As the LMP1 class at Le Mans and within the FIA World Endurance Championship heads into a new phase - a fuller range of privateers are ramping up expected programs for 2018 - the new 2020 class regulations bring hybrid plug-in technology into the wording.
The development of hybrid plug-in technology will allow manufacturers to run short distances on battery power and then switch back to combustion engines. The regulations will also allow cars to finish the race on electric autonomy, although those details are still being determined.
Anyway, per the ACO, these regulations produced five major objectives from discussions between the ACO, FIA and manufacturers:
- Adapting the technologies to road-going vehicles
- Cost capping
- Technological diversity
- Level playing field in terms of performance
- Retain the appeal for spectators, sponsors and media thanks to top-level performances undergoing constant improvement
The six main principles outlined to govern these regulations include:
- Zero emissions and rapid recharging
- Safety
- Two energy recovery systems retained still limited to 8MJ
- Introduction of active aerodynamics
- Integration of biofuels
- Introduction of new energies
The full ACO release is linked here, and the full regulations for LMP1 in 2020 are linked here.