Rotary engines are allowed in the 2021 Le Man's hypercar regs

[clive]

The FIA World Endurance Championship has further defined its Le Mans Hypercar formula by releasing an updated set of technical regulations for the class and Rotary engines are allowed back in  .   Lets hope Mazda can do something with this allowance.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/updated-le-mans-hypercar-technical-regs-released/

[boosted]

Thats great news. Makes you think why? After all these years....did Mazda ask?

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[jinx]

More likely they need all the help they can get now the big money has decamped to Formula E. I could envisage the ACO is struggling to build a set of rules that encourages as many smaller fish to come on board to race something....anything... not based on a road car. It has always been the prototypes that created the glamour hasn't it - even if the others race just as hard and long.  ACO got a firm slap in the face when, after allowing them to help frame the new rules, Porsche announced they would not be entering.  Given there was an extended season as a bridge to the new rules to give Toyota another chance - to be still amending them now reminds me of political manifestos evolving to be ever more inclusive as an election draws nearer. 

[Jamie R]

What's that car that Clive posted ?

[jinx]

Glickenhaus.  American 'boutique' car manufacturer.*  Hypercar class entrants for 2020 though I'm not sure if they have an engine deal signed yet.  The costs of starting with a clean sheet at that sort of level it have to be eye-watering big.


* No I've no idea what that means either except that it probably adds several zeros to the price tag of anything they make! 

[DaveCollins]

Glickenhaus has a deal as I heard Jim speaking in an interview last week that they were already working on the engine to get 830bhp in endurance trim.  He has not announced who it is yet but rumours are it is Alfa Romeo.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/12/13/podcast-catching-up-with-jim-glickenhaus.html

Dave

[jinx]

Thanks for the link Dave.  I really like that they have a reservation for dinner after the race in Lyon and plan to drive there in the race car.  Can't fault that ambition can you, given that some of the cars used to be driven down to the circuit to bed them in before the race back in the fifties and early sixties.  Even the Gulf 917s used to drive from their garage up to the circuit on the public roads.   Refreshing hearing him say they want the road going versions of their Le Mans cars to be affordable - not that I'm expecting to be able to agree on the definition.