Insight: How a Single Platform is Vital for Next Top Class Regulations

While current LMH/LMDh regs are set to be extended until 2032, manufacturers are already looking at beyond that timeline to ensure the long-term health of top-class prototype racing...

The success of the current Hypercar/GTP formula in global sports car racing has been undeniable. With 13 manufacturers either currently competing with LMH/LMDh machinery or set to join the FIA World Endurance Championship and/or IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship by 2027, it’s arguably one of motorsports’ biggest success stories.

With talk of the current regulations being extended for three additional seasons through 2032, in what would mark the second extension after initially being confirmed until 2025, it’s tough to believe that current-spec LMH and LMDh cars would have a third lease on life, especially given the ever-evolving automotive landscape.

While hydrogen continues to be a discussion point, although is now likely to be pushed back from 2028 to 2030 at the earliest, OEMs are already thinking about what the next set of regulations could look like.

Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach was the first to propose a single prototype platform, instead of the current format that sees the FIA and ACO’s LMH formula race alongside IMSA and ACO’s LMDh platform, which has created its share of challenges and compromises, primarily with Balance of Performance.

Andreas Roos, at the helm of BMW M Motorsport, shares a similar belief to his fellow German counterpart in that a single platform is essential for the next set of regs, whenever they would debut.