The latest news coming out of both the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship paddocks all but guarantees entries into the Hypercar and GTP classes into double figures for 2023 and beyond.
IMSA
Marshall Pruett’s latest story for Racer.com reveals the likely destination for the second (of two) 2023 privateer Porsche 963s as A.J.Foyt Racing.
If and when confirmed the Foyt Porsche would join the already revealed entry from JDC Miller with a privateer 963.
The privately-run Porsches would join efforts from:
Penske Porsche (2 x Porsche 963)
BMW Team RLL (2 x BMW M Hybrid V8)
Meyer Shank Racing (1 x Acura ARX 06)
Wayne Taylor Racing (1 x Acura ARX 06)
Chip Ganassi Racing (1 x Cadillac LMDh)
Action Express Racing (1 x Cadillac LMDh)
There are other potential additional cars that could join later in the season ahead of full-season 2024 efforts, including current single-car teams doubling up with their commitments.
FIA WEC
Some aspects of the most likely second customer for a second full-season privateer Porsche 963 are known to DSC but the deal is not yet done. The currently most likely customer is not Proton Competition who have publicly stated that they would like to run 963s in both WEC and IMSA competition.
If and when completed, that second privateer entry is set too join full-season efforts from:
Toyota Gazoo Racing (2 x GR010 – new car unlikely before 2024)
Peugeot Sport (2 x 9X8)
Ferrari/ AF Corse (2 x Ferrari LMH)
Penske Porsche (2 x Porsche 963)
Chip Ganassi Racing (1 x Cadillac LMDh)
Hertz Team Jota (1 x Porsche 963)
In addition, there are known efforts from Glickenhaus Racing to field a likely part-season SCG 007 effort with a single car, possibly two for Le Mans.
The as-yet-unannounced Isotta Fraschini LMH project is also targeting 2023 but may emerge too as a later entrant for a part season.
The ‘Vanwall’ LMH effort from Colin Kolles is still mired in legal issues surrounding the ownership of the Vanwall trademark. Contrary to some media reports the issue is not settled. The next reporting date for the current EU Intellectual Property Office case is next month. Kolles has stated that he intends to enter a car for 2023.
2024
Prospects of Peugeot privateer sales and a BMW factory-backed WEC effort seem currently best to file under ‘2024 prospects’.
Already confirmed for 2024 are additional LMDh efforts from:
Lamborghini, with parallel efforts in IMSA and WEC looking most likely to be operated by the Prema/ Iron Lynx outfit for the Ligier-based car.
Alpine Signatech are a shoe-in for the Oreca-chassised effort in the FIA WEC with Andretti strongly linked to a parallel IMSA effort (though as yet not confirmed whether the effort will be badged as an Alpine in the US).
Add too the prospects of a potential further pair of private 963s apiece for both IMSA and the WEC and at least one more significant brand who are keen to add a programme sooner rather than later.
For the WEC the other most significant addition is set to be a factory-backed presence from BMW in 2024, WRT look the most likely outfit to field that but DSC understands that the deal is not yet done and there are other (very strong) competing bids.
All in all, and with all of the above taken into account, the 2024 season should see IMSA with a full-season GTP class well over double the current DPI numbers whilst the FIA WEC looks potentially able to graze 20 for their top HyperCar class.
