ACO and IMSA have released a draft set of LMDh technical regulations to manufacturers as the latest joint top-class prototype platform continues its path towards its 2022 debut.
LMDh cars will be eligible to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship, alongside the new Le Mans Hypercar category, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Importantly, the cars can only be homologated by “mainstream automotive manufacturers” and they all must associate themselves with one of the four licensed constructors. Those being Ligier Automotive, Dallara, ORECA, and Multimatic.
The cars will be cost-capped and inspired off the new-generation of LMP2 cars.
Further regulations for the LMDh category include:
- A minimum car weight of 1030 kg. This is higher than initially purposed but has been updated to accommodate the variety of power train and hybrid options for the Le Mans Hypercars
- 500 kW peak of combined power (sum of power resulting from internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid system)
- One bodywork package with identical aerodynamic performance
- Sole tyre supplier – Michelin
- Global BOP to equal out the overall performance of the LMDh and LMH cars
A supplementary statement from ACO and IMSA states that the target remains to have LMDh cars racing from the beginning of the 2022 FIA WEC and IMSA season.
Though it also acknowledged that this date could be delayed further if necessary.
“This timeline will clearly need to be further validated in partnership with the automotive manufacturers, chassis constructors and key suppliers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if a delayed introduction becomes necessary.”
A fully confirmed set of LMDh regulations is setto be released before this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has been rescheduled to September 18-19.