Why BMW’S World Endurance & IMSA Return Is Huge News

Racing Against the Best in the World

Ferrari has admitted that its WEC campaign will be funded by savings coming up through Formula 1 cost cuts. That considered, Mercedes, which also appears to be waiting in the wings with its much anticipated new Hypercar, could be tempted by the same carrot.

As could Aston Martin, which has its Red Bull-developed Hypercar ready and waiting, albeit on ice. So is it beyond the realms of possibility that they now each go their own Hypercar way spurned on by F1 savings? And would McLaren just sit back and watch all this going down? Precisely!

All of which makes the WEC the fastest growing international motorsport with the prospect of it becoming the biggest ever sportscar series.

LMDh is Heavily Based on IMSA’s Top Class

As a matter of interest, the new LMP2-based LMDh class is based heavily on the US IMSA WeatherTech series’ top class, where Acura, Cadillac and others already compete to great effect. A budget conscious class, teams can choose from five chassis options, each bearing a class specification hybrid drive transmission.

Then they bolt their own engines and bodywork on. Porsche has teamed up with Penske, Acura with its Wayne Taylor and Shank IMSA teams and Audi will provide its chassis to privateers keen to race against the works.

The Hypercars on the other hand, must be based on street supercars. Which allows for a broader scope of development on both their chassis and hybrid systems. But the same Balance of Performance rules around a 680 HP output apply, to keep the racing super-competitive.

As noted Toyota, Alpine and Glickenhaus’ Hypercars are already racing in the 2021 WEC, where the Japanese giant has won the first two races. Peugeot and Ferrari will go the same route.