WEC: 2023 Hypercar Manufacturers
6 Manufacturers are committed to participating in the 2023 World Endurance Championship: Cadillac, Ferrari, Glickenhaus, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota.
Vanwall (by ByKOLLES) has intention to participate as well but this is not confirmed by WEC so far.
Cadillac
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Cadillac V-LMDh during test days at Road Atlanta.
Cadillac is back, 21 years after its last participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Cadillac will make its return to Hypercar with the V-LMDh equipped with an atmospheric V8 engine. It will make its competition debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona, for the IMSA championship via Chip Ganassi Racing, which enters a single car for the WEC. It is possible that Cadillac participates in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a second car.
WEC Drivers: Richard Westbrook – Alex Lynn – Earl Bamber. Potential IMSA drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Alexander Sims – Renger van der Zande – Pipo Derani – Sébastien Bourdais
Ferrari
📷 © Ferrari Spa.
50 years after the 312PB, Ferrari returns to Hypercar with the 499, equipped with a twin-turbo V6 engine. Debut scheduled for the 1000 Miles of Sebring, in March 2023.
Drivers are unconfirmed so far. The following drivers have been mentioned: Alessandro Pier Guidi – James Calado – Antonio Fuoco – Nicklas Nielsen – Alessio Rovera – Davide Rigon – Daniel Serra – Miguel Molina – Antonio Giovinazzi
Glickenhaus
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Glickenhaus 007 LMH at Spa and Monza 6 Hours 2022.
The American team of Jim Glickenhaus made its debut in the WEC championship during the 2021 season, in Hypercar with the 007 LMH. A podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans followed by a pole position at the 2022 6 Hours of Monza bodes well for solid performances in 2023.
Drivers : Romain Dumas – Franck Mailleux – Ryan Briscoe – Olivier Pla
Peugeot
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Peugeot 9X8 debuts at 6 Hours of Monza 2022.
The Peugeot 9X8 debuted in the WEC championship during the 6 Hours of Monza in July 2022. Many reliability concerns during the first three races: in Monza, the #94 finished more than 25 laps behind the Alpine (abandonment of the #93), in Fuji the 9X8 #93 finishes 7 laps behind the Toyota and the #94 at 15 laps, in Bahrain the #94 finishes at 6 laps behind the Toyota (retirement of the #93).
Drivers: Jean-Éric Vergne – Loïc Duval – Nico Müller – Gustavo Menezes – Paul di Resta – Mikkel Jensen.
Porsche
📷 © Porsche.
Porsche will be present in 2023 with the 963 (V8 bi-turbo) supported by the Penske team in Hypercar class. The 963 will also be used by customer teams such as Hertz -Jota and Proton Compétition. Penske will be present at Sebring but the participation of the customer teams during the first round is not yet certain to date.
Drivers : Kévin Estre – Laurens Vanthoor – Michael Christensen – Mathieu Jaminet – Matt Campbell – André Lotterer – Dane Cameron – Felipe Nasr – Nick Tandy – Frédéric Makowiecki
Toyota
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Toyota GR010 at Monza and Sebring 2022.
The Toyota GR010 was crowned Hypercar champion in the first two seasons (2021 and 2022) as well as at both 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota could plan a new Hypercar for the 2023 season given the many rule changes since its first version.
Drivers : Sébastien Buemi – Brendon Hartley – Kamui Kobayashi – José Maria Lopez – Ryo Hirakawa – Mike Conway
Related Articles
Drivers have now been confirmed for the new works programme of Porsche Penske Motorsport. Read here.
Chip Ganassi Racing-prepared race car completing a successful endurance session equaling back-to-back Twelve Hours of Sebring races. Read here.
Ferrari officially launched the new Ferrari 499P, 50 years after the 312 P made its last appearance in world endurance racing’s premier class. Read here.
