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I'm just gonna say this up front: the fact that we have this debate is EXACTLY why the ACO should NOT have changed the P2 rules. But they did, and now we're seeing the result - a whole pile of Michelin-shod, Gibson-powered, Cosworth-controlled Oreca and Onroak spec cars. It didn't have to be this way, but it is now and it is almost certainly because of what looks like nepotism on the part of the ACO.
That said, the simple reality is that there is nobody in the world foolish enough aside from those there now to run in P1-L. No exposure, no chance of actually winning anything with three factory teams with hybrid cars around and a monumental cost increase compared to LMP2. So teams are either going to LMP2 and buy the spec cars (as the ACO wanted) or do as what it looks like SMP is gonna do and race GT cars instead. For those teams who want to do better than the spec cars and wish to stay prototype racing, they have no options aside from bankrupt themselves trying in ridiculous fashion to run with the factory teams. How does that many any sense?
How do you get around this? Well, if you're IMSA, you toss out the four-chassis limit and let 'em rip.
If you're the ACO, well....you don't and hope the losses to Blancpain and IMSA aren't too awful.
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