2007 24 Hours of Le Mans - Rule Changes

Rule Changes

Several months before the event, the ACO announced rule changes for all Le Mans-based series (American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and Japan Le Mans Challenge), effective in 2007 for all four classes:

• LMP1s with diesel engines had their fuel tank capacity decreased from 90 litres to 81 litres. LMP1s with petrol engines kept their 90 litre tanks.
• LMP2, GT1, and GT2 class cars had to be fitted with 5% smaller air restrictors than they had run in 2006, in order to decrease power.
• GT1 and GT2 classes were allowed to run ethanol and other alternative fuels if approved by the ACO.

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) initially decided to not abide by the LMP2 restrictor change for the American Le Mans Series, although that decision was reversed following Le Mans. SERO decided not to fully conform to the new ACO regulations in the Japan Le Mans Challenge until 2008.

The ACO also announced rule changes specific to Le Mans:

• The number of invited entries was increased from 50 to 55, with this number to be increased in subsequent years.
• All entries had to run Shell fuel in either diesel or petrol form.
• The temperature inside closed-cockpit cars was not to exceed 32 °C in cars with air conditioning or 10 °C above the ambient air temperature in cars without. The ACO would monitor cockpit temperature, and stop any car in which those limits were exceeded.
• Noise level regulation was revised: the noise emitted from the car had to be less than 113 dB (measurement taken at 15 meters from the edge of the track).
• Older LMP900 and LMP675 class prototypes were not allowed to be entered. Only newer LMP1 and LMP2 class cars were allowed to compete.

It was also decided that the race would start at 3:00 pm local time, one hour earlier than the normal 4:00 pm, to allow French spectators more time to vote in the 17 June French legislative election.