Car Regulation Adjustments for the Next WEC Race at Imola

In the upcoming Imola round of the World Endurance Championship, Ferrari and Toyota have received the most significant adjustments in the Balance of Performance (BoP) table. The Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar will compete with a minimum weight of 1041 kg, a reduction of 34 kg compared to its initial participation in Qatar last month. Additionally, its maximum power has been increased by 7kW.

On the other hand, Toyota’s GR010 HYBRID LMH has seen a weight reduction of 29 kg, accompanied by a power increase of 6kW, according to the table published by the FIA WEC Committee. Of the nine models competing in the Hypercar class of the WEC, all except the rehomologated Peugeot 9X8 LMH will be lighter and have more power in the 6 Hours of Imola than in the 1812 Km of Qatar held on March 2nd.

The Porsche 963 LMDh, which secured top positions in Qatar, has a minimum weight reduction of 15 kg and also a power increase of 3kW. The Alpine A424 LMDh follows with a weight reduction of 28 kg, closely followed by the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 Competizioni LMH and the BMW M Hybrid LMDh, with reductions of 27 kg and 25 kg respectively.

Cadillac, for its part, has received the smallest weight reduction with a decrease of only 2 kg, bringing it down to the class minimum of 1030 kg. However, it has received the largest power increase with an addition of 18kW.

The updated Peugeot, now known as the 9X8 2024, will compete with a weight of 1061 kg, 31 kg heavier than in Qatar, and with a maximum power reduced from 520kW to 510kW. The deployment speed of the front-axle hybrid system for Peugeot will now be 190 km/h, matching the setup of the other LMHs.

This change in Peugeot occurred following the adoption of wider tires, moving from 31 cm to 29 cm on the front and 34 cm on the rear. As usual, no specific explanation has been given for the changes in the BoP table before each WEC race, although it is assumed that the adjustments are due to the different characteristics of the tracks at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola and the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

A new BoP table for the LMGT3 category of 2024 has also been introduced. The Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which finished second and third in Qatar, has seen its minimum weight reduced by 12 kg, although its power has been adjusted to the lowest possible, listed in the table as P15. This power adjustment is already in effect for speeds above 200 km/h.