On the eve of the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the FIA and the organizing body Aco have outlined the expected future technical regulations: from 2030 there will be a single platform for everyone and hydrogen will be admitted in the top category
The approval cycle of Hypercars currently has an expiry date: in 2030 there will be a regulatory revolution that will put an end to the distinction between Lmh and Lmdh. Until now there had been a lot of talk about the two ways to interpret the top category of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Lmh with full design freedom and the possibility of inserting hybrid traction also on the front axle and the Lmdh with standard chassis, gearbox and hybrid component. The decision of FIA and Aco is the path to simplification: one equal platform for everyonerear-wheel drive and with a hybrid system mandatory for everyone. However, manufacturers will retain the possibility of purchasing chassis and other components from external suppliers, as already happens in the current Lmdhs, or of developing everything in-house, a solution for which companies such as Ferrari have long fought. Furthermore, a class reserved for hydrogen vehicleswith the same technical regulations in terms of hybrid system and powertrain, but with a Equivalence of Technology to balance performance.
More power
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The final objective of the new regulation, agreed by FIA and Aco with the manufacturers, is to reduce costs and allow a full convergence through the WEC and the American IMSA series, the two main championships in which Hypercars are involved. Freedom will however be guaranteed to manufacturers in terms of specifications of the thermal unit, as is already the case at the moment, as well as on aesthetic customisation, while many aerodynamic details will be limited in development. In addition, the power of the combustion engine will see a increase of approximately 20 kW (27 HP) compared to the maximum 520 kW of the current generation. Furthermore, it development of the cars will be frozen for a five-year approval cycle, except in cases of modifications relating to safety issues or obvious performance deficits.
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Make way for hydrogen
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Another hot topic of discussion in recent years has been that ofhydrogenlong considered a solution for the future of the Hypercar class and watched with great interest by manufacturers such as Toyota. For the first time, FIA and ACO have reached a formal agreement on its introduction into the top endurance category. The Hypercars of this class, called H2, will follow the regulation basis explained previously, with rear-wheel drive and hybrid system, with the distinction of a minimum weight of 1,200 kg and specific tyres. A system will be applied Equivalence of Technology to balance performance, without benefiting any solution. The work that Toyota has been carrying out for years on combustion engines fits into this context liquid hydrogen as fuel, already used in Japan in rallies and in the Super Taikyu endurance category on board a GR Corolla. Of course, many developments in terms of fuel supply and storage are still needed to see this category in action.
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