LM24: ACO Confirms 2011 Regulations

Le Mans / ALMS

LM24: ACO Confirms 2011 Regulations

Existing prototypes to be grandfathered in for new regulations; GT1 phased out.

John Dagys | Posted June 10, 2010 Le Mans, (FRA)

The ACO released its 2011 regulations Thursday at Le Mans. (John Dagys)

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest confirmed its 2011 technical regulations Thursday as part of the organizer’s annual press conference held at Circuit de la Sarthe. Existing prototypes will be allowed to run next season alongside new-for-2011 cars, while GT1 has been eliminated altogether, paving the way for new expanded ‘GT Pro’ and ‘GT AM’ classes.

As announced two years ago, new LMP1 cars must conform to revised engine regulations, effectively the same currently seen in LMP2. Popular power plants such as HPD’s 3.4-liter V8, Mazda’s two-liter turbo and smaller capacity diesels will become the new wave of engines in the premier prototype ranks.

However, 2011 will be a transition year for P1 teams, as existing prototypes will also be allowed to compete. The ACO made the decision to grandfather current-spec machines in for one year due to the current economic conditions. This comes as welcome news for many of the sport’s privateers, while still allowing many factory squads to introduce all-new cars. Audi, Peugeot, Aston Martin and ORECA are all believed to be building new prototypes for next year.

The ACO also confirmed that current P2 machines could be easily moved up to P1. Defending Le Mans Series P2 champions Quifel-ASM Team is one squad that will take advantage of the regulations with its Ginetta-Zytek 09S. Others are also believed to be in serious consideration.

P2 receives a major face-lift for next year, in the efforts of keeping it a privateer-driven category. All cars must be powered by production engines, similar to the engine regulations seen in GT2. Engine costs cannot exceed $90,000, while the price of a turn-key car must be under $400,000. Additionally, each engine must run for at least 30 hours next year, increased gradually to 50 hours by 2013.

ACO Vice President Pierre Fillon (L) with Sporting Manager Vincent Beaumesnil (R). (David Stephens)

Existing P2 chassis can still compete next year as long as teams switch to the new production power plants. And much like in P1, their cars would be performance balanced to new 2011 models.

After being phased out in the American Le Mans Series and with dismal fields in Europe and Asia, the GT1 category will be eliminated at the end of the year. While the formula will continue in the FIA GT1 World Championship, cars in their current configuration will no longer be eligible to compete in ACO-sanctioned races.

This has opened the door for the ACO to expand the GT2 category into two classes, ‘GT Endurance Pro’ and ‘GT Endurance Am’ starting next year. After successful and highly competitive fields on both sides of the Atlantic, organizers have locked in classes’ current regulations through 2013.

‘GT Pro’ is a professional category with all of the leading cars and drivers currently seen in GT2, while ‘GT Am’ has been designed for cars at least one year old for primarily gentlemen or amateur drivers.

“All of the cars like Corvette, etc., they make new cars every year and at the end of the season, they sell them,” said Vincent Beaumesnil, ACO Sporting Manager. “You must have gentlemen drivers [in the sport]. Today, the private teams with gentlemen drivers in GT2 fight for eighth, ninth or 10th position... I think it’s important to have a chance to fight for the win.”

The FIA’s medal classification system of platinum, silver and bronze will be used, with each car must having at least two silver or bronze drivers.

Beaumesnil said there was no consideration of adding a GT3 category into competition as it doesn’t conform to the ‘spirit of endurance racing.’ However, he hasn’t ruled out seeing current GT1 cars converted to GT in the future, as long as they conform to the regulations. He named the Nissan GT-R and Matech Ford GT as two possible candidates.

“There is no real technical regulations [in GT3], it’s just a question of balance of performance adjusted every race,” he said. “This is not the feel of [endurance], so we don’t want to run our series like that. GT2 has technical regulations and then we deal with the cars with the waivers to have a good field.”

Hybrid regulations were also confirmed for next year, with electrical and mechanical storage systems now allowed to compete. Energy recovery systems can only be taken from two wheels, either the front or rear and generate a maximum of 500 kilojoules of power.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Dagys

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