Possibility that Isotta might pull the LMH Program altogether. They’re a small brand, they’re not a huge manufacturer like Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, or Peugeot. Glickenhaus which is a great example even if they’re able to rejoin next season the competition would be nearly impossible for them to compete. So likely ending is them pulling out of WEC altogether
Not necessarily, as there are a good number of teams contesting in P2 that will see this as a prime opportunity to take that next step. All that is left is sponsorship deal that will take the pressure off. Reasons as to why IF is taking the rest of the season out to get started. Take assessment of what they have, contact some teams, make some offers, and sign on to what works.
Both Isotta & Vanwall just suspended the program as it doesn't mean that they'll no longer to be in WEC. Vanwall had engine issues while Isotta is having some financial issues. Nevertheless, Chip Ganassi will no longer partner with Cadillac but replaced the 963 in Jota team. Even the Alpine had reliability issues in both F1 & WEC as look what happened in Le Mans.
@@frankj0484 no one suspended the program, it's just on pause. Also, Vanwall is working on a new car for next year, and has already shown the progress made.
Despite that AM Valkyrie is coming to Le Mans series, but in the WEC, I expected that both Isotta & Vanwall might return in 2025. Many have speculated that the Acura ARX-06 might join WEC under the name as Honda HRX-06 because Acura is basically North American version of Honda. Other rumors have believed that both Red Bull & McLaren will gonna join LMH series.
Same... I was excited to actually see the grid variety in person at cota. Of course they drop out a week before cota. Why on earth could it have not been after....
never a great feeling seeing vehicles leave. especially when isotta looked like they were on the right track with there car. hoping they will return sometime in 2025-2026 or sometime ever
Well, even Hyundai, Red Bull & McLaren are about to join them too but it depend on FIA & the car manufacters. I also wish both Vanwall & Isotta will return soon but the Mercedes is also expecting to bring the AMG GT3 to WEC.
I really hope they can come back for 2025, but the 2 cars rule (it's economic impact for the brand) will probably be the deciding factor on the matter, and I'm concerned that it won't be a happy outcome. Such a shame, in just half a year it became one of my favorite entries on the grid. Also, the possibility of a return of the ByKolles/Vanwall kinda concerns me. Although it had some merit, I don't want to see a "Hypercar" that's almost as slow as a GT and more unreliable than a 2015 McLaren Honda... again. I'd rather have Proton running with two 963's.
Well, FIA actually imposed that new policy for WEC. Some speculated that the LMP2 class is about to leave both IMSA & WEC & some rumors wished that the Class 1/GT500 cars will replace them but they're too expensive to take care of them which caused DTM dumped it & replaced with GT3 cars in 2021 but Super GT is currently fielding them. These cars deserved to race in Le Mans series with GT3, LMP2 & Hypercars but it depends on FIA. Alpine is currently having a reliability crisis in both F1 & WEC like Vanwall in 2023. I also expected that Isotta will return along with Vanwall but even rumors wish Honda should join too because of Acura ARX-06 but it will be named/badged as Honda HRX-06. Hypercars can be either hybrid or gas only but the reliability, build quality & BOP are necessary.
I'll be honest, I've never heard about Isotta Fraschini until late last year when the announcement about them joining the grid for 2024 WEC season came out. But after watching their run in 24h LeMans, I'm a bit surprised that they pulled out so quickly. I do realize that they're a small team compared to the other brand, but I thought at least they could maybe finish after 2 season running.
This is beyond depressing, we've now lost half of the lmh cars from the series. The lmdh's just dont excite me like the hypercars do. Of course they drop out a week before the one f'ing race I'm able to go to. The smaller more unique teams always get me excited more than the big manufacturers. I really hope they arent gone for good but just need to find a new partner. People always compare this new gen to group C, but to be honest the main thing this generation is missing is a bunch of unique and interesting privateer teams. I dont want 4/5 of the field to be lmdh's that all look almost exactly the same.
@@agonzo626 Vanwall are already testing the 680 evo. If they had no interest in funding a 2 car effort they wouldnt be putting so much development time into an evo platform.
Thanks FJ, with the demise of Glickenhaus, Vanwall and now Isotta, kinda feels like the WEC is a manufactures only club. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, let’s be honest, it was nice to see these three smaller teams racing but they were never really competitive.
What about the juicy rumor about Ginetta, are they planning LMH? Then there was Red Bull team boss hinting that the RB17 Hypercar might race at Le Mans
Well it depends on WEC. Red Bull needs to meet the LMH rules in order to join them. If the RB17 joins the hypercar group, it needs redesign of the aerodynamic systems & downgraded engine like the Valkyrie.
I don't think I've ever been sad on a car manufacturer leaving WEC but this one for some reason hits different. I don't know, maybe I just like it when companies are going out of their way to do things that aren't in their nature, or maybe I just like real life underdog stories. It's sad Isotta Fraschini go, they added a great car in the WEC line up with a cool F1 sound, it's just probably wasn't competitive enough, or it hadn't had enough backing for the development of the racing program. They're not like Ferrari or Porsche with practically unlimited budget to fund their racing. Wish to see them back in the grid some day.
The likelyhood of Proton getting their 2nd Porsche is pretty big considering Jota goes Cadillac next season. But The Isotta Fraschini situation does leave space for a possible new Porsche customer entry or 2.
hopefully a competent lmp2 team steps up to run their cars. A lot of good teams have been driven out to elms and imsa after removing the lmp2 class. I'm pretty sure some of those teams have enough experience and backing and ambition to go back to the wec
IMSA really needs to consider dropping the 2500 car rule. Alpine and Isotta are obvious candidates to enter that series, and the GTP grid is a joke compared to what WEC is getting. Plus with someone between Isotta and Vanwall likely getting squeezed out for 2025, it opens up a logical landing spot for an entire program.
Is there a possibility that Isotta is having the financial problems and not Duqueine? I seem to remember the falling out with Vector Sport was caused by lack of transparency from IF, making it difficult for Vector to do their job. Wonder if this is more an IF problem.
This is sad, I guess that if any of their fans is really after some Isotta memorabilia merchandise, the time to buy is now. Their 2025 participation was already doubtful due to the 2-car-rule. Now it is unlikely.
the two car mandate rule is shit, was a bad idea from the start, the FIA is getting complacent like they did with F1 and look what clown show that series has become... that's btw also one reason why IMSA is superior to the WEC, because they don't care about the money first, but about a good and reliable racing product
What does the two car rule have to do with anything? Apperantly Duqueine is behind on payments to IF, that's why they can't finish the season. No idea what the FIA is supposed to do here.
Classic case there for Duqueine. Y'know what? I had been sensing wrong with Isotta Fraschini are will regret their decision to ditch Vector Sport in favor of Duqueine but, it already happened.
I think there's now room for Hypercar in a third series that's a little less competitive. How about ELMS having a hypercar class that isn't open to works cars of major manufacturers. This would give teams the chance to race without travelling continents and be competitive against the non-works cars. Hello IF, Vanwall, Glickenhaus and possibly some customer cars of the major manufacturers.
It's a pity they can't transfer to IMSA. But I like that 2,500 road car rule from IMSA. Imagine if this happened before team Jota announced they'd run Cadillacs next year. I wonder would they have been tempted to try Isotta Fraschini for 2025 instead, given how reliablethe car was at le Mans?
@@drivingduck2234 Well Iron Lynx is owned by Prema as far as I know. Wouldn't make sense to compete against themselves. Also no idea why Prema would invest into a programm that even struggles to score points.
