The Automobile Club de l’Ouest have finalised the regulations for the new LMDh category, which is set to debut in 2022.
In a joint press conference ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA president John Doonan and ACO president Pierre Fillon unveiled the finalized regulations along with technical directors Thierry Bouven and Matthew Kurdock.
LMDh cars will have a minimum weight of 1030 kilograms and a max combined power output of 500 kW (670 horsepower). The cars will have a maximum length of 5100 mm, a common wheelbase of 3150 mm and a maximum width of 2000 mm and a downforce-to-drag ration of 4:1.
While the upper bodywork is open to manufacturer stylization, the amount of customization on the underbody is restricted.
In terms of the powertrain, the maximum combined power output has been set at 500 kW, with a minimum peak engine output of 470 kW, coupled with an electric motor provided by Bosch.
The spec hybrid- and powertrain system has been developed in a joint effort with Bosch, Williams Advanced Engineering and Xtrac.
The regulations indicated that the spine of the car, including an Xtrac gearbox will cost about 345.000 euros, with the complete hybrid system developed by Williams Advanced Engineering set for under 300.000 euros.
In total, ACO and IMSA estimate the total price for a car to be set at 1.000.000 euros.
Notably, the LMDh category is still set for debut in 2022, despite rumours that it would be delayed until 2023 due to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since the announcement of the IMSA and ACO convergence back at Daytona in January, and the opportunity for a competitor to enter the same car at both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, we have received and responded to many specific questions from prestigious automakers,” IMSA President John Doonan said. “We’ve also had those same automakers very involved in the development of the LMDh regulations, and I think all of us are very encouraged and confident, that as we announce the final regulations today, it will bring more names to the table.
“Certainly, the top level of endurance sports car racing has now a very clear, tangible and very bright future. This is, quite frankly, very good news in this difficult global context.”
“I think the efficiency of the process is a further reflection of the importance of this collaboration between IMSA and the ACO, and the future of endurance sports car racing,” Doonan added. “To have the same car be able to run at Daytona and Le Mans is an expectation of all of our manufacturer partners, and can you only imagine how this is going to make our fans feel?”
“I think this demonstrates effective work and collaboration between ACO and IMSA,” ACO president Pierre Fillon said. “Actually, we should have announced this in June had we not had the health crisis.”
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