| Rule changes for Le Mans racecars
in October will address the imbalance between gasoline and diesel engines.
Critics have argued that the current rules give Audi and Peugeot’s
diesel entries an unfair power and range advantage over other competitors.
At present, gasoline turbos can be up to 4-litres; turbo diesels can displace
up to 5.5 litres. Fuel tank sizes differ slightly – gasoline cars
may carry 90 litres of fuel onboard; diesels 81 litres.
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has asked Gordon Murray, formerly
an F1 designer and now a motorsport consultant, to investigate the issue
of equivalency. Murray has been working with ACO over the last year on
all aspects of the rules.
“It’s obvious that diesels have a massive advantage at the
moment,” said Murray. “The present rules don’t balance
them out and there will certainly be an equivalency change between gasoline
and diesel when the rules are updated in October.”
The changes could range from making diesel tank sizes smaller, to adjusting
their fuel flow or even the weight of the cars.
In 2010 there will be more extensive changes, mostly in the LMP1 category,
which will force a return to sportscars with roofs
“The LMP1 cars are getting almost as silly as F1 cars where they
all look the same,” said Murray. “Closed cars are more recognisable
to the public and the manufacturers.”
See also: Rewriting the rule book |
|
