[WEC] LMP Future Regulations (was Le Mans EVO rules - now hypercar rules)

[CTD]

Hello.
Im getting pretty confused with these "new" EVO rules which was going to rule in 2010!
Are they thrown in the bin, are they "on hold", or are they going to count in 2010?.
I've tried to read about it here on Ten-Tenths but also on other forums, and im just confused, so if someone just could say whats counting i would be happy!

[zac510]

The EVO rules are in a constant state of evolution
ie nobody knows yet!

[AU N EGL]

dont think the new rules are 'EVO' just new rules all together.

EVO meanin an evolution of the current LMP1 rules. The 2010 rule changes should be out in October this year.

a very general out line was released during the LM24 at the ACO press conference.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

dont think the new rules are 'EVO' just new rules all together.

EVO meanin an evolution of the current LMP1 rules. The 2010 rule changes should be out in October this year.

a very general out line was released during the LM24 at the ACO press conference.

See ACO Press Conference

[JAG]

Evo regs are a variation on current P1 regs for manufactuers who would prefare a look closer to a road car.

The aero hit a P1 Evo car would take over a regular P1, with no pretense to looking like a roadcar, will be compensated by restrictor/weight etc. breaks.

[deggis]

All the essential info that came out from the press conference is here:

http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/06/...ss-conference/

http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5797 (crappy Google translation)

[Pingguest]

I read that the maximum temperature in the cockpit will be 32 degrees. Isn't it 25 at the moment? Why will ACO raise the temperature?

[sssssssss]

I think Audi is the only manufacturer to prefer open top prototypes, although they don't have any roadcar looking anything close to that

[mattcat]

Originally Posted by sssssssss

I think Audi is the only manufacturer to prefer open top prototypes, although they don't have any roadcar looking anything close to that

I believe that with it being fairly obvious recently that the closed top prototypes are significantly faster than the open tops, Audis preference may change very quickly...

[sssssssss]

Originally Posted by mattcat

I believe that with it being fairly obvious recently that the closed top prototypes are significantly faster than the open tops, Audis preference may change very quickly...

I don't think closed tops are necessarily faster than open tops. It was just that Peugeot desperately wanted to win Le Mans this year and they did all they could. The R10 wasn't conceived for such huge steps from one year to the next in its development as Audi were used to the developing pace of the private opponents they mainly had so far (in 2000, BMW didn't further develop the LMR, Cadillac wasn't strong enough, Bentley was still Audi etc.). But I do think Audi could build from scratch an open top to run just as fast and well as the 908.

[mattcat]

Originally Posted by sssssssss

I don't think closed tops are necessarily faster than open tops. It was just that Peugeot desperately wanted to win Le Mans this year and they did all they could. The R10 wasn't conceived for such huge steps from one year to the next in its development as Audi were used to the developing pace of the private opponents they mainly had so far (in 2000, BMW didn't further develop the LMR, Cadillac wasn't strong enough, Bentley was still Audi etc.). But I do think Audi could build from scratch an open top to run just as fast and well as the 908.

It's not just Pugeot that I am referring to. The Charouz Lola Aston and the Dome S102 outpaced the open cars right out of the gate. I am no aerodynamicist, but I would be highly inclined to believe that there is a big advantage in downforce created by the windscreen and top of a closed top car. Likewise, I would be inclined to believe that the design is inherently better in a straight line. Anyone with an advanced knowledge of aerodynamics feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by mattcat

It's not just Pugeot that I am referring to. The Charouz Lola Aston and the Dome S102 outpaced the open cars right out of the gate. I am no aerodynamicist, but I would be highly inclined to believe that there is a big advantage in downforce created by the windscreen and top of a closed top car. Likewise, I would be inclined to believe that the design is inherently better in a straight line. Anyone with an advanced knowledge of aerodynamics feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

The cockpit is actually a source of lift. The benefits of a closed top car are somewhat esoteric. Best guess is that closed top cars have less drag than an open top car. As for downforce, might be a bit of a wash as the cockpit potentially blocks flow to the rear wing. I'm told closed top LMPs have a slightly better L/D in low downforce configurations. I would guess in high downforce configs they are about equal.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by mattcat

It's not just Pugeot that I am referring to. The Charouz Lola Aston and the Dome S102 outpaced the open cars right out of the gate. I am no aerodynamicist, but I would be highly inclined to believe that there is a big advantage in downforce created by the windscreen and top of a closed top car. Likewise, I would be inclined to believe that the design is inherently better in a straight line. Anyone with an advanced knowledge of aerodynamics feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

John Horsman puts it quite nicely in layman's terms in Racing in the Rain - here he points out that drag is a factor of frontal area (larger in a coupe) multiplied by aerodynamic efficiency (greater in a coupe) - so a coupe body should be very effective on a long straight such as the run to Mulsanne, however the comparative downforce figures for the coupe and open top Mirage M6s showed the open car to be considerably more effective in being pushed onto the track. It's all on p.300 if you're interested.

Now I appreciate these are lessons from 30 years ago, and I'm sure things have moved on considerably (I'm much more a historian than aerodynamacist!) but I imagine some of these principles will remain the same.

[Tom87]

Originally Posted by mattcat

I believe that with it being fairly obvious recently that the closed top prototypes are significantly faster than the open tops, Audis preference may change very quickly...

Over one lap certainly, but over a race distance the distinction isn't as clear. The LM24 proved that running a closed Coupe, has it's own set of disadvantages to deal with.

[AU N EGL]

Speculations of the new rules starting up again?