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 vehicles for 2026, which means the Hypercar and GTP grids might look noticeably totally different subsequent yr.
These adjustments have been triggered by a call from the FIA, ACO and IMSA to make it necessary for all producers to recertify their vehicles within the WindShear wind tunnel in North Carolina. Beforehand, LMH producers competing in Hypercar have been permitted to homologate their vehicles at Sauber’s facility in Hinwil, whereas LMDh manufacturers have 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 automobile – no matter regulation set or championship – have to be homologated within the US.
Because of this, a number of producers have taken the chance to introduce aero-related adjustments to their Hypercar and GTP machines.
The brand new season may also 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 might be absent from top-line sportscar racing after pausing its SC63 LMDh programme.
Right here’s a full listing of all producers competing in Hypercar and GTP courses, and their plans for 2026
Toyota (WEC)
Toyota teaser
Toyota will replace the GR010 Hybrid for the primary time in three years after a blended 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 automobile that debuted again in 2021, with the engineers at Cologne having discovered a strategy to deliver the styling nearer to Toyota’s highway automobile identification. All the entrance finish seems to have been redesigned, with a brand new headline design giving the LMH a definite new identification.
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 beneath the Stability 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
Photograph by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
Cadillac’s replace for 2026 is probably 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 adjustments embody a full change to the Brembo braking system.
Cadillac used two evo jokers as a part of the improve bundle, taking its depend as much as three from the 5 allowed to it beneath the preliminary five-year rule cycle of the automobile. It deployed its first evo joker firstly of 2025 to replace the electronics of its LMDh prototype.
#35 Alpine Endurance Group Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi
Photograph by: James Moy Images by way of Getty Photos
Alpine will overhaul the aerodynamics of the A424 as a part of a significant replace for 2026. This can see the French producer transfer away from its low-downforce philosophy, a shift prompted by the introduction of a brand new two-stage Stability of Efficiency from the Le Mans 24 Hours. There are different adjustments beneath the hood, which Alpine first debuted at Circuit Bugatti in October, previous to a full-blown check of its 2026 challenger in Bahrain final month.
Alpine beforehand used an evo joker to replace the ability unit on the A424 over the last 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
Photograph by: Jakob Ebrey / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Ferrari won’t 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 centered on aerodynamics, to remain in entrance of the competitors. Bettering reliability can also be a key goal after each manufacturing facility vehicles 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 programs 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
Photograph by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Community
Peugeot will head into 2026 with no main adjustments 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 top of the 2027 season. Nonetheless, for the reason that final main revision to the 9X8 in 2024 didn’t alleviate Peugeot’s fortunes, it’s presently in discussions with the rule makers to discover whether or not additional adjustments 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 important lack of efficiency.”
Even when any extra evo jokers are green-lit, it’s unlikely that Peugeot will be capable of deliver any updates for the beginning of the 2026 season. Producers are additionally prohibited from rolling out evo upgrades mid-season, which means the 9X8 might stay unchanged till at the 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
Photograph by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
Porsche could also be out of WEC’s high class, however its 963 programme will stay on in IMSA. The truth is, the German producer is utilizing two extra evo jokers to replace its LMDh challenger, regardless of having dominated the 2025 GTP season. Whereas the adjustments usually are not instantly apparent visually, they’re nonetheless substantial. Like a number of rivals, Porsche has centered 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 top of the 2027 season.
BMW (WEC and IMSA)
#25 BMW M Group RLL BMW M Hybrid V8: Robin Frijns, Kevin Magnussen, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann, Rene Rast
Photograph by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
BMW is aiming to make the M Hybrid V8 extra in keeping with its new aerodynamic bundle for 2026. The German producer has revised round 50% of the bodywork, with probably the most seen change on the entrance, the place its signature kidney grilles have been shrunk to optimise airflow. BMW put its revamped 2026 challenger on monitor comparatively early this yr, finishing a personal check at Paul Ricard in August.
Whereas BMW shared pictures of the prototype working in a camouflage livery on social media, it has declined to reveal what number of evo jokers – if any – have 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
Photograph 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 evenly modified rear among the many visible adjustments. Acura’s revised LMDh made its public debut in November’s IMSA-sanctioned check 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 Group Aston Martin Valkyrie: Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble
Photograph 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 think about deploying evo jokers and is as an alternative centered on extracting the total potential from what stays the one non-hybrid automobile within the class.
For the reason that finish of the season, Aston Martin has accomplished a number of checks within the Center East and the US, notably in preparation for its debut outing within the Daytona 24 Hours within the GTP class. The Valkyrie programme received underway on the Sebring 12 Hours this yr, just below two months after the opening spherical of the IMSA SportsCar Championship at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
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