DESCRIPTION

In 2021, Hypercar became the top class in endurance and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two types of car are admitted to the class: Le Mans Hypercar, or LMH, and Le Mans Daytona, or LMDh, admitted as of 2022.

Ultimately, the ACO, FIA and IMSA are aiming for these two types to compete against each other in the FIA WEC and in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and, therefore, to race in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

TWO TYPES OF CAR

LMH

These regulations leave scope for a wide variety of architectures and allow a front-axle hybrid system to be fitted.

LMDh

In LMDh, the backbone of the car – i.e. the whole car minus the internal combustion engine, the body and the hybrid system – will be supplied by one of four chassis manufacturers: Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier and Oreca.

A Le Mans Prototype 2 or LMP2 has a closed cockpit and no minimum production is required. These cars are designed to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. LMP2 cars are developed for racing only and comply with FIA rules.

The selling price of a new car, not including engine or homologated electronic equipment, is capped at €483,000.

Dallara (P217), Onroak Automotive (Ligier JS P217), Oreca (07) and Riley (MK30) are the four constructors selected to supply LM P2 chassis.

LIGIER BEATS ORECAS IN THE NUMBERS GAME!

The category has continued to meet with success in 2018 with 20 LM P2s entered for Le Mans including 8 Orecas, one of which is running under the Alpine moniker, 3 Dallaras and 9 Ligiers. One Riley is on the reserve list. In 2018, the winner of the Sarthe Classic in 2017, Jackie Chan DC Racing, is back to defend its Le Mans title unlike last year’s world endurance champion, Rebellion Racing, which has moved up to LM P1 this season. However, the Chinese team will be up against tough opposition from sister Oreca 07s run by DragonSpeed, Signatech Alpine, TDS, G-Drive and Graff among others, and the Racing For Holland and SMP Dallaras as well as the Ligiers, which out-number all the other makes. Teams running them include Panis Barthez Competition, IDEC Sport, United Autosports, Larbre Competition and Jackie Chan DC Racing! The cards have been reshuffled ensuring that the battle in the LM P2 category will be yet another hotly-disputed one.

RESERVES IN LM P2

The list of reserves includes nine teams, six in the LM P2 category and three in LM GTE Am. A Riley is one of the reserves in LM P2. They will be allowed to race following the order on the list should one of the other entrants withdraw.