I'm still reading through the LMP1 Technical Regulations and trying to understand how a front-engined concept can fit in there. I am especially curious to understand how such a concept could comply with relevant safety provisions, including in particular the relevant provision regarding the frontal impact absorbing structure.
Article 18.3.1 provides that a "
special impact absorbing structure must be fitted in front of the survival cell". Actually, the French wording is a bit more specific in that it requires that the structure must be "secured" to the front of the survival cell ("
Une structure spéciale doit être fixée Ã* l'avant de la cellule de survie.").
I read that as requiring the frontal impact absorbing structure to be directly provided and secured onto the front part of the survival cell. This interpretation is at least consistent with the clarification that follows under Article 18.3.1:
This structure need not be an integral part of the survival cell but it must be securely attached to it.
A configuration wherein the frontal impact absorbing structure would be provided in front of the engine (as
speculated by Mike in his latest update on the matter) does not seem to be entirely consistent with the aforementioned requirement IMHO. Is it possible to guarantee that the structure is "
securely attached to the survival cell" with an engine sitting between the structure and the survival cell ? Maybe.
By way of an alternative, would it be satisfactory from a safety perspective to locate the engine in front of the frontal impact absorbing structure ? Probably not.
Could the survival cell itself encase the engine ?
And what about the fuel lines ? With the fuel tank included in the survival cell (Article 18.3.1) and - normally - located behind the driver's position, combined with the impossibility to have fuel lines pass - understandably - through the cockpit (Article 6.4.4), wouldn't feeding of fuel to the engine located at the front be a safety concern as the fuel lines would have to run under or to the side of the cockpit area ?
And what if the speculation about a front-engined configuration was simply wrong ?