Latest news with #PierreFillon
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hypercar, LMDh rules extended to 2032 in WEC
The lifecycle of the current generation of Le Mans Hypercar and LMDh prototypes has been extended until 2032 in the World Endurance Championship. The move, predicted by in April, means that the LMH formula is set to span 12 years following its 2021 introduction and LMDh 10 years, and follows on the two-year extension announced this time last year. Advertisement Confirmation of the plans was made by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and FIA at the traditional press conference hosted by the former organisation on the eve of the Le Mans 24 Hours WEC round. ACO president Pierre Fillon said: 'It is important to give the manufacturers and the audience a signal of stability - we need to show that this platform is sustainable and strong. 'We are guided by two principles, stability and cost control, which is why together with the FIA we have decided to extend the rules until the end of 2032. 'Giving the manufacturers a chance to get a return on their investment was the target for us.' Pierre Fillon, ACO president Pierre Fillon, ACO president The rules extension, which was rubber stamped by this week's FIA World Motor Sport Council in Macau, was announced only in broad principles. Advertisement Fillon explained that the 'practicalities need to be discussed' and that they 'will be worked out by the end of the year'. ACO technical director Thierry Bouvet would not be drawn whether there will be any attempt to remove any of the differences between LMH and LMDh cars in the WEC's Hypercar class. At the same time, IMSA confirmed what it terms its strategic alliance with the ACO until the end of 2032, which suggests it could follow the lead taken for the WEC in extending the rules for what it calls the GTP class. Hypercars now eligible for Asian Le Mans Hypercar class contenders driven by pro-am crews will be eligible to race in the Asian Le Mans Series from the start of the 2026-27 season. Advertisement An influx of LMH and LMDh machinery will create a new top-class in the series jointly run by the ACO and GT racing boss Stephane Ratel. It will sit above the LMP2 and P3 prototype classes and the GT class for GT3 machinery, which predates the introduction of LMGT3 in the WEC in 2023. Ratel explained that the move has been the result of interest from manufacturers, teams and drivers. Race 2 Start Race 2 Start 'Interest in sportscar racing is growing in Asia: we see that in the grids for Asian LMS and the GT World Challenge Asia [which Ratel's eponymous organisation runs],' he said. 'We believe there is the possibility to attract some Asian teams and drivers; for sure there are teams whose clients are interested. Advertisement 'We know we are not going to get a grid of 20 Hypercars, but I think something like six is possible in the first year.' LMP2 tenders decided French constructors ORECA and Ligier will build the next generation of LMP2 chassis due to come on stream in 2028. They came out on top in the tender process initiated by the FIA, together with the ACO and IMSA, in March. One other constructor that is known to have bid for the right to build LMP2 machinery was the relaunched Lola brand. #23 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson: Daniel Schneider, Oliver Jarvis, Ben Hanley #23 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson: Daniel Schneider, Oliver Jarvis, Ben Hanley The tender called for just two manufacturers to be licensed to produce P2 machinery rather than the four of the current formula introduced in 2017. Advertisement ORECA and Ligier were joined by Dallara and Multimatic/Riley, though P2 has become a de facto one-make formula for ORECA. Gibson will continue as the engine supplier for the new generation of P2 car. The new engine will be a direct-injection twin-turbo V6, as per the tender, and capable of producing 420kW (560bhp) and running 14,000km between full rebuilds. The latest Gibson powerplant replaces the existing normally-aspirated V8 used in all LMP2 chassis. Read Also: Ford reveals more details about 2027 WEC LMDh challenger United Autosports to run McLaren Hypercar programme, Dallara tie-up agreed Genesis hires Gabriele Tarquini to management team as WEC programme takes shape To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford confirms prototype program
Ford will enter the booming global factory prototype ranks with a new LMDh-based chassis starting in 2027. As RACER revealed earlier in January, the Blue Oval is set to chase overall wins at endurance sports car racing's biggest events, and it will start with the FIA World Endurance Championship and its marquee race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a factory program. 'We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford,' said Bill Ford. 'You can see it from what we're doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again. I am thrilled that we're going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and 'go like hell!'' No details on the team, number of cars, chassis supplier, or engine choice were provided, but RACER understands Ford took a serious look at partnering with Dallara to manufacture its Hypercar/GTP model — Dallara makes BMW's M Hybrid V8 and Cadillac's V-Series.R — before ultimately deciding to continue its alignment with Multimatic, which produces the championship-and Rolex 24-winning Porsche 963. Beyond its famous wins at Le Mans more than 50 years ago, Ford has made very few ventures into full-factory prototype racing. Its IMSA GTP programs in the 1980s, first with a front-engine car and then a rear-engine machine, along with a brief effort for Ford Europe in the WEC on a similar timeframe, a short Multimatic-led Daytona Prototype effort at the dawn of the DP formula, and a deeper engagement with Meyer Shank Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing during the second-generation DP era comprise most of the brand's forays outside of GT-based endurance competition. In returning to Le Mans, where Ford won on debut in the GTE class with the GT model in 2016, the American auto manufacturer will chase overall victories at the world's largest international motor race. The formal announcement, made in North Carolina, also included attendees from IMSA, where the new Ford LMDhs are expected to join the GTP class a year or two after the 2027 launch in WEC's Hypercar category. 'It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years,' said Automobile Club de l'Ouest president Pierre Fillon, who runs the event. 'It is a brand that has always had a close affinity with this very special race, and history shows that Ford does not compete to finish second. The renewal of its famous rivalry with Ferrari is truly an exciting prospect.' Story originally appeared on Racer
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
MissionH24 H24EVO prototype to switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen storage
The MissionH24 H24EVO prototype is set to undergo a switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen storage ahead of its final design freeze later this year. The MissionH24 project, led by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), is being pushed forward as a proof of concept for motorsport as the ACO and FIA edge closer to their target of introducing a ruleset that will enable manufacturers to compete with hydrogen-powered prototypes at Le Mans and in the FIA WEC by the end of the decade. Currently, the ruleset is being put together in conjunction with prospective manufacturers, though no target date for the technical regulations to be finalized has yet been disclosed publicly. The H24EVO – the third generation hydrogen prototype produced by MissionH24 – was presented to the public and media in show car form at Le Mans last year in June. Back then it incorporated a pair of tanks for gaseous hydrogen to power its 300kW Symbio fuel cell and in turn its 650 KW (872 hp) electric motor which drives the rear wheels. Now, it will switch technology to match the FIA's shift in direction to liquid hydrogen as a future solution for motorsport applications. This change to the H24EVO will enable between 11 and 14kg of hydrogen to be stored at -253 degrees Celcius in thermally insulated tanks, and increase its driving range by 10 plus minutes to 'at least' 40 minutes. The car's target weight remains at 1300 kg, but the planned top speed has increased to 211.3 mph to help reach the stated performance target of GT3 pace. 'After introducing gaseous hydrogen to the racetrack, MissionH24, with the H24EVO, is now embarking on a crucial new phase with a dual challenge: to engage liquid hydrogen in competition and to rival the competition from conventional combustion engines,' ACO President Pierre Fillon said at this week's 'Hyvolution Paris' exhibition. 'This mission is essential to achieve zero CO2 emission in motor racing.' Along with the shift in storage technology, the timeline for the H24EVO has also been updated. The design of the car is set to be frozen from May 2025, ahead of a second appearance at the Hydrogen Village at Le Mans in June. Later in the year, the car will undergo bench testing in October, before the ADESS-based prototype is fully assembled in February 2026 and track-tested in April. Story originally appeared on Racer
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hydrogen Le Mans prototype takes another step forward
The MissionH24 H24EVO prototype is set to undergo a switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen storage ahead of its final design freeze later this year. The MissionH24 project, led by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), is being pushed forward as a proof of concept for motorsport as the ACO and FIA edge closer to their target of introducing a ruleset that will enable manufacturers to compete with hydrogen-powered prototypes at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship by the end of the decade. The ruleset is being put together in conjunction with prospective manufacturers, though no target date for the technical regulations to be finalized has yet been disclosed. The H24EVO — the third-generation hydrogen prototype produced by MissionH24 — was presented to the public and media in show car form at Le Mans last year in June. Back then it incorporated a pair of tanks for gaseous hydrogen to power its 300kW Symbio fuel cell and in turn its 650 kW (872 hp) electric motor which drives the rear wheels. Now, it will switch technology to match the FIA's shift in direction to liquid hydrogen as a future solution for motorsport applications. This change to the H24EVO will enable between 11 and 14kg of hydrogen to be stored at -253 degrees C (-487 F) in thermally insulated tanks and increase its driving range by 10-plus minutes to 'at least' 40. The car's target weight remains at 1300 kg, but the planned top speed has increased to 211.3 mph to help reach the stated performance target of GT3 pace. 'After introducing gaseous hydrogen to the racetrack, MissionH24, with the H24EVO, is now embarking on a crucial new phase with a dual challenge: to engage liquid hydrogen in competition and to rival the competition from conventional combustion engines,' ACO President Pierre Fillon said at this week's 'Hyvolution Paris' exhibition. 'This mission is essential to achieve zero CO2 emission in motor racing.' Along with the shift in storage technology, the timeline for the H24EVO has also been updated. The design of the car is set to be frozen from May 2025, ahead of a second appearance at the Hydrogen Village at Le Mans in June. Later in the year, the car will undergo bench testing in October, before the ADESS-based prototype is fully assembled in February 2026 and track-tested in April. Story originally appeared on Racer
