Porsche's Seidl praises 2020 LMP1 regulations

The head of Porsche LMP Team Andreas Seidl (pictured above) has praised the 2020 LMP1 regulations, which were announced today, but has expressed the need to wait and see what level of interest from other potential manufacturers emerges.

"I'm definitely happy," he told RACER. "You have to see how these new regulations came into place. We've had discussions for several months with Peugeot on board and Toyota, under leadership of the ACO. In the end the main goals were keeping the level of technology high and road relevant, but also be cautious with costs.

"It was a good announcement today; we just need to see what happens with additional manufacturers," he continued. "That's one of the big targets we have, to attract additional manufacturers.

"We always said we wanted to wait until the new regulations were clear, we obviously want to get a good idea what is happening with other manufacturers. We will bring that to the board to decide on the next period of the project.

"I said today as well that the discussion was not just between Porsche, Toyota and Peugeot – the ACO and FIA had other manufacturers involved as well in the discussion. I think there was a huge agreement between all of us on a lot of topics. I think we have everything we want on the table."

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Seidl also clearly stated that it's not a requirement for a third factory to join for Porsche to continue racing in LMP1.

"It's not vital, but we want to see what happens," he said. "We are confident that the racing is just as good between two factories, it's been good in the past."

Part of the regulation changes include the inclusion of plug-in hybrid technology, requiring the cars to be able to operate at their peak performance levels solely on electric power.

It's a development which Seidl doesn't feel contradicts the attempt to reduce the cost to attract aspirant manufacturers such as Peugeot. The French manufacturer in particular has stated on numerous occasions that a reduction in costs is vital in it returning to prototype racing.

"We see that we managed a reduction of the budgets with what's been announced today, so yes, I'm confident that costs won't rise with the development of electric technology in the cars," Seidl said. "I think there have been a lot of measures in place which will decrease costs significantly. At the same time you have to work on developing the new stuff."

He also feels that the move to active aerodynamics and plug-in hybrid tech is a good direction to head in for Porsche and what it has planned over the coming years.

"I think with what the ACO have announced today it's going in the right direction for the future," he explained. "There's some good elements like the fast-charging electric motors, active aerodynamics.

"We keep the high-voltage technology, the two systems which still helps all of us to develop hybrid technology – which is relevant for our Mission E concept car that gets launched in 2019. We have great examples from direct tech transfer from the 919 Hybrid into that project.

"The leadership is clear from the ACO and FIA. They have the vision in which way it will go, and I think it's good."