Gas-Powered LMP1s Face Performance Cuts; EoT Confirmed

Photo: Porsche

Gasoline-powered LMP1 cars will face a reduction in performance and fuel capacity, while slight breaks have been given to diesel powerplants ahead of next month’s FIA World Endurance Championship event at the Nürburgring,

The FIA Endurance Committee confirmed Wednesday the Equivalence of Technology (EoT) table for the remainder of the 2015 season and first part of next year, up to and including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

LMP1 contenders Porsche and Toyota will see notable cuts, up to 2.2 percent in gasoline energy (MJ/lap) and 1.6 percent in maximum gasoline fuel flow (kg/h), depending on the hybrid subclass.

The maximum fuel flow for the 8MJ-powered Porsche 919 Hybrid, for instance, has been reduced from 88.5 to 87.0 kg/h, per lap of Le Mans, with the Toyota, which competes in the 6 MJ category, faces a smaller reduction from 89.5 to 88.5.

Audi, meanwhile, will have a 0.44 percent increase in diesel energy (134.8 to 135.4) and 0.63 percent boost in maximum diesel flow (79 to 79.5), for the 4MJ subclass its R18 e-tron quattro currently competes in.

Fuel capacity has been reduced across the board, with gasoline-powered hybrids having been reduced from 68.3 liters to 67.4 liters, and diesels from 54.2 liters to 53.7 liters, a change that slightly favors the diesel.

The adjustments comes in the wake of a dominant performance by Porsche in last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which saw the German manufacturer score a 1-2 finish.

It’s understood additional class-wide performance cuts are in the works for 2016, potentially aero-related, that would reduce the cars’ speeds, particularly through cornering.

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