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The ELMS presents some interesting questions about LMP2.
From the point of view of us, the small band of sports prototype fans that follow the series, it's a mixed bag. There are plenty of cars on the grid and the racing is good. This is especially impressive in the current climate. Those are good things.
On the other hand, LMP2 is now virtually a one make series, which is disappointing. We have had a single engine supplier since the current regs were introduced and teams have inevitably gravitated towards the best chassis over the homologation cycle.
From the point of view of the teams and drivers, who cares if it's a one make series? The pros get paid, the gents get to go racing on a fairly level playing field in very fast cars, the teams can clearly charge the gents or their handful of sponsors enough to keep the wheels turning.
From the ACO/FIA persepctive, they have a grid full of cars, apparently happy customers (that's not us, by the way!) and a regional series that supports the WEC.
But how does it look to the anointed chassis constructors? If you are Oreca, it's all good. If you are Ligier, you have sold quite a few cars and continue to support the few that are still running. But you have also sold well over 100 LMP3s and have that market fairly well stitched up, although Duqueine/Norma are catching up. Dallara? I guess they have written it off and must be hoping for better in the next cycle. Riley? Just embarrassing.
The model still works because endurance racing is not a spectator sport, with the exception of the marquee events. The various series are run for the benfit of the competitors. Not to the extent of, say, the 24 Hour Series or NLS maybe, but if we never turned up to another non-LM race, no one would care. We can lament the lack of variety (and we will!) but why would the organising bodies change anything?
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