ACO Announces New LMP3 Class for 2015

Image: ORECA

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest announced Monday the creation of a new prototype category, LMP3, that’s set to launch in 2015.

Aimed to provide teams with a low-cost, turn-key prototype, the new class, which replaces the spec LMPC category, will be seen in the European and Asian Le Mans Series.

Prototype Challenge, however, will continue in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The new LMP3 platform will encourage multiple chassis manufacturers, although limited to a spec powertrain and single tire manufacturer to help contain costs. A turn-key car must sell for no more than $202,000 (150,000 Euros).

“The technical regulations will also implement the lowest possible running costs thanks to a capped price of spare parts, the use of a single engine-gearbox power train per season and a limited number of particularly hard-wearing tires,” a statement from the ACO read.

While the exact specifications of the platform have yet to be defined by the ACO, the sanctioning body will allow current carbon-chassied FIA CN-homologated cars to compete as LMP3s in the Asian LMS for 2014-15.

However, FIA CN cars will not be allowed in the ELMS, when the category formally launches in 2015.

A number of manufacturers have recently announced projects around the FIA CN2 platform, including ORECA (pictured) and Sora Composites, which revealed plans of building the Pescarolo 02 Coupe.

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