Le Mans 2015, all you need to know
Since the championship’s inception in 2012, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has constituted the main event of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar. This legendary event – which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2013 – has also welcomed competitors from the European, American, and Asian championships, for which the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) is the regulatory body. In 2014, "the future" hit the track with the implementation of new regulations showcasing innovative technologies in LMP1, the premier class of the championship. This evolution has allowed for the reduction of fuel consumption by 30% - all while maintaining performance levels. Carte blanche was given to constructors with one mandate: to not exceed a total allocation of energy, forcing better performance; hence, hybrid systems are now available, and hybrid cars are among the grid. In addition to Audi and Toyota, present in endurance for several years now, this philosophy proved alluring for Porsche - the win record-holder at Le Mans - who made its big return to the fight for overall victory in 2014.
In 2015, it is Nissan’s turn to race the great Circuit des 24 Heureswith a radically different concept than its adversaries. The Japanese company's GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 entry is front-engined and unique in a number of other physical ways. This Le Mans challenger wasrevealed in a Super Bowl commercial.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans event is more than ever a full-scale laboratory for constructors - and not only in the head class. The synergy between the new version of the Corvette introduced last year in GT and the road model had never reached such a level. This bridge between the road and the race allows constructors to demonstrate their know-how. This is a fact which has not escaped the notice of Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Chevrolet, officially present via “factory” teams and private outfits in the LM GTE category. Indeed, above and beyond constructors, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has always attracted private outfits and gentlemen-drivers whose turf is LMP2 and LM GTE AM. The balance between professionals and amateurs benefits the sport in addition to the ever-increasing number of fans who make the trip to Le Mans in June to attend this extraordinary show.
