[WEC] WEC 2024

[RL17]

At LM I thought the 2 Ferrari restart issues just about evened out Hirokawa squirrelly patch

[Adam43]

Like a lot of engineering and driving challenges it is very suited to the ethos of endurance racing.

I can see it might not be something that is not suited to F1, the style is different there. I think it would be good, but I get that for that wam bam racing they wouldn’t want it.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by RL17

At LM I thought the 2 Ferrari restart issues just about evened out Hirokawa squirrelly patch

The Toyota lost time was more. We had a look at the time.

This was specifically referenced in the Racing Engineering article in the latest edition.

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by RL17

That inexperienced Ried chap had fun on the out lap at Spa.

Voted out again for slicks in F1 because of risks to drivers and cars and ‘it would make F1 look stupid’

Big risks to drivers and cars at Spa and up to Dunlop. WEC Hypercar tyres were not up to job.

Most of the laps in the qualifying sessions (shortened for TV) are way off the pace - last 5 mins or so can be utterly pointless.

Slow laps in racing then break up battles and flow and then you get much increased risks of lengthy SC periods especially for the ageing barriers at LM.

Inexperienced? Inexperienced on cold slicks, yes, but not with the car/WEC/track.

[airbusA346]

The 3rd driver for the #38 Jota Porsche is Jenson Button.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...percar-lineup/

[RL17]

Originally Posted by Adam43

The Toyota lost time was more. We had a look at the time.

This was specifically referenced in the Racing Engineering article in the latest edition.

Agreed it was longer (3 mins but did include fuel 5sec or so plus a new set of tyres (no tyre change when took over from Hartley)) than 2 Ferrari restart issues (1 min 40 sec or so in total).

My point was that Ferrari had the edge over 24 hours if you back out spin and restart problems.

As although winning margin at end only 1 min 20sec, 51 did back off quite a bit in last hour with loads of 3 min 35 sec plus laps plus final lap ( cost 50 seconds or so) (3 min 5 sec lead after lap 327 and lost 55 sec on the last pit stop 337) (pitstops pretty well matched apart from extra one after spin).

[Adam43]

Yes, they did have a small advantage on ultimate race pace. As the data showed they had prior to Le Mans too. see the Unified thread.

Gaps: https://tentenths.com/forum/showpost...postcount=1863

They did on most of the circuits they’d managed to test comprehensively on beforehand.

Their test program was excellent. Two cars, one concentrating on reliability and the other on performance. This gave them the head start over the other newbies. And of course they had the resources and simply did a good job.

Where they had a disadvantage was with tyres and they got a huge boost here with the tyre warmers for Le Mans.

Sorry, I’ve lost what the point of the discussion was. But the above is just how they performed in the year.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

The 3rd driver for the #38 Jota Porsche is Jenson Button.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...percar-lineup/

And the man has only got Jota into the mainstream. https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/67727343

“I’m a better person when racing”. Ha!

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Adam43

And the man has only got Jota into the mainstream. https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/67727343

“I’m a better person when racing”. Ha!

Yep, I'd noticed the increase in coverage from 'Auntie', cycling/motorsport journalist Matt Warwick being the author of all the recent articles.

[kdr]

I'm not sure as i didn't see it but this news seems to have actually got on to an interview with him on BBC Breakfast.

[veeten]

That's the PR side, drives interest and keeps people talking. And what's more, this will push that main question of " when will we see him, and them, race HERE?". You know the question about Silverstone will be the 800k gorilla, moving it's way into the room...

[broadrun96]

If the survey results didn't convince them of actual fans who would attend, TV coverage ain't moving the needle on going to Silverstone a mm

[flatlandsman]

Silverstone were unfortunate to be hosting the WEC races when it was very boom and bust, and they are ONLY and clearly interested in F1 and for good reason, it makes them a staggering amount of money, so much so they have stated investing and selling land to make even more. WEC never made much if anything, and probably cost a bomb to host, they are not a venue that cares about British fans they just care about making money, that much is clear from the last few years since this wally took over. it is just a business now and is not the home of anything.

The series is now just a sportwashing exercise for the Middle East who want Porsche, BMW, Ferrari and Lambo there , and those manufacturers will want that over some dump in Northants, far more potential sales.

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed. As I said elsewhere earlier today, Silverstone don't seem to care about any sizeable events other than F1 or their 'Festival' (Silverstone Classic as was) as they can charge silly amounts for both those events.

They are happy to run club events as they have minimal spectators and they can keep all the stands closed and not run any catering other than the paddock diner and coffee shop.

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

Indeed. As I said elsewhere earlier today, Silverstone don't seem to care about any sizeable events other than F1 or their 'Festival' (Silverstone Classic as was) as they can charge silly amounts for both those events.

They are happy to run club events as they have minimal spectators and they can keep all the stands closed and not run any catering other than the paddock diner and coffee shop.

Moto GP?

[Adam43]

I’m sure Silverstone would be interested in any event that they can make profitable.

If they are not then it is because the combination of payment to the series to host the event (or income for club races), others costs (as Truck says) and income doesn’t look good.

And the series can get better return or exposure elsewhere.

[veeten]

Then, I guess it would have to be Donnngton or Brands Hatch, and use the international circuits. Shouldn't be too much of an issue in that reguard.

[Adam43]

Or not at all!

It could do Silverstone, but most likely it continues as is.

[Akrapovic]

Why do Silverstone or Donnington when we can go Unspecifiedistan to be a play thing for a Prince?

[broadrun96]

TF Sport thought well Velocity Yellow and black usually looks good, and they are correct. Makes the new one look less disgusting

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...mgt3-liveries/

[Coach Ep]

The yellow-black-yellow livery has some Labre vibes to it.

[tomcug]

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...ntry/10566434/
Honestly I don't get why these guys even race in the WEC in the first place. So unprofessional, one car only and now this mess with drivers. Is this even a factory effort or they do it for fun instead of victories?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...ntry/10566434/
Honestly I don't get why these guys even race in the WEC in the first place. So unprofessional, one car only and now this mess with drivers. Is this even a factory effort or they do it for fun instead of victories?

I'm not sure the cash is flowing quite a freely as some other teams - but they have to keep the full season entry to unlock Le Mans entries.

On the other hand - strong BMW driver lineups: https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...r-lineups.html

[Adam43]

I have zero issues with what they are doing!

Yes, it would be wonderful for them to have three cars and paint their car red, white and black. They are there and in markets that they really don’t get much to gain from.

I quite like the alternating drivers here.

[joeb]

Proton have revealed their Mustang liveries. I like how they aren't identical or mirrors.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...-line-ups.html