Paris (AFP)

Identical cars will be able to line up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona from 2022, bringing together again in the same championship the two queen races of automobile endurance, announced on Thursday the Automobile club of the west (ACO).

Dubbed LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid), this new category will allow manufacturers and teams to enter identical cars at Le Mans and Daytona as well as in the other events of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and in the North Championship. -American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which includes the Daytona event.

It will be developed in parallel with the so-called LMH category (Le Mans Hypercar) which will welcome at Le Mans from 2021 cars based on series super-sports cars produced at a minimum of 20 copies over two years or be prototypes dressed in a super sports body with lines reminiscent of the manufacturer's style.

The LMDh category will use a common platform inspired by the current LMP2, shared by the chassis manufacturers selected to participate, namely Dallara, Ligier, Multimatic and Oreca.

"LMDh is a car with a capped cost. This car will have the framework of the future generation of LMP2", specified the ACO in a press release, the framework being understood as a complete car without the body, the engine and the hybrid system.

"Only car manufacturers (associated with one of the 4 chassis manufacturers selected) will be able to homologate an LMDh", underlined the ACO, which organizes the 24 hours of Le Mans.

Their bodywork will be stylized and identified in the name of a manufacturer with an engine badged in the name of a manufacturer and a single common hybrid system on the rear axle, it was said from the same source, specifying that they will be approved for a period of 5 years.

Their minimum weight will be 1030 kg with a total power of 500 kW (approximately 680hp) combining that of the internal combustion engine and that of the hybrid system.

- "historic moment" -

The introduction of LMDh into the race is planned for the 2022 season. However, the calendar will be validated in partnership with the manufacturers, chassis manufacturers and all other partners according to the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, the final regulations before be presented during or before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in September 2020, added the ACO.

"The dream of many manufacturers is finally coming true. Le Mans Daytona h and Le Mans Hypercar will embody the queen class of Endurance. This is a historic and decisive moment for the future of our discipline," said the president. of the ACO, Pierre Fillon, quoted in the press release.

"Our strategy with the LMDh category consists of responding ideally to the demands of manufacturers, to their technical and competitive wishes, while offering the greatest visibility to their brands. The queen category will now rhyme with moderate cost and high performance, which corresponds the needs of our respective championships, "said Gérard Neveu, director general of the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The Hypercar category, more powerful than LMDh but also heavier, had suffered a setback in February with the announcement of the British manufacturer Aston Martin that it would not participate despite its initial interest. The French Peugeot is still on the ranks.

However, it is not yet certain to see the Hypercar line up for the 24 hours of Daytona and in the other events of the American championship, the IMSA still having to decide on this subject.

© 2020 AFP