IMSA Race IMSA Round 7: Sahlens Six Hours of the Glen 2015

[HORNDAWG]

Provisional Entry list is out.... 36

http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fi..._EntryList.pdf

L.P.

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Schedule

Entry List

Weather

Spotters Guide

Track Map

Fantasy Racing

[BullMan]

Disappointing to see only 36 cars entered. There are probably 3 or 4 that don't intend to even show up. I had hoped we would see the same 46 from Sebring, but no dice.

[nasportscar]

Watkins Glen pick 'em presented by RecStuff.com http://nasportscar.com/2014-tusc-pick-em/

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by BullMan

Disappointing to see only 36 cars entered. There are probably 3 or 4 that don't intend to even show up. I had hoped we would see the same 46 from Sebring, but no dice.

Most notable absentees are ESM but that has been discussed before.

Don't be surprised if the Starworts DP won't show up either.

Now TUSC has roughly the same entry numbers for one of their endurance cup round as WEC has for a regular round, the buzz that surrounds Daytona and Sebring is certainly lacking for this event (and in decline in general anyway).

I also think having a 6H enduro race in the middle of the season and only 2 weeks after Le Mans is not helping either, Ford cannot be happy with that if it stays the same next year (and Corvette probably already isn't either). Going to Lime Rock on Independence Day weekend next year (with split races for the Pro and Am classes) before heading to Watkins Glen in the second half of July might be a better option.

[Mike Hedlund]

Peter Baron said on facebook that the Starworks DP won't be at The Glen.

-mike

[Deleted]

There were 33 cars in the last Grand-Am (1.0) Glen 6 hours in 2013. Now two years later there are 35 cars (or less) entries for same event with remaining ALMS refugees in it too.

PLM will probably have the least amount of entries since 2009, and that was without the filler classes.

[Rcz]

Less cautions I guess...


Buying a P2 car, a DP, or a down tuned GT3 car is sort of pointless now. The regulations are changing, but it may be better next year for GT.

TUSC is finally adopting GT3 Regs, and GTLM is getting some new cars along with some new regs. Next year GT should be where it's at.

That's why I think they should have split races next year. One for Proto and one for GT. GT needs more limelight more then ever now.

[Dyson Mazda]

Originally Posted by Chiana

There were 33 cars in the last Grand-Am (1.0) Glen 6 hours in 2013. Now two years later there are 35 cars (or less) entries for same event with remaining ALMS refugees in it too.

PLM will probably have the least amount of entries since 2009, and that was without the filler classes.

I think we all knew the series was in for a lame duck year. I think/hope the GT numbers will be a lot healthier next year with the FIA GT3 spec.

Hopefully the Mazda's will be up to pace with the AER's. It will be nice seeing a decent team running an all pro lineup in a competitive LMP.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Less cautions I guess...


Buying a P2 car, a DP, or a down tuned GT3 car is sort of pointless now. The regulations are changing, but it may be better next year for GT.

TUSC is finally adopting GT3 Regs, and GTLM is getting some new cars along with some new regs. Next year GT should be where it's at.

That's why I think they should have split races next year. One for Proto and one for GT. GT needs more limelight more then ever now.

The proto numbers aren't going anywhere but down next year. At least one fewer DP since Ganassi will be in GTE. The DW may be gone too. LMPC has 6 whole cars. It's certainly at the end of its life.

[Rcz]

Well your right, about the Protos numbers, nothing they can do about it really.

2017 I suppose we'll be the test if IMSA will have any Protos at all, or it will just be a GT series from now on.

[jasonjessica09]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Less cautions I guess...


Buying a P2 car, a DP, or a down tuned GT3 car is sort of pointless now. The regulations are changing, but it may be better next year for GT.

TUSC is finally adopting GT3 Regs, and GTLM is getting some new cars along with some new regs. Next year GT should be where it's at.

That's why I think they should have split races next year. One for Proto and one for GT. GT needs more limelight more then ever now.

100% agree with this statement. As for the race. I think GTLM will be a tight one like w are used to again. No run-aways like the BMW at Laguna Seca.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Well your right, about the Protos numbers, nothing they can do about it really.

2017 I suppose we'll be the test if IMSA will have any Protos at all, or it will just be a GT series from now on.

There is one thing they would do about it....have the series help support some teams!

[Rcz]

So Mazda is dumping the Diseal for a AER racing engine, the same engine that ran in Dyson P1 car. Are they going to run it here at the Glen? And can that car now be technically be called a P1 racer now?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Rcz

So Mazda is dumping the Diseal for a AER racing engine, the same engine that ran in Dyson P1 car. Are they going to run it here at the Glen? And can that car now be technically be called a P1 racer now?

That engine also ran as a P-2, first. And no it is not technically nor in any other fashion, or way, a P-1.






L.P.

[chernaudi]

Engine was used in LMP1 after LMP1 adopted the old LMP2 "pure race engine" specs.

However, I believe that the engine was also legal for LMP2 by de-tuning it (smaller air restrictor/reduced turbocharger boost) because of it's stock-block origins (all current LMP2 engines--and DP engines for that matter--must be based on a production AKA stock-block platform).

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Engine was used in LMP1 after LMP1 adopted the old LMP2 "pure race engine" specs.

However, I believe that the engine was also legal for LMP2 by de-tuning it (smaller air restrictor/reduced turbocharger boost) because of it's stock-block origins (all current LMP2 engines--and DP engines for that matter--must be based on a production AKA stock-block platform).

The P41 MZR-R original Mazda P-2 engine and the Later P70 (LMP1 engine) as well as the updated version, the P90 direct injection engine are not one in the same. There is a high probability that it will be the P63 which is the current MZR-R used in Indy Lights and not the P90. Though the P90 could be dialed back, depending on what the series and Mazda have hammered out.





L.P.

[Rcz]

I perfer stock blocks in sport cars but I don't mind small racing engines if the manufacturer don't have a competitive engine to sell.

[chernaudi]

Until the 1990's basically, most of the engines in top-level sportscar racing (Group C and IMSA GTP) did have stock block origins.

Even the Panoz LMP1 roadster and BMW LMP/LMR series had production based engines (Panoz used a heavily modified Ford Windsor V8, and the BMW V12 was used in the McLaren F1).

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

The P41 MZR-R original Mazda P-2 engine and the Later P70 (LMP1 engine) as well as the updated version, the P90 direct injection engine are not one in the same. There is a high probability that it will be the P63 which is the current MZR-R used in Indy Lights and not the P90. Though the P90 could be dialed back, depending on what the series and Mazda have hammered out.





L.P.

I just visited AER's page, and according to their site, the other engines ('41/'70/'90) are all based heavily off the old 3.6/4.0 P32 V8, with enough parts on the block and heads to qualify them as "stock block". Basically, it's almost a pure racing engine with enough stock parts on it to be called "stock block" (think Ford Windsor Indy Car V8 from the 1960s and the current GT500 derived Nissan VK45 LMP2 engine).

Also, AER on their site say that the P63 is developed from the earlier Mazda based/Mazda badged engines. However, how close the P63 is related to the older engines/what AER mean by "developed from" isn't clear.

We have to remember that AER's engine descriptions are basically only about a paragraph long and it took ACO scrutineer at LM this year to find out that their LMP1 P60 V6 is 2.4 liters.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by chernaudi35525

Until the 1990's basically, most of the engines in top-level sportscar racing (Group C and IMSA GTP) did have stock block origins.

Even the Panoz LMP1 roadster and BMW LMP/LMR series had production based engines (Panoz used a heavily modified Ford Windsor V8, and the BMW V12 was used in the McLaren F1).

Yes it was a production-based engine, but not really a "truck" engine as Ford's V8.

[MoMedic9019]

The AER MZR-R(P63) as will be used is completely legal....Won't be stunned if this ends up as the Spec P2 motor in '17

[chernaudi]

Not that this applies to IMSA (who want open production based engines), but the ACO are looking at running a 4.0 liter V8 for their spec LMP2 engine. At least that's what the prevalent rumor was.

Granted, outside of the 4 chassis constructor limit, it's hard to tell what the ACO wants for LMP2 beyond the end of 2016.

As things apply to Mazda now, we know that it's fairly easy to get a lot of power out of a stock block gasoline engine modified for racing. Them trying to do the same with a stock block diesel engine wasn't getting then nowhere fast.

We all know that Audi have dominated sportscar racing using diesel engines, but Audi have tons of R&D money, a huge budget dedicated to racing, a bespoke engine designed for the job, and a series of racing cars where the chassis and engines are bespoke items designed to function as a unit.

Mazda have none of these in regards to their prototype program.

[joeb]

I have turned this into the race thread now, and updated the first post with a few more links. Looks like the Mazda still has diesel listed as the engine, so maybe they haven't fully switched over yet.

[nasportscar]

A little Watkins Glen history http://nasportscar.com/sportscar-ret...-watkins-glen/

[Rcz]

The Glen is just a great classic track. I'm glad it has a 6 hour race. The changes hasn't ruin the tracks flow at all, I like that bus stop, especially when two car race down the straight to it.

It probably could run a WEC someday if someone wanted too, I'm believe it's up to date.