FIA, ACO and IMSA firm up agreement on the future of endurance

In early 2020, the FIA, the ACO and IMSA announced their intention to work hand-in-hand to create a joint top class for Endurance racing. The three parties have now come to an agreement on the technical specifications for the new category.

This agreement means Le Mans Hypercar prototypes will be able to compete in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from 2023.

The convergence work done by the FIA, the ACO and IMSA to align their technical regulations aims to allow cars with different technical definitions to compete alongside one another on both sides of the Atlantic. They are:

• the LMH, or Le Mans Hypercar, officially introduced in 2021
• the LMDh, or Le Mans Daytona h, officially introduced in 2023.

At a high-level technical meeting bringing together the FIA, the ACO, IMSA, and all the manufacturers officially involved in LMDh and LMH programmes, the parties came to an agreement* that aims to balance the performance of these different types of car (most notably the powertrain and the four-wheel-drive set-up) so that LMH cars can compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. LMH eligibility will also require an individual business agreement between each manufacturer and IMSA, which respects its sporting regulations.

The initial objective shared by the FIA, the ACO and IMSA – giving constructors the opportunity to enter the same car in the world’s most prestigious Endurance races – will thus be achieved in 2023.

Richard Mille, President of the FIA Endurance Commission, said: “The FIA, ACO and IMSA have been working towards a common future where teams running in LMH and LMDh can race on both sides of the Atlantic.  Today we can see that the convergence has taken a step closer to reality, which is great news for all of us involved in endurance racing. The principles have been agreed by all parties. The dream of teams and manufacturers being able to compete in all of the top endurance races with the same car for the first time is now at hand. This represents a significant moment in the history of motor racing.”

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, said: “This major announcement stems from our ambition to forge a common future for Endurance racing. We have all worked together to achieve this landmark agreement and I would like to thank all the stakeholders very sincerely. It is wonderful news for teams and fans alike and maps out a bright future for Endurance.”

John Doonan, IMSA President, said: “What we achieved as a group a few weeks ago in Paris has the potential to revolutionize prototype sports car racing all over the world. The stage is set for a highly competitive top category that will include many of the world’s greatest automotive manufacturers, showcasing relevant technology in the world’s most prestigious endurance races. Collectively, we have an opportunity to engage with the next generation of endurance sports car racing fans and elevate our sport to the highest levels. I cannot be prouder of the spirit of collaboration between our IMSA team, our colleagues at the ACO and FIA, and all of our automotive partners.”