Endurance – The four 2 LM P2017 chassis manufacturers confirmed

Dallara, Onroak Automotive, Oreca and the Riley Tech / Multimatic joint venture. Here are the four manufacturers who were selected by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, theIMSA and the FIA ​​to equip the teams which will be entered in the LM P2 category in the ACO / FIA championships, as well as the IMSA prototypes in the United Sportscar Championship in the United States, starting in 2017, the date of entry into force of the new regulation, number that AUTOhebdo already put forward last March (see Ah n°2001).

This regulation will be applied in WEC, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, USC and 24 Hours of Le Mans. If in the ACO / FIA championship, only one engine manufacturer will be accepted, (selected in September), in USC, several engine manufacturers will be present. Styling elements will also be specific to each engine manufacturer. In all championships, engine power will be around 600 hp.

As previously indicated, the cars entered in USC will be able to compete against their European rivals, provided they use the same bodywork elements in force in the championships across the Atlantic. All LM P2 teams will be eligible in USC by taking the same chassis configuration and engine used in their own championship.

The four manufacturers will now work to define the details of the regulations, via a working group managed by the FIA, the ACO and the IMSA. The regulations, which also aim to bring performance closer to LM P1, should be finalized next December before a 2016 which promises to be a very busy year with the following calendar:

January 1, 2016: safety validation / monocoque
April 1, 2016: validation of the bodywork and mechanics
June 1, 2016: validation of the crash test
September 1, 2016: presentation of the draft approval form
From December 1 to 15, 2016: inspection and final validation of the car.

The cars must be homologated and ready for January 2017 and the 24 Hours of Daytona, which traditionally opens the USC season.

“This new regulation and the measures that result from it, the first of which is the selection of its four chassis manufacturers, tend to have more competitive cars, an efficient, viable and controlled economic model, a global market for machines capable of racing in North America, Asia and Europe and an excellent level of service for competitors. The philosophy of the category is respected and takes care to maintain a variety of cars dear to our fans. In the wake of the major LM P1 manufacturers, the new LM P2 regulations, by bringing together these prestigious manufacturers, become more than ever the benchmark international competition dedicated to private teams, aspiring drivers, and depending on the series, high-level gentlemen drivers. . » comments Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO.