WEC + GT World Challenge + IMSA + ELMS 2023

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Results after Le Mans FP1.

I didn't see much of the session, I only caught the last 20 minutes so won't start panicking yet, but I hope we climb up the timings!

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BOP striking us hard

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The Hypercar Balance of Performance for the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been released, confirming that the Power Gain system will be in use for the first time for the FIA World Endurance Championship centerpiece.

Tested by cars from multiple manufacturers in the Prologue test ahead of the season opener at Qatar in March, the system is designed to further equalize the field by changing a car’s maximum power above a certain speed threshold.

While the system was slated for introduction at the following round at Imola, the Power Gain, sometimes called ‘two-stage’ BoP, was not used for either race or the following round at Spa last month.

Toyota has voiced its support for the system on multiple occasions, with technical director David Floury stating that the marque was keen for it to be implemented in time for Le Mans despite not being trialled in a prior WEC race.

The relevant bulletin published by the FIA and ACO has confirmed that the system will debut at Le Mans, with the threshold set at 250 km/h (155.3 mph) instead of the 210 km/h (130.5 mph) that was listed on previous bulletins.

Seven of the nine Hypercars will have their power altered above the threshold, with four of those – namely the Alpine A424, BMW M Hybrid V8, Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 Competizione and Toyota GR010 Hybrid – getting power increases of 0.9 percent.

The other three cars, the Ferrari 499P (-1.7 percent), Lamborghini SC63 (-1.6 percent) and Peugeot 9X8 (-0.7 percent), have seen reductions, while the remaining two cars, the Cadillac V-Series.R and the Porsche 963, will not have their power modified.

However, Ferrari and Lamborghini have both had their base power increased compared to the previous WEC race at Spa, with the 499P up 2kW to 508kW, and the SC63 up by 5kW to 519kW, the highest figure in the field.

The Porsche has also been given an extra 4kW, putting it at 511kW.

Apart from the Peugeot, which sees no change to its power, the remaining five cars have all had minor power reductions, with Toyota and Cadillac both getting decreases of 7kW to 508kW and 509kW respectively.

Alpine has dropped by 6kW to 507kW, the Isotta Fraschini is down 5kW to 515kW and the BMW has dropped 2kW to 508kW.

As previously outlined by the organizing bodies, Le Mans will run to a standalone BoP compared to previous WEC races, although there are still significant changes in minimum weight compared to the previous race at Spa.

Peugeot has been given the biggest break with the 9X8 set to run at 1047 kg, 18 kg lighter than before.

It’s a change that follows criticism voiced by the French manufacturer about its revised challenger’s lack of performance since its introduction at Imola.

Also with double-digit weight breaks are the Ferrari, down 10 kg to 1043 kg, the Isotta Fraschini, down 12 kg to 1048 kg, and the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, which drops 11 kg to 1053 kg but is now the heaviest car in the class.

The only car to have lost weight from Spa is the Alpine, which drops 7 kg to 1038 kg.

Cadillac’s V.Series-R remains the lightest car in the class at 1036 kg despite an increase of 6 kg, while the Porsche (+5 kg/1042 kg), Lamborghini (+4 kg/1039 kg) and BMW (+1 kg/1039 kg) have all seen smaller increases.

All five cars that are returning to Le Mans are running at lower minimum weights compared to the same event last season, and with less base power.

and

Ferrari has gained 2kW in power, while the Toyota has lost 7kW.

But Ferrari is one of only three manufacturers to have lost power under the new “power gain” component of the BoP, which will finally be introduced for Le Mans on 15/16 June.

The new feature has been incorporated into the BoP so that the acceleration and straightline speeds of the cars competing in Hypercar can be more closely matched in an effort to further balance the playing field.

Ferrari’s LMH will be have to run maximum power reduced by 1.7% above 250km/h (155mph), equivalent to 8.6kW or 11bhp.

The other cars competing in Hypercar to lose power over 250km/h are the Lamborghini SC63 with a 1.6% reduction and the Peugeot with 0.7%.

All the other cars have a 0.9% power gain, with the exception of the Porsche 963 LMDh, which will run the same 511kW maximum power above and below 250km/h.

Racing with our hands tied behind our backs.

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Kobayashi bins it in qualifying and brings out the red flag



#50 and #51 both make it through to Hyperpole.

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FP2

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FP3

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Hyperpole starts shortly at the new time of 19:30 BST, 20:30 CET

Ferrari on boards:





Live Eurosport stream:

http://cdn.xsportbox.com/webplayer2....300&noplayer=0

https://cuervotv.me/sd0embed/F1

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Delayed to 19:35 BST now.

Looking like spots of rain on the start/finish straight.

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Brilliant first runs from both cars! COME ON BOYS!!!

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Seb Bourdais is so quick in the Cadillac.

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Antonio doing PB in the first sector.

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1:19.097 in sector 2

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NOOO red flag.

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I don't think we'll have the life in the tyres left to go quicker now.

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Antonio messed up his lap

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Pier Guidi needs to find 0.5 seconds

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Not happening.

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Damn 4th and 5th.

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We lose so much time in sector 3.

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Not much running in FP4 due to cars coming back from scrutineering late, good for the drivers to get some wet running though.

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Antonio Fuoco, 499P #50: “It was a very tough Hyperpole. We did our best as a team to exploit the potential of our 499Ps. It appears that some competitors are overall stronger than us, but we know that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a long race where various factors will play a crucial role, including the experience we drivers and the entire team have gained over the past few months.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi, 499P #51: “We knew we might struggle in Hyperpole in terms of performance compared to some competitors. We weren’t very lucky with the red flag, which affected our tyre preparation as we tried to improve in the final phase. However, I think our goal was to qualify in the first two rows, to lower the risks at the start, and we achieved that. The race? I’m confident and believe we can perform well, particularly as we can draw on the experience gained in 2023. I believe we have what it takes to perform well in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti: “At the end of the Hyperpole, we find ourselves where we expected to be relative to the competition. It's important to note that a strong competitor like Toyota didn't take part in this session. Otherwise, I believe they would have been another challenger for the top positions. Our result isn't surprising, and we’re satisfied with our efforts. Now we look ahead to the race, which will be long and, as is traditional at Le Mans, full of challenges and variables to consider. The reliability of our 499Ps and teamwork will be two essential ingredients for doing well in the most eagerly awaited race of the year.”

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “We are very satisfied with the result achieved in Hyperpole. We knew we didn't have much chance to shoot for pole position, but we gave it our all and made very aggressive choices. Alessandro and Antonio (Pier Guidi and Fuoco, ed.) did an excellent job. It was a shame that the red flag affected the result, especially of the 499P number 50, whose strategy was more aggressive in terms of fuel on board: Antonio was preparing for the flying lap when the flag was displayed. Looking ahead to the race, we know it won't be easy, as the pace shown by some opponents is remarkable. So we'll have to do everything perfectly.”