Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by deggis

Privateer-P1 looks bleak right now but with P2 becoming what it is becoming they're forcing the few bigger team-constructors to consider P1.

The problem is that the ACO/WEC don’t have a good business model right now for something between gentlemen-driver funded, cost-capped LMP2 and factory mega-expensive LMP-1H. One issue is exactly what you’re hinting at, the model in practice seems to want to turn P2 teams into constructors, or at least for each team to partner with a constructor to develop a LMP-1L car. That’s a huge cost jump from LMP2, and it also usually is going to take away the main existing gentlemen-driver funding source (yes, Strakka is a possible exception). So who’s suppose to pay for all this?

To make matters worse, the return on the LMP-1L investment to date has been rather poor. The cars just haven’t been good enough — only a couple of seconds a lap ahead of LMP2s but with much lower reliability. Fuji was the first time all year that a LMP-1L car has finished ahead of the entire LMP-2 field. And even at best, privateer LMP1s are racing for (this year) 7th overall — and 9th at Le Mans — unless Audi/Porsche/Toyota start breaking, which rarely happens. That’s just a hard sell.