Friday may be the rest day at Le Mans for the driver's and teams to recharge, reenergize, and focus for the big race tomorrow. However, the sports car racing news cycle never sleeps and there is plenty of news in the FIA World Endurance Championship today, pertinent to both the present, and to the future. Some of these news stories may indeed generate some Op. Ed. pieces from me, later on should I find time to write them after the big race has concluded. So, stay tuned for that.
The LMP2 class will no longer exist in the FIA WEC after this year for the simple reason that the Hypercar class is growing by leaps and bounds and the new GT3 class is being introduced. The LMP2 platform is getting long in the tooth. There was or may still be a new LMP2 coming for 2025 but that could very well be a moot point at this time.
Removal of LMP2 Class Confirmed for 2024
Ligier have produced a prototype of a hydrogen powered sports car and today, Toyota also announces a race car that will be powered by Atomic Number 1, H.
Toyota Presents Hydrogen Prototype Concept
The 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship race schedule is set to look very different from previous years and sees the return of two tracks from the past, including Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for the Lone Star Le Mans making a return for the first time since early 2020 before the pandemic happened, and a return to the Interlagos circuit in Brazil among the changes. This expands the calendar as well, back to an eight-race season.
Qatar and Imola are new venues also added to schedule. Monza and Sebring have been dropped.
COTA, Interlagos Return on 2024 WEC Schedule
Each GT3 manufacturer in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship will be represented by two cars on the grid. Makes me wonder how this will affect the car counts for each event especially a race like Le Mans, going forward.
WEC Confirms Two Cars Per LMGT3 Manufacturer
Alpine presents their new LMDh spec Hypercar. You have seen the video of the introduction of the car, and here is the printed story all about it.
Alpine Reveals Mecachrome-Powered A424_B LMDh
Neel Jani makes his return to the top class of prototype sports car racing in Hypercar with Proton Competition in their Porsche 963 that is set to debut after Le Mans and in time for the next event after the 24 Hours, which is at Monza in Italy.
Jani Completes Proton Hypercar Lineup
Ford officially unveils the new GT3 spec Mustang. Proton Competition is the first customer team who will race the car. You've seen the video. So, like the Alpine story, you can read about the new Blue Oval, below.
Ford Unveils Mustang GT3; Proton Named First Customer
DOUBLE STINT: Friday Le Mans Recap & Predictions (6-9-23)
No. 3 Cadillac Suffered "Minimal Damage" from Hyperpole Fire
Le Mans Friday Notebook
Less than 24 hours before we go racing. Who will win? Toyota wants number six. But Ferrari, Porsche, and perhaps, Cadillac, (and maybe even Action Express), could win. We will find out together.
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