8H Portimao – Can Hypercar Balance of Performance Convince OEMs on the Fence to Join?

Portimao saw an update to the Balance of Performance (BoP), the algorithms hopefully learning from the race data at Spa Francorchamps. We also had the introduction of the SCG007 LMH to the Hypercar top class, a challenger to join the Toyota GR010 LMH and Alpine A480 LMP1. How did it perform and where did it sit relative to the intended performance window? 

This article will discuss some points around the BoP at Portimao with reflection of what we had in the LMP1 era, but also the look forward into what this means for the Hypercar class into a new era.

The SCG007 is Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus’ challenger in FIA WEC, powered by a twin-turbo Pipo Moteurs V8 (derived from their inline 4 rally unit). Podium Technologies have designed and developed the car from the ground up mirroring previous entries in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, although this time the entry is run by the formidable name of Joest Racing, no strangers to Sarthois soil. This round was still a ‘soft opening’ of running one car; the next at Monza should have the full pair in preparation for Le Mans.

Portimao Balance of Performance Changes

Alongside the addition of the #709 Glickenhaus was an update to the BoP from Spa. The Toyotas were made 26kg heavier and the Alpine had 22kg added. The Glickenhaus’ weight was set to the minimum allowed in LMH regulations of 1030kg. Engine power was also reduced for the cars that raced at Spa leading to questions about LMP2s becoming more of a nuisance in the stratification process – aimed to retain distinct class layering of race pace.

Were these the right changes to compress the Hypercar class?

The plot below shows the best lap traces of the four cars. A rude awakening for Glickenhaus around 1.5 seconds off the other three, but they had some teething problems, and this is a learning process. The Alpine was fastest, but slightly less consistent than Toyota with their cars. It’s relatively easy to compare because they’re practically on top of each other! It has been a rarity since Porsche pulled out to have two cars so closely matched, let alone ones built to different regulations! 

Averaging the top 60% lap times for each car across the entire BoP measurement window confirms that it’s doing its job on a lap time basis – 2 hundredths of an average gap is exciting to see.

Look out for Alpine being made a smidge faster to counteract their consistency figures, but also to work against a stint length problem – more on that below!

Portimao vs Historical Context and what this means for WEC’s Future

In the previous article on Sportscar Engineering, I derived a ‘pace discrepancy per km’ method to compare race pace of entries round by round. Adding Portimao’s data to this information highlights how fantastic and competitive the BoP really on lap times!

The gaps between the LMP1 and Toyota LMHs fall between discrepancies between the two Toyotas when they were racing each other in the SuperSeason! Another interesting point is how the gap to Glickenhaus roughly compares to the gap to Rebellion at the Season 8 opener at Silverstone before the first Success Handicap was applied that season. I find this reassuring for the SCGs, as at Le Mans 2020 the Rebellions highlighted how fast they can be in their own right!

Is this good enough for an Alpine LMDh?

Alongside the aim for competitive racing at each round, the Balance of Performance has an underlying motive: it being able to demonstrate good balancing cars designed to different regulations. Rumours have been swirling about LMH cars being able to maximise the performance window better than LMDh designs, such that confidence in investing in a top class LMDh programme is lower. Is this lap time balancing good enough for the Signatech team to present to Alpine/Renault board members for LMDh funding getting a green light? I think it is, and Alpine’s acquisition of a second A480 LMP1 eligible just for this season is an indication of intent for the future. As for other potential LMDh manufacturers on the fence, we will just have to wait!

Hypercar Pit Times

The gaps between the LMH Toyotas and LMP1 Alpine were so small, so how did the Gazoo Racing cars finish so far ahead?

The key here is following on from the first race at Spa, how the fuel capacities of the two designs aren’t compatible together. The Alpine simply doesn’t have the fuel tank to contain the max fuel energy allowed per stint as part of the BoP. In practice this resulted in at least one more stop for the Alpine, and a gap of the best part of a lap to the leaders; this time gap over a 24h race at Le Mans would be a full lap at least. 

The plot shows how divergent the pit stops are between the LMP1 Alpine and Toyota LMH cars, this is where the main Hypercar issue with Season 9 lies. It’s all well and good to have perfectly matched lap times but if this falls apart at the first pit stop it means the only way Alpine can win is with a Safety Car in the final hour, or if both Toyotas find bad luck. There is no 4 Hour round this season and we have seen this pit discrepancy in full force at Spa already.

To equalise over several stints, I would like to see either the Alpine made faster (something we know it can be capable of doing) or cut the stint lengths of the LMH entrants via the max energy allowances and keeping the close lap times matched. It should be possible without impacting the stratification between the top class and LMP2 significantly, as the Alpine with its shorter stints still finished ~4 laps ahead of the fastest P2.

Convincing board rooms with future BoP may have been successful, but not yet with convincing the fans for Season 9.

GTE Pro Performance

I have been calling for Hypercar to be using the GTE AutoBoP system, so how does it compare to the data at Portimao for cars designed to the same formula?

Arguably the Hypercar BoP was much better! Porsche were faster, but again less consistent. Porsche appeared to be at risk of tyre issues especially the rear-left at this clockwise circuit with long corners which would corroborate with the consistency.

And what about the pit stops? The gradients aren’t divergent, so the strategies can be matched car to car in GTE in comparison to Hypercar. 

The outlier of the #91 Porsche did one earlier stop, the rest were matched. I see this as what we should expect from future Hypercar, such that we can have closely matched stints both on track, and also closely matched pit stops.

In Summary

All things considered I am apprehensive of what will come in Season 9 on track. If Glickenhaus can work their way up into the performance window to compete on pace and stint length and if we will have this discrepancy to the Alpine throughout. 

Three seasons may be too long for fans to stick around with no car on par with a Toyota regardless of the light at the end of the tunnel.