Ford Choose Oreca
Well placed sources have confirmed to DSC that the Ford Hypercar programme will partner with Oreca for the provision of the project’s LMDH ‘spine’.
Ford are known to have had significant contact with all four chassis constructors with the favoured option swinging from Dallara to Multimatic before a switch to Oreca, understood to have come quite recently, was decided upon. Credit to our friends at Endurance Info for the initial story.
Aston-ishing
One of the most hotly anticipated debuts in the WEC will come with the first competitive outing for the new Aston Martin THOR Valkyrie LMH.
The cars will also be heard for the first time in public with their new and less restrictive exhausts which will feature in both WEC and IMSA trim.
For at least a taste of the aural delights to come take a listen to Marshall Pruett’s podcasted in-car recording of the IMSA test car at November’s Daytona test.
Panel Discussion
Also set to debut in Qatar are the new multi-function display panels for all WEC cars.
The panels will display race positions when on track with pit stops supported by graphics and timing showing time and level of energy replenishment. Much more information is expected at the Prologue on the capabilities of the new system.
The new panels meanwhile will not feature in the ELMS, nor on LMP2 cars at Le Mans, DSC understands.
Akkodis ASP Lexus Liveries
Akkodis ASP have revealed revised liveries for there pair of Lexus RCF GT3s for the coming season.
Single Seaters Boost WEC Qatar Package
The FIA WEC season opener at Qatar has had a significant boost to the weekend’s programme with a full support programme now in place.
The Formula Regional Middle East and F4 UAE package will both feature after a late schedule change for the Series following a late withdrawal of the planned Jeddah weekend on the same dates as WEC’s Qatar race weekend.
Notably that should see ex WEC racer and now single-seater ladder climber Doriane Pin feature on the ‘undercard’ with her winter programme taking in the Formula Regional series.
It will be the third time in four weeks that Doriane will share the paddock with her Iron Dames GT3/ LMGT3 colleagues, both the Dubai and Yas Marina Asian LMS events also feature the two single seater Series on the bill.
Qatar will also see the return of the Peter Auto organised historic sportscar support races that supported WEC at the circuit in 2024.
