The WEC is witnessing an unprecedented level of manufacturer involvement in the top Hypercar class, with five major manufacturers competing in the 2023 season and three more poised to join the category next year.
Independent teams like Glickenhaus and Vanwall have struggled to remain competitive against increased competition from their better-funded rivals, with the former’s fifth place result at the Le Mans 24 Hours the only time a privateer entry finished inside the top five this year.
But former IndyCar racer Briscoe, who contested six races for Glickenhaus between 2021-23 and also drove for Vanwall in this month’s Bahrain finale, feels the gap between the top and the bottom half of the grid can be closed down.
He feels that the Balance of Performance system that is designed to put all Hypercar teams in the same performance window can give privateers a genuine chance to go up against the giants of endurance racing.
“It's difficult for a privateer here but at the same time there is always an opportunity because we are racing in a class that is limited on performance,” Briscoe told Autosport.
“There's the BoP. You have to be in a window on downforce and with your power output. So even with all the money in the world you can't develop a car with twice as much downforce because you are not allowed to do that.
“Maybe you can optimise where you sit in the window and in all conditions to be there at all times.
Source: Autosport