Le Mans Prototype

Le Mans Prototypes were created by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO).

The American IMSA GT Championship termed their cars World Sports Cars (WSC), while the short-lived United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) used the classic Can-Am (CA) name for their prototypes.

In an attempt to increase the number of entrants beyond the small field of Group C competitors that the World Sportscar Championship had to offer, older Porsche 962s were allowed entry in Category 3.

[9] Later, ACO announced its intentions to completely replace the Group C cars with Le Mans Prototypes.

This formula continued up to 1996, with many manufacturers embracing the LMP and WSC classes, including Ferrari, Porsche, and Mazda.

To differ from IMSA'S WSC class, the USRRC named their open-cockpit prototypes "Can-Am" in an attempt to resurrect the sportscar championship of the 1970s.

Following the cancellation of the IMSA GT Championship at the end of 1998, the ACO allowed for the creation of the American Le Mans Series.

This series used the same class structure as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, meaning it was the first championship to use the LMP name.

Audi, Chrysler, Cadillac, and Panoz opted to use the LMP900 formula, while MG were the only major manufacturer to attempt the LMP675 class.

In 2017, in order to limit the costs, FIA introduced a new set of LMP2 regulations, which will be locked in through 2020, aiming for a significant power increase, to the range of 150 horsepower (which is expected to lead to a four-second decrease in lap time at Le Mans).

The LMP1 category was retired at the end of the 2020 season, replaced by a new top class of the endurance racing: Hypercar.

[12] The rules allow a significant power increase (150 horsepower) which is expected to lead to a four-second decrease in lap time at Le Mans.

[13] Dallara, Onroak Automotive (Ligier), Oreca and the joint-venture Riley Tech/Multimatic were selected by FIA as the four exclusive chassis constructors, which must be closed-cockpit designs.

[25] For 2025, the engines used in the class are set to be replaced with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre Toyota V35A, bringing about a power increase to 350 kW (470 hp).

[27] LMPC (Le Mans Prototype Challenge) was an earlier entry level class, introduced in 2009, consisting of competitors running identical Oreca FLM09 cars.