Ferrari and Toyota have been handed double performance balance breaks ahead of this weekend's World Endurance Championship final in Bahrain as they fight to overtake points leader Porsche
The Ferrari 499P and Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercars will start the 8 Hours of Bahrain lighter and with more power than last time within the WEC at Fuji last month.
Porsche, which leads the driving force and manufacturer rankings, gained weight in the most recent BoP Hypercar class report released on Tuesday following triumphs in Japan for Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Andre Lotterer to maneuver 35 points clear within the championship.
However, within the eighth round of the series on Saturday, the 963 LMDh has received an influence boost and can look to take advantage of its 10-point advantage within the manufacturer's rankings.
Ferrari and Toyota achieved minimum weight reductions of two and five kilograms respectively, while their base maximum power figures were increased by 10 and 6 kW, akin to 13 and eight hp.
Minimum weight for the Ferrari is currently 1,053 kg and 1,065 kg for the Toyota, while maximum power below 250 km/h is 510 and 499 kW (683 and 669 hp), respectively.
Each manufacturer lost out on Power Gain, a brand new BoP element introduced on the WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, in an try to keep cars speeding above 250 km/h.
Ferrari is currently negative 0.9% after a 2.2% cut, and Toyota's positive has been cut 1.2% to 4.2%.
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
Photo: JEP / Motorsport Images
The minimum weight of the Porsche has been increased by 7 kg to 1,056 kg, and its power has increased by 2 kW to 214 kW. The power increase value stays unchanged and amounts to 0.2%.
Vanthoor, Estre and Lotterer need just 4 points in Bahrain to win the drivers' title no matter what their closest rivals do, though there are more points up for grabs within the race than within the regular six-hour WEC race.
They would have won the title by ending eighth even when the second-place Ferrari crew of Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina had collected 38 points for victory and an extra point for pole position.
Ninth place would have been enough had Ferrari won without taking pole position.
Toyota drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries are an additional two points behind within the championship race.
However, the Japanese automotive manufacturer has only a 10-point deficit within the manufacturers' classification.
A victory for either GR010 would secure the title: even when the Penske plant Porsche finished second and took pole position, the Toyota would win after a deduction.
The second-generation Peugeot 9X8 LMH has received one other BoP break.
It will run at the utmost power of 520 kW (697 kW) allowed within the Hypercar and weigh just 1 kg above the minimum weight of 1,030 kg.
The Alpine A424 LMDh, which last stood on the WEC podium in Fuji, has had its minimum weight increased by 4 kg and power reduced by 1 kW.
The on-track motion ahead of the ultimate round of the 2024 WEC on the Bahrain International Circuit will begin on Thursday at 12:15 local time with the inaugural 90-minute free rehearsal.
