This is a tough one!
In a year where IMSA’s GTP class debuted and the WEC’s Hypercar class came of age there are plenty of possible takers.
In the WEC there was a third consecutive dominant run to the World Championship from Toyota with an updated GR010 HYBRID, the fastest just about everywhere – but it fell short at Le Mans and after an accident for one car and a fumble from the other when a chase for the win seemed on.
Then there’s the car that did take an historic win at Le Mans, the Ferrari 499P and a magnificent win it was, but it was its only in in a debut season that all too often saw the Ferraris off the pace.
Amongst the LMDH cars the technological wonder was the Acura ARX 06 – but much of the shone was taken off by the post-race controversy of the Rolex 24 winning MSR car and, despite showing pre all season the Konica Minolta car did not win.
The IMSA title fell in a closely fought season to the Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R with the Ganassi-run WEC car scoring a podium finish at Le Mans – but that car doesn’t take the laurels here either!
A word here is appropriate for the now seven season old Oreca 07 Gibson, still providing astounding racing around the world, in its last WEC season, in an extraordinary European Le Mans Series, in a tight-knot IMSA pack and in the Asian LMS too.
But our title here will go to a GT car!
And not a GTE car, despite an excellent final season for the class, the Corvette C8.R dominated in the WEC but in GTD trim in IMSA it often struggled. There were great performances too from the outgoing Ferrari 488 GTE and the awesome Porsche 911 RSR – but neither win here.
That comes down to a three-way battle between a trio of GT3 machines, with the first to be eliminated the Vasser Sullivan GTD Pro title winning Lexus RC F GT3, not because the achievement lacked anything, but because it was the only thing!
The Mercedes AMG GT3 was everywhere, an won in many of the places it featured, in the IGTC, Bathurst 12 Hour, GT World Challenge Endurance Cup, Rolex 24, Petit Le Mans, the Michelin Endurance Cup, FIA GT World Cup and much more besides.
For us though it is beaten to the crown, just, by its closest rival the BMW M4 GT3. 2023 for the M4 featured a dominant GTD title win in IMSA including a win at Sebring, a Spa 24 Hours victory, high profile IGTC race wins at Kyalami and Indy, a win at the Dubai 24 Hours, a dominant win in the Asian Le Mans Series and a fighting win in an excellent 2023 British GT Championship.
The BMW M4 GT3 is DSC’s Car of the year for 2023.
