The Hypercar category, a joint project of the FIA and the ACO, that back in 2018 was envisaged as the new top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, had its debut in 2021, but it wasn?t until this year when this ruleset really came of age, attracting a raft of manufacturers.
The 11th season of the FIA WEC features an impressive 13 full-season Hypercar entries from seven manufacturers, highlighting the ongoing growth of the world?s premier endurance racing series and proving that the Hypercar technical platform appeals to the manufacturers.
SHIFT IN REGULATORY APPROACH

So, what makes the Hypercar class so successful" The ruleset, accommodating cars built to LMH and LMDh technical regulations, represents a major shift in philosophy compared with the LMP1 class it replaced. It allows for far greater variety both in terms of technical approaches as well as the aesthetics of the cars, at the same time ensuring sporting equality and preventing cost escalation through the concept of performance windows. Technical Regulations are focused on controlling performance outcomes instead of setting design or geometrical restrictions, allowing manufacturers to choose cost-effective solutions as significant expenditures do not translate to performance gains. This autonomy allows the automakers to maintain the spirit of the brand and remain relevant to their road car philosophy, but also to express potential in terms of creativity and innovation. Less rigid aerody...