PWC: 2020

nasportscar · 15 Jul 2018, 03:58 (Ref:3836722)

Format changes announced:
http://nasportscar.com/sro-motorsports-group-and-pirelli-world-challenge-present-2019-season-plans/

Longer 90 minute GT3 with shorter schedule. Traditional GTS Sprint, regional GTS w/Am SprintX format, customer teams only in Touring Car categories

TRspitfirefan · 15 Jul 2018, 04:36 (Ref:3836724)

Overall I think that these changes will be for the better, but I have a lot of questions.
Will the seven GT race weekends feature two 90 minutes races or only one main race?
Will all GT race weekends be stand alone events?
Will the regional GT4 series rob the main GTS class of a lot of entries?
Will the GT4 regional series ever run at the same events as the regular GTS class?
I think I'll feel a lot better once the 2018 schedule is released. Right now it's pretty unclear what the series will really look like next year. Hopefully the changes will result in more consistency and more GT entries.

TRspitfirefan · 15 Jul 2018, 04:38 (Ref:3836725)

http://nasportscar.com/sro-motorspor...-season-plans/
http://world-challenge.com/latest/se...-season-plans/

schmidder · 15 Jul 2018, 08:37 (Ref:3836737)

You would think this kind of info would have come with the schedule, otherwise it is super vague and leaves as many questions as answers

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

FormulaFox · 15 Jul 2018, 11:12 (Ref:3836770)

90 minute two-driver races could bring in some Ams with money to stem the bleeding in GT, but I think it's a short-term fix. Despite it's initial boom, GT3 is just not proving to be the runaway success in the US that it's managed in Europe and Asia.

This may work short-term, but unless GT3 gets it's costs under control the numbers will drop again after a few years.

Maybe PWC should take a page out of Super GT's book. They've got TWO other types of cars in the GT300 class that can perform competitively with GT3s.

nasportscar · 15 Jul 2018, 13:32 (Ref:3836792)

Quote:

Originally Posted by schmidder

You would think this kind of info would have come with the schedule, otherwise it is super vague and leaves as many questions as answers

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Schedule will be out on a couple of weeks. I think the calendar will be good for the series, especially GT3, as a whole.

TRspitfirefan · 16 Jul 2018, 23:36 (Ref:3837047)

Interesting article from Racer.
https://racer.com/2018/07/16/insight...store-for-pwc/

Quote:

.......That factor — and economics — are driving the move to seven weekends of two 90-minute races, which will include the new element of refueling.

Quote:

.....Tracks considered likely to return are COTA, Road America and Watkins Glen.

I'm starting to really like the sound of this new format. As long as we can get a decent number of entries, next year could be mega!

nasportscar · 17 Jul 2018, 13:47 (Ref:3837126)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

Interesting article from Racer.
https://racer.com/2018/07/16/insight...store-for-pwc/

I'm starting to really like the sound of this new format. As long as we can get a decent number of entries, next year could be mega!

The season finale race should be liked by folks as well. I'm excited for the schedule.

nasportscar · 27 Jul 2018, 01:21 (Ref:3838992)

As expected the name World Challenge should see broader usage next year for SRO events/series

NaBUru38 · 27 Jul 2018, 20:19 (Ref:3839181)

https://racer.com/2018/07/27/2019-pi...les-announced/

2019 Pirelli GT World Challenge

March: Austin
April 27-28: Virginia
May 18-19: Mosport Park
June 8-9: Sonoma
Aug 31-Sept 1: Watkins Glen
Sept 21-22: Road America
Oct 5-6: Grand Finale

GTS Pirelli World Challenge

March 9-10: St. Petersburg
April 27-28: Virginia
May 18-19: Mosport Park
June 8-9: Sonoma
July 13-14: Portland
Aug 31-Sept 1: Watkins Glen
Sept 21-22: Road America
Oct 5-6: Grand Finale

GT4 America East

March 9-10: St. Petersburg
April 27-28: Virginia
May 18-19: Mosport Park
Aug 31-Sept 1: Watkins Glen
Sept 21-22: Road America

GT4 America West

April 6-7: Palm Springs
May: California TBD
June 8-9: Sonoma
July 13-14: Portland
Oct 5-6: Grand Finale

TRspitfirefan · 30 Jul 2018, 00:55 (Ref:3840083)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

https://racer.com/2018/07/27/2019-pi...les-announced/

2019 Pirelli GT World Challenge

March: Austin
April 27-28: Virginia
May 18-19: Mosport Park
June 8-9: Sonoma
Aug 31-Sept 1: Watkins Glen
Sept 21-22: Road America
Oct 5-6: Grand Finale

GTS Pirelli World Challenge

March 9-10: St. Petersburg
April 27-28: Virginia
May 18-19: Mosport Park
June 8-9: Sonoma
July 13-14: Portland
Aug 31-Sept 1: Watkins Glen
Sept 21-22: Road America
Oct 5-6: Grand Finale

GT4 America East

March 9-10: St. Petersburg
April 27-28: Virginia
May 18-19: Mosport Park
Aug 31-Sept 1: Watkins Glen
Sept 21-22: Road America

GT4 America West

April 6-7: Palm Springs
May: California TBD
June 8-9: Sonoma
July 13-14: Portland
Oct 5-6: Grand Finale

I like it! I'm already planning next years Road America trip. Now we just have to wait and see if we can get a decent number of entries.

FormulaFox · 28 Jul 2018, 19:46 (Ref:3839544)

The SRO's revived GT2 class sounds like it would be of great benefit to PWC: https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-rel...or-2019-debut/

And given the SRO's stake in PWC, I'm sure we'll see this class in PWC before long.

jjvincent · 28 Jul 2018, 20:50 (Ref:3839619)

Best idea ever and it will cut costs. Having a new class is what we were all looking for when it comes to cutting costs. This is because we need to cut costs in racing and the best way to do it is to introduce a new class. As we all know we need to cut costs because it's getting too expensive today. So cutting costs is a way to enable growth in the series by cutting costs. Cutting costs will just make the longevity of the series grow by cutting costs.

In conclusion, cutting costs what needs to be done to cut costs.

JLGarcia · 30 Jul 2018, 12:25 (Ref:3840153)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormulaFox

The SRO's revived GT2 class sounds like it would be of great benefit to PWC: https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-rel...or-2019-debut/

And given the SRO's stake in PWC, I'm sure we'll see this class in PWC before long.

I was just saying last week that I really want to like World Challenge, but they just don't have enough classes. This, plus the convoluted naming structure, is truly a step in the right direction.

jjvincent · 31 Jul 2018, 14:36 (Ref:3840355)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLGarcia

I was just saying last week that I really want to like World Challenge, but they just don't have enough classes. This, plus the convoluted naming structure, is truly a step in the right direction.

You forgot that we need more driver rankings so then we can make more classes. For GT and GTS we need to use the nomenclature that Sears did many years ago which was Good, Better and Best. For this to work we need to add 2 more levels of rankings. One needs to be in between Silver and Gold while another below Bronze. This way we will have:

GTB (Best)
GTb (better)
GTG (Good)

GTSB
GTSb
GTSG

For the East series
GTSBE
GTSbE
GTSGE

For the West series
GTSBW
GTSbW
GTSGW

Using a lower and upper case "B" will alleviate any confusion too.

TheMightyM · 31 Jul 2018, 17:59 (Ref:3840408)

Per S365:

Quote:

Despite not appearing on the initial schedule release, Long Beach could be added to the GTS Pirelli World Challenge season, according to WC Vision President and CEO Greg Gill.

Adding Long Beach would depend upon whether GTS teams are interested.

Also Las Vegas is among the options for the GT Grand Finale.

jjvincent · 31 Jul 2018, 18:33 (Ref:3840422)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Also Las Vegas is among the options for the GT Grand Finale.

If PWC had half a brain, they'd do it in Vegas during the SEMA Show.

cbbrit · 15 Aug 2018, 21:00 (Ref:3843895)

Some updates for 2019:

https://sportscar365.com/world-chall...ails-revealed/

nasportscar · 27 Aug 2018, 23:33 (Ref:3846621)

TCR Cup coming http://nasportscar.com/pirelli-world...lass-for-2019/

WolfsburgRS · 28 Aug 2018, 13:47 (Ref:3846722)

Very interesting development with the TCR 'Cup' class. In speaking with the FCP guys I know they've been more and more vocal about the BOP between the sequential cars (Honda and Hyundai) and their DSG cars. They jokingly invented their own 'DSG class' at Portland and I guess the series took that and ran with it?

I wonder what a Ryan Eversley type would be able to do with one of the DSG cars, in back to back sessions comparing one to his Honda.

Do we now if DSG Cup will run within the current TCR racers? Class within a class

nasportscar · 28 Aug 2018, 15:53 (Ref:3846744)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfsburgRS

Very interesting development with the TCR 'Cup' class. In speaking with the FCP guys I know they've been more and more vocal about the BOP between the sequential cars (Honda and Hyundai) and their DSG cars. They jokingly invented their own 'DSG class' at Portland and I guess the series took that and ran with it?

I wonder what a Ryan Eversley type would be able to do with one of the DSG cars, in back to back sessions comparing one to his Honda.

Do we now if DSG Cup will run within the current TCR racers? Class within a class

Pierre Kleinubing took a DSG car and lead a practice session at Utah. There's also Ams with SEQ gearboxes that aren't dominating the DSG cars, so I think the majority of this issue is still a Pro VS Am thing than anything else...but that's just my opinion

WolfsburgRS · 28 Aug 2018, 18:10 (Ref:3846760)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasportscar

Pierre Kleinubing took a DSG car and lead a practice session at Utah. There's also Ams with SEQ gearboxes that aren't dominating the DSG cars, so I think the majority of this issue is still a Pro VS Am thing than anything else...but that's just my opinion

Probably so. I know the VAG TCR cars (and I assume most other makes) are very hard on tires so tire management and managing grip and pace without excessive wear is probably a pretty big component as well.

jjvincent · 29 Aug 2018, 19:57 (Ref:3846954)

I was wondering why it took so long for the announcement since there's already a DSG class in Europe. In the end, it comes down to, will PWC just use the Club version of the VW/Audi/Opel for the TCR Club and then the SEQ version for the TCR class? I would guess the answer is "yes". This is good news for VAG because with 2019 being the last year for the current Golf, this will be a way for the Europeans to unload some cheap cars on the US market before they all will be required to go with the Golf 8 in 2020. What I mean by required, is that there will be no support for the 7 come 2020, so nobody will rent it and thus they become a club level car worth 10 cents on the dollar. That'll mean $35K used TCR cars next year.

I am happy to see that there's another class and we have finally got driver rankings for all of the classes except for TCA.

nasportscar · 29 Aug 2018, 20:26 (Ref:3846961)

I will buy a $35k VW TCR in 2020..if the wife approves

WolfsburgRS · 30 Aug 2018, 14:25 (Ref:3847069)

I can't see them making the SEQ version of the VAG cars required. The Sadev SEQ trans is easily double the rebuild cost, and requires it twice as often. I think the only reason a lot of the smaller independent teams can afford to run the series is that they can afford the DSG service costs.

The Club sport versions have smaller brakes, no air jacks, less power, and aren't homologated for competition. They're also not much cheaper compared to the TCR DSG version.

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