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The main problem with that is building something that is sustainable. They tried a formula similar to yours back in late 80s called Group C. It was incredible c

The main problem with that is building something that is sustainable. They tried a formula similar to yours back in late 80s called Group C. It was incredible cars and incredible racing but became so absurdly expensive no one could afford it. I would like the rules to be more open as well. The Hybrid Systems for LMPs have to be homologated at the start of the year which prevents development of them during the year. Also the Hybrid systems are limited to only being able to collect certain amount of energy. The problem is the people paying the bills on LMP projects are the ones that have the say on the rules. And the people paying the bills dont want the costs to get out of hand. Which admittedly if they went to a more unlimited rules package could happen.

TylerE 13y ago
You could easily keep costs under control by adding a claiming rule - e.g. allow the team that comes last to buy the winner's car for some fixed price, $500k, say.
- ericcumbee 13y ago
  They do have a cost capped formula intended for Privateers called LMP2. its cost capped where the manufacturer can only sell the car for a certain price.
- jsmeaton 13y ago
  Including spare parts (engines, wings, whatever), expertise, manuals, design documents? Or just the car? I can't possibly see how this could work.
  - ericcumbee 13y ago
    Not to mention that when Factory LMP programs have sold customer cars there are pretty strict restrictions. From my understanding When Audi sold R8 LMPs as Customer cars. they put pretty strict restrictions on them. They could not start the engine with out a Audi Sport Engineer present. Even now that those cars have made it into the hands of collectors, Audi does not allow them to plug into the engine management system.
topynate 13y ago
No. Group C was done in by Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone because it was threatening Formula One. The costs became prohibitive not because of competition between teams, but because of new rules that favoured the manufacturers by making F1 engines (which were very expensive) all but required if you wanted to stay competitive. And after the privateer teams were gone, there was no real reason for the bigger teams to compete with each other in Group C when they could do so in F1 with the same engines: an outcome which very nicely lined Bernie's pockets.

TylerE 13y ago

You could easily keep costs under control by adding a claiming rule - e.g. allow the team that comes last to buy the winner's car for some fixed price, $500k, say.

ericcumbee 13y ago
They do have a cost capped formula intended for Privateers called LMP2. its cost capped where the manufacturer can only sell the car for a certain price.
jsmeaton 13y ago
Including spare parts (engines, wings, whatever), expertise, manuals, design documents? Or just the car? I can't possibly see how this could work.
- ericcumbee 13y ago
  Not to mention that when Factory LMP programs have sold customer cars there are pretty strict restrictions. From my understanding When Audi sold R8 LMPs as Customer cars. they put pretty strict restrictions on them. They could not start the engine with out a Audi Sport Engineer present. Even now that those cars have made it into the hands of collectors, Audi does not allow them to plug into the engine management system.

topynate 13y ago

No. Group C was done in by Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone because it was threatening Formula One. The costs became prohibitive not because of competition between teams, but because of new rules that favoured the manufacturers by making F1 engines (which were very expensive) all but required if you wanted to stay competitive. And after the privateer teams were gone, there was no real reason for the bigger teams to compete with each other in Group C when they could do so in F1 with the same engines: an outcome which very nicely lined Bernie's pockets.