Ford Racing has begun full track testing for its 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar at Circuit Paul Ricard. The vehicle, built on an ORECA chassis and powered by a 5.4-liter Coyote V8, is currently undergoing shakedown runs with factory drivers Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant. Ford aims to verify all control systems before the car's official debut next year, following a coordinated development program across the US, UK, and France.
Ford Racing program manager Dan Sayers identifies global communication as the primary hurdle in developing the manufacturer’s upcoming LMDh hypercar. The vehicle, which recently completed its initial shakedown, is being built across four distinct locations: Dearborn, Michigan; Concord, North Carolina; a facility near Paul Ricard, France; and Oxfordshire, UK. Sayers emphasizes that while the powertrain and control systems are centralized in the US, the chassis is constructed by ORECA in France, and race operations are managed by Venture Engineering in the UK. To mitigate risks of overlapping responsibilities, Ford has implemented structured integration meetings and daily contact between Detroit and ORECA. Additionally, 15 US engineers are joining the UK team to assist with on-track testing. Sayers notes that this in-house involvement is crucial for learning hybrid control systems and applying those insights to other Ford programs. The car features a bespoke 5.4-liter Coyote V8 engine and is set to debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year.
Cadillac revealed the V-One Concept at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, a single-seat prototype derived from its V-Series.R LMDh race car. The vehicle features an 830-horsepower V8 hybrid powertrain and race-derived suspension but includes a user-friendly interface designed for non-professional drivers. While Cadillac has not confirmed production plans, the concept signals potential interest in selling track-focused vehicles to private customers, similar to competitors like Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Ford fired up its 5.4L Coyote V-8 on a dyno for its Oreca‑based LMDh, releasing a video of a driver‑in‑the‑loop simulator tackling a full Circuit de la Sarthe lap and revving to 9,000 rpm. The clip offers a glimpse at development progress and a possible design direction, as Ford prepares its first complete‑car test this month and targets a Le Mans debut on June 12, with a FIA WEC season start next year and no IMSA GTP entry yet announced.
Action Express Racing’s No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R dominated the Sahlen’s Six Hours of Watkins Glen, leading 142 of 182 laps to win and giving Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber and Fred Vesti their first overall Endurance Cup victory; the Cadillac’s performance extended Aitken’s IMSA points lead to 203, while a late contact with an AF Corse Ferrari triggered a restart caution but drew no penalties as teams look ahead to the CTMP round.
A field of 55 IMSA WeatherTech Championship cars arrived in Sebring for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the second Michelin Endurance Cup round, with three practice sessions scheduled for Thursday; Charles Milesi will substitute for Mathias Beche in the No. 18 Oreca 07 Gibson due to Beche’s Long COVID; teams unveiled patriotic and anniversary liveries on several cars, including Corvette, Penske Porsche, and AO Racing entries; milestone starts include Antonio Garcia and Tommy Milner at their 20th Sebring, and Jack Hawksworth's 100th IMSA start; a new TireRack/Michelin pedestrian bridge was opened to improve access around Ulmann Straight.
Genesis has unveiled its GMR-001 Hypercar, set to debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026 and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2027. Built on an Oreca chassis, the car will feature the LMDh hybrid setup. Genesis Magma Racing, led by Cyril Abiteboul, will operate from Circuit Paul Ricard, with testing starting next summer. The launch marks Genesis' entry into high-performance motorsport, with Hyundai Motorsport playing a key role in the program.
Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani have been announced as the first drivers for Genesis Magma Racing's LMDh program, set to debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026. Both drivers bring significant experience, with Derani joining from Action Express Racing and Lotterer from Porsche Penske Motorsport. Additionally, Genesis will partner with IDEC Sport for a 2025 European Le Mans Series LMP2 entry, featuring drivers Jamie Chadwick, Logan Sargent, and Mathys Jaubert as part of their "trajectory program."
Porsche is considering introducing an updated crankshaft for its V8 twin-turbo engine in the Porsche 963 mid-year, with discussions ongoing about its potential introduction in 2024. The manufacturer has pursued updates for the 2024 season but has not confirmed the inclusion of the new crankshaft in the upcoming WeatherTech Championship season. The updates, including potential re-homologations, are subject to discussions with IMSA and ACO, with the aim of ensuring all Porsche 963s are running in the same configuration.
Lamborghini has unveiled its LMDh car, the Lamborghini SC63, ahead of its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in 2024. The SC63 will be powered by a new 3.8-liter V8 engine connected to a standard electric hybrid system. It is the first LMDh car to be built around a Ligier carbon fiber monocoque and represents Lamborghini's commitment to implementing hybrid and electric powertrain technology in its road car range. The SC63's design features Lamborghini's trademark Y-shaped lights and a NACA inlet inspired by the Countach supercar. Lamborghini is the sixth manufacturer to reveal an LMDh car.
The #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 was stripped of its victory at Watkins Glen after post-race inspection found a skid block measuring less than the permitted minimum thickness. This elevated the #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 to victory, marking BMW's first GTP victory since 1986. The Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R and the MSR Acura completed the podium. This is the second IMSA GTP winner to be found to have breached the rules in the five races so far this year in the new LMDh era.
Alpine has unveiled its LMDh car, the A424_B, which will be powered by a Mecachrome V6 engine and feature a spec LMDh hybrid system. The car has been developed in partnership with ORECA and will be run by Alpine's long-time sports car racing partner Signatech in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year. The manufacturer is also open to customer teams buying the car to compete in other championships. The first fire-up of the complete car is scheduled for June 28, with the first rollout set to take place in late July.
