[WEC Race] Bahrain 6 Hours 2012

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by Salamus

Fantastic news that Audi are bringing two e-trons...I guess Toyota have made a very good impression with their hybrid.

BTW any news from Luxury and when/if they are returning this season?

I haven't read anything about Luxury returning and Gunnar Jeanette doesn't believe he'll be with them again this year, so I'll say they're finished. I wonder how much they'll have to pay the FIA/ACO in fines for being no-shows in the last two and probably the last five WEC races?

[Purist]

Last I checked, the outline of the track on the WEC site was the Endurance Circuit (the long course F1 used in 2010).

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Salamus

Fantastic news that Audi are bringing two e-trons...I guess Toyota have made a very good impression with their hybrid.

I wouldnt be surprised if McNish and TK have been applying some pressure as it is clear the E tron is the better package and they are still fighting for the championship.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

#51 Ferrari down to Fisichella/Vilander due to clashing commitments in GT Open for Bruni.

So GT Open is more important then WEC? Wtf.....

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Purist

Last I checked, the outline of the track on the WEC site was the Endurance Circuit (the long course F1 used in 2010).

But here it shows the shorter course-
http://private.fia.com/web/fia-publi...df?Openelement

[airbusA346]

They are using the F1 layout (as shown in the PDF, linked in the above post).

[GT3.14]

Originally Posted by rich07

So GT Open is more important then WEC? Wtf.....

Probably due to some contract technicality. He and his team mate are leading the championship by 1 point as well.

[Purist]

F1 has generally not been so keen on other significant championships running the same track layouts as they use. If other options are available, sometimes the other series move to an entirely different venue. It will be interesting to see what pans out for Bahrain and Shanghai, maybe not this year, but in coming seasons.

List of some examples:
1. GT1 ran the F1 layout at Abu Dhabi in 2010, but the V8 Supercars layout in 2011.
2. GT1 was at Nurburgring in 2010 (F1 at Hockenheim), and Sachsenring in 2011.
3. V8 Supercars ran a shorter layout at Shanghai from the outset.
4. V8 Supercars ran a shorter layout at Abu Dhabi from the outset.
5. V8 Supercars ran a short layout at Bahrain through 2009, and the GP circuit in 2010 when F1 used the Endurance Circuit.
6. V8 Supercars aren't allowed to use Albert Park as a championship round.
7. Bernie did not want Charlie Whiting to approve the IndyCar street circuit in Sao Paulo, much less have IndyCar at Interlagos.
8. A1GP ran the GP layout at Shanghai its first season, and was subsequently moved to a shorter layout.
9. A1GP eventually moved to Zhuhai and then Goldenport Chengdu.

I realize this doesn't always happen, and that other factors come into play, but there is NO denying that Bernie DEMANDS quite a lot of control over his realm.

[courageous]

This is stunning if true (Radio le mans reporting it, so no reason to think it isn't)

Audi are not taking a new Quatro to Bahrain - they are converting the Old boy's Ultra to Hybrid spec on the job

[Ziemas]

Originally Posted by courageous

This is stunning if true (Radio le mans reporting it, so no reason to think it isn't)

Audi are not taking a new Quatro to Bahrain - they are converting the Old boy's Ultra to Hybrid spec on the job

Wasn't one of the main things about the Ultra that it was exactly the same as the E-Tron sans the hybrid system? Surely they just remove the extra ballast and mount the hybrid system.

[arakis]

probably 'cause the ultra has the latest updates already installed, anf the other e-tron was mothballed after Le Mans

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by courageous

This is stunning if true (Radio le mans reporting it, so no reason to think it isn't)

Audi are not taking a new Quatro to Bahrain - they are converting the Old boy's Ultra to Hybrid spec on the job

Not really that big a deal. The Ultra is an e-tron without the e-tron bits installed, or vice versa. Probably easier than shipping a different chassis out, if there even is a ready built e-tron available at the moment. It would be interesting to know which chassis have been used in the WEC after Le Mans. If the LM winning chassis 208H isn't used anymore, as has been customary in recent years, maybe the WEC #1 is actually the #2 car from LM?

[HJJ]

I haven't heard good things about the FIA and telling teams about the danger/threats in the area about this race. But then again it's the FIA.......

[gsmith2424]

Originally Posted by HJJ

I haven't heard good things about the FIA and telling teams about the danger/threats in the area about this race. But then again it's the FIA.......

The company I work for is working on a major project near the US Naval docks there and from what we have been told by some of the people I know there nothing really major is really going on to put anyone in major danger. The biggest thing we hear about is just mainly holigans out on Friday nights but other than that nothing.

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by HJJ

I haven't heard good things about the FIA and telling teams about the danger/threats in the area about this race. But then again it's the FIA.......

Our team has not received any special warnings from the FIA, other than the general request to act with respect when in a foreign country and that has been part of the media briefing notes for as long as we have had them.

This is what the Foreign & Commonwealth Office have to say

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by Purist

F1 has generally not been so keen on other significant championships running the same track layouts as they use. If other options are available, sometimes the other series move to an entirely different venue. It will be interesting to see what pans out for Bahrain and Shanghai, maybe not this year, but in coming seasons.

List of some examples:
1. GT1 ran the F1 layout at Abu Dhabi in 2010, but the V8 Supercars layout in 2011.
2. GT1 was at Nurburgring in 2010 (F1 at Hockenheim), and Sachsenring in 2011.
3. V8 Supercars ran a shorter layout at Shanghai from the outset.
4. V8 Supercars ran a shorter layout at Abu Dhabi from the outset.
5. V8 Supercars ran a short layout at Bahrain through 2009, and the GP circuit in 2010 when F1 used the Endurance Circuit.
6. V8 Supercars aren't allowed to use Albert Park as a championship round.
7. Bernie did not want Charlie Whiting to approve the IndyCar street circuit in Sao Paulo, much less have IndyCar at Interlagos.
8. A1GP ran the GP layout at Shanghai its first season, and was subsequently moved to a shorter layout.
9. A1GP eventually moved to Zhuhai and then Goldenport Chengdu.

I realize this doesn't always happen, and that other factors come into play, but there is NO denying that Bernie DEMANDS quite a lot of control over his realm.

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me (I'm not saying you are wrong), it just doesn't make much sense. Why would F1 care what layout other series use? F1 cars are the fastest cars in the world in terms of lap times on a roadcourse, so its not like they have anything to be embarrassed about or that they are going to get shown up.

But if this true, then hopefully WEC can bypass a few of those unnecessary chicanes at Fuji.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Which version of the track are they using? The smaller layout, or the longer one where Tilke sneezed on the drawing board?

He's sneezed more than once on his drawing board. Genius.

The endurance layout, I'm pretty sure.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Beetle

The endurance layout, I'm pretty sure.

The FIA have defined the energy usage zones for the hybrid LMP1s according to the GP layout and NOT the endurance layout. So they will be using the GP layout.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by DeathOrGlory

Anyone saw the teaser for it?

"See you there," Wurz said.

I wonder if it will draw a crowd.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtm...r-bahrain_auto

Cool teaser otherwise, but it is really ironic.

Originally Posted by kober

So, is the race at 16:00 local time? That'd be 09:00 EST - perfect

Times at fiawec.com are always local time. (They should really add "convert to my time" function to the website. Best way to not get people to watch the race is not to tell them when it's going to be on...)

I made a counter because once again this will probably asked many times, especially on Saturday...

=> http://timeanddate.com/countdown/gen...urs+of+Bahrain

Originally Posted by cbbrit

I haven't read anything about Luxury returning and Gunnar Jeanette doesn't believe he'll be with them again this year, so I'll say they're finished. I wonder how much they'll have to pay the FIA/ACO in fines for being no-shows in the last two and probably the last five WEC races?

"...may be fined €30,000 for each Event missed, except in special circumstances left to the discretion of the Panel of Stewards."

Calculate from that.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by deggis

Times at fiawec.com are always local time. (They should really add "convert to my time" function to the website. Best way to not get people to watch the race is not to tell them when it's going to be on...)

They do have a 'convert to your time' on the site! I used it for the race in Brazil.

[deggis]

I also thought so... but I can't see it now. Edit: didn't think it first, but it might not be showing to me because I am in the same timezone than Bahrain.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by deggis

"...may be fined €30,000 for each Event missed, except in special circumstances left to the discretion of the Panel of Stewards."

Calculate from that.

Well if they genuinely cant afford to make the rest of the season then whats the point of slugging them with a six figure fine then? Doesnt make much sense to me but then again thats the FIA for you..

[TF110]

It updated when the race was closer. I remember wondering about the times, then before practice it allowed you to covert.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by rich07

Well if they genuinely cant afford to make the rest of the season then whats the point of slugging them with a six figure fine then? Doesnt make much sense to me but then again thats the FIA for you..

No, that's the ACO for you. ILMC supplementary regs (2011) has exactly same rule and fine, just worded a bit differently.

I wonder if Toyota had to pay the fines? (Not suggesting "corruption" but that did this rule actually affect them...)

[rich07]

Originally Posted by deggis

No, that's the ACO for you. ILMC supplementary regs (2011) has exactly same rule and fine, just worded a bit differently.

I wonder if Toyota had to pay the fines? (Not suggesting "corruption" but that did this rule actually affect them...)

I think they have conveniently forgotten about Toyota, it makes a difference when you are a giant manufacturer bringing a factory team into the championship as opposed to a privateer GT team-if you know what I mean.