There are big changes coming to the Le Mans rule book for 2014! The organizing body, the ACO typically announces any rule changes two years in advance during the 24 Hour race week and today was the day. 

For decades now most big time racing series have imposed restrictions on engine displacement and cylinder count.  In addition many series use air inlet restrictors to balance the power output of various engines. 

Starting in 2014, the top class LMP1 cars can run whatever size engine they want with however many cylinders they choose and hybrid systems will also be freed up. Instead, each car will be given an energy allocation for the race that will amount to about a 30% fossil fuel reduction compared to current machines. The weight and width (and thus the aerodynamic drag) will also be reduced.

This could make for some very interesting racing and hopefully some advances in road car technology that can trickle down. 

CAR has more on the news http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/Le-Mans-regulations-for-2014-announced/

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Auto News – 24 Heures du Mans 2012 – New LMP1 Technical Regulations for 2014 unveiled – LeMans.org
All news about 24 Hours of Le Mans on www.lemans.org

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