New WEC BoP created "to let the manufacturers race"
Automobile Club de l’Ouest competition director Thierry Bouvet discussed the revised Balance of Performance (BoP) procedures for the 2024 season-opening Qatar 1812Km race. Bouvet emphasized that BoP will not compensate for factors like driver form or strategy decisions and that teams are encouraged to optimize their performance. The BoP will create a window within which Le Mans Hypercars and LMDhs must fit, with adjustments made for cars outside this range based on data analysis. Bouvet did not disclose the size of the window but hinted that differences between cars from the same manufacturer would be considered. The BoP will be specific to each track visited by the WEC, taking into account variables such as fuel loads and aerodynamic setups. Additionally, a new “power gain” system will be introduced to match acceleration and top speeds of the cars, providing more flexibility in adjusting performance. Bouvet stressed the goal of minimal interference with team operations, with changes made gradually based on performance levels.
