Sylvie Willis
Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars are a type of sports prototype race car used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, and Asian Le Mans Series. The LMP category has two classes: LMP2 and LMP3. LMP cars can be powered by production-based petrol or diesel engines, with naturally aspirated engines limited to 5.0 litres and no more than eight cylinders. If the petrol engines are turbocharged or supercharged, their limits are 3.2 litres and six cylinders. Biofuels, specifically petrol with 10% ethanol and biodiesel (BTL), are also allowed in both LMP1 and LMP2 categories. Fuel tank sizes vary depending on the type of engine, with petrol-powered cars limited to 68.3 litres and diesel-powered cars limited to 54.2 litres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Petrol, Diesel, Biodiesel, Biofuel |
| Fuel Tank Size | 75 litres, 68.3 litres for petrol-powered cars, 54.2 litres for diesel-powered cars |
| Engine Type | Production-based, Naturally Aspirated, Turbocharged, Supercharged |
| Engine Displacement | 5.5 litres for LMP1-L, 5.0 litres for Naturally Aspirated, 3.2 litres for Turbo/Supercharged |
| Cylinder Limit | 8 cylinders for Naturally Aspirated, 6 cylinders for Turbo/Supercharged |
| Minimum Weight | 870 kg for LMP1-H, 850 kg for privateer non-hybrid cars, 824 kg for LMP1 Rebellion Racing, ByKolles Racing, and DragonSpeed |
| Horsepower | 540 bhp for LMP2 as of 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
LMP cars use both petrol and diesel engines
Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars are a type of sports prototype race car used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, and Asian Le Mans Series.
LMP1 cars are the most powerful in endurance racing. There are no limits on the number of cylinders, and engine displacement is free for hybrid cars but limited to 5.5 litres for LMP1-L entries. The only other restriction is that only petrol and diesel four-stroke engines with reciprocating pistons are permitted.
In 2019, non-hybrid LMP1 cars were freed from fuel usage limits ahead of the penultimate WEC round at Spa-Francorchamps. This meant that privateer teams could run flat-out rather than being contained by limits to their per-lap usage.
Biofuels, specifically petrol with 10% ethanol and biodiesel (BTL), are allowed in both LMP1 and LMP2 categories.
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Biofuels are allowed in LMP1 and LMP2 categories
LMP1 cars are the most powerful in endurance racing. They have large displacement custom-built engines that are usually turbocharged. There are no limits on the number of cylinders, and engine displacement is free for hybrid cars but limited to 5.5 litres for LMP1-L entries. The minimum weight of LMP1-H cars is 870 kg, with a limit of 850 kg for privateer, non-hybrid cars. Fuel tanks are limited in size to 68.3 litres for petrol-powered cars and 54.2 litres for diesel machines.
LMP2 cars, on the other hand, use smaller displacement production-based engines. They are slower than LMP1 cars because they have less downforce and power. LMP2 cars have been slowed down further to ensure the necessary lap time difference between them and a new class called Hypercar. The LMP2 class has a single engine supplier, Gibson Technology, which produces a four-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine. The fuel tank size and minimum weight for non-hybrid LMP2 cars have been adjusted to reduce the performance difference between hybrid and non-hybrid cars.
In 2020, it was announced that the LMP1 category would be retired and replaced by the new top class of endurance racing: Hypercar. LMP1 cars were eligible to compete alongside Hypercars for two more seasons, from 2021 to 2022.
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LMP1-H cars have a minimum weight of 870kg
Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars are sports prototype race cars used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, and Asian Le Mans Series. The LMP1 class has been replaced by Le Mans Hypercars in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the 2021 season.
LMP1-H cars have a minimum weight of 870 kg. This weight requirement is part of the technical regulations that LMP cars must adhere to. The minimum weight of LMP cars has been adjusted over time, with non-hybrid LMP1 cars having their minimum weight raised from 818 kg to 824 kg in 2019. The minimum weight of LMP2 cars was also increased by 20 kg to 950 kg before the 2021 season.
LMP cars can use production-based petrol and diesel engines, with specific restrictions on engine size and the number of cylinders depending on whether the engine is naturally aspirated, turbo, or supercharged. Biofuels, specifically petrol with 10% ethanol and biodiesel (BTL), are allowed in both LMP1 and LMP2 categories.
In terms of fuel efficiency, LMP1 cars have been known to have an "unlimited" amount of fuel energy to use per lap in certain races, such as the FIA World Endurance Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019. This allowed privateer teams to run flat-out without being constrained by per-lap fuel usage limits.
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LMP1 cars have no limits on the number of cylinders
Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars are sports prototype race cars used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, and Asian Le Mans Series.
LMP cars have two classes: LMP2 and LMP3. LMP1 cars, which were the fastest closed-wheel racing cars used in circuit racing, were replaced by Le Mans Hypercars in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the 2021 season.
LMP cars can use production-based petrol and diesel engines. Naturally aspirated engines are limited to 5.0 litres and no more than eight cylinders, while petrol engines that are turbo or supercharged are limited to 3.2 litres and six cylinders. The fuel tank is set at 75 litres.
Non-hybrid LMP1 cars were eligible to compete alongside the new class for the 2021 to 2022 seasons. In 2019, these non-hybrid LMP1 cars were freed from fuel usage limits ahead of the penultimate WEC round at Spa-Francorchamps, allowing them to run flat-out without being contained by per-lap usage limits.
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LMP2 cars have a 75-litre fuel tank
Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars are sports prototype race cars used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, and Asian Le Mans Series.
LMP cars have two classes: LMP2 and LMP3. The LMP2 class is smaller than the LMP3 class. LMP2 cars have a 75-litre fuel tank. The LMP1 class has been replaced by Le Mans Hypercars in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the 2021 season.
LMP2 cars use production-based petrol and diesel engines, with naturally aspirated engines limited to 5.0 litres and a maximum of eight cylinders. If the petrol engines are turbocharged or supercharged, their limits are 3.2 litres and six cylinders. LMP2 cars are not as technologically advanced as LMP1 cars due to the absence of hybrid components, and they are slower because of lower downforce and power.
Biofuels, specifically petrol with 10% ethanol and biodiesel (BTL), are allowed in both LMP1 and LMP2 categories. The fuel efficiency of LMP cars is a topic of interest, with some sources mentioning the fuel usage displayed at the end of races.
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Frequently asked questions
LMP cars use production-based petrol and diesel engines.
Fuel tank sizes for LMP cars are restricted to 68.3 litres for petrol-powered cars and 54.2 litres for diesel-powered cars.
Yes, non-hybrid car weights and fuel tank sizes can be adjusted to reduce the performance gap between hybrid and non-hybrid cars.
For LMP1-L entries, engine displacement is limited to 5.5 litres. There are no limits on the number of cylinders, but only petrol and diesel four-stroke engines with reciprocating pistons are permitted.
Yes, biofuels are allowed in both LMP1 and LMP2 categories. Specifically, petrol with 10% ethanol and biodiesel (BTL) are permitted.
