Teams in the FIA World Endurance Championship are set to be able to continue use grandfathered non-hybrid LMP1 cars for an additional year.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council gave approval to an extension of the usage of the previous-gen LMP1 machinery during their latest meeting on Friday.
As a result, the WEC Selection Committee will have the option to allow the cars into the championship for a ‘further year’.
The decision is particularly good news for the Alpine Endurance Team, which is the only team that currently utilizes LMP1 machinery in the series.
The French outfit races the ORECA-built LMP1 formerly used by Rebellion Racing under the Alpine A480-Gibson name.
Alpine had been hopeful towards an extension of the car’s lifespan until at least 2022 as it gears up for a fully flegded LMDh operation in 2024.
In addition to the decision to allow grandfathered cars into the series for another year, the Council has confirmed that new testing limitations will apply for Hypercars homologated aheafd of the 2021 and entering the second year of their homologation cycle.
This decision was made in order to prevent cost escalation, although further details are yet to be released.