Michelotto Expects Isotta Fraschini Back on Grid Next Year

Michelotto Engineering, the firm responsible for the construction of Isotta Fraschini’s Le Mans Hypercar, is optimistic that the boutique Italian manufacturer will be back on the FIA World Endurance Championship grid next year.

Isotta Fraschini announced last week its immediate withdrawal from the WEC owing to a split with its partner team Duqueine, having contested the opening five races of the season with its solo Tipo 6 Competizione.

It followed a difficult run of form for the Italian-French partnership, in part exacerbated by extremely limited testing and an inexperienced driver lineup.

The car, shared by Jean-Karl Vernay, Antonio Serravalle and Carl Wattana Bennett scored a best finish of 14th place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Padua-based Michelotto, best known in recent years for being the company entrusted with building Ferrari’s GTE and GT3 cars up until the 488, was one of a number of high-profile partners engaged by Isotta Fraschini for its WEC program, along with engine builder HWA and Williams Advanced Engineering.

Company founder Giuliano Michelotto told Sportscar365 in an exclusive interview that he understood the reasons behind Isotta’s withdrawal, saying that “going on without any prospect of improvement would continue to damage the Isotta Fraschini brand.”

But he added that he sees a strong possibility of Isotta being back on the grid next year with a new partner squad to replace Duqueine.

“Absolutely, this is not the end of the project,” said Michelotto.

“What I have suggested to Isotta Fraschini is to re-enter the WEC in 2025 with one or more teams and to race and show what the car can do.

“I think there is great interest in LMH and LMDh among teams. My point of view is that there is an 80 percent possibility of being back on the grid next year.”

Michelotto ruled out the prospect of the Tipo 6 Competizione being rebranded to run under the banner of an alternative manufacturer looking to enter Hypercar.

“The project we started is dedicated to Isotta Fraschini, and it will remain so,” he said, highlighting that Michelotto is also responsible for building the track day and road car versions of the Tipo 6 under an eight-year agreement between the two parties.

Michelotto remains convinced that the Tipo 6 Competizione’s full potential has not been realized, citing the fact that the car started the year as the second-heaviest in Hypercar, behind only the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, under the Balance of Performance.

“This project has created a car that is very high-performing, and the confirmation of that is the Balance of Performance issued by the FIA [at the start of the season],” he said.

“The fact the car has been so heavily penalized, along with the Toyota, is something I am very proud of. I really hope we can see the car back next year and that it will be able to achieve its potential.

“But my opinion is that Isotta needs to strengthen the commercial side of the company.”

A spokesperson for Isotta Fraschini reiterated that it hopes to return to the WEC in 2025, but admitted uncertainty regarding whether its grid spots would remain open to it.

“We know not finishing the season means we risk losing our assured spots on the grid,” said the spokesperson. “But we hope to be back with two cars.

“Firstly we need to find a good team to partner with, or maybe two teams if it’s possible [to run two cars with two different teams].”

WEC CEO Frederic Lequien previously stated to Sportscar365 that the new-for-2025 two-car mandate does not specify that both cars must be run by the same team.