Landed far back, yet there is still weight: BMW and Corvette have to add weight, but are relieved elsewhere in return – New GT3-Acura lightened
Surprising change to the Balance of Performance (BoP) at the 2022 Daytona 24 Hours: Corvette and BM, who didn’t finish in GTD Pro, have to load on extra weight. However, they are also allowed to flatten the wings, which is an advantage at Daytona International Speedway with its long straights.
Certainly, Corvette must load 15 kilograms into the C8.R. It now weighs 1,335 kilograms. To compensate, Corvette is allowed to flatten the rear wing by three degrees. The Corvette C8.R is still a GTE car, which is brought up to the level of the GT3 cars via the BoP. The classification is therefore difficult.
The still brand-new BMW M4 GT3 receives an additional weight of ten kilograms in both classes (GTD Pro and GTD) and thus now stands at 1,340 kilos. The rear wing may be set 2.2 degrees flatter compared to the qualifying race. In addition, the fuel quantity per stint will be reduced by four litres.
It was only during the preparation weekend “Roar before the 24” that the BMW received more boost pressure and the Corvette a larger air restrictor. The fuel quantity was also increased by five litres for the BMW, so that there is still a net plus of one litre compared to the original BoP.
Why the two cars are subjected to such measures, although they also had difficulties in the twisty sections, is not explained by the IMSA. Of course, there are the usual sandbagging accusations on the part of the fast Teas in the direction of the slow ones.
Deliberately holding back performance is punishable at the 24 Hours of Daytona, but usually not in the form of extra weight. In 2016, for example, the Lamborghinis had to line up for five-minute stop-&-go penalties.
Acura may offload, McLaren unchanged
Of course, this measure will not go down well at BMW, where the 50th anniversary of M GmbH is being celebrated this weekend with the new M4 GT3. John Edwards from the RLL works team admits, “The qualifying race didn’t go well, but luckily there were no championship points for it. “
Nick Yelloly adds, “The qualifying race showed us where we are at the moment – which is not where we want to be. Now we need to put our heads together over the next few days.” The most astonishing thing here was that the customer team Turner Motorsport was faster than the factory team. And this despite the fact that Turner retired halfway through the race after a collision.
On the other hand, the performance of the Acura NSX GT3 Evo22, which is driving its first race in its latest evolution stage, is strengthened. However, this car is not represented in the GTD Pro. The Gradient team is allowed to unload 25 kilograms and receives four litres more fuel. The Acura was one of the slowest cars in the qualifying race, but was still faster than the BMW on its theoretical best lap.
There are minor changes at Lamborghini and Mercedes: They have to set their rear wing one degree (Huracan GT3 Evo) and 1.2 degrees (AMG GT3) steeper and thus lose slightly in top speed.
The very fast McLaren has not been slowed down – on the contrary: there are four litres more fuel. Ferrari doesn’t get a better BoP either – the credibility of the Italians has suffered from what happened in the 2021 WEC with the almost identical GTE model of the 488. The Ferrari had received an extra 30 kilograms in the BoP adjustment during the “Roar”.
There are no BoP changes in the DPi class.
BoP GTD Pro and GTD
Changes to the qualifying race in brackets
Acura NSX GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,295 kilograms (-25)
Boost pressure: 1.778 – 1.896 bar
Maximum engine speed: 7,500 rpm
Lambda: 0.88
Rear wing minimum: +3.9 degrees
Fuel tank capacity: 106 litres (+4)
Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,320 kilograms
Boost pressure: 1.510 – 1.794 bar
Maximum speed: 7,200 rpm
Lambda: 0.91
Rear wing minimum: +6.0 degrees
Fuel tank capacity: 107 litres
BMW M4 GT3
Minimum weight (without petrol and driver): 1,340 kilograms (+10)
Boost pressure: 1,950 – 2,400 bar
Maximum speed: 7,000 rpm.
Lambda: 1.10
Rear wing minimum: -2.2 degrees (-2.2)
Fuel tank capacity: 99 litres (-4)
Corvette C8.R GTD
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,335 kilograms (+15)
Restrictor: 1x 42.8 millimetres
Maximum speed: 7,400 rpm
Lambda: 0.88
Rear wing minimum: +8.0 degrees (-3)
Fuel tank capacity: 93 litres
Ferrari 488 GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,330 kilograms
Boost pressure: 1.390 – 1.516 bar
Maximum speed: 7,500 rpm
Lambda: 0.90
Rear wing minimum: +6.0 degrees
Fuel tank capacity: 101 litres
Lamborghini Huracan GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,305 kilograms
Restrictor: 2x 37.0 millimetres
Maximum speed: 8,500 rpm
Lambda: 0.89
Rear wing minimum: +6.8 degrees (+1)
Fuel tank capacity: 104 litres
Lexus RC F GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,345 kilograms
Restrictor: 2x 38.0 millimetres
Maximum engine speed: 7,200 rpm
Lambda: 0.86
Rear wing minimum: +6,5 degrees
Fuel tank capacity: 105 litres
McLaren 720S GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,295 kilograms
Boost pressure: 1.352 – 1.616 bar
Maximum speed: 8,000 rpm
Lambda: 0.88
Rear wing minimum: +2.5 degrees
Fuel tank capacity: 105 litres (+4)
Mercedes AMG GT3
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,350 kilograms
Restrictor: 2x 34.5 millimetres
Maximum speed: 7,700 rpm
Lambda: 0.90
Rear wing minimum: +0.8 degrees (+1.2)
Fuel tank capacity: 106 litres
Porsche 911 GT3 R
Minimum weight (without fuel and driver): 1,300 kilograms
Restrictor: 2x 38.0 millimetres
Maximum speed: 9,500 rpm
Lambda: 0.88
Rear wing minimum: +2.0 degrees
Fuel tank capacity: 98 litres
