Isotta Fraschini has confirmed that it is to begin a Le Mans Hypercar campaign next year. The provisional plan is to commence with the Spa Six Hours ahead of the 100th anniversary Le Mans 24 Hours. Thus it will face Hypercar opposition from Toyota, Peugeot and if all goes to plan Ferrari too plus potential entries from Glickenhaus and ByKolles, the latter now testing its Hypercar under the Vanwall banner.

Alpine is switching to LMDh, cars from which will be eligible to seek victory at Le Mans from next year but it will not have its car ready until 2024. Either next year or starting in 2024 there will also be LMDh entries at Le Mans from Acura, Cadillac, Porsche, BMW and Lamborghini. Thus the newly confirmed Isotta Fraschini is the 12th new generation Le Mans contender currently under development.

Isotta Fraschini was founded in 1900 but went bankrupt in 1999. The marque has only recently been revived as a car manufacturer. Its new Hypercar is being developed by Michelotto, which no longer has the contract to produce Ferrari GT racers. With the switch to GT3 Ferrari has given the contract to Oreca instead.

Aero testing is using the facilities of Williams Advanced Engineering. It will follow the pioneering Toyota Hypercar in having an electrical front wheel drive plus an internal combustion engine rear wheel drive. Like the Toyota the Isotta Fraschini will have a V6 twin turbo combustion engine although details of this have not yet been released, other than a 3.0 litre displacement.

That engine is whispered to be under development in Germany. It will be married to a transverse seven speed sequential change transmission. The front wheel drive system will incorporate a 900 volt battery and brake by wire will be employed.

Road derivatives of the Isotta Fraschini Le Mans Hypercar are planned. Its entry for Le Mans 2023 is subject to the approval of the selection committee as well as to the project running as planned. That plan includes an official launch next February.