BoP is a key element of Hypercar and LMGT3 regulations. It is a series of technical adjustments, primarily affecting weight and power, that are designed to create a level playing field among cars of different design and architecture. Here's a comprehensive explainer of the process as we are only a week away from this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

BoP therefore maintains a similar level of performance between all cars, which reduces development costs significantly. All the manufacturers present on the grid accepted the underlying principles before entering the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. BoP has therefore played an active part in producing grids of unprecedented strength and depth, with 14 manufacturers represented in 2024.

 

So sure of what we thought we knew about this years running of the 24 hours of Le Mans was correct that we cleanly overlooked another little something clearly identifiable on the full entry list as it was finally revealed earlier this afternoon.

Another capacity grid of sixty-two runners were confirmed through the new Hypercar, LPM2, GTE Pro and GTE Am Classes and with no Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE to defend their World or LM24 titles this year of course which we already knew about. 

After something of an extended weekend for the teams down at the the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France,  Beechdean AMR team returned home somewhat frustrated with the events of the opening round on Saturday.

Having had the Wednesday of last week as the series official test (Prologue), the new #99 Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage GT3 of Andrew Howard and Ross Gunn sat comfortably in the 'midst' of the ten car GT3 field time wise as they waited for their first race weekend to begin on Friday.

Two Free Practice sessions interrupted by a Bronze drive collective test on the Friday formed the timetable ahead of Qualifying on Saturday morning and all appeared to be going well for the team before the #99 car was unable to participate in the FP2 session due to an unknown technical issue.
Although Howard was later able to enter a time during his Qualifying (and a decent one it was as well) Gunn was unfortunately unable to submit a time of his own and therefore the car was relegated to the back of the grid for the Saturday afternoon race.


As Howard tweeted before the race - "the only way was forward for the team".

Having had rain affected sessions earlier in the meeting, at least race day was bright and warm as the cars formed on the grid ready for the two hour race - a race in which each driver must be in the car for at least 55 minutes.

Howard was mandated to take the start but by virtue of being at the tail end of the pack he at least missed all the bumping and bashing as the pack manoeuvred their way around the opening twisty complex of the Le Castellet circuit - damage that can quite often see the early end to your race. A spinning LMP3 car soon into the race and just meters ahead of Howard was a timely reminder of what could happen in multi class - multi driver grade racing!

Being a quick pedlar, Howard was soon picking off the slower GT3 drivers ahead as again it was clear that the Ferrari 488 runners had better top end speed along the Mistral Straight - faster than many of the LMP3 runners in fact.


After 30 minutes of running Howard had made his way up to P6 and was having to sit just behind the 5th placed SPS Performance Mercedes AMG as the differences in these cars performances made it almost impossible to overtake. A spinning LMP3 car collecting the armco barrier just after the new pit lane entrance brought out the Safety Car but the trouble was where the Safety Car came out in the field as it split the GT3 runners allowing the leaders to come all the way around to the rear of the Beechdean AMR car -  but almost a lap ahead!

Just after going green, another stricken LMP3 car brought out the Safety Car again. That brought the cars into the available pitstop window and it was a mad dash into pit lane for most of the remaining 29 cars. By the time Gunn exited pit lane he remained in P6 but then came the penalties.

Adjudged to have crossed a red light leaving pit lane, twelve cars were handed a two minute stop and hold penalty for this transgression (Safety Car out on track and nearing the location of the pit complex) of which the #99 car of Gunn was one of them. Entering into the final minutes of the race, some fortune finally came the way of the Beechdean AMR team with the front running #51 Ferrari getting a race destroying puncture and the #7 Scuderia Villorba Corse Mercedes AMG strangely losing a rear wheel in a period of  full course yellow.


These events elevated the #99 to finish in fifth position at the end of the race. Presumably that was not where the team had first hoped to finish but it was a good ten points in the bag none the less and despite earlier technical issues,  a grid penalty and a stop and hold that was still a pretty good achievement considering

Importantly for the team there was no obvious damage to the car as they make they way back to the UK in time for the first round of the British GT Championship at Oulton Park this weekend. The ACO now have more racing data for the Vantage GT3 so hopefully the performance parameters of the grids GT3 field will be further balanced in time for the next round at Monza on the 11th May.

For Gunn there was to be further official sanction for his red light trangression in the form of a large bar bill to supply the team with a refreshingly cold beer after the race - and rightly so too!!

Photo credits - Le Mans Cup / Beechdean 

The Le Mans 24hr - the flagship FIA/ACO sportscar event of the year and for the 2018-19 transitional 'Super-season', there are of course two visits to the Circuit de La Sarthe!

With the 2018 visit already been and gone, Aston Martin Racing are now promoting hospitality packages at the circuit for what will be the final round of the 2018-19 season, packages that most AMR fans can only dream with a weekend stay at a luxury chateau with fine dining with AML Executives at local Michelin starred restaurants all part of the package before being whisked off by helicopter for a weekend of full team hospitality, trackside at the circuit itself!

What more isn't there to like?

Expensive? Yes of course its expensive compared to something the circuit's basic camping package but not really when you consider what Aston Martin is all about.

Under the watch of company CEO Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda has found itself back in the black financially by delivering a small but steady stream of road car product that meet the high standards and demands of their loyal (and ever expanding customer base) all of whom now want to be part of that Aston Martin experience beyond that of the drivers seat.

We have been lucky enough to see the goings on behind the team's garage doors at Le Mans on many occasions - through good times as well as dark but nothing really prepares you for the utterly 'bonkers' activity that goes on behind the scenes even when the cars are running well on track yet alone in for repairs! Get in the way during a pit stop - you do so at your own risk regardless of how much you've paid to be there!

The top end Chateau Art of Living as well as their new for 2019 'Glamping' packages are extremely bespoke as you would expect yet we think that the trackside hospitality package available to all is something of a steal when you compare it to other similar sports. At £2,500 per person for the Saturday and Sunday, that is almost directly in line with charges made for similar trackside packages at say an F1 event BUT you get all the garage visits and interaction team personnel (as well as the drivers) on top of that as well!

Details of the trackside hospitality and 'glamping' packages are available HERE

Details of their ultimate Art of Living package is available HERE

Of course, if you really want to go to Le Mans in June to support the team in what could be a GTE Championship deciding event and the above possibilities are a little above your means, then you can still for as little as about £250 per person for a ferry crossing, campsite pitch and week entry ticket.

We routinely deal with Travel Destinations for all of our Le Mans travel needs - many more outlets are out there but we would just recommend that you only deal with someone who is officially sanctioned by the ACO as a ticket outlet.

The weather maybe great - it may not be but one thing is for sure - you won't be disappointed that you went!

Just two weeks after competing at the opening round of the 2018/19 Asian Le Mans Series from Shanghai in China, many have been making their next long haul flight back to the Far East for the Series second round from the Fuji International in Japan this weekend.

Having arrived in Shanghai with a simple desire to enjoy themselves and learn from the experience, the crew of the #5 Red River Sport with TF Sport ended up giving themselves even more to cheer about with a well deserved podium finishing the 4Hours of Shanghai in P3 albeit with just two drivers.

With the cars and some of the team being in France for nearly a week already, the final checks are now being put into place ahead of Sunday's Official Test day at the Circuit de Le Sarthe ready for the 24 Hours of Le Mans itself in just two weeks time.

With two GTE Pro and two GTE Am Aston Martin Racing cars making the pilgrimage this year, all will face a highly competitive battle for the top honours of their respective class as seventeen cars make up the top flight entry in the GTE Pro class and thirteen cars in the Am class.


We already heard that both the #97 Pro car and the #98 Am car have had engine and gearbox replacements ahead of the test (component life limit changes) and those two cars had a brief shakedown test at Snetterton last week ahead of their journey down to the circuit over last weekend.


Again featuring its own bespoke Balance of Performance criteria to that of the World Endurance Championship's 'Auto-bop' system, the release of BoP data show only marginal changes to all GTE cars since Spa and mainly in base weight. The most change comes in GTE Am where the V8 Vantage GTE has seen a weight increase air restrictor decrease but a larger fuel tank. Any significant changes or adjustments will come after the test, ready for the start of the 24H weekend itself.

This years Le Mans 24Hour will of course be the final time that we will see the venerable V8 as both GTE Am runners are expected to switch to the new turbo charged car at the end of the year.


All drivers are also expected to attend, those racing in the Blancpain GT Series at Paul Ricard tomorrow (Nicki Thiim, Maxime Martin, Salih Yoluc, Euan Hankey and Charlie Eastwood) are all expected to travel to the circuit from southern France overnight on Saturday.

The three factory run cars (#95,#97 and #98) as well as the TF Sport entered #90 car were submitted for Test Day Scrutinteering yesterday so in the absence of any further alterations to the cars they will be good to go for Sunday morning.


For those lucky enough to be over in Le Mans there will be a number of pit lane autograph sessions as well as being able to watch the teams at work. Testing will begin at 09:00Hrs local for the first 4 hour session before the second and final four hour test session after lunch.

We understand that after Sunday's test the AMR team will resume testing on the circuit's Bugatti track layout ahead of next weeks proceedings.

Cover photo credit - ACO

No sooner than his hectic 2017 racing season had come to an end that Aston Martin Racing driver Jonny Adam became equally busy collecting all his end of season accolades for what has been an incredible year for the young Scotsman.

Presumably, the highlight of his season (and his career to date) was his last lap endeavours in France back in June that allowed him to take the chequered flag to the win the GTE Pro class at Le Mans along with co-drivers Darren Turner and Daniel Serra.

Aston Martin Racing has returned to the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and is ready to take on this weekend’s 85th running at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

With track action underway on Wednesday, the iconic race remains the centrepiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship and will be contested by the team’s three V8 Vantage GTEs; two in the GTE Pro class and a single works entry in GTE Am.

The team head into this week encouraged by their strong performances at the recent official test session. While the #95 V8 Vantage GTE of Nicki Thiim (DN), Marco Sorensen (DN) and Richie Stanaway (NZ) placed 5th, the sister #97 car of Darren Turner (GB), Jonny Adam (GB) and Le Mans debutant Daniel Serra (BR) finished the session 6th of 13 entries.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is obviously not just a race but an event, with each stage of the proceedings being an event in itself. Here we'll take a quick run through just some of the events available on and off circuit prior to the green flag being waved next Saturday afternoon.

Sunday 11th June 

It has now become a tradition - every year major figures in the world of the motor car are honoured at the Le Mans 24 Hours and for 2017 Aston Martin's David Richards will be awarded the Spirit of Le Mans Trophy.

Since 2001 the Spirit of Le Mans prize celebrates an outstanding figure who has served the “Esprit Le Mans.” At the 2017 race the Automobile Club de l’Ouest is delighted to award it to David Richards, the President of Aston Martin and Chairman of Aston Martin Racing

Richards’ history at the Le Mans 24 Hours began in 2002. That year Prodrive built a competition version of the Ferrari 550 Maranello, which clinched a dominating category victory in the Sarthe in 2003. While its drivers Peter Kox, Jamie Davies and Thomas Enge were celebrating this success Richards was already working on a much more ambitious project – Aston Martin’s return to the track as he had become the president of the make that won the race in 1959. 

With garages and paddock areas having been prepared, cars rebuilt and delivered and drivers on or about to be on their way to the Circuit de la Sarthe can only mean that the official Test Day for the 2017 Le Mans 24H is just days away.

Five Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage GTE's are now having their final fettling ready for tomorrows scrutineering with most of the drivers not due to arrive for their own document and equipment checks on Friday.


The two factory GTE Pro cars and the GTE Am car of of course joined by European Le Mans Series runners from Beechdean AMR (reigning ELMS GTE Champions) and TF Sport (GT3 Le Mans Cup Team winners) for this event which is part of the World Endurance Championship but not the ELMS.

As already stated drivers Daniel Serra, Ross Gunn, Eaun Hankey and Salih Yoluc will have to complete the ten mandatory 'rookie laps' to allow them to qualify to enter the race week itself as well as having to pass the ACO simulator test in Paris prior to this weekend.

We hope to bring you further updates over the weekend as and when news gets across to us.

Photo credits - Le Mans 24H

Slow, progressive steps were the order of the day for both Aston Martin Racing runners as they prepared themselves for the second round of the European Le Mans Series at the Autodromo di Monza in Italy today.

Despite the question being asked. it is still unclear whether or not both TF Sport and Beechedean AMR have had a post Silverstone Balance of Power adjustment made to their V8 Vantage GTE's and todays times from both the Bronze Driver Test and later the first Free Practice session reveal little either way.


With the series having conducted their prologue (Pre Season Test) at the circuit at the end of March their is at least reference times to look back at although the art of not showing your true form until necessary is a fine one with these guys.

Salih Yoluc and Andrew Howard contested the collective Bronze Driver test earlier this morning with the #90 TF Sport car of Yoluc finishing top and the #99 Beechdean AMR car of Howard some 1.7 seconds back.


Later, the afternoon's FP1 allowed the higher rank drivers to take to the track for the first time but the prolonged Italian sunshine was replaced with darkening skies, a sudden drop in both air and track temperature as the rain began to fall. That would stop any significant changes in times from that point in.

With the #99 and #90 finishing 5th and 6th respectively the time gap is just 0.715 seconds across the GTE class.


The second and final Free Practice of the event takes place tomorrow morning before ten minutes of frantic qualifying in the afternoon before the four hour race proper starting Sunday afternoon.

At this race we also welcome back to high level racing Fernando Rees who is with the #50 Labre Competition Corvette team and Jonny Cocker making a return with the JMW Ferrari guys.

Photo credits - Jacob Ebrey / Adrenal Media / social media

To co-ordinate with the team's announcement of the continuation of their Partner agreement, Beechdean AMR have today launch the start of their 2017 range of team apparel.

Ellesse, one of Europe’s biggest sports apparel brands, teamed up with Beechdean AMR for the 2016 race season, the partnership creating a unique official team merchandise range for race fans. 2017 will see the two blending the ‘retro’ feel that the Ellesse brand is famous for with the natural blue that has made the recent Beechdean Aston Martin Racing cars so recognisable on track. The #99 Beechdean Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE car will carry Ellesse’s trademark colours of Red and Orange on its bonnet for the duration of the 2017 race season.

“Having Ellesse Italia supporting Beechdean AMR for a second year is very exciting!” Said an enthused team boss Andrew Howard. “Ellesse have delivered a terrific range of clothing that will turn the heads of most enthusiastic Motorsport fan. As a team, we are very proud to be supported by such a significant clothing brand.”

This weekend sees the start of the six round 2017 European Le Mans Series, starting at Silverstone again in what should be one of the most competitive seasons ever across the series three classes.

Helping to make up an albeit reduced GTE entry of just 6 cars for this years event is of course the reigning GTE Champions in Beechdean AMR who return with their #99 Beechdean ice cream liveried, blue and white V8 Vantage. For this year team boss Andrew Howard has elected to upgrade his existing X2 chassis to full 2016 GTE specification in the ever evolutionary quest to remain the best.

In a slight driver adjustment for 2017 Andrew Howard is again assisted in the driving by the talents of AMR factory driver Darren Turner (who will be on double ELMS/WEC driver duties again over the weekend) and they will be joined by Ross Gunn who replaces last years third driver Alex MacDowall.


Joining the ELMS series for the first time are reigning GT3 Le Mans Cup Team Champions TF Sport who will also compete alongside Beechdean AMR in an identical V8 Vantage GTE (2016 spec). Their blue liveried #90 will be driven by Salih Yoluc, Eaun Hankey together with reigning WEC GTE Driver Champion Nicki Thiim who will also be on double driving duties like Turner.

Both teams tested very competitively at the recent series Prologue at the Autodromo di Monza two weeks ago as all bar the factory AMR drivers familiarise themselves with the characteristics of the 2016 specification Vantage as well as the new class control rubber from Dunlop.


The two Aston Martin's will compete against two new Ferrari 488's from the Spirit of Race team as well as JMW Motorsport older but still very capable Ferrari 458. A Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR completes the class entry.

Free Practice for the Series begins on Thursday afternoon with Qualifying taking place on Friday before the green flag of the four hour race at 14:30hrs on Saturday afternoon.

Photo credits - Adrenal Media / Dunlop