Le Mans 24 Hours reserves 15 slots for LMP2 cars in 2024

The FIA ​​World Motor Sport Council in Bologna on Wednesday approved a draft plan to transform the WEC into a hypercar two-class championship and a new LMGT3 division.

Interest in the hypercar and LMGT3 classes will “make reasonable adjustments to the grid”, according to a statement from WEC promoter and Le Mans organizer Automobile Club de l’Ouest.

“In order to comfortably accommodate these two classes, the ACO and FIA may restrict WEC entry to hypercars and LMGT3 challengers from 2024.”

“Regardless of this decision, the LMP2 will continue to be important for durability and form the top class in the European and Asian Le Mans series.

“Therefore, from 2024, the ACO will open at least 15 slots for LMP2 cars on the Le Mans grid.”

LMDh prototypes from Porsche and Cadillac in 2023 and BMW, Lamborghini and Alpine in 2024 expand the hypercar grid over the next two seasons. leave a little room for LMP2.

Increased car numbers could push the hypercar field to over 20 cars in 2024, but the switch to GT3-based rules in the pro-am GT class will allow more manufacturers to participate in the WEC. increase.

It was also announced that the LMP2 cars will be slowed down for the third consecutive season in the WEC.

The one-make Gibson V8 power is reduced by 10kW or 13bhp and the rev limit is reduced by 500rpm.

The ELMS raises the power output by 15kW or 20bhp at the 2022 level, but reduces the power figures if European Series cars participate in the WEC at Le Mans.

The FIA ​​has also confirmed that the introduction of the next-generation LMP2 car will be delayed further.

This represents the fourth delay in the category with a four-year lifecycle introduced in 2017.

Automakers participating in the Hypercar class can enter up to two cars in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

Additional cars must participate in the new hypercar team’s World Cup classification, which includes privateer entries.

The GTE Am class will be replaced by the LMGT3 category.

Photo credit: Marc Fleury

The ACO and FIA have finalized plans for a new GT category to take over from GTE Am in 2024.

The name was announced as LMGT3, a change to the ‘premium’ bodykit idea unveiled at Le Mans in June. Such kits are now permitted rather than required.

This follows opposition from GT3 manufacturers who questioned the need to change the rules of the successful global category.

The WEC qualifying format will be revised for next year with the retirement of GTE Pro.

While the regular 6 and 8 hour races feature two 10-minute sessions for prototypes and GT cars, the remaining three classes will have 15-minute qualifying sessions each.

According to a WMSC bulletin, this will allow “qualifiers to be tracked more easily, ensuring competitors have plenty of running time and widening the window of optimal conditions for setting times.”

Tire warmers will be banned in the WEC and ELMS from next year, and the Asian LMS from 2024.

The move is designed to reduce the environmental impact of teams participating in these championships, in line with the FIA ​​and ACO’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

From 2024, the number of dry-weather tire specifications allowed on hypercars will be reduced to one for the 6- and 8-hour WEC races and two at Le Mans.

This is a reduction from the three specs allowed at Le Mans and the two specs currently allowed at other races.