Cadillac, Porsche Get Biggest BoP Hits for COTA

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

The Cadillac V-Series.R and Porsche 963 have been the heaviest hit with Balance of Performance adjustments ahead of this weekend’s Lone Star Le Mans event at Circuit of The Americas.

Confirmed in a bulletin from the FIA World Endurance Championship on Wednesday, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo-winning Cadillac, which finished 1-2 in the last race, has been handed a sizable 19 kg increase in minimum weight, while the Porsche receives 12 kgs of additional weight since the last round in Brazil.

It means the Porsche, which completed the overall podium last time out with its No. 5 entry, is now the third-heaviest Hypercar in the field, at 1065 kg, behind the Ferrari 499P and Toyota GR010 Hybrid, which both remain at 1069 kg.

While the Cadillac loses 5 kW (6.7 horsepower) in first-stage power levels below 250 km/h, the Porsche gets an even more drastic decrease, to the tune of 13 kW (17.4 hp).  Both cars, however, received slight increases in second-stage power, at 0.9 percent and 2.5 percent respectively.

BMW and Alpine have also received first-stage power cuts, with the M Hybrid V8 getting a 8 kW (10.7 hp) and the A424 at a 6 kW (8 hp) reductions. This, however, has been countered by 1.4 percent and 1 percent increases in the so-called power gain threshold.

The Toyota, which remains winless so far this season, is relatively unchanged from Brazil, with the LMH car getting a 1 kW (1.3 hp) power reduction in the first stage and 0.2 percent increase at the second stage.

While both the Ferrari and Peugeot 9X8 get no changes at the first stage, they receive second stage power cuts to the tune of -0.8 percent and -1.3 percent, respectively.

In addition to the Cadillac and Porsche, both the BMW (-2 kg) and Alpine (+1 kg) have underwent minor weight adjustments.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the only Hypercar to not have any weight or power adjustments, remaining in essentially the same specification as the last round.

BMW, Ford Receive Significant Weight Breaks in LMGT3

The BoP for LMGT3 is highlighted by sizable weight breaks for both the BMW M4 GT3 EVO and Ford Mustang GT3.

The BMW gets a significant 26 kg reduction, while the Mustang gets a 17 kg weight decrease in what has marked nearly wholesale changes in minimum weight across the class.

While the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R gets a 10 kg weight break, and the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo sheds 9 kgs since Brazil, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo and Porsche 911 GT3 R receive more minor 5 kg and 2 kg reductions, respectively.

The only LMGT3 cars to have weight increases are the Ferrari 296 GT3 (+8 kg) and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo (+9 kg), while the Lexus RC F GT3 is the only car to remain unchanged in minimum weight.

While power gains have been slightly adjusted for all GT3 models, the Mercedes-AMG receives a 1 percent power increase at the first stage.

The No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari, meanwhile, will run as the heaviest LMGT3 car, at 1378 kg, when factoring in the category’s success handicap. The No. 87 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus, which won last time out, will be the second-heaviest at 1372 kg.

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