Silverstone - ACO outline of regulations - Peugeot unveiled its hybrid 908 Hdi FAP

Prior to qualifying, the ACO presented an outline of the regulations which will govern prototype endurance racing at Le Mans, and in the Le Mans Series. Working in conjunction with Gordon Murray on the chassis rules, and with Bernard Dudot on the engines, the ACO will take steps to reduce the performance of the cars.

Peugeot offered a glimpse of the future when it unveiled its hybrid 908 Hdi FAP prototype at Silverstone.

French driver Nicolas Minassian fired up the 5.5 litre, V12 diesel engine in the pits using the electric motor before taking to the British track for a lap under diesel power.

Minassian, who will start tomorrow’s race from the front row of the grid in his title-leading 908 Hdi FAP, passed through the pits using the electric motor before completing a flying lap. He returned to the pits, again using the electric motor through the pit lane, and stopped by the waiting journalists, team managers and members of the public.

The ACO has yet to write the regulation for the hybrid, but will do so before it presents the final set of regulations for 2009 in November this year. The car will not be eligible for points or be classified in 2009.

• The "LM" P1 diesel cars will have their air restrictors cut by 10 per cent, and their supercharger pressure reduced by 6.5 per cent. The total reduction in performance is an estimated 10.5%.

• "LM" P1 production engine air restrictors will be cut by three per cent, while engines in "LM" P2 will be reduced by 10 per cent, creating a larger gap between the classes.

• The size of the rear wing in both classes will be reduced in a bid to slow the cars, but the new generation cars will not be compulsory until 2011 to allow more time for the FIA to conduct its study into accidents seen in the Le Mans Series and Le Mans this year.

• In the "LM" GT classes there are also reductions in performance.

• The "LM" GT1 class will carry an extra 25kg, and will have a two per cent reduction in air restrictor size.

• For the "LM" GT2 class, cars will carry an extra 20kg, have a five per cent reduction in air restrictor size and will have its ground clearance raised by 5mm.

• The ACO will ban tyre warmers and will have only one air gun and two mechanics to change all four tyres.

• Noise for the cars will be reduced from 113db to 110db over the next three years.

- Marine Allainguillaume -

Photos will be on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - LE MANS SERIES