FIA World Endurance Championship: Hypercar Era Begins

Introduction

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is set to enter a new era in 2023 with the introduction of hypercars. These purpose-built race cars will replace the current LMP1 prototypes and offer a more affordable and customer-friendly platform for teams and manufacturers to compete in the championship.

Hypercar Regulations

The hypercar regulations are based on the FIA's Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) regulations, which were developed in collaboration with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), the organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

LMH cars must be based on a production model that is homologated for road use, and they must share a number of components with their road-going counterparts, including the engine, transmission, and chassis.

LMH cars will be powered by hybrid powertrains, with a maximum output of 500 kW (671 hp). The powertrain will consist of a turbocharged V8 engine and an electric motor, which will be used to provide additional power and torque.

Manufacturers Confirmed

A number of manufacturers have already committed to building hypercars for the WEC, including Toyota, Peugeot, Glickenhaus, and ByKolles.

Toyota will be the first manufacturer to debut its hypercar, with the GR010 Hybrid set to race at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Cost Reduction

One of the main goals of the hypercar regulations is to reduce costs for teams and manufacturers.

The LMP1 regulations were very expensive to compete in, and this limited the number of teams and manufacturers that could participate in the WEC.

The hypercar regulations are designed to be more affordable, with a cost cap in place to limit the amount of money that teams can spend on their cars.

2023 WEC Calendar

The 2023 WEC calendar will feature six races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The season will begin with the 1000 Miles of Sebring in March and will conclude with the 8 Hours of Bahrain in November.

Conclusion

The hypercar era of the WEC is set to begin in 2023, and it is expected to bring a new level of excitement and competition to the championship.

The new regulations are designed to reduce costs and make it more affordable for teams and manufacturers to compete, and they are expected to attract a number of new manufacturers to the WEC.