163 replies to this topic

[Viryfan]

Seems like Ferrari might be about to announce an hypercar withtin the end of the week according to Pruett.

[Anja]

Seems like Ferrari might be about to announce an hypercar withtin the end of the week according to Pruett.

 

Didn't take very long: https://the-race.com...hypercar-entry/

 

With so many manufacturers I feel like we should start betting on who will be the first one to leave once it becomes apparent that they can't all win 

[Victor_RO]

Hoo boy. 

 

And I think everyone who is announcing entry plans for 2023 is doing it in full awareness of the significance of the year; as a reminder, it will be the 100th anniversary of the first LM24.

 

EDIT: Pretty sure that the ACO will now be drawing up contingency plans for (if the world is back to some normality by then) over 300 thousand spectators trackside in '23.

[Ben1445]

I did think that LMH was the best fit for them out of IndyCar, LMDh and LMH. 

 

To see it an an official announcement though? That is...something....

[ARTGP]

Audi, Porsche, Peugeot, Toyota, Glickenhaus, Ferrari, Acura/Honda, and GM? Tasty

 

It's a bit unbelievable really

Edited by ARTGP, 24 February 2021 - 15:29.

[ARTGP]

Didn't take very long: https://the-race.com...hypercar-entry/

 

With so many manufacturers I feel like we should start betting on who will be the first one to leave once it becomes apparent that they can't all win 

 

But F1  .

Edited by ARTGP, 24 February 2021 - 15:26.

[JHSingo]

My word, it's finally happened? It feels like it's been a recurring rumour for pretty much the last decade that Ferrari was going to do this, and it's never happened. I'm pleasantly surprised - delighted, in fact. 

 

Le Mans is going to be insane in the next few years. I've never been before, but seeing how the entry is going to be soon may finally convince me to do so. 

 

Once again: credit to the rule makers for managing to entice all these manufacturers. It's been a lean few years for sports car racing, but it looks like we're entering a new golden era. Enjoy it whilst it lasts. 

[ARTGP]

Surely Ford will be here soon enough?

Edited by ARTGP, 24 February 2021 - 15:30.

[Viryfan]

Didn't take very long: https://the-race.com...hypercar-entry/

 

With so many manufacturers I feel like we should start betting on who will be the first one to leave once it becomes apparent that they can't all win 

 i guess bop will come handy.

 

but i don't ferrari will come with the scuderia but rather with AF Corse.

[Ben1445]

Has to be noted that F1 finally being able to get together an agreement on cost capping was a crucial step in making this happen. The momentum to get that one over the hill was given a large boost by the pandemic. In a round about way, Covid-19 has given us Ferrari back in the top class of Le Mans. 

 

Funny how the world works sometimes. 

[Victor_RO]

Also 50 years since Ferrari's last big effort in the top class at Le Mans with the 312PB (in the last big Ferrari vs Matra year).

[Disgrace]

What? Next VW will actually join F1. I hope there's a plan to keep the spending in check.

[Peat]

Crumbs. Never though this would actually happen. 

This will be interesting. 

[Victor_RO]

Big enough announcement that it's worth splitting into a separate topic.

[Dan333SP]

Hoo boy. 

 

And I think everyone who is announcing entry plans for 2023 is doing it in full awareness of the significance of the year; as a reminder, it will be the 100th anniversary of the first LM24.

 

EDIT: Pretty sure that the ACO will now be drawing up contingency plans for (if the world is back to some normality by then) over 300 thousand spectators trackside in '23.

 

Well, I know where I will be in the summer of 2023. I've literally been waiting my entire adult life for Ferrari to re-enter top class endurance racing. This is huge. 

 

The only vaguely disappointing thing is that it'll almost certainly be a turbo V8 or even an F1-derived V6 of some sort, so there's no chance it'll sound as nice as the last Ferrari prototype in my avatar. 

[Ben1445]

Well now we can start the speculation and debate over what kind of engine/power unit they will bring. So that'll be fun I suppose. 

 

Edit: Dan's already on it! 

Edited by Ben1445, 24 February 2021 - 15:55.

[ARTGP]

Well, I know where I will be in the summer of 2023. I've literally been waiting my entire adult life for Ferrari to re-enter top class endurance racing. This is huge. 

 

The only vaguely disappointing thing is that it'll almost certainly be a turbo V8 or even an F1-derived V6 of some sort, so there's no chance it'll sound as nice as the last Ferrari prototype in my avatar. 

 

If I had to guess, they'll just take the engine straight out of the GTE car and spruce it up, or an F1 derived V6 as you say.

 

 

 

 

 

Alright Mercedes.....you're turn.... . Project One = Hypercar

Edited by ARTGP, 24 February 2021 - 15:56.

[Izzyeviel]

Any chance Kimi could have a drive with them?

[Myrvold]

Has to be noted that F1 finally being able to get together an agreement on cost capping was a crucial step in making this happen. The momentum to get that one over the hill was given a large boost by the pandemic. In a round about way, Covid-19 has given us Ferrari back in the top class of Le Mans. 

 

Funny how the world works sometimes. 

 

I hope that the FIA (and ACO, FOM etc.) realize that having more than one championship with big names, high prestige etc. isn't a negative for any of the series. It just widens the net for catching new fans and getting people hooked on motorsport. By doing that, it can also increase the interest in all series.

Then add "something something, 26 cars F1".

[Dan333SP]

With the speculation in the other thread that Audi will run a turbo-4 and Porsche will run a V8TT, are there any non-turbo hopes for Hypercar/LMDh? Maybe Lambo will snub conventional wisdom and turn up with a V12 LMH 

[Imateria]

Talk about news stories I didn't expect to see, I hope this boom period can last more than a few years.

[MKSixer]

This Programming brought to you by The 1960's.  We're taking over, boys.  Cue Ford.

[ARTGP]

With the speculation in the other thread that Audi will run a turbo-4 and Porsche will run a V8TT, are there any non-turbo hopes for Hypercar/LMDh? Maybe Lambo will snub conventional wisdom and turn up with a V12 LMH 

 

GM perhaps with the V8 from the Corvette.

Edited by ARTGP, 24 February 2021 - 16:00.

[john winfield]

Also 50 years since Ferrari's last big effort in the top class at Le Mans with the 312PB (in the last big Ferrari vs Matra year).

 

Victor, the 1972 Ferrari withdrawal was such a disappointment, but understandable in retrospect. 1973 looked potentially very exciting, and it was; Ferrari versus Matra all race long. I stayed up virtually the whole night listening to BBC Radio reports of the changing fortunes, hoping for a Ferrari win. Things looked promising until, with 90 minutes left, the Ickx/Redman 312PB finally broke. Such a shame.

 

I'm looking forward to a works Ferrari return. Just don't put Ickx and Merzario together - it will end in tears.  

[Victor_RO]

My wallet is starting to cry when I think how expensive paddock passes are likely to be in '23 with the kind of field and event expected to happen. 

 

Also, after this announcement, I will say this: if the FIA, ACO and FOM don't move heaven and earth to avoid a F1/Le Mans calendar clash in '23, they will be doing something collossally stupid. A Ferrari LMH with the F1 drivers of that year in it will probably be a dream for everyone.

[john winfield]

Well, I know where I will be in the summer of 2023. I've literally been waiting my entire adult life for Ferrari to re-enter top class endurance racing. This is huge. 

 

 

 

Same here Dan! Very exciting.

 

I was lucky enough to see the works Ferraris at Brands in 1969, 1970 and 1972, but I never got to Le Mans. Not until 1995 anyway, so it was a bit of a treat then to see the Sigala/Cochran/Arnoux 333SP looking fantastic in the sunshine on Friday night. And for half an hour on raceday......... 

[JHSingo]

My wallet is starting to cry when I think how expensive paddock passes are likely to be in '23 with the kind of field and event expected to happen. 

 

Also, after this announcement, I will say this: if the FIA, ACO and FOM don't move heaven and earth to avoid a F1/Le Mans calendar clash in '23, they will be doing something collossally stupid. A Ferrari LMH with the F1 drivers of that year in it will probably be a dream for everyone.

 

I've said for years that I'd like to go to Le Mans, but for one reason or another have not managed it up to now. But with all these manufacturers, it being the 100th anniversary, and the year I turn 30 ( ) I'm already looking at Le Mans 2023 as being the one I have to be there for. 

Edited by JHSingo, 24 February 2021 - 16:16.

[Disgrace]

I've said for years that I'd like to go to Le Mans, but for one reason or another have not managed it up to now. But with all these manufacturers, it being the 100th anniversary, and the year I turn 30 ( ) I'm already looking at Le Mans 2023 as being the one I have to be there for. 

 

Sounds a forum meet-up on the cards...

[Ben1445]

I've been intending to go the the centenary race for at least a decade. I thought it was going to be busy because of that fact alone but now? Oh hell.. heaven help all those of us who try to attend... 

[Lennat]

I'm not super into endurance racing, but this could be really epic. I'm also tempted to attend Le Mans in 2023.

[Victor_RO]

For me 2023 will also be the 10th anniversary of my first Le Mans trackside, so all the clocks are lining up. 

[Gemini]

What a great news!

 

Le Mans begins to regain it's P1 magic after only few lean years. 2023 was already looking great yesterday. But today is just 

[Viryfan]

interestingly the twitter account of the scuderia did not make mention of today's huge news

 

https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari

[Victor_RO]

I've been intending to go the the centenary race for at least a decade. I thought it was going to be busy because of that fact alone but now? Oh hell.. heaven help all those of us who try to attend... 

 

It's going to be madness. I don't think we'll be able to get more than 2-3 hours of sleep a night in the campsites. 

 

interestingly the twitter account of the scuderia did not make mention of today's huge news

 

https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari

 

Isn't that feed focused just on the F1 team? The announcement was on the Twitter feed which is linked to the rest of their racing activities (mostly GT and one-make stuff at the moment).

[Ben1445]

Talk about news stories I didn't expect to see, I hope this boom period can last more than a few years.

Biggest challenge in that regard is going to be managing prototype convergence between the ACO and IMSA. This really is a huge opportunity for sportscar racing. 

[DeKnyff]

 

In fact, the last Ferrari which won Le Mans in 1965, the 250 LM, was more or less what we'd call today a hypercar.

[onewingedangel]

Do the hypercar rules require dual fuel-flow sensors? 😂

[Pete_f1]

I wonder how much the engine will cost?

[LucaP]

Bernie used to sabotage all the series that represented a threat to F1, what will the new F1 bosses do 

[juicy sushi]

Didn't take very long: https://the-race.com...hypercar-entry/

 

With so many manufacturers I feel like we should start betting on who will be the first one to leave once it becomes apparent that they can't all win 

I'll bet on the pony.  I don't think they have the stomach for such a wide-open brawl against teams that know the terrain when they don't have a veto on everyone else's toys.

[Victor_RO]

Bernie used to sabotage all the series that represented a threat to F1, what will the new F1 bosses do 

 

If they're smart, they'll realize that two major championships with shared involvement by teams/manufacturers, taken together, will be a goldmine for everyone if organized properly and allowed to coexist.

[Ben1445]

It was also F1 bosses eliminating another threat in the form of unsustainably large budgets that got us here, so this should be a win-win

Edited by Ben1445, 24 February 2021 - 16:43.

[Burai]

Didn't take very long: https://the-race.com...hypercar-entry/

 

With so many manufacturers I feel like we should start betting on who will be the first one to leave once it becomes apparent that they can't all win 

 

Hold on, we first need a million articles telling us how sports car racing is the new pinnacle of motor racing and that F1 is finished. We don't even need to write any new ones, we can repurpose the ones from 2015 and replace some of the names.

[BRG]

Audi, Porsche, Peugeot, Toyota, Glickenhaus, Ferrari, Acura/Honda, and GM? Tasty

 

It's a bit unbelievable really

It's completely unbelievable that they will all actually turn up to race. Any bets which ones fade away without trace?

 

Any chance Kimi could have a drive with them?

He will be drawing his pension by then!  And has he got the patience to compete over 24 hours?  

 

 

In fact, the last Ferrari which won Le Mans in 1965, the 250 LM, was more or less what we'd call today a hypercar.

Back then, we just called them CARS.  All this super, mega, hyper, nonsense is sales baloney.

 

Bernie used to sabotage all the series that represented a threat to F1, what will the new F1 bosses do 

The FIA may have learnt something.  Nobody from Liberty is a Vice-President of the FIA, as Bernie got his boy Max to appoint him.

[JHSingo]

 

With so many manufacturers I feel like we should start betting on who will be the first one to leave once it becomes apparent that they can't all win 

 

Aston Martin is way ahead of the curve on that one. They've left before they've even raced. 

[PayasYouRace]

It's definitely something I'm going to keep an eye on.

[ArnageWRC]

So, they're returning to Le Mans.....which obviously means they're joining the WEC. Good news, and another manufacturer.....let's hope it all happens.

[juicy sushi]

Now, we're already on the fun speculation about the engine, but also have room to ask if there will be customer cars?  The 333SP program was for customers, but only Porsche, of the firms announced already, have committed to providing customer cars.  And none of the LMH category (as opposed to LMDh) runners have.  I think it is likely we won't see more than the factory pair, unless maybe the BOP works and they can run in IMSA as well.

 

I think the motor will likely be all-new.  Possibly a detuned, larger displacement version of their F1 engine, with the same battery tech as that, since there is no point in not leveraging already existing knowledge.

[Risil]

Great news. Ferrari racing for the overall win will be a big deal for Le Mans's media profile, which is already high in racing terms. Congrats to the ACO for pulling it off.

[Calum]

This is pretty cool.

Makes up for losing the Valkyrie.