The future for Le Mans racing worldwide was outlined Thursday as the
Automobile Club de l'Ouest unveiled its game plan for the next three years.
Daniel Poissenot, the ACO's clerk of the course, spoke to teams,
manufacturers and media at its annual official press conference held at the
Sarthe Motorcar museum, adjacent to Circuit de La Sarthe. Poissenot outlined
three initiatives: improve safety, reduce costs and provide a stable rules
package.
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Jean-Claude Plassart - A.C.O President. Photo by Gareth Fair.
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Following a meeting on April 15 between manufacturers and other industry
representatives, the ACO has decided on a method for reducing performance on its LM P1
and LM P2 prototypes. This reduction will begin in 2009 when a new set of
air restrictors will be regulated to help balance the difference between
diesel and gasoline-powered cars. In 2010, a more significant reduction in
aero development will be mandated.
However, the "Evo" regulations announced here last year seem to have been
put on the back burner, as all current prototypes will be eligible to
compete for the next three to four years. New "wider and different shaped"
prototypes will be introduced next year, with the exact regulations to be
announced in November. Poissenot said the ACO would prefer that closed-top
cars with a larger cockpit be developed to these new regulations. While the
current prototypes will be slowly phased out, both types of cars will
compete head-to-head, with organizers developing a performance balancing
system.
"It's going to be a little bit wider, enabling us to have different cars
with different cockpits," Poissenot said of the new car style. "It will be
for the closed ones, and different shapes for the open ones too. We're going
to work with our consultant, Gordon Murray, and the manufacturers to adapt
the rear wing [to provide more downforce]... We're going to work on the new
definition of the bodywork and reinforce lateral protection for driver
protection."
Poissenot said these changes are more of an evolution, rather than a
revolution. It appears all four categories of cars will continue, and no
mention was made regarding the future of the GT classes. Exact details are
expected to come when the detailed regulations surface this fall.
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Daniel Poissenot, A.C.O Sports Director. Photo by Gareth Fair.
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Poissenot also announced more immediate changes, slated for next year.
Energy recovery systems -- similar to the KERS concept planned for Formula
One -- will begin to be introduced, and the provision
allowing GT1-spec engines to be used in P1 cars will continue. Air
conditioning will also become mandatory next year, with the minimum 32C
temperature regulated inside closed-cockpit cars. As seen this year in the
American Le Mans Series, all cars will run on some sort of biofuel in 2009
in both the Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Organizers are
also evaluating new methods in reducing the amount of tires used during a
race, including the possibility of mandating the use of only one air gun
during a pit stop.
While not all questions were answered, stability is now the key word with Le
Mans-style racing as it continues to build momentum worldwide.
