FIA Confirms Changes to LMP1 Rules

Photo: Porsche

LMP1 manufacturers will be able to score points with two cars in next year’s World Endurance Championship, the FIA confirmed late last week following the latest World Motor Sport Council Meeting.

The change comes in the wake of Toyota scaling back to a single-car entry for the balance of the season. The change, however, will not take affect until 2014, when Porsche joins Audi and Toyota in the premier prototype ranks.

Currently, only the highest-placed LMP1 entry from each factory squad scored manufacturer points, a rule which was changed at the start of the 2012 season to accomodate Toyota’s solo entry following Peugeot’s late withdrawal from the WEC.

Another change to the sporting regulations for 2014 comes in the class names, with LMP1 set to be split into two classes, LMP1-L for privateer non-hybrids and LMP1-H for hybrid-powered cars. It’s believed both factories and privateers can enter LMP1-H.

Also announced is that the GTE-Am category will have a single tire supplier next year. Michelin currently provides rubber to all full-season competitors in the category, although currently not under an exclusive deal.

A decision on the tire provider is expected to come shortly.

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