GTE Pro stint length restriction in 2018 Le Mans slammed by drivers
Double Le Mans 24 Hours winner Earl Bamber has hit out at what he feels is a "bloody horrible" restriction on stint lengths in this year's GTE Pro race

Cars in both the GTE Pro and Am classes have been capped at 14-lap stints for this year's race, with the measure introduced by the FIA's endurance committee as part of a Balance of Performance directive.
Pro cars are also permitted to do no more than 11 laps in their first stint.
Bamber has joined Porsche's four-car GTE Pro attack this year after taking outright victory at Le Mans last year as part of the manufacturer's now-defunct LMP1 operation, and suggested the new fuel stint rule has removed a critical element of strategy.
"It's bloody horrible," said Bamber. "This is not really competition. It seems like they just want all 17 cars to cross the finish line at the same time.
"I think we need a BoP for manufacturers with different types of car but at the same time we also need some racing stuff, some fuel-saving possibilities."
GTE cars were often limited to 14-lap stints in last year's race even when the rule was not in place.
"It's a race, you shouldn't be tied or backed into one corner," the Ganassi IndyCar driver told Autosport. "That's artificial racing.
"You should be able to mix up strategy, where one stint you can do 13 laps or maybe 15 laps on [another]. I don't think it's something that should be governed."
Dixon's Ford stablemate Richard Westbrook added: "I think it's a shame they want everyone to do 14 laps.
"It kills a bit of the strategy and that's what sportscar racing is about. No-one needs to save fuel, they can just go for it."
But Corvette driver Oliver Gavin was more accepting of the new rule, and said it would make the GTE Pro race easier for spectators to follow.
"You can look at it both ways," he told Autosport. "For the fans it's more straightforward.
"It's one thing that certain manufacturers can't utilise in their strategy. But it doesn't eliminate all strategy, whether it's through your tyre strategy, or pitstops, or brake changes.
"The way you go about running your race, it's not going to be affected hugely by that limit. It does level out the playing field a little bit."

WEC cost reduction must go further for IMSA to adopt 2020/21 rules
Le Mans 24 Hours: Toyota holds early one-two after frantic start

Latest news
Ericsson “pissed off” on how 2022 IndyCar title challenge dissolved
Marcus Ericsson admits he still feels “a bit pissed off” about how his 2022 IndyCar championship challenge petered out and is targeting further improvements in qualifying this year.
KTM adds Folger as test rider for 2023 MotoGP season
KTM has expanded its roster of test riders by signing one-time podium finisher Jonas Folger for the 2023 MotoGP season.
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Formula 1’s transformation into a global sport meant the gradual extinction for a small team determined to stay true to its low-budget roots. But Tyrrell would eventually be reborn as a world-beating outfit again, explains MAURICE HAMILTON, albeit in different colours…
Ford: F1 return wasn’t possible without changes to engine rules
Ford would not have returned to Formula 1 without the major changes to the engine regulations for 2026, according to its motorsport boss.
Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023
OPINION: There is plenty of excitement over the glut of manufacturers tackling the Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship this season. The selection committee is set to face headaches over who it decides to admit and who gets turned away from the 2023 entry list, but history tells us that the smaller entrants have a place
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
The season just gone was a memorable one for many of our staff writers, who are fortunate enough to cover motorsport around the world. Here are our picks of the best (and in some cases, most eventful) from 2022
Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay?
OPINION: Fresh from hosting a controversial 2022 football World Cup, Qatar has added its name to the 2024 World Endurance Championship calendar. Although questions may be asked about its presence on the calendar, is it simply the price to pay for having a healthy racing championship?
How Toyota defeated Alpine for the 2022 WEC title
Toyota #8 trio Brendon Hartley, Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa outscored their rivals in the last season before the World Endurance Championship’s top class gets ultra-competitive. Here's how their Hypercar battle with Alpine and the remaining class tussles played out in LMP2, GTE Pro and GTE Am
The long road to convergence for sportscar racing's new golden age
The organisers of the World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship worked together to devise the popular new LMDh rule set. But to turn it from an idea into reality, some serious compromises were involved - both from the prospective LMDh entrants and those with existing Le Mans Hypercar projects...
How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game
The 956 set the bar at the dawn of Group C 40 years ago, and that mark only rose higher through the 1980s, both in the world championship and in the US. It and its successor, the longer-wheelbase 962, were voted as Autosport's greatest sportscar in 2020 - here's why
Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes
OPINION: While the focus has been on the exciting prospect of Ferrari vs Porsche at the Le Mans 24 Hours next year, BMW’s factory return to endurance racing should not be ignored. It won't be at the French classic next year as it focuses efforts on the IMSA SportsCar Championship, but could be a dark horse in 2024 when it returns to La Sarthe with the crack WRT squad
The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause
Track limits are the problem that motorsport doesn't seem to be able to rid itself of. But the use of so-called 'sausage kerbs' as a deterrent has in several instances only served to worsen the problem, and a growing number of voices want to see action taken
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.