Technical analysis of all cars is accompanied by insight from team bosses, tech chiefs and drivers, revealing both the scale of challenge in getting these new machines ready, and the intensity of the battle which lies ahead.
In terms of reputation, in some ways it’s the biggest the players with the most to lose. WEC incumbent and five-time Le Mans winner Toyota feels it has “a chance to prove a point,” according to driver Sébastien Buemi.
The Japanese giant has dominated world sports cars in the face of little opposition – after failing to beat Audi and Porsche in the early years of its comeback, it will now want to show it can do so when a serious challenge is mounted from all sides.
Ferrari, Porsche and Cadillac have had the track time to develop their cars – but Toyota has the racing experience of two years with the Hypercar.
For anyone saying the Japanese marque has had an easy ride, Buemi emphasises that it’s time to set things straight.
“Winning in the future will prove something to those people,” he says. “If we win this year, next year or whenever, there can be no discussion. It would be massive for me to win with the competition that’s coming, especially after 2016 [when Toyota broke down on the last lap].”