Reduced tire allowances in 2017

As the new year dawns, the regulations for the various competitions are gradually being revealed. Next to F1 and WRC, which will offer real technical revolutions, the World Championship ofEndurance will offer several adjustments on this aspect, with an LM P2 category notably offering new prototypes. On the sporting level, however, several new features will be part of the regulations. Here are the main ones.

LM P1

In LM P1, the duration of application of Technology Equivalence is modified, since now current 24 Hours of Le Mans until the end of the last event of the 2017 season, and no longer until the following edition of the Sarthe double clock. The tire quota is also reduced from 16 tires in practice to 12, and from 24 in qualifying and in the race to 16.

The sporting regulations also define the possibilities offered to newcomers in LM P1 Hybrid. Several exemptions can be granted to a new committed brand (this remains subject to approval by the next World Council in March):

– A specific fuel allocation (energy per revolution and/or maximum fuel flow) to achieve 98% of “best in class” internal combustion engine performance.

– The performance of the “best in class” internal combustion engine will be calculated based on the performance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans the previous year. The performance of the new entrant will be evaluated by declaration. The new entrant will be subject to a penalty if the declaration turns out to be incorrect.

– No limitations on the number of internal combustion engines for the championship.

– A possible hybrid class change during the first season

– No limitation on the number of bodies.

– However, the new entrant should comply with the same approval forms and deadlines as for any other EVO.

– For 6 hour races: maximum number of tires increased to 24 for qualifying and the race.

– Wind tunnel hour limitation increased to 150%.

– In the second year, manufacturers may also receive exemptions, such as the specific allocation of fuel to achieve a certain level of performance, calculated based on data from the previous 24 Hours of Le Mans, the allocation of an internal combustion engine more than other manufacturers, and the change of ERS once in the season.

Seven days of closed private testing (tests organized by a competitor and in which other competitors can only participate at their sole discretion and invitation) are now possible compared to ten in 2016. A new manufacturer will benefit from 20 days.

In private LM P1, the FIA ​​Endurance trophy cannot be awarded to the best team if and only if a minimum of three cars are entered for the season. With the withdrawal of Rebellion Racing, there are only Team ByKolles in this category for 2017.

LM P2

The driver who starts will no longer necessarily be the fastest in the crew based on the sessions held before the race. This rule also applies in GTE Am.

GTE Pro

In GTE Pro, in addition to the arrival of the world champion titles, the category receives a change in tire allocations. Concretely, teams will be able to use three tire specifications defined by the manufacturers per car model, in GTE Pro and GTE Am. These specifications may be different between GTE Pro and GTE Am for each car model. Two of the three manufacturers' choices must be declared 15 days before the Silverstone meeting, the last 15 days before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. These specifications are frozen for the season, unless requested by a manufacturer.

Those entered in GTE Pro will only benefit from three sets of tires in free practice, and four in qualifying and in the race, compared to four and six sets in 2016. For any competitor, changing manufacturer is authorized only once during the race. 'year.

The winning brand in GTE Pro must also be present on track during the Rookie Test in Bahrain with at least one car. The driver will be designated by the championship promoter.

GTE Am

Bronze and Silver drivers must respect a minimum driving time of 1 hour 45 minutes during the race, while Gold and Platinum drivers must be on track for a minimum of 45 minutes.

All categories

Wind tunnel tests will be limited to 800 hours per year.