Quote:
Originally Posted by Danathar
Given some manufacturers wanted to promote GTE as the top class instead of hypercars, it made me wonder how much faster could you realistically make GTE cars (without spending prototype $$$).
How fast could they get if you wanted to do it?
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Short answer: Very.
Proper answer: They already spend Prototype money -most of the GTE programs cost well over the budget of an LMP2 team- so you're probably looking at similar costs to what the new LMP1 rules are meant to be around in order to get them to that sort of speed.
The thing is, it's not as simple as just turning up the engine power, removing weight, and using carbon brakes. The aero will have to redesigned to maximize the aero efficiency(and being limited to the roadcar base will make this QUITE a headache), the chassis will have to be strengthened(to be able to effectively meet P1-level performance AND safety needs), and this all leads to countless smaller things that need to be tweaked.
It's enough of an effort that even if it comes out a LITTLE cheaper than what "Hypercar P1" is targeting, many manufacturers might just prefer to put the resources into something new.
The fact that upgraded GTE cars were apparently proposed and shot down during negotiations would lend credence to this - it's either far more expensive than what's been approved, or the cost savings aren't enough to make it appealing over a brand new vehicle to most of those involved.