In the near future, the German giant could become the next car company to enter the top class of sports cars with a new racing special.
According to sources on the dailysportscar.com website, Mercedes representatives are in an advanced stage of negotiations on the possibility of entering the highest class of hypercars in the WEC and IMSA championships, which would of course also open the way for the “silver arrows” to start at Le Mans.
Mercedes should already be in contact with the leadership of the championships, but also with possible technical partners for the new project. The German automaker would most likely go the route of building the LMDh prototype, with which it can compete in the WEC among hypercars, while also being a cheaper alternative to specials built according to the Le Mans Hypercar rules. Mercedes would purchase a standardized chassis from a supplier, into which it would implement its own internal combustion engine and a standardized hybrid system.
News of Mercedes’ considerations comes shortly after Hyundai confirmed building its own LMDh prototype for both WEC and IMSA. Lively speculation also revolves around McLaren, which could build its own LMDh car for the 2027 season at the earliest. Question marks still hang over Honda, whose LMDh prototypes race under the Acura brand in the overseas IMSA series. The extension of the program to the WEC (and thus to Le Mans) is apparently still in play.
If Mercedes really enters the hypercars with the LMDh special, the German automaker will return to the prototypes for the first time since 1999.
Mercedes Joins the Hypercar Race – Is This the Comeback We Needed?
Well, well! Buckle up, folks, because the German behemoth Mercedes is revving its engines and may soon join the elite club of hypercars! I mean, who wouldn’t want to try and outrun the laws of physics in a sleek, silver arrow? The best part? They’re hoping to do this at the historic Le Mans! Oh, the drama, the speed, the inevitable mid-race snack break! Who knew that racing could also be a real-life Fast & Furious crossover with a side of Bratwurst?
According to the keen-eyed folks at dailysportscar.com, Mercedes is reportedly in deep discussions about ramping up its presence in the highest class of hypercars for the WEC and IMSA championships. You know, because ‘second place’ is just ‘first loser’ in the world of racing! The stakes are high, and resources are being pooled faster than you can say “sponsors’ bucks.”
The Technical Tango
Now, let’s talk tech. If this goes through, we’re likely to see Mercedes dabbling with the oh-so-glamorous LMDh prototypes. That’s right; they’re going the route of standardized chassis combined with their own internal combustion engine and a hybrid system. It sounds complicated, but it’s just like when you try to make a gourmet meal—lots of ingredients, but you might just end up with instant noodles instead!
If they play their cards right, they could strut their stuff at Le Mans for the first time since 1999. They’re basically waltzing back into the ball after being sent to the corner for two decades. Imagine the comeback party! “Sorry, we were just busy saving the world one eco-friendly car at a time,” they might say, as they pull out a racing suit that’s been gathering dust like that treadmill in the corner of your living room!
Everyone’s Joining the Party!
But wait! This isn’t just a Mercedes affair. Just as they’re getting cozy with the idea, Hyundai chimes in with news of their own LMDh prototype! And let’s not forget McLaren, lurking in the shadows and plotting their racing adventure for the 2027 season. Well, we all know what happens in the racing world—there’s no ‘one singular car’ to rule them all. It’s more of a sibling rivalry where everyone wants to drive faster, push harder, and perhaps do a sponsored donut on the way out!
Then we have Honda, sneaking in with their LMDh prototypes racing under the Acura brand. The rumor mill is buzzing about extending the program to the WEC. It’s like a chess game with racing cars—will they or won’t they? Will the Knights take to the tracks? Spoiler alert: they probably will, and surely, it’ll be a spectacular show!
Final Thoughts
If Mercedes does dive headfirst into the hypercars with their LMDh special, it’s not just a racing comeback; it’s an event that may well steal the thunder from the rest. Hold onto your hats, folks, because in the world of sports cars, it seems like an arms race—well, a friendly competition with only slight interpersonal destruction and lots of friendly banter.
So stay tuned, because who knows? We could be seeing a shiny new Mercedes zipping through the streets at break-neck speed right after a pit stop for… well, just about anything! Racing aficionados and casual fans alike, get ready—this is bound to be one heck of a ride!
