British LMP2 team Vector Sport and revived Italian manufacturer Isotta Fraschini have gone their separate ways, just months before the FIA World Endurance Championship cars are due to hit the track for the opening race of the 2024 season in Qatar.
Vector was due to operate the Isotta Fraschini factory Hypercar program in the FIA WEC with the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione next year, but a break down in the relationship between the two parties has prompted a change in direction from Isotta. With Vector no longer part of the effort, French LMP2 team and LMP3 chassis supplier Duqueine Engineering brought in as a new sporting partner.
Vector Sport revealed this news in a pointed statement released this morning, before Isotta later went on to confirm that Duqueine Engineering has joined the project, after the 2024 entry list was published by the FIA.
“It is with the greatest regret that Vector Sport announces that it will not be competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship,” the statement on the matter released by Vector Sport reads. “As widely publicized, Vector Sport was chosen to be the factory team for the new Isotta Fraschini LMH car in 2024, a collaboration dating back to December 2022 when the contract was signed and announced. The Italian team’s brand has been predominantly displayed on the Vector Sport LMP2 car throughout the 2023 WEC season.
“Since the spring of 2023, Vector Sport has been expecting to manage the testing and race development program — as originally agreed — in preparation for the competition next year. In reality, Isotta Fraschini has failed to release the Tipo 6 Competizione or any data, despite repeated requests.”
Vector Sport team principal Gary Holland cited “minimal access” to the development process for the Tipo 6 Hypercar as a key reason for the team cutting ties with Isotta.
“The level of disappointment we feel about Isotta Fraschini’s stance is hard to put into words,” he said. “We have been given minimal access and input into the development of this new Hypercar, despite solid earlier agreement about race car testing and development in preparation for 2024. We therefore have no real idea at all as to how the Isotta development has progressed.
“Vector Sport has registered for entry with the LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series for 2024 as was announced before the end of the WEC season, but we have no options in WEC at this late stage. We have, however, already entered into positive negotiations for 2025 and are looking forward to working with a manufacturer in WEC which aligns with our values and ambitions.”
Commercial director Adam Shore added that he believes Isotta has not honoured the terms of the contract which Vector had previously signed.
“Our contract signed in December 2022 contains clear terms which have not been honored by Isotta Fraschini. Their approach has been intransigent and ultimately a blatant breach,” he said.
“We have a range of legal options open to us, of course, but we are a professional racing team aligned to the best interests of the sport. The FIA World Endurance Championship and those interests are paramount in our minds. As Gary says, we are more focused for the time being on concluding arrangements for a competitive WEC campaign in 2025.”
Hours later Claudio Berro, the head of motorsport at Isotta Fraschini, also released a brief statement, which featured no mention of Vector Sport.
“Since the new Isotta Fraschini management group was appointed, the objective has been the FIA WEC in 2024,” he said. “After a year of intense work, assisted by Michelotto Engineering, the project achieved its goal. Now we will have to compete with the most important car manufacturers in the world, a commitment that will motivate us and our sporting partner Duqueine even more.”
The statement that Isotta Fraschini released, accompanying comments from Berro and Alessandro Fassina, the president of Isotta Fraschini, reads:
“Participation in the WEC will take place thanks to the collaboration with the Duqueine company, a world leader in composite materials construction for aeronautical components and racing cars. The presence on the track will be managed by Duqueine Engineering, which will take care of the sporting activities, while Isotta Fraschini will take care of the technical management.
“Registration for the championship took place with the Italian competitor license with the historic number 14, assigned to Isotta Fraschini by the Automobile Club of Italy.”
Vector Sport says more information on its 2024 European Le Mans Series plans will be made available in the coming weeks.