Revised Qualifying Format Set for 2015

Photo: Porsche

The FIA World Endurance Championship is set to undergo a revision to its qualifying procedure for next year that’s aimed to simplify the current two-driver, four-lap aggregate format that’s been in use since 2013.

ACO Sporting Director Vincent Beaumesnil confirmed to Sportscar365 that only the best single lap from each of the two qualifying drivers will be scored, with the sessions likely to be reduced from 25 to 20 minutes in length.

“It’s just something to make it more simple,” Beaumesnil told Sportscar365. “The plan is that instead of having two laps per driver it will be one lap per driver.

“We will keep the idea that the team should make the qualifying, meaning two drivers and not only one. It will make it more easy to understand for the media and fans.”

Another change for 2015 is new tire limitation rules that will allow multiple sets to be used in qualifying in all four classes.

LMP2 is currently the only class that allows two sets of tires to be used in qualifying, although only a total of four sets can be used between qualifying and a six-hour race.

“There will also be a limitation of tires for all categories and it will be combined for qualifying and the race,” Beaumesnil said. “It means you can use two sets of tires in qualifying, which is different from this year.”

Beaumesnil said the changes are subject to approval by the FIA World Council, which meets next on Dec. 3 in Doha, Qatar.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John