Rules Sorted At Last

[egor]

The FIA and the ACO have agread to use the same set of rules for thier relevant series.

This will meen that you can race cars of the same spec in either the FIA series, Le Mans 24hr or the ALMS. This should allow people more freedom to race what they want, where they want.

The FIA have also lifted the ban on Vipers, allowing teams to modify the suspension to allow them to catch up with the Ferrari's etc.

Hopefully we will now see more cars racing in all the categories, in both the FIA and ALMS series.

[kdr]

what does "twin roll hoops in front of and behind the driver" mean? i understand behind...but in front?

[egor]

I uderstand this to to mean above the drivers leg area, so the driver has a safety tunnel in effect covering his/her lower body.

Otherwise a race car will look stupid with two roll hoops sticking out of the front of the car.

[Aysedasi]

Originally posted by egor


Otherwise a race car will look stupid with two roll hoops sticking out of the front of the car.

I don't know, it might actually enhance the Debora!




(Sorry - couldn't resist it )

[Mal]

Have they all seen sense at last. If this is true then the future is looking bright. All we need now is for a single world Lemans Champoinship with its centrepiece in France in June.

[Mal]

Where did this information come from, as I have looked around and couldnt find it?

[egor]

The source is Motorsport News(for a change)

Sports car rules - the key points

SR1 / LMP1
New cars to feature wider cockpit, flat floors, twin roll hoops in front of and behind the driver and Piper aerodynamic fit.

From 2003, current cars to use smaller air restrictors that will cut power from about 625 to 570bhp.

SR2 / LMP2
Minimum weight limit to rise from 675 to 750kg from 2004.

Engine rules to be freed up - 4.2 litre NGT motors will become eligible, although they will be restricted to make sure current 3.0 V6's remain competitive.

GT
Restrictions to be placed on technical development of the latest generation of supercars(anything costing more than $250,000/£165,000, e.g. Ferrari Enzo, Maserati MX, Mercedes Benz SLR) to make sure current cars are'nt rendered obsolete.

Immediate suspension of the freeze on Chrysler Viper development - teams will next year be allowed to update suspension for the first timr since 1997, in order to keep the car competitive against Ferrari and Lister opposition.

These are the key changes that have been covered, but I am sure there will be other less important rule changes, which will see the light of day over the next few weeks.

Leading on from this, the Carsport Holland team have pledged to continue running Chrysler Vipers in the FIA GT Championship

[paul-collins]

I've seen something (autoweek?) that said the power reductions were only for 2003-and-before-vintage cars, that for 2004 the restrictors would be back to what they had this year, for new cars only. So, an R8 would continue to be hobbled with less horses than the 2004 crop of cars.

As an aside, would that mean that in 2004 you could run a 675 with less horses in LMP2, or would you also have to increase the weight? I'm thinking of Dyson, here...

[egor]

As an aside, would that mean that in 2004 you could run a 675 with less horses in LMP2, or would you also have to increase the weight? I'm thinking of Dyson, here...

You would have to increase the weight to the class minimum weight of 750kg to compete in SR2/LM2.

I've seen something (autoweek?) that said the power reductions were only for 2003-and-before-vintage cars, that for 2004 the restrictors would be back to what they had this year, for new cars only. So, an R8 would continue to be hobbled with less horses than the 2004 crop of cars.

The current crop of cars will be able to compete until the end of 2005, although they are likely to be handicaped/restricted so they will be on a level par with the new cars.
This is to compansate the new cars as they are expected to be slower due to the added safety features. With this I take it they mean that the new aerodynamic package Piper have designed will not be a slick/effective as the current examples.

[egor]

As an aside, would that mean that in 2004 you could run a 675 with less horses in LMP2, or would you also have to increase the weight? I'm thinking of Dyson, here...

You would have to increase the weight to the class minimum weight of 750kg to compete in SR2/LM2.

I've seen something (autoweek?) that said the power reductions were only for 2003-and-before-vintage cars, that for 2004 the restrictors would be back to what they had this year, for new cars only. So, an R8 would continue to be hobbled with less horses than the 2004 crop of cars.

The current crop of cars will be able to compete until the end of 2005, although they are likely to be handicaped/restricted so they will be on a level par with the new cars.
This is to compansate the new cars as they are expected to be slower due to the added safety features. With this I take it they mean that the new aerodynamic package Piper have designed will not be a slick/effective as the current examples.

[egor]

As an aside, would that mean that in 2004 you could run a 675 with less horses in LMP2, or would you also have to increase the weight? I'm thinking of Dyson, here...

You would have to increase the weight to the class minimum weight of 750kg to compete in SR2/LM2.

I've seen something (autoweek?) that said the power reductions were only for 2003-and-before-vintage cars, that for 2004 the restrictors would be back to what they had this year, for new cars only. So, an R8 would continue to be hobbled with less horses than the 2004 crop of cars.

The current crop of cars will be able to compete until the end of 2005, although they are likely to be handicaped/restricted so they will be on a level par with the new cars.
This is to compansate the new cars as they are expected to be slower due to the added safety features. With this I take it they mean that the new aerodynamic package Piper have designed will not be a slick/effective as the current examples.

[paul-collins]

Originally posted by egor
You would have to increase the weight to the class minimum weight of 750kg to compete in SR2/LM2.

So, if you add to the weight of a 675, do you get the old restrictor size back?

Or, if you don't raise the weight, is there an equalizing formula for you to compete at all (like tighter restrictors and then you compete in LMP1 as a 675 subset, for example)?

[Lee Janotta]

Bad ideas... It's going to ruin the lighter LMPs, increase costs in the 900s because the current cars are suddenly going to be obsolete, the GTS regs are going to be a disaster because the supercars should be in their own GT1 class....

This is _not_ going to work.

[MulsanneMike]

The rules have always stated that you must have a front and rear roll over structure.

Regarding the bad ideas...LMP675 has been on the outs for some time. The reality is that, while the cars are very exciting, they are also extrodinarily expensive.

Current cars suddenly being obsolete? Again, the writing on the wall has always been that '04 was going to be a year of change. But the ACO/FIA have anticipated this by allowing current LMPs to run to '05 in current form. The LMP regulations have been on the book for some time (going back to '94 if you count WSC). Sports car racing rules always change to enhance competition, improve safety, and to overall improve the sport.

[pink69]

This also means no Penalties for the Saleen S7R should one be entered into the FIA GT Championship!

[egor]

Sorry did'nt mean to post three times, my pc was not doing anything so I canceled my reply twice - so I thought!!!!

[SALEEN S7R]

It looks almost certain now that Graham Nash Motor Sports will be entering 2 Saleen S7R's in the FIA GT championship. Also in 2004 with the regulations the way that they are could this mean the GTS class will be faster than the LMP2 cars?? We know they have more horsepower anyway but they are a fair bit heavier with the weight limit increasing to 750kg for the 2004 spec LMP2 cars do cars like the Saleen and Ferrari 550 stand a chance of beating the LMP2 class cars at a low downforce track like Le Mans?

[Rhino]

How about all cars to be able to carry 2 people. Not during races. The publicity the F1 2 seaters get is good but for most of them your stuck behind the driver.
The thought of sitting in a sports car going round Le Mans......

[jslone]

Does this mean that the ban on the BMW M3 GTR can be lifted?