FIA welcomes ACO, IMSA convergence initiative

The FIA says it “warmly welcomes” the announcement by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) to converge prototype development in endurance racing.

Ahead of this weekend’s Daytona 24 Hours, the ACO and IMSA revealed they had reached an agreement that will see the next generation of IMSA Daytona Prototype internationals allowed to race in the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2022.

ACO previously confirmed its new top tier category named the Hypercar class will debut in 2020-2021, which will now include a new formula called Le Mans Daytona (LMDh) and be run in both WEC and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

In a statement released on Friday, FIA Endurance Commission President Richard Mille said: "I am really happy about this new initiative which, without doubt, will strengthen our FIA World Endurance Championship.

“For sure this project will bring to the FIA WEC more Manufacturers and more competitors. The FIA will support this new class of prototypes with our trusted partner ACO.”

LMDh will oversee joint regulations established by the ACO and IMSA, using chassis elements from both Le Mans Hypercar and LMP2 with its silhouette and design modifiable to suit the brand or style of manufacturer which provides the engine of the car. All cars will also use a common hybrid KERS system on the rear axle.

Full technical details on the new LMDh class are expected to be unveiled in March at the Sebring round.

Aston Martin and Toyota are two of the main manufacturer’s to have already committed to the WEC’s new Hypercar class from 2020, while Peugeot has signed its intentions to return to the top flight of sportswear racing in 2022 in a tie-up with current LMP1 outfit Rebellion Racing.