WEC 2024: The summary of the latest news
New brands getting ready, Peugeot preparing to revisit its concept and Cadillac set to have only one car in the world championship: these are the news of the week!
A highly advanced Peugeot 9X8 for next year
The revelation of the radical 9X8 impressed everyone due to the absence of a rear wing. Peugeot had assured that this data was not necessary… on paper, they were right.
Except that, from the very beginning, the LMH rules were the only ones to come into effect in the context of the world championship (which would have allowed Aston Martin to arrive as early as 2021 with Toyota and Glickenhaus). So, Peugeot was intended for this, before the LMDh completely shook things up.
The brand from Sochaux had all the trouble in the world getting its prototype to work optimally, since the BoP was also made for LMDh protos (Porsche and Cadillac). The symmetrical tires at the front and the rear caused much too much performance loss, particularly on the exit of corners. This complicated tire wear even further.
Thus, the 9X8 could, to gain performance, abandon its 31 square inch tires (perfectly symmetrical at the front and rear) to return to a more conventional configuration (29 at the front, 34 at the rear). This would imply using one of the five Evo Jokers reserved for Hypercar, if they are validated by the FIA, to make up for the performance.
And, even if nothing is announced or officialized, it is possible that the 9X8 could be equipped…with a rear wing! This would change, but the aesthetics could be just as pretty.
Cadillac is not changing its plans
With two cars in IMSA and one in WEC, General Motors is more than satisfied with Cadillac’s official commitment. The No. 2, in the hands of Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook, will remain the only prototype engaged on the global scene.
The head of competition programs at General Motors, Laura Wontrop Klauser, was more than enthusiastic in Cadillac’s official statement.
« We’re very happy to be starting this second year. There is a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished upon our return and the two championships have taught us many things (…). In WEC, having only one car will allow us to fully focus our work on its understanding and the balance that must be found in it. »
Cadillac’s first season in WEC is very honorable: the podium of the N°2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is to this day the best result of the American prototype…which is competing for the drivers title on the other side of the Atlantic!
BMW and WRT are preparing for the WEC
Much more discreet but oh so expected, the three new manufacturers of the world championship are each forging their weapons on their own.
BMW has been on the wet track at Spa, in order to give itself a good test bench. And the BMW Motorsport boss, Andreas Roos, gives all his trust to WRT.
« It’s them who will have the responsibility for the car during the championship. But we work hand in hand with them: we see what they have done in LMP2 these past years and we have seen how much they can be in the game. »
Alpine and Lamborghini have completed their tests at Castellet, Aragon and Imola. While the small Italian manufacturer Isotta Fraschini, with among others Jean-Karl Vernay, is preparing to potentially engage two LMHs. Roll on 2024!
