[Akrapovic]

It isn't about giving privateer teams a balance or advantage. It's about making it a sustainable team to run. 2000-2013 or so that was do-able because you had companies like Lola building cars which could be run. But since the ACO decided to limit chassis manufacturers in LMP2, and since LMP1 became manufacturer focused, there were no longer business cases for Zytek, Dallara, Lola, Oreca etc to build LMP1s so those business streams were closed down (or in some cases, the companies folded completely).

Then you desperately throw some LMP1 privateer rules together when you realise you've made an arse of your series and nobody wants to play anymore and wonder why it doesn't work.

This argument also applies to GTE-Am teams who supported the series for decades getting unceremoniously dropped for Le Mans because Ford decided they needed 4 entries.

Look after the little guys in your series. Because they are the backbone and make up the majority of your entries. The manufacturers will come and go and be in much smaller numbers. If you build around them then all you're doing is preparing for the next mass exodus.

Just ask Mr Ratel why his series are overflowing with cars. Or to be really spectacularly blunt about it: ask the ACO why the 3 classes they're having the most success with are privateer classes.