LM24: Sweeping pre-race GTE-Pro BoP changes

The pole-winning ford GTs, which qualified 1-2-4-5 in the 14-car class, have received an extra 10 kilos (22 pounds) of ballast, moving the four cars up to 1248 kgs (2751 lbs), but that's only a token change. The big pre-race adjustment is the removal of boost pressure throughout the twin-turbo V6's rev range from 4200-7000 rpms. Only the Ford's peak 7100 rpm range was left untouched.

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On the Ferrari side, its new twin-turbo V8 488 had its boost figures left untouched, but had an extra 15 kilos (33 pounds) saddled to the three Prancing horses that qualified P3-6-7. The 488s also received and extra four liters of fuel capacity.

The slow non-turbos from Aston Martin, Corvette, and Porsche also had BoP changes made, and most were in the name of improving their pace.

Aston's V8 Vantages will breathe easier thanks to a further 0.4 mm opening of its air restrictors, which will increase power and torque. The Corvette C7.Rs received a 0.3 mm air restrictor break, but the team only has restrictors in hand that would allow a 0.2 mm break.

"It's a move in the right direction," Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan told RACER. "The [0.3 mm] is enough of an improvement that we need to find a solution because we only have restrictors that will get us [0.2 mm]."

The C7.Rs were also given an additional seven liters of fuel capacity. The Porsche 911 RSRs did not receive weight or air restrictor changes, but now have eight liters of new fuel capacity.

Altogether, the changes to the Ferraris and Fords should make for an intense fight among GTE-Pro cars throughout Saturday and Sunday in La Sarthe.