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2016 Regulations

 

Photo : John ROURKE - Adrenal Media

 

Key points for 2016

 

1.   LMP1


In 2015 LMP1 cars will be known as 'hybrid' and non'hybrid' instead of LMP1-H and LMP1-L. There will still be an FIA Endurance Trophy for Privateer LMP1 Drivers and Teams.

2.   ENGINES


For LMP1 Hybrid competitors only: engine use is limited to 5 engines for the complete season (all race events) per car entered.

For new manufacturers entering the Manufacturer’s FIA World Endurance Championship : engine use is limited to 7 engines for the complete season (all race events) per car entered.

For the non-permanent LMP1 competitors in the FIA World Endurance Championship (race-by-race entry): A maximum of 2 engines can be used for free practice, qualifying practice and the race.

3.   TYRES



Photo : John ROURKE - Adrenal Media

 

Summary table of maximum number of tyres available per event (does not apply to the 24 Hours of Le Mans)

    Sets of Tyres Single Tyres
WEC 6 Hours Events Free Practice Qualifying + Race Any Additional time during the event
LMP1 4 6* 2
LMP2 3 4 2
LMGTE Pro 4 6 2
LMGTE Am 4 6 2

 

* 8 sets for Shanghai and Bahrain

4.   LIMITATION OF PERSONNEL


For Competitors entered in the Manufacturers’ World Endurance Championship only:

For all events scheduled after the 2016 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans:

No competitor may have more than 65 operational people at a 6-hour WEC race for 2 cars and 90 operational people for 3 cars (except where additional personnel are required by special regulation for an event; this must be confirmed by the decision of the Endurance Committee) with access to the Team pit garages and technical trucks/offices from the start of initial scrutineering until the end of the race.

5.   LMP1 AVERAGE DRIVER WEIGHT 


LMP1 entrants must declare the minimum weight of each driver entered. If the average weight of the drivers is 80kg or more no action is necessary. If the average weight is less than 80kg, driver ballast must be added to the car which will equal 80kg minus the actual average weight of the drivers.

6.   STARTING GRID


There will be one qualifying session to determine the starting grid and organised as follows:

  • 20 minutes for LMP1 and LMP2 cars only
  • 20 minutes for LMGTE Pro and Am cars only

Two nominated drivers from each crew must set at least 1 timed lapduring qualifying. The average of the 2best lap times (the best of each driver) will serve as the reference time for establishing the grid.  

NOTE:  In 2014 the average of 4 best laps (the best 2 for each driver) was used as the reference time, with each half session in qualifying being 25 minutes.

7.   KEY TECHNICAL CHANGES


LMP1:

  • Energy per lap reduced by 10MJ (representing a reduction of 7.5% for the faster cars)
  • Instantaneous fuel flow reduced by the same proportions
  • Additional head protection padding for the driver
  • Hybrid power/energy delivery restriction of 300kw for Le Mans only
  • Three different homologated bodywork iterations will be allowed during the season, reducing to two in 2017 to further control costs
  • Wheel arch vents will be around 25% larger as part of a drive to improve safety 
  • Further testing and wind tunnel restrictions

LMGTE:

  • Complete new set of regulations for LMGTE
  • LMGTE Pro car to target a precise performance window (improve performance)
  • Safety nets
  • Evacuation hatches

8.   TESTING


The number and type of private tests that can be undertaken by competitors in LMP1 and LMP2 have been updated for 2016. The allocation is such that one car per test day equals one unit (car/days) and two cars per test day equals two units (car/days). The numbers of car/days now allowed are as follows:

For LMP1 competitors only

  • A maximum of 10 closed private testing car/days are allowed.
  • A maximum of 20 closed private testing car/days are allowed for any new car manufacturer entering the Manufacturers’ World Endurance Championship.
  • A maximum of 10 open private testing car/days respecting the pre-announcement period of 30 days are allowed.
  • A maximum of 23 open private testing car/days respecting the pre-announcement period of 90 days are allowed.

For LMP2, LMGTE Pro and Am Competitors

  • A maximum of 10 closed private testing car/days are allowed per competitor per category.

9.   PIT STOP PROCEDURES


The pit lane is divided into three areas:

  • The “fast lane” is the closest to the wall in the signalling area. A car can access the fast lane only under its own power.
  • The “acceleration and deceleration lane” is the central lane.

The “working area” is the closest to the garage, where work is carried out on the cars. It has a wall or a painted line in front of the pit shutter on one side and a line separating it from the central lane on the other.

Speed limit in the pit lane: 60 km/h.

Cars in the fast lane have priority over those leaving the working area. The team is responsible for the safe release of a car from its pit area.

10.   PIT STOPS


Number of personnel involved during refuelling remains the same, with a clarification that each person must have one of the operations outlined in article 10.8.4 and cannot perform the functions of 2 persons unless permitted with the current regulations.

Clarification for LMP1 only of the Fuel Flow Meter person:

  • Allowed to clean the windscreen or change/repair the fuel flow meter, no other operation allowed
  • Allowed to take place in the working area before the car arrives and stops in front of his garage IF a fuel flow meter change is required and until the car leaves the area. In that case the fuel flow meter change must be done prior to any other operation
  • If no fuel flow meter change/repair is required, allowed in the working area only after the car has stopped in front of his garage for windscreen cleaning only

Same number of mechanics as 2015 – four – will be allowed to intervene during a pit stop, wearing mandatory green armbands. For full description see article 10.8.4.

Two tyre / brake technicians will be allowed and marked by blue armbands.

Penalty for infringement of pit stop personnel operations is a drive through penalty at the stewards’ discretion.

11.   PITS - SAFETY EQUIPMENT


Mandatory safety clothing and equipment for competitors’ personnel in the pit lane during all practice sessions and the race must be homologated by the FIA, clarified in article 4.7.1.2 to ensure that all persons understand what requirements team personnel must be wearing in pit lane (over the line in front of the pit shutter – not over the 2.5m line).

12.   PENALTIES


Speeding in the Pit Lane – revised penalties during the race:

  • Previously first infringement was 5 sec per kph over 60 kph stop & go penalty, second infringement 10 sec per kph over 60kph stop & go penalty, third infringement penalty at the stewards’ discretion. NEW: first infringement drive through penalty, in the case of exceeding 70kph a 5 sec per kph over 70kph (rounded up) stop & go penalty. Second infringement drive through penalty, in the case of exceeding 70kph a 10 sec per kph over 70kph (rounded up) stop & go penalty. Third infringement penalty at the stewards’ discretion.

Spinning wheels when leaving pit stop – revised penalty during the race:

  • Previously 3 min stop & go penalty. NEW: stop & go penalty.

Penalties

In order to have clearer sporting regulations, which also reflect the FIA International Sporting Code, penalties have been placed into their own article within the WEC regulations. These clearly outline what penalties are available to the stewards. These include penalties such as Pit Lane Time Penalty (i.e. a 10 sec stop & go penalty), or Added Pit Lane Time (time added to the next pit stop).

Technical Penalties

  • Maximum released ERS Power > 300kW penalties: free practice – no penalty, qualifying – lap time cancelled, race – 2nd infringement 10 sec stop & go penalty, 3rd infringement 40 sec stop & go penalty, 4th or further infringement 60 sec stop & go penalty

END OF SEASON ROOKIE TEST

Provision of at least one car by competitors entered in the World Endurance Manufacturers Championship for a Rookie Test, which will take place on a date and at a location that will be confirmed later this year, is mandatory.



2016 SPORTING REGULATIONS

 

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

At the end of the WEC season, the following World Championshio titles, Cups and Trophies will be awarded:

The Championship has two World Champion titles:

  • The title of FIA World Endurance Champion Driver
  • The title of FIA World Endurance Champion Manufacturer LMP1

The following Cup and Trophies will also be awarded:

  • World Cup for LMGTE manufacturers, reserved for manufacturers entered in LMGTE (whether Pro or Am)
  • An FIA World Endurance Cup for GT drivers.
  • An FIA Endurance Trophy awarded to the best private LMP1 team, (using only non-hybrid cars or as defined in Article 13.A.a.III), officially entered in the Championship but not competing for the title of FIA World Endurance Manufacturers' Champion.
  • An FIA Endurance Trophy for private LMP1 team drivers (provided that at least three cars are entered for the full season)
  • FIA Endurance Trophy awarded to the best LMP2 team
  • FIA Endurance Trophy awarded to the best LMGTE Pro team
  • FIA Endurance Trophy awarded to the best LMGTE Am team
  • FIA Endurance Trophy awarded to the best LMP2 driver(s)
  • FIA Endurance Trophy awarded to the best GTE Am driver(s)

POINTS

Photo : John ROURKE - Adrenal Media

Points for the titles of World Champion Driver(s) and World Champion Manufacturers, as well as those for the Cup and Trophies, are awarded at each race (other than the Le Mans 24 Hours) according to the following scale:

  6 Hour Races 24H Le Mans
1st: 25 points 50 points
2nd: 18 points 36 points
3rd: 15 points 30 points
4th: 12 points 24 points
5th: 10 points 20 points
6th: 8 points 16 points
7th: 6 points 12 points
8th: 4 points 8 points
9th: 2 points 4 points
10th: 1 point 2 points
And beyond: 0.5 point * 1 point *


*Half a point (1 point at Le Mans) will be awarded to any car finishing in the overall classification in a round of the World Endurance Championship.
The title of FIA World Endurance Drivers' Champion is reserved for LMP1 and LMP2 drivers (combined classification of LMP categories) and will be awarded to the driver(s) having scored the greatest number of points in the general classification for each event.
The title of FIA World Endurance Manufacturers' Champion, will be awarded subject to the following conditions:
-  Upon the manufacturer which, specially entered in the LMP1 Manufacturers’ Championship (see. Article 39 D), has scored the greatest number of points after consideration of all the results obtained by the best car entered by a manufacturer in the Manufacturers’ World Championship (make/model mentioned on the car’s homologation form) in the general classification of the events that have actually taken place.
- The title will be awarded taking into consideration the results obtained in all the events counting towards the Championship, including Le Mans.
  

POLE POSITION

For all the above classifications, an additional point will be awarded, at each event, to the "pole position" team, as well as to all the drivers making up the crew of the cars concerned, in each category (best time achieved by the car in each category during qualifying).

Two drivers from each crew must set at least one timed lap during qualifying. The average of the two best lap times (the best lap of each driver) will serve as the reference time for establishing the grid.

NOTES
Only those competitors appearing on the official list of entries in the Championship are entitled to score points for the Championship titles.

"Additional cars" and "complementary cars” will not be allowed to score points for the Championship titles, but will retain their place in the classification at the end of each Championship event, while being "invisible" for the various classifications.  The drivers of additional cars entered by a manufacturer registered for the World Championship will be entitled to score points for the Drivers’ World Championship, regardless of the number of cars entered by that competitor in each event, their group and their category.
  

DRIVING TIMES

For the LMP1 and LMGTE Pro categories:
To be able to score points, a driver must categorically drive for a minimum of 40 minutes during the race. A driver may not drive for more than 4 hours and 30 minutes in total.

For the LMP2 category:
A driver must categorically have driven for a minimum of 1 hour and 15 minutes during the race. A driver may not drive for more than 3 hours and 30 minutes in total.

For the LMGTE Am category:
A driver must categorically have driven for a minimum of 1 hour and 45 minutes during the race. A driver may not drive for more than 3 hours and 30 minutes in total.


SAFETY CAR

Photo : John ROURKE - Adrenal Media

 

There will be only one safety car in operation at a time, except for circuits of over 7 km in length, where other safety cars, positioned at intermediate points around the circuit, may be authorised by the FIA Race Director. There will be 3 safety cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

During the first three laps of the safety car, the pit entry will be closed. Any car entering the pits during these first three laps shall be allowed to refuel for only 5 seconds and/or replace a damaged tyre(s), on the condition that after the third lap, or as soon as the pit entry opens, the car comes back in again for a normal pit stop.


CONDITIONS FOR CLASSIFICATION

The car placed first is the one that covered the greatest distance up to the showing of the chequered flag (the position of the cars on the starting grid is not taken into account).

To be classified, a car must:
  • Cross the finish line on the race track when the chequered flag is shown, except in a case of force majeure at the stewards' discretion. It is prohibited to stop on the race track pending the showing of the chequered flag.
  • Have covered at least 70% of the distance covered by the car classified in first place in the overall classification.
  • The official number of laps will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

EQUIVALENCE SYSTEMS (PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGIES)

In order to limit the gap in performance between the hybrid and non-hybrid cars, the Endurance Committee may adapt the performance of the non-hybrid cars.

Equivalence systems between the different LMP1 propulsion technologies

A.    The reference will be the calculation of the average lap time of the fastest car in each technology. The average lap time will be calculated over the number of laps corresponding to 20% of the distance of the races (average of the best laps).

The models of the cars with the slowest technologies must have participated in at least two races and must have been properly classified in order to be able to benefit from the application of the rule. The first adjustment of performance may be applied at any time by the Endurance Committee.

The Committee will have the right to request any necessary information from the manufacturers and/or the competitors, in order to shed light on the issue at hand. Any such information will be treated in a strictly confidential manner.

Any competitor having deliberately provided false information or having attempted to influence an adjustment by hiding its true level of performance will be penalised by the FIA.

B.    The Endurance Committee may adjust the allocation of energy by + or – 10 MJ (reference for a lap of the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit) for all LMP1 cars in order to adjust the global level of performance.

Equivalence of Technology of the LMP1 cars

The principles of the EoT, will be applied up to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours event. Upon examination of the data collected during the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours event, the criteria of the EoT will be defined for application up to the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours event.

The calculation formulae, the list of data communicated by the manufacturers and the list of sensors. If, during the Le Mans 24 Hours event, any discrepancy is noted in relation to the declared values, a dissuasive penalty system will be applied.

It will be up to the Endurance Committee to settle any questions that might arise concerning the application and/or interpretation of these elements in the last resort.


BALANCE OF PERFORMANCE

LMP2 cars

The main objectives for these cars must be reliability, safety and a low maintenance cost. Thus, should a particular model of car perform too well, under the terms applicable to the adjustment of performance the Endurance Committee may take immediate measures to reduce its performance.

The Endurance Committee will favour reducing the performance of the fastest models rather than increasing the performance of the slower models.

The Endurance Committee may proceed to adjust the balance of performance of the different LMP2 cars and engines. The parameters liable to be modified are as follows:
•    Engine power up to -5%
•    Weight up to +30 kg
•    Fuel tank capacity up to -10 litres

Adjustments to performance are the responsibility of the Endurance Committee alone.

LMGTE cars

According to its missions, the Committee is allowed to balance the performance of the GTE cars as defined by the applicable technical regulations, and the following modifications may be applied:

•    Minimum weight of the car
•    Engine air restrictor and boost pressure ratio
•    Fuel tank capacity
•    Height of the rear wing
•    Any other technical modifications


DRIVER CATEGORIES

Composition of the crews

LMP1: Bronze drivers are not permitted

LMP2: A crew of 2 or 3 drivers must include at least one Silver or Bronze driver.

LMGTE Pro: The composition of the crews is free

LMGTE Am: A crew of 2 or 3 drivers must include at least 1 Bronze and 1 Bronze or Silver

Platinum

Professional driver generally recognized as a well-known driver on the international scene, under the age of 50 and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:

  • has held a Super Licence (for Formula One);
  • has won the Le Mans 24 Hours outright;
  • has been a Works Driver, paid by a car manufacturer;
  • has finished in the top 10 in the general classification in F3000, CART/Champcar, IRL or GP2;
  • has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of an F3 international series (British/Euro F3) or a major international single-seater Championship (e.g. World Series by Renault);
  • is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Platinum by the Endurance Committee.

Gold

Semi-professional driver in international series or who has distinguished himself in national Championships and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:

  • driver satisfying the criteria of the category A (Platinum) but aged 50 to 59;
  • has competed competitively in the World Karting Championship or single-seater series and is under 35 years of age;
  • has finished in the top 10 in the general classification of a secondary international single-seater series (A1 GP, Renault V6, FR2000 international…);
  • has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of a national single-seater series (F3, FR2000…);
  • has finished in the top 5 in the general classification of an entry level single-seater series (F-Ford, F-BMW, F-Zip, Autosport Academy…);
  • has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of the Porsche Supercup;
  • has finished in the top 3 of the general classification of a national or international series organised by a manufacturer (Porsche, Seat, Peugeot, Renault…);
  • is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Gold by the Committee.

Silver

Amateur driver satisfying at least one of the following criteria:

  • driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of categories A (Platinum) and B (Gold) ;
  • driver satisfying the criteria of the Platinum category but aged 60 or over;
  • driver who has finished in 1st place in the general classification of national Championships or international series in association with a professional driver;
  • driver who has won a non-professional drivers’ series (Ferrari Challenge, Maserati Trofeo, Lamborghini Supertrophy…);
  • is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Silver by the Endurance Committee.

Bronze

Amateur driver. Any driver holding an International B licence without a significant record of achievements in motor sport but whose level of performance can be considered as Bronze by the Endurance Committee.


THE FULL 2016 FIA SPORTING AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM THE FIA WEC MEDIA AREA at www.fiawec.com/press-area/

WEC'S PARTNERS

2016 SEASON

Calendar

Race

2016 Classification

1st
Porsche
127 pts
2nd
Audi
95 pts
3rd
Toyota
79 pts
1st
Rebellion Racing
86 pts
2nd
Rebellion Racing
50 pts
3rd
Bykolles Racing Team
30 pts
1st
LIEB M.
94 pts
1st
JANI N.
94 pts
1st
DUMAS R.
94 pts