The Hypercar manufacturer count was strong in 2023, yet gains greater heft this time. Joining the three Ferraris, two Toyotas, the pair of works Porsche 963s, the Peugeot 9X8s (carrying heavy revisions after two largely difficult seasons) and the singleton Chip Ganassi-run Cadillac are a brace of BMWs and Alpines and a solo Lamborghini. The anticipation has been building for weeks and months for these new LMDh entries. BMW has already made its return to sports car racing’s top flight with a so-so campaign in the US-based IMSA series. Run in the WEC by crack Belgian team WRT, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will be tasked to repeat the manufacturer’s standout achievement in this arena – victory at Le Mans, experienced as an engine supplier to McLaren in 1995 but more notably with its own V12 LMR in 1999.
Only Porsche and Toyota have named full driving squads for its entries at this stage, most others sticking to the minimum requirement of naming just a single driver. BMW has only filed Dries Vanthoor (No15 – the same number as its 1999 Le Mans winner) and Sheldon van der Linde (No20) so far, while Alpine has confirmed its regulars Matthieu Vaxiviere (No35) and Nicolas Lapierre (No36) for its brand new A424s. But it’s the TBAs that offer further intrigue. At Alpine, we know one of them will be taken by Mick Schumacher who, much like de Vries, has been offered an endurance racing lifeline. At Haas, he never quite convinced as prime F1 material, but Michael’s son might well have found his place in the motor sport world with this Alpine opportunity. His old man used sports car racing as a final finishing school before his illustrious F1 career. Perhaps the reverse will be the case for his lad.
There are other big names potentially waiting in the wings. The British Jota team is doubling its attack to a pair of customer Porsche 963s – you just have to love this team’s burning ambition – but has so far only named underrated Brit Will Stevens (No12) and Dane Oliver Rasmussen (No38). Will Jenson Button and, sensationally, Sebastian Vettel join the Jota party? Either or both would be a monumental coup.
Schumacher gets at shot at racing redemption with Alpine
Alpine
Jota’s double attack plus Proton Competition’s 963 with Harry Tincknell re-confirmed gives Porsche the most numbers on the Hypercar grid, with five cars in total. It was a strangely underwhelming first campaign for the 963 and the most successful sports car manufacturer of them all. But as promised, the customers had parity with the works cars in 2023. All five will be targeting that record-extending 20th Porsche Le Mans win come June.
The manufacturer count has left some casualties this coming year. Customer teams are one thing, but there’s little room at the table for pure-bred privateers. Jim Glickenhaus has sadly taken his leave from the WEC, but with his head held high and by his own choice, in the knowledge his team of Pipo-powered 007s had probably achieved and exceeded all realistic expectations. The opposite is true for ByKolles and its so-called Vanwall which has been left out in the cold. Will it be missed? Unlikely given the strength in depth the WEC boasts – plus the association with a long-distant brand that graced F1 more than 60 years ago always jarred. But what happens next for ByKolles?
