[WEC Race] 2014 FIA WEC - Round 2 - Spa

[Articus]

Its all fun and games until Davidson puts down some laps...

[Dani Filth]

yeah .. was rather impressed by his 2.01.327
hope they get him out of the car soon

[hcl123]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Posted originally in the R18 thread:

I've been thinking looking at some videos of last year, and I'm wondering if Audi went for more downforce this year to try and milk more life out of their tires during a race.

We have to remember that post LM that there's a ton of tracks that are very abrasive on tires, and the last track last year where Audi or Toyota had much success with double stinting tires was COTA. Shanghai is hard on tires, Bahrain is hard on tires, and Interlagos is hard on tires.

High downforce cars tend to make better use of their tires and have better tire durability. For Spa, the track is more abasive than Silverstone, and unlike the past day, the sun should be out. And that means higher track temps and slicker race track.

It could be then that if Toyota or Porsche sacrifice any tire durability by running less downforce, it'll show then.

But that's just a theory on why Audi opted for more downforce than their competitors this year, to try and get an edge in cornering and also maybe tire wear.

Well... actually i think Audi will milk less of their tires, they went for "very high" downforce approaches exactly to better take advantage of the characteristics of engines... huge torque... running squeezing the car down harder the top speeds will suffer, but the corner speed can augment dramatically, but with high levels of torque this could mean overall the same times... perhaps they thought that since the distorted fuel flows won't allow them much room for maneuver ( engines must rev lower for no penalties, tendencially meaning lower max "hp" ), they would play that card.

So far ain't working... when with 4L and 2013 fuel flows they could easily be doing less than 2 min lap!...

Originally Posted by carbon_titanium

Did I see well or the LD ts040 can run over 270km/h trough eau rouge while audi in HD is slower? It should be the exact reverse

Yes easily... but now all is set and there isn't time for complaints, too low fuel flows too small fuel tank, engine (diesel) must rev lower all the time, some parts will suffer more than others(depends on management- > stretch some somewhere, forcibly cut some elsewhere)... and NOT that FIA/ACO will do anything in any case, they have been searching/working-hard for this outcome since 2007, the exciting part is why it toke so long lol

Under current rules the only salvation for Audi is even much superior *efficiency* than any petrol, and for this they need to cut on the most creeping factor of diesels engines -> "compression pumping loses"... else this is the trend.

I only see one solution -> pre-heat and pre-activate the fuel before injection (more reactive fuel, good to retard/ late injection/ignition -> less compression loses), like running a permanent glow-plug outside of engine ( could have the heat factor from exhaust or liquid cooling, but doubt Bosh will play ball)... else drop off, because makes little marketing sense running an engine on a wheel-chair lol

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014...502-vwusa.html

... could be very counter-productive for that link trend ( wise USA, but motorsports is a marketing battle also, it can change, ppl not yet that pro-active/informed)

[hcl123]

BTW, what the heck happened... only now toke a look at it, it was supposed to be the 6h of Spa, but the race is stooped on 3 hours...

Rain !?

[tux]

Originally Posted by hcl123

BTW, what the heck happened... only now toke a look at it, it was supposed to be the 6h of Spa, but the race is stooped on 3 hours...

Rain !?

Snowing.

[kaivo]

[MoMedic9019]

When watching this race, and Silverstone...it's become quite apparent that WEC is to me what ALMS was, and TUSC is now what GrandAm was...

By that, the WEC is making TUSC look like crap.

Really enjoying this race, LeMans is going to be amazing.

[nasdriv87]

edit... i'm dreaming here. lol

[Maelochs]

Maybe Lapierre can afford to run a little slow and stretch his fuel to finish without a splash?

[carbon_titanium]

unlikely, only a full caution will prevent #8 (and other cars) to make the last splash and go

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

When watching this race, and Silverstone...it's become quite apparent that WEC is to me what ALMS was, and TUSC is now what GrandAm was...

By that, the WEC is making TUSC look like crap.

Really enjoying this race, LeMans is going to be amazing.

I support both series but when the WEC is going on TUSC does feel a bit irrelevant. But that's a whole can of worms that doesn't need to be opened.

Will still watch and hope for a good race tomorrow.

[tux]

Porsche and Ferrari are doing some witchcraft to run with that pace whilst going soooo much longer on fuel than Aston. Seems like the BOP adjustment needs to be in tank size rather than weight/ ride height.

#92 Porsche went into the garage to refill hydraulic fluid.

[Dani Filth]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Maybe Lapierre can afford to run a little slow and stretch his fuel to finish without a splash?

2.01.8 first flying lap .. doesn't look like saving fuel to me

[GT6]

1 hour to go and still action in all 4 classes

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by nasdriv87

how could it be?!?!?

Audi full tank is quicker than toyota?!?!?

Wait...how could LeMans be great? This is a bizarre statement.

[Simmi]

Wurz tweeted that he was having brake balance issues on his double stint. Caused front locking which was why it seemed a bit erratic at times.

Let's see whether the #7 can cling onto a podium.

[Maelochs]

If Lapierre can hold a minute lead he can easily pit and keep the lead—I guess that is their strategy.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I support both series but when the WEC is going on TUSC does feel a bit irrelevant. But that's a whole can of worms that doesn't need to be opened.

Will still watch and hope for a good race tomorrow.

Not trying to open it up, it's just how I feel to be honest. I didn't think it would be that way either.

Not to carry on...this is going to get really fun here at the end.

One more point, the Rebellion is a bit embarrassing. I know that they have a LONG way to go, but, it seems like they'd be better off in P2 if i'm honest.

[Dani Filth]

no they're not .. it's they're first race with a car finished last week or something.
it's not porsche that has been testing it for a year now

[hcl123]

Originally Posted by tux

Snowing.

On May in Belgium ? ... this is crazy!.. the "gods" want to say something lol

[BudLightJaguar]

Toni Vilander's teammate G. Bruni leading in GTE Pro. Go go!!

[Dani Filth]

i'd actually call Vilander gimmi's teammate

[airbusA346]

Come on Pilet!!!

[hcl123]

Bizarre indeed... can't tell the face from the tail lol

does the #2 have to do a stop & splash or the prognostic is to the end ?

Nevermind is answered

[fieldodreams79]

Good scrap in GT!