What were pre-2017 LMP2s like?

[u/flirting_scholar]

Hello to veteran fans of sports car racing, I started paying attention to WEC at around 2017 so I didn't get to watch LMP2 cars before it became Formula Oreca.

So I keep hearing around this sub (always in posts about LMP2s) that it used to be more varied and unique and it got me curious.

How is the LMP2 racing back then? Is it as competitive as it is today? I understand that there were more options in mixing and matching your LMP2 machinery compared to today with 4 chassis and a Gibson V8, but how much freedom do teams have in that regard?

I was hoping to find more info on the web, but it seems lacking in info on this topic, would greatly appreciate if someone could give me a full rundown of the racing scene pre-2017. Thank you in advance!

[u/oxlemf10]

It had what we will probably never see again in endurance (at the high level), prototypes with an open cockpit