IMSA IMSA : 2019

[TheMightyM]

The latest on the future of the Belle Isle race from the Detroit Metro Times: “Why environmentalist are calling for a study of Belle Isle Grand Prix.” The first two paragraphs:

Like all large parks, Belle Isle is a place for many things, and different bits of programming and infrastructure express competing visions for what the park is and what it should be. The ongoing debate over the presence of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix auto race on the island is a prime example of such conflicts, pitting racing enthusiasts against those who believe a park should provide a reprieve from the noisy world of the city.

For hundreds of thousands of migrating and nesting birds, the island park is something more vital still — a lynchpin in their struggle for survival. The island sanctuary is an important habitat in the midst of miles of concrete and attracts a number of birds, including shorebirds, waterfowl, owls, woodpeckers and songbirds. These birds either visit during their migrations — the Detroit River is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Atlantic flyways — or raise their young here during the summer, taking advantage of the island's varied ecologies.

[MaskedRacer]

I wonder if the end of the year Sebring endure will attract teams? Maybe because of the inclusion of Michelin tires for the 2019 season? There will be competition now from the Laguna 8 (SRO/ICGT) and COTA 24 (Creventic) for entries. I think the classes eligible are GTD, LMP3, GS, and TCR?

[Coach Ep]

Too far out to tell.

[Damian Baldi]

Lexus looking to jump into DPi with Andretti?

What's next? Ganassi with Ford?

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/le...eld-of-vision/

[Coach Ep]

I feel a lot - if not all - depends on the new 'possible global prototype' regs. We'll see.

[Damian Baldi]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

I feel a lot - if not all - depends on the new 'possible global prototype' regs. We'll see.

I think the Lexus GT is not working. If they have to redone the car, why not to do a DPi instead.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Damian Baldi

I think the Lexus GT is not working. If they have to redone the car, why not to do a DPi instead.

Agree, lexus gt3 is not a great car afterall.
Anyway, TRD Usa could supervise the whole program.
The lexus engine, judging by mandatory bop relimiter should have torque/power figures similiar to the old DP 5L engines; just enlarge it to 5.5L and basically 60% of job is done.
Buy a pair of dallaras, who already know how to modify their car to fit a 5.5L inside, and just develope some cool lights/nose parts.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Damian Baldi

I think the Lexus GT is not working. If they have to redone the car, why not to do a DPi instead.

Originally Posted by canaglia

Agree, lexus gt3 is not a great car afterall.

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2016/10/...t-nurburgring/

https://www.lexus.com.au/about-lexus...lexus-rc-f-gt3

The second one isn't dated, but it refers to the 2017 season. While the car was going "meh" in IMSA, it was winning races in Europe.

The car is fine. It's the team running it that's the problem.

[Damian Baldi]

Originally Posted by FormulaFox

The second one isn't dated, but it refers to the 2017 season. While the car was going "meh" in IMSA, it was winning races in Europe.

The car is fine. It's the team running it that's the problem.

Maybe the car doesn't work well with the Continental tires.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Damian Baldi

Maybe the car doesn't work well with the Continental tires.

Given who we're dealing with, I'd still suspect the team before the tires.

[Coach Ep]

More fuel for the Lexus Dpi rumor?

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/14713...ted-autosports

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by Damian Baldi

I think the Lexus GT is not working. If they have to redone the car, why not to do a DPi instead.

Lexus GT not working? Watch some International GT Open races on YouTube in 2017. The car is good. I think the 3GT team was incompetent in 2017. It looks like they are much better in 2018. Correct to clean the driver slate except for Hawksworth.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

Lexus GT not working? Watch some International GT Open races on YouTube in 2017. The car is good. I think the 3GT team was incompetent in 2017. It looks like they are much better in 2018. Correct to clean the driver slate except for Hawksworth.

In GT open they ran all pro entries against a mostly pro am grid, so it’s not a huge proof of value on the car

[joeb]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

Lexus GT not working? Watch some International GT Open races on YouTube in 2017. The car is good. I think the 3GT team was incompetent in 2017. It looks like they are much better in 2018. Correct to clean the driver slate except for Hawksworth.

I didn't think the Lexus team was terrible last year. They had a pole didn't they? But you are correct, new drivers can't hurt.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

In GT open they ran all pro entries against a mostly pro am grid, so it’s not a huge proof of value on the car

Yes, it is. It doesn't matter how good a driver is, if the car is junk, they will do nothing.

But put a good car in the hands of a bad team, and it will still look like crap. While I don't hold Paul Gentilozzi in QUITE as low a regard(barely) as many others, the fact of the matter is that he has never been able to run a competent program on this level.

[TheMightyM]

The latest on Belle Isle, per Crain’s Business Detroit.

Organizers of the Detroit Grand Prix are facing a new obstacle to bringing the event back after this year.

The site that landscape designer Piet Oudolf has chosen for the garden he's designing for Belle Isle is located where the grandstands are set up during the Grand Prix.

"If the Grand Prix continued, we obviously wouldn't be able to put a grandstand there any longer," Race Chairman Bud Denker said Thursday.

Note the organizers haven't yet submitted a proposal for 2019, though they promise to make a decision about the race's future by early June, when the race is this year.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

In GT open they ran all pro entries against a mostly pro am grid, so it’s not a huge proof of value on the car

There's going to be 5 of them in Super GT this year iirc. Looks like a good value when that's the most subscribed GT3 car in the series. Last year it came very close to winning the GT300 title in it's first year with the current car. Same thing with the Emil Frey Lexus in GT Open.

I think the team in GTD is lacking something, and the continental tires aren't any help either when it was developed mostly on Michelin's at the Nurburgring

[bentley speed 8]

Agree that the car Lexus was running in Super GT until 2016 was crap, but last year's car was definitely much better.

I have to say that 3GT did look better this time around at Daytona, so let's see how they fare in the next few races.

[MaskedRacer]

As a result of the fuji Alonso debacle. I think a good revenge is to pull the Sebring 1500 mile race from the wec. I think imsa with the Sebring track have the power to do this still?

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

As a result of the fuji Alonso debacle. I think a good revenge is to pull the Sebring 1500 mile race from the wec. I think imsa with the Sebring track have the power to do this still?

I think IMSA is more professional than that. However the ACO/WEC’s Alonso love could undermine the combined event. Sebring is the third Saturday in March. Suppose the F1 schedule also starts that same weekend but Alonso still also want to race in the WEC. Does the WEC then demand that IMSA change the date for Sebring?

Based upon recent events, the answer is almost certainly yes. The answer from IMSA should be to tell the WEC to pound stand — Sebring is a very traditional race held on at a very specific time each year. The WEC then jumps ships, holding an event someplace else at a date that can accommodate Alonso's schedule and blames IMSA in general and Sebring in particular for “forcing” them to move their portion of the event.

[carbsmith]

It won't happen at Sebring because Toyota doesn't own Sebring.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

I think IMSA is more professional than that. However the ACO/WEC’s Alonso love could undermine the combined event. Sebring is the third Saturday in March. Suppose the F1 schedule also starts that same weekend but Alonso still also want to race in the WEC. Does the WEC then demand that IMSA change the date for Sebring?

Based upon recent events, the answer is almost certainly yes. The answer from IMSA should be to tell the WEC to pound stand — Sebring is a very traditional race held on at a very specific time each year. The WEC then jumps ships, holding an event someplace else at a date that can accommodate Alonso's schedule and blames IMSA in general and Sebring in particular for “forcing” them to move their portion of the event.

That I feel is entirely possible and in fact probable knowing the FIA. And they will find out, just like the FIA not having free reign over US based series, no one in the US gives a rip about their demands. I expect this will end the international prototypes if F1 does schedule on the same weekend as Sebring 2019.

[TF110]

I have yet to see the ACO DEMAND IMSA do anything on the dates. They asked for plm to be pushed up so they can have no conflict but that's not demanding. I think this reaction is overblown and it's not going to change anything in the future. Good luck telling them to "pound sand" lol

[Matt]

WEC is just gonna keep shooting themselves in the foot.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

As a result of the fuji Alonso debacle. I think a good revenge is to pull the Sebring 1500 mile race from the wec. I think imsa with the Sebring track have the power to do this still?

That'd be a childish response to a stupid situation that the WEC has created for itself. IMSA should just take the moral high ground and not react.

WEC spent a long time ignoring P1 privateer teams and then had to go running back to them when they needed them. Lessons have not been learnt as again we're shafting the small guys to get a big one in. This will hurt WEC more than IMSA, so all IMSA need to do is shut up and let WEC cause its own problems.