Le Mans Endurance Racing Explained

As Mark Webber returns to his first competitive drive of a prototype sports car since 1999 this weekend, we look at the technicalities of the FIA’s number one sports car championship. Often described as F1 cars with mudguards, the WEC prototypes and its regulations and racing formats are totally different animals to grand prix racing.

Webber recently completed extensive preparations with the Porsche squad ahead of the Silverstone Six Hour where he will share the 919 hybrid with Kiwi Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard. Ahead of Webber’s comeback to prototype racing, the sections below are an overview of what makes the WEC tick.

The FIA is comprised of Le Mans Prototype cars (LMP1 and LMP2) and Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance cars (LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am). Le Mans prototypes are cars developed exclusively for on-track competition. LMP1 is split into two classes, LMP1-L for privateer non-hybrids and LMP1-H for hybrid-powered cars.

As the light cars (L) have no Energy Recovery System (ERS), the FIA limit the amount of fuel in accordance to the used electrical boost, so that both can compete in the same category. LMP1 cars are only driven by professional racing drivers and are marked by red stickers. The LMP1 powertrain for 2014 is based on efficiency and fuel consumption meaning no limit in air restrictor, boost pressure and engine capacity.

Their overall length must be no more than 4650mm and width no more than 1900mm – an F1 car would be in the region of 4630mm long and 1800mm wide. Their minimum weight depends on whether they have hybrid technology (LMP1-H 870kg /LMP1-L 850 kg), compared to an F1 car which has a minimum weight of 691kg.

The LMP2 category is reserved exclusively for private teams that are independent of manufacturers and/or engine suppliers and race in blue stickers. LMGTE Pro cars can be used on open roads and are driven by professionals only. These cars are identified by green stickers.

LMGTE Am consists of gentleman and professional drivers and the cars are at least one year older than the latest LMGTE Pro specification cars. These cars are identified by orange stickers.

To compare the speed of LMP1 with F1, Webber’s fastest lap at last year’s British Grand Prix (average speed: 227.059km/h) was just over 10.5s quicker than the fastest WEC lap there (average speed: 203.600km/h). At Silverstone, the race distance is over three and a half times that of an F1 race.

The race calendar includes Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans 24 Hour, the Circuit of the Americas, Fuji, Shanghai, Bahrain and Sao Paolo.

Weekend Schedules

The only anomaly is Le Mans which holds practice sessions a few weeks before the race to aid the teams’ preparation. There is a further practice session on the Wednesday before the race ahead of three two-hour long qualifying sessions spread across Wednesday and Thursday with fastest lap time achieved taking pole. The 24 hour race starts at 15h00 on Saturday afternoon.

In qualifying for all races except Le Mans, two drivers from each crew must set at least two timed laps and the average of the four best lap times (the best two of each driver) will serve as the reference time for establishing the grid.

In terms of driving time for the LMP1 category, to be able to score points, a driver must imperatively drive for a minimum of 45 minutes during the race. A driver may not drive for more than four hours and 30 minutes in total.

Points for the titles of Drivers’ World Champion and Manufacturers’ World Champion are awarded at each race (except Le Mans) according to the following scale: First: 25 points, second: 18 points, third: 15 points, fourth: 12 points, fifth: 10 points, sixth: 8 points, seventh: 6 points, eighth: 4 points, ninth: 2 points, tenth: 1 point.

Half a point will also be awarded to any car classified lower than tenth and an additional point will be awarded to the pole position manufacturer and drivers. At Le Mans double points will be awarded.

Points for the Manufacturers’ World Championship will only be scored by the highest finishing eligible car entered for the FIA WEC and entry is limited to a maximum of two cars per group, however for Le Mans only, the LMP1 manufacturers may enter a third car.

In the FIA WEC the number of people in the pitlane is very strictly controlled. As in F1, they all have to wear fire suits and helmets or at least fire suits, balaclava and goggles. In endurance racing, every car will refuel when it stops and – depending on strategy – most will leave driver changes to coincide with tyre changes as that takes longer than a fuel-only stop.

Everyone has to stay behind the solid white line in front of the garages until the car has come to a stop, and no equipment is allowed over the line until it stops.

The first round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will took place on 20 April at Silverstone (GBR), and the second will be on 3 May at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The Le Mans 24 Hours, the pinnacle of the championship, will take place on 14 to 15 June 2014.