[ELMS] ELMS Discussion

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Huge crash for #60, thankfully Schiavoni walks away.

Looks like Frey went into the back of him at pit exit.

Edit - Frey moved too late. That's a big error, we're lucky no other cars were taken out.

Bet there has been some interesting conversations in the Proton/Iron Lynx/Iron Dames pits after that.

[v8supes]

A curious incident, later on in the stint she also ran into the back of the Casper Stevenson Aston Martin as it was slowing for the FCY, admittedly im not sure that was entirely her fault.

Was announced at the time that the investigation into the incident was going to happen after the race but as of 8pm Italian time there is no update as to potential penalties. Should it be penalised? I personally dont know, some people say the Schiavoni car may have lifted or had a technical problem. Others, myself included say that Frey just misjudged the move when she pulled out, sure its not good but it does happen, we have seen it plenty of times over the years.

[Adam43]

I didn’t see it, but there has been a decision.

I presume this one:

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I didn’t see it, but there has been a decision.

I presume this one:

I don't believe that's the main incident. That's a smaller one later on.

[J Jay]

Yeah, that one was when all the cars were slowing down for the FCY for #17.

As for the Schiavoni incident, it's a small judgement error with huge consequences. It will happen again to other drivers, and I hope that each time it does, it is judged fairly and accurately.

[v8supes]

30 second post race penalty for the Iron Dames for the incident with #60 Porsche

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I don't believe that's the main incident. That's a smaller one later on.

Ah sorry, I thought it was the Stevenson that was being queried.

Originally Posted by v8supes

30 second post race penalty for the Iron Dames for the incident with #60 Porsche

Yeah.

[airbusA346]

ELMS returns to the UK in 2025!!

- Prologue - 31 March - 1 April
- 4H Barcelona - 6 April
- 4H Le Castellet - 4 May
- 4H Imola - 6 July
- 4H Spa - 24 August
- 4H Silverstone - 14 September
- 4H Portimao - 18 October

[rdjones]

Fantastic News, hopefully this is stepping stone to WEC coming back

[joeb]

This is really a good schedule. 6 tracks in 6 different countries is a good mix.

[Mike E]

Fantastic news. And it's the full package with Le Mans Cup and Ligier series.

[Akrapovic]

Amazing news. See you all there?

[chernaudi]

IMO, maybe bringing the ELMS back to Silverstone might be a toe in water exercise for going back to Silverstone with the WEC in 2027 or so. The ELMS race could maybe gauge if there's enough interest from fans to look into a WEC return in the future. We do have to remember that the ACO axed Silverstone mostly due to stagnant attendance, poor marketing and support from the BRDC, and the last race there (2019) not being well received by fans or teams due to it's short length (though that probably owed a lot to issues that the ACO had with the BRDC over the last few races in terms of promotion and attendance).


But just as The Racing Line article says, just because the ACO and Peter Auto are sending the ELMS back to Silverstone, doesn't mean that the ACO and the FIA are willing (at least yet) to do the same with the WEC. If the ELMS races are successful and the teams and other stakeholders are for it, we might see Silverstone back on the WEC schedule within the next year or two. But it's not a guarantee at this stage. And for sure, before 2027 the only way we might see Silverstone getting a WEC round (or possibly even after that) is if a current track pulls their date away from the WEC or the ACO axes a current venue and want to keep an 8 race calendar.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

We do have to remember that the ACO axed Silverstone mostly due to stagnant attendance, poor marketing and support from the BRDC, and the last race there (2019) not being well received by fans or teams due to it's short length (though that probably owed a lot to issues that the ACO had with the BRDC over the last few races in terms of promotion and attendance).

The WEC was also extremely stagnant back in 2019 which didn't help.

[flatlandsman]

This is true, but I think other tracks handled it better, plus this coincided with the popularity of F1 starting to boom to massive levels.

ELMS is a great shout, of Pringle has got ANY sense (And when it comes to money he has) he must realise that WEC is huge right now, and he is likely looking to replace MotoGP as that has been seeing dropping numbers for a few years, despite them making efforts to attract fans back. My only hope is that ELMS is sensibly priced, it should be no more than a BTCC day, preferably cheaper SPA was free a few years ago!! No concerns about that happening obviously.

ELMS though is nothing like WEC in terms of popularity and is NO gauge on how big that could be here.

[NaBUru38]

I seriously doubt that the ELMS will draw big crowds at Silverstone. They have F1, MotoGP, BTCC and the Classic.

[Alfaholic]

Good news. I know where I'll be on the 13th & 14th September next year.

[v8supes]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

IMO, maybe bringing the ELMS back to Silverstone might be a toe in water exercise for going back to Silverstone with the WEC in 2027 or so. The ELMS race could maybe gauge if there's enough interest from fans to look into a WEC return in the future. We do have to remember that the ACO axed Silverstone mostly due to stagnant attendance, poor marketing and support from the BRDC, and the last race there (2019) not being well received by fans or teams due to it's short length (though that probably owed a lot to issues that the ACO had with the BRDC over the last few races in terms of promotion and attendance).


But just as The Racing Line article says, just because the ACO and Peter Auto are sending the ELMS back to Silverstone, doesn't mean that the ACO and the FIA are willing (at least yet) to do the same with the WEC. If the ELMS races are successful and the teams and other stakeholders are for it, we might see Silverstone back on the WEC schedule within the next year or two. But it's not a guarantee at this stage. And for sure, before 2027 the only way we might see Silverstone getting a WEC round (or possibly even after that) is if a current track pulls their date away from the WEC or the ACO axes a current venue and want to keep an 8 race calendar.

What role has Peter Auto got in this? I hope this is true, then they might bring the Endurance Racing Legends grid onto the support package but their calendar for next year doesn't list a UK round.

Either way this is fantastic news, i cannot wait.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Amazing news. See you all there?

Work knocks me out of any September dates unfortunately, but I get what you mean.


Let's hope the olive branch leads to something purposeful.

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by v8supes

What role has Peter Auto got in this? I hope this is true, then they might bring the Endurance Racing Legends grid onto the support package but their calendar for next year doesn't list a UK round.

Either way this is fantastic news, i cannot wait.

I thought that Patrick Peter still had a role with the ELMS and the LMES body? I know he at least used to be an ACO big wig.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by rdjones

Fantastic News, hopefully this is stepping stone to WEC coming back

Hoping for exactly the same thing. Been too long. Although now I'm just happy one major sportscar series is coming back to Britain

[NaBUru38]

The WEC and ELMS are promoted by Le Mans Endurance Management, which I understand is no longer related with Patrick Peter since late 2012.

[J Jay]

Decent race at Portimao - mired by VSC/SC, but every series this year has had issued with driver standards. Good day to be Cool Racing though - 1st & 3rd overall, 1st in LMP3.

LMP2 Pro-Am & LMGT3 titles decided on the last lap; not as dramatically as the commentary tried to make it, but it was still a question in LMP2 P-A (realistically, Lynx/Dames were always going to swap when Kessel got to 5th).

[S griffin]

Caught the live feed. Decent action, nothing major. But good circuit to race on

[FIRE]

I enjoyed the season.