FIA WEC '14 ~ Speculation Thread

[Beetle]

I think it's that time of year, folks. The 2013 season is in a bad midlife crisis (as usual) and entries are dropping out and changing around left and right. So I think it's a good time to start seriously considering the 2014 season which looks, on paper, to be even more competitive than it's two predecessors.

Here's the latest rundown of the entry list (let me know if you see any errors are have any teams I haven't included on here)...

LMP1
Confirmed
Audi Sport
OAK Racing
Porsche
Rebellion Racing (w/ Oreca R-One)
Strakka Racing (w/ HPD)
Toyota Racing
Likely
Lotus-Kodewa
Possible
ADESS
AER
Ferrari LMP1
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing (w/ HPD)
Nissan
Perrinn
Pescarolo (Dome, ADESS, OAK possible)
Pilbeam

LMP2
Confirmed
Alpine
Oreca
SMP Racing (with Ferrari power)
Zytek
Likely
Dome
Lola (probably part-time and customer-based)
OAK
Possible
Bailey
Caterham
Honda
Tiga
Toyota
Wolf

GTE
None have really been "confirmed" yet but we can reasonably expect...
Aston Martin
Chevrolet
Ferrari
Porsche

And, of course, for all of the LMP2 and GTE manufacturers, we can expect multiple teams to enter.

One thing that seems to be slipping under the radar a bit is the GTE news. Will GTE and GT3 combine in Europe for 2014? Or is that a later project... and could it even be dead in the water? If GTE and GT3 combine, we could see absolutely massive interest from GT teams from the likes of BMW, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, and more.

As far as the schedule goes, nothing has been talked about yet. All the tracks stayed the same from 2012 to 2013 except Sebring switching to Austin, but could the same be said for 2013 to 2014? Interlagos springs to mind as they should be making critical changes to the track and relocate the start/finish line, pits, and pit building to the Reta Oposta, the "back straight". Besides Sao Paulo, we should expect Silverstone, Spa, Le Mans (obviously), Austin, Fuji, Shanghai, and Bahrain to stay.

Otherwise, let the discussion and speculation commence!

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by Beetle

One thing that seems to be slipping under the radar a bit is the GTE news. Will GTE and GT3 combine in Europe for 2014? Or is that a later project... and could it even be dead in the water? If GTE and GT3 combine, we could see absolutely massive interest from GT teams from the likes of BMW, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, and more.

From what I have read, the earliest the proposed "GT Unification" will occur is in 2015.

[avvelenamento]

Are we so sure that oak racing is confirmed in lmp1?
I would like to drop bahrein and replace it with an extra european round. In Germany, Nurburgring or Hockeneim or Italy, Monza. Should be changed also the logistic structure. Now is europe races - ship to america - south and north america races - ship to asia - japan, china, bahrein races. My vision is:

- ship to america -
(possibly not clashing with sebring) March: Interlagos
early-mid April: Austin
- ship to europe -
early-mid May: Spa
mid June: Le Mans
end of August: Silverstone
mid September: German or Italian race
- ship to asia -
mid October: Japan
early November: China

[Acid09]

Is Alpine really confirmed to step up to the WEC next year?

[Simmi]

Yeah I think there's a few confirmations there that haven't been confirmed.

[avvelenamento]

yes, anyway, reading better the list, a lot of names like: ferrari lmp1, nissan, perrinn, smp racing ferrari powered, bailey are fictional more than possible.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by avvelenamento

yes, anyway, reading better the list, a lot of names like: ferrari lmp1.......... are fictional more than possible.

You know, I'm astonished you think that. Why haven't you said so before.......?

[Mike E]

Do BMW have any WEC or LM plans for next year?

[FstrthnU]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Do BMW have any WEC or LM plans for next year?

BMW Team Brazil want to buy/rent a pair of Z4 GTEs for next year's WEC, but BMW hasn't responded to them yet. BMW may decide that they only want to support the Z4 GTE in USCR with Rahal. Right now BMW Team Brazil is running a pair of Z4 GT3s in the FIA GT Series.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

BMW Team Brazil want to buy/rent a pair of Z4 GTEs for next year's WEC, but BMW hasn't responded to them yet. BMW may decide that they only want to support the Z4 GTE in USCR with Rahal. Right now BMW Team Brazil is running a pair of Z4 GT3s in the FIA GT Series.

The Z4 would really struggle in WEC and specifically at Le Mans without a restrictor break.

[Simmi]

Here's something to be filed under 'speculation'..

One of my office colleagues caught up with Luiz Razia this weekend and although F1 is still the aim, he seems to feel sportscars and Le Mans is more realistic next year.

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/...re-than-talent

I'm sure he will still bring some budget so he's the type of guy Henri needs to be approaching IMO. He will have pace in a proto I believe.

[Mike E]

My 'Other' vote goes to Potrero de los Funes in Argentina.

[The Badger]

Take the Bailey off as they didn't sell a P2 , I think their not going to build another .

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Is Alpine really confirmed to step up to the WEC next year?

I believe so...

Originally Posted by Simmi

Yeah I think there's a few confirmations there that haven't been confirmed.

Please elaborate... which of these "confirmations" do you speak of?

Originally Posted by avvelenamento

yes, anyway, reading better the list, a lot of names like: ferrari lmp1, nissan, perrinn, smp racing ferrari powered, bailey are fictional more than possible.

I'm simply going by what's on mariantic.co.uk. There are rumours about a Ferrari LMP1 program, so even though the chance is incredibly slim, still it goes under the "possible" category.

Originally Posted by Simmi

Here's something to be filed under 'speculation'..

One of my office colleagues caught up with Luiz Razia this weekend and although F1 is still the aim, he seems to feel sportscars and Le Mans is more realistic next year.

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/...re-than-talent

I'm sure he will still bring some budget so he's the type of guy Henri needs to be approaching IMO. He will have pace in a proto I believe.

Yes, he needs to be approaching. But will he?

I can't see him approaching Razia. Henri generally seems to deal with European drivers only.

Originally Posted by Mike E

My 'Other' vote goes to Potrero de los Funes in Argentina.

That track is amazing. Although I think the accomodations would be too slim to host a large international motorsports event. FIA GT1 is about as big as they can handle, I think...

Originally Posted by The Badger

Take the Bailey off as they didn't sell a P2 , I think their not going to build another .

But it's still possible (but probably not probable)... and it's on the LMP watch website called "Mariantic".

[avvelenamento]

"That track is amazing. Although I think the accomodations would be too slim to host a large international motorsports event. FIA GT1 is about as big as they can handle, I think"

You think well, Potrero is a semi-permanet track made by the road around the so called lake. When I saw fia gt races, I noticed that the track hasn't permanent boxes at all.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by avvelenamento

"That track is amazing. Although I think the accomodations would be too slim to host a large international motorsports event. FIA GT1 is about as big as they can handle, I think"

You think well, Potrero is a semi-permanet track made by the road around the so called lake. When I saw fia gt races, I noticed that the track hasn't permanent boxes at all.

Maybe so, but Bahrain is a go kart track in the desert and they still go there.

[avvelenamento]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Maybe so, but Bahrain is a go kart track in the desert and they still go there.

infact in my opinion bahrain should be dropped and replaced with a fourth european race.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Beetle

Please elaborate... which of these "confirmations" do you speak of?

Oak Racing P1
Strakka Racing
Alpine
SMP Racing
Zytek

[deltawing]

You can most certainly take Nissan off the P1 list for 2014, as their entry will be the G56.

[Salamus]

If Red Bull is involved with Porsche's P1 program, what are the chances that the Red Bull Ring becomes part of the schedule in the near future?

[TF110]

I wonder if India being dropped from F1 has any affect on whether the WEC goes there. I would think itd be more of a chance that they want to have these guys race their track since theyre losing F1!?

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Maybe so, but Bahrain is a go kart track in the desert and they still go there.

However, unlike Potrero de los Funes, it is near a major city: Manama. And Manama has a 5-star Ritz Carlton, a 5-star Hotel Intercontinental, a 5-star... oh, here's the link: http://www.grandprixevents.com/f1-ra...hotels-bahrain

Bahrain is an excellent circuit. Hardly a go kart track (although they do have one right by the main circuit)...

Originally Posted by Salamus

If Red Bull is involved with Porsche's P1 program, what are the chances that the Red Bull Ring becomes part of the schedule in the near future?

I'd certainly hope so! I haven't been following Porsche P1 much... is Red Bull on their radar?

I'd rather see Monza before that, though.

Originally Posted by TF110

I wonder if India being dropped from F1 has any affect on whether the WEC goes there. I would think itd be more of a chance that they want to have these guys race their track since theyre losing F1!?

F1 is returning in 2015 it seems...

I don't think it would be too bad. Yes, it's a cookie-cutter Tilkedrome, yes, it's in a horrible location... but it's a first-class circuit. Yeongam, Sepang, Buddh... they're all worthy candidates to replace Bahrain. But the WEC needs to keep it's presence in the Middle East, so I can see a switch to Yas Marina, the Dubai Autodrome, or even Lusail (Qatar).

But to make it a truly "World" Endurance Championship, they need an Australian race. It's a shame that all Australian circuits seem to be either too narrow, too short, too old, too rural, or not up to anything more than V8 Supercars.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by TF110

I wonder if India being dropped from F1 has any affect on whether the WEC goes there. I would think itd be more of a chance that they want to have these guys race their track since theyre losing F1!?

Suspect the tax issues that scuppered F1 in India would be even more complicated with the WEC.

My understanding is the teams had to "import" all their equipment, pay tax on it, and then "export" it at the end of the event, and sit and wait for getting anything back.

Having, in the past, had the hellish experience of trying to deliver a piece of enterprise software to a partner company in Chennai I can understand exactly the sort of issues teams go through. If F1 outfits, who I suspect are used to paying lawyers quite a lot, and FOM, haven't managed to see a way through this then I suspect most WEC outfits would run screaming from an event like this. It's a real shame, because there's a clear car culture in India and if the affluent sectors in Indian society could be engaged then it would unlock a vast amount of excitement (just look at what the IPL has done to cricket for, I think, an illustrative example).

[Articus]

Since the FIA is involved then there is probably some bizarre agreement where the track has to pay the series to run there. Atleast thats how it is in F1. How bizarre is that? Why don't all tracks mutually agree not to pay to host F1 race...What is FIA going to do about that? Nothing but continue to race. Tracks shouldnt have to pay ludicrous amounts to host a race so the sooner the all the tracks come to agreement they can turn the tables...

[The Badger]

Austria would be a nice venue , I don't really know much about India , would that be a good track ?