Lamborghini, Alpine, BMW… an update on the LMH and LMDh projects

Where he'Endurance is experiencing a new golden age since 2023. After several complicated years in the LM P1 period, due to the withdrawal of several major manufacturers and the increase in costs in the years 2000 – 2010, the ACO and theIMSA agreed to create new regulations to attract new brands with the LMH, designed from A to Z by the manufacturer, and the LMDh, based on an LM P2 chassis.

Thanks to the convergence of regulations between championships WEC and IMSA, manufacturers now have the opportunity to enter their cars in both competitions. A novelty which allows the limitation of costs and above all, the return of several major historic brands in Endurance and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

They are already on the trail: 

Toyota

Toyota GR010 (LMH) – Hybrid – Championship: WEC since 2021

The Toyota GR010 Hybrid for the 2023 WEC (Photo: Toyota)

The Toyota GR010 is the oldest of all Hypercars. Announced as soon as the new regulations were revealed, unveiled in 2018, the Japanese machine was the first to take to the track and win in the WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the newly created category. Crowned champion during the 2021 season and in 2022 in the premier category, the GR010 will try to defend its crown during the 2023 campaign, after failing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans against Ferrari.

Drivers: 

WEC – Toyota Gazoo Racing n°7: Kamui Kobayashi – Jose Maria Lopez – Mike conway

WEC – Toyota Gazoo Racing n°8: Sébastien Buemi - Brendon Hartley –Ryo Hirakawa

ALSO READ > Toyota unveils its GR010 Hybrid

Peugeot

Peugeot 9X8 (LMH) – Hybrid – Championship: WEC since 2022

The return of the Lion brand was eagerly awaited by Endurance fans, and the French firm did not disappoint them with a car with a futuristic look, taking advantage of the freedom offered by the Hypercar regulations. The 9X8 is unlike any other prototype. Looking like a “Batmobile”, it does not have a rear spoiler, which gives it a very aggressive appearance, with a very pronounced visual identity (large logo at the front, claw-shaped headlights). The Peugeot 9X8 made its debut in the WEC championship during the 6 Hours of Monza, in July 2022. A complicated start with many reliability concerns, but which has since improved with the highlight being a podium finish at Monza. in 2023.

Drivers:

WEC – Peugeot TotalEnergies n°93: Jean-Éric Vergne – Paul di Resta – Mikkel Jensen

WEC – Peugeot TotalEnergies n°94: Loïc duval – Nico Müller – Gustavo Menezes

ALSO READ > The Peugeot 9X8 will retain its Art Car livery all season

Glickenhaus

Glickenhaus 007 (LMH) – Non-hybrid – Championship: WEC since 2021

© Joao Filipe / DPPI

Glickenhaus is the small team that attracted the sympathy of fans thanks to its project. Arriving in the WEC championship during the 2021 season, the American team exposed the entire progress of the Hypercar design on social networks, from A to Z. Property of the whimsical director and motorsport enthusiast Jim Glickenhaus, the team also showed the seriousness of its involvement in Hypercar with a pole position won during the 6 Hours of Monza 2022 and especially a podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans a month earlier. Despite a very tight budget, Glickenhaus is still there in 2023 and, thanks to exemplary reliability, is a serious contender to land top 5 finishes.

Pilotes :

Glickenhaus no. 708: Romain Dumas – Ryan Briscoe – Olivier Pla

Glickenhaus n°709 (24 Hours of Le Mans): Franck Mailleux – Nathanaël Berthon – Esteban Gutierrez

ALSO READ > A blue livery for Glickenhaus at the 6 Hours of Monza 

Porsche

Porsche 963 (LMDh – Multimatic) – Hybrid – Championships: IMSA and WEC from 2023

© Porsche Motorsport

It was one of the most anticipated returns: 6 years after leaving the WEC championship, Porsche returned to the premier Endurance category with the 963! The German car was the first LMDh (based on an LM P2 chassis) to be revealed, with a twin-turbo V8 engine. She therefore participates in the IMSA and WEC championships. The official Porsche team is supported by Team Penske. The 963 is also used by customer teams such as Hertz-Jota and Proton Competition in WEC or JDC-Miller MotorSports in IMSA.

On the driver side, Porsche announced a “pool” of 10 men, including the French Kévin Estre, Frédéric Makowiecki and Mathieu Jaminet. The Porsche 963 made its debut at the 24 2023 Hours of Daytona, with a very mixed result and several reliability issues.

For customer teams, on the other hand, we had to wait until the end of April to taste the new German LMDh, the Stuttgart manufacturer having some supply delays. Hertz Team JOTA debuted in the Hypercar category at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on April 29, while Proton made its Hypercar debut at the 6 Hours of Monza on July 9.

The “Mighty 38” from Hertz Team JOTA (Photo: Hertz Team JOTA)

Pilotes :

WEC – Porsche-Penske n°5: Dane Cameron – Michael Christensen – Frédéric Makowiecki

WEC – Porsche-Penske n°6: André Lotterer – Kévin Estre – Laurens Vanthoor

WEC – Porsche-Penske n°75 (24 Hours of Le Mans only): Felipe Nasr – Mathieu Jaminet – Nick Tandy

IMSA – Porsche-Penske n°6: Nick Tandy – Mathieu Jaminet – Dane Cameron (Daytona)

IMSA – Porsche-Penske n°7: Felipe Nasr – Matt Campbell – Michael Christensen (Daytona)

Private teams:

IMSA – JDC-Miller MotorSport n°5: Tijmen van der Helm – Mike Rockenfeller

WEC – Hertz-Jota n°38 : Yifei Ye – António Félix da Costa – Will Stevens

WEC – Proton Competition n°99: Gianmaria Bruni – Neel Jani – Harry Tincknell

ALSO READ > Porsche has revealed the livery and name of its LMDh 

BMW

BMW M Hybrid V8 (LMDh – Dallara) – Hybrid – Championships: IMSA from 2023, WEC from 2024

LAT Images © 2023 Jake Galstad

In addition to Ferrari and Porsche, the return of BMW to the premier category is also eagerly awaited. Winner at the 24 1999 Hours of Le Mans, during the “edition of the century”, the Bavarian brand will return to the Sarthe event… in 2024. The German firm first joined the IMSA championship in 2023 before entering the WEC the year after. BMW's LMDh, called the M Hybrid V8, made its first official race during the 24 2023 Hours of Daytona, with Team RLL. It will then be used by Team WRT in the WEC and during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024.

Pilotes :

IMSA – Team RLL N°24 : Philipp Eng – Augusto Farfus – Marco Wittmann (Daytona and Sebring) – Colton Herta (Daytona)

IMSA – Team RLL N°25 : Connor de Phillippi – Nick Yellolly – Sheldon van der Linde (Daytona and Sebring) – Colton Herta (Daytona)

WEC – Team WRT : not confirmed.

Other : René Rast

ALSO READ > The BMW M Hybrid V8 has been revealed

Cadillac

V-LMDh (LMDh – Dallara) – Hybrid – Championships: IMSA and WEC from 2023

LAT Images © 2023 Jake Galstad

Another return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, that of Cadillac! 21 years after its last participation in the biggest endurance race in the world, the American brand returned to Sarthe with an LMDh with a naturally aspirated V8 engine. The V-LMDh participates in the WEC and IMSA championships from 2023 and made its competitive debut during the 24 Hours of Daytona, with a 3rd place as its best result. Chip Ganassi Racing and Action Express Racing will be the two teams that will operate the American prototype. If only one car competes for the WEC championship, Cadillac arrived with its three examples at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Drivers:

IMSA – Cadillac Racing n°01 (n°3 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans) : Renger van der Zande – Sébastien Bourdais –Scott Dixon

IMSA – Action Express Racing n°31 (n°311 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans) : Pipo Derani – Alexander Sims – Jack Aitken

WEC  – Cadillac Racing n°2 : Richard Westbrook – Alex Lynn – Earl Bamber

ALSO READ > Cadillac reveals the design of its LMDh prototype

Acura

Acura AXR-06 (LMDh – Oreca) – Hybrid – Championship: IMSA from 2023

LAT Images © 2023 Jake Galstad

It will not be at Le Mans but it continues Acura's participation in the IMSA championship. The ARX-06 is present in the GTP category (new name of the premier category in IMSA) with an Oreca chassis and a Honda V6 twin-turbo engine. There are currently no plans for the Acura to take part in the WEC championship. The Acura ARX-06 won the 24 2023 Hours of Daytona, and it competes the entire IMSA season with two teams: Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing, where the Frenchman is officiating. simon pagenaud, now a double winner of the Florida event.

Drivers:

IMSA – Meyer Shank Racing n ° 60: Tom Blomqvist – Helio Castroneves – Simon Pagenaud – Colin Braun

IMSA – Wayne Taylor Racing n°10 : Filipe Albuquerque – Ricky Taylor – Louis Delétraz – Brendon Hartley 

ALSO READ > Acura definitely presents the ARX-06 LMDh

Ferrari

Ferrari 499P (LMH) – Hybrid – Championship: WEC from 2023

50 years after its last appearance in the premier category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ferrari returned to the highest level of Endurance with the 499P. A Hypercar with a passionate look, adorned in red and yellow in reference to the 312P of the 1970s, whose final iteration, the 312 PB, used this same color code in 1973 during the last arrival of the trans brandalpine on the Sarthe classic.

The name 499P is a derivative of the unit displacement of the engine, coupled with the initial of prototype, a combination frequently used by the brand in its distant past in the discipline. Ferrari's Hypercar is powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine. After a thunderous debut in competition during the 1000 Miles of Sebring, on March 17 with pole position, Ferrari won the Centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the No. 51.

Pilotes :

WEC – Ferrari-AF Corse n°50: Antonio Fuoco – Nicklas Nielsen – Miguel Molina

WEC – Ferrari-AF Corse n°51: Alessandro Pier Guidi – James Calado – Antonio Giovinazzi

ALSO READ > Ferrari reveals its Hypercar for the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Vanwall (ByKolles)

Vanwall Vandervell 680 (LMH) – Non-hybrid – Championship: WEC from 2023

Rejected from the WEC for the 2022 season, the ByKolles structure managed to obtain its entry into Hypercar in 2023. The Austro-Romanian LMH was unveiled in the colors of the team's new name: Vanwall. A name which brings us back to the very first manufacturer officially world champion of Formula 1, in 1958. Powered by Gibson, the ByKolles Hypercar had its run-in in Germany last April with Christophe Bouchut, winner of the 24 1993 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot.

A few days later, it was the Argentinian Esteban Guerrieri, the other test driver designated with Tom Dillmann who had driven the Vanwall LMH at the Most Autodrome, in the Czech Republic. After starting the season with F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and Tom Dillmann, Vanwall is now represented by a trio Tristian Vautier – Esteban Guerrieri – João Paulo de Oliveira.

Phelots :

WEC – Vanwall n°4: Tristian Vautier – Esteban Guerrieri – João Paulo de Oliveira

ALSO READ > ByKolles unveils its Hypercar in Vanwall colors

They will be present in 2024: 

Lamborghini

Lamborghini SC63 (LMDh – Ligier) – Hybrid – Championships: WEC and IMSA from 2024

Photo: Lamborghini

Lamborghini will discover the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the premier category. The technical details of the LMDh from the Sant'Agata Bolognese firm are being revealed little by little. In accordance with ACO and IMSA regulations, the Italian will be equipped with an internal combustion power unit – an in-house 8L twin-turbo V3,8 – married to an energy recovery system generic to all LMDhs. The chassis of the future Lamborghini will be French, since it will be supplied by Ligier. The Italian brand is aiming for an arrival in 2024 in the WEC and IMSA championships. Technical operation will be provided in competition by the Iron Lynx structure. French Romain Grosjean will be there, as will ex-F1 driver Daniil Kvyat.

Pilotes : Mirko Bortolotti – Andrea Caldarelli – Romain Grosjean – Daniil Kvyat

ALSO READ > Lamborghini unveils its LMDh for the 24 2024 Hours of Le Mans

Alpine

Alpine A424 (LMDh – Oreca) – Hybrid – Championship: WEC from 2024

THEAlpine LMDh is here – Photo: Alpine

Already present for the first two seasons of the Hypercar category with a former LM P1 Rebellion, Alpine should return to the WEC in 2024 with a real LMDh. The French brand will join Peugeot at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year, with an Oreca chassis. During the Paris Motor Show in October 2022, Alpine presented a concept which foreshadows the future of the A arrowed brand in motorsport, and therefore in Endurance.

Finally, it was during the 24 Hours of Le Mans thatAlpine presented the Hypercar which will be entered in the 2024 edition of the Sarthoise classic: the A424. It will be powered by a 6L V3,4 engine from Mecachrome. Developed with Nicolas lapierre, the A424 will make its first runs for the summer of 2023.

Pilotes : not confirmed.

Possible drivers: Andre Negro, Matthieu Vaxiviere, Nicolas Lapierre, Charles Milesi, Olli Caldwell, Sophia Floersch.

ALSO READ > Alpine presents its LMDh for the 24 2024 Hours of Le Mans

Isotta Fraschini Milan

Tipo 6 (LMH) – Hybrid – Championship: WEC from 2024 (?)

The LMH Isotta Fraschini Milano was on track at Monza this Saturday – Photo: Isotta Fraschini Milano

It was a funny rumor in the WEC paddock for a few months. That of the Italian manufacturer Isotta Fraschini Milano who wanted to come to the 24 2023 Hours of Le Mans with a Hypercar. Unfortunately for the Milanese car manufacturer, their registration was not accepted for the 2023 season.

This new Hypercar, named Tipo 6, is a 1 kg hybrid, with a V000 engine. The seven-speed gearbox will be supplied by Xtrac. The Tipo 6 will use Brembo brakes, a Pankl transmission and Multimatic suspensions. The battery will be supplied by Williams. Isotta's hybrid system, very similar to that used for LMDh, was entrusted to Bosch.

Isotta Fraschini's LMH project became clearer with the announcement at the end of December 2022 of a partner to represent the manufacturer in the WEC: Vector Sport. A team which was then competing in LM P2 with a podium at the 6 Hours of Monza (3rd in its category) for its first season in the discipline. Tuesday February 28, 2023, Isotta Fraschini Milano officially presented its Tipo 6. The Italian manufacturer now hopes to enter competition in 2024. The first tests began on April 11 and 12 on the Vallelunga track, in Italy.

Pilotes : À confirm

ALSO READ > Isotta Fraschini Milano’s LMH is revealed