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Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C

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Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C
CategoryLe Mans Hypercar
ConstructorMichelotto Engineering [it; fr][1]
DesignerClaudio Berro (Technical Director)[2]
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon fiber monocoque
SuspensionDouble-wishbone, torsion bars
Length5,000 mm (200 in)
Width2,000 mm (79 in)
Height1,260 mm (50 in)
Wheelbase3,150 mm (124 in)
EngineHWA 2,999 cc (183.0 cu in) 90° V6 engine Turbocharged
Electric motorBosch front axle electric motor
TransmissionXtrac 7-speed sequential manual
Battery900V lithium-ion battery
Power671 bhp (680 PS; 500 kW)
Weight1,030 kg (2,270 lb)
FuelTotalEnergies
LubricantsMotul
BrakesBrembo carbon 380/365mm with Brembo monobloc 6-piston calipers
TyresMichelin slicks with OZ one-piece forged alloys, 29/71-18 front and 34/71-18 rear
Competition history
Notable entrantsItaly Isotta Fraschini
Notable driversThailand Carl Bennett
Canada Antonio Serravalle
France Jean-Karl Vernay
Debut2024 Qatar 1812 km
Last event2024 6 Hours of São Paulo
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
50000
Teams' Championships0
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione (also known as the Tipo 6 LMH-C) is a sports prototype developed by Michelotto Engineering [it; fr] for Isotta Fraschini to compete in the Le Mans Hypercar class.[1] The car was originally built to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship before being forced to withdraw in the second half of 2024. The car is set to make its competitive return in the Asian Le Mans Series.[3]

At the time of its debut in 2024, the Tipo 6 LMH-C marked the first race car to wear an Isotta Fraschini badge in 116 years since the Tipo FE was developed in 1908.

Background

Prior to the resurrection of Isotta Fraschini's car brand in 2022, the Italian marque had been absent from the car industry for nearly seven decades, with the D65 and D80 being the last mass produced Isotta Fraschini vehicles in 1955.[4] Two concept cars, the T8 and T12, were designed in the late 1990s in an attempt to revive the brand, but each failed to reach production as the firm entered bankruptcy in 1999.[5]

The car brand successfully relaunched in 2022 as Isotta Fraschini Milano Fabbrica Automobili s.r.l., with its management team consisting of former rally drivers Alessandro Fassina and Enzo Panacci, former Lotus executive Claudio Berro, and former Ferrari engineer and business partner Giuliano Michelotto.[6][7] The group aimed to enter a Le Mans Hypercar programme in the FIA World Endurance Championship, which was confirmed to include numerous partners; Williams Advanced Engineering, HWA Team, Xtrac Limited, and Michelotto's manufacturing company Michelotto Engineering [it; fr].[8] Design and development of the car were completed entirely by Michelotto Engineering, which also holds 100% of its intellectual property rights.[1] The first renders of the car were revealed in October 2022.[9]

The Tipo 6 LMH Competizione was unveiled at the Automobile Club di Milano on March 2023.[10] The car is powered by an HWA-tuned 3.0-litre 90-degree turbocharged V6 engine, featuring a Bosch front axle-mounted electric motor, together producing around 700 hp (520 kW; 710 PS).[10][11] The Tipo 6 LMH-C was tested at Monza Circuit with Vector Sport and Marco Bonanomi.[12] Vector Sport were set to race with the car but later parted ways, citing that Isotta Fraschini had failed to provide data.[13] The following day, Isotta Fraschini announced that they would compete in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship with Duqueine Team.[14][15]

Competition history

The Tipo 6 LMH Competizione officially debuted at the 2024 Qatar 1812 km.[16] As the most budget-limited team on the Hypercar grid that year, the car was down on pace from the rest of the Hypercar field.[17]

At Le Mans, the car ran a clean race and managed to finish, though it was down on pace, finishing 7 laps down on the next-best placed Hypercar. Thanks to its reliability, however, only encountering a few issues, it beat fellow series newcomers BMW and Alpine, due to the latter's mechanical issues and accidents, which left the Isotta Fraschini in 14th.[18][19] In São Paulo, the car was given the largest BoP boost, and in the hands of Jean-Karl Vernay, the car leapfrogged from 19th to 15th in the opening laps. Vernay retained the position for the first 30 minutes although the car ultimately retired with an engine failure.

Prior to the 2024 Lone Star Le Mans, Isotta Fraschini announced their withdrawal from the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship on 21 August 2024 due to a dispute with Duqueine,[20] but stressed that they expect to return to the WEC in 2025.[21] They also stated that they would be restructuring their motorsport programme and re-allocating their resources to expanding their road car division.[20]

In 2026, Isotta Fraschini entered a partnership with High Class Racing, with the aim of entering the car in the 2026–27 Asian Le Mans Series and a potential return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[3]

Other versions

Tipo 6 LMH Pista

Isotta Fraschini also developed a track day version of Tipo 6 LMH, the Tipo 6 LMH Pista, an unrestricted version of the Tipo 6 Competizione meant for track only use.[22]

Tipo 6 LMH Strada

In November 2023, Isotta Fraschini unveiled the Tipo 6 LMH Strada. A street legal version of the Tipo 6 LMH, featuring a 3.0-liter V6 engine as well as a hybrid system, together producing 1,020 hp (760 kW; 1,030 PS). The car is a single seater which will be priced for about 3.25 million euros. Only 12 of these cars will be produced.[23][24]

Racing results

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Pos
2024 Italy Isotta Fraschini Hypercar QAT IMO SPA LMN SAP COA FUJ BHR 0 9th
Thailand Carl Bennett 11 Ret 17 15 14 Ret WD
Canada Antonio Serravalle Ret 17 15 14 Ret WD
France Jean-Karl Vernay Ret 17 15 14 Ret WD

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Goodwin, Graham (22 July 2026). "Michelotto: Targeting Testing, Racing, 2030 & Beyond In Hypercar". Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Oakley, Phil (28 February 2023). "Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione unveiled". motorsportweek.com. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kilbey, Stephen (9 June 2026). "High Class Racing To Resurrect Isotta Fraschini Hypercar". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Jupp, Ethan (21 October 2022). "Isotta Fraschini is back to race at Le Mans | GRR". Goodwood. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  5. ↑ KM Systems. "ISOTTA FRASCHINI T8: Il ritorno della tradizione". Automotriz.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (19 May 2022). "Isotta Fraschini Studying Hypercar Programme". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Who are the key people in the Isotta Fraschini Hypercar project?". Endurance Info. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (19 December 2022). "Isotta Fraschini, Pushing Hard For HyperCar In 2023, Partner Team Decision Imminent". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (21 October 2022). "Isotta Fraschini Aiming For Spa WEC Debut In 2023". Dailysportscar. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Watkins, Gary (2 March 2023). "Isotta Fraschini reveals new Hypercar with aim of 2023 WEC debut". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH official site". Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (18 May 2023). "Isotta Fraschini LMH Completes Second Test at Monza". Sportscar365. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (27 November 2023). "Vector Sport No Longer Involved in Isotta Fraschini LMH Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  14. ↑ Watkins, Gary (28 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini partners with Duqueine for 2024 WEC after Vector split". Autosport. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  15. ↑ Euwema, Davey (27 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini to Partner With Duqueine for Debut Season – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "FIA WEC's new Hypercars in at the deep end". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  17. ↑ Bastien, Cheval (25 February 2024). "We're David Against Goliath". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ↑ Little, Martin (15 June 2024). "#15 BMW out after collision with lead Ferrari". Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ↑ Kilbey, Stephen (15 June 2024). "Alpine drops out of the fight". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Kilbey, Stephen (21 August 2024). "Isotta Withdraws From WEC With Immediate Effect (Updated)". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  21. ↑ Klein, Jamie (27 August 2024). "Michelotto Expects Isotta Fraschini Back on Grid Next Year – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  22. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (31 May 2023). "Isotta to Present Track Day Hypercar at Paul Ricard – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  23. ↑ Capretto, Anthony (11 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini Unveils Road-Legal Le Mans Hypercar With 1,000 HP". CarBuzz. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  24. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (10 November 2023). "Isotta Fraschini Launches Road-Going 'Strada' Version Of Tipo 6 LMH". dailysportscar.com.
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