LMH versus LMDh BoP Pre-Qatar 1812

WECHyperCarLMGT3

Feb 25

16/02/2024, the ACO/FIA tandem did publish the values for the Balance of Performance (BoP) tables that will govern both Hypercar and LMGT3 categories for the Qatar 1812 first round of the 2024 World Endurance Championship season. Both are set via Committee Decision (Read our Thierry Tassin interview to understand the process). See both decisions at the end of this news.

Those are complicated figures set through a highly sophisticated program, linked to the configuration of the track, the simulations carried out in wind tunnel, the engines on the test benches and number of meetings/adjustments made in collaboration between FIA/ACO and manufacturers engineers.

They are very difficult to interpret but, as usual, Car Racing Reporter relay its readers factual information avoiding personal interpretation. Hence, our own formatted tables presenting the differences, by metric, based on the lowest figure; ie: the Peugeot 9X8 being the lightest in “dry weight”, all the figures in the “dry weight” metric are giving you the additional weight to the Peugeot 9X8 one.

FIA WEC Hypercars BoP

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps. #2 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R.

In our article LMH versus LMDh, we concluded that the LMH based homologated Hypercars were faster than LMDh based cars. Toyota (LMH) ended the 2023 Manufacturers Championship with more than twice the points of Porsche (217 versus 99) and Ferrari, second, also an LMH based Hypercar score more than twice the points of Cadillac (165 versus 79).

Similarly, in the drivers' championship, both Toyota GR010 (#7 and #8) scored more than double the points of the first LMDh team (Caillac Racing #2 with Bamber/Lynn/Westbrook). Both Ferrari #50 and #51 scored more than 1,5 times the points of #2 Cadillac’s drivers.

In the WeatherTech Sportscars Championship organized by IMSA, the leveling between the various manufacturers proves to be much more successful as the top 3 manufacturers were only separated by 20 points which is not even 2% of the points collected by the winning Cadillac V-Series.R (total 3.096). The top 3 teams were separated by 22 points for 2.733 for the winning #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring, The Glen and Petit Le Mans.

We therefore modified the FIA/ACO BOP table by sorting the manufactures in two groups: LMH first and LMDH second. Since both BoP tables are published “as is” by most media, we are focussing on weight, power and stint energy presenting the additional values to the lowest in the metric.

Table 1: Hypercars BoP metrics with lowest as base line

📷 © Car Racing Reporter. Table 1: Hypercars BoP metrics with lowest value as base line for 3 metrics.

Again, drawing conclusions based on those figures would be hazardous but the facts are that:

The Peugeot 9X8 is the lightest with the maximum power below 210 kph; (bear in mind that Peugeot goes to Qatar with the previous 2023 homologated version; the 2024 version will start at Imola);
The Toyota GR010 Hybrid is the heaviest but have one of the highest maximum stint energy (combined energy from both the combustion engine and the hybrid system allocated per stint);
The Ferrari 499P is also heavier than the 5 LMDh based hypercars;
The Cadillac V-Series.R is the base line (lowest) for both Max. Power below 210kph and maximum stint energy.

As Earl Bamber mentioned during our interview: “I think that FIA is doing a good job considering the complexity of the whole thing”.

Let us see what the actual BoP delivers at Qatar. Also bear in mind that a “success ballast” will be imposed for Hypercars based on the results of previous races with a maximum ballast of 70 kg.

FIA WEC LMGT3 BoP

As we did for Hypercars, our own formatted LMGT3 BoP table is presenting the differences for the weight and stint energy metrics, based on the lowest figure; ie: the Porsche 911 GT3R LMGT3 being the lightest in “dry weight”, all the figures in the “dry weight” metric are giving you the additional weight to the Porsche 911.

Table 2: LMGT3 BoP metrics with lowest as base line.

📷 © Car Racing Reporter. Table 2: LMGT3 BoP metrics with lowest value as base line in weight and stint energy metrics.

Again, drawing conclusions based on those figures would be hazardous but the facts are that:

Porsche 911 GT3R LMGT3 is the lightest and, not surpised, the Lamborghini Huracan the heaviest. The Porsche 911 agility is quite popular among drivers and the Huracan has barely demonstrated any significant result so far in the four series we follow: ELMS, GTWChEu, IMSA and WEC.
Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3, Ferrari 296 LMGT3 and Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2 are benefitting a significant higher maximum power below 200kph.
The Lexus RC F LMGT3 has the highest maximum Stint Energy.

A success ballast will be imposed for LMGT3 cars based on the results of previous races.