2017 General WEC/ELMS/AsLMS Discussion ThreadSports Cars 

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So weird to hear Oliver Gavin of all people talking about team orders as a driver in sports car racing as a driver on the radio stream.
 
Downhill Dino
Any explanation of what happened? About the team orders thing.
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2 Porsche is leading the championship and was in second place to the 1 Porsche until the team told the 1 to slow down and let the 2 by. 2 won the race because of the 1 giving up the position. It was obvious because the 1 was leading the race by about 10 seconds or so until it suddenly slowed to allow the 2 to make time and pass the 1. SC365 is saying this is the third race now that team orders have been implemented by the Porsche team.
 
The only goals Porsche has this year are going out on top with at least one championship and would prefer to have the drivers and manufacturers if they can. The team orders at least protect the driver's championship, and since they still had a 1-2, it further pads the lead in the manufacturers championship.
 
2018 ELMS schedule

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Also 3 P2 chassis will be allowed to have a do-over. http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/09/23/aco-decides-on-joker-lmp2-updates.html
 
My thoughts on the future of top prototype racing (roughly sketched out in the IMSA thread). There will be a tl;dr at the bottom.

Consider a re-brand, just as LMP900 gave way to LMP1, maybe LMP1 gives way to LMPH or LMPE as an example.

Don't try to go for a one-size-fits-all type of regulation. Let things be a little more flexible as this could help solve potential future issues with LMP2 as well.

First, I think there should be a standard battery and motor supplier (or maybe two of each to give options). These will be available for Manufacturers and Independents alike, to help bring down costs should they desire not to spend money to develop their own. That being said, the batteries and engines should have a fixed-but-short homologation, so the cars still use the latest technology but teams are also able to accurately plan budgets.

On that note, mainline manufacturers wishing to develop batteries or electric motors may do so, but cannot develop both in the same season. Ex: They spend one season developing their own battery while using one of the spec electric motors. They then use the following season developing their own motor, using the now-frozen developed battery from the previous year.

ICE engines should be open, but possibly based around the LMP2 Gibson engine. Racing engine manufacturers and mainstream manufacturers should still be able to provide their wares, but independent teams can move up from LMP2 or go with a proven element in the Gibson should they want to. Alternatively, GT3 engines could also form a basis and be open to homologation instead of pure racing engines.

Manufacturers must follow the DPi route of taking an existing P2 chassis and applying their own bodywork to the car.

Allow a limited number of chassis manufacturers may develop cars for the class. These chassis must be built to LMP2 specifications and should take into consideration possibly being able to be cost-capped for LMP2 competition and sales should one of the LMP2 manufacturers drop out of customer sales. Given some of the issues that are beginning to arise with Dallara and Riley's designs (not to mention Ligier's Le Mans speed woes), companies could have pre-developed cars in the wings to take over should someone drop out. However these top-LMP-specific chassis are not permitted for Manufacturer use or sale until customer sales are available in LMP2 (i.e. Porsche can't come in and develop a car from the ground up, they'd have to go to Dallara or Ligier and purchase a chassis).
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tl;dr Here is my slighty summarized suggestion for options available to those who want to race top LMP cars:

  • "The DPi-Hybrid" - Mainstream Manufacturer picks from LMP2-homologated chassis and adds their own bodywork, engine and a hybrid powertrain. Can spend the season developing the battery or their e-motor but not both. First season must use spec part for whatever they are not developing. Could also be limited in ICE development.
  • "The Poseur" - Mainstream manufacturer opts for off-the-shelf Gibson engine and chooses to forego any E-drive development to keep budgets down, but they have to still develop bodywork. Might be time-restricted and forced to introduce their own engine or hybrid components after a year or two but would allow manufacturers an easier road into competition. (Could be useful for attracting a Chinese manufacturer or Peugeot for example).
  • "The LMP1-L Successor" - A handful of chassis makers not involved in LMP2 may construct cars with a tub built to LMP2 specifications. Cars are not permitted to be re-bodied by a mainline manufacturer and must use either the Gibson engine or a racing ICE (Mecachrome/Cosworth/AER/etc). Might be permitted to develop e-motor/battery for the Spec suppliers but cannot have exclusive rights to updates for more than a season. Chassis must be able to be sold to LMP2 cost-caps should another LMP2 constructor drop out like Ginetta in LMP3.
  • "The LMP2-H" - LMP2 Chassis manufacturers can offer aerodynamic and interior upgrade kits to their cost-cap'd cars and teams can fit spec hybrid components to compete in the all-pro class. Could potentially switch the Gibson out for Racing ICE from Meca/Cosworth/AER/etc.
The new class could/should welcome all four and use equivalence of performance to keep them competitive.
 
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It looks like Ford is choking in this championship fight. Ferrari was not expected to win this race considering pace in practice and qualifying, but they have consistency in spades this season. Good job on getting the win in torrential weather.
 

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