Yahoo Autos GTP/Hypercar rule stability inspiring new manufacturer interest
The extension of the Hypercar and GTP regulations through the 2029 season, announced ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours, was met with universal praise. It’s a ruleset that is working as intended, allowing manufacturers to choose one of a multitude of routes into sports car racing’s top class at a far lower cost than the LMP1 regulations that proceeded it.
Along with allowing the current set of manufacturers to extend their current programs without having to plan for a different formula with entirely new cars, it also opens the door for prospective manufacturers on the outside looking in. Prior to the extension being announced, we were quickly reaching a point where it was becoming too difficult for any prospective entrants to justify giving a program the green light, as time was running out to develop a car in time for a multi-year effort. Now the clock has been reset, there is real potential for a new wave of manufacturers to come and play.
So of the crop of OEMs understood to be on the fence, who is most likely to join?
McLaren’s ambitions were spelled out ahead of Le Mans and it appears that the British marque is closing in on making a concrete decision. We have been here before, but the stars appear to have aligned. “If — and I’d like to say it’s more ‘when’ than ‘if’ — we step up to the top class, the extension is favorable,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said. He also noted that the extension would give any prospective McLaren project committing to the WEC at least a three-year period to compete and made it clear that McLaren Racing’s financial stability and its other programs being back at a race-winning level remain a key factor. Put simply, if it was struggling in any combination of Formula 1, IndyCar, customer GT racing and/or Extreme E, there would be little appetite from within to add a Hypercar program to the mix.
If a McLaren prototype comes, the LMDh ruleset is the preferred option. Previously, ORECA was understood to have completed conceptual work, with an engine supplier also having been identified. But much water has passed under the bridge since then and it’s now believed that any future commitment might well be with an alternative chassis/spine partner. Dallara is currently believed to be the preferred option.
McLaren’s potential commitment appears to be restricted at this point to a factory-only FIA WEC effort, potentially to be announced at Le Mans next June on the 30th anniversary of the marque’s overall win in the French classic with the F1 GTR, ahead of a race debut in 2027.
The other name that continues to come up is Hyundai. The Korean brand is known to have been tracking the potential hydrogen-fueled ruleset for some time and it has evaluated a suite of other major potential motorsport programs from Formula 1 to Hypercar/GTP.
Links to a potential bid for the struggling Alpine F1 effort were rife earlier this year and there have been constant questions asked about its commitment to the World Rally Championship beyond the current ruleset, which is due to switch after 2026.
While official comments on pending commitments to a major sports car program have been firmly of the “wait and see” variety, there are signs that Hyundai is the most immediate prospect for new commitment to GTP/Hypercar. The most obvious sign was the presence of Cyril Abiteboul — the ex-Renault F1 boss now in overall charge of Hyundai’s current and future motorsport programs — at Le Mans last month.
The opportunity to make a splash could come as soon as the Goodwood Festival of Speed in August. Hyundai has already announced that it will debut Genesis’ new ‘Magma’ program at the British motorsports festival. It has even signed up Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx for the event…
Any Hyundai program, like McLaren, looks set to go down the LMDh route and be aimed toward the long-term too, with sources mentioning a “decade-long” commitment being mentioned on multiple occasions.
ORECA is believed to be the preferred chassis partner, with the French constructor known to be engaged in talks and keen to add a third brand to its top-class portfolio alongside Acura and Alpine. Other media reports suggest that this program could be dual-branded, representing Hyundai in WEC and Genesis in IMSA’s GTP class.
As for a partner team, Ganassi has been tipped to be first in line, but it isn’t believed the American-based organization is anywhere close to a deal right now. In fact, the entire Hyundai program is still in the evaluation stage. although it could come as early as 2026
The third manufacturer being widely tipped for possible new GTP/Hypercar interest is Ford, although its forthcoming power unit partnership with Red Bull for Formula 1 complicates consideration of another Blue Oval commitment in sports cars. However, with the future of several key players within the Red Bull F1 team still in question and the 2026 powertrains set to produce a significant technological challenge, can Ford’s commitment in that arena be considered totally secure at this stage?
If not, a major program in sports cars is now a very viable alternative, at a much more affordable price.
