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IMSA plays down rift with Le Mans over LMP2-based DPi concept

US sportscar governing body IMSA has played down criticisms of its forthcoming LMP2-based Daytona Prototype international category by the Le Mans 24 Hours organiser

IMSA stated in a Q&A about the DPi concept that comments made by Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest at Le Mans, last month were made in "the spirit of collaboration".

"IMSA, the ACO and the FIA have worked very closely together throughout this process and we will continue to do so as the last details of the technical regulations and related elements are finalised," it read.

"All three organisations have raised concerns over different aspects of the project at different times."

Fillon complained that the DPi concept was diverging too far from the new LMP2 formula that will come into force for next year.

He was particularly critical of IMSA's decision to allow manufacturers developing DPi machinery to use their own electronics rather than the standard Cosworth engine control unit to be used on the one-make Gibson V8 that will power the true P2 cars.

Fillon said that this would make it difficult to balance the LMP2s and DPis competing against each other in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and at the Le Mans 24 Hours should any of the US manufacturers opt to race their engines at the French enduro.

This led him to ask "what is the best place for DPi at Le Mans and is it in LMP2?"

This was interpreted as a suggestion that DPis could join the privateer LMP1 cars at Le Mans complete with their own bodywork, which is currently not scheduled to be allowed at the 24 Hours.

The DPi category will allow a manufacturer to take one of the four P2 chassis licensed for next season and produce their own bodywork and run their own engine.

This is so that the manufacturers can "create recognition of their specific brands" to compete in the top class of the IMSA series.

Manufacturers will be allowed to develop their own nose section, sidepods, rear wheel arches and rear valence around one of the forthcoming new-rules P2s from ORECA, Ligier, Dallara and Riley/Multimatic.

Mazda is already racing in P2 this year with a new turbocharged petrol engine with an eye on 2017.

Cadillac is known to be working on a project with Dallara, while current P2 engine supplier Honda Performance Development has aspirations to retain an presence in top-line US sportscar racing.

IMSA also revealed in the Q&A that it was planning to allow "approved aerodynamic add-ons" for both DPi and LMP2 machinery so that teams could tune their cars to individual tracks.

This could also be interpreted as a further divergence from the concept of P2.

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