Aston Martin Gets Weight Break, Power Boost in First Auto BoP Change

Photo: John Dagys

The 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE-Pro class-winning Aston Martin has received a weight break and power increase, in the first Balance of Performance adjustment utilizing the FIA and ACO’s new automated system.

The revised BoP has been confirmed for next weekend’s Six Hours of Nürburgring, which sees the Aston Martin Vantage GTE receive a 20kg decrease in minimum weight and 0.1 mm larger air restrictor compared to the last regular-season WEC round at Spa.

Data from last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was not taken into account for the new BoP system, which utilizes a proprietary algorithm developed in conjunction with GTE-Pro manufacturers.

Compared to its configuration at Le Mans, which had an event-specific BoP, the Aston will run 5 kg lighter (1193kg to 1188kg) and also with a larger air restrictor (29.5 mm to 29.7 mm), while both the Porsche 911 RSR and Ford GT will be heavier since last month’s twice-around-the-clock enduro.

While the Porsche’s BoP remains unchanged from its Spa configuration, the computer has given the Ford a 20kg weight increase, although turbo boost levels for both the Blue Oval and the Ferrari 488 GTE remain the same compared to the Belgian round.

Additional BoP changes can be computed on a per-race basis, taking into account the performance from the previous two regular-season WEC races.

The GTE-Am class, which does not utilize the auto BoP system, meanwhile, sees only a change to the 2016-spec Aston Martin, which gets a 0.2 mm smaller air restrictor.

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