The new WEC Hypercar class is the future of top-class endurance racing. Multiple manufacturers are already racing in the category, with many others heavily rumoured.
In 2021, the WEC replaced its LMP1 category with the Hypercar class. Hypercar is centred on the latest generation of hypercars developed and produced by major manufacturers in recent years. There is significant freedom in the rules, and plenty of creative scope for manufacturers. This makes it possible to create very distinctive racing cars.
From 2023, the Hypercar class will see the addition of cars built under the new LMDh ruleset originating from the United States. LMDh cars feature a spec chassis and standard hybrid unit, electronics and transmission, and therefore less creative freedom in design. On the upside, they are significantly less expensive to build than cars designed to Hypercar regulations.
The current regulations can be found here. The exact specifications for each car class are available on this page. Below we have summarised all officially confirmed information of the single participants.
Current Hypercar competitors
Toyota – Toyota GR010 Hybrid
Toyota has been competing in the FIA WEC since the very first season, sticking with the world championship for sportscar prototypes through thick and thin. The Japanese manufacturer committed to Hypercar at a relatively early stage and secured the inaugural FIA Hypercar World Endurance Championship in 2021.
- Team: Toyota Gazoo Racing
- Car: Toyota GR010 Hybrid
- Type: Prototype-based hypercar
- Number of full-season entries: 2
- Drivetrain: Hybrid (petrol engine with electric motor)
- Engine: V6 twin turbo (3.5l mid-engined)
- Engine manufacturer: Toyota (petrol engine) / ASIN AW + DENSO (electric engine)
- Engine performance: 500 kW (680 HP)
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- WEC debut: 2021
Peugeot – Peugeot 9X8
Peugeot returned to the FIA World Endurance Championship at the 2022 6 Hours of Monza. In 2023, the French manufacturer will make its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2011.
- Team: Team Peugeot Totalenergies
- Name: Peugeot 9×8
- Type: Prototype-based hypercar
- Number of full-season entries: 2
- Drivetrain: Hybrid – called “Hybrid 4” (petrol engine with electric motor)
- Engine: V6 twin turbo 90 degrees (2,6 litres – rear motor)
- Engine manufacturer: Peugeot
- Engine performance: 500 kW (680 hp) petrol engine + 200 kW electric motor (700 kW overall)
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- WEC debut: 2022 (Monza)
Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus – Glickenhaus 007
New to the WEC in 2021 was US sportscar manufacturer Glickenhaus. The team made its FIA World Endurance Championship debut with the new SCG007 prototype.
- Team: Glickenhaus Racing
- Name: Glickenhaus 007
- Type: Prototype-based hypercar
- Number of full-season entries: 1 (+1 for 24 Hours of Le Mans)
- Drivetrain: Conventional (petrol engine)
- Engine: V8 twin turbo – 90 degree (3,5l rear-engined)
- Engine manufacturer: Pipo Moteurs
- Engine performance: 500 kW (670 HP)
- Drive: Rear-wheel drive
- WEC debut: 2021
Porsche – Porsche 963
Porsche have built their car according to LMDh regulations and will enter the FIA World Endurance in Hypercar and the GTP class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023. US team Penske Motorsports will run the program. Porsche have also sold cars to privateer teams Hertz Team Jota and Proton Competition.
- Team: Porsche Penske Motorsport
- Car: Porsche 963
- Chassis constructor: Multimatic
- Type: LMDh
- Number of full-season entries: 2
- Drivetrain: Hybrid (petrol engine with spec hybrid)
- Engine: Twin-turbo V8
- Engine manufacturer: Porsche
- Engine performance: 680 hp (engine and hybrid combined)
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- WEC debut: 2023
Ferrari – Ferrari 499P
Ferrari announced its commitment to WEC Hypercar in 2021 to much fanfare. The Prancing Horse hasn’t been involved as a works team in top-class prototype racing since the early 1970s. Ferrari’s Hypercar programme will be run by long-standing partners AF Corse.
- Team: Ferrari AF Corse
- Name: Ferrari 499P
- Type: Hypercar
- Number of full-season entries: 2
- Drivetrain: Hybrid (petrol engine with electric motor)
- Engine: Twin-turbo V6
- Engine manufacturer: Ferrari
- Engine performance: 500 kW (670 HP)
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- WEC debut: 2023
Cadillac – Cadillac V-LMDh
Cadillac will be entering the FIA World Endurance Championship for the first time with its new-for-2023 Cadillac V-LMDh. Alongside the WEC programme, the team will also run two full-time entries in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
- Team: Cadillac Racing
- Car: Cadillac V-LMDh
- Type: LMDh
- Chassis constructor: Dallara
- Number of full-season entries: 1
- Drivetrain: Hybrid (petrol engine with spec hybrid)
- Engine: 5.5l normally aspirated V8
- Engine manufacturer: General Motors
- Engine performance: Up to 500 kW
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- WEC debut: 2023
Vanwall – Vanwall Vandervell 680
ByKolles Racing has also been part of the WEC furniture for some time. The German-based privateer has constructed its own Hypercar, partnering with former F1 manufacturer Vanwall. After a number of legal disputes, which now appear to have been resolved, the team is ready to enter the 2023 FIA WEC.
- Team: Floyd Vanwall Racing Team
- Car: Vanwall Vandervell 680
- Type: Hypercar
- Number of cars: 1
- Drivetrain: Conventional petrol engine
- Engine: V8 Motor (?? litres ??)
- Engine manufacturer: ??
- Engine performance: 500 kW (680 PS)
- Drive: ???
- WEC debut: 2023
Isotta Fraschini – Tipo 6 LMH Competizione
Little-known Italian manufacturer Isotta Fraschini is looking to break onto the global racing scene with a new-for-2023 Hypercar. The Tipo 6 LMH Competizione has been designed by renowned engineering firm Michelotto. Unlike other boutique manufacturers, Isotta Fraschini are looking to run a hybrid system on their Hypercar.
Once a luxury carmaker of some repute, Isotta Fraschini has been mostly building engines for agriculture and aviation before its revival as a racing marque. IF were not granted a full-season entry for 2023 but hope to run later in the season.
- Team: tbc (entry to be run by Vector Sport)
- Car: Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione
- Car type: LMH
- Number of full-season entries: ?
- Drivetrain: Hybrid (petrol engine with hybrid)
- Engine: 3l turbocharged V6
- Engine manufacturer: ?
- Engine performance: 520 kW
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- Planned WEC debut: 2023
Future entrants
BMW – BMW M Hybrid V8
BMW are competing with their BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023. They are expected to enter the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024.
- Team: tbc (entry to be run by WRT)
- Car: BMW M Hybrid V8
- Car type: LMDh
- Chassis constructor: Dallara
- Number of full-season entries: ?
- Drivetrain: Hybrid (petrol engine with spec hybrid)
- Engine: Twin-turbo V8
- Engine manufacturer: BMW
- Engine performance: 500 kW
- Drive: Four-wheel drive
- Planned WEC debut: 2024
Lamborghini
The as-yet-unnamed Lamborghini Hypercar entry marks the Italian marque’s first foray into top-class endurance racing in its history – starting 2024. Previous motorsport activities have been almost exclusively limited to GT racing, notably in the USA with a multiple-car customer racing GTD effort.
- Team:
- Car: ?
- Car type: LMDh
- Chassis constructor: Ligier
- Number of full-season entries: ?
- Drivetrain: ?
- Engine: ?
- Engine manufacturer: Lamborghini
- Engine performance: ?
- Drive: ?
- Planned WEC debut: 2024
Alpine
Alpine is currently the only WEC competitor still running an old LMP1 car in the hypercar class. This was made possible by a transitional arrangement that expires with the 2022 season. However, the French would like to return to the hypercar class in 2024 and enter a specially designed car based on the LMDh regulations. More precise details are still pending.
- Team: ?
- Car: ?
- Car type: LMDh
- Chassis constructor:ORECA
- Number of full-season entries: ?
- Drivetrain: ?
- Engine: ?
- Engine manufacturer: ?
- Engine performance: ?
- Drive: ?
- Planned WEC debut: 2024