2014 Le Mans Rule Changes Allow Freedom In Technical Innovation

When do race teams begin to prepare for the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans? Today. What about 2014 preperations? That begins today as well.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans governing body Automobile Club de l'Ouest has announced a new set of LMP1 prototype regulations for 2014. In an effort to further challenge efficiency as well as to encourage racing technology to be more applicable to road cars, the ACO outlined major changes in engine specification rules and new requirements to safety.

First, fuel consumption will be significantly reduced by as much as 30 percent in the prototype class. While prototype cars are allowed to consume about 6.13 liters of fuel per lap under 2011 regulations, the 2014 LMP1 vehicles are limited to complete a lap using 4.8 liters of fuel max, or 4.95 for privateer prototypes. In line with the new efficiency requirement, the ACO will also shrink the fuel tank limit permitted, from 75 liters to 66.4 liters and 60 liters to 533.3 liters for gasoline and diesel powertrains, respectively.

Despite the new demands for efficiency, engineers will be happy to hear that a massive amount of freedom and creativity is permitted in terms of engine engineering. Under 2011 regulations, gas engines are allowed a displacement of no more than 3.4 liters while diesels are allowed no more than 3.7 liters. Forced inductions and air restrictor regulations are in effect as well. For 2014, however, manufacturers engine displacement will be completely unregulated and 4 bars of turbo pressure will be permitted. Air restrictors are cancelled, variable admission systems will be allowed, and fuel injection pressure limitations are lifted. However, electromagnetic valves, considered costly exotic materials and systems, will be banned.

Moving on to hybrid electric systems, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro's hybrid drive has proven its endurance. For 2014, ACO will permit energy recovery systems four times more powerful than the present system. Hybrid system categories are permitted to range from 0 MJ, 2 MJ, 4 MJ, 6 MJ and 8 MJ. Evolutionary or category changes to a hybrid system will not be permitted during the season.

Next, ACO addresses new regulations for bodywork. From now on, all prototypes must adopt closed roofs for a measure of safety as well as aerodynamic efficiency. Other permitted aero changes include adjustable front aero. What's more, in order to reduce drag and increase efficiency, new hole positions on the wings are permitted.

Further benefiting efficiency, maximum bodyweight has been reduced to a 850 kg for hybrids and 830 kg for standard prototypes. The 2014 vehicles must be narrower in size as well, from the current 2,000 mm to 1,900 mm. Also, perhaps in a response to the violent crashes that have occured in the past two years of Le Mans, driving positions will now require the driver to sit higher and further forward for improved visibility.

Safety of the drivers are of the utmost concern. New safety regulations for 2014 include wheel tethers, highly-resistent polymer Zylon for lateral protection, rear crash box, and improved lighting.

The majority of the new rules proposed by the ACO challenge teams to improve efficiency. However, ACO assures that attention to consumption is not meant to force the spectacle to take a back seat. Given the new levels of engineering and mechanical reliability, the ACO encourages the drivers to race and run flat out without having to worry about preservation, fuel strategies or index calculations. A 24 hour all out sprint? We wouldn't have it any other way.