WEC Sao Paulo BoP: Ferrari 499P takes huge hit in latest changes

The dominant Ferrari 499P has taken the brunt of the changes in the latest WEC Sao Paulo BoP bulletin for the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.

The latest Balance of Performance changes come ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship Sao Paulo 6 Hours which will be held this weekend at the historic Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

Ferrari’s performance in the 2025 WEC season has been nothing short of remarkable with the Italian marque’s 499P Hypercar securing victories in every round so far including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This streak of supremacy has not gone unnoticed as the newly published WEC Sao Paulo BoP bulletin confirms that Ferrari will be running at the Hypercar minimum power for the first time this season.

The Ferrari 499P will compete at a maximum power output of 480 kW (644 bhp), a reduction of 35 kW (47 bhp) since the previous round at Le Mans and 9 kW (12 bhp) compared to the Spa 6 Hours in May.

This power cut is compounded by a weight increase, with the 499P now carrying a minimum of 1069 kg—an addition of 27 kg over Le Mans and 12 kg over Spa.

The impact of these changes on Ferrari’s prospects at Sao Paulo 6 Hours cannot be overstated. The combination of increased weight and reduced power is particularly punitive at a circuit like Interlagos, where agility, traction, and tire management are paramount.

Although Ferrari has received a modest increase in power above the 250 km/h threshold, rising to 506.9 kW, the layout of the Brazilian track—with its short lap and limited high-speed sections—means that the benefits of this adjustment are likely to be marginal.

Only two areas, the run down to Turn 1 and the straight exiting the Senna S, offer opportunities for the 499P to exploit its top-end speed.

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While Ferrari absorbs the brunt of the BoP adjustments, the Toyota GR010 Hybrid remains at the same weight as Spa but benefits from a 5 kW increase in base power and the largest Power Gain in the field above 250 km/h, at 7.2 percent.

This gives Toyota 519.9 kW in the higher speed zones, although Interlagos’ configuration may limit the practical advantage of this boost.

Cadillac, meanwhile, appears poised to capitalize on a 15 kW increase in power and a drop to 1040 kg, making the V-Series.R one of the most potent packages on paper.

Porsche has been handed a 7 kW power boost and a 2 kg reduction in weight, bringing the 963 closer to the form that saw it challenge Ferrari at Le Mans.

BMW and Alpine, both of whom enjoyed strong runs at Spa, have received additional ballast, but only BMW retains the power to potentially offset the weight penalty. Alpine has lost 8 kW in the same adjustment, a puzzling decision for a manufacturer still seeking its first major breakthrough this season.

Peugeot and Aston Martin remain at the regulatory minimums for weight and power, both running at 1030 kg and 520 kW.

The LMGT3 class has also seen substantial BoP swings ahead of the Sao Paulo 6 Hours. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R is the biggest beneficiary, receiving a 25 kg weight break and now running at 1345 kg, albeit with a 6 kg success handicap for the TF Sport-run entries.

The McLaren 720S GT3 Evo and Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo have also been granted significant weight reductions but the Porsche 911 GT3 R and the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo are now the lightest cars in class.

Conversely, the Ford Mustang GT3 has been hit with a 19 kg weight increase, making it one of the heaviest cars in LMGT3, alongside the Lexus RC F GT3 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the latter of which has also gained 12 kg.

The biggest power increases have been awarded to BMW, Corvette, McLaren, and Porsche, each receiving a three percent boost, while Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin gain two and one percent, respectively.

Ford, Lexus, and Ferrari 296 GT3 are the only cars in the class to miss out on a power increase at the FIA World Endurance Championship Sao Paulo 6 Hours.

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