IMSA USCC in 2016 and 2017

[Maelochs]

Even the Rolex has fallen far from its one-time glory, once GA took over, and that was the one race they really pushed as a big thing.

Sebring (sadly) could be about to experience a similar diminution.

Even so, no way Sebring should be anything but 12 hours ... and no reason I can see the cut the Glen from six.

If Tudor really wanted to save money for the teams, the whole NAEC should go, and all races should be two to three hours, eight or nine rounds per season, with scrutineering and practice Saturday, qualifying and racing Sunday.

Hotel rooms and food for the crews are a huge expense, and cutting a day would save a ton of cash. Wear and tear would be reduced, as would tire usage. And after all, who says the Rolex 24 needs to be 24 hours, or that Sebring has to be anything special?

Well ... most of the fans, actually.

I am not saying it's an easy balance to find, but the series needs to balance fan interest with teams' operating costs. I am not saying anyone is right or wrong, but judging from everything I have read and everyone I have talked to, the vast majority of sports car fans value tradition and decidedly want certain races to run their traditional lengths.

Already some people won't go to Sebring since it is no longer international, and the Rolex has lost both fans and stature ... Diluting the schedule to save money could cost a lot of fans.

Between weak fields, lame prototypes, and BoP'd GTE fields, sports car racing (well, sports car "endurance" racing) in North America has really lost its luster in the past several years. Maybe the form no longer functions---maybe there simply isn't sufficient audience for the sport in North America.

Maybe Tudor should bite the bullet and stage a pair of sprint races at each venue a la PWC or Blancpain sprints and just forget longer races---that would cut costs tremendously. I'd hate it, but if that's the only way to keep sports car racing alive here ....

But I am not convinced that that is the case. I think Tudor has misjudged the audience, has made a bunch of cost- and business-philosophy-driven rules changes which have hurt the sport, and has been unwilling to invest enough in its own premier sports car series, and if it continues, could be forced to fold eventually.

I keep looking at IndyCar as an example---the series split, the two halves couldn't survive simultaneously, the audience fractured, the sponsors fled, and now it is taking a long time (and a lot of unrecouped investment) to even try to dig the series out of the hole it is dug into.

I'd say Tudor needs at least five years of steady promotion investment to even have a chance to be self-sustaining at a level which is worth reaching (something more than glorified club racing) and sadly it will be more than five years before the series gets decent cars ...

Hopefully even with spec racers, different engine options will provide enough competition (supposing everything isn't BoP'd to death) Tudor will be worth watching after 2017. If the management can't allow some cars to succeed and others to fail, and follows its current plan of micromanaging competition through AoP, well ... they might find that they have managed to be the next failed North American sports car series.

[Coach Ep]

Theoretically IMSA has the possibility to open up the new, restricted prototype regs anytime they want and let more chassis constructors (I'm sure Ginetta could sell a few cars over here) plus - more importantly - multiple tire manufacturers in.

I don't see something like that happening, knowing how conservative their leaders are with regard to car development.

[Deleted]

If they let in more cars and widened up the technology spectrum, they'd "have" to balance the chassis and aeros in the wind tunnel for 6 to 7 days instead of 5. That would mean paying extra salaries for the people working that weekend, rent increases, and keeping the catering in place. The BoP committee would also have to invest in more modern espresso maker in order to fuel them up through the weekly meetings now lasting four hours instead of 3 hours and 45 minutes, which also means that they cannot avoid rush hour in Daytona Beach traffic. I suppose you could reschedule the timing of the meetings as well as terminate the short recess from the middle of the meeting to make up time, but then you would have to ask mr Atherton or Bennet to ratify such changes in the company policy procedures, but as we know they are REALLY busy men taking great care of their 100,000 dollar leasing contract work cars on the way to business lunches at 5 star dining. So it's a definite no no.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by jasonjessica09

Probably a cut of LMPC and GTD to 10 races. And I betcha IMSA is at least considering reducing Watkins Glen to 4 hours due to costs management especially with the back to back with CTMP.

LOL. You have no basis for these assumptions.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

With the way BoP is managed, it is always difficult to decipher whether advantages have been gained in the boardroom, or actual hard work. I know they are all working hard to make gains, yet...

But my point, these new tire compounds... yes everybody has them, but as we've seen other times, there are times that certain compounds will favour one chassis more than another. That is certainly a possibility with what has happened here. The problem is that these are more sprint race tires, for the heat, and might not be an effective compound come PLM. Porsche might get yanked back, only to be on the regular compounds and be disadvantaged... interesting game being played out.

The sprint compound tires will not be available to teams at PLM.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Chiana

The 6 hours fell into obscurity in the 90's (along with many other NA events), but maybe it would have resurfaced better had it continued with IMSA into the ALMS, and not succumbed to the sinkhole of Grand-Am. There only was one race in GA people recognized and took notice, and that wasn't Glen 6h

I won't always agree with anyone 100%.....

But this point, is about as solid as it gets.

[MoMedic9019]

Black Swan has bought a new Porsche for a return to IMSA.

Buh-bye PWC and Mercedes.

[Coach Ep]

report: http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/0...-catsburg.html

No word on the recently acquired Viper, shame if we wouldn't see it back.

[DeezPutz]

The first of many, and it's good to see these teams coming to their senses.

[Lanky Turtle]

Well that's interesting that a week or so after Mercedes said they wanted to run in the Rolex 24 that both of their PWC teams announced programs in which they would be running other cars next year.

[MitchZ06]

Tim Pappas after the swap to the Viper was saying how expensive it was to get Merc parts, doubt he'll use it ever again. The Viper tho...

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

Well that's interesting that a week or so after Mercedes said they wanted to run in the Rolex 24 that both of their PWC teams announced programs in which they would be running other cars next year.

Not a clue who that second PWC team might be, wasn't Pappas the only one that run a Mercedes?

I believe AMG is looking for a 'factory satellite' team a la Black Falcon, Rowe or HTP (before they switched to Bentley). Klaus Graf is rumored to be involved with the project so maybe 'Rowe Team USA'???

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Not a clue who that second PWC team might be, wasn't Pappas the only one that run a Mercedes?

I believe AMG is looking for a 'factory satellite' team a la Black Falcon, Rowe or HTP (before they switched to Bentley). Klaus Graf is rumored to be involved with the project so maybe 'Rowe Team USA'???

Dragonspeed, also running the Merc says they will be running P2 in ELMS next season. Whether that's in lieu of or in addition to a GT program I don't know.

[Coach Ep]

Of course....

Lanky, will you be in the opportunity to visit Sebring tomorrow or Friday? Ford will be testing their new GT there! The car is already spotted in the paddock.

[Rcz]

So GTD is getting some good news now.

And GTE is getting Fords. The GT classes are coming together nicely next year.

With the P class in a lame duck year.I think it's a another good reason to have split races.


On a more serious note, what to do with PC? As you may know, about the tragedy that occurred at Indycars Pocono race there. Will this influence IMSA to abandon the PC cars and go with the cockpit covered P3s cars next year?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Rcz

I thought the Glen was getting better attendance since the "merger"

It has.

Substantially.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Rcz

So GTD is getting some good news now.

And GTE is getting Fords. The GT classes are coming together nicely next year.

With the P class in a lame duck year.I think it's a another good reason to have split races.


On a more serious note, what to do with PC? As you may know, about the tragedy that occurred at Indycars Pocono race there. Will this influence IMSA to abandon the PC cars and go with the cockpit covered P3s cars next year?

The schedule is already out, it is not changing from that. The FLM09 will be the chassis of PC next year. When they do decide on what exactly they are going to do as an upgrade/replacement it may very well have a roof. I highly doubt it will be the P3 chassis that replaces it though.







L.P.

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Of course....

Lanky, will you be in the opportunity to visit Sebring tomorrow or Friday? Ford will be testing their new GT there! The car is already spotted in the paddock.

I just found out about that. I can't get there tomorrow but hopefully Friday morning. It's a bit of a haul for me, 100 miles. Ideally they'd still be there Saturday but I don't think I can count on that.

[Coach Ep]

I expect it will some sort of 'open' test with journalists and spectators (if any) allowed in. Anyway, greatly appreciate the effort if you do decide to make the haul and no, I wouldn't bet on Sat. either. Thanks!

[Coach Ep]

With AJR and Black Swan confirming the first 3 new Porsche 991 GT3 for GTD I wonder how many new cars Porsche can produce to be ready for the Rolex 24? With BS taking up one (and there might be other, current non-Porsche runners joining the queue) it might mean we'll see one or more of the current GT America runners being forced out of a new GT3 for Daytona. Currently Magnus and Park Place are the other 2 teams running one car each (with the Wright/Snow car having dropped out after Watkins Glen).

If this scenario was to happen I hope IMSA will let that/those team(s) run their current GT America for Daytona (and possibly Sebring) only in order not to jeopardize their championship (or enduro campaign) efforts.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

With AJR and Black Swan confirming the first 3 new Porsche 991 GT3 for GTD I wonder how many new cars Porsche can produce to be ready for the Rolex 24? With BS taking up one (and there might be other, current non-Porsche runners joining the queue) it might mean we'll see one or more of the current GT America runners being forced out of a new GT3 for Daytona. Currently Magnus and Park Place are the other 2 teams running one car each (with the Wright/Snow car having dropped out after Watkins Glen).

If this scenario was to happen I hope IMSA will let that/those team(s) run their current GT America for Daytona (and possibly Sebring) only in order not to jeopardize their championship (or enduro campaign) efforts.

If IMSA is smart they'll allow the 997 GT3 car into the race if there aren't enough new ones to go around.

As for relating the IndyCar accident to LMPC, the IndyCars were averaging about 70 MPH faster on a lap than an LMPC's top speed. While debris intrusion in the cockpit is still an issue, the lower speeds on a road course means it's not as big an issue.

[Coach Ep]

Yes, I'm sure Oreca is working a top closed version of their possible PC update kit* (if not already included)

*earlier discussed with more info here (from mid July): http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/or...voice-support/

[carbsmith]

The new GT3R's debut is only Daytona 2016 because Porsche decided to debut the car fully homologated at the start of a season with customers instead of running a one off factory GT3 team in any races this year. The car is ready and I'm sure they'll be running at the November Daytona test.

Nobody that is getting a car for IMSA this season will have problems getting it in time for Daytona.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Matt

It has.

Substantially.

Do you have actual figures, other than your own 'calculations'?

Also are you comparing it to the 6 hours, or the previously existed 2 hour Sprint Cup support race nobody gave crap about and went home before the race even started?

In any case, the improved numbers over past years can be explained due to it using to be Grand-Am event. It's the same thing as last year when Shank and other old GA talking heads were saying along the lines of "oh but on the positive note the attendances have improved everywhere so the series is doing good there". Even though that's just because the ALMS fan base and it's subsequent trade-off coming to watch this series was always infinitely bigger, and the Rolex people never got to witness that before 2014.

[Coach Ep]

That doesn't matter Chiana, improved attendance is a positive and with next year's 6H being on Independence Day weekend it has potential to build on that.

Originally Posted by carbsmith

The new GT3R's debut is only Daytona 2016 because Porsche decided to debut the car fully homologated at the start of a season with customers instead of running a one off factory GT3 team in any races this year. The car is ready and I'm sure they'll be running at the November Daytona test.

Nobody that is getting a car for IMSA this season will have problems getting it in time for Daytona.

Let's hope so, but if - let's say - 8 cars are being ordered by several teams I'm not sure if Porsche can deliver on time.