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The 2012 categories

"PROTOTYPES"

Generally produced specially for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also for European Le Mans Series Endurance races …etc, these cars are developed exclusively for on-track competitions, fulfilling the requirements of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest technical regulations. Because of their performances and level of technological development, they have a star status within Endurance Racing.

"LM"P2

Open or closed, are only for private teams, the specificity of these prototypes being that the price of the new car, engine excluded but options included, should not exceed 345 000€, in order to control costs and the engines must be derived from the one of origin.
In LM P2, the crews must count at least 1 gentleman driver.
In this category, the HPD ARX 01ds, the new Oreca 03s, the Zytek Nissan, the Lola B11/40 with Judd engine, the Courage-Oreca LC 75 HPD, the Norma M200P Judd, the MG Lola EX265 – Judd and the Radical SR9 – IES …

  • Minimum Weight: 900 kg
  • Wing width: 1.60 m
  • Maximum Cubic capacity: 5000 cm3 and 8 cylinders for the atmospheric engines, or mono turbo of 3200 cm3 and maximum 6 cylinders for the turbo engines
  • Maximum rotor diameter: 38 cm
  • Headlights beam: white
  • Colour of LMP1 category sticker: blue

FLM

Created to allow young drivers to discover prototype driving, the Formula Le Mans category is a first step in Endurance racing before rising to LM P2 and LM P1. Offered at a lesser cost than its elders, FLMs boast characteristics and performances very close to the LM P2 reference. In 2012, FLMs will race beside LM P2s in the Prototype category.

  • Minimum weight: 900 kg
  • Minimum weight: 1.60 m
  • Maximum engine capacity: 6200 cm3
  • Maximum disc diameter : Av: 380mm Ar : 355mm
  • Fuel cell capacity: 85 litres
  • Lights: blanc
  • Colour of LMP1 category sticker: purple

Les « GRAND TOURISME (GT) Endurance » 

The "Le Mans" Grand Touring Endurance car is a car having an aptitude for sport with 2 doors, 2 or 2+2 seats, opened or closed, which can be used perfectly legally on the open road and available for sale. It will be permitted to compete with the car as soon as a minimum of 100 road cars for the "Big Manufacturers" and 25 road cars for the "Small Manufacturers" will be produced.

In this group only cars having 1 year old or fully in compliance with the specifications of the previous year car - unless specified in these regulations - will be admitted.

This category includes two groups:

LM GTE Pro group destined more especially to professionals.

LM GTE Am group destined only to amateurs.

  • Minimum Weight: 1145 kg
  • Maximum width: 200 cm
  • The displacement is 5500 cc maximum (aspired engine) and 4000 cc maximum (turbocharged engine).
  • Carbon breaks prohibited (only ferrous)
  • Tank capacity: 90 litres
  • Maximum 6 gear box
  • Headlights beam: yellow
  • Colour of LM GTE Pro category sticker: Green
  • Colour of LM GTE Am category sticker: Orange

LM GTC

Like for the Formula Le Mans, the aim of this new class is to offer to new teams and new drivers the opportunity to access the GT Endurance world at a European level for a limited budget. Eligible cars are taken from one-make series organised by the Brands themselves.

Three models are on the list for 2012:

  • Ferrari F430 Challenge
  • Lotus Evora GT4/GTC
  • Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 2010 & 2011

The drivers’ crew will follow the same schema as LM GTE AM: 2 or 3 drivers including one Platinum or Gold driver maximum.

Colour of the sticker: grey.