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

[gwyllion]

I am not in favor of cancelling the 120 km/h rule, because that would give Audi a traction advantage. The rule should apply to all hybrid cars. Now Toyota has a big advantage in traffic, because they get the boost immediately.

Originally Posted by TF110

In my opinion, Audi has 4wd and 4wd shouldn't be full time/anytime. That's the direction they chose knowing it's 120kmh+.

I am not sure that Audi knew about this restriction when they developed their hybrid system. According to http://www.joest-racing.de/en/index....e-tron-quattro the development of the e-tron quattro started in February 2010 and the initial test were done 18 months later, so July 2011.

In 2010 the hybrid rules were the following:

Energy recovery systems are free, provided they respect the following rules:

• Recovery of energy from the brakes on the 4 wheels or from the heat of the exhaust fumes.
• Only the rear wheels can be used to propel the car.
• Regarding energy recovery from the brakes, only electric systems are allowed.
• Only the storage of electric energy is permitted
• The car’s minimum weight is identical to that of the other LM P1s using conventional powertrains:
  • petrol: 900 kg,
  • diesel: 930 kg,
• The maximum amount of fuel allowed on board is identical to that of the other LM P1s using conventional power trains:
  • petrol: 90 l,
  • diesel: 81 l,
• The combustion engine and the electric motor must be controlled by the driver using the accelerator pedal (push to pass buttons forbidden).
• The amount of energy used between 2 braking must not exceed 1 MJ
• The current, voltage and the time of charge and discharge will be measured continuously between the energy storage system and the inverter(s).
• Safety rules that will be imposed by the ACO

For 2011 the rules were changed to allow front wheel drive and flywheels (thanks to Audi) and to reduce the energy storage from 1 MJ to 500 kJ (thanks to Peugeot):

Energy recovery systems are free, provided they respect the following rules:

• Recovery and release of energy from the brakes, either on the 2 wheels of the front axle, or on the 2 wheels of the rear axle.
• Recovery from the heat of the exhaust fumes.
• Regarding energy recovery from the brakes, only electric systems and mechanical or electromechanical flywheel system are allowed.
• The car’s minimum weight is identical to that of the other LM P1s using conventional power trains: 900 kg.
• The maximum amount of fuel allowed on board is:
  • petrol: 73 l.
  • diesel: 63 l.
• The combustion engine and the electric motor must be controlled by the driver using the accelerator pedal (push to pass buttons forbidden).
• The amount of energy used between 2 braking must not exceed 0.5 MJ. Braking lasting under 1 second will not be taken into account.
• The current, voltage and the time of charge and discharge will be measured continuously between the energy storage system and the inverter(s).
• Equivalent sensors will be defined for the inertial systems.
• Sensors for monitoring the use of the brakes and the wheel speed will equip the car.
• Safety rules that will be imposed by the ACO

The 120 km/h restriction (thanks to Peugeot) was only introduced in the 2012 technical regulations. The 2012 rules were published at the end of 2011.

• The amount of energy used between 2 braking must not exceed 0.5 MJ.
  Braking is a deceleration of the car greater than 2g.
  Braking lasting under 1 second will not be taken into account.
  If the STSY is connected to the front wheels, the release of energy is permitted only above 120 km/h.

At that stage Audi was already testing their hybrid system and all the important design choices (i.e., axle and energy storage medium) were probably made.