[WEC] FIA WEC calendar

[Aysedasi]

Not unusual though, it's happened many times over the years. F1 should change their date in favour of the more important event.....

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

My main question is, why would they want to sign a 4-year deal with Imola in the first place? Why race there and not Monza? Surely Monza is the superior track with a bigger profile?

While Monza might be more suited for big sportscars, it seems the local mayor was a big help in securing the deal. Might be a case of being more pro-active than your competitor. I would have liked to see a rotation between the two tracks but certainly not disappointed to see Imola become a permanent fixture!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Not unusual though, it's happened many times over the years. F1 should change their date in favour of the more important event.....

We would all like to see that!

[S griffin]

Decent calendar. Didn’t expect too much change

[Victor_RO]

Within 3 hours of the calendar announcement, hotel + flights + race ticket booked for Imola.

[Woolley]

Qatar and Bahrain still on their, despite the latter being attended by three men and a dog this year (if they let the dog in). Silverstone and somewhere in Germany both of which have big sportscar fan following still missing.

I presume money is more important than spectators, up until the point where they wonder why no-one is watching it any more.

[JoeW04]

Originally Posted by Woolley

Qatar and Bahrain still on their, despite the latter being attended by three men and a dog this year (if they let the dog in). Silverstone and somewhere in Germany both of which have big sportscar fan following still missing.

I presume money is more important than spectators, up until the point where they wonder why no-one is watching it any more.

Thomas Laudenbach also said earlier in the year from Porsches perspective they don’t think there should be two races in the Middle East, money talks louder than common sense sadly.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Within 3 hours of the calendar announcement, hotel + flights + race ticket booked for Imola.

Am also wondering about this. Albeit from a racing perspective I'm not sure about it. I think the mixed conditions this year really masked a track where you can't do a lot of passing.

I get they kind of have to be in Italy, but locking yourself in for four years is certainly interesting.

[S griffin]

I feel Monza or Mugello would be a better choice

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Woolley

Qatar and Bahrain still on their, despite the latter being attended by three men and a dog this year (if they let the dog in). Silverstone and somewhere in Germany both of which have big sportscar fan following still missing.

I presume money is more important than spectators, up until the point where they wonder why no-one is watching it any more.

Maybe the German and British tracks don't care?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Maybe the German and British tracks don't care?

Something is very wrong somewhere if that's the case...

It is simply umforgivable to continue not to have a UK round on the calendar...

Maybe it's just the Silverstone ownership that is the problem? Because unfortunately it doesn't appear that any other UK circuit could host the series umder its current entry size and facilities requirements at present.

[chunterer]

Also what a blow for the Indycar (and F1 drivers, LOL) who would've liked to do LM next year.

[Akrapovic]

Le Mans is always on the second weekend of June. I'm surprised that so many people are surprised by these clashes. We knew this was going to be an issue with F1 and IndyCar announced their calendars.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Le Mans is always on the second weekend of June. I'm surprised that so many people are surprised by these clashes. We knew this was going to be an issue with F1 and IndyCar announced their calendars.

Maybe the ACO need to a social media campaign around why the hold Le ans on the 24th week of the year...

The calendar is fine though; the oft-vaunted date equity is taking shape.

[flatlandsman]

It is deliberate, it certainly was when bernie did it years ago for Azerbaijan, I used to watch F1 then and did not watch a second of that weekend.

It is simply a way for Liberty to stave off the inevitable leak of drivers who want more from their careers once they have ***** f1 of every penny they can, Max will be there before long as he knows what racing is really interesting to him.

I get it with F1, they can see the threat, it has happened a few times in sportscar racing history and the F1 bosses always find a way to shaft those concerned. I all honesty I dont care that much I rate a WEC driver higher anyway, they do more, have more to deal with, pass m,ore, and are overall more complete drivers, any 1 of the top WEC men could score points in F1 and one or two could probably podium or even win.

And let's be honest here, the like minded and sane among us have already realised where the best racing and sport is anyway. So it will be no issue to favour one over the otehr that day.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Something is very wrong somewhere if that's the case...

It is simply umforgivable to continue not to have a UK round on the calendar...

Maybe it's just the Silverstone ownership that is the problem? Because unfortunately it doesn't appear that any other UK circuit could host the series umder its current entry size and facilities requirements at present.

Silverstone wanted a race but there isn't room for them on the calendar. The manufacturers think WEC can only support 8 races at the moment due to analysis of budgets and the return on investment. If they would allow 9 races, Silverstone would be the 9th round. WEC should be capped at 1 race per month. 10 race season is the ideal calendar with 2 months of off-season.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Articus

Silverstone wanted a race but there isn't room for them on the calendar. The manufacturers think WEC can only support 8 races at the moment due to analysis of budgets and the return on investment. If they would allow 9 races, Silverstone would be the 9th round. WEC should be capped at 1 race per month. 10 race season is the ideal calendar with 2 months of off-season.

Interesting that Silverstone wanted it but the series said no...

Who/whatever it is unacceptable not to have the UK round.

10 rounds would be good but would the entrants be ok with only 2 months of down tools?

[Articus]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Interesting that Silverstone wanted it but the series said no...

Who/whatever it is unacceptable not to have the UK round.

10 rounds would be good but would the entrants be ok with only 2 months of down tools?

With only 1 race a month, there's a lot of "down time" already baked into the season.

[PhilipR]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...y-before-2027/

Seems there will be 8 races until 2027! I do not mind this but would like to have a 2nd race in N America or Asia(China maybe) rather than 2 in the Middle East. I get why they are doing so - probably Bahrain and Qatar pay for transport and logistics.

[flatlandsman]

I doubt Silverstone really care, they have their money pit and historically, even in times of WEC being popular there have never been Spa or Imola size crowds at the place, so in their eyes it will cost them to host and they will likely make more from selling a few thousand more F1 seats at a vast profit

[Akrapovic]

I don't mind 8 races. I just think Bahrain, Qatar and COTA are wasted events that we could have better races in.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I don't mind 8 races. I just think Bahrain, Qatar and COTA are wasted events that we could have better races in.

Road America would be the US dream venue as it has long straights, ample elevation and a fantastic ambience. But it ain't happening unfortunately.

It almost sounds like the series needs a 3rd race in the Middle East to cover the extra cost of a 9th and possibly 10th round on the calendar, what a joy...

[flatlandsman]

The issue is that the countries you do not want are the ones that will pay well over the odds, it is that simple sadly.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

It is deliberate

Yes

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

The issue is that the countries you do not want are the ones that will pay well over the odds, it is that simple sadly.

Yep, and they are willing to pay so much more precisely because they know money is the only bargaining chip they have.

Bahrain & Qatar are necessarily evils, so to speak. But if we can have two ME races, there should be scope for a second NA round when the time is right.

Monkey's paw: The second NA round is Penske-bankrolled Indianapolis.