ACO
Sporting Regulations for 2009 and Beyond
The 2009 sporting regulations as defined by
the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) have
now been published, and make interesting reading
for anyone deeply engrossed and involved in
the sport. The publications contain all the
technical regulations for entrants in all categories,
with separate documents applicable to prototypes
(LMP1 and LM P2) and GT categories (LMGT1 and
LMGT2). Those relevant to RML can be downloaded
direct from this site using the links below.
This year's regulations are accompanied by some
outline indications of the proposals scheduled
for introduction in 2011, when the next really
major raft of changes is expected to be introduced.
All races run under the Le Mans brand in 2009,
including the Le Mans 24 Hours itself, plus
the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in the States
and the Le Mans Series in Europe, will be governed
by a single set of ACO regulations. This is
something of a "first", since there
has always been a tendency in the past for detail
variations to creep in, especially between the
ALMS and other race series, but the ACO has
finally managed to draw everyone together into
an agreement which will unify the regulations.
With that in mind, the 2009 documentation has
been released a little earlier than previous
years, hopefully allowing everyone plenty of
time to meet the new rules and ensure their
cars comply.
These regulations address the guidelines announced
by the ACO at the Silverstone press conference
on 13th September. These include: the wish to
create a "level playing field" both
within and across categories, so that all cars
within one category have a fair chance of winning
on merit, and entries from one category don't
impinge upon the performance potential of those
in other classes (such as GT1 being as quick
as LMP2 down the straights, as was the case
in 2007/8, for example); the question of safety,
and in particular the alarming tendency of prototypes
to become airborne when caught side-on to the
direction of travel; the wish to control and,
where possible, reduce the costs associated
with participation, and finally; the aspiration
to introduce sustainable development to the
future of Le Mans-style motorsport.
A
total of five documents have been released:
Looking
Ahead to 2011
It
may be some while before the full detail and
likely impact of the 2011 proposals are realised,
but in essence, the plans for 2011 include the
following key points:
LMP1
engines
Reduction in power and cubic capacity, with
LM P1 diesel engines being limited to 3.7-litre
twin turbo 8 cylinders maximum instead of
5.5 litres. Normally aspirated petrol engines
will be limited to 3.4-litre 8 cylinders maximum
instead of 6 litres, and turbocharged petrol
engines will be limited to 2.0-litre 6 cylinders
instead of 4.0 litres.
LMP2
engines
Similar reduction in power and capacity within
LMP2, but diesel engines will be encouraged,
with a maximum size of 4.0-litres turbocharged
8 cylinders. Petrol-powered units must be
maximum 4.0 litres developed from a 2010-specification
GT2 series production unit.
Prototype
Weight Limits
The minimum weight in LMP1 remains at 900
kgs, whereas the limit in LMP2 is to be increased
from 825 to 900 kgs.
Hybrid
Cars running hybrid engine systems aimed at
reducing fuel consumption will be encouraged
by having additional development potential
within precise rules and guidelines as yet
unspecified.
Fuel
Fuel tank capacities will be further reduced
to 75 litres (from 90 litres) in the case
of petrol-engined cars, and 68 litres (from
81 litres) in the case of diesel-powered cars.
Wheels
& Tyres
There are currently no plans to change the regulations
with regard to wheels and tyres beyond those
already scheduled for 2009.
