Asked for his thoughts on the increase in the number of LMDh entrants, Coletta added: “If we look closely, the brands that have left the championship, or are set to leave, are LMDh teams: I’m thinking of Porsche, Lamborghini, and Alpine is also set to leave.
“But among the LMHs, Toyota, Peugeot, Ferrari and Aston Martin have always remained. I believe there is a lot of rhetoric behind this story, and political discussions too.
“First and foremost, we need to assess whether the programme is sustainable, and I believe all the LMH brands have guaranteed this, which perhaps isn’t the case with the LMDhs. There is enthusiasm at the start, but little long-term vision, which has led to some problems for certain brands. I am very pleased that other major manufacturers are coming on board to ensure the championship’s success in terms of attendance.”
Once an LMDh or LMH prototype is homologated, any further development is restricted through a system of Evo Jokers. Each manufacturer must apply for a joker upgrade with the championship, which must then approve its use.
Originally, manufacturers were allowed five Evo Jokers for the initial five-year cycle of a car, but the extension of the current ruleset until 2029 has offered them opportunities for additional updates. The sporting regulations for 2026 also included a new clause that allows struggling manufacturers to request additional tokens.
Coletta downplayed cost escalations arising from the current system.
“In my view, it’s not a problem,” he said. “When my team and I drew up the business plan, we already included the Joker Evo, as the regulations allow for it.
“If you’re drawing up a three- to five-year business plan, clearly all variables have to be included. We included them, and so did other manufacturers. If anyone hasn’t done so and is using it to justify leaving the championship, I think it’s an excuse and not the real reason.
“It seems absurd to me to penalise the possibility of being able to spend Joker Evos; Ferrari, moreover, is the one that has spent the least of all, so I find it a way to keep costs in check, albeit in the dark as we cannot predict what will happen as competitiveness grows.
“But we knew from day one that the Joker Evos would be there, so not having included them in one’s plan cannot come as a surprise.”
Read Also:
A clash of eras: Jacky Ickx gets behind the wheel of the Genesis Hypercar
Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.