Hypercar BoP Set for Qatar Season Opener

The Balance of Performance in the Hypercar class has been established for next month’s FIA World Endurance Championship season opener in Qatar, with reigning champions Toyota receiving both a weight increase and a power reduction.

The first BoP table of the season has been published ahead of this weekend’s two-day Prologue at the Lusail International Circuit, which is followed by the Qatar 1812km on March 2.

The document states that the BoP published applies “until further notice” with no details currently given on how further revisions will be managed.

Toyota will go into its title defence a minimum weight of 1089 kg for its pair of GR010 Hybrids, marking a nine kg increase compared to last year’s Bahrain finale, while power has been reduced from 514 to 510 kW (684 hp).

Porsche has been given the biggest power cut, with the 963 dropping from 514 to 505 kW (a loss of 12 hp) while the car’s minimum weight has also been increased from 1046 to 1048 kg.

Cadillac’s V-Series.R has been given a power reduction from 504kW to 499 kW, while also getting a 2 kg weight increase. Peugeot, meanwhile, has lost 9 kg while its power remains unchanged.

Notably, the hybrid deployment speed for the 9X8 returns to 150 km/h after it sat at 135 km/h for the final two rounds last year.

Ferrari is the only manufacturer not to have received any weight changes, remaining at 1075 kg but getting handed a slight decrease in power from 505 kW to 503 kW.

The parameters for newcomer brands Alpine, BMW, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini have also been set, with the Tipo 6 Competizione one of the heaviest cars in the class.

The Duqueine-run LMH car has been handed a minimum weight of 1085 kg, meaning only the Toyota weighs more. However, the Tipo 6 is more powerful at 514 kW, while its hybrid deployment speed has been set at 190 km/h, matching Ferrari and Toyota.

Out of the three debuting LMDh cars, the Lamborghini SC63 is the lightest at 1041 kg followed by BMW (1060 kg) and Alpine (1070 kg).

The power allocation between the three brands goes the other way, with the Alpine A424 given 510 kW, the BMW M Hybrid V8 set at 506 kW and Lamborghini receiving 502 kW.

Minimum Weight Set for LMGT3; LMP2 Le Mans Specification Outlined

The BoP for the debuting LMGT3 class has also been published, setting the minimum weight for each of the competing nine manufacturers.

Thirty kilograms separate the lightest and heaviest cars, with the Porsche 911 GT3 R weighing in at 1315 kg while the Lexus RC F GT3 starts off at 1345 kg before success ballast is applied.

The Lexus runs 13 kg heavier than the closest car in the category, which is the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 at 1332 kg.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and Ferrari 296 GT3 both sit at 1331 kg, with Ford on 1326 and McLaren on 1327.

In a separate document, the WEC committee has also confirmed an unchanged specification for the LMP2 class when it rejoins the championship on a one-off basis at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Minimum weight remains at 950 kg, while the Gibson V8 engine is fitted with a 35 mm air inlet restrictor and a rev limit of 8,000 rpm in first to fifth gear and 8,500 rpm in sixth gear.

Jamie Klein contributed to this report