Ferrari is aiming for a hat-trick at Le Mans with a lighter and more powerful 499P Le Mans Hypercar this year. The car’s weight has been reduced by 1kg to 1042kg, while its maximum power has been increased by 7kW to 515kW. Despite the power boost, the Ferrari will lose 2.9% in power above 250km/h due to the Balance of Performance rules introduced to level the playing field in the Hypercar class.
The unique nature of Le Mans means it has its own Balance of Performance regulations, which are primarily determined through simulations. Toyota’s GR010 HYBRID LMH has also received a significant power increase to 520kW for this year’s race. Cadillac, Alpine, Porsche, Peugeot, and BMW have all seen adjustments to their power and weight figures since the previous Le Mans. Aston Martin’s Valkyrie LMH maintains its weight and power figures from Spa.
The BoP rules are crucial for maintaining competitive balance in endurance racing and are agreed upon with manufacturers well in advance. These rules play a key role in ensuring fair and exciting competition at events like the Le Mans 24 Hours.
