The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and IMSA have released the first draft of the technical regulations for the joint Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) category.
The regulations are the result of intensive collaboration by ACO and IMSA alongside more than a dozen automotive manufacturers and the four nominated chassis constructors: Ligier, Dallara, ORECA and Multimatic. The regulations were originally supposed to be presented during the joint Super Sebring event, but plans had to be change when the event was unable to take place in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the regulations, the LMDH machinery will be cost-capped and be based on the next generation of LMP2 machinery as the two will share the spine (complete car without bodywork, engine and hybrid system). LMDh cars will be able to compete in both WEC and IMSA competition.
According to the ACO and IMSA, under current regulations only mainstream automotive manufacturers associated with one of the four chassis constructions will be able to homologate an LMDh car.
The cars will follow much of DPi’s example when it comes to the styling of the bodywork, as the regulations specify that the cars will feature manufacturer branded and stylized bodywork, much like the current generation of DPi machinery. The cars will also feature a manufacturer branded engine like in DPi. A common, single source rear wheel drive hybrid system will be mandatory and there is a minimum homologation period of five years.
As part of the joint regulations to govern the new category, LMDh cars will have a minimum weight of 1030 kilograms and a maximum combined power output of 500 kW (670 hp). This is the combined sum from both the internal combustion engine and the hybrid system. There will also be a single bodywork package with identical aerodynamic performance, as well as single tyre supplier in Michelin.
Furthermore, the two organisations will also implement a global Balance of Performance (BOP) system to match the overall performance of LMDh and the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Le Mans Hypercar (LMH class).
The two organisations intend to integrate LMDh into the FIA WEC alongside LMH to ensure that the convergence leads to similar car performance parameters for both technical rule sets. Importantly, IMSA welcomes LMDh cars but is also open to LMH participation once performance at IMSA circuits can be further validated.
This means that the two classes will be able to compete alongside each other on in both championships, creating the potential for crossover competition at events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The target for LMDh introduction is still set on 2022, although the timeline could potentially see further changes as a result of the global pandemic.
Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO: “Officially launched in Daytona in January, the ACO-IMSA convergence is now entering an important phase in its implementation. We are unveiling the basic technical details of this new LMDh category which will see the same car being allowed to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, without any modification necessary to the car. The dream of many manufacturers is finally coming true. Le Mans Daytona h and Le Mans Hypercar will embody the top category of endurance racing. This is a historic and decisive moment for the future of our discipline.”
Ed Bennett, IMSA CEO: “We have reached another key milestone with the release of our draft technical regulations for LMDh. There is still more work to be done, but the positive spirit of collaboration between the ACO and IMSA, as well as our four constructors and many interested manufacturers has been fantastic and truly unprecedented. These regulations provide a roadmap for manufacturers and constructors to embark on the design process for new LMDh race cars that will revolutionize the top category of premier sports car racing around the globe.”
Gérard Neveu, FIA WEC CEO: “Since the coronavirus pandemic, the way in which motorsport will be thought about in the future has undoubtedly been affected. Our strategy for LMDh is to try to find the best answer to manufacturers’ technical and competitive wishes, as well as offering them the greatest global visibility for their brands. The top category of competition will now include low cost, high performing cars which respond to the needs of both our respective championships.”
John Doonan, IMSA President: “As these technical regulations will attest, LMDh is a logical and appropriate next step to follow the successful Daytona Prototype international (DPi) in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The LMDh will retain many attributes that led to the success of DPi, but the addition of relevant technologies and the convergence of regulations with the ACO opens the door for more manufacturers to participate in the future. We could not be more proud of the instrumental role our IMSA technical team played alongside their counterparts at the ACO to deliver these regulations.”
