definitely against the four-wheel drive system at Le Mans, and the ACO and the FIA agreed, and tried to reduce the obvious advantage given to Audi.
|
Interestingly, both these restrictions are gone in the 2014 rules. The 2014 rules allow for 8 MJ per lap. And as there are 7 braking zones in Le Mans, this means around 1 MJ per braking zone.
I wonder whether there will be any changes in 2013 hybrid rules. Toyota clearly has a big advantage because they can use their hybrid system from 0 km/h. Maybe the 120 km/h limitation should also apply to rear hybrid systems. Of course, this would mean that Toyota would not be able to use the hybrid system in the pitlane.
Audi could use a rule change in their favor, because otherwise Toyota will completely dominate the 2013 WEC.