WEC: New LMP2 cars won't be slowed down

The performance of the new breed of LMP2 coupes will not be pegged back to equalise them with the existing open-top cars ahead of the start of the World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which runs both series, believes there is no need to slow the new coupes on the evidence of last year.

The Ligier JSP2, which raced in both the WEC and the ELMS over the second half of last season, is to be joined in 2015 by the ORECA 05, the HPD ARX-04b and the Strakka Dome S103.

"At the moment, we think the competition is very equal," said ACO sporting manager Vincent Beaumesnil. "If you look at the Le Mans 24 Hours last year, the fastest car over the race was actually an open-top car. Only if an extreme car that is much faster than everyone comes along would we act to slow it."

The WEC and the ELMS allow cars that "perform too well" to be slowed under Balance of Performance regulations. Officials have the power to reduce power by up to five percent, add weight up to 30kg and reduce fuel capacity by up to 10 liters.

The rules of LMP2 are framed to discourage development in the interests of cost reduction.

The Signatech Alpine team, winner of the past two ELMS titles, is sticking with its open-top ORECA-Nissan 03R for its graduation to the WEC in 2015. Team boss Philippe Sinault explained that he believed it was the best option for the start of the season, up to and including Le Mans.

"We believe that the car will be competitive and could be the best choice," he said. "We know the car very well and it could give us an advantage in the early stages of the season."

Originally on Autosport.com