by "bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
Published 09/01/2017 at 20:43
by "bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
Published 09/01/2017 at 20:43
Tags: WEC
; Lmp1
; 24 hours of le mans
; sebring
; spa francorchamps
; fuji
; shanghai
STARS: 0
Looks like the World Endurance Championship is
massively restructuring
in the wake of
Porsche’s exit
.
Quick summary of the changes:
WEC is moving to a winter season format with Le Mans as the finale
2018/2019 combined season includes Spa, Le Mans, Fuji, Shanghai, a race to be determined for January or February (different sources are reporting different months), Sebring, Spa, Le Mans
Sebring race will be a 12 hour race, starting two hours after IMSA’s 12 hour race
Equalization of technology will be adjusted to bring LMP1-H and LMP1-L into performance parity, and no longer referring to them as separate classes (although LMP1 hybrids will still have an efficiency advantage that should give it a pit stop advantage)
LMP1 hybrid 2020 regulations being rolled back, with the zero emissions requirements removed (per Dailysportscar )
LMP1 non-hybrid manufacturers appear to be possible
Toyota required to enter full WEC for 2018/2019 and beyond to race at Le Mans
Upshot, I think Toyota’s LMP1 program is over (LMP1-L manufacturer was always the thing that they were reported to oppose the most, and they already don’t want to do a full season), and although there’s comments about the hybrids having a role, who’s gonna spend the money on one to get only a weak advantage?
And, I think with the focus on LMP1-L, that shows where the ACO’s thoughts are on DPi... but I see LMP1-L as the worst of both the LMP1 and DPi worlds - manufacturers spend on chassis and aero that they can’t easily market, and then are running a lower-tech powertrain package like DPi (OK, not that bad, but it’s not LMP1-H levels).
"Phyrxes once again has a wagon!" (phyrxes)
09/01/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 0
Is this the same changes that were rumored to be landing just a day or so ago? While I agree something needed to happen, I am not sure this was it.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
09/01/2017 at 20:58, STARS: 0
Some of those changes were rumored, yes.
So, I think the winter season format needed to happen, to counter the “full-season WEC” entries only running at Silverstone and Spa to guarantee a grid slot for Le Mans, and then ditching the rest of the season.
The changes to LMP1, though? I don’t mind so much the EoT between LMP1-H and LMP1-L, and LMP1-H needed to be slowed down significantly anyway (after Kobayashi’s insanely fast lap at Le Mans this year). I do, however, seriously mind the fact that the ACO is backing down from technical leadership - I feel like there would’ve been ways to cost-control LMP1-H without giving up that leadership.
Ideas for a few measures to help there:
Remove the chassis and most aero (brand identity would still be able to be designed, ala DPi) from manufacturer development
Require manufacturers to sell power unit/battery packages to privateers at a fixed price, and privateers are allowed to develop chassis and aero
Manufacturers can buy any previous year privateer chassis
This means that the powertrain has a natural cost cap, continual improvement is allowed to happen, but manufacturers are forced to focus on the stuff they can easily market, preventing them from dumping bucketloads of money into F1-like chassis and aero tech ala Audi.
"Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed)
09/01/2017 at 21:01, STARS: 0
This stinks, so the WEC basically is killing its self in the name of idiotic efficiency requirements, and excessive regulation.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/01/2017 at 21:29, STARS: 0
Manufacturers allowed in non Hybrid LMP1 cars you say? Earlier this week Zak Brown said Mclaren would enter LMP1 if it became more cost effective. Time for him to step up and match that statement. Peugeot has been knocking on the FIA’s door for a few years now trying to reduce the cost of LMP1 so they can return. Sounds like Toyota is going to leave and LMP1-H is going to die but it sounds like we should be gaining Peugeot and Mclaren and likely some privateer teams. As cool as the Hybrids are the powertrain arms race is unsustainable. Chassis development is cheap compared to the finances Toyota and Porsche are sinking into their powertrains. LMP1 -H could work again if they brought it back to where it was in the early 2010s (ICE with a bit of hybrid to boost efficiency) but these 600hp ICE + 900+ electric horsepower systems are simply to much to maintain.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
09/01/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
Eh, they’re around 500 hp ICE, 500 hp electric (and less than that at Le Mans, or any other Grade 2 circuit they may go to - Sebring, for instance - where 300 kW or 402 hp is the electric limit).
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/01/2017 at 21:38, STARS: 0
I seem to recall hearing that the Toyota puts out almost 1500HP peak in qualifying trim, with the majorty of the power coming from the electric system. Race trim is slightly under 1000HP.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
09/01/2017 at 21:57, STARS: 0
Source?
Note, again, that 300 kW is a hard electric limit for Le Mans (or any other grade 2 circuit), and therefore any more wouldn’t be available in qualifying trim.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/01/2017 at 22:35, STARS: 0
I can’ seem to find it again but I remember seeing a ~1490hp claimed figure at one point (you can only push that kind of number for a second or two at most). Most places seem to claim 1200 in qualifying and the manufacturers only claim their low end high 900 race figures.