Ferrari Hit With Biggest Weight Increase in Spa BoP

Ferrari has been hit with the largest weight increase in the Hypercar Balance of Performance for this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship round at Spa.

A bulletin issued on Tuesday shows that the Italian manufacturer’s 499P has had its minimum weight upped by 12 kg for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, bringing it up from 1041 kg to 1053 kg.

The changes made to the Hypercar BoP are relatively minor compared to those made between the opening two rounds of the season at Qatar and Imola.

The next largest weight increases after the Ferrari apply to the Peugeot 9X8, the Porsche 963 and Toyota GR010 Hybrid, which have all been increased by 4 kg.

It means the Peugeot remains the heaviest car in the field for a second race in succession at 1065 kg, a single kilogram heavier than the Toyota.

Both the Alpine A424 and BMW M Hybrid V8 have been given increases of 3 kg each, while the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 Competizione has been given an additional 2 kg and the Lamborghini SC63 an increase of 1 kg.

Only the Cadillac V-Series.R, which was already running at the minimum weight of 1030 kg, has not had its minimum weight changed since Imola.

As well as the largest weight increase, the Ferrari 499P that locked out the top three positions in qualifying at its home venue last month has been given the largest power decrease of 4 kW, or just over 5 hp.

The Lamborghini and Peugeot have been given 2 kW decreases, while the Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche and Toyota have all lost 1 kW of power since Imola, with only the Isotta Fraschini having its power unchanged.

Maximum stint energy has been increased across the board, with the exception of the Lamborghini, presumably due to the nature of the Spa circuit which features more flat-out running than Imola.

Alpine and Peugeot have been given the largest increases of 4 MJ, while Cadillac, Ferrari and Toyota getting the smallest increase of 1 MJ each.

Minimum hybrid deployment speed for the four LMH cars remains unchanged from Imola, while the Power Gain rule, which increases or reduces a car’s power above 210 km/h (130.5 mph), is again unused.

This is despite suggestions the system, which is already used in LMGT3, could be trialled for the first time in a race at Spa ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Aston Martin Gets Biggest LMGT3 Weight Hit

A revised BoP for the LMGT3 class has seen all bar one car get a weight adjustment compared to Imola, with three cars also having revised power curves.

The biggest weight increase has gone to the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, which now weights in at 1327 kg, up 21 kg from Imola.

Also with increases are the Porsche 911 GT3 R (+9 kg), BMW M4 GT3 (+7 kg), Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (both +5 kg) and the Ferrari 296 GT3 (+4 kg).

On the other side of the ledger, the Ford Mustang GT3 has been given a break of 11 kg, while the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 has seen its weight cut by 2 kg.

Only the Lexus RC F GT3’s weight remains unchanged from Imola.

Three of the nine cars – the Ferrari, Ford and McLaren – have been given power decreases of ‘-1P’, meaning minus one percent, with the remainder staying unchanged.

The championship-leading No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche is carrying 35 kg of success ballast into Spa, while the Imola-winning No. 31 WRT BMW is now laden with an extra 25 kg.

Also with ballast are the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston (15 kg), the No. 46 WRT BMW (10 kg) and the D’station Racing Aston (5 kg).