LM GTE

Grand Touring Endurance, shortened to GTE, was a set of regulations maintained by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and IMSA for grand tourer racing cars used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 hours of Daytona GTLM, and its associated series. The class was formerly known as simply Group GT (Group N-GT in the FIA GT Championship) between 1999 and 2004, and later referred to as Group GT2 between 2005 and 2010. The GT2 name has since been revived for a different set of regulations.

History

The class, derived from the 1998-1999 GT3 class in 1998, debuted in 1999 under the name of 'GT' in 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series, and as 'N-GT' in the FIA GT Championship, and in 2000 as 'GTU' in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and 'GTO' in the British GT Championship.

In 2005 the class was renamed GT2, below the faster GT1 class (formerly known as GT/GTS). Originally it was dominated by the Porsche 911 GT3 in its R, RS and RSR versions, but the Ferrari 360 Modena, Ferrari F430 and Panoz Esperante were also successful, as well as the BMW M3 in the United States. Other models entered were the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Morgan Aero 8, Spyker C8 and TVR Tuscan. After the GT1 class was dropped from ACO competitions for the 2011 season, the GT2 class was renamed LM GTE in Europe and as GT in the United States. The new main rivals for the Porsche 911 were the Ferrari 458 Italia

Regulations

The ACO had defined limits and requirements for the LM GTE category to ensure that cars were legitimately production-based. The car had to have "an aptitude for sport with 2 doors, 2 or 2+2 seats, opened or closed, which could be used perfectly legally on the open road and available for sale."[4] The ACO modified its regulations for “small manufacturers” (less than 2000 cars produced a year). In order to be eligible, a big manufacturer must produce at least one car a week or a small manufacturer one car a month. The cars were eligible to race when 100 road cars for big manufacturers or 25 road cars for small manufacturers were produced. The car must have had an official launch campaign and sales network. The engine must have been used in a production car; while this is usually the engine from the road car, the ACO had made exceptions for cars like the BMW Z4 GTE which use engines from other models. Carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium were banned except for special parts like spoilers or wheels. Cars with carbon cockpits (that are not directly attached to the suspension) were allowed. The engine displacement was limited to 5.5L naturally aspirated or 4.0L turbo/supercharged. The SRT Viper was granted a special waiver to 8.0L. The minimum weight was 1,245 kg (2744 lbs) including driver, fuel, helmet, and liquids. Cars had to have working lights and windshield wipers at all times. To distinguish from faster Le Mans Prototypes at night, LM GTE cars must use yellow headlights (not in WEC). Four-wheel drive was banned while engine-based traction control was allowed. Gearboxes were limited to six forward gears. All cars also had to have rear-view cameras in addition to side mirrors.

Cars were allowed one set of modifications every two years. Brand new cars were allowed one extra set of modifications in the first year of competition.

List of LM GTE cars

See also

• Group GT3
• SRO GT2
• Automobile Club de l'Ouest

External links

• LM GTE regulations as of March 8, 2013