Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has announced the new LMP3 regulations, starting 2020.
The LMP3 category was introduced in 2015, where Ginetta was the first company to have a car ready. Ligier joined them later in the year, while Adess and Norma are the two latest. Ginetta left the party early on, when they had an argument with the engine supplier ORECA. The Adess car is only made in a very few editions, but they are still active.
The 4 constructors are all invited again to the new regulations, where all the current cars can be upgraded to the new rules. The upgrade costs 54.900 Euro, while a brand new car will cost 239.000 Euro.
Photo: JJ Media
The new regulations consists of a new aerokit, and other small chassis changes. There will be added safety in the cockpit of the cars. The most important thing will be in the engine bay. There will be brand new engines for the cars. An upgraded Nissan engine, tuned by ORECA. The power plant will produce 35 extra horsepower, so the cars will have 455bhp. The cars will have traction control, so they will be even easier to drive. The cars are meant to be an entry to the sportscars sports, so the easier they are to race, the better.
170 LMP3 cars have been produced so far, which isn’t just running in the European Le Mans Series, but also Michelin Le Mans Cup, Road to Le Mans, Asian Le Mans Series – and more recently the USA, but not in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship but in IMSA Prototype Challenge.
All ACO series will have the new cars in 2020, while the cars will be allowed in the other series from 2021.
