HYPERCAR
The Hypercar category, a joint project of the FIA and the ACO, that back in 2018 was envisaged as the NEW top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, had its debut in 2021, but it wasn’t until this year when this ruleset really came of age, attracting a raft of manufacturers.
The 11th season of the FIA WEC will feature an impressive 13 Hypercar entries from seven manufacturers, highlighting the ongoing growth of the world’s premier endurance racing series.
So, what makes the Hypercar class so successful? The ruleset, accommodating cars built to LMH and LMDh technical regulations, represents a major shift in philosophy compared with the LMP1 class it replaced. It allows for far greater variety both in terms of technical approaches as well as the aesthetics of the cars, at the same time ensuring sporting equality and preventing cost escalation through the concept of performance windows.
Technical Regulations are focused on controlling performance outcome instead of setting design or geometrical restrictions, allowing manufacturers to choose cost-effective solutions as significant expenditures do not translate to performance gains.
This autonomy allows the automakers not only to replicate brand identity, maintaining the spirit of the brand and remaining relevant to their road car philosophy, but also to express true potential in terms of creativity and innovation. Less rigid aerodynamic constraints established for the cars give them the option to incorporate styling elements to the design.
Dimensions
- Minimum weight: 1030 KG
- Balance of Performance: Guaranteed level playing field
- Maximum output: 500 kW
- Number panels: Pantone red 653
- Single tyre manufacturer: Michelin
- Controlled costs: Budget reduced
- Le Mans lap time: Estimated race average at 3:30.00
"LE MANS" PROTOTYPE 2 (LMP2) is a racing car with no production minimum required.
It is a closed cockpit car, destined only to teams independent of manufacturers and/or engine suppliers.
The selling price of the complete new car, without engine or homologated electronic equipment, must not exceed €483,000.
Characteristics
Engines
Engine Homologated
Cylinder capacity: 4.2-litre V8 without direct-injection producing 600bhp.
Number panels
Pantone blue 653, with white numbers.
Driver Categories
A crew of 2 or 3 drivers must include at least one Silver or Bronze driver.
Minimum weight
930 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity
75 Litres
Dimensions:
- Wheelbase: Free but it must be identical to that registered in the Homologation Form.
- Overall length: 4750 mm maximum (rear wing included)
- Overall width: 1900 mm maximum
- Height: No part of the bodywork is permitted to be more than 1050 mm above the reference surface (See Article 3.5.1)
- The front overhang is limited to 1000 mm.
- The rear overhang is limited to 750 mm (including the rear wing).
Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance
The Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance (referred to as LMGTE) Am category came into being in 2011 and include racing cars derived from street models for everyday road use from some of the most prestigious luxury car manufacturers: Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche.
The LMGTE Am category includes professional and amateur driver line-ups.
Engines
Normally aspirated engines: 5500 cc maximum
Turbocharged / Supercharged engines: 4000 cc maximum.
Driver categories
A crew of 2 or 3 drivers must include at least 1 Bronze plus 1 Bronze or Silver rated driver.
Dimensions
- Overall length: 4800 mm
- Front overhang: 1250 mm
- Rear overhang: 1100 mm
- Overall width: 2050 mm (excluding rear view mirrors)
Number panels
Pantone orange 021C, with white numbers
Minimum weight
1245 kg (weight of the car without driver, fuel or fluids on board). The Endurance Committee reserves the right to adjust the minimum weight of any car in order to maintain the Balance of Performance between the cars.
Fuel Tank Capacity
90 litres (subject to Balance of Performance adjustments)