The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione has completed its two-day roll-out at Vallelunga, the first track action for the newest Hypercar contender.
The Italian manufacturer and its Vector Sport partner team are targeting a race-by-race entry in the latter part of the 2023 FIA WEC with DSC understanding that the effort has been informed that Monza will not be a possibility due to a fully allocated pitlane.
Fuji then looks set to be the first opportunity for the car to see competition.
The two-day test started on Tuesday with day one seeing the car run with its HWA-built turbo V6 the only power, the hybrid system debuted in the afternoon running.
Michelotto Engineering test driver Maurizio Mediani was at the wheel throughout the two days, carrying on the work he has conducted thus far on the simulator, with Vector Sport’s Ryan Cullen also present but with no seat time at the first test.
Tuesday saw the Isotta Fraschini run trouble-free as the team gradually wound up the stint lengths from single laps to 8 consecutive circuits as they worked to verify their data from the wind-tunnel and 4wd dyno testing.
Day 2 on Wednesday focused on the calibration of the hybrid system and again the full day’s running was achieved with no major problems.
Claudio Berro, Isotta Fraschini: “The first time of our car with wheels on the asphalt is obviously an exciting sensation for everyone, starting with the technicians who built it who were present and thus finally saw it on the track. For all of us it was a good moment also because the day went according to plan, with major stops to fine-tune the car and analyze the data, and I would say that with the last few laps with the hybrid system activated completed the first day with satisfaction for all”.
Gary Holland, Team Principal – Vector Sport: “With the first roll out of the test car that went relatively trouble-free and that’s very impressive, it proves the calibre of the technical partners involved. We’re now looking forward to get the performances-running done and hopefully the homologation process, looking forward to the race-by-race entry until the end of the year. I hope the ACO can see the effort and the trajectory we’re on and can grant us the entry, so we can go and compete against the other LMH teams”.
Maurizio Mediani, Michelotto Engineering test driver: “I’m satisfied with the work we have done together and which has now been going on for more than a year. “Inside, the car it’s exactly how I wanted it and with today’s experience we’re going to refine some things to improve it.
“We took an evolutionary step by solving all the problems that arose, including those related to communication between the hybrid and the engine, and we arrived in the evening with a car ready.
“Even the regenerative braking is good, while for the performance there will be some electronic system parameters to be refined, as is normal. But, even without using performance tyres, the car handled well at high speeds and has very good balance.”
Ryan Cullen, Vector Sport driver: “It’s a really good experience to see the car on track and see the development go so far. It’s quite a complex car but it seems everything is going in the right direction and we are clocking up the mileage as expected. It’s looking pretty good!”.
