The new WEC Hypercars at a glance

Image (c) FIA WEC / Adrenalmedia.com

After a slow start, the new Hypercar class in the FIA World Endurance Championship is picking up more and more speed.

In 2021, the previous LMP1 category was replaced by the new Hypercar class. Hypercar is centred on the latest generation of hypercars developed and produced by major manufacturers in recent years. The rules are freely designed and offer a great deal of creative scope for the teams. This makes it possible to create very individual 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, 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 summarized all officially confirmed information of the single participants.

Latest update: 26/01/2022

Current competitors

Toyota Gazoo Racing (2021)

#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Gr010 Hybrid at the 6 Hours of Bahrain
Image © Walter Schruff / WEC-Magazin

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.

  • Name: 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

Glickenhaus Racing (2021)

Glickenhaus 007 LMH at the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans
Image (c) Walter Schruff / WEC-Magazin

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.

  • Name: Glickenhaus SCG 007 LMH 
  • 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

Team Peugeot Totalenergies (2022)

Image (c) Peugeot Sport

Peugeot is back and have submitted two full-season entries for the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship season. It is unclear when the car will make its competitive debut, but Peugeot have already confirmed that it will the first round of the season in Sebring.

  • 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
  • Planned WEC debut: 2022

Future competitors

Porsche (2023)

New Porsche LMDh testing in Weissach, Germany
Image (c) Porsche Newsroom

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.

  • Name:
  • 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
  • Planned WEC debut: 2023

Ferrari (2023)

Image (c) Ferrari

Ferrari announced its commitment to Hypercar in 2021. No further details have been provided on the car or its development. As soon as the first pictures and information on the Ferrari hypercar are available, we will add them here. The race debut is planned for 2023. The Hypercar entry will be fielded by AF Corse.

  • Name: ?
  • Type: Hypercar
  • Number of full-season entries: ?
  • Drivetrain: ?
  • Engine: ?
  • Engine manufacturer: Ferrari
  • Engine performance: ?
  • Drive: ?
  • Planned WEC debut: 2023

Audi (2023)

Audi LMDh concept image
Image (c) Audi MediaCenter

  • Car: ???
  • Car type: LMDh
  • Number of cars: 2
  • Drivetrain: ???
  • Engine: ???
  • Engine manufacturer: Ferrari
  • Engine performance: ??
  • Drive: ???
  • Planned WEC debut: 2023

ByKolles Vanwall (2022/2023)

ByKolles Vanwall hypercar concept
Image (c) Vanwall Racing

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. The team plans to make its on-track debut in 2022.

  • Car: PMC Project LMH 
  • Car type: Prototype-based hypercar
  • Number of cars: 1
  • Drivetrain: Conventional petrol engine
  • Engine: V8 Motor (?? litres ??)
  • Engine manufacturer: ??
  • Engine performance: 500 kW (680 PS)
  • Drive: ???
  • Planned WEC debut: 2022

Cadillac (2023)

Image (c) Cadillac Racing

  • Car: ?
  • Car type: LMDh
  • Number of cars: ?
  • Drivetrain: ?
  • Engine: ?
  • Engine manufacturer: ?
  • Engine performance: ?
  • Drive: ?
  • Planned WEC debut: 2023

Alpine (2024)

Alpine Hypercar at the 8 Hours of Bahrain
Image (c) Walter Schruff / WEC-Magazin

  • Car: ?
  • Car type: LMDh
  • Number of cars: ?
  • Drivetrain: ?
  • Engine: ?
  • Engine manufacturer: ?
  • Engine performance: ?
  • Drive: ?
  • Planned WEC debut: 2023

Others

A number of additional manufacturers will be racing LMDh machinery in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship once the class debuts in January 2023. At the time of writing, these include BMW and Acura (Honda). Both manufacturers have signalled their desire to compete on an annual basis at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.