The ACO has released the Le Mans branded races regulations for 2010. Items of note include revised front and rear body work. While most cars would have been effected, Pescarolo LMP1/P2, ORECA LMP1, Lola LMP1/LMP2 and Acura ARX-01C LMP2 have been given waivers.

Other changes include changes the procedure on how/when to fix damaged louvers. They will now be checked at pitstop time only and must be wholly replaced if damaged.

Work has continued to close the performance gap between diesel cars and petrol cars through changes in restrictor sizes - the end result being diesel cars should be slower and petrol cars should be faster.

Hybrids haven't been forgotten either. Like their more traditional counterparts they will be allowed 90 liters for gasoline-powered prototypes and 81 liters for diesel machines but will have to be able to travel on the electric engine when on the speed limiter (ie minimum 400 m at 60 kph - the pit lane).

GT1 will run under GT1 World Championship rules and older style cars will have a performance kit added to them to slow them down. There is little change to GT2 - with the exception of the implementation of a 1-way car-to-pit telemetry.

The ACO also tackled the disagreement between Aston Martin and Lola with a rule change. Now, the name of the bodywork manufacturer may appear only with the
agreement of the chassis manufacturer.

The full regulations can be found >here.

The rules are unquestionably late this year and is perhaps why we are hearing little on plans for 2010. Lets hope we soon get a picture on what is happening next year.

Sam Tickell