Penalized for being too fast: the Endurance puzzle

BoP, an acronym that (unfortunately) fuels most of the conversations in the paddocks Endurance. Even if competitors theoretically no longer have the right to talk about it (translation: to complain about it) openly, under penalty of reprimands.

Presented as a necessary evil, the “Balance of Performance” is supposed to bring together different concepts and technologies in the same window of competitiveness in order to avoid too large gaps on the track.

I admit, on a completely personal basis, to have never really understood the aim of the maneuver: what is the point of developing the best engine or the most efficient car if it is to find ourselves muzzled and at the level of those who have “less” hard-working?

I will be told that this allows you to see a wide variety of engine architectures and aerodynamic concepts in action. And from this point of view, the list of those engaged in IMSA and WEC indeed offers great wealth. But once again, how can we promote this or that technology if the BoP prevents us from knowing which one is intrinsically the best ?

In these conditions, the temptation is great for manufacturers to hide their game and bluff by making people believe that they are guaranteed to benefit from a more lenient BoP.

Which brings us to the recent developments roiling IMSA.

The North American Endurance Championship has decided to penalize Ferrari and BMW in the GTD category following the last 24 Hours of Daytona, won by the Prancing Horse.

The authorities considered that the Ferrari 296 GT3 and BMW M4 GT3 were far too efficient compared to what was advertised.

The 24 Hours of Daytona was the first race where the new BoP system implemented by IMSA applied, in which manufacturers must declare and define their own expected performance parameters.

Obviously a total success. Ferrari and BMW, two of the most prestigious manufacturers in the world, are therefore accused of knowingly undervaluing the level of their GT to benefit from a better BoP.

Do we realize how Kafkaesque the system is? Luxury brands are therefore ready to denigrate their cutting-edge product so that they are not too slowed down by the referees. Lunar.

In WEC, the contours of the new BoP system remain quite vague for the moment, even if we know that the maximum ballast has been increased to 70 kg (compared to 50 until now).

We will follow with great interest the scenario of 1 km from Qatar, the opening round of the 2024 WEC season (March 2), but I would be surprised if the subject does not quickly find itself on the table again.

So goes Endurance.

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