Speaking in a media pre-season Zoom call with selected LMGT3 drivers, Marco Sorensen of D’station Racing expressed his approval of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s decision to eliminate the LMP2 class, which previously disrupted the racing spectacle of the GTE class. Sorensen, a three-time WEC champion, stated that the reduction in LMP2 traffic is beneficial, as the LMP2 cars were forced to slow down significantly for the Hypercars in the past. This created a chaotic situation where the slower LMP2s became more of a nuisance for the GT[E] cars. With the absence of LMP2 in certain races and the addition of ABS in GT3 cars, Sorensen predicts that the racing will become more intense and contact-heavy due to the increased braking capabilities of all the cars.
The introduction of the Hypercar class resulted in a power reduction for LMP2 and required them to use the Le Mans aerodynamic kit for the entire WEC season. This adjustment aimed to differentiate the race pace of LMP2 from the new Hypercars. However, it inadvertently brought LMP2 closer to the GTE classes. As a result, except for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the LMGT3 category, which consists of 18 entries, will now compete in closer and more competitive races without the presence of LMP2. Augusto Farfus of Team WRT, who is also a GTP driver, drew a parallel with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where they occasionally pair up a prototype and a GTD category. Farfus believes that having two categories can enhance the television broadcast of the WEC in future seasons. He noted that in IMSA, the GT3 racing is often more exciting and captivating, even though the Hypercar class is more sophisticated and faster. The GT class allows for more contact and close racing, which attracts a significant amount of attention from viewers. Farfus expects that people will eventually recognize the appeal of having two distinct classes running together in the WEC.
With the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the upcoming WEC season will feature only two classes for the first time. However, both classes will have a substantial number of participants, with nine LMGT3 manufacturers and 18 entries in the LMGT3 category, and 19 entries in the Hypercar category. These two classes have significantly different race paces, and the absence of LMP2 will allow for greater focus on the LMGT3 class during broadcasts. The LMGT3 cars will distance themselves from the Hypercars until they encounter them as lapped traffic.
According to the Source motorsportweek.com