IMSA BoP shift boosts all GTP vehicles – besides Aston Martin

The opposite GTP producers are reeling in Aston Martin a little bit bit: BoP breaks for nearly each producer forward of the upcoming spherical at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey.

Following the tight corners of Lengthy Seaside, the place heavier weight may not be as a lot of an issue, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship heads to the hilly Laguna Seca Raceway as its subsequent vacation spot with a barely tweaked Stability of Efficiency (BoP).

Each producer besides Aston Martin, who’s already at the very best restrict, will obtain a extra advantageous power-to-weight ratio in comparison with the Streets of Lengthy Seaside.

Particularly, the Porsche 963 lightens from its mandated 1,100 kilogram weight however stays the heaviest GTP automotive at 1,084 kilograms and 480 kilowatts of energy under 190 kph.

Beneath 190 kph: Porsche nonetheless on a distinct degree

#93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06: Renger van der Zande, Nick Yelloly, Aaron Telitz

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen through Getty Photographs

Crunching the numbers, the next image emerges when calculating power-to-weight ratio under 190 kilometers per hour:

Aston Martin Valkyrie – 1.981 kg/kW
BMW M Hybrid V8 – 2.034
Cadillac V-Sequence.R – 2.045
Acura ARX-06 – 2.079
Porsche 963 (2025) – 2.107
Porsche 963 – 2.259

 

Aston Martin stays on the most advantageous degree, one which the Valkyrie LMH has loved since Sebring. The 2026 Porsche 963 continues to be held again in low-speed BoP after its greater ranking for the 2026 Rolex 24.

In comparison with Lengthy Seaside, the next modifications emerge:

Acura ARX-06 -0.038 kg/kW
Porsche 963 -0.033
Cadillac V-Sequence.R -0.025
BMW M Hybrid V8 -0.023
Porsche 963 (2025) -0.016
Aston Martin Valkyrie +-0.000

 

Right here, Acura will get the largest break. Whereas solely receiving a 3-kilo weight break, the ARX-06 is allowed 7.8 kilowatts extra energy, resulting in extra punch out of tight corners like Andretti Hairpin, Corkscrew and the ultimate nook on the Laguna Seca Raceway.

The 2026 Porsche receives a 0.033 kg/kW higher power-to-weight ratio, which, after its monumental hit forward of Lengthy Seaside, nonetheless places its weight far above all different GTP vehicles.

The 2 Dallara-based LMDhs of Cadillac and BMW obtain a smaller break, with the 2025 Porsche receiving the smallest enchancment following an encouraging efficiency at Lengthy Seaside.

Compared to the BoP at Laguna Seca Raceway in 2025, the next image emerges. Needless to say all LMDh vehicles besides the 2025 Porsche have been up to date over the winter:

Cadillac V-Sequence.R -0.099 kg/kW
Porsche 963 (2025) -0.056
Acura ARX-06 -0.033
Aston Martin Valkyrie -0.004
BMW M Hybrid V8 +0.042
Porsche 963 +0.096

 

Cadillac positive aspects practically 0.1 kg/kW in comparison with final yr, with the 2025 Porsche additionally receiving an enormous break. BMW, which had a really favorable power-to-weight ratio of 1.992 kg/kW again in 2025, has been reeled in once more and dropped at an identical degree with the Cadillac V-Sequence.R.

In fact, the 2026 Porsche 963 continues to be means above all power-to-weight ratios seen in 2025 and so receives the largest penalty in comparison with final yr.

Above 200 kph: Porsche now on prime

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre, Felipe Nasr

Photograph by: Artwork Fleischmann

After the 190 kph threshold, the image begins to swing within the fully totally different route: From 200 kph onwards, the Porsches obtain essentially the most favorable BoP, in fact behind the comparatively draggy Aston Martin Valkyrie, which continues to be clearly in entrance:

Aston Martin Valkyrie – 1.981 kg/kW
Porsche 963 (2025) – 2.079
Porsche 963 – 2.085
Acura ARX-06 – 2.087
Cadillac V-Sequence.R – 2.089
BMW M Hybrid V8 – 2.100

For the primary time this yr, BMW will get the least favorable power-to-weight ratio, albeit the 5 LMDh vehicles are being saved inside a small hall of 0.021 kg/kW, as IMSA had envisioned over the winter.

Modifications in comparison with Lengthy Seaside:

Porsche 963 (2025) -0.044
Porsche 963 -0.031
Acura ARX-06 -0.010
Cadillac V-Sequence.R -0.006
BMW M Hybrid V8 -0.001
Aston Martin Valkyrie +-0.000

 

Given what occurred to the Porsches forward of Lengthy Seaside, it’s no shock to see them receiving the largest break within the high-speed sections now that they take pleasure in one of the best power-to-weight ratio on this space of the LMDh vehicles.

Even BMW’s BoP is barely improved to Lengthy Seaside, however positive aspects of different vehicles depart their GTP with the worst power-to-weight ratio above 200 kph.

Modifications in comparison with Laguna Seca 2025 – once more take into account that all vehicles besides the 2025 Porsche and the Aston Martin LMH automotive have acquired updates over the winter:

Aston Martin Valkyrie -0.063
Porsche 963 (2025) -0.015
Porsche 963 -0.009
Acura ARX-06 +0.004
BMW M Hybrid V8 +0.007
Cadillac V-Sequence.R +0.045

 

The Aston Martin, which was nonetheless a comparatively new automotive at Laguna Seca Raceway in 2025, receives the largest break — by a large margin. No too many modifications have been made to the Porsche fashions, Acura or the BMW.

There’s, nonetheless, a notable change to the low-wing Cadillac V-Sequence.R within the excessive velocity sections in comparison with 2025. Having loved a comparatively favorable power-to-weight ratio in 2025, it has now been introduced again into line with the opposite LMDh vehicles.

Conclusion

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre, Felipe Nasr

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen through Getty Photographs

Solely Laguna Seca will present how a lot the Penske-run Porsche 963 will endure from their BoP hit they acquired for Lengthy Seaside. On the tight streets of Lengthy Seaside, the Porsche’s weight penalty hadn’t but proven its full results.

#40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, Tom Blomqvist

Photograph by: Artwork Fleischmann

Laguna Seca raceway with a number of mid-speed corners will paint a way more life like image on this regard. Porsche is about for a tricky race. The identical, nonetheless, was stated forward of the 2025 race which Porsche received with a 33-second margin.

#93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06: Renger van der Zande, Nick Yelloly, Aaron Telitz

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen through Getty Photographs

Given its current victory in Lengthy Seaside, Acura seems good on paper to return to Victory Lane, however may face a powerful problem from Cadillac, which has gained an enormous BoP break within the slow-speed sections.

#24 BMW M Staff WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, Philipp Eng

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen through Getty Photographs

BMW is a little bit little bit of an unknown, given the far-reaching updates of the M Hybrid V8 and a brand new working staff. The numbers don’t actually converse for BMW, however listed here are many elements at play.

And Aston Martin? With the BoP rectified for the reason that begin of the season, the Valkyrie ought to play a much bigger function at Laguna Seca Raceway in comparison with the primary few races of the season.

Stability of Efficiency Laguna Seca intimately

Values in parentheses = Change from Lengthy Seaside 2026/Laguna Seca 2025

Acura ARX-06Min. Weight: 1,056 kg (-3 / +4)Max. Energy <190 kph: 508.04 kW (+7.80 / +10.04); 681 hpMax. Energy >200 kph: 505.96 kW (+1.04 / +7.96); 678 hpMax. Engine Pace: 9,512 rpmMax. Power per Stint: 904 MJ (+3 / +8) Gas Replenishment: 22.600 MJ/sec (+0.075 / +0.200) Aston Martin ValkyrieMin. Weight: 1,030 kg (+0 / +0)Max. Energy <190 kph: 520.00 kW (+0 / +1.00); 697 hpMax. Energy >200 kph: 520.00 kW (+0 / +1.00); 697 hpMax. Engine Pace: 8,400 rpmMax. Power per Stint: 913 MJ (+0 / +6) Gas Replenishment: 22.825 MJ/sec (+0.000 / +0.150) BMW M Hybrid V8Min. Weight: 1,042 kg (-17 / +6)Max. Energy <190 kph: 512.20 kW (-2.60 / -7.80); 687 hpMax. Energy >200 kph: 496.08 kW (-7.80 / -23.92); 665 hpMax. Engine Pace: 8,000 rpmMax. Power per Stint: 902 MJ (-6 / -3) Gas Replenishment: 22.550 MJ/sec (-0.150 / -0.075) Cadillac V-Sequence.RMin. Weight: 1,043 kg (-15 / -16)Max. Energy <190 kph: 510.12 kW (-1.04 / +16.12); 684 hpMax. Energy >200 kph: 499.20 kW (-5.72 / +5.20); 669 hpMax. Engine Pace: 8,800 rpmMax. Power per Stint: 901 MJ (-5 / +6) Gas Replenishment: 22.525 MJ/sec (-0.125 / +0.150) Porsche 963 (2025 Homologation)Min. Weight: 1,052 kg (-8 / +3 vs. 2025 Manufacturing unit) Max. Energy <190 kph: 499.20 kW (+0.00 / +14.20 vs. 2025 Manufacturing unit); 670 hpMax. Energy >200 kph: 505.96 kW (+6.76 / +17.66 vs. 2025 Manufacturing unit); 678 hpMax. Engine Pace: 8,158 rpmMax. Power per Stint: 895 MJ (-11 / +13) Gas Replenishment: 22.375 MJ/sec (-0.275 / +0.325) Porsche 963 (2026 Homologation)Min. Weight: 1,084 kg (-16 / +35 vs. 2025 Manufacturing unit) Max. Energy <190 kph: 479.96 kW (+0.00 / -5.04 vs. 2025 Manufacturing unit); 644 hpMax. Energy >200 kph: 520.00 kW (+0.00 / +31.70 vs. 2025 Manufacturing unit); 697 hpMax. Engine Pace: 8,158 rpmMax. Power per Stint: 891 MJ (-22 / +9) Gas Replenishment: 22.275 MJ/sec (-0.550 / +0.225)

Learn Additionally:

We wish your opinion!

What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?

– The Motorsport.com Staff