WEC / Le Mans – The balance of performance in GTE

A meeting of the Endurance Committee was held recently in Paris. During this, the performance adjustments in LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am were validated. Difficult to establish, especially since a new car (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR type 991) will make its competition debut this year. These are applicable with immediate effect, for the FIA WEC and therefore the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “The basis for the balance of performance of the LMGTE Pro and Am categories has been revealed for the 2013 season, says Vincent Beaumesnil, Sports Director at the ACO. The balance of performances for each of the cars entered in the FIA ​​WEC and the 24 2013 Hours of Le Mans was obtained using different sources of information. It will of course be evaluated on each test, and adjusted if necessary. »

We can indeed expect a reassessment of this adjustment before Le Mans if a competitor were to crush the competition. The starting point for adjustments to the balance of performance are the technical data provided by the manufacturers themselves. Changes can be made to one or more of the following five points: weight, diameter of the air intake flanges, height of the Gurney on the rear wing, fuel tank capacity and height to the top of the rear wing. rear spoiler and the roof of the car.

In LMGTE Pro, the Porsche GT3 RSR type 977 and the Porsche GT3 RSR type 911 saw their weight increase from 1245 kg to 1210, losing a whopping 35 kg. Their two original flanges have had their diameter increased by 0,7 mm to 29,3 mm. The same modifications must be applied to the Porsche 997 entered in LMGTE Am. The difference in height between the roof and the rear wing of the 911 GT3 RSR type 991 will be reduced by 100 mm. Roof and rear wing will therefore be aligned.

The Ferrari 458, whether aligned in Pro or Am, lose 10 kg, and 5 liters on their original 90 liter tank. A measure that already came into force last year in Pro. Just like the Porsche 991, the height difference between the roof and the rear wing will be reduced by 100 mm.

The Aston Martin Vantage V8 will benefit from a weight reduction of -40 kg, and a flange opening of +1.4 mm (28.3 mm). The Gurney of the rear wing will have to be reduced by 10 mm and the tank capacity increased by +5 liters. These adjustments are applicable in both LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am.

Finally, the Corvette C6.R ZR1 entered by Larbre Compétition in LMGTE Am will undergo a 5 kg increase in its weight, and an enlargement of 1,3 mm in the diameter of its flanges. The height difference between the roof and the rear wing will be reduced by 25 mm.