Fuel-saving LMU

How to Fuel Save in Le Mans Ultimate (And When It’s Worth It)

Fuel saving in endurance racing isn’t about driving slow — it’s about driving smart. The best drivers use it as a strategy to gain time, not lose it.

At a track like Spa, the pit lane is brutally long. You can lose up to a minute and a half every time you stop. That’s why fuel saving can completely change your race. If you can stretch a stint just one lap further, you might skip a stop or take less fuel at the end — both are huge advantages.

But here’s the key: fuel saving only works if your pace holds up.
If you’re lifting early and coasting through corners but dropping seconds per lap, it’s not worth it.

The best way to fuel save is through clean driving.
When you nail your lines and use all the track, you carry more speed with less throttle. You’re on the gas for a shorter time, so technically you burn less fuel while being faster.

Smooth = efficient.
You save the tires, you stay consistent, and you find a rhythm that’s easier to maintain over long stints.

If you plan to use fuel saving as part of your strategy, practice it.
Do your stints with fuel saving in mind so your muscle memory adapts. You’ll have different braking points and slightly different timing everywhere.

In our 12-hour race at Spa, we had no practice for it. We had to learn it live, lap by lap, improving as the race went on.

Sometimes pushing flat out is the better option — especially if tire wear or track layout makes saving pointless. But on tracks with long pit lanes or low consumption rates, fuel saving can be the difference between fighting for a podium or fighting to catch up.

In short:

• Fuel saving is about rhythm, not sacrifice

• Practice it to build new habits

• Only do it if your lap times stay strong

• The gain often comes from skipping a stop or shortening one

That’s how you win endurance races without necessarily driving faster — just longer.

Source: Ometto Ohm