The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione (also known as the Tipo 6 LMH-C) is a sports prototype developed by Isotta Fraschini and Michelotto for the Le Mans Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Other versions were made, including a track day version and a road version, respectively called the Pista and Strada.
 The Tipo 6 LMH-C being driven at the 2024 6 Hours of Imola | |||||||||||
| Category | Le Mans Hypercar | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Isotta Fraschini (Michelotto) | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Claudio Berro (Technical Director)[1] | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fiber monocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension | Double wishbone, torsion bars | ||||||||||
| Length | 5000 mm | ||||||||||
| Width | 2000 mm | ||||||||||
| Height | 1260 mm | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | 3150 mm | ||||||||||
| Engine | HWA-tuned 3.0 liter 90-degree single turbocharged V6 | ||||||||||
| Electric motor | HWA Electric Motor | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Xtrac P1359 7-speed sequential semi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Battery | Lithium-ion 900V battery | ||||||||||
| Power | 268hp/200kW | ||||||||||
| Weight | 1030 kg | ||||||||||
| Fuel | TotalEnergies | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Motul | ||||||||||
| Brakes | Brembo carbon 380/365mm with Brembo monobloc 6-piston calipers | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin slicks with OZ one-piece forged alloys, 29/71-18 front and 34/71-18 rear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Isotta Fraschini | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2024 Qatar 1812 km | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2024 6 Hours of São Paulo | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Competition history
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Isotta Fraschini first announced that the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione would be created for competition in the Le Mans Hypercar class in the fall of 2022. The car was designed with support from Michelotto, with Williams Advanced Engineering developing the aero package.[2] As the most budget-limited team on the Hypercar grid in 2024, the car was down on pace from the rest of the Hypercar field.[3] The car is powered by a HWA-tuned 3.0 liter 90-degree V6 single turbocharged engine and feature a front axle-mounted electric engine, together producing around 700 horsepower.[4]
The car was initially planned to be running alongside Vector Sport, but later parted ways after Vector Sport cited that Isotta Fraschini had failed to provide vehicle data.[5] The following day, Isotta Fraschini announced that they would be running the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship with Duqueine Team.[6][7] The Tipo 6 LMH Competizione officially debuted at the 2024 Qatar 1812 km.[8] At Le Mans, the car ran a clean race and managed to finish, though it was down on pace, finishing 7 laps down on the next-best placed Hypercar. Thanks to its reliability, however, only encountering a few issues, it beat both BMWs and Alpines, due to the latter's mechanical issues and accidents, which left the Isotta Fraschini in 14th.[9][10] In São Paulo, the car was given the largest BoP boost, and in the hands of Jean-Karl Vernay, the car leapfrogged from 19th to 15th in the opening laps. Vernay retained the position for the first 30 minutes although the car ultimately retired with an engine failure.
Prior to the 2024 Lone Star Le Mans, Isotta Fraschini announced their withdrawal from the series on 21 August 2024 due to a dispute with Duqueine,[11] but stressed that they expect to return to the WEC in 2025.[12] They also stated that they would be restructuring their motorsport programme and re-allocating their resources to expanding their road car division.[11]
Other versions
editTipo 6 LMH Pista
editIsotta Fraschini also developed a track day version of Tipo 6 LMH, the Tipo 6 LMH Pista, an unrestricted version of the Tipo 6 Competizione meant for track only use.[13]
Tipo 6 LMH Strada
editIn November 2023 Isotta Fraschini unveiled the Tipo 6 LMH Strada. A street legal version of the Tipo 6 LMH, featuring a 3.0-liter V6 engine as well as a hybrid system, together producing 1020 hp. The car is a single seater which will be priced for about 3.25 million euros. Only 12 of these cars will be produced.[14][15]
Racing results
editComplete FIA World Endurance Championship results
edit(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.
| Year | Entrants | Class | Drivers | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Points | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Isotta Fraschini | Hypercar | QAT | IMO | SPA | LMN | SAP | COA | FUJ | BHR | 0* | 9th* | ||
 Carl Bennett
|
11 | Ret | 17 | 15 | 14 | Ret | ||||||||
 Antonio Serravalle
|
Ret | 17 | 15 | 14 | Ret | |||||||||
 Jean-Karl Vernay
|
Ret | 17 | 15 | 14 | Ret |
* Championship ongoing.
References
edit- ^ Oakley, Phil (28 February 2023). "Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione unveiled". motorsportweek.com. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (21 October 2022). "Isotta Fraschini Aiming For Spa WEC Debut In 2023". Dailysportscar.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Bastien, Cheval (25 February 2024). "We're David Against Goliath". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH official site". Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (27 November 2023). "Vector Sport No Longer Involved in Isotta Fraschini LMH Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (28 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini partners with Duqueine for 2024 WEC after Vector split". Autosport. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (27 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini to Partner With Duqueine for Debut Season – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "FIA WEC's new Hypercars in at the deep end". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Little, Martin (15 June 2024). "#15 BMW out after collision with lead Ferrari". Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Kilbey, Stephen (15 June 2024). "Alpine drops out of the fight". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b Kilbey, Stephen (21 August 2024). "Isotta Withdraws From WEC With Immediate Effect (Updated)". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (27 August 2024). "Michelotto Expects Isotta Fraschini Back on Grid Next Year – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (31 May 2023). "Isotta to Present Track Day Hypercar at Paul Ricard – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Capretto, Anthony (11 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini Unveils Road-Legal Le Mans Hypercar With 1,000 HP". CarBuzz. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (10 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini Launches Road-Going 'Strada' Version Of Tipo 6 LMH". dailysportscar.com.