Le Mans Hypercar

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2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (DSC04559).jpg
2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (DSC07400).jpg
A group of cars at the Spa-Francorchamps, featuring four Hypercar manufacturers

A Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) is a type of sports prototype race car that competes alongside LMDh entries in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. It will also compete in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023. [1]

Contents

The Le Mans Hypercar regulations were created jointly by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) as a successor to the Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) from the 2021 season onwards. [2]

History

Demise of LMP1 class

Following the successive exits of Audi and Porsche from the FIA World Endurance Championship at the end of the 2016 and 2017 seasons in the aftermath of the Volkswagen emissions scandal affecting the Volkswagen Group (parent company of both manufacturers), as well as spiralling costs in the LMP1 Hybrid sub-category, the ACO began a series of discussions aimed at reducing the costs of competition for the next generation of LMP1 rules. [3] [4]

Initially, a single, low-power hybrid system had been planned for the new LMP1 rules, with plans for a shared platform with IMSA. Representatives from the three organizations, as well as current and prospective manufacturers, were involved in talks for the proposed regulations, which would debut in the 2020-21 World Endurance Championship (WEC) season. At the time, there had been an option for a customer hybrid powertrain for small-volume manufacturers and privateers, which could lead the regulations to replace those of the Daytona prototype International (DPi) in the top class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022; this allowed for the unification of top level sports car racing, with teams and manufacturers being able to compete with the same car in the "triple crown" (24 hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring) of endurance racing. These initial plans targeted significant cost reductions while maintaining the performance levels of the LMP1 prototypes. [5] A renaming of the category was later suggested by FIA President Jean Todt. [6]

Early concepts

In June 2018, ahead of the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, the FIA first confirmed that the new set of top-level prototype regulations would feature design concepts based on hypercars when implemented, with a summary of the new technical regulations being presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Manila. [7] At the time, Toyota, Ford, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari were revealed to have been in roundtable meetings with the championship organisers for the new regulations, with a significantly reduced targeted full-season budget in the region of 25 million euros—75% lower than existing budgets used by manufacturer teams.

At the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, the initial details of the new top class for the FIA World Endurance Championship were announced at the ACO's annual press conference, with the regulations set to be active for 5 seasons. Numerous aspects of the design for the new class would be kept open, with a free engine architecture and the freedom to run any number of cylinders with the choice of a turbocharged or naturally aspirated design. The cars would have an overall weight of 980 kg (2,160 lb) with a controlled weight distribution, alongside a defined maximum fuel flow, with controlled efficiency and other regulations to control developmental costs. Hybrid systems would feature an electric motor mounted on the front axle with a fixed performance of 200 kW (270 hp), giving the cars a four-wheel drive layout, while the engine's maximum performance target would be set at 520 kW (700 hp). Each car would have two seats, a larger cockpit than current LMP1 cars, a wider windscreen, and a roofline more consistent with road cars. Manufacturers would be required to make their hybrid systems available for privateer teams to lease at a cost cap, while any manufacturer or company would be able to design and build its own hybrid system, which would undergo homologation by the FIA and ACO. The cars would also be slower than their predecessors, with a target lap time of 3:20. [8]

On 25 July 2018, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus became the first manufacturer to officially indicate its participation in the new rules, with the manufacturer releasing images of a prototype that it planned to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The manufacturer would offer a limited run of 25 road-legal versions and one race version to fund its Le Mans program. [9] By the end of the 2018 year, apart from Glickenhaus, no other manufacturer had committed to the new regulations. Concerns were raised by several manufacturers about the tight timelines involved, which would leave manufacturers intending to commit from the first season of competition, with less than two years to design and build new cars upon gaining company board approval. [10] On 21 October 2018, McLaren announced that it would not participate in the first year of the category, due to the tight timelines involved and the relatively fluid state of the regulations at the point in time. [11]

Beginning of the Le Mans Hypercar class

On 5 December 2018, the FIA published the technical rulebook for the class, with the regulations mandating production-based powertrains. It was also decided that a minimum of 25 road cars fitted with the combustion engine and energy recovery system (ERS) of the race car would have to be produced by the end of a manufacturer's first season, with that amount rising to 100 by the end of its second season. This would mean that non-OEM racecar constructors, such as Oreca, Onroak Automotive, and Dallara, would not be permitted to build hypercars, while the previously proposed "off-the-shelf" hybrid solution was absent from the regulations. The regulations called for a total maximum power output of 785 hp (585 kW) drawn from the combustion and electric hybrid system, with the electric component restricted to a maximum output of 200kW. There was speculation in the press about 950hp figures, obtained by just adding up the ICE and electric power output. In reality, power units were always expected to follow a prescribed combined power curve, with a peak of 585kW at 95% of engine speed. In addition, diesel power would be banned, with a 3 million euro ($3.4 million US) cost cap on the supply of ERS systems from manufacturers to customer teams was announced, while it was also announced that an ERS manufacturer would be prohibited from supplying a system to more than three competitors without the formal approval of the FIA. [12] The minimum weight of the new-generation cars will be raised from the initially-stated 980 kg (2,160 lb) to 1,040 kg (2,290 lb), with maximum length being 5,000 mm (200 in), while maximum cockpit width would also increase to 2,000 mm (79 in). [13]

On 7 March 2019, it was announced that the FIA World Endurance Championship would adjust its criteria for the new prototype regulations, with manufacturers now being permitted to enter race cars derived from road-going hypercars. This was done after several manufacturers expressed interest in a closer alignment between their production and race activities, citing both budgetary and platform availability concerns. [14] [15] Subsequently, the target lap time of the new cars was increased from 3:20 to 3:30 and movable aerodynamic devices, originally planned to be allowed under the new regulations, were removed due to cost concerns. [16]

On the Friday prior to the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans (14 June, 2019), the full technical regulations regarding the new class were unveiled at the race's press conference. The regulations were teamed with the announcement of Toyota Gazoo Racing and Aston Martin Racing committing to the category for its inaugural season, then-to-be the 2020-2021 WEC Season. [17] [18] Aston Martin confirmed the use of the Valkyrie road-going car as the spine of their hypercar, whilst Toyota hinted at the use of their GR Super Sport concept. The two manufacturers would join the supposed Glickenhaus team and ByKolles Racing for the first few races.

On 19 February 2020, Aston Martin announced that they would be postponing their Le Mans Hypercar project, as the announcement of the joint ACO-IMSA Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) rules led the company to reconsider their plans on the project. In addition, the company planned to re-join Formula One in 2021 for the first time since the late 1950s as a factory-backed team. [19] [20]

On 11 May 2020, the FIA announced it had approved proposed changes to the LMH technical regulations, which would see a decrease in maximum power output from 585 kW (784 hp) to 500 kW (670 hp), and minimum weight of the cars from 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) to 1,030 kg (2,270 lb). [21]

Debut and LMDh convergence

In 2021, just a few days after Peugeot revealed their 9X8 Hypercar, the IMSA and the ACO announced that they would converge their respective sports prototype rulesets into one class. This unified prototype class is named differently in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship (Hypercar and Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), respectively). [1] This convergence allows the Le Mans Hypercars to compete in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in tandem with its sister LMDh cars, starting from 2023. This effectively allowed LMH and LMDh cars to race in both North American and world championships together, a level of commonality between Europe and America not seen in top-level sportscar racing for several decades. [22]

Technical regulations

The frontal surface area of the car may not be below 1.6 m2, while "as viewed from above, from the side, and from the front, the bodywork must not allow mechanical components to be seen, unless explicitly authorised by the present regulations, or if respecting the original car design." [23] Movable aerodynamic elements are prohibited. [24]

Powertrain

Engine design is free, with only four-stroke petrol engines being permitted for use. For production-based engines, the block and head castings must come from the base engine (but can be slightly altered via machining or addition of material), and the crankshaft may only be a maximum of 10% lighter, while valve angles, number of camshafts, and location of camshafts must also remain as they are fitted on the original engine.

For cars utilising an energy recovery hybrid system, the speed at which it can be deployed is set in the Balance of Performance table. The electrical DC power of the MGU-K must not exceed 200 kW, and with the exception of the pit lane, the MGU-K may only apply positive torque to the front wheels should the following conditions be met:

Vehicle Specifications

Maximum length5,000 mm (200 in)
Maximum width2,000 mm (79 in)
Maximum wheelbase 3,150 mm (124 in)
Minimum frontal area 1.6 m2 (2,500 sq in)
Minimum weight1,030 kg (2,270 lb)
Minimum engine weight165 kg (364 lb)
Engine displacement No limit
Maximum power output500 kW (670 hp)
Maximum wheel diameter710 mm (28 in)
Maximum wheel width380 mm (15 in)
Minimum headlight height400 mm (15.75 in) above the reference plane

Confirmed manufacturers

ManufacturerModelPictureDebutSource
Toyota GR010 Hybrid 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 Hybrid No.7 (DSC09523).jpg 2021 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
Glickenhaus SCG 007 LMH 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Glickenhaus Racing Glickenhaus 007 No.708 (DSC08810).jpg 2021 8 Hours of Portimão
Peugeot 9X8 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8 No.94 (DSC09508).jpg 2022 6 Hours of Monza
Ferrari 499P 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P No.51 (DSC09249).jpg 2023 1000 Miles of Sebring [25]
Vanwall Vandervell 680 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Floyd Vanwall Racing Team Vanwall Vandervell 680 No.4 (DSC09819).jpg 2023 1000 Miles of Sebring [25]
Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C 2024 Qatar 1812 km [26]
Aston Martin Valkyrie 2025 (TBD) [27]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "IMSA Top Class to Be Named GTP Beginning in 2023". www.imsa.com . 27 January 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ↑ Watkins, Gary (5 December 2019). "WEC reveals new top class name for hypercar future". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Dagys, John. "Single, Low-Power Hybrid in Frame for Next-Gen Regs – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. ↑ "The Coolest Racing Series In The World Got Too Expensive". Jalopnik. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "Audi Sport: "WEC got too expensive"". Top Gear. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  6. ↑ Dagys, John. "Todt Predicts "Five to Seven" Manufacturers in Top Class – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  7. ↑ Dagys, John. "FIA Confirms 'Hypercar' Design Concept for New Prototype Class – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  8. ↑ Kilshaw, Jake. "Details of 2020 'Hypercar' Design Revealed – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel. "Glickenhaus Reveals Le Mans Prototype Concept – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. ↑ Dagys, John. "Marquardt: "Clarity" Needed on Hypercar Regs – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  11. ↑ Dagys, John. "McLaren "Highly Unlikely" to Commit to Hypercar Regs for 2020 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  12. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel. "FIA Publishes 2020 Hypercar Technical Regs – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  13. ↑ Andrew Cotton (6 December 2018). "WEC | 2020 Hypercar Regulations". Racecar Engineering. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  14. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel. "Production Cars to be Included in 2020 'Hypercar' Regs – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "2020 'Hypercar' Regulations Expanded To Include Road Car Derivatives – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  16. ↑ Dagys, John. "FIA, ACO "Enlarged" Hypercar Scope at Manufacturers' Request – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  17. ↑ Kilbey, Stephen (14 June 2019). "Toyota joins Hypercar class in WEC". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing Inc. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  18. ↑ Kilbey, Stephen (14 June 2019). "Aston Martin first to confirm WEC Hypercar program". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing Inc. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  19. ↑ Schrader, Stef. "Aston Martin Dumps Valkyrie Hypercar For Le Mans, Focuses on Formula 1". The Drive. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  20. ↑ "Aston Martin to Re-evaluate Hypercar Race Programme" . Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  21. ↑ "Le Mans Hypercar Changes Approved By The FIA – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  22. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (9 July 2021). "LMH & LMDH Set For Both IMSA & WEC From 2023". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  23. 1 2 "FIA WEC - 2020 Le Mans Prototype Hypercar Technical Regulations".
  24. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel. "Updated Le Mans Hypercar Technical Regs Released – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  25. 1 2 Daniel Lloyd (11 January 2023). "Record Top-Category Field Headlines 38-Car Season Entry". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "Entry list for FIA WEC season-opener in Qatar revealed". fiawec.com. Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  27. ↑ Watkins, Gary (4 October 2023). "Aston Martin to return to Le Mans 24 Hours in 2025 with Valkyrie LMH". motorsport.com . Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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