Toyota is the clear favorite at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 11-12).
Alpine, however, has a clear range disadvantage, manages one lap less per stint than Toyota with the fuel. The French are only tolerated in the top class.
Glickenhaus has developed a brake-by-wire system together with Bosch.
So the Glickenhaus has a performance advantage. This is how the balance of performance is determined. The organizers try to bring the performance of the vehicles to a level – for more equal opportunities. At Toyota, 270 hp of the total power comes about through an electric motor. But the Japanese are only allowed to shoot this boost from a speed of 190 km/h. Last year that was already allowed at 120 km/h. This should also bring Glickenhaus closer to Toyota without a hybrid engine.
Glickenhaus has also developed a brake-by-wire system with Bosch. This should improve performance and, above all, reliability. Last year the brakes had to be changed at Le Mans. That took too much time.
It is still unclear whether Glickenhaus will rework the engine for Le Mans. Because 2022 biofuel from wine residues will be used, engine supplier Pipo Motors should deliver new spark plugs and a new fuel pump. “But only if that doesn’t come at the expense of reliability,” says Glickenhaus.
One of the drivers is Romain Dumas (44), who has competed in Le Mans 21 times and even won twice. He knows: “The enthusiasm in the team is great.”
Luck in the race might also help. In Sebring, a Toyota retired because José María López had a serious accident. The other Toyota went on strike in Spa – because of a problem with the hybrid system. This is exactly what Glickenhaus is hoping for.
