Le Mans is deeply committed to reducing carbon emissions in their races and this year they continued to show they are good at it – this was the main message organizers and motor racing top officials raised at the highly attended ACO press conference.
This time, in addition to Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, Richard Mille, President of the FIA Endurance Commission, and Frédéric Lequien, Management Director of Le Mans Endurance Management, Tom Kristensen and Toyota President Akio Toyoda were also present.
The introduction of the Hypercar class in 2021 has proven to be a success, and next year, three more manufacturers are expected to enter the competition: BMW, Lamborghini, and Alpine. Hypercars are vehicles with a maximum weight of 1030 kg, a maximum power of 500 kW, limited to a speed of 330 km/h, a single tire supplier, and controlled costs.
In 2026, there will be a new class for cars powered by hydrogen, as the FIA, WEC, and ACO maintain their commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Partnerships with GreenGT, TotalEnergies, Michelin, Symbio, Plastic Omnium, Richard Mille, Dietsmann, and Essilor will continue.
Akio Toyoda made a surprise announcement of a hydrogen-powered Toyota Hypercar for the team competing in the WEC. They are the first major manufacturer to do so. The Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept was presented at the Hydrogen Village Friday afternoon and made a demonstration lap over the weekend. Two weeks ago, a hydrogen-powered Corolla participated in the 24 Hours race in Fuji.
During the conference, the FIA presented the Sustainable Endurance Award, with Porsche declared the winner. Scuderia Ferrari took second place, followed by the American team, Cadillac, in third.
A new category is on its way. In 2024, the LMGT3, with a single tire supplier (Good Year), will replace the current LMP2 and require an agreement with the manufacturer for participation.
Regarding the race calendar for 2024, there are some changes, including the exclusion of the Portimão race. The WEC championship will begin with a prologue on Feb. 24 and 25, followed by the first race in Qatar on March 2. The race in Imola will debut on April 21, followed by races in SPA-Francorchamps on May 11, Le Mans on June 15 and 16. Brazil is another new addition with the 6 Hours of São Paulo on July 14. The championship will continue in Japan with the 6 Hours of Fuji on Sep. 15, concluding on Nov. 2 in Bahrain.
As for the Asian Le Mans Series championship, five races have been announced for a tight schedule. The first two races will take place in Sepang (Malaysia) later this year on Dec. 2 and 3. The Dubai race is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2024. The short championship will conclude the following weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi) with races on Feb. 10 and 11.
For simulator enthusiasts, the Macau Sim Association should be aware that a new game called Le Mans Ultimate will be released in 2024. Some ACO simulators with the new game are already installed and can be experienced. Sérgio de Almeida Correia, MDT, Le Mans
