Once upon a time in the ouest

The ACO has, with the FIA, and both with the best of intentions, got itself in a terrible tangle over the impending new regulations for its top Le Mans class. First it planned a pure ‘hypercar’ concept – purpose-built hybrid racing cars that just made styling and brand reference to road-going high-performance vehicles – but reality has dictated a compromise.

Now the plan is to allow the reverse of this (road-going hypercars modified for racing) to participate on so-called equalised terms with the dedicated race-designed machines. Neither now, apparently, have to be hybrids.

This immediately introduces the prospect, much-hated by