Audi’s impending departure from LMP1 has raised a lot of questions about the future of sportscar racing and the World Endurance Championship in particular. Audi’s loss adds to the already confirmed announcement of Rebellion Racing from LMP1 leaving only Toyota and Porsche as serious LMP1 efforts, so just four serious cars in the LMP1 field at most races in the WEC next season.
I think that the Audi announcement came as a surprise to the ACO and the WEC organisation in general, and it may see technical and sporting regulations changing going forwards. It has been made clear by some auto makers that if they were not required to run hybrid systems then they would be interested in entering LMP1.
Peugeot Sport has voiced its belief that manufacturers should be able to enter LMP1 with a non-hybrid car, something which is currently reserved for privateer teams, it is not alone, at least one other major manufacturer has been lobbying the ACO to enter a non-hybrid car. Previously the ACO had resisted these approaches telling Racecar Engineering magazine in recent weeks that ?its impossible for manufacturers to enter as a non-hybrid, it would be totally unfair. A car with a proper R&D behind it built to the new regulations would be so fast. Have you had a proper look at the relative performance of the non-hybrid cars"? The suggestion was that if a manufacturer built a car to the non-hybrid regulations which offer a much lower weight, greater aerodynamic freedo...