[WEC] BoP. Brilliant or Pants.

[Adam43]

A bit of context by looking over the whole year.

Potentially ACO have reacted to no Isotta Franschini and allowed everyone to be lower. This also means that Toyota isn't as high as Qatar (when Peugeot was the one setting the floor). That could be good for them and tyre management as it won't be as bad. Toyota are not that different to where they have been previously in the season.

As more data comes in the ACO gets more confident that the Peugeot is actually pants.

Porsche continue their upwards trend as their performance gets more concrete.

Lamborghini gets a break - are the weight limit concerns gone now? It's been half a season since they were raised.

Power is pretty flat for most, except Toyota and Ferrari. Let's hope the >250 for Ferrari is also lower otherwise the world will end.

Weight changes and a bit of power influence power to weight this time. Bit of both for some, some offset a little. With Toyota and Ferrari getting a big smack from the power. Although the power to weight drop for them is similar to last race, but there others didn't gain.

Biggish (relative) movements compared to what we've seen generally this year. Although not massive in the grand scheme of things.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Lamborghini gets a break - are the weight limit concerns gone now? It's been half a season since they were raised.

During the Sao Paulo race there was an interview with Kvyat and he said that "car needs some good upgrades" so I guess it's not fixed yet.

[TF110]

Thinking Caddy will do better at COTA than recent form. Sao Paulo was a one-off imo and things will be closer in Texas. I can't see a clear winner from this latest bop.

[Steve McQ]

Originally Posted by tomcug

During the Sao Paulo race there was an interview with Kvyat and he said that "car needs some good upgrades" so I guess it's not fixed yet.

Absolutely, since you have to homologate any evolution as a "joker" from the FIA, surely the Lamborghini weight issue won't be addressed until 2025 at the earliest. FIA can give it any BoP break, it is useless in those conditions.

[Adam43]

It depends on the change and we don’t know if any jokers have been played.

I agree they probably haven’t. Although maybe they have drilled a few holes…

[flatlandsman]

Would I rely on Kvyat for an opinion,? Not really he has no real experience in WEC and is there as a token F1 talent, he has done well, but a but like Grosjean I see no reason to employ them, the best new guys are the ones from GT with Porsche and Ferrari and a few others pushing that talent forward, the Lambo is doing OK, it is so far more reliable than BMW, easier to drive, not far off Alpine and the slower Porsches, maybe not as fast overall as Cadillac, that isn't bad. Has he set the world alight? I dont know really.

[Adam43]

Here is the Power > 250 kph. Note I am showing this rather than power to weight as at these speeds the wind resistance is more important in acting 'against' the power than weight.

Something that are inferred, so not maybe not facts.

It is very interesting to see the dynamics of what is at play with the Toyota. Low speed performance is obviously good for it as they are offsetting with weight and (removing) power. However they reaslise the (lower) power is killing it at higher speeds so are giving it back and more!

Lamborghini already have the "maximum' power so they don't get any more. The French cars seem to be viewed as quite slippery.

[Articus]

That's a big power cut for Alpine above 250km/h. It is surprising compared to competition like Ferrari.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Articus

That's a big power cut for Alpine above 250km/h. It is surprising compared to competition like Ferrari.

It might not be that surprising.

We don't have great data from Sao Paulo - as we discussed a lot in that race. It is all over the place.

However, from Le Mans we do have quite a bit from practice. Their race was truncated so they didn't get the chance to bring their average up.

Here are the speed trap spreads from practice:

[Articus]

This might be the best BOP table yet.

[Adam43]

It's mad close, but still with interesting differences in the way the cars achieve it.

[Gerard C]

Its the result of a simple equation: EoT + BoP= LoL. And multiple and permanent adjustments. Good job.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by Articus

This might be the best BOP table yet.

It looks like it in the race.

[Articus]

I have no complaints about COTA. So what are we going to do for the next couple of weeks?

[Adam43]

Moan about how they've got it wrong?

[tomcug]

https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...-encore-allege
EI publishing almost every new BOP before the ACO seems to be a new norm.

[Adam43]

Presumably a team provides it to them or they get an advanced copy direct from ACO.

So Peugeot is lighter. The more data the ACO get the more they realize the Peugeot is pants. I presume Toyota is slowed by weight? Not would make sense as they nailed the twisty bits in COTA. Downside could be the impact on tyre management.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...-encore-allege
EI publishing almost every new BOP before the ACO seems to be a new norm.

Figured this would be out today. Thanks.

[tomcug]

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...fuji/10653000/
These guys have EI subscription it seems

[Matador]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...fuji/10653000/
These guys have EI subscription it seems

LOL Just found that link as well, and how timely as I'm just finding out that my EI sub expired this month


Anyway, 5kg hit and a 4kw reduction doesn't seem unreasonable compared to most of the field, but I have to take issue with Ferrari not being shown the same level of adjustment (as always) as their car was demonstrably as fast at COTA. Porsche's BoP is very similar to what it was last year, and with the gains they've found, the battle at the front should be quite entertaining if Porsche doesn't run away with it (the power gain to the GR010 is a lot though (5.4% ?) if I interpreted that correctly).


I'm curious though, obviously BoP weight gains affect tyre management. If your tyre allocation is set way before the event, how do teams know what to expect for tyre wear?

[TF110]

This isn't a huge swing but Toyota hasn't been this heavy since the beginning of the season. Peugeot gets more breaks but will it mean anything? Porsche gets a little better with Alpine, Cadillac and BMW.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by Matador

I have to take issue with Ferrari not being shown the same level of adjustment (as always) as their car was demonstrably as fast at COTA

Different track, different data, especially since last year's race data is available. This isn't supposed to be success ballast

[Articus]

Originally Posted by tomcug

Different track, different data, especially since last year's race data is available. This isn't supposed to be success ballast

+1

Sidenote: I'm convinced that I saw the FUJI BOP days ago?


Also considering that driver weights and fuel loads can vary across the field by up to 15 kg, a 4-5kg BOP adjustment doesn't do much to change the cars around. It would more likely still be decided by which cars suit each circuit. I would expect Porsche and Toyota to be strong. Perhaps another surprise from Alpine.


Something has been off to me all season with the Cadillacs. On the paper the Cadillac should dominate. 520kw and 1036kg for Fuji. This is more or less the limits of the BOP table. If the Porsche were to run these specifications, they would dominate. They are all LMDH cars. In IMSA, the Porsche has middle of the pack BOP but in WEC the Porsche has the most weight and least power amongst the LMDH cars by a reasonable margin. They are at least 10kg heavier than any other LMDH car and also have the lowest power for any LMDH car.

[flatlandsman]

I think the Ferrari just uses that chassis a lot better, the Caddy seems to switch between pace and slow routinely and they seem to struggle with tyres more than others. *I recall earlier they would run real slow initially then have spurts late on while trying to save more tyres, this leaves you so far behind.

Toyota have clearly made a car that is very light on its tyres, it can use mediums when most can not oir can not make them last as long, this to me is their speed, oddly the only place it did not work amazingly was LM!!

ACO will never penalise Ferrari as much it just is not in their plan to.

[Articus]

I suspect that the ACO will have to make a massive correction to the Cadillac BOP next year after Jota shows them how poor the Ganassi team was.