ELMS pushes for open-wheel converts

Changes to the driving time limits in LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series have been designed to encourage more open-wheel drivers to make the move into sports car racing.

The rules that effectively limited platinum or gold-ranked drivers to one stint in the four-hour races have been relaxed for 2015. This year's ELMS sporting regulations stipulated that a silver or bronze pilot must drive for a minimum of two hours and 20 minutes if partnered by platinum or gold teammates, who would each be limited to 50 minutes in the car. That minimum has been reduced to one hour and 30 minutes in next year's rulebook.

 "This will make it more attractive to guys coming out of single-seaters because they will not be restricted to one stint," explained Vincent Beaumesnil, sporting manager at series organizer the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. "We think this will make P2 in the ELMS more attractive to all kinds of drivers. We have also seen some silver drivers getting tired because their driving time was so long."

Jota Sport boss Sam Hignett, whose team finished second in P2 in the ELMS in 2015, described the move as "positive news."

"This will allow us to better commercialize the time in the car not taken up by the silver driver," he said. "This will make it more attractive to guys looking to make the jump from single-seaters."

The new driving times for 2015 also specify maximum driving time of 90 minutes for platinum and gold drivers who are part of a three-driver lineup.

The maximum driving time for platinum or golds who are the only professionals in their lineup remains at one hour and 40 minutes. The limits in the GTC class for GT3 machinery have also been changed: the minimum for a bronze driver has been increased from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

The ACO has announced that the champion drivers in the new-for-2013 LMP3 prototype class will be given a test in an LMP2 car. The move is part the link-up with Nissan, which is providing the engines for the new entry-level prototype category and is also the leading supplier of powerplants in P2.

"Nissan has a young driver programme [through its GT Academy] and the car is Nissan powered, so this makes sense and is a fantastic opportunity for a young driver to forge a link with a manufacturer," explained Beaumesnil.

The GTE and GTC classes will run on a spec tyre next year, which will be announced at a later date. Beaumesnil said this was a part of a drive to reduce costs in categories where Michelin was the sole supplier in 2014.

Plans to introduce a spec tire for the World Endurance Championship's GTE Am class, which had been explored for 2014, remain on the back burner.