The penultimate part of this series covers the rule changes, calendar shuffles etc that will colour the racing in the major Championships we’ll be covering this year.
There are plenty more detailed nips and tucks to weed out of the new regulations, for now though here are some of the highlights!
FIA WEC
The major change to the calendar for 2015 comes with the replacement of the Interlagos round with a race at the Nurburgring. Bahrain will be the closing race of the season once again after the Interlagos date moved last year due to the Football World Cup.
The only change to the class structure comes with the well trailed move to a single LMP1 classification, the LMP1H and LMP1L subclasses then die after a single year.
The move comes at the request of the current and (at least one potential future) privateer LMP1 contenders. A Privateer competition for LMP1 cars will still be held with podium and press conference representation of the highest finishing non-hybrid squad.
The much debated qualifying format will see a major change for 2015 with the qualifying times now aggregated across only the best (rather than the best two) time per drivers, it will still though require two drivers to complete a lap apiece and, in addition, there will be conditions applied to the Pro/Am classes, LMP2 will require one qualifying driver to be either a Silver or Bronze. GTE Am requires at least one Bronze.
There has been a tweak to the tyre supply regulations too.
The LMP1 cars are now restricted to a maximum of six sets per six-hour race (increased to eight for Bahrain and Shanghai).
Four further sets are allowed during Free Practice.
The GTE-Pro and GTE Am teams are permitted six sets per six hour race and four sets during Free Practice.
There is no change to the 2014 LMP2 allowances of four sets per six hour race and three in Free Practice.
A series of proposed cost cutting measures surrounding restrictions on the numbers of engines permitted to be used by the LMP1 teams, the number of pit personnel and testing restrictions, plus potential changes on both maximum and minimum stint (and overall) driving times plus combined driver weight (and possible ballasting) are set to decided upon at the next World Motorsport Council meeting in mid-March
Le Mans specific changes
There have been a number of close season changes to the track including barrier and gravel trap changes to part of the Porsche Curves and the addition of tarmac ‘shoulders’ between Mulsanne and Indianapolis corners.
The ‘control’ speed for the ‘Slow Zones’ introduced last year is increased for 2015 to 80km/h from 60km/h – Stop and hold penalties will be imposed for cars exceeding that mark with the penalty graduated at 5 secs hold per km/h exceeded.
The one day safety and race procedures training day continues as a mandatory measure for any Bronze rated driver who did not compete at Le Mans last year and for ANY driver who has not contested the 24 Hours since 2010.
There is to be no expansion of the grid from 56 cars in 2015 after the ACO postponed planned works to allow a larger grid in the wake of entry list. 70 cars (including LMP3s) will be allowed to take part in the Test Day.
The continuing issues caused by a crowded racing calendar have led to a change whereby Platinum-rated drivers who have not competed at Le Mans since 2010 could miss the Test Day if they have other racing commitments but would be required to complete a minimum of 5 laps in Wednesday’s Free Practice session. That might yet be particularly helpful for at least one LMP1 team!
Restrictions on tyre numbers arrive at Le Mans for the first time.
LMP1 teams will be allowed seven sets for all running until the race start. 12 sets will be allowed for the race proper with 14 sets allowed for “new manufacturers”
LMP2 teams will have a seven set allowance pre-race, GTE teams eight sets. LMP2 and GTE teams will be permitted 16 sets for the race.
ELMS
The major change here concerns the new for 2015 Nissan powered LMP3 class, set, it seems, to be absolutely dominated in numerical terms at the very least by the new Ginetta Juno Coupe.
Auto Entries for the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours will be granted to the following ELMS entrants:
LMP2 Champions (entry in LMP2)
First and second places in LM GTE (1 place each in either LM GTE Pro or Am)
GTC Champions (entry in LM GTE Am)
LMP3 Champions (entry in LMP2)
Blancpain GT Series
SRO and the Sean Edwards Foundation are co-operating on a number of safety initiatives designed to improve safety standards for gentleman drivers.
This will involve a safety awareness course, likely limited to bronze-rated and rookie GT drivers, which is set to take place both before the Blancpain GT season start, and again before the Spa 24 Hours in July, led by expert coaches and instructors, which includes real case histories, track time and genuine onboard video situations.
The new for 2015 Sean Edwards Trophy will be organised within the Pro-Am category of the Blancpain Sprint Series and is reserved for drivers under 25, categorised Bronze or Bronze*. These drivers will race together with a professional (i.e. Gold or Platinum) driver, to help them to get to grips with the skills needed in high-level GT racing. There will be a separate classification for the drivers who qualify for the Sean Edwards Trophy.
SRO are tempting teams to enter both the Sprint and Endurance elements for the GT Series with a significant prize money boost for 2015, up to €100k per round for teams entering both, 50% of that potential total for teams entering one or the other.
The Sprint calendar sees a Moscow street race added, together with a round at Misano.
Tudor United Sportscar Championship
The IMSA technical bods have been busy looking once again at the Balance of Performance enigma in the DP/ P2 combined Prototype class and in the GT classes too with the GTD class receiving particular attention.
The PC Orecas get more power and, by Sebring, a new side intrusion protection system too.
The calendar has had a revamp with Kansas City and Indianapolis out, Lime Rock in, a reshuffling of the race weekends elsewhere which sees each of the four TUSCC classes get 10 rounds apiece.
IMSA will receive two automatic 2016 Le Mans entries for the Pro Am winners of the the Truman Cup in Prototype and Akin Cup GT LM (GTE) in 2015.
Pirelli World Challenge
The big boost to the overall grids, in particular in the lead GT class, has captured the headlines in the close season with more manufacturers, more cars, new cars and more big name teams joining the grids.
The addition of the MOMO sponsored GT Cup class for Porsche 991 GT3 Cup machinery adds to the numbers and the punch even further.
There’s more than a hint of expansionist ambition too with a deal having been done to potentially take the top three teams in the overall GT points standings to join the Blancpain GT Series grid at the Baku World Challenge in Azerbaijan, this move coming ahead of active plans to assess the potential for a meeting for 2016 outside of the USA.
Asian Le Mans Series
The major changes here are well known and surround the change in management team, the ACO taking the Series back in-house and binning the provisional calendar which would have seen a race pre Le Mans in 2015.
Instead we’ll see a shorter 3 race Series starting later in the year with European teams to be encouraged to take part in at least the season opener and a round to feature on the support bill of one of the Asian WEC races under consideration too.
The provisional sporting regulations for the Le Mans 24 Hours suggest (but do not yet confirm) auto entries for the Championship winners in LMP2 and first and second in GT (combined GTE/ GTC class)
24H Series
Whilst a move to Hankook as the sole tyre supplier has taken the headlines, a potentially more significant move might be the Series’ elevation to an International championship with points and Championship titles to be awarded for both drivers and teams.
There have been multiple changes to the initial calendar with the 24H Series pragmatically opting to move their events away from potential clashes. That has meant the initially planned 12H of Hungaroring has become the 12H Epilog Brno in early October.
