Umar Darraz

Once more: A glossary of acronyms IMSA is the International Motor Sports Association, in charge of US motorsport ACO is the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans FIA is the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, which is in charge of global motorsport and world championships like the World Endurance Championship LMP1 refers to Le Man's prototype cars raced in ACO/FIA events before the new car standard was implemented this year DPi refers to Daytona Prototype International cars currently raced in IMSA events (but soon evolving) LMH covers Le Man's hypercars, the ACO/FIA solution (following LMP1) to leveling the financial playing field and generating cars more akin to road-legal vehicles. (236) "The regulations for LMDh cars, in particular, allow us to field fascinating race cars in prestigious races worldwide while regulations are trimmed for maximum cost efficiency." (Audi and Porsche are working together on an LMDh program using the same engine and Multimatic chassis but with different styling, which may also result in a Lamborghini version in 2024.) The fact that the LMDh is allowed in US championships also factored into some OEM decisions. (169) Specifically, will IMSA allow LMH cars to come to the US and win its marquee races, and will the ACO let LMDh cars win at Le Mans? It's natural to expect each series to favor its full-time entrants, and earlier this year, Glickenhaus boldly told Motor Sport that such a thing would be impossible. (153) We got plenty of people committed here; let's find a way to see the cars race together." That technical skeleton making this cross-series racing possible is called convergence, and it sets targets in four different areas to let LMH and LMDh cars play together nicely. (140) These arrive in 2023 and should be compatible with LMH cars, meaning fans will finally see vehicles that race across IMSA, ACO, and FIA competitions prevent the AWD hybrid LMH cars from having a huge acceleration advantage, the race organizers will restrict the electric motors from deploying energy below a certain speed, most likely 75 mph (120 km/h) in the wet and 100 mph (160 km/h) in the dry. (139) Palatov is an electrical engineer by training but has spent the last 13 years making very cool, very compact race cars that have competed at Pikes Peak, Bonneville, and countless track days are driven by their giddy and (understandably) very enthusiastic owners. (116) (Acura head of R&D Jon Ikeda was similarly confident when I spoke to him.) The first real test for that will happen at the end of January 2023 for that year's Rolex 24 at Daytona, the first race for LMDh... And also the first IMSA race open to the LMH teams. (114) Similarly, Wayne Taylor, who will run one of the two Acura LMDh cars, told Motor Sport that "if I thought we would have no chance at winning, I would not be doing it," regarding LMDh cars having a chance of winning Le Mans. (113) Photo credit: Drakan Motor Cars I got to drive several of Palatov’s earlier works, from the D4 to the Drakan, and man-oh-man, if I had the $80,000 to $100,000 they cost, I would stock a garage with them and build a track to race them on. (107) If an LMH team wants to enter IMSA races, they have to put their car through Windshear; vice-versa for LMDh teams who want to race at Le Mans or WEC. (104)