ACO Regulations from 2011 owards

[Lazy B'stard]

From today's Press Conference. Full sporting regulations will be published in Draft form on Saturday afternoon. Some interesting changes are a foot including the return of the test day and possibility of hybrids using part time 4WD!

From DSC
Le Mans 24 Hours - ACO Press Conference

Much, much more in detail later but for now a brief run down of the major news from this morning's ACO Press Conference

Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge

The 2010 calendar is confirmed with Zhuhai on November 7 joining Silverstone and Petit Le Mans.

There are major changes however for 2011 - The ILMC expands to 7 rounds with Sebring, Spa and a 6 hour race at Fuji added.

The big surprise is that the Le Mans 24 Hours itself is also added as a double points round!

Test Day

The Test Day will return in 2011 - in either April or May.

Technical Regulations

The latest draft "90% complete" of the ACO technical regulations will be published before this weekend.

They will include more clarification of regs for LMP hybrid systems, a reduction in noise levels, confirmation off previously announced engine cubic capacity reductions, current LMP1s to be 'grandfathered for a year with power reductions, Current LMP2s to be 'grandfathered' subject to "certain conditions"

GT1 cars will not be eligible in 2011.

The GT2 category is redubbed GT Endurance and will run to 2009 ACO GT2 regulations.

There will be two sub-categories -

Pro-GTs with no restriction on cars or driver squads.

AM-GTs with cars having to be at least a year old and at least two drivers conforming to the Bronze or Silver driver classifications.  

[Lazy B'stard]

ACO Press Conference – Part Two – Technical Regulations (LMP)
 
The latest draft "90% complete" of the ACO technical regulations will be published “before 3pm this Saturday”.
 
Hybrids
 
The latest draft will include more clarification of regulations for LMP1 hybrid systems but in this area “a few points still need to be confirmed.”
 
It seems though that one thing that has been confirmed is that the recovery and release of energy on a hybrid system will be on 2 wheels only – “This can be either the front or the rear axle” So an effective part time 4 wheel drive system it seems may be on the cards!
 
The maximum permitted energy recovery/ release between two braking phases will be 500 kilojoules and the storage medium can be either electrical or mechanical.  “This change will allow much lower cost off the shelf systems to be obtained by private teams.”
 
The hybrid system must be activated by the accelerator pedal (no push to pass button is allowed)
 
Energy recovery systems using brakes must not be active in curves - driver aids are banned
 
Other means of energy recovery are permitted (exhaust, engine heat, dampers etc) but they must respect the specification laid down by the ACO 
Hybridised cars will get a 2 litre reduction in fuel tank capacity 
 
The ACO have also developed draft safety regulations to align with the new hybrid regs to protect teams, drivers, marshals and other safety workers.
 
Noise Levels
 
The new 2011 regs also see a reduction in maximum noise levels (for both LMPs and GTs) from 112decibels to 110 decibels
 
Grandfathered LMPs In 2011
 
Grandfathered LMPs will still be eligible for the 2011 season, albeit with substantial performance restrictions to match the performance levels of the new spec 2011 LMP1s and LMP2s.  Reductions in turbo pressure and air restrictor sizes were specifically mentioned.
 
LMP2 Production Engines
 
New 2011 regulations for the introduction of production (GT2 spec) engines in LMP2 are confirmed with price capping applied both to new engines and chassis. (75,000 Euros for an engine, 325,000 Euros for a complete chassis without engine. - 400,000 Euros maximum for a complete car.
 
Minimum life hours have also been applied as follows
 
30 hours – 2011 season
40 hours – 2012 season
50 hours – 2013 season 
2010 chassis will also be permitted with 2011 production engines but a three year chassis development freeze will apply.

[Lazy B'stard]

ACO Press Conference – Part Three – Regulations (GT)
 
GT1
 
The major news is that the GT1 class will not feature in ACO competition for 2011 and beyond.  The ACO has decided that the current crop of GT1 cars are “not designed for endurance racing but as sprint cars.
 
The decision has also been taken due to “calendar problems – we have seen this year that many competitors have not been able to commit to LMS races because of other commitments.”
 
GT2
 
The GT2 category is re-dubbed GT Endurance and will run to 2009 ACO GT2 regulations (rather than the revised 2010 FIA developed regulations).
 
Those regulations will be frozen from 2011 through to 2013 as a minimum with only a single evolution per year permitted (2 evolutions for new cars).
 
Steering wheel mounted paddleshifts are permitted.
 
"Measures will be taken to reduce top speed without reducing power"
 
There will be two sub-categories -
 
GT-PRO - with no restriction on cars or driver squads 
GT-AM - Cars will have to be at least a year old and at least two drivers conforming to the Bronze or Silver driver classifications (the same classifications apply this season in LMP2).  

[Lazy B'stard]

ACO Press Conference – Part Four - Expansion of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
 
As previously reported, the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) will commence this September at the Silverstone 1000Kms, this the first of three inaugural races across Europe, America and Asia with confirmed entries from Audi, Peugeot and Drayson Racing in LMP1, Oak Racing in LMP2 and Porsche, Ferrari and Jaguar in GT2 – Felbermayr Proton and AF Corse are expected in the GT2 class. The final 2010 entry is set to be confirmed now in late August (this was originally slated for May).
 
The ACO press conference today confirmed some considerable expansion of the ILMC for 2011.
 
Seven races will now represent the aims of the series; “an endurance world cup which brings the spirit of Le Mans and multi-class endurance racing with a thread of sustainable development to a trans-continental arena.”  
 
Each of six rounds will represent one of the three Le Mans Series: Le Mans Series (LMS), American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the Asian Le Mans Series, with the Le Mans 24 hours itself being the blue riband event with double points awarded.
 
The ACO have chosen to release what is firmly dubbed as a draft calendar today
The proposed events are:
 
March : Sebring 12 Hours
May:    Spa 1000Kms
June : Le Mans 24 hours – double points
September: Silverstone 1000Kms
September / October : Petit Le Mans, Atlanta
October: Mount Fuji 1000Kms
November: 6 Hours, China (circuit TBA).

In answer to the question – “Is this the forerunner to a full World Championship.” Senior ACO sources pointed to the small size of the ACO staff (c.150) and the massive challenge of rolling out a series on three continents, let alone the expansion that would be required to attain full World Championship status.”

[Lazy B'stard]

ACO Press Conference – Part 5 – Questions From The Floor
 
Bearing in mind the expansion of the ILMC, will The ALMS and Le Mans Series continue as before?
 
“Yes – the individual series give the teams an introduction to endurance racing before taking perhaps a step up to the ILMC.”
 
Is this part of a build up to a World Endurance Championship?
 
“Jean Todt will be here this weekend – He has a big history here as a successful team manager (with Peugeot’s successful 905 programme). I’m not sure whether I will have an opportunity to meet with him during what I believe will be a busy schedule.”
 
How will you balance the objectives of the ILMC which is a Championship where any team may enter, with the inclusion in the competition of the Le Mans 24 Hours which is an invitational race? 
 
“We always receive a large number of entries for the 24 Hours (80 this year).
 
“We have to think about those who enter our Championships through the year and those who would choose to only enter the Le Mans 24 Hours.”
 
Will attendance at the Test Day be obligatory (particularly for teams not based in Europe?)
 
“We are studying whether it should be obligatory.  The introduction of the new cars make the Test very important for a number of reasons.”
 
Will Yves Courage’s all-electric LMP project be welcomed to the race in 2011
  
“We have been informed of his progress throughout and have encouraged his research.  At this point we have no idea though whether he will be ready for 2011.”
 
What will be the future for the Formula Le Mans cars in 2011
 
“There will be no change in 2011”
 
The cost restrictions in LMP2 mean that some manufacturers might not be interested if they decide that the costs are too restrictive – How will you stop LMP2 becoming a spec one make series?
 
“Several projects are going on at the moment with several different manufacturers involved.  But there has been such a level of cost in LMP2 that we needed to adjust its philosophy.
 
"The Norma for example is an excellent example of what could be possible."
 
How will you attribute the entry for the 56th garage next year?
 
“There is a possibility of some sort of mini competition to decide which new technology is displayed.  We should also recognise the valuable assistance of the local authorities in enabling us to complete the new garage in very short timescales despite real potential difficulties.
 
Some of the GT1 manufacturers will be disappointed in not being able to race at Le Mans – Will the Nissan or Ford be able to be adapted to GT2 regulations?  And can the Japanese Super GT cars be accommodated?
 
“We have not asked ourselves about the inclusion of Super GT cars.

“We have been discussing with Ford and Nissan – something is quite possible but there is work to be done.”

[clkgtrlm1]

Great news about the return of the test day(s)