LMP2 and GT Category Futures Outlined

At the annual ACO press conference held in Le Mans on Friday morning, ACO President Pierre Fillon and FIA Endurance Commission President Richard Mille gave detail regarding the forthcoming evolution of technical regulations of both the LMP2 and the future of GT competition.

LMP2 has played a pivotal role on the endurance racing scenes and has proven to be hugely successful since its last overhaul in 2017. However, the rulebook is set to be updated in 2025 with the LMP2 chassis being supplied by the current four constructors that are currently involved in the LMDh class: Dallara, Ligier, Multimatic and Oreca.

The new GT category will race in 2024 and be based on the existing FIA GT3 technical platform.

Given the number of homologated cars and the variety of brands involved, GT3 currently is the most successful FIA customer racing category worldwide and is well suited to the requirements of gentlemen drivers.

The technical regulations were defined in consultation with the teams with an emphasis on cost control. There will be no changes to GT3 homologation but there will be several mandatory adaptations such as luminescent number panels and leader lights.

Bodywork conversion kit for the GT3 cars will also be allowed. The kit will include a limited number of elements and also be reversable, so that teams will be able to return to full GT3 specification. The class will also run on commercially-available tyres.

Quotes from the Press Conference:

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, said: “We covered a lot of ground today. The future of our discipline is taking shape with major constructors joining the Hypercar class, and the modernisation of LMP2 and Le Mans GT. Competitors always play a part in the discussion around updates and these new rulebooks form the foundation of endurance racing, with hydrogen playing a major role in our strategy. The future looks bright, with the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans just around the corner. I am honoured that Tom Kristensen has accepted to be an ambassador for the celebrations that we began preparing two years ago.”

Richard Mille, FIA Endurance Commission President, said: “The introduction of the Hypercar category turned out to be a great success, but in order to ensure the FIA World Endurance Championship keeps developing, we need to look at the bigger picture and the goal is to have strength and quality in all classes. Therefore, I’m pleased that from 2024 we will continue the process of phasing in new technical regulations. Beginning with GT cars and later, incoming the following year, with the hugely successful and competitive LMP2 class. Utilising the existing FIA GT3 platform is a base for a cost-effective solution, tailor-made for Pro-Am line-ups and gentleman drivers, that will also bring even greater variety to the field of GT cars.”