ALMS puts brakes on LMP2 cars

IMSA has released a technical bulletin stating new regulation changes which will be in effect starting at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock next weekend. These changes pertain to the LMP2 category, instating the 5 percent restrictor increase which the ACO had mandated but the American Le Mans Series chose not to use at the start of the season.

1. All “LM"P2 cars must use engine air restrictors as listed in the 2007 ACO TECHNICAL REGULATIONS, Appendix 1, Section B, Articles B.1 and B.2, unless otherwise specified within this bulletin.

2. All “LM"P2 cars with 2.0 liter L4 turbocharged engines may compete with the current one (1) air restrictor with a maximum inside diameter of 45 mm. and with a maximum manifold pressure of 2700 mbar. This constitutes the first of the two permitted class sporting adjustments under Attachment 2 of the American Le Mans Series SSR.

3. The Lola/B07-46 Mazda with the 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder, MZR-R turbocharged engine may continue to compete with the waiver which was added to its homologation and permits the use of electronic throttle through the final round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series.

The bulletin outlines that the Porsche and Acura prototypes will be forced to compete with the 5 percent air restrictor increase which has been run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Le Mans Series in P2. IMSA had initially elected not to use this new regulation prior to the start of the 2007 ALMS season but has now instated it.

Increasing the air restrictor in P2 should give a larger gap in performance between the P1 cars, meaning that it may be tougher for Porsche or Acura to claim overall wins in the series from now on.