The ACO announces the LMP3 category

Due for the European and Asian Le Mans Series in 2015 to replace the LM PC cars:

[QUOTE=Press Release]In order to complete the endurance racing pyramid the Automobile Club de l’Ouest announces the creation of a new sports-prototype category baptised LM P3 (Le Mans Prototype 3). In 2015, this car that opens the door to endurance racing will be eligible for the Asian Le Mans and European Le Mans Series.

The aim of this new prototype is to supply teams and drivers with a low-cost ensemble, which will allow them to make their debut in endurance racing with a prototype whose characteristics are similar to an LM P (Le Mans Prototype).
This LM P3 will provide a second series of prototypes for the Asian and European Continental Championships. The LM P2 category (Le Mans Prototype 2) will remain the blue riband category in these competitions.

The exact characteristics of the car will be defined by the ACO in the coming weeks taking into account the following elements: a single engine-gearbox power train, a single tyre manufacturer: all constructors/manufacturers who wish to build chassis will be free to do so.

The level of performance will be situated between that of an LM P2 and an LM GTE Am. Nonetheless, the turnkey sales price is fixed at 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, a limited number of particularly hard-wearing tyres, etc.

This new car will replace Formula Le Mans, baptized LM PC, Le Mans Prototype Challenge in North America, although the latter will continue to race in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship.

In 2014 and 2015 in order to ensure a transition period until the new LM P3s arrive on the market, the second category of prototypes in the Asian Le Mans Series will consist of cars having received an FIA CN homologation.

Only Group CN cars equipped with a carbon chassis will make up this second prototype category in the 2014 Asian Le Mans Series. During the following one the CNs will race with the LM P3s.

In the European Le Mans Series for which the CN Groups are not eligible, the LM P3s will replace the Formula Le Mans in 2015.[/QUOTE]

150k Euro is not that expensive....though the level of performance they asked of them isn't exactly slow...I wonder if they might structure the rule in such a way that maybe some of the current cost-capped P2 car could be modded to work in the same way the LMPC Oreca/Courage did...

I like this, it's more interesting when there is variety in the field. LMPC with all Chevy engined Orecas weren't really boring but at the same time didn't hold my attention. Same with the GTC class, basically Porsche SuperCup races

The GTC problem is rectified in the USCR now with GT Daytona, which might prove to be quite interesting with the detuned GT3 cars like the Z4 and the Audi plus the Ferrari and Porsche...

I don't think LMPC will go away that quickly...the murmur is that with the cost of the updated DP and the LM spec-capped LMP2 on Conti tires lacking top speed, LMPC is the place to be....

[quote=RacingManiac;1001747]The GTC problem is rectified in the USCR now with GT Daytona, which might prove to be quite interesting with the detuned GT3 cars like the Z4 and the Audi plus the Ferrari and Porsche... [/quote]

That's awesome, hopefully it leads to larger grids and more traffic for the DP/LMPs to deal with

[quote]I don't think LMPC will go away that quickly...the murmur is that with the cost of the updated DP and the LM spec-capped LMP2 on Conti tires lacking top speed, LMPC is the place to be....[/quote]

Sounds like what GTC was this year, Flying Lizard, Dempsey and iirc TRG all jumped over

Well I think more of those are of cost and not competitive speed. GTC car is significantly slower than GTE cars(and AFAIK, the GTD will too, tires will be a big factor there). PC with a smaller DP and P2 field might actually be competitive for overall results.