At the long-delayed (June to September) 24 Hours of Le Mans, we received the similarly long-delayed, semi-final plans for the new prototype car that will replace the top class, DPi, in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, and will also be legal to run in the World Endurance Champions…
Read the rest of the story
Is having no factory teams a good thing?
Bosch-Williams components add nothing but expense, since they are spec items. Engine configuration should be free since there is a horsepower cap. Entries in this class should be limited to manufacturers only.
Privateers (pro-am), on the other hand should use the same chassis brands, but with four cylinder two litre turbo motors capped at around 600 hp. Since virtually every manufacturer/parent produces an engine of this type, it would provide an alternate way for multiple manufactures to cost effectively participate. Production blocks and heads of which 3,000 have been retailed; other aftermarket components and machine work permitted. No hybrid. No direct manufacturer teams. No DRS. Three-pedal, H-pattern manual transmissions only; no electrical, hydraulic, computer, or other shifting assists; mechanical synchromesh okay. Unassisted hydraulic clutch actuation. No electro/computer controlled suspensions. This is sport/entertainment; not technology development. Same rule book for everybody; no Balance of Performance. Pro drivers (i.e., competitive driving-related is primary income source) limited to one per car per event.
A universal safety cell should be an integral component common to all chassis brands.
Bodywork above the tub optionally configured by the entrants in both classes to represent/reinforce styling elements consistent with a respective engine manufacturer's brand.