[WEC] The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD

[veeten]

Actually, it's not "fanboy-ism", but a respect for them to be in a sport that is, overwhelmingly, male, regardless of race, nationality or what motorsport that they originated.

Also, I did say "one of", meaning that there are several others that I extend that same respect to, though I don't always say it. It depends on the situation given, and having 60+ years in existence gives me that observance, as do many others on this platform.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by veeten

Actually, it's not "fanboy-ism", but a respect for them to be in a sport that is, overwhelmingly, male, regardless of race, nationality or what motorsport that they originated.

Also, I did say "one of", meaning that there are several others that I extend that same respect to, though I don't always say it. It depends on the situation given, and having 60+ years in existence gives me that observance, as do many others on this platform.

I don't think it's fanboy-ism to think that they are rated lower than their actual abilities. For what it's worth, I agree. These drivers are better than the bronze ratings show.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by veeten

Actually, it's not "fanboy-ism", but a respect for them to be in a sport that is, overwhelmingly, male, regardless of race, nationality or what motorsport that they originated.

Also, I did say "one of", meaning that there are several others that I extend that same respect to, though I don't always say it. It depends on the situation given, and having 60+ years in existence gives me that observance, as do many others on this platform.

Than don't accuse others for being jealous.

[Adam43]

Let's have a look at the last race.

Here is a comparison of all Bronze:

Average Lap time (in Top 20 order)

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 10	Top 20	Top 30	Laps
1	Ben KEATING (B) Chevrolet 33	1:39.586	1:40.151	1:40.367	1:40.537	85
2	Sarah BOVY (B) Porsche 85	1:39.805	1:40.150	1:40.438	1:40.711	64
3	Ahmad AL HARTHY (B) Aston Martin 25	1:40.487	1:40.717	1:40.860	1:41.001	83
4	Thomas FLOHR (B) Ferrari 54	1:40.076	1:40.651	1:40.919	1:41.112	62
5	Ian JAMES (B) Aston Martin 98	1:40.418	1:40.732	1:40.949	1:41.146	63
6	Takeshi KIMURA (B) Ferrari 57	1:40.463	1:40.756	1:41.032	1:41.283	61
7	Christian RIED (B) Porsche 77	1:40.514	1:40.799	1:41.132	1:41.362	61
8	PJ HYETT (B) Porsche 56	1:40.464	1:40.958	1:41.228	1:41.397	61
9	Satoshi HOSHINO (B) Aston Martin 777	1:40.731	1:41.089	1:41.359	1:41.652	62
10	Luis PEREZ COMPANC (B) Ferrari 83	1:40.903	1:41.083	1:41.363	1:41.548	61
11	Hiroshi KOIZUMI (B) Ferrari 21	1:39.966	1:40.888	1:41.391	1:41.669	65
12	Michael WAINWRIGHT (B) Porsche 86	1:41.058	1:41.967	1:42.314	1:42.593	61
13	Claudio SCHIAVONI (B) Porsche 60	1:41.286	1:42.191	1:42.675	1:42.957	61

Specifically here is a comparison of all drivers from the two Iron cars and the Corvette.

Average Lap time (in Top 20 order)

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 10	Top 20	Top 30	Laps
1	Alessio PICARIELLO (G) Porsche 60	1:38.524	1:38.698	1:38.814	1:38.925	74
2	Nicolas VARRONE (S) Chevrolet 33	1:38.856	1:39.186	1:39.277	1:39.353	85
3	Michelle GATTING (S) Porsche 85	1:38.799	1:39.159	1:39.423	1:39.596	75
4	Nicky CATSBURG (P) Chevrolet 33	1:39.216	1:39.351	1:39.525	1:39.691	40
5	Matteo CRESSONI (S) Porsche 60	1:39.447	1:39.679	1:39.827	1:39.947	74
6	Rahel FREY (G) Porsche 85	1:39.392	1:39.713	1:39.859	1:39.965	71
7	Ben KEATING (B) Chevrolet 33	1:39.586	1:40.151	1:40.367	1:40.537	85
8	Sarah BOVY (B) Porsche 85	1:39.805	1:40.150	1:40.438	1:40.711	64
9	Claudio SCHIAVONI (B) Porsche 60	1:41.286	1:42.191	1:42.675	1:42.957	61

There is a chart of these attached too.

[Adam43]

I chose the best three finishers I didn't show above for another view of the drivers of same cars.

Average Lap time
Average Lap time

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 10	Top 20	Top 30	Laps
1	Matteo CAIROLI (P) Porsche 56	1:38.546	1:38.734	1:38.859	1:38.978	77
2	Davide RIGON (P) Ferrari 54	1:38.686	1:38.908	1:39.017	1:39.093	80
3	Ritomo MIYATA (G) Ferrari 57	1:38.979	1:39.069	1:39.181	1:39.283	74
4	Scott HUFFAKER (S) Ferrari 57	1:39.336	1:39.537	1:39.673	1:39.771	75
5	Francesco CASTELLACCI (S) Ferrari 54	1:39.108	1:39.690	1:39.928	1:40.061	68
6	Gunnar JEANNETTE (S) Porsche 56	1:39.814	1:39.973	1:40.128	1:40.270	72
7	Thomas FLOHR (B) Ferrari 54	1:40.076	1:40.651	1:40.919	1:41.112	62
8	Takeshi KIMURA (B) Ferrari 57	1:40.463	1:40.756	1:41.032	1:41.283	61
9	PJ HYETT (B) Porsche 56	1:40.464	1:40.958	1:41.228	1:41.397	61

[Adam43]

Take aways:
/
Well, no.1 is that it isn't clear cut! It is also only one race. I suspect ACO look at more than this and spend the time.

Bovy is up there. Second quickest. This suggests that as a quick bronze she is potential silver material.
She's slower than the "old man" () Keating. Now, this could be impacted by the conditions, but Bovy drops off more than Keating.

About one second gap to the silver in the same car is pretty normal. And she is consistently one second a lap slower here. That suggests bronze is fair.

Interestingly the slowest (at this race) was the bronze in the Lynx car.

So there you are categorical evidence that Bovy should be a classed as a nickel rated driver.

[veeten]

Thank you, Adam.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ineup-in-2024/
Da Costa not staying at JOTA for 2024.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ineup-in-2024/
Da Costa not staying at JOTA for 2024.

That's a bit of a shock, no?
I wasn't expecting him to be going anywhere.

[tomcug]

Same but they'll find a good replacement

[Simmi]

As a commenter on that S365 article did well to spot - JOTA are looking to run only two drivers next year in select 6 hour races. They made a rule clarifying request to the WEC commission.

[chernaudi]

Is it a rule that you're supposed to run 3 drivers in most races? I remember when Audi and Peugeot did the ALMS and LMS they ran usually 2 drivers in 1000 km races and usually with 2 at PLM when it was a 1000 mile race.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Simmi

As a commenter on that S365 article did well to spot - JOTA are looking to run only two drivers next year in select 6 hour races. They made a rule clarifying request to the WEC commission.

Isn't that because they think they may not find another 3rd driver quickly enough though?

[veeten]

The 6 hour races would need rules clarification. Should be easier for the sub-4 hour "sprint" races, where a 2-man driver crew is better.
But if they just don't want to pay for a third driver, then that's on them.

[Coach Ep]

Huge loss for both Jota and AFDC. Not sure if/why Porsche FE factory wouldn't let one of their drivers race for a Porsche team? Something doesn't add up.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by veeten

The 6 hour races would need rules clarification. Should be easier for the sub-4 hour "sprint" races, where a 2-man driver crew is better.

+ 1.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by veeten

The 6 hour races would need rules clarification.

We've seen 2-driver teams in GTE Pro already so I see no reason why HC would work different. Also rules say:
"The composition of the teams is free, on the condition that it does not include a Bronze driver." (this applies to all 6- and 8-hour races)
It doesn't say you need 3 drivers so I guess only 1 driver "team" wouldn't be enough due to maximum stint time violation.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Huge loss for both Jota and AFDC. Not sure if/why Porsche FE factory wouldn't let one of their drivers race for a Porsche team? Something doesn't add up.

Last season? Absolutely. Now? Not as much. Still an obvious negative, but not a deal-breaker.

I think it's more Porsche want him to focus on FE, he's the best of their drivers in that series. The market isn't short of top-rated drivers who could fill the 963 seat.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ypercar-drive/
Confirmation of earlier rumors. Personally I doubt he'll drive for Jota next year but who knows.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ypercar-drive/
Confirmation of earlier rumors. Personally I doubt he'll drive for Jota next year but who knows.

Me too, but I didn't expect Hansen to shift away from UA and here we are.

Unless other commitments get in the way, I would have thought Kubica was better off waiting for something to open up at WRT.

[RL17]

2 drivers makes sense for 6 hours given the stints they do at LM a short while after Spa.

Especially next year as Spa fixture clash means top drivers may miss Spa for FE.

Spa not the sort of place to risk a precious chassis to bring in a third new driver for an hour 45 or so and give him/her a new set of cold tyres.

2 drivers probably makes sense there anyway unless have 3 good drivers already you’re totally confident in and want to keep them all happy.

[veeten]

Okay folks, here's a shocker...

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...rance-cup.html

[Coach Ep]

IMSA

[broadrun96]

And not really a shocker, Hartley had run Daytona and Herta in the Andretti affiliated car is kinda easy to call

[RL17]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Take aways:
/
Well, no.1 is that it isn't clear cut! It is also only one race. I suspect ACO look at more than this and spend the time.

Bovy is up there. Second quickest. This suggests that as a quick bronze she is potential silver material.
She's slower than the "old man" () Keating. Now, this could be impacted by the conditions, but Bovy drops off more than Keating.

About one second gap to the silver in the same car is pretty normal. And she is consistently one second a lap slower here. That suggests bronze is fair.

Interestingly the slowest (at this race) was the bronze in the Lynx car.

So there you are categorical evidence that Bovy should be a classed as a nickel rated driver.

Did Schiavoni drive at all in the race as he was I’ll over the Race WE. They (60 car) were leading until 2 hrs 20 mins or so to go and then retired as Schiavoni couldn’t completed his spell for AMs which was a minimum period of 2 hrs 20mins.