[FIRE]

The fourth new-for-2024 effort is Isotta Fraschini, which continues to traverse Europe with a single Tipo 6 LMH Competizione test car. The revived Italian brand’s experience with its new challenger has been mostly positive so far, with tests at Monza, Aragon and Vallelunga completed, though it did hit significant trouble during testing over the summer. An engine bay fire after a lubricant leak cut a test at Monza short by a day after completing 98 laps, serving as a reminder that there’s still work to be done.

Since then, the car has been out running again though and shown flashes of impressive outright pace, with a recent test at Aragon serving as the team’s first chance to run at night. Also of note, current WEC LMP2 team Vector Sport, which will run the effort next season, has become increasingly involved in the testing process. In addition, Gabriel Aubry, one of its drivers, recently got his first taste of the car at speed.

Former Audi LMP1 racer Marco Bonanomi, who has been involved in the development of the Tipo 6 from the outset, tells RACER it’s been a hugely encouraging year for the operation as it edges closer to its race debut in 2024.

“It’s a very nice atmosphere within the team,” he says. “The brand has a very big history, but its golden years were a few generations ago. The Michelotto guys are experts and doing a great job, helping improve the racing car and develop the road cars alongside the Hypercar, which is crucial to the financial aspects of the race program.

“We are improving the car every time we hit the track. The guys back in the factory are really good at reading data. It’s a long learning process because it’s a complex car. I am glad to have helped them a lot with my Audi experience, because the technology in the car is similar to an LMP1 Hybrid, just with different numbers due to the regulations. We are still in the development phase. There’s a lot to learn in terms of calibration of the car’s systems.”

What will the Isotta entry look like? RACER believes that both Duqueine and Emil Frey (the latter was one of the teams in the fray to run the factory program) have been enquiring about the possibility of entering a second car alongside Vector’s flagship machine.

However, it is highly unlikely that a second Isotta would be granted a place on the grid by the selection committee due to the limit on full-season entries and the will from the ACO and FIA to keep the number of Hypercar and LMGT3s on the grid as even as possible.

Meanwhile, the initial prospect for the car to test at the WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain has fallen victim to the decision by Michelotto to delay homologation until later in the year.

Source: https://racer.com/2023/10/05/how-the...ir-wec-debuts/

Tipo 6 LMH visits Multimatic
The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione’s testing and developmental phase continued this week with a visit to Multimatic’s centre in the UK to test its shock absorber settings.

According to Isotta, the next step for the car is a further shakedown before a forthcoming previously-planned test later this month.

Source: https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...1-10-2023.html