Isotta Fraschini – Syndication Server

WEC set to push ahead with two-car Hypercar rule

Ahead of the FIA WEC weekend in Imola, reports emerged that a new rule mandating two cars for each Hypercar manufacturer from the 2025 season onwards was under consideration. RACER believes a vote on this is looming, leaving the current and future …

Ahead of the FIA WEC weekend in Imola, reports emerged that a new rule mandating two cars for each Hypercar manufacturer from the 2025 season onwards was under consideration.

RACER believes a vote on this is looming, leaving the current and future single-car OEMs in the FIA WEC working hard on solutions should they be required to expand their programs going forward to continue racing in the championship, and crucially the Le Mans 24 Hours.

If it is approved by the World Motor Sport Council, it would have an impact on three current Hypercar factories in the WEC: Lamborghini, Isotta Fraschini, and Cadillac, as well as Aston Martin, which originally planned to join the field next year with “at least” a single Valkyrie entered by Heart of Racing.

The good news off the bat, RACER understands, is that all of the OEMs concerned should be able to fulfil this requirement in time for next season. And any associated IMSA programs being run alongside them don’t appear to be under threat at this point either.

Starting with Lamborghini, Iron Lynx team principal Andrea Piccini told RACER during the Imola weekend that if the rule comes into force it “will run two cars”.

“This is a proper partnership (between Iron Lynx and Lamborghini) and any decision made is one we take together,” he said. “We are already thinking and talking about next year. And the WEC is talking about rules for next year, whether it might be mandatory to run two cars. If that is the case we are ready to do it.”

Crucially, Piccini explained that a second car in WEC wouldn’t necessarily come at the expense of its IMSA GTP program, which he says is very important to Lamborghini.

“It’s too early to say, but I think the idea would be in that case to run two (in WEC) and one (in IMSA),” he said. “It’s not easy, we are working on it. But if WEC says we need to run two cars, we will run two cars.”

Cadillac meanwhile, should be ready as it is poised to expand its V-Series.R program in the WEC regardless of the new rule being put in place. This follows its decision, which was first revealed by RACER, to cut ties with Ganassi Racing on both sides of the Atlantic at the end of the current season.

Cadillac is already set to expand its WEC effort. Jakob Ebrey/Motorsport Images

The process of selecting a new partner team for the WEC is well underway and in its final stages. The ultimate decision, plus the subsequent contract signing is not expected until sometime after the Le Mans 24 Hours.

As for Isotta Fraschini, while it is currently navigating the challenges of getting its single-car effort with the Tipo 6-C and partner team Duqueine up to speed, it is known to have ambitions to race with two cars. Ahead of the 2024 FIA WEC entry list reveal Isotta was understood to have made moves to run two cars, before being granted a single space on the grid for the season due to the entry being capped at 37.

Aston Martin is the final piece to this puzzle with its highly-anticipated Valkyrie LMH program that’s set to debut in the WEC and IMSA in 2025.

On the record, when approached for comment on its ability to field two cars next season, Aston Martin said simply:

“We are aware of the rule, we are keeping an eye on it, but we don’t comment on speculation.”

What is clear is that Aston Martin and Heart of Racing’s ambitions to race in both IMSA and the WEC off the bat will make it a hard task to increase its car count in Year 1.

There appear to be four scenarios to consider.

The first is that Heart of Racing operates two Valkyries next season in the WEC and races in IMSA with a single car as planned, though there have been no suggestions made to RACER in background conversations that this is on the cards.

The second is that Heart of Racing runs two cars in the WEC and zero in IMSA. Again, there appears to be no appetite for this. An IMSA GTP program for the Valkyrie is known to be an important part of Gabe Newell and Ian James’ plans.

Third is that Aston Martin pulls the plug on its WEC effort altogether because it cannot or will not commit to a two-car program. This is another highly unlikely scenario, given the amount of resources being poured into the Valkyrie project and the importance placed on competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

In conversation with RACER, senior paddock sources appear confident that Aston Martin has a solution and would fulfil the two-car mandate if it is in place. Does that then, leave the potential for a second Valkyrie, operated by a second team, as the most likely solution? Could this be the answer?

For next year, with changes expected to come concerning the look and shape of the current set of teams racing in Hypercar, the grid size is also believed to be increasing to 40 plus.

The question of garage and paddock space at the circuits on the calendar is always a talking point, and there are likely to be some real pinch points going forward as the entry grows. Last weekend in Imola, as an example, multiple LMGT3 teams had to house their cars nose-to-tail in a single garage as a result of the limitations of the pit lane.

Either way, there appears to be no suggestion that factories will walk away if this new rule comes into play. Indeed, the bigger question may well surround the impact it has on the customer marketplace…

Italian marques bring some mixed emotions on home soil

The first-ever FIA WEC race at Imola Sunday brings with it plenty of intrigue and a huge amount of local interest. A bumper crowd is expected trackside, with tens of thousands of fans set to pack the grandstands for the second round of the 2024 …

For the locals, there is a smorgasbord of teams and drivers to root for in the top class, with the Le Mans-winning Ferrari AF Corse team now joined by Lamborghini with its new SC63 and the revived Isotta Fraschini brand. And they all have a different outlook and set of objectives for the six hours of racing to come.

At Ferrari AF Corse, the clear aim is to win on home soil, after it failed to do so last year in Monza in the aftermath of its historic victory in the centenary Le Mans. Ahead of qualifying, Ferrari has flexed its muscles and looks on track to achieve this target, topping all three practice sessions. It then finished 1-2-3 in qualifying with a dominant performance from all three 499Ps.

Antonio Fuoco, who set the fastest time, put in an impressive performance. Robert Shwartzman in the privately funded No. 83 499P, who took second spot on the grid, described the achievement as “undoubtedly excellent” ahead of just his second race in the championship.

Right now, looking at the qualifying results, few would bet against Ferrari winning Sunday at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Nevertheless, Fuoco was keen to keep expectations in check in conversation with RACER ahead of the race, as winning here will require more than just raw pace. Traffic management, tire consistency and luck will all play a part, and the feeling at Ferrari is that Porsche and Toyota will be in the mix.

“I think it’s going to be tough because it’s a medium to low-speed track with hairpins and tight corners. It’s hard with the GT cars and it’s very different to the other tracks we will visit this year,” he said.

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He also feels that while there will be an element of a home-field advantage for Ferrari to feed off of, it is important that the team doesn’t get distracted by the occasion.

“It’s special to be here,” he added. “After Monza last year where it was quite special with the fans after Le Mans, I think on race day there will be many fans around the track to see us again. As always, as an Italian, this is an extra boost; they really push us all weekend.

“Last year we finished on the podium (in Monza) which was good, but for sure this weekend we will try to achieve the maximum. We need to be focused to do this because it’s going to be quite tight, and even the weather forecast looks unclear.”

Ferrari’s history in yellow is also an ace up the Italian marque’s sleeve the weekend at Imola. Motorsport Images

A key difference this year to last year’s outing at the “Temple of Speed” is that AF Corse has the benefit of its third 499P, which only increases its chances of a strong result each weekend.

In Qatar, Shwartzman, Yifei Ye and Robert Kubica finished fourth and ahead of both factory cars on debut, providing proof that the No. 83 is not here simply to fill a space on the grid or play second fiddle to the works crews.

“We try to work together as a group and having Robert (Kubica) as part of the team, a driver with a lot of experience, is good for us,” Fuoco responded when asked about the impact that having a third 499P has on race preparation. “We work as a team, share all the information and put it all together.”

Lamborghini, meanwhile, is focused on scoring its first set of WEC points after the SC63 finished 13th on its global debut in the season opener and qualified 16th Saturday. Here, racing on a circuit that it tested on prior to race week, Iron Lynx team principal Andrea Piccini feels confident it will close the performance gap once the green flag drops.

Don’t let the clouds fool you; Lamborghini is staring down their best opportunity yet. They’ve already tested at Imola… Motorsport Images

“This is such a different track to Qatar, which is super flat, and Sebring which is so bumpy. You come here, it’s a super downforce circuit with a lot of curbs, fast entries, and quick changes of direction.” Piccini told RACER.

“It’s a challenge and we have to be realistic. This is a track we have tested on already and we saw the car was competitive in practice. I think this is one of the races where we have the best chance of a good result. I don’t think it’s possible to fight for the podium, but we can fight to score important points for the championship.

“We hope to be fighting closer to the front at Le Mans (in June). But that’s a very high-speed circuit and we don’t know where we will be for a circuit like that. So until the test day there, we just need to prepare as best we can by maximizing what we have here.”

Isotta Fraschini, on the other hand, has a more modest goal of simply finishing the race.

During Qatar week, Isotta took a cautious approach to the track action, treating it as an extended test session before retiring after six hours with a front-suspension issue. Here, with the hybrid system now functioning as intended and the suspension issue diagnosed and rectified, its level of expectation has been raised.

On the pace front, while the Tipo 6-C hasn’t set times capable of challenging the cars at the sharp end of the field ahead of the race this week, it came significantly closer than it ever did at the Lusail circuit during practice.

The team, though, left the circuit Saturday night concerned by its qualifying run. Driver Jean-Karl Vernay told RACER the team was left confused by the results sheet, unable to achieve better lap times than it set in practice despite running with no traffic, low fuel and with new tires. The Frenchman pushed hard, only to end up 4s off pole and dead last.

More of the same from Isotta Fraschini on home soil? So far it looks to be so. Motorsport Images

“It was frustrating,” he said. “Our race pace is good, though we know we are still behind. Yet this afternoon in qualifying — we don’t understand it — we didn’t make a huge step with our setup and our fastest lap of the week came yesterday morning. We were able to do a 1m32.5s after just eight laps on a track I haven’t been to since 2017 (a whole second quicker than the lap in qualifying).”

Like Iron Lynx, the reason everyone within the Isotta organization appears more relaxed is because they have been able to draw from testing experience at Imola during the development phase of the car. This allowed the Duqueine-supported team to head into the first free practice at Imola with a baseline setup to build on.

“We are working hard, taking steps, but the level is so high,” admitted Vernay. “We are motivated as a small team. This is a super-demanding track, but it’s cool to drive. We are looking OK I think. We made a step since Qatar, and we are looking good.

“Qatar was a test session, really — a difficult first meeting. As our car is an LMH car, we have our own hybrid system and it took us a lot of time to ensure it was legal for the FIA. We lost a lot of time in the Prologue because of that, so we didn’t have much time to prepare.

“Since then we haven’t tested but we have done a lot of work at the factory to prepare the car for this weekend. They’ve done a great job because, out of the box here, we have been closer to the front. We are fighting against big guys with more financial support.

“We are going to do all we can now to show we deserve to be here.”

Duqueine team completes first Isotta Hypercar test

Isotta Fraschini has completed its first Hypercar test with new program partner Duqueine and newly signed driver Alejandro Garcia. The team’s latest run with the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione came in the form of a two-day test at Estoril with Garcia and …

Isotta Fraschini has completed its first Hypercar test with new program partner Duqueine and newly signed driver Alejandro Garcia.

The team’s latest run with the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione came in the form of a two-day test at Estoril with Garcia and Jean-Karl Vernay — who has formed a key part of the car’s development — behind the wheel.

The test in Portugal was the first for the program under the Isotta Fraschini Duqueine Team banner, following the surprise news last month that British LMP2 team Vector Sport was no longer Isotta’s main partner team for the effort.

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It was also a first drive with Isotta for this year’s European Le Mans Series LMP3 champion Garcia, who along with Vernay completed 750 miles of running over the two days as the homologation process for the Tipo 6 comes to a close.

Isotta has revealed that three of the four FIA homologation phases have now been completed, meaning the Italian manufacturer is almost fully ready for its maiden FIA World Endurance Championship season in Hypercar.

“I am very satisfied with the first test done by the Isotta Fraschini Duqueine team,” said Claudio Berro, member of the IF board of directors and motorsport manager. “It was also Alex García’s first time driving a Hypercar and he behaved very professionally, assisted by Jean-Karl Vernay. The two days saw several long runs in which the car performed perfectly, which allowed us to collect a lot of information on the tires and on the setup and aerodynamic settings.”

Veteran touring car racer Vernay, who along with Garcia is set to drive with the team in the WEC next season, said the car continued to show promise in Estoril.

“We’re all very happy — it was a super-productive session!” the Frenchman said. “We were lucky to have some great weather which meant we could run the car properly. We continued to improve the car setup, but all the systems are working well.

“It was also the first time for Alejandro behind the wheel of the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione and was a great opportunity for me and our group of great engineers to introduce everything to him. We’re looking forward to the next test and to the first race in Qatar!”

Isotta Fraschini splits with Vector

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.

Isotta Hypercar to test next week

FIA WEC Hypercar-bound Isotta Fraschini is set to shake down its Tipo 6 LMH Competizione for the first time April 11-12 at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy. At the test, the Italian manufacturer’s hybrid-powered Hypercar will be driven by Michelotto …

FIA WEC Hypercar-bound Isotta Fraschini is set to shake down its Tipo 6 LMH Competizione for the first time April 11-12 at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy.

At the test, the Italian manufacturer’s hybrid-powered Hypercar will be driven by Michelotto Engineering test driver Maurizio Mediani, who has previous prototype experience in the WEC as part of SMP Racing’s LMP2 effort. Mediani has also been involved in the simulator development of the Tipo 6 LMH, which has been designed and built in the Michelotto headquarters in Padova, Italy.

The shakedown test next week follows two 4wd dyno runs during February and March. The car has also completed its mandatory crash test in recent days, as part of its FIA homologation process.

Following the shakedown, Isotta plans to put the car through a wider test program before requesting race-by-race entries later in the 2023 FIA WEC season, with LMP2 outfit Vector Sport set to run the car at each meeting. The aim is to debut the car in July for the brand’s home race at Monza, the final European stop on the schedule.

This news follows a recent visit to Isotta Fraschini’s base by former Formula 1 and WEC driver Pastor Maldonado, who spent a day meeting the management team and taking a look at the Tipo 6 LMH.

Isotta Fraschini Hypercar to begin testing this month

The forthcoming Isotta Fraschini Hypercar program continues to make steady progress behind the scenes ahead of its targeted debut in the FIA WEC later in the season. Gary Holland, the team principal at Vector Sport, which will partner with Isotta to …

The forthcoming Isotta Fraschini Hypercar program continues to make steady progress behind the scenes ahead of its targeted debut in the FIA WEC later in the season.

Gary Holland, the team principal at Vector Sport, which will partner with Isotta to run the Hypercar program, which was first revealed last month, told RACER that the new Tipo 6 LMH Competitzione will undergo a shakedown test at the end of the month. If that proves to be successful then the car will begin its full test program. To this point, the car has been through extensive work on the dyno, with the feedback said to be all positive.

The intention for Isotta is to test the car and then request race-by-race entries for it later in the season. The aim is to debut the car in July for the brand’s home race at Monza, which is final European stop on the schedule.

In the meantime, Vector Sport is focused on running its full-season LMP2 class ORECA in the FIA WEC with Gabriel Aubry, Matthias Kaiser and Ryan Cullen. RACER understands that the LMP2 car will complete the season — the program won’t be affected by Vector’s commitment to competing with Isotta in Hypercar.

There is no news yet on who will drive the Tipo 6 LMH Competitzione. RACER understands that only Aubry and Kaiser are confirmed for the full-season in LMP2.

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Aubry spoke to RACER and says he is really pleased to be part of the program, in its second WEC season.

“I really like how this team operates,” the 24-year-old said. “It also has a lot of familiar faces, with guys from JOTA, Prema and Algarve Pro that I know well and worked with before. They have lots of experience and run the car very well, it allows me to focus completely on my driving.”

In preparation for Sebring the team spent three days testing, at Portimao and Paul Ricard, which Aubry says went well.

“We may not have a lineup of the biggest stars, but we should still be in the mix this season,” Aubry said when asked about the team’s goals this year. “We’d like to be regularly finishing in the top five in the second half of the season.”