Isotta Fraschini Hypercar: Is it all over?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Steve McQ

Duqueine filled the seats as they would do it in P2.

If you are short for time on a project, it makes sense to fall back on what you know.

Hypercar is a step up in many ways though, and the lack of recent prototype experience in the lineup is telling.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Strange things going on there, presumably with sums of money changing hands to get an F4 driver with very little sportscar experience into a WEC Hypercar.... But a silver driver.....?

Very odd. Hope that isn't indicative of the rest of the program....but they already switched teams so maybe switching drivers isn't a surprise?

[TF110]

Im wondering how much seat-time these guys actually have? I know they car has tested a few times, but are these drivers even that familiar with it? Perhaps they're picked because they were the fastest in testing.

[Mike E]

Garcia has tested but he's been dropped. Maybe he could send them a postcard with some tips on it.

[Lutzvic]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Garcia has tested but he's been dropped. Maybe he could send them a postcard with some tips on it.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...r-car-program/
Would be great to see that happen... but:

• What's the chance some team is going to chose their car having a much better 963 as an alternative? Porsche's supply limitation maybe?
• What about grid capacity? Might be tough to add more Isottas even if interested customers are there...

[joeb]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...r-car-program/
Would be great to see that happen... but:

• What's the chance some team is going to chose their car having a much better 963 as an alternative? Porsche's supply limitation maybe?
• What about grid capacity? Might be tough to add more Isottas even if interested customers are there...

It does seem like the only way for more spots to be available on the WEC grid is if some current teams drop off. Good for the team to potentially offer this though. I mean Glick did the same thing and there weren't any takers, but who knows what happens in a couple years.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...r-car-program/
Would be great to see that happen... but:

• What's the chance some team is going to chose their car having a much better 963 as an alternative? Porsche's supply limitation maybe?
• What about grid capacity? Might be tough to add more Isottas even if interested customers are there...

Is the Porsche really that much better? Is it cheaper? It's established, but what's the potential of the Isotta with another team behind it?

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by TF110

Is the Porsche really that much better?

Currently it undoubtedly is. How much more can be extracted out of Isotta, time will tell. As for the pricing, hard to say how much they might ask The 963 costs $2.9 million so Isotta would have to be cheaper than that (preferrably). Also it's hard to advertise your car to potential customers when you have two rookies behind the wheel...

[TF110]

Not everyone is Porsche though nor can they be or attain one. They may be tapped out in terms of customers. In terms of being better, sure the Porsche is right now (bop aside). But there's still a business case to be made for Isotta. I hope to see another one instead of the 8th 963.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by TF110

Is the Porsche really that much better? Is it cheaper? It's established, but what's the potential of the Isotta with another team behind it?

Yes. Yes. Lower than the Porsche.

That’s my confident answer, reasonable guess, and pretty certain answer.

The only issue is Porsche availability.

[joeb]

Oh this is funny and I hope was on purpose, in an S366 article on IF at Imola

Jean-Karl Vernay feels Isotta Fraschini closer to Hypercar pack at Imola,

Then has this picture. Clear evidence they were closer

[seanyb505]

They were glued to competition's diffuser the whole race!

[Adam43]

Two Silvers and a Platinum. How do they measure up? Here are a comparison of average lap times and the spread in the first two races.

Round 1 Qatar Average Lap time

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 10	Top 20	Top 40	Laps
1	Jean-Karl VERNAY (P) Isotta Fraschini 11	1:43.883	1:44.126	1:44.351	1:44.806	57
2	Carl Wattana BENNETT (S) Isotta Fraschini 11	1:43.950	1:44.619	1:44.949	1:45.697	66
3	Antonio SERRAVALLE (S) Isotta Fraschini 11	1:44.332	1:45.292	1:46.256	NA	34

Round 1. Fastest laps very close. Spreads out a bit/
Serravalle drops away quickly, but that could be a function of having less laps and hence opportunity. Or maybe less laps because of the pace.
Bennett got the most laps.

Round 2 Imola Average Lap time

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 10	Top 20	Top 40	Laps
1	Jean-Karl VERNAY (P) Isotta Fraschini 11	1:34.191	1:34.492	1:34.726	1:35.300	64
2	Carl Wattana BENNETT (S) Isotta Fraschini 11	1:34.624	1:35.247	1:35.686	1:36.322	56
3	Antonio SERRAVALLE (S) Isotta Fraschini 11	1:37.406	1:37.900	1:38.720	1:43.022	71

Serravalle got the most laps. More of a spread from the quickest laps here than Qatar. This race was impacted by rain and maybe we are seeing that in the two regions of lap time from him.

More of a gradual increase between the Vernay and Bennett. Fairly consistent in the changing conditions. Although I've not matched when they were running to the conditions.

[FIRE]

Well done!
No major issues, finishing 14th 9 laps down.

[Gerard C]

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Well done!
No major issues, finishing 14th 9 laps down.

In 2018, 9 laps down would've been a podium.

[J Jay]

It's a shame that they will be drowned out (in terms of recognition) in such a stacked hypercar field, but Isotta should rightly be proud of their efforts.

I hope Kolles was watching!

[Aysedasi]

I totally agree. A very good Le Mans debut.

[TF110]

They finished, better than BMW and Alpine. Stayed out of trouble mostly and didn't have any major issues. I'd say that's a success for anyone, let alone a privateer team!

[flatlandsman]

I would hope the data they gain is useful, the car is clearly nowhere near the pace, maybe needs a new engine/chassis package, but oddly it is quick on the straight, reminds me of the WM, maybe invest in some better drivers, rather than pay drivers and they can give better feedback in the areas to improve. For that they need a sponsor to pay the wages!!

[Adam43]

So just a new engine and chassis! Yet interesting that with 515kW increasing to 520kW it has a good top speed.

But I didn’t come here for a laugh I came to show a photo of it.

New sponsors might make it look a bit better too.

I liked it. Impressive that their fastest lap was about 4s off the fastest overall. In 2011 it is better than the Oreca 908. Which was 5th and 16 laps down at the end, not 9. In 2011 only 6 cars were closer than that gap. About 1/3 of the LMP1 field.

[veeten]

And that's why I said that it was the most important car on the grid. If it can sustain reasonable laps and good returns with minimal damage, then it will give impetus to others possibly looking to enter. IF built this car the right way, by going through the rules properly, sourcing their parts and partners, taking their time to build it in making sure that everything fits, and doing testing with the drivers to be sure they are in sync with it.

Even the decision to switch from Vector Sport to be ready to have time with the new team for Imola, rather than Qatar. Very smart decisions made, at every turn, is why we haven't heard any bad news from this team.

[Aysedasi]

The only query that many of us had was the choice of drivers.....

[veeten]

Well, it's not like any major drivers were breaking down their door to be in their program. Not to mention that it's a small outfit, no big sponsors there, at the moment...