Koenigsegg could compete in the new hypercar class at Le Mans

Koenigsegg could compete in the new hypercar class at Le Mans. Christian von Koenigsegg has stated that the Swedish hypercar manufacturer would be interested in competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the new hypercar category. The FIA has just announced all the regulations that future participants must meet, but the owner of Koenigsegg has assured that they are interested in the series yet need to evaluate the rules even further.

“The first set of regulations really rules out any possibility of us competing. So we will put our efforts into ice. The new regulations, announced last week, look much more feasible on the surface, but we have not yet had time to evaluate them fully. Our interest remains, but for the moment we will not make any announcement,” Christian von Koenigsegg pointed out.

During the past Frankfurt Motor Show held in September and this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which opened in March, Koenigsegg had already revealed its interest in the new endurance racing class that would be introduced at Le Mans. The manufacturer had already said that competing over the last decade would not have made sense, as the balance of performance regulations would have left it at a disadvantage against the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari 458.

Under the regulations for the hypercar class, both specialised prototypes and cars based on hypercars will be able to compete, on the condition that at least 20 production models are built over a two-year period.

Koenigsegg, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The cars will have a minimum weight of 1,100 kilograms and produce at least 750 CV. Hybrid systems will be optional, and participants using such powertrains will not be allowed to have their electric motors exceed 300 CV. The hypercar class will open for the 2020/2021 season.

Brands such as Aston Martin, Toyota or the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus have already thrown their hats into the ring. Doubt also hangs over BMW, as in recent days rumours have emerged that its motorsport division, BMW M, could be thinking about developing standalone M models. Will this mark the start of the Bavarian brand’s journey into the hypercar category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

If Koenigsegg finally decides to compete, it could do so with its newly launched hypercar, the Koenigsegg Jesko, but it would have to go through its engineers, who would need to restrict the power of its engine, which delivers 1,600 CV, down to 750 CV. Some sources have already reported that the Swedish carmaker has shown what a racing car based on the Koenigsegg Jesko could look like, which has raised hopes of being able to compete in the promising Le Mans series.

Koenigsegg’s plans to take part in Le Mans began in 2007, when the manufacturer developed a GT1-specification racing car that resembled a CCR road car but was based on the original CC prototype. The Koenigsegg CCGT weighed 997 kilograms and was fitted with a V8 engine producing more than 600 CV. It used six-piston AP Racing brakes and was built on an ultra-rigid carbon fibre chassis.