An updated rulebook for the LMP1 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship has been announced by the ACO, with cost-cutting initiatives and plug-in hybrid technology headlining the changes.
ACO President Pierre Fillon presented the regulations one day before the start of this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, which promise to maintain stability whilst furthering technological innovation in the competition's top tier.
The number of aerodynamic kits allowed per season has been reduced from two to one in a bid to reduce spending.
In response, the WEC has granted the use of active aerodynamic elements that can be tweaked to suit the demands of different circuits, depending on their downforce requirements.
Implementing removable aero parts will mean teams won't be able to develop a specific Le Mans aero package, as is currently the case.
Other cost-cutting measures include the reduction of wind tunnel testing to 600 hours per year (from 800), the curbing of test day availability to give teams a 'very limited' number of private runs, and a rule preventing teams from building a new car each season.
In another major announcment, Fillon revealed that hybrid teams will be required to run the first kilometre of each outlap under electric power alone.
In order to bring the road-going technology of manufacturers into racing, cars will undergo a rapid recharge using a plug-in hybrid system that will operate simultaneously with refuelling.
Plans are also afoot to require cars to finish races on electric power, although these are not set in stone.
Changes regarding staff numbers (down from 65 to 50) and new future competitions were also discussed at the conference, were also presented.
From the competition side, an LMP3 'World League' will be established for the growing junior prototype category that now has championships in Europe, Asia, North America and the United Kingdom.
The plan is to pit the best entries from each series in a 'Super Final' to determine the world's top LMP3 outfit.
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