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Is it now a regulation that the cars must have the tops of their tyres exposed or is there some performance reason for it?

will there be more cameras running today for qualifying?

GTE Pro may as well be two separate classes. All of the Fords and Ferraris are now ahead of all of the others, by quite a margin too

This rejuvenation of the project has sparked rumours that the car may actually race at Le Mans after all, possibly as soon as 2017 in either Garage 56 or even in a additional ‘new technologies’ slot.

the car is built around an innovative three cylinder 1600cc turbocharged engine designed to run on recycled human waste

Big changes coming to LMP1 in 2018

LMP1

The LMP1 Hybrid cars will see a variety of changes as of 2017. In a an attempt to reduce the aero advantage over the private entries, the ACO has opted to increase the height of the front splitter by 15mm and adjust the size of the rear diffuser.

The ACO is also attempting to make the cars safer in 2018, including a survival cell similar to the current crop of GTE cars, as well as an increased height of the cockpit to improve access to the driver and free up space around the drivers helmet. By making the height increase it will increase frontal shock risk.

Driving position is affected by the height change, the driver’s seat angle has been altered to a minimum of 55 degrees, to achieve a less reclined position, reducing the risk of vertebral damage in an impact. The hybrid components will also be isolated from the drivers.



Also in 2018, there’s an increase to 10 megajoule maximum power from eight, an increase to the three potential ERS’ (Energy Recovery Systems) in each car from two, and a reduction in fuel consumption by a further eight percent.

P1 privateer

In a bid to attract further entries in the diminishing sub-class, the ACO has committed to further changes to close the performance gap between privateer P1 cars and hybrid manufacturer entries.

To do this, the minimum weight has been reduced to 830kg from 855kg. The width of the cars and rear wings has also increased, to attract more aerodynamic developments.



As was hinted earlier in the year by DSC, a DRS (Drag Reduction System) is also being considered for the rear wings in 2018, but any specific details were not given.

The distant future

The ACO is continuing to explore further technological advancements for P1 cars, which we could see implemented down the line.

ACO sporting director Vincent Beaumesnil stated that there is a movement to consider all-electric, solar, bio-methane and hydrogen fuel cell solutions, and combinations thereof, utilising Equivalence of Technology regulations.

The storage of energy is a development target, as frequent recharging of recovered energy is currently a barrier for several hours of continuous running. Hydrogen technology is a viable solution to this, the ACO suggested.

Working groups have been set up with manufactures to work towards a zero-emissions future at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

That would be an incredibly lazy solution