Composite Image Shows Just How Similar Le Mans Prototypes Have Become

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Underneath the space-age bodywork, these cars are worlds apart, but you have to admit that the exterior design has become pretty standardized among the Porsche, Audi and Toyota LMP1-class World Endurance Championship cars.

Short nose. Bulbous headlamps. Tiny, somewhat forward driver's cockpit. Engine behind driver. Large wing for downforce. Large fin for stability. Big arches for big wheels. A big splitter and some canards up front.

Boom: you have every prototype currently running WEC's LMP1 class (not to mention much of LMP2, while we're at it).

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This is, admittedly, a large part of why we're so excited about the Nissan LMP1: sure, a lot of the same elements are there, but the long snout and front engine certainly breaks it up a bit.

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Photo[shop] credit: Peter Leung