RML
Industry News 2009
Details announced for 2009 Regulations.
Issued November 19th 2008
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.