[WEC] New rules. New manufacturers. The 2021 and beyond positivity thread!

[PhilipR]

At this point I will take whatever they say with a pinch of salt and honeslty only report on it when they make the commitment to join

They have been saying the same thing for 3-4 years now and no progress. Reminds me of Audi to F1 in the early 2000s. We already have plenty enough manufacturers so will not particuralrly miss them if they do not join

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Simmi

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...4SyqKsIGrw_sxA

McLaren still flirting with hypercar without making a commitment of any sort.

That's the second time Brown has been quoted as saying it's "when not if." Feels like they've been linked for about a decade at this point!

Clearly not a priority for them compared to other series, but hopefully now they have representation in the WEC paddock it will start to help build the case for it internally.

I can't see this coming together.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Simmi

"when not if."

[J Jay]

UA wouldn't have been selling itself to any passing manufacturer for the past two years if there was anything concrete about McLaren entering hypercar.

It's not going to happen this decade, if ever.

[broadrun96]

At what point do we all just stop listening to fire any driver for the next kid Brown? Build it or shut the pie hole, but then he looks and acts like every bad investment guy from the early 2000s and sounds just like them selling their losses as wins

[NaBUru38]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...customer-cars/

The FIA and ACO are dumb in trying to force Aston Martin and Isotta to expand while denying customers a spot.

[Larsen]

Which is why you need Hypercars to be in the ELMS, Asian Le Mans Series and others for the customer teams to be able to race in. If anything they probably shouldn't have made it mandatory for factory teams to run a minimum of 2 cars in WEC...that's just being stupid unless you go to circuits that can support more than 40 cars

[TF110]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...customer-cars/

The FIA and ACO are dumb in trying to force Aston Martin and Isotta to expand while denying customers a spot.

The JOTA Porsche's are gone next year if JOTA becomes the factory Cadillac team. That leaves 1 customer Porsche that might want to expand to 2 cars. There may be others that want to join but the WEC is better with more variety than the same 963 in the hands of 3 different teams, at least imo. Isotta needs to expand? Are they in the world cup or the manufacturers standings?

[v8supes]

Porsche say its unlikely that other customer cars will join the WEC grid in the future. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...customer-cars/

[NaBUru38]

My theory is that the two-car rule pushes privateers away.

Instead, if the WEC didn't have the two-car rule, then Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Isotta would have just one car next year, and Porsche could at more privateers.

Then in 2026 the FIA and ACO would have a better base of customer team to add Hypercars to the ELMS. Some would leave WEC to ELMS, some new one would join ELMS, and the WEC would have extra spots for Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Isotta to expand.

[veeten]

More likely, the direction will stay as is, with link-ups between teams and manufacturers. For the most part, it's been that way since the start of the LMH/LMDh deal. A graduation from LMP2 to the higher ranks, where they can run a manufacturer based car instead of a spec based car. It requires more, but the results and benefits far outweigh the losses.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by TF110

The JOTA Porsche's are gone next year if JOTA becomes the factory Cadillac team. That leaves 1 customer Porsche that might want to expand to 2 cars. There may be others that want to join but the WEC is better with more variety than the same 963 in the hands of 3 different teams, at least imo. Isotta needs to expand? Are they in the world cup or the manufacturers standings?

I'm not sure you're required to have two cars, you're only required to have two cars if you want to be considered for the manufacturers world championship. Championship. Otherwise, I think you're allowed to just stay with one car and compete for the privateers cup or whatever they call it

[TF110]

Originally Posted by joeb

I'm not sure you're required to have two cars, you're only required to have two cars if you want to be considered for the manufacturers world championship. Championship. Otherwise, I think you're allowed to just stay with one car and compete for the privateers cup or whatever they call it

That's what I thought. I don't know exactly what Isotta's plans are. But they don't have to expand at all if they're allowed to stay in the world cup instead of the manufacturers championship. That means the Proton Porsche can stay as 1 car team also. We'll see in a few months time a clearer picture.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Then in 2026 the FIA and ACO would have a better base of customer team to add Hypercars to the ELMS.

Not sure where all the prospective ELMS or Asian Le Mans hypercar teams are coming from to be honest.

Once manufacturers begin to pull out, the customer marketplace will start to ramp up a bit. At the end of the day there are so few properly sorted teams at the top level, there's not really the incentive to start churning out cars if you're not even contending for podiums.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by TF110

Isotta needs to expand? Are they in the world cup or the manufacturers standings?

Isotta is a manufacturer, entered in the manufacturers world championship. They have zero points but have never finished last in their first four races.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Isotta is a manufacturer, entered in the manufacturers world championship. They have zero points but have never finished last in their first four races.

yes, this year they are. The question was whether the rules force them to run 2 cars, or force them to run 2 cars to be able to compete for world championship. In the latter scenario a single car could be possible but not eligible for the championship?

[TF110]

Originally Posted by joeb

yes, this year they are. The question was whether the rules force them to run 2 cars, or force them to run 2 cars to be able to compete for world championship. In the latter scenario a single car could be possible but not eligible for the championship?

Right. What sub-class will they try for next year.

[Mike E]

More Hyundai speculation, but with some big names attached, apparently.

Dallara or Oreca chassis with Pipo engine?

https://youtu.be/AKe9fg18Tao?si=JWi9D4TM5NW9Tu2y

[Coach Ep]

And Pipo driving perhaps?

[tomcug]

Saw the video and it seems this info aligns with what John Doonan said about new brand(s) coming to GTP maybe in 2026.
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/d...early-as-2026/

[TF110]

It may actually be happening this time! I would love to see Hyundai in the top class. The rumors have been around for a while, now they're looking more true than ever.

[Simmi]

Would be interested to see if it's Hyundai global motorsport or financed out of North America. Good news anyway.

[joeb]

What type of engine would they use, the Pipo???

[veeten]

Possibly two engines...

Genesis V8

Kia Stinger V6 twin turbo

Depends on the chassis manufacturer they pair with...

[veeten]

If the V8, then Dallara is the better way to go.

But if they're going for the likes of a turbocharged one, like the Stinger, then the Oreca is the best bet.