2014 LM P1 prototype regulations

Transcription

1 Le Mans 14th June LM P1 prototype regulations The Le Mans prototype 1 category regulations (LM P1) were announced today during the Automobile Club de l Ouest s annual press conference in the 24-Hours museum. Pierre Fillon, the Automobile Club de l Ouest President: The overall philosophy behind these particularly innovative regulations was elaborated by the Automobile Club de l Ouest in It was then discussed with the manufacturers who all agreed with the concept. This text has been drawn up in close collaboration between the ACO and the FIA in the context of an on-going dialogue with the manufacturers. I would like to underline the very fruitful collaboration between our two organisations whether in the technical and sporting work groups or the endurance commission. I would also like to highlight the excellent spirit that reigned between our ACO and FIA teams. And finally, I would like to thank Lindsay Owen-Jones, the president of the endurance commission, who guaranteed this spirit. Lindsay Owen-Jones, the FIA Endurance Commission President: Thanks to in-depth work and excellent collaboration, today the ACO and the FIA have announced a unique set of extremely innovative technical regulations for 2014 that are in phase with the times we live in. It should encourage the development of powerful and spectacular car,s and also the development of technologies that have real meaning for the everyday motorist. Private teams haven t been forgotten either with simple but competitive alternatives. I hope that the 2014 LM P1 technical regulations will rouse your enthusiasm in the same way they have for all those who were involved in drawing them up. The technical regulations governing the Le Mans 24 Hours will also govern the Le Mans Series in LM P1 starting on 1 st January 2014 in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the American Le Mans Series. Starting on Friday 15 th February in the late afternoon (French time) the technical regulations governing the 2014 Le Mans 24-Hours LM P1 category can be consulted on Internet once they have been approved by the FIA World Council.

2 The thinking behind them Since 1959 the thermal efficiency of cars taking part in the Le Mans 24 Hours has been highlighted in the various race classifications. To put it simply, it is a question of covering the greatest distance in 24 hours using as little fuel as possible (energy expended/number of kilometers covered). This classification still exists and is called the Michelin Green X Challenge, the winner of which in the 24 Hours receives an invitation to take part in the following year s race. This preoccupation is becoming more and more relevant with the ineluctable decrease in fossil fuels, and the major problem that mobility represents in the context of sustainable development. The motor car industry is in the very heart of this debate so it is something that motor sport cannot ignore. The Automobile Club de l Ouest, a responsible club and motor racing organiser, has probably made the biggest contribution to the development of the motor car. Starting with the problem of safety it has decided to speed up the evolution of its technical regulations taking into account these basic social factors. In 2008, it announced a large reduction in the power of the engines in the LM P1 category of around 150 bhp. In December 2010 it was also announced that the technical regulations coming into force in 2014 would allocate a quantity of energy to each car. This fundamental notion is the cornerstone of this new text. Thus to win the race the entrant has to make the best possible use of this quantity of energy. Efficiency becomes just as important as outright performance and reliability. The introduction of new regulations based on the allocation of a quantity of energy was adopted almost unanimously in June 2010 by the ensemble of manufacturers and teams (works and private) entered in the various Le Mans Series. In June 2011, in parallel with the announcement of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2012, the first hybrid car started the Le Mans 24 Hours. It was entered by Swiss team, Hope Polevision but retired. In September 2011 the consultations and studies undertaken by the ACO and the FIA began. On 14 th June 2012, the 2014 regulations were announced. Whether not a transition period of one year for cars complying with the 2013 regulations will be allowed, will be studied during the 2012 summer.

3 Six basic principles guided the definition of the 2014 regulations In keeping with the undertaking given before drawing up the 2014 regulations, they have been designed to answer six fundamental facts taking into account the major preoccupations of modern society. 1. Efficiency and sustainable development Thanks to the concept of allocating a quantity of energy the performance of the cars is conditioned by thermal efficiency. The reduction in fuel consumption can reach 30% compared to the current crop of cars. Energy recovery system will be four times more powerful than at present. 2. Sport and spectacle do not suffer The level of performance of the cars will be equivalent to that of the 2012 season. The cars acceleration will be improved. These regulations have been designed to ensure that the drivers have to go flat out without having to adapt their driving and without having to manage a fuel consumption strategy. To ensure that competition remain the key word and that the spectators can understand what s going on out on the track, making it simple and comprehensible was at the heart of our preoccupations. No complicated index calculations will be needed to follow the events. The car that finishes in front of the others is the winner! 3. Technological opportunities These regulations allow the manufacturers to showcase the soundness of their work and the quality of the technology used. 4. Cost reductions Cost capping for the major manufacturers (control and limitation of certain technologies, sporting rules) as well as enabling private teams stay competitive on limited budgets were at the centre of our preoccupations. 5. Safety As in the case of every evolution of the regulations it remains a priority for the Automobile Club de l Ouest and the Fédération Internationale de l Automobile (FIA). 6. The technologies eligible are, or soon will be, used in road-going cars.

4 Drawing up the regulations The drawing up of the 2014 regulations is the fruit of studies, discussions and working groups spread over six months from September 2011 to May 2012 carried out by the engineers of the Automobile Club de l Ouest and the Fédération Internationale de l Automobile (FIA). The working group was made up of twelve manufacturers and constructors (chassis, engines, tyres, fuels). Ten general meetings took place as well as numerous individual consultations. The contribution of the participants concerned six precise points in particular: o o o o o o Definition of the technological factor (energy equivalence between diesel and petrol engines), Definition of the engines allowed (thermal engines and energy recovery systems) Aerodynamic evolutions, Improvement of the driver s visibility, Evolution of the chassis and the dimensions of the cars, Safety After that simulations and calculations were carried out by both in-house and external engineering teams with the help of specialised technical consultancies before the data were pooled, and the coherence of the results was checked with the manufacturers and private teams. Here are the main guidelines of the different sections in the 2014 regulations: the thermal engines, the energy recuperation systems, the chassis/bodywork ensemble.

5 Thermal engines 4-stroke piston engines (cost reduction adaption to road-going use) Free cubic capacity for manufacturers, high turbo pressure (4 bars) (efficiency, adaption to roadgoing use) Cubic capacity limited to 5.5 litres for private teams (cost reduction) Power of the cars controlled by a homologated fuel flow metre (efficiency) Free air inlets: air restrictors cancelled, variable admission systems allowed (technological opportunities, efficiency, adaption to road-going use) Fuel injection pressure free (technological opportunities, efficiency, adaption to road-going use) Fuel: evolution to 2 nd generation E20 bio fuels (currently E10) (sustainable development) Fuel: diesel or petrol (cost saving adaption to road-going use) Possibility of an opening in the medium or long term to other sources of energy that have reached maturity (hydrogen, 100% electric) (technological opportunity) Very costly exotic materials and systems banned (electromagnetic valves) (cost reduction). Energy recovery systems Five categories of energy defined from 0 to 8MJ per lap of the Le Mans circuit (technological opportunity) Systems are free provided they can be measured (technological opportunity) Number of systems limited to two per car (cost savings) Systems homologated on a seasonal basis. No evolution or category change will be accepted during the season (cost savings)

6 2014 LM P1 synthesis table This table enables each manufacturer to choose the option that best suits his project and his budget. For the public the distinction is simple: all the cars are prototypes in the LM P1 category whether petrol or diesel. Private teams only All teams 2011 cars 2014 cars 2014 cars 2011 non hybrids hybrids Energy ERS Hybrid (size of hybrid system) 0 MJ 0 MJ 2 MJ 4 MJ 6 MJ 8 MJ Car s weight 900 kg 830 kg 850 kg Fuel allocation per lap Not limited / Estimation 6,13 4,95 4,8 4,65 4,50 4,42 Fuel consumption reduction 19% 22% 24% 27% 28% Fuel tank 75 L 64,4 L 64,4 L Diesel allocation Not limited / Estimation 5,26 3,99 3,93 3,81 3,68 3,56 Fuel consumption reduction 24% 25% 28% 30% 32% Diesel fuel tank 60L 53,3 L 53,3 L All the figures are defined on the basis of one lap of the Le Mans circuit. Autonomy: Difference up to 2 laps between 0 and 8 MJ, thus between a car with no hybrid system and another fitted with the most powerful hybrid system. These figures are given as an indication and are based on simulations. The final figures will be confirmed after tests on test beds in September Note that the manufacturers officially entered cannot enter with cars with no hybrid systems.

7 Bodywork Two-seater closed cars only (tradition, efficiency and safety) Weight: 850 kg hybrids 830 kg non-hybrids (efficiency and cost saving) Total width mm compared to m currently (efficiency) Improvement of visibility. The driver will now sit higher in the car and further forward and the height of the front wings will be decreased (safety). Front aerodynamic device adjustable for simplified aero balance (cost saving). Evolution of the lower front end of the car to improve efficiency without compromising stability in case of loss of control (efficiency and safety) New positions of the holes in the wings. This is aimed at making the cars more efficient and less unstable laterally while reducing drag (efficiency). Specific safety points Wheel tethers in case of impact (safety) Lateral protection panels in Zylon, a highly-resistant polymer also called PBO (safety) Rear crash box (safety) Improved regulations on the power of the lights (safety) Consequences on the sporting regulations Adjustment of the performance of the cars in the column without KERS if necessary to protect private teams which use them (sport and spectacle) The overall level of the energy allocation could be modified if the performance objectives do not conform to simulations (sport and spectacle) Testing limitations (cost saving) Limitation on the number of engines (cost saving) Limitation of hybrid systems (cost saving)

8 6 points to remember Great technological freedom will be granted to the engine (the ensemble consisting of the engine and the hybrid system) in line with the development of road-going cars. Engines are free. Cubic capacity, air restrictors and turbo pressures have been eliminated. Large reduction up to 30%! in the use of fossil fuels. The hybrid systems are free but limited in the quantity of energy and in number. Private teams are protected. The cars will have closed bodywork to improve safety. Weight and width are reduced. Consultation Regulation Starting on Friday 15 th February in the late afternoon (French time) once they have been approved by the FIA World Council, the 2014 Le Mans 24-Hours technical regulations for the LM P1 category applicable on 1 st January 2014 to the FIA World Endurance Championship and the American Le Mans Series can be consulted on Internet.

9 Total width mm compared to mm at present, to reduce drag.

10 Overall 1900 mm against 2000 mm now for drag reduction

11 Improved visibility.

14 Adjustable front element to simplify the aerodynamic balance.

15 New position of the holes on the wings