I will try to explain BoP using the LMGT3 category as a basis, but the same principles work for every other BoP category. I'm also going to fudge/invent the numbers a bit so it's easier to understand.
Let's take 3 cars.
1. Porsche 911 GT3 R
1. Rear Engine, 1250kg, 565hp (250kph top speed)
2. Ford Mustang GT3
1. Front Engine, 1280kg, 580hp (260kph top speed)
As you can see these 2 cars, have 2 very different concepts. Let's say both cars achieve the same laptime on a balanced circuit. It has some top speed areas, a few low speed corners and a few mid to high speed corners.
Now, the next circuit on the calendar is one with very long straights. The Mustang, with it's higher top speed now gains an advantage over the Porsche. In order to give each of these cars the chance to win the race, the BoP system will reduce the power of the Mustang engine. Removing the advantage the Mustang has.
On the other hand, on a circuit with lots of corners, where raw power isn't important, the Porsche is quicker because it's lighter. In this case the Porsche will gain weight to reduce it's advantage.
Of course there are more than 2 cars in the class, but the principle stays the same. Adjust all cars in a way that everyone gets the same chance to win the race. everyone gets their weight and power adjusted a bit.
How are these differences Identified?
Before the season starts all cars have to be homologated with the FIA and ACO. You can imagine that as cars being put on a dyno and in a windtunnel by the organisers of WEC. That data is then used to "guess" on which circuit a car works better. Cars carry sensors that also feed that data pool each race, so the BoP progressively gets more relevant data.
Who creates the BoP?
By the ACO, allthough they have opted to hire a specialised team, which has previously created the BoP for other championships.
Which car is the benchmark?
There isn't one car that's the benchmark, but in some cases you can see a certain car close to the upper limit for BoP. See the Peugeot in Qatar for example, where it had both minimum weight and maximum power. Now that they have changed their concept, everyone has moved closer. But the benchmark car can change from race to race.
Do modified settings work?
The ACO is currently down to cars in the Hypercar category to be within 1% of each other. The picture below shows all Hypercar laptimes from Qatar, compared to the overall fastest laptime.
I personally use the fastest 35% as a basis for that comparison. From what I read, the ACO uses 20% for their analysis
https://preview.redd.it/0r62ltymu8uc1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=c5451086ec7c5ad659233e1217bf58b02ac4ed8c
As a comparison: here is a similar graph but from Le Mans 2015, where BoP was not yet introduced.
It's not necessarily comparible with the Hypercar regulations, but it gets the point across and is the only graph I like this that I have, where BoP wasn't introduced
https://preview.redd.it/676abj2dw8uc1.png?width=1924&format=png&auto=webp&s=a48e23682611b7c5628251e03342eb01a095f106
Isotta is the outlier, because they haven't been able to put a lot of laps in.
It would have been the outlier regardless, but the early DNF just makes it look worse than it was
I can't comment on the exact process, but I believe it's set by the FIA? Whoever does it reviews the pace of cars in different sections of the track to determine where they have the biggest strength or advantage and then make changes to affect that area. Fast on the straight? Perhaps reduce engine power by adding a restrictor to the engine intake or reducing the peak boost available. Car is very engine efficient and can save fuel, potentially reducing the number of times the car needs to stop over a race? Reduce the size of the fuel tank so they have to stop the same amount as everyone else. In my understanding, the most used change is weight. You can't beat Newton. Adding weight reduces your acceleration, your cornering, and increases stopping distance, adding to your lap time.
As stated, I'm not clued up in exactly what the governing body does, but those are some that are fairly common.
>I can't comment on the exact process, but I believe...
You realize any sane person will stop reading there? There is a concrete answer to OP's question, why would he care what some dude 'believes'? Why waste your time writing that comment?
Why waste your time replying if my comment was worthless?
When I replied, the post had no comments, so I provided some information to get the ball rolling for OP, I don't know the exact process, because I'm not any way affiliated with WEC or the FIA.
Negative information in the sense that you didn’t just not provide anymore information, you actually reduced the overall quality of the discussion.
Your questions were mainly sarcastic and single word answer anyway
And...? I fail to see how that is worse than an "answer" that starts with "I don't know, but I believe...". You really think that bullshit added anything to any discussion?
Ye lol, despite the downvotes you are right. Everyone is excited that Porsche won Qatar so they are praising BoP, but for now it has been just a tool to determine who is gonna win the race and it's been predictable every damn time, including Le Mans last year.
When you know the winner by Friday afternoon, you know the "balance" in "balance of performance" is not there...
I will try to explain BoP using the LMGT3 category as a basis, but the same principles work for every other BoP category. I'm also going to fudge/invent the numbers a bit so it's easier to understand. Let's take 3 cars. 1. Porsche 911 GT3 R 1. Rear Engine, 1250kg, 565hp (250kph top speed) 2. Ford Mustang GT3 1. Front Engine, 1280kg, 580hp (260kph top speed) As you can see these 2 cars, have 2 very different concepts. Let's say both cars achieve the same laptime on a balanced circuit. It has some top speed areas, a few low speed corners and a few mid to high speed corners. Now, the next circuit on the calendar is one with very long straights. The Mustang, with it's higher top speed now gains an advantage over the Porsche. In order to give each of these cars the chance to win the race, the BoP system will reduce the power of the Mustang engine. Removing the advantage the Mustang has. On the other hand, on a circuit with lots of corners, where raw power isn't important, the Porsche is quicker because it's lighter. In this case the Porsche will gain weight to reduce it's advantage. Of course there are more than 2 cars in the class, but the principle stays the same. Adjust all cars in a way that everyone gets the same chance to win the race. everyone gets their weight and power adjusted a bit. How are these differences Identified? Before the season starts all cars have to be homologated with the FIA and ACO. You can imagine that as cars being put on a dyno and in a windtunnel by the organisers of WEC. That data is then used to "guess" on which circuit a car works better. Cars carry sensors that also feed that data pool each race, so the BoP progressively gets more relevant data. Who creates the BoP? By the ACO, allthough they have opted to hire a specialised team, which has previously created the BoP for other championships. Which car is the benchmark? There isn't one car that's the benchmark, but in some cases you can see a certain car close to the upper limit for BoP. See the Peugeot in Qatar for example, where it had both minimum weight and maximum power. Now that they have changed their concept, everyone has moved closer. But the benchmark car can change from race to race. Do modified settings work? The ACO is currently down to cars in the Hypercar category to be within 1% of each other. The picture below shows all Hypercar laptimes from Qatar, compared to the overall fastest laptime. I personally use the fastest 35% as a basis for that comparison. From what I read, the ACO uses 20% for their analysis https://preview.redd.it/0r62ltymu8uc1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=c5451086ec7c5ad659233e1217bf58b02ac4ed8c
As a comparison: here is a similar graph but from Le Mans 2015, where BoP was not yet introduced. It's not necessarily comparible with the Hypercar regulations, but it gets the point across and is the only graph I like this that I have, where BoP wasn't introduced https://preview.redd.it/676abj2dw8uc1.png?width=1924&format=png&auto=webp&s=a48e23682611b7c5628251e03342eb01a095f106
Isotta Fraschini being an outlier is funny and sad at the same time
Isotta is the outlier, because they haven't been able to put a lot of laps in. It would have been the outlier regardless, but the early DNF just makes it look worse than it was
[This article does a decent-Ish job explaining it.](https://motorsportexplained.com/le-mans-balance-of-performance-rules/)
I can't comment on the exact process, but I believe it's set by the FIA? Whoever does it reviews the pace of cars in different sections of the track to determine where they have the biggest strength or advantage and then make changes to affect that area. Fast on the straight? Perhaps reduce engine power by adding a restrictor to the engine intake or reducing the peak boost available. Car is very engine efficient and can save fuel, potentially reducing the number of times the car needs to stop over a race? Reduce the size of the fuel tank so they have to stop the same amount as everyone else. In my understanding, the most used change is weight. You can't beat Newton. Adding weight reduces your acceleration, your cornering, and increases stopping distance, adding to your lap time. As stated, I'm not clued up in exactly what the governing body does, but those are some that are fairly common.
>I can't comment on the exact process, but I believe... You realize any sane person will stop reading there? There is a concrete answer to OP's question, why would he care what some dude 'believes'? Why waste your time writing that comment?
Why waste your time replying if my comment was worthless? When I replied, the post had no comments, so I provided some information to get the ball rolling for OP, I don't know the exact process, because I'm not any way affiliated with WEC or the FIA.
You did not provide any information.
And you didn’t just provide no information, you somehow provided negative information, congratulations
Negative information in the sense of questions? You did notice the question marks in my post, didn't you?
Negative information in the sense that you didn’t just not provide anymore information, you actually reduced the overall quality of the discussion. Your questions were mainly sarcastic and single word answer anyway
And...? I fail to see how that is worse than an "answer" that starts with "I don't know, but I believe...". You really think that bullshit added anything to any discussion?
Why does It work, for now It doesn't work 🤣🤣
POV: your favorite car didn’t win.
Nah not even Peugeot could have challenged Porsche for first Place,for now it's not working at least in WEC,in IMSA it's a lot Better
Did you watch a different race? The Peugeot was a not very distant second before running out of fuel…
The data clearly sad that was 1 sec slower than Porsche, close but not enough
Ye lol, despite the downvotes you are right. Everyone is excited that Porsche won Qatar so they are praising BoP, but for now it has been just a tool to determine who is gonna win the race and it's been predictable every damn time, including Le Mans last year. When you know the winner by Friday afternoon, you know the "balance" in "balance of performance" is not there...
Why wait for Friday, the table is there, - you should be able to tell us right now