Isotta Targeting 15,000km in Testing Before Homologation

Isotta Fraschini is aiming to complete 15,000 km (9,320 miles) of track testing with its Tipo 6 LMH Competizione by the time it begins homologation for a planned FIA World Endurance Championship effort next season.

The Italian constructor, which has partnered with Michelotto to develop a hybrid-powered LMH prototype, has banked around 4,000 km since the first rollout three months ago according to its motorsport managing director Claudio Berro.

More mileage is to come this month when the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione visits multiple Italian circuits, followed by a planned overnight endurance run at Aragon.

Isotta has abandoned its idea of entering the 8 Hours of Bahrain season finale in November as a preparation race, which Berro previously described as “not mandatory.”

It will still head to the Gulf region later in the year, potentially taking part in the WEC’s end-of-season rookie test at Bahrain International Circuit as well as other outings.

“We tested in Aragon for three days [completing] 1,500 km with some long stints,” Berro told Sportscar365.

“Now we go end of this month in Vallelunga for two days. Then back [to Monza for] two days. We make a very strong performance test, just to confirm the lap times. And then, after Monza, we go back to Mugello.

“In 15 days, we have six days of testing in three different circuits. Then we stop for 15 days for holidays, and then we restart in September.

“At the moment we have done 4,000 [km]. Our target, minimum in, in three tests is another four or five thousand.

“I don’t think we will arrive at 10,000 km before the [end of the] summer period, but then we have to go another six or seven thousand before homologation. 15,000 km in total.”

Isotta is waiting for confirmation on when it can homologate the car with the FIA and ACO, but hopes that the process will be completed before it heads to Bahrain.

The Tipo 6 LMH Competizione chassis that has been on track will be used for the homologation, while the Tipo 6 LMH Pista track day car will be converted to LMH specification for testing during the overlap period.

The two vehicles shared the track during demonstration runs at last weekend’s 6 Hours of Monza WEC round.

According to Berro, the upcoming tests in Italy will be used to verify the car’s performance within the LMH operating window, before the focus shifts to honing reliability over longer distances.

“For reliability, it’s OK for short stints,” he said. “Now we have to make two steps: one is performance and we will check at Monza in August.

“The second [goal] is reliability but for long-distance. Probably for that, we have to go again to Spain, where it is possible to run for 24 hours.

“For the moment we have run just to set the light controls, but the next test at Aragon will be in the night.

“Before [the 24-hour test] we would like to set in the performance to be competitive at the right level. Then we have to go into reliability.”

Berro added that driver selection remains low on the list of priorities for Isotta Fraschini, which is working alongside operating team Vector Sport.

Jean-Karl Vernay, Andrea Montermini and Marco Bonanomi have been involved in the track testing to date.

Berro also indicated that Vector Sport’s LMP2 lineup of Gabriel Aubry, Matthias Kaiser and Ryan Cullen will soon get behind the wheel of the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione.

“For me, it’s [best] to use drivers with big experience,” he said. “In Monza, we use the drivers we have with Vector. We decide with the team which drivers they would like to use.”

Milan-based Isotta Fraschini is plotting a WEC program to highlight its plans for road car production, according to company president Alessandro Fassina.

The Tipo 6 range will also include a ‘Stradale’ road-legal version but there are also considerations to develop a new Isotta Fraschini sports car, potentially for 2026.

Details of that car, including whether it will have an electrified powertrain, are yet to be determined but the idea is for it to be international in reach, with Fassina highlighting the U.S., United Arab Emirates, China and Canada as key markets.

“The WEC is second for importance in motorsport after Formula 1,” he told Sportscar365.

“For us, we thought it was affordable and for marketing, it’s a big chance because it is the biggest opportunity we can have to see the brand.”

Despite the target of selling road cars in North America, Fassina clarified that Isotta only intends to run its LMH car in the FIA World Endurance Championship.