The FIA's World Motorsport Council has confirmed that Sebring's return to the World Endurance Championship calendar will be a 1,500-mile event, rather than a timed race due to concerns it would detract from IMSA's Sebring 12 Hours.
The two events are due to take place on the same weekend, with IMSA running from 10am to 10pm on Saturday, whilst WEC is due to start at midnight, ending on Sunday afternoon.
WEC last raced at Sebring in 2012 when it was incorporated into the Sebring 12 Hours. The leading LMP1 car completed 325 laps, suggesting the race may last longer than 12 hours. However with the increase in speed between then and now, it's likely the 1,500 miles, or 402 laps, will be completed in roughly the same time.
LMP1 tweaks confirmed
A number of tweaks to the leading LMP1 series have also been confirmed following the loss of Porsche and Audi in recent years, leaving only Toyota as the sole manufacturer outfit in the LMP1-H (hybrid) class.
From 2018, both LMP1-H and LMP1-L (non-hybrid) cars will be combined into a single classification.
It's been proposed that, to equalise the lap performances of the best LMP1-L and LMP1-H cars, non-hybrid cars will be allowed to use more fuel, bringing their performance closer. Meanwhile a fuel range advantage for hybrid cars (one extra lap at Le Mans) will continue to be enforced.
The advantage given to turbocharged engines, introduced in 2014, will be lifted to encourage new privateer entrants.
From 2019, a ban on fluidic switches and energy brought to the general aerodynamics of the car – this is in anticipation of potential complex and expensive developments in this area.
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