[WEC] LMP Future Regulations (was Le Mans EVO rules - now hypercar rules)

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by PascaLM

On FB, the ACO answered me that it's a choice of the communication department of not doing a live video of the conference, without further explanations.

On Twitter, they're also deflecting blame on the live timing farce, saying it's more complicated than a technical issue.

[Steve McQ]

Every Vincent Beaumesnil public statement would be a god damn joke if he wasn't in charge of this mess :
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ar-bop-system/

[chernaudi]

The ACO might have to go the GT3 route, especially if GTE needs to get pegged back. Probably easier to slow down GT3 cars than GTEs, which are now basically GT3s on steroids anyways.

I doubt that GTE (aside from getting pegged back relative to LMP2/LMP1) isn't going anywhere as long as Porsche, Ferrari and AMR are producing cars. Also, Prodrive (who run the GTE/GT3 program for AMR) isn't going anywhere it seems. It's most likely that AMR will partner with Multimatic and R Motorsport for the LMP1 program.

[chernaudi]

Also, since TMG have announced their hypercar program, do we stick with the Toyota LMP1 thread for the discussion, or start a new Toyota/TMG Hypercar thread?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

I’m guessing this means the end for GTE. I have a card time seeing a class of 4 cars survive, with AMR stepping up to the top class.

Aston say they will remain in GTE.

[joeb]

Aston says, jokingly, that they will have to detune the road Valkrye to make it fit hypercar regs. But if there is some truth to it, why the slower times in regulations?

https://twitter.com/dsceditor/status...554692608?s=19

[chernaudi]

ACO for whatever reason want to get the LMP1s back around 3:30. Also, LMP1s will only be allowed to make about 700-750bhp under the new regs between hybrid and engine power.

[Akrapovic]

Also, 3:30 lap times put an end to any idea of a DPi at Le Mans. Without heavy BoPing, they'd be at the 3:22ish mark.

[chernaudi]

To be fair, DPIs currently are much lighter than the proposed hypercars (930kg vs 1100kg). Also, DPI 2.0 seems maybe to be getting close to what hypercar is leaning towards. That depends on how much IMSA's and the ACO's goals align for a top class.

Also, do the ACO plan on ballasting up the LMP2 cars to higher than their current 930kg with the massive weight increase for LMP1?

To be honest, I was expecting worse. Still skeptical about BOP and the need for laptimes to be slowed to 3:30 (though I doubt that the LMP1s will be slowed to that speed even out of the gate), but the Valkyrie and GR Super Sport do look more like LMPs to me than the current bulbous fendered monstrosities that make the LM versions of LMP1s look insanely ugly to me IMO.

[kvenom]

So Ford is not interested in hypercars and is not interested in DPi unless they use high voltage hybrids. LOL

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ght-direction/

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Lap Times seem a bit odd. Why are we aiming for 3:30? The circuit walls have been moved back, it's safer than ever, and now the cars are being slowed down? 3:30 means pegging the LMP2s back another 10 seconds. But they only just got sped up by 10 seconds, and that was to make it easier for them to pass GTE Pros. Now we're back to that old problem again. They should be aiming for a 3:20-3:25, that way all your other classes stay static.

The official excuse seems to be easier transition for 2025 Zero Emission. Which, unlike these comedy regulations, actually has a reasoning for lower pace. You know actual technology and engineering, things which will completely disappear from Le Mans for the period of 2021-24.

Anyway, the real reason is probably kneeling to lobbying demands of manufacturers (Aston Martin) who cannot transform their road cars to LMP1 pace with shoestring budget and no planned effort

Originally Posted by Steve McQ

Every Vincent Beaumesnil public statement would be a god damn joke if he wasn't in charge of this mess :
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ar-bop-system/

I guess selling your soul and ideologies to the Devil keeps the champagne and late dinners flowing though

[Akrapovic]

Ford has already rejected the Hypercar regulations. So that's them out.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Ford has already rejected the Hypercar regulations. So that's them out.

Yes but isn't getting Lobbying Martin worth all the sacrifice and abandonement of authenticity?

(No)

[kvenom]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Ford has already rejected the Hypercar regulations. So that's them out.

Ford are ridiculous. Got a seat at the table to form the regs, proceed to get what they want (High-voltage hybrids, global market presence), nah we aren't going to commit to that. Proceed to talk up DPi, but only if they adopt high-voltage hybrids (which will surely not be a part of DPi) Just join WEC you losers.

[Spyderman]

Porsche Motorsport‏Verified account @PorscheRaces









#LeMans24 – Fritz Enzinger, Head of Motorsports: “Interesting news we got from the ACO today: Our engineers will look into the new regulations carefully. The FIA WEC and the Le Mans 24h will stay very attractive for manufacturers in the future.“

[kvenom]

Now where are Mclaren and Ferrari at?

[Deleted]

Porsche engineers are looking at the new regs? Why, they're not needed in the new world order, doesn't he mean the marketing department?

[chernaudi]

Yet a Porsche rep said off record in 2017 that the WEC didn't mean jack outside of LM. Then again, Porsche were spending $200 million and not getting ROI out of it aside from Le Mans.

At least these new regs have cost containment (at least without a budget cap) in mind.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by kvenom

Now where are Mclaren and Ferrari at?

F1

[Akrapovic]

It isn't silly for manufacturers like Ford, McLaren and Ferrari to enter the discussions but not pursue the class when announced. Being there doesn't mean you will enter - it just means you're part of the discussion.

I don't expect McLaren of Ferrari to enter this class to be honest.

[joeb]

ORECA want to build a hypercar for somebody

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ercar-program/

Who could be interested? Renault? Alpine? Honda?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by joeb

ORECA want to build a hypercar for somebody

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ercar-program/

Who could be interested? Renault? Alpine? Honda?

Rebellion I imagine are already asking for their own version of that.

[Dyson Mazda]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Rebellion I imagine are already asking for their own version of that.

Yeah I was guessing a Rebellion TVR which could become the defacto privateer option in the new class

[Dyson Mazda]

Has anyone figured out how Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings can afford factory Hypercar, GTE, and F1 sponsorship? The company lost >$70m last year. Is Red Bull just going to buy it out?

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

Has anyone figured out how Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings can afford factory Hypercar, GTE, and F1 sponsorship? The company lost >$70m last year. Is Red Bull just going to buy it out?

Plenty of successful companies loose large sums of money for a number of years in a row. It can be due to growth, investment in future programmes etc.

Profits or Losses don’t always give an indication of cash flow

I wouldn’t be surprised if Red Bull funding and therefore branding finds its way onto the project