24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 – Perspectives by manufacturers: Isotta Fraschini
The first free practice sessions of the 92nd edition will start this Wednesday: the opportunity to assess, before the serious things start, what the some fourteen engaged manufacturers in Hypercar and LMGT3 can hope for. The newcomer, Isotta Fraschini, will only be able to pursue one goal: to finish the race.
It’s tough to be a private team or even a small manufacturer in a forest of big automotive brands. The friendly Glickenhaus team held on for two and a half years, before lowering the flag and after keeping the Hypercar until the competition returned.
Vanwall took a short spin and was not selected for this year. This project, led by Colin Kolles, did not last long, with all very complicated races and ever-changing crews.
Then, suddenly emerges a constructor who has been resurrected, before simply announcing its commitment in Hypercar: Isotta Fraschini. The project is rather discreet, but has conducted a major testing campaign before the start of the season. Moreover, they have enlisted the Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay, who has significantly contributed to the development of the Tipo 6 LMH.
Obviously, we couldn’t expect miracles from a structure with such limited resources facing automotive giants. Isotta Fraschini has not scored any points since the beginning of the season, but shows good dedication. Few mistakes are made: it simply lacks performance and reliability.
It’s difficult to dwell on the case of the small Italian constructor: the grid of 23 Hypercars further reduces its chances of scoring points on a regular basis. It would take a race without any hitches and a crazy race, starting from Saturday, for the Italian team to manage to move up into the leading pack.
Finishing the race will still be the accomplishment of a great adventure, with much fewer means. Not everyone can be Pescarolo!
