The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has raised the minimum weights for Toyota, Ferrari, Cadillac, and Porsche for the centrepiece round on June 10/11. The Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar, which won the opening three rounds of the 2023 WEC, has faced the biggest weight increase of 37kg. In contrast, the Porsche 963 LMDh has only had its minimum weight increased by three kilograms. This change suggests that there has been a universal agreement among the participating manufacturers in Hypercar to change the BoP for Le Mans, which is celebrating its centenary this year.
All signatories to a new system introduced for this season that allowed only for a revision in the balance between LMH and LMDh machinery, a so-called platform change, over the first four rounds up to and including Le Mans. Changes to the BoP for individual cars built to the two different rulesets in operation in Hypercar was then possible after Le Mans under the agreed system. The document that governs the BoP remains secret, which created confusion over when a platform change could come into effect.
Toyota insisted that it could occur only after the first two races at Sebring and Portimao and ahead of the Spa 6 Hours at the end of April. Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach argued that a post-Spa revision would also be after two races. The new BoP table was released on Wednesday ahead of this Sunday’s official Le Mans Test Day.
Ferrari’s 499P LMH, which has been on the podium at each of the first three races, will run 24kg heavier than at Spa and Portimao. Meanwhile, the Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh, the third quickest car this year, has been given an 11kg weight hit. Peugeot’s 9X8, a four-wheel-drive hybrid LMH like the Toyota and the Ferrari, has an unchanged BoP, as have the Glickenhaus-Pipo 007 and Vanwall-Gibson Vandervell 680 non-hybrid LMHs.
The BoP table for the Sebring season-opener was different from that in force at Portimao and Spa as it reflected the specific nature of the bumpy Florida venue. Maximum power allowed to all seven types of car is also unchanged for Le Mans. Toyota, Ferrari, and Cadillac have all had the amount of energy they can use over the course of a stint increased to reflect the extra weight they will have to carry. The increase is four megajoules for the GR010, two for 499P, and one for the V-Series.R.
No explanation has been given by rule makers, the FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, on the release of BoP tables by the WEC Committee. Therefore, it is unclear if the scope of the deal that appears to have been thrashed out between them and the manufacturers allows for a further change between the Test Day and the race the following weekend. As with all BoP communications from the WEC Committee, the latest table says it is enforceable until further notice.
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