The extension of the Hypercar and GTP laws by way of the 2029 season, introduced forward of the Le Mans 24 Hours, was met with common reward. It’s a ruleset that’s working as meant, permitting producers to decide on considered one of a large number of routes into sports activities automobile racing’s high class at a far decrease price than the LMP1 laws that proceeded it.
Together with permitting the present set of producers to increase their present packages with out having to plan for a distinct system with solely new automobiles, it additionally opens the door for potential producers on the surface wanting in. Previous to the extension being introduced, we had been rapidly reaching some extent the place it was turning into too troublesome for any potential entrants to justify giving a program the inexperienced mild, as time was operating out to develop a automobile in time for a multi-year effort. Now the clock has been reset, there may be actual potential for a brand new wave of producers to come back and play.
So of the crop of OEMs understood to be on the fence, who’s almost certainly to hitch?
McLaren’s ambitions had been spelled out forward of Le Mans and it seems that the British marque is closing in on making a concrete resolution. We’ve got been right here earlier than, however the stars seem to have aligned. “If — and I’d prefer to say it’s extra ‘when’ than ‘if’ — we step as much as the highest class, the extension is favorable,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown mentioned. He additionally famous that the extension would give any potential McLaren undertaking committing to the WEC at the least a three-year interval to compete and made it clear that McLaren Racing’s monetary stability and its different packages being again at a race-winning stage stay a key issue. Put merely, if it was struggling in any mixture of Method 1, IndyCar, buyer GT racing and/or Excessive E, there can be little urge for food from inside so as to add a Hypercar program to the combo.
If a McLaren prototype comes, the LMDh ruleset is the popular possibility. Beforehand, ORECA was understood to have accomplished conceptual work, with an engine provider additionally having been recognized. However a lot water has handed below the bridge since then and it’s now believed that any future dedication may properly be with another chassis/backbone companion. Dallara is at present believed to be the popular possibility.
McLaren’s potential dedication seems to be restricted at this level to a factory-only FIA WEC effort, probably to be introduced at Le Mans subsequent June on the thirtieth anniversary of the marque’s general win within the French basic with the F1 GTR, forward of a race debut in 2027.
The opposite identify that continues to come back up is Hyundai. The Korean model is thought to have been monitoring the potential hydrogen-fueled ruleset for a while and it has evaluated a set of different main potential motorsport packages from Method 1 to Hypercar/GTP.
Hyperlinks to a possible bid for the struggling Alpine F1 effort had been rife earlier this 12 months and there have been fixed questions requested about its dedication to the World Rally Championship past the present ruleset, which is because of swap after 2026.
Whereas official feedback on pending commitments to a significant sports activities automobile program have been firmly of the “wait and see” selection, there are indicators that Hyundai is probably the most speedy prospect for brand spanking new dedication to GTP/Hypercar. The obvious signal was the presence of Cyril Abiteboul — the ex-Renault F1 boss now in general cost of Hyundai’s present and future motorsport packages — at Le Mans final month.
The chance to make a splash may come as quickly because the Goodwood Pageant of Pace in August. Hyundai has already introduced that it’ll debut Genesis’ new ‘Magma’ program on the British motorsports pageant. It has even signed up Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx for the occasion…
Any Hyundai program, like McLaren, appears set to go down the LMDh route and be aimed towards the long-term too, with sources mentioning a “decade-long” dedication being talked about on a number of events.
ORECA is believed to be the popular chassis companion, with the French constructor recognized to be engaged in talks and eager so as to add a 3rd model to its top-class portfolio alongside Acura and Alpine. Different media reviews counsel that this program could possibly be dual-branded, representing Hyundai in WEC and Genesis in IMSA’s GTP class.
As for a companion workforce, Ganassi has been tipped to be first in line, nevertheless it isn’t believed the American-based group is wherever near a deal proper now. In reality, the complete Hyundai program remains to be within the analysis stage. though it may come as early as 2026
The third producer being extensively tipped for potential new GTP/Hypercar curiosity is Ford, though its forthcoming energy unit partnership with Pink Bull for Method 1 complicates consideration of one other Blue Oval dedication in sports activities automobiles. Nevertheless, with the way forward for a number of key gamers inside the Pink Bull F1 workforce nonetheless in query and the 2026 powertrains set to supply a big technological problem, can Ford’s dedication in that enviornment be thought-about completely safe at this stage?
If not, a significant program in sports activities automobiles is now a really viable various, at a way more reasonably priced value.
