The 2026 endurance racing season is only a month away, with the Daytona 24 Hours marking the primary occasion to function top-line prototype equipment.
Most producers competing throughout the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship have opted to replace their automobiles for 2026, that means the Hypercar and GTP grids might look noticeably totally different subsequent yr.
These modifications have been triggered by a choice from the FIA, ACO and IMSA to make it obligatory for all producers to recertify their automobiles within the WindShear wind tunnel in North Carolina. Beforehand, LMH producers competing in Hypercar had been permitted to homologate their automobiles at Sauber’s facility in Hinwil, whereas LMDh manufacturers had been required to make use of each tunnels no matter whether or not they competed in IMSA.
From 2026 onwards, the Sauber wind tunnel will not be out there, and each automotive – no matter regulation set or championship – have to be homologated within the US.
In consequence, a number of producers have taken the chance to introduce aero-related modifications to their Hypercar and GTP machines.
The brand new season can even see the arrival of Genesis, which is able to compete within the WEC in 2026 forward of its anticipated IMSA debut in 2027. Nonetheless, Lamborghini will likely be absent from top-line sportscar racing after pausing its SC63 LMDh programme.
Right here’s a full checklist of all producers competing in Hypercar and GTP lessons, and their plans for 2026
Toyota (WEC)
Toyota teaser
Toyota will replace the GR010 Hybrid for the primary time in three years after a combined 2025 marketing campaign through which it failed to complete on the rostrum (or win a race) till the Bahrain season finale. Additional, this marks the largest visible change to a automotive that debuted again in 2021, with the engineers at Cologne having discovered a method to carry the styling nearer to Toyota’s highway automotive id. Your complete entrance finish seems to have been redesigned, with a brand new headline design giving the LMH a definite new id.
The Japanese producer is hoping that the revamp will permit it to be aggressive within the WEC, even whether it is given the bottom energy and the utmost weight below the Steadiness of Efficiency system.
It’s unclear what number of evo jokers Toyota will use as a part of its 2026 replace, or what number of it has already expended.
Cadillac (WEC and IMSA)
#31 Cadillac Motion Specific Cadillac V- Sequence.R: Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti
Picture by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
Cadillac’s replace for 2026 is essentially the most visually placing of any producer. The American marque has considerably overhauled the aerodynamics of the V-Sequence.R with the addition of a brand new entrance splitter and a redesigned rear wing that sits a lot decrease than the earlier model. Additional modifications embrace a full change to the Brembo braking system.
Cadillac used two evo jokers as a part of the improve package deal, taking its depend as much as three from the 5 allowed to it below the preliminary five-year rule cycle of the automotive. It deployed its first evo joker in the beginning of 2025 to replace the electronics of its LMDh prototype.
#35 Alpine Endurance Workforce Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi
Picture by: James Moy Pictures by way of Getty Photos
Alpine will overhaul the aerodynamics of the A424 as a part of a serious replace for 2026. It will see the French producer transfer away from its low-downforce philosophy, a shift prompted by the introduction of a brand new two-stage Steadiness of Efficiency from the Le Mans 24 Hours. There are different modifications below the hood, which Alpine first debuted at Circuit Bugatti in October, previous to a full-blown take a look at of its 2026 challenger in Bahrain final month.
Alpine beforehand used an evo joker to replace the ability unit on the A424 over the past winter break.
#50 Ferrari Af Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen, #51 Ferrari Af Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Picture by: Jakob Ebrey / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Ferrari is not going to utilise any extra evo jokers subsequent yr, however that doesn’t imply its title-winning 499P will stay unchanged. The Italian marque has revealed a plan to make minor revisions to its LMH prototype, primarily targeted on aerodynamics, to remain in entrance of the competitors. Enhancing reliability can also be a key goal after each manufacturing facility automobiles encountered issues throughout this yr’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
Since its Hypercar debut, the one time Ferrari deployed an evo joker was after Le Mans 2024, when it up to date the brake techniques on the 499P. Its subsequent substantial replace is slated for 2027, which is able to mark its fifth season within the high class.
Peugeot (WEC)
#93 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8: Paul Di Resta, Mikkel Jensen, Jean-Eric Vergne
Picture by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Community
Peugeot will head into 2026 with no main modifications to the 9X8 LMH. The Stellantis model is known to have exhausted all of the evo jokers – in addition to the second homologation – permitted to it till the tip of the 2027 season. Nonetheless, for the reason that final main revision to the 9X8 in 2024 did not alleviate Peugeot’s fortunes, it’s at present in discussions with the rule makers to discover whether or not additional modifications could possibly be authorised. It follows the publication of the WEC’s 2026 technical laws, which permit for “extra Evolutions extensions (EVO Jokers)” to be granted in case of “a demonstrated vital lack of efficiency.”
Even when any extra evo jokers are green-lit, it’s unlikely that Peugeot will be capable of carry any updates for the beginning of the 2026 season. Producers are additionally prohibited from rolling out evo upgrades mid-season, that means the 9X8 might stay unchanged till at the very least 2027. Plans for a clean-sheet design seem to have been placed on the again burner.
Porsche (IMSA)
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Julien Andlauer, Scott McLaughlin, Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr, Josef Newgarden
Picture by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
Porsche could also be out of WEC’s high class, however its 963 programme will reside on in IMSA. In actual fact, the German producer is utilizing two extra evo jokers to replace its LMDh challenger, regardless of having dominated the 2025 GTP season. Whereas the modifications will not be instantly apparent visually, they’re nonetheless substantial. Like a number of rivals, Porsche has targeted on aerodynamics, with a brand new entrance splitter and a revised diffuser representing a major a part of its 2026 overhaul. The suspension on the 963 has additionally been up to date.
Porsche now has only one evo joker remaining till the tip of the 2027 season.
BMW (WEC and IMSA)
#25 BMW M Workforce RLL BMW M Hybrid V8: Robin Frijns, Kevin Magnussen, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann, Rene Rast
Picture by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
BMW is aiming to make the M Hybrid V8 extra per its new aerodynamic package deal for 2026. The German producer has revised round 50% of the bodywork, with essentially the most seen change on the entrance, the place its signature kidney grilles have been gotten smaller to optimise airflow. BMW put its revamped 2026 challenger on monitor comparatively early this yr, finishing a non-public take a look at at Paul Ricard in August.
Whereas BMW shared photographs of the prototype operating in a camouflage livery on social media, it has declined to reveal what number of evo jokers – if any – had been used for the replace. Beforehand, the model had used a single evo joker to revise the braking system on its LMDh.
Acura (IMSA)
#60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06: Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Scott Dixon
Picture by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
Honda’s premium model Acura isn’t sitting nonetheless both. HRC US has introduced that it’s going to use one evo joker to replace the aero on the ARX-06, with new diveplanes and a calmly modified rear among the many visible modifications. Acura’s revised LMDh made its public debut in November’s IMSA-sanctioned take a look at at Daytona, the place it set the outright tempo in GTP with Meyer Shank Racing.
That is the second main replace for the ARX-06 after Acura upgraded its entrance brakes heading into the 2025 season.
Aston Martin (WEC and IMSA)
#007 Aston Martin Thor Workforce Aston Martin Valkyrie: Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble
Picture by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Community
Aston Martin will head into the brand new season with primarily the identical model of the Valkyrie LMH that debuted in 2025. The British marque feels it’s too early to contemplate deploying evo jokers and is as a substitute targeted on extracting the total potential from what stays the one non-hybrid automotive within the class.
Because the finish of the season, Aston Martin has accomplished a number of checks within the Center East and the US, significantly in preparation for its debut outing within the Daytona 24 Hours within the GTP class. The Valkyrie programme obtained underway on the Sebring 12 Hours this yr, slightly below two months after the opening spherical of the IMSA SportsCar Championship at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
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