IMSA/ALMS technical regulations 2008

[Fogelhund]

IMSA has announced their regulations for the ALMS for LMP1 and LMP2 for 2008.

http://www.imsaracing.net/2008/alms/...ms%2008-01.pdf

In summary, LMP1's will start at 925 kg, LMP2 at 800kg.

Other ramification I'm sure, particularly for the petrol LMP1's. Don't have time to study the details at the moment though.

[AU N EGL]

Good find

IMSA supports the modifications to the “Definitions” (“LM”P1 & “LM”P2) asserted in Art. 1 of the
Regulations. However, as agreed with the ACO, and in order to promote the stability of the competition in the American Le Mans Series, IMSA will transition to this definition over a period of time, and technical regulations designed to reinforce the distinction between “LM”P1 and “LM”P2 will be phased in by IMSA in accordance with the general guidelines provided by IMSA to the manufacturers.

5.C.2 Use of the 2008 “LM”P1 gasoline restrictor table will be considered upon application on a car by car basis, otherwise “LM”P1 gasoline restrictors remain the same as 2007

YES, IMSA did the "In the Spirit of" ACO rules. Good Job

[chewymonster]

We'll see how good the competition will be next year with these rules.

I sure hope that no one complains about 25 extra kgs.

[porsche91722]

7) IMSA reserves the right to make a modification to the balance of performance between prototype
classes in order to maintain the desired relative performance and competition. Such a change would
be considered at or about the mid-point of the season.



Has this always been in the the 'RULES OF PLAY' in past seasons ?

[Hugewally]

Yes.

[gwyllion]

Bioethanol cars gets +20 liter tank.

6) Fuel Tanks:
a. Basic IMSA 100/E10 Gasoline capacity remains at 90L on board for all classes.
b. IMSA will issue a specification for an “E85” fuel. The Maximum fuel capacity is 110L fuel on board.

[gwyllion]

I wonder if this is sufficient for Audi and Porsche to commit to the series.

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Bioethanol cars gets +20 liter tank.

isn't that about 13.5 EXTRA Kg when full?

[gwyllion]

Yes, but bioethanol gives more power.

[ger80]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I wonder if this is sufficient for Audi and Porsche to commit to the series.

Think both got 50% of what they wanted and this rules should give us a good show, like 2007

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by ger80

Think both got 50% of what they wanted and this rules should give us a good show, like 2007

Not sure. With ACO rules the weight difference between LMP1 and LMP2 is 75 kg, but with IMSA still 125 kg (instead of 150 kg last year). And LMP2 will still have a fuel economy advantage.

[ger80]

Think IMSA will give Audi a weight reduction to 880kg if they start with a petrol engine in the R10, like they do for Creation, Zytek and Lola
Think its a good compromise and its already agreed by Audi and Porsche
And if Audi doesnt likes it, let them leave. IMSA needs everything but not a completly dominate R10.

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Yes, but bioethanol gives more power.

VP Racing Fuels are 15% Etoh anyway. VP Racing Fuels are the fuel suppiler of the ALMS http://www.vpracingfuels.com/index2.html

So would that be considared BIO fuel? If so then every car gets that advantage.

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

isn't that about 13.5 EXTRA Kg when full?

Well 20 litres of water would be 20kg, but ethanol is about 80% of the density of water, so probably about 16kg.

Power is greater, fuel consumption worse. Has a higher octane rating than petrol, but less energy per volume. Probably not worth the effort unless you have a large manufacturer lobbying for very favourable performance breaks!

[Flat12-Aircool]

"5.C.2 Use of the 2008 “LM”P1 gasoline restrictor table will be considered upon application on a car by car basis, otherwise “LM”P1 gasoline restrictors remain the same as 2007"

So it looks like the petrol restrictor sizes haven't been increased inline with the ACO's 2008 rules.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by ger80

Think IMSA will give Audi a weight reduction to 880kg if they start with a petrol engine in the R10, like they do for Creation, Zytek and Lola
Think its a good compromise and its already agreed by Audi and Porsche
And if Audi doesnt likes it, let them leave. IMSA needs everything but not a completly dominate R10.

The odd one out in future years, unless they switch classes, will be Porsche, not Audi. The other manufactuers are positioning themselves to move to P1, I would hope Porsche will now make their P1 plans public, seeing as they've now got what they wanted, another year were a P2 car can compete for overall wins.

With any luck, it'll be the last, with Audi, Acura, GM and Porsche all in, or headed towards, P1 come 2009

[GroupC4ever]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I wonder if this is sufficient for Audi and Porsche to commit to the series.

I would have thought that ALMS consorted with Audi, Porsche, And probably Acura before going public with the LMP1 and LMP2 rules for 2008. I might be innocent of me to think that!

[Hugewally]

The IMSA changes wouldn't have come as a surprise to any of the manufacturers in the ALMS.

[chewymonster]

Originally Posted by ger80

Think IMSA will give Audi a weight reduction to 880kg if they start with a petrol engine in the R10, like they do for Creation, Zytek and Lola
Think its a good compromise and its already agreed by Audi and Porsche
And if Audi doesnt likes it, let them leave. IMSA needs everything but not a completly dominate R10.

But is it in the best interest of the ALMS if all races are won by the same team?

I like how the R10 has to run 45 kg heavier than the rest of P1s. Very nice.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

So it looks like the petrol restrictor sizes haven't been increased inline with the ACO's 2008 rules.

But they will run with 45 kg less than Audi.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by chewymonster

I like how the R10 has to run 45 kg heavier than the rest of P1s. Very nice.

Given Audi still beats the tar out of all of those P1's, I'm not sure what your point is. If and when any P1 currently in the ALMS beats an R10, I'm sure they'll be ready to deal with that 45 kg. Until then.....

[chewymonster]

Originally Posted by TWK

Given Audi still beats the tar out of all of those P1's, I'm not sure what your point is. If and when any P1 currently in the ALMS beats an R10, I'm sure they'll be ready to deal with that 45 kg. Until then.....

It is interesting how IMSA takes great care in keeping the R10 close to privateer P1s. Which isn't a bad thing perhaps, of course you can never have a slower car beat a quicker one because of rules. But IMSA forgets what it should do with P2s. It has pretty much eliminated privateer P2s along the way.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by chewymonster

It is interesting how IMSA takes great care in keeping the R10 close to privateer P1s. Which isn't a bad thing perhaps, of course you can never have a slower car beat a quicker one because of rules. But IMSA forgets what it should do with P2s. It has pretty much eliminated privateer P2s along the way.

Privateers have larger restrictors than standard in LMP2 as well.

http://www.imsaracing.net/2007/alms/...in%2007-15.pdf

[TWK]

Originally Posted by chewymonster

It is interesting how IMSA takes great care in keeping the R10 close to privateer P1s. Which isn't a bad thing perhaps, of course you can never have a slower car beat a quicker one because of rules. But IMSA forgets what it should do with P2s. It has pretty much eliminated privateer P2s along the way.

Who were those privateer P2s IMSA "eliminated?" (I don't remember a lot of them banging down the doors.)

Should IMSA have said "no" to Porsche's plan to enter with Penske? I suggest had they done that, ALMS would no longer exist.

[JAG]

The ALMS can fall back on the fact privateers will be encouraged back into P2 if/when Acura switch focus to P1, hopefully Penske, also.

Porsche obviously have a P2 car available to customers, while I'm sure Mazda would take up the slack should Acura switch to P1, with no presence in P2.