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Porsche Gains Weight Advantage Ahead of Imola WEC Round

Porsche has secured the most significant weight adjustment for the upcoming Imola round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as part of the Hypercar Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations. The Porsche 963 LMDh will compete in the Imola 6 Hours on April 20, 2025, weighing in at 11 kilograms lighter than it did at the season opener in Qatar back in February.

Despite this reduction, the 963’s total weight for this year’s second WEC round stands at 1,053 kilograms, which is 20 kilograms heavier than it was during the corresponding race last year. Additionally, the maximum power output for the 963 has been reduced by 5 kW, roughly equivalent to 6.7 horsepower, in an effort to level the playing field among the Hypercar competitors.

This decision comes on the heels of a less-than-stellar performance from the factory Porsche Penske Motorsport team during their title defense, finishing in 10th and 11th places in Qatar. In contrast, at the same stage last year, the team achieved second and third positions under challenging wet conditions in Italy.

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, Matt Campbell

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Other manufacturers like Alpine and Peugeot are also benefiting from weight reductions for the Imola race, with the Alpine A424 LMDh dropping 2 kilograms and the Peugeot 9X8 2024 losing 1 kilogram. The Peugeot now remains below the Hypercar minimum weight of 1,030 kilograms while maintaining a maximum power output of 520 kW (697 hp).

In a contrasting move, Cadillac experienced an increase in minimum weight, moving from 1,030 kilograms at Qatar to 1,041 kilograms for Imola. However, the Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh has gained an additional 7 kW (9.4 hp) in power. Ferrari, having dominated the podium at the previous 10-hour race in Qatar, has also seen an increase of 8 kilograms but has benefited from a 7 kW power boost compared to the last race.

Toyota’s GR010 HYBRID LMH maintains a steady minimum weight of 1,065 kilograms, although it has lost 3 kW (4 hp) since the opening round. Meanwhile, BMW’s M Hybrid V8 LMDh has faced a 5-kilogram weight increase, yet its power has been upgraded by 8 kW (10.7 hp), shifting its performance dynamics significantly in the current BoP framework.

Aston Martin’s Valkyrie LMH, which is a non-hybrid vehicle, is also subjected to a 9-kilogram increase for this iteration of the race. As teams prepare for the challenges posed by the Imola 6 Hours, practice sessions will kick off on Friday, April 18.

Source
www.motorsport.com