LMP2 constructors given leg-up

LMP2 CONSTRUCTORS LIGIER, Dallara and Riley/multimatic will be allowed to upgrade their cars for next season to allow them to close the performance deficit to the benchmark ORECA chassis.

The new P2 regulations introduced for the 2017 season, which limited the category to four car makers and mandated a spec Gibson V8 normally-aspirated engine, allow for developments to remove performance gaps between the different chassis. The FIA and the Automobile Club de l’ouest, who jointly framed the new rules, have decided to allow three of the constructors to develop their cars after analysing their performance in key races this year.

These events include the Le Mans 24 Hours, at which all four constructors were represented, and the opening five rounds of 2017 European Le Mans Series, in which the Ligier JSP217 and the Dallara P217 (above) have gone up against the ORECA. Rounds of the World Endurance Championship other than Le Mans were not taken into consideration because only the ORECA 07 races in the series.

ORECA has hit out at the move, accusing the rule makers of trying to introduce a Balance of Performance system.