UPDATE: This story has been updated to include comment and further details from Isotta Fraschini, which were released shortly after the 2024 FIA WEC entry list was made public.
British team Vector Sport has revealed that it will not be competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship season with Isotta Fraschini in the Hypercar class, after a breakdown in the relationship between the two parties.
Isotta Fraschini, which received confirmation for a Hypercar entry for a Tipo 6 LMH Competizione this morning, has confirmed that it will work with Duqueine Engineering for its maiden WEC campaign instead.
“It is with the greatest regret that Vector Sport announces that it will not be competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship,” the statement on the matter released by Vector Sport reads.
“As widely publicised, Vector Sport was chosen to be the factory team for the new Isotta Fraschini LMH car in 2024, a collaboration dating back to December 2022 when the contract was signed and announced.
“The Italian team’s brand has been predominantly displayed on the Vector Sport LMP2 car throughout the 2023 WEC season.
“Since the Spring of 2023, Vector Sport has been expecting to manage the testing and race development programme – as originally agreed – in preparation for the competition next year. In reality, Isotta Fraschini has failed to release the Tipo 6 Competizione or any data, despite repeated requests.”
Vector Sport team principal Gary Holland cites “minimal access” to the development process for the Tipo 6 Hypercar as a key reason for the team cutting ties with Isotta.
“The level of disappointment we feel about Isotta Fraschini’s stance is hard to put into words,” he said. “We have been given minimal access and input into the development of this new Hypercar, despite solid earlier agreement about race car testing and development in preparation for 2024. We therefore have no real idea at all as to how the Isotta development has progressed.
“Vector Sport has registered for entry with the LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series for 2024 as was announced before the end of the WEC season, but we have no options in WEC at this late stage. We have, however, already entered into positive negotiations for 2025 and are looking forward to working with a manufacturer in WEC which aligns with our values and ambitions.”
Commercial director Adam Shore added: “Our contract signed in December 2022 contains clear terms which have not been honoured by Isotta Fraschini. Their approach has been intransigent and ultimately a blatant breach.
“We have a range of legal options open to us of course, but we are a professional racing team aligned to the best interests of the sport.
“The FIA World Endurance Championship and those interests are paramount in our minds. As Gary says, we are more focussed for the time being on concluding arrangements for a competitive WEC campaign in 2025.”
Following the 2024 entry list reveal, Claudio Berro, the head of Motorsport at Isotta Fraschini, said the revived Italian manufacturer has achieved its first major goal, obtaining an entry to the 2024 WEC season. While there is no mention of Isotta’s relationship with Vector Sport, Duqueine Engineering is namechecked in his comments.
“Since the new Isotta Fraschini management group was appointed, the objective has been the FIA WEC in 2024,” he said. “After a year of intense work, assisted by Michelotto Engineering, the project achieved its goal. Now we will have to compete with the most important car manufacturers in the world, a commitment that will motivate us and our sporting partner Duqueine even more.”
The statement accompanying comments from Berro and Alessandro Fassina, the president of Isotta Fraschini, reads:
“Participation in the WEC will take place thanks to the collaboration with the Duqueine company, a world leader in composite materials construction for aeronautical components and racing cars. The presence on the track will be managed by Duqueine Engineering, which will take care of the sporting activities, while Isotta Fraschini will take care of the technical management.
“Registration for the championship took place with the Italian Competitor License with the historic number 14, assigned to Isotta Fraschini by the Automobile Club of Italy.”
Vector Sport says more information on its 2024 plans in the ELMS and beyond will be made available in the coming weeks.
