ACO dismisses Hypercar performance concerns after Portimao BOP changes

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has said it is not confnerced about a possible decrease in performance differencial between Hypercar and LMP2 at the 8 Hours of Portimao, after both Toyota and Alpine had performance levels reduced as part of a Balance of Performance adjustment.

Both the Toyota GR010 Hybrid and the ORECA-built Alpine LMP1 car had weight levels increased and power decreased.

After the gap between LMP2 and Hypercar often seemed unclear at the WEC Prologue and Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, a further reduction in pace for Alpine and Toyota has lead some to fear that it would bring the two classes further together.

Thierry Bouvet, the ACO’s Director of Competition, has dismissed those concerns and stated that the gap between Hypercar and LMP2 at Portimao will likely not be endangered.

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Bouvet points to the fact that the ACO had a more difficult time with its process of stratification at Spa but expects to have an easier time with in Portimao, although he admits both cars will be slowed somewhat.

“Well obviously, the fact that we are reducing power and adding weight is obviously making the car slow,” Bouvet told select media ahead of the second round of the season. “That’s a physical fact.”

“Now Spa was one of the most difficult tracks for stratification, what we call stratification. Here [Portimao] should be better. I think we are good with that.”

Bouvet stated that the ACO had run simulations for the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve that made it easier to make performance adjustments.

“When you’re doing simulations, power weight, tyre wear, all that is track dependant. It’s a combination of all that, and aero. Combinations of all of that, with the difference between LMH and LMP2, which makes one track more difficult than the other.”