ACO treats LMP2 as a Socialist Government (Update)
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| Hugues de Chaunac, President of ORECA Group, learns that God Giveth (to the inferior) and God Taketh Away (from the superior) |
LMP2 constructor ORECA has released a public response to the ACO’s decision on LMP2 ‘Joker’ upgrades for the 2018 season, which will see Ligier, Dallara and Riley/Multimatic all able to update their sprint and Le Mans aero packages, with Riley permitted to upgrade its Mk.30 chassis as well.
“ORECA Group acknowledges ACO and FIA’s decisions, and though we’ve been informed, more dialog and consultation would have been appreciated," said Hugues de Chaunac, President of ORECA Group.
“We disagree with these decisions and contest their legitimacy, considering the detailed analyzes conducted and provided by ORECA. Only European Le Mans Series races were looked at – four rounds to start with, then five. As for IMSA races, they haven’t been taken into account, which we think is regrettable.
“Contrary to technical regulations, these decisions regarding performance adjustments are not based on data evaluating performance deficits.
“As the only manufacturer not allowed to develop its car, ORECA finds itself unfairly penalized today, together with all the teams which have put their trust in us and have successfully entered the ORECA 07. We would like to express our support to them. In the early days of the project, all LMP2 players had agreed on the idea of an open competition between four chassis manufacturers sharing the same rules, with the same engine too.
“Less than a year in, we are now moving towards a balance of performance system which has nothing to do with this original idea. Originally, performance evolutions were possible and clearly intended to make sure that no manufacturer facing difficulties would be left by the wayside. Only one of us is in this situation today."
In conversation with DSC last weekend, the ACO’s technical director Vincent Beaumesnil stressed that the upgrades will not allow the three chassis to exceed the performance of the ORECA 07, and instead level the playing field.
“ORECA has done a very good job, it’s a good car," he said. “We don’t want to penalize that, so in the rules the LMP2 manufacturers can ask for a performance evolution, if it is demonstrated that there is a performance deficit. Dallara, Ligier, Riley and Multimatic made the request, ORECA didn’t because they have the best chassis.
“We did analysis to get a clear vision on who was competitive and who was not. We will grant these three manufacturers specific changes, they can’t develop the car outside of what we allow. We will be very strict and strong on this as we don’t want ORECA to be penalized for having the best car at the beginning.
“If (the upgrades) it doesn’t comply with what we’ve asked then we need to make another technical solution."
The updates to the three LMP2 chassis will be tested at the Wind Shear wind tunnel in the USA, before they make their competitive debut at the start of the 2018 season. DailySportsCar
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| Vincent Beaumesnil explains the 'socialist' LMP2 series |
10/15/17 DailySportsCar sat down with the ACO’s technical director Vincent Beaumesnil during Sunday’s 6 Hours of Fuji, to discuss the philosophy behind the confirmed ‘Joker’ upgrades permitted for the Ligier, Dallara and Riley LMP2 chassis for next season, and find out more details about the process [which is just like a socialist government – if you work hard to produce a superior race car (Oreca) the government will help the slackers and inferior designers (Ligier, Dallara and Riley) to catch up.]
Vincent, can you explain in your own words, the reasoning behind these upgrades, which we will see for the ‘Super Season’ to the LMP2 cars?
“The philosophy of what we do is important to understand. We have built this regulation set in order to provide a platform for the teams and the drivers. The stars of LMP2 are the teams and drivers, and not the car manufacturers. If you want to promote a car company, you go into LMP1.
“So we selected private manufacturers like Dallara, ORECA, to provide cars to the customers, we selected four to give them a good share of the market and at a competitive price to the teams.
“The cars were debuted at the same time, which is different to before, where it was in the rules, but there were new cars coming at different times, so there was always a new car coming and it made teams change cars more often. We want to protect the budgets of the teams.
“But the danger is that if one car is more competitive than the others, then the other three are stuck for four years. We needed to prevent that and make sure we keep a good balance to ensure everyone survives.
“ORECA has done a very good job, it’s a good car. We don’t want to penalize that, so in the rules the LMP2 manufacturers can ask for a performance evolution, if it is demonstrated that there is a performance deficit. Dallara, Ligier, Riley and Multimatic made the request, ORECA didn’t because they have the best chassis.
“We did an analysis to get a clear vision on who was competitive and who was not. We will grant these three manufacturers specific changes, they can’t develop the car outside of what we allow. We will be very strict and strong on this as we don’t want ORECA to be penalized for having the best car at the beginning. At the moment where we are now is that the manufacturers know the performance targets for their evolutions, so basically the Riley has more possibilities as it was further behind, they can do work on the chassis and aerodynamics. Where as Ligier and Dallara can only work on their aerodynamics for Sprint and Le Mans kit.
“Then they have to provide technical elements and tell us what they will change and how it will effect it. We will then control it in the wind tunnel."
Are you looking to just the aerodynamic numbers, or the dynamics of the car as it shifts and moves?
“We have to understand clearly what the game is."
So you’re asking to see their simulation data too?
“I cannot comment as it’s still being discussed. But yes for sure we want to have the real simulation impact."
How much will these updates cost for teams, or will they be given to the teams for free to prevent them having to find more budget?
“They are free of charge for the teams. This is a good way to restrict the evolutions, the teams won’t pay for these."
Can you go into any more details on the scope of changes that can be made to the Riley’s chassis?
“I can’t give any details now as it’s under discussion between the technical teams."
And the Dallara, it was a late decision to give it permission to change its Sprint kit as well as its Le Mans kit. Why was that?
“The reason basically was that there was some new important elements regarding the performance analysis that came on top of our preliminary analysis. I can’t give you any details on what they will do with the car.
“This will be the last Joker, there can only be one upgrade in the lifetime of the car."
Can you give us any more details into the process at the wind tunnel test at Wind Shear? How will it work if the performance levels do exceed the ORECA, what will you do to prevent that from happening?
“If it doesn’t comply with what we’ve asked then we need to make another technical solution. I don’t have the wind tunnel schedule now. To do testing you need a wind tunnel available, it’s when you have a slot that you can do it.
“We will test all of them in the same tunnel so we are consistent."
What has the reaction from ORECA been to this? As they may argue that they are being penalized in a way? As their sales may be affected by other chassis’ upgrades?
“What can I say? What do you think? Ask them, I can’t comment on behalf of others. I think if everybody is unhappy, there’s quite a good balance! The balance is not so bad."
How will these joker upgrades affect the chassis used for DPis in IMSA?
“You must ask IMSA. We manage P2, they manage DPi."
So you’re not collaborating with IMSA on this?
“We are collaborating every day with IMSA. We will share the wind tunnel time with IMSA, we work like that."
With the market place as it is in LMP2 now, is there any scope for another chassis manufacturer to come into LMP2 in this current cycle, similar to what happened in LMP3?
“There’s no change."
Will other manufacturers have to wait until the end of the cycle for you to re-open it then?
“At the end of the cycle, we haven’t discussed what we will do. We are only on the first year. We need to take the experience of this year and next year. Then we will discuss the next step, whether it will be a new selection or if it will stay the same." DailySportsCar