[WEC Race] WEC 2015 Round 2: Spa

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

If the race is wet then I don't expect Audi to do well at all. High downforce spec cars will be the way to go.

But that'd only knock down 66% of the Audi fleet

[chernaudi]

Race day is expected to be dry.

Problem is that unless FP3 is mostly dry or it dries up in FP2 (not likely), we won't know who really has what.

[Deleted]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118721
- No Nakajima for rest of the weekend
- Toyta #8 back tomorrow with spare monocoque
- Audi hopes to have #8 fixed to have a go for FP2

Initially it was said that Toyota only had bodywork damage and Audi the worse case, but the parts seemed to have switched around

As for the weather, I only just hope Q is dry to have some comparisons.

[chernaudi]

When you look at the photos, it's pretty clear that the Toyota's front end was pretty much destroyed, though for there to be tub damage is a bit of a wonder, since nothing on the front end aside from bodywork and the nose box were deranged or damaged.

[chernaudi]

Is anyone going to do any serious running this session? I know that laps are laps and info is info, but with Saturday looking dry, most of what is gained probably won't be that useful.

This is especially true if Audi are hoping to do a serious comparison between the LM and sprint packages.

[Simmi]

Gutted about Nakajima. Apparently no serious injuries but he'll still miss the race. To my untrained eye the Toyota didn't look that bad? Seen them drag worse back to the pits and Le Mans and repair. Obviously the chassis damage makes that irrelevant.

Not ideal for them given they damaged one monocoque in testing the other week.

[Victor_RO]

Didn't look quite that bad, but bringing the spare tub into action must mean that suspension mounting points were damaged enough not to be repairable on-site.

[chernaudi]

I'm betting now aside from the #8 Audi's installation laps if they get it out for FP2, no LMP1s will do any serious running the rest of the session.

Unfortunately, that means that we learn nothing, especially as far as how the Audi LM vs sprint package comparison bears out.

But of course with the heavy rain, keeping the car in one piece is more important than pressing on in conditions that won't likely have any relevance for the race, or possibly even tomorrow.

[Akrapovic]

12 minutes to go, #8 hasn't left the pits. Will they even get a shakedown run in?

[chernaudi]

I doubt it with a couple of minutes left--I think that Audi said screw it because of the rain. Even then, Lotterer went back out for the last 5 minutes or so.

[Maelochs]

I am surprised any P1 team did any running. What can they gain running 2:30 laps? maybe a few to get a rain set-up just in case, but at some point risk outweighs reward.

Saturday might come down to which team guesses best on set-up.

[Gingers4Justice]

Gutted for Kaz, that effectively rules him out of winning the drivers' championship.

[TF110]

Nakajimas crash had to do with the extreme spray from an lmp2 car. He didnt even see the Audi. Not sure if the Audi was running slowly.

[J Jay]

Well that was a waste of a day for all involved. Glad to hear that Nakajima & Jarvis are fine even if the former has to miss the race as a precautionary measure.

Does anyone know how many spare tubs TMG has after this accident? Will they need to cook up another (as backup) for Le Mans?

[TF110]

They ran an old tub to its breaking point in testing, but that was due for replacement anyway. So I would guess the new one is actually a new one used as a spare here. That may be the last one made and possibly one or two more are being produced?

[chernaudi]

Yep, today was a waste pretty much. It's not like running sub 2:20 lap times was going to teach anyone about anything unless it rains on Saturday, which is looking a lot less likely than it was earlier this week.

Hopefully FP3 or Qualifying can find a dry slot, because otherwise, everyone will be headed into the race a bit blind, even Toyota, due to the changes that they made in the off-season (revised bodywork and the addition of FRIC).

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by TF110

They ran an old tub to its breaking point in testing, but that was due for replacement anyway. So I would guess the new one is actually a new one used as a spare here. That may be the last one made and possibly one or two more are being produced?

I'd be surprised if they will have two new tubs for Le Mans unless one is more or less finished already. Regardless, outside of more big accidents Toyota won't be in any sort of tub crisis.

[airbusA346]

Nakajima has suffered a fractured vertebra (DSC).

[PascaLM]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

Nakajima has suffered a fractured vertebra (DSC).

Aïe. Not sure that he will be at Le Mans.

[TF110]

If not, looks like Kobayashi will have to step in!

[J Jay]

Similar fractures to Davidson, huh? Even if it's "just" one it's not a quick heal and Le Mans is less than two months away. I hope he makes it but I doubt he will.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by TF110

They ran an old tub to its breaking point in testing, but that was due for replacement anyway. So I would guess the new one is actually a new one used as a spare here. That may be the last one made and possibly one or two more are being produced?

In the Trussers DSC piece he said the new tubs for Le Mans will be debuted at the mid-May Spa test. So I guess Toyota have more tubs than we give them credit for.

[justracing]

Does anyone on here subscribe to the official WEC stream? If so what's the feedback, much as I enjoyed the Silverstone opener I don't think I can survive another 6 hours of Motors tv picture quality. I'm just wandering if it's worth the 30 euros for the season as I know I can't make LM this year.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by justracing

I'm just wandering if it's worth the 30 euros for the season as I know I can't make LM this year.

Others will be able to vouch for the quality of the stream but the 30 euros won't get you Le Mans coverage as the rights belong to Eurosport in Europe.

[kvenom]

Jeez, that's awful for Nakajima. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.