Isotta Signing Garcia Unfazed by LMP3-to-Hypercar Leap

Isotta Fraschini signing Alex Garcia says he’s unfazed by the prospect of racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class next year with only one season of LMP3 experience under his belt.

Mexican driver Garcia was revealed as one of Isotta’s drivers for its single-car effort with the Tipo 6 Competizione LMH upon the release of the WEC entry list last month, alongside development driver Jean-Karl Vernay and one more to-be-named driver.

The 20-year-old was something of a surprise choice given he only made his endurance racing debut this year in the European Le Mans Series, winning the LMP3 title for Cool Racing alongside Adrien Chila and Marcos Siebert, while also racing in FIA Formula 3.

But Garcia is convinced that he is ready for the step up to Hypercar, having decided to put his single-seater ambitions on ice to join the Duqueine-run Isotta team for 2024.

“After being rookie of the year in ELMS and winning the championship in my first year in LMP3, a lot of opportunities came,” Garcia told Sportscar365. 

“Me and my management team had to make a tough decision about whether to stay in single-seaters or switch fully to endurance racing. But I think in the end it was the right decision to take the offer from Isotta and Duqueine. 

“To compete against the top manufacturers in the world, with so many big names, it’s a big opportunity to break inside that world. I didn’t have to think twice.

“Hopefully I can demonstrate that I am capable of being there, just as I did in LMP3, and if it all goes well then I hope I can get more opportunities in 2025.”

In a bid to build his experience ahead of his WEC debut, Garcia is participating in the Asian Le Mans Series this winter with Nielsen Racing, driving in the LMP2 class.

“In endurance racing you can do as much testing as you want, but in the end things like tyre management and strategy are so important and it’s hard to learn these in a test,” he said. 

“It’s good that the LMP2 has more power and downforce than the LMP3, but I just want to do as many races as possible before the first round in Qatar.”

While admitting Isotta goes into its first WEC season as an “underdog” against the likes of Toyota, Ferrari and Porsche, plus fellow new arrivals BMW, Lamborghini and Alpine, Garcia is hopeful that the Italian boutique manufacturer can surprise in 2024.

“I think we have everything we need to make a good season,” he said. “The car looks great, Duqueine is a really-hard working team, we have strong drivers. I think it’s going perfectly. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we can get a podium. If we can do that in the first season, it would be amazing. For sure it will be interesting to see where we are against our competitors, but I have no doubt we can have a good season.”