Ferrari has received the largest weight increase in the Hypercar BoP for this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship round at Spa.
According to a bulletin issued on Tuesday, the Ferrari 499P Hypercar has been handed a 12kg addition to its minimum weight bringing it up from 1041 kg to 1053 kg, and its maximum power reduced by 4kW (5bhp) for Saturday’s Spa 6 Hours, round three of the 2024 WEC.
However, the changes made to the Hypercar BoP are relatively minor compared to those made between the opening two rounds of the season at Qatar and Imola.
The BoP adjustment comes after Ferrari’s dominant performance in their Imola home event last month, which saw them lose the battle for race victory after a double tactical error when it started raining with two of the six hours remaining.
For the Spa event, every car in the Hypercar class will go to the grid heavier than in Imola with the exception of the Cadillac V-Series.R. After the Ferrari, the next biggest increases in weight were handed to the Peugeot 9X8, Porsche 963, and Toyota GR010 Hybrid with each receiving a weight increase of 4 kg.
Peugeot continues to be the heaviest car on the grid for the second straight race with 1065 kg, one kilogram heavier than the rival Toyota. Increases of 3 kg have been given to both the Alpine A424 and BMW M Hybrid V8, while increases of 2 kg and 1 kg have been made to the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 Competizione and Lamborghini SC63, respectively.
The only car whose minimum weight has remained constant since Imola is the Cadillac V-Series.R, which was previously running at 1030 kg.
The Ferrari 499P, which secured the top three spots in qualifying at its home track last month, has also received largest reduction in power at 4 kW, or little over 5 hp. Only the Isotta Fraschini’s power has remained constant since Imola, with the Lamborghini and Peugeot receiving 2 kW drops while the Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, and Toyota received 1 kW reductions.
With the exception of the Lamborghini, all vehicles now have higher maximum stint energies. This is probably because the Spa circuit has more flat-out running compared to the Imola track. The two Hypercars receiving the biggest increase are Alpine and Peugeot at 4 MJ while Cadillac, Ferrari, and Toyota get 1 MJ each.
The upward shift in weight and downward shift in power at least partially reflects the differing circuit characteristics of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps compared with Imola. It is unclear if there has been no so-called platform adjustment – the balance between LMH and LMDh machinery — for Spa.
The new BoP methodology introduced includes the provision to make across-the-board adjustments when the gap between the fastest LMH and LMDh is above a certain percentage.
The four LMH vehicles’ minimum hybrid deployment speed is still the same as it was in Imola as the Power Gain rule—which modifies a car’s power above 210 km/h (130.5 mph)—was once more disregarded.
The system, which has been implemented in LMGT3, is reportedly being tested for the first time in a race at Spa ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Aston Martin receives biggest weight reduction in LMGT3
A revised BoP for the LMGT3 class has seen all bar one car get a weight adjustment compared to Imola, with three cars also having revised power curves.
The biggest weight increase has gone to the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, which now weights in at 1327 kg, up 21 kg from Imola. Also with increases are the Porsche 911 GT3 R (+9 kg), BMW M4 GT3 (+7 kg), Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (both +5 kg) and the Ferrari 296 GT3 (+4 kg).
Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang GT3 has been given a break of 11 kg, while the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 has seen its weight cut by 2 kg. Only the Lexus RC F GT3’s weight remains unchanged from Imola.
Three of the nine cars – the Ferrari, Ford and McLaren – have been given power decreases of ‘-1P’, meaning minus one percent, with the remainder staying unchanged.
The championship-leading No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche is carrying 35 kg of success ballast into Spa, while the Imola-winning No. 31 WRT BMW is now laden with an extra 25 kg. Also with ballast are the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston (15 kg), the No. 46 WRT BMW (10 kg) and the D’station Racing Aston (5 kg).
