The second generation of LMP3 will compete in 2020, five years after the ACO created the category. After a call for tenders launched by the governing body, four manufacturers were selected: Ligier, Duqueine Engineering (Ex Norma), Ginetta and Adess.
To date, 170 LMP3s are in completion. A French model was recently exported to North America with the renewal of the IMSA Prototype Challenge where LMP3 is the top category, but also the Michelin IMSA SportsCar Encore.
Since its creation in 2015, this category has aimed to serve as a springboard to the top of the ACO pyramid: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thomas Laurent is the perfect example, with a meteoric rise that has allowed him to evolve to LMP1 at Rebellion Racing this year.
For this 2nd phase of LMP3, the basic principles have been preserved, namely: competitive cars, a high-level sports program, guaranteed at the same time by a reasonable budget and a technology that’s accessible to all.
Some key points:
– Oreca remains the exclusive supplier of the Powertrain (engine, gearbox, electronics)
– The car will be an upgrade of the current cars for every manufacturer, it is not an entirely new car. An upgrade kit has been put together (on safety, performance and design)
– The prices fixed by the regulation are 4900 € for the upgrade of the current engine, 50000 € for the chassis upgrade kit (technical passport included), a total of 54900 € to update a current car in 2020 version. A new 2020 car will cost € 239,000 at the most (technical passport included).
– A particular effort has been made on customer quality, thanks to a technical support on the circuits, a distribution of spare parts and a technical passport
The calendar of introduction of this LMP3 2020-2024:
– Season 2020: European Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup, Road to Le Mans, Ultimate Cup, VdeV
– Season 2020-2021: Asian Le Mans Series
– Season 2021: Any other competition
Florian DEFET
Source : https://endurance24.fr/la-deuxieme-generation-des-lmp3-arrive-en-2020/