MOTORSPORT: Our race car of the year
Red Bull domination in F1 as hypercar innovation comes to the fore in sports car racingThe Red Bull RB19 has etched its place in the history books as the most successful Formula 1 car ever constructed, winning a remarkable 21 out of 22 races contested this season.
Following in the formidable footsteps of the RB18, which claimed 17 of the 22 Grands Prix held in 2022, the RB19’s success rate of 95.5 per cent in 2023 – with drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez behind the wheel – bettered the previous benchmark of 93.75 per cent, set by the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP 4/4.
While informed paddock insight puts the current Red Bull racer’s Honda-sourced 1.6-litre turbo V6 in a broadly similar power range to Ferrari and Mercedes, its drivability appears to be a key to its success.
The chassis is another feather in the cap of Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey, who has now played a part in designing cars that have earned 12 constructor’s titles and 13 driver’s crowns.
The RB19 proved to be lighter than its predecessor, while a very effective underfloor allowed the team to run less aggressive wing angles, resulting in lower drag on the straights.
It was reliable too, with Perez’s pair of non-finishes late in the season due to contact rather than mechanical issues.
The RB20 has its work cut out to keep the amazing Red Bull run going in 2024.
Honourable mentions
Elsewhere in the motorsport world, the emergence of the Hypercar era placed a focus back on international sports car racing, with the new ruleset coming into play for the World Endurance Championship (WEC), IMSA competition in North America and at France’s famous Le Mans 24 Hour.
With a focus on a target performance window rather than strict regulations, Hypercars have paved the way for manufacturers to incorporate road-going DNA into their racing machines, including design, with different hybrid architectures attached to a mix of twin-turbo V6s and V8s, and naturally-aspirated V8s.
While the Toyota, which was introduced in 2021, ran away with the WEC title, and Cadillac, Acura, Porsche and BMW were winners in the USA, an honourable mention must go to the Ferrari 499P, which remarkably won the Le Mans 24 Hour following a 50-year hiatus for the Italian marque at the head of the outright classification in the event.
The prototype racer shares the same twin-turbo V6 architecture as the company’s GT3 racer and 296 road car, with an electric motor powering the front wheels, supported by a 900-volt battery pack and a unique energy recovery system.
Recently, Ferrari released a track-based customer version of the car to celebrate its Le Mans success.
Also at Le Mans, the Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was a true head-turner, with the NASCAR-inspired racer shattering ear drums around the 13km course.
The effort was a collaboration between NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, Goodyear and IMSA, with a nod to stockcar racing’s 75-year anniversary celebrations.
Featuring the same powerplant as the donor NASCAR Cup car, the machine incorporated a long-range fuel tank, carbon brakes and special tyres. The package proved to be faster than the entire GT field, although late-race niggles hampered the team’s final result.
Related: MOTORSPORT: Verstappen dominates Abu Dhabi
Related: Ferrari 499P Modificata is the ultimate track-day toy
Related: Game Changer: Le Mans 24 Hour
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