WEC: Isotta Fraschini makes Le Mans debut

The Italian company Isotta Fraschini stopped producing cars more than seventy years ago and its mentions can only be found in world literature.

For example, in the Russian classics I. Ilf and E. Petrov in The Golden Calf, Ostap Bender addresses Adam Kozlevich with the following question:

“What do you want, Adam Kazimirovich? Studebaker? “Lincoln”? Royce? Hispano Suizu?
“Isotta-Fraschini,” said Kozlevich, blushing … “

Also, Isotta Fraschini was driven by the characters of the novel “Tender is the Night” by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, written around the same period.

But in 2023, a sports prototype that will bear this name will debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and now the construction of the Tipo C LMH hypercar is in full swing in Padua by the revived Isotta Fraschini Motori SpA.

The machine is equipped with a 3-liter hybrid power plant, the power of which is limited to 680 hp in accordance with the technical regulations. The space frame and body panels are made of carbon fiber and other composite materials, the combustion engine transfers torque to the rear wheels and the electric motor drives the front wheels.

The revival of the once famous Italian brand was taken up by Colombian businessman Frank Canayet Yips, and he is also an investor in the Croatian company Rimac Automobili, which produces the fastest and most powerful electric cars in the world. By the way, the first copy of the Rimac Nevera car recently went to Nico Rosberg.

Williams specialists were involved in the development of the Isotta Fraschini hypercar and the car was blown into the Formula 1 team’s wind tunnel.

It was announced today that British team Vector Sport has been granted factory status and drivers will take the Tipo C LMH sports prototype to the start line at Le Mans next year. Vector Sport debuted in the World Endurance Championship this year but has competed in the LMP2 class and is now moving up to the top WEC category.

Gary Holland, head of Vector Sport, said: “Our team has long-term endurance racing plans and the most serious ambitions, so we are pleased to have signed an agreement with Isotta Fraschini. Our agreements were the result of a detailed assessment process of the situation and are fully in line with our objectives.

We understand that we all have a lot to learn as our competitors are some of the biggest names in motorsport, but we have realistic expectations and a boundless drive to succeed.”

The first race for Isotta Fraschini is the 6 Hours of Spa, scheduled for the last weekend in April, and on June 10 Vector Sport will take its hypercar to the start at Le Mans, where it will compete with factory teams Peugeot, Porsche, Cadillac, Ferrari and Glickenhaus.