Le Mans Endurance Management has reversed the announced changes to the driver line-up regulations for the LMP2 category after backlash from teams and drivers.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council announced on Friday that teams in LMP2 in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series would be required to run at least two silver-rated drivers or one bronze-rated driver in a mandatory three driver line-up, starting in 2021.
The move has garnered criticism from drivers and teams, but series CEO Gerard Neveu has explained to Endurance-Info that the decision has been reversed, instead stating that a new LMP2 Pro-Am Cup will be introduced for teams with a bronze-rated driver in their line-up.
“There will be no obligation to have a Bronze or two Silver drivers in LMP2 crews next year,” Neveu said. “All the teams were informed of this new point this morning. The crews will therefore not change, the bases applied in 2020 will remain the same.
“We are going to set up the integration of a Pro Am championship which will be reserved for competitors with a Bronze and there will be a podium for this LMP2 Pro Am crew in ELMS.
“We have thought about imposing a Bronze in the crew, but we don’t believe in it. We wanted to enhance the value of the Bronze with this new system. Moreover, this is not the time to make major changes, so the regulations will remain quite similar to what we know.”
