WEC round 8: Six Hours of Bahrain---WEC season finale.

[Artur]

As expected, very slow lap times. Only Audi massively improved(4s) but that might be more related to it's 2014 poor qualifying pace at Bahrain. Porsche improved only 2s, Toyota 0.5s, Rebellion barely anything at all, CLM over 2s

On LMP2, Ligier is lapped around 0.5s today compared to last year.

We can't say the track is under bad weather(dust, wind and etc) this weekend as GP2's pole was on par with it's previous 2 ones at Bahrain.

In the beginning of the week I was expecting mid 1.37s from Porsche based on the Fuji's and Shanghai's improvements. This is very strange

Originally Posted by cokata

Toyota was as slow as last year, proving that for whatever reason the track is very low grip.

GP2 pole this weekend is just 0.5s slower than the GP2 pole done on the first Bahrain GP earlier this year.

[Victor_RO]

The track is rubbering in from both Pirelli and Michelin tires, and each tire produces grip in somewhat different ways. It's a black art (yes, I did just say that), and if a tire produces grip through some kind of chemical interactions, and the track has rubbered in with a tire compound that does not work this way, the chemical reactions that increase grip might not operate as efficiently, and therefore the tires simply do not have the same grip. I reckon that the Pirelli/Michelin mix is exactly this case, and that's why the times are not as fast as we've expected.

[TF110]

Looks like the Pirelli/Michelin mix is not such a good combo. As for lap times next year, its -10mj at LM, so thatd be -5mj or something at a place like Bahrain. It shouldnt affect it that much if these guys improve again next year. I think the lap times will be neutral.

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Artur

On another note, what the best way to contact Hindy?

https://twitter.com/specutainment

[Adam43]

And offer him a ride in an Audi

[TF110]

#71 ferrari to the back of the grid, #47 kcmg demoted to third

[manthey]

referring to this video about michelin tyres, at point 1:08
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYfFtGvqxQ

what about the soft high temperatures press? a unique pressure for that kind of tyres?thanks

[J Jay]

Good grid interview with Alex Wurz just now on the official stream/Motors TV. He looks content with his decision.

[GT-Eins]

Somebody got a live-stream?

[Artur]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

The track is rubbering in from both Pirelli and Michelin tires, and each tire produces grip in somewhat different ways. It's a black art (yes, I did just say that), and if a tire produces grip through some kind of chemical interactions, and the track has rubbered in with a tire compound that does not work this way, the chemical reactions that increase grip might not operate as efficiently, and therefore the tires simply do not have the same grip. I reckon that the Pirelli/Michelin mix is exactly this case, and that's why the times are not as fast as we've expected.

Nice hypothesis. Michelin's WEC tires are MUCH more durable than the Pirelli's F1-circus ones. They might reach even higher grip levels, despite the hardness of the compounds, through more adhesion(which happens with the interaction between the laid rubber&tarmac and tire's contact patch), while Pirelli much softer tires likely relies more on hysteresis to generate grip.

And this might really be the case because the lateral acceleration values of the WEC Michelins, on low speed corners, are the same(or slightly higher) as the Pirelli F1 ones despite the Michelins being far more durable.

3 and half hours between the GP2 race end and the start of WEC, I hope they have cleaned the track up or else it will ruin the racing quite a bit.

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

https://twitter.com/specutainment

thanks!

[Ephaeton]

edit: nm, came to the conclusion you must've meant there were three and a half hours between the GP2 race and and the start of the WEC

[tux]

OMG so much Pirelli tyres on the track.....

Astons getting mugged down the straights. fun times.

[vlad1977]

No free live stream???

[Pandemonium]

Could be an awesome GT race

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by vlad1977

No free live stream???

Check the WEC subreddit. Failing that VIP League should have a stream from Motors TV.

Di Grassi is really going for it, and so are the Astons and Ferraris!

[Artur]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

edit: nm, came to the conclusion you must've meant there were three and a half hours between the GP2 race and and the start of the WEC

yes, sorry!

Do you guys think the #18 is holding the Audi on purpose for the #17 to run away or does the Audi have Porsche beaten on pace around here?

[Pontlieue]

Go KCMG! The battle for the predictions competition title could come down to KCMG vs. G-Drive.

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by Artur

Do you guys think the #18 is holding the Audi on purpose for the #17 to run away or does the Audi have Porsche beaten on pace around here?

I think #8 took #18 on pace, and remains in front of it on pace.
There's no good reason for #18 not to overtake #8 again if its job is to hold up the Audis.
Bad for Audi that #8 is quite quicker than #7 though.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

Bad for Audi that #8 is quite quicker than #7 though.

I don't even need to look at who's in the #7 then.

It's Fassler isn't it?

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by J Jay

I don't even need to look at who's in the #7 then.

It's Fassler isn't it?

You don't even need confirmation to know you're right.

[Ephaeton]

#17 in technical trouble, pits, already overtaken by #8 and #7 will pass by quickly as well.

(#17 should be safe as long as they can make fourth in the end though - the #17 crew would be champions)

#17 being pushed into the garage. specutainment specutains it's hybrid. specutainments viewers are specutaining it's gearbox issues (car wouldn't go above 4th gear)

[J Jay]

#17 slow and in the pits. Back into the garage and Di Grassi leads.

[bentley speed 8]

Just turned the stream on and the #17 has trouble!

[ederss7]

Underrated Fassler... IMO he is better than Di Grassi, Jarvis and Treluyer.

[bobec]

Throttle linkage seems to be the problem with the #17