The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has introduced a series of performance tweaks just weeks prior to the race held mid-June.
After an analysis of the performance of the cars during the 1000km of Spa held a few weeks ago, the ACO has decided to implement a series of rule changes in a bid to equalise performance between the turbo diesel and petrol engine LMP1 Prototypes.
The new rules are the followings:
Petrol LMP1s will now have their air restrictors increased in size by 0.3mm and be allowed to reduce their weight by 10kg in a bid to ensure that their performances fall within two per cent of the quickest diesel-powered car at Le Mans.
If the weight cannot be reduced, a 0.5mm increase in air restrictor size will be permitted.
Petrol-powered LMP1s will also benefit from a faster rate of refuelling, their hoses being increased by 10mm diameter, while diesel machines, such as the works Audi R18s and Peugeot 908s, have had their fuel hoses reduced by 0.3mm diameter.
The older-spec, ORECA-run Peugeot 908 has had 15kg removed off its base weight.
The Lotus Evora that runs in the GTE category has had its performance tweaked.
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| Pescarolo petrol-powered (photo: WRI2) |
After an analysis of the performance of the cars during the 1000km of Spa held a few weeks ago, the ACO has decided to implement a series of rule changes in a bid to equalise performance between the turbo diesel and petrol engine LMP1 Prototypes.
The new rules are the followings:
Petrol LMP1s will now have their air restrictors increased in size by 0.3mm and be allowed to reduce their weight by 10kg in a bid to ensure that their performances fall within two per cent of the quickest diesel-powered car at Le Mans.
If the weight cannot be reduced, a 0.5mm increase in air restrictor size will be permitted.
Petrol-powered LMP1s will also benefit from a faster rate of refuelling, their hoses being increased by 10mm diameter, while diesel machines, such as the works Audi R18s and Peugeot 908s, have had their fuel hoses reduced by 0.3mm diameter.
The older-spec, ORECA-run Peugeot 908 has had 15kg removed off its base weight.
The Lotus Evora that runs in the GTE category has had its performance tweaked.
 |
| Peugeot 908 diesel-powered (Photo: WRI2) |