Initial 2016 WEC GTE BoP Confirmed

Photo: IMSA

The FIA has finalized the initial Balance of Performance for the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am categories ahead of the start of 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

With new regulations, introducing slightly more powerful cars, as well as brand-new machinery from two of the four manufacturers, the GTE-Pro class features a complete overhaul in BoP from last year.

The Porsche 911 RSR, which took the German manufacturer to the GT Manufacturers’ World Cup, sees increases in both weight (+20kg) and air restrictor (+0.7mm) with its updated 2016-spec machine.

The all-new Ferrari 488 GTE will also weigh in at 1240kg, while the Ford GT is set to begin official pre-season testing with a 20kg increase in its base weight (to 1260kg), while the Aston Martin Vantage will be at 1230kg, 10kg lighter than its base weight.

Boost levels for the turbocharged Ferrari and Fords have also been confirmed, which will see slightly less power output from the cars in IMSA spec. Normally aspirated engine power is also down from the levels seen in the opening round of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The upgraded Vantage, which retains its 2015 powertrain, sees a 0.7mm increase in air restrictor from the specification it ended the season with in Bahrain last year.

The Corvette C7.R is also listed, although only expected to compete in the GTE-Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will run at a 1240kg minimum weight and with a 29.3mm air restrictor.

GTE-Am, which retains the previous-generation cars for 2016, sees mainly weight-based changes from last year.

The Corvette C7.R has been given a 20kg weight increase, with the Porsche 911 RSR up 10kgs and the Ferrari 458 Italia GT receiving a 5kg weight reduction.

Aston Martin’s Vantage remains unchanged from its Bahrain configuration.

The BoP goes into effect for the start of the season, including next month’s Prologue test at Paul Ricard, which is mandatory for each team and manufacturer.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John