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Why Le Mans chaos was actually good for LMP1

The all-singing, all-dancing hybrid LMP1s built by major manufacturers were narrowly spared embarrassment at Le Mans. But that's not a reason to scrap the formula, or suddenly back LMP2

Gary Watkins Jul 3, 2017, 10:15 AM

'Motorsport is Dangerous'. That's what it says on the back of your ticket when you pay to go to a race. I reckon there should also be a warning on championship or race entry forms stamped equally large. It should read 'Motorsport is Expensive'.

That's a fact of life and why I have no qualms with the rulemakers extending the scope of hybridisation in LMP1 when a new set of rules come into force for the manufacturers at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the World Endurance Championship in 2020. The new zero-emissions rule forcing factory P1 cars to complete their first kilometre after every fuel stop purely on electric power might appear to be in contradiction of efforts to drive down budgets, but I believe it is absolutely necessary.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.