[WEC] New rules. New manufacturers. The 2021 and beyond positivity thread!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

HYUNDAI IN THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS: A DECISION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR?

https://endurancemag.fr/hyundai-aux-24-heures-du-mans/

Somebody did a good job with that render. Looks great!

I have no idea if cars will be powered by hydrogen in any significant way in the future, but there are still a handful of manufacturers researching it.

[broadrun96]

Except for one glaring issue, the drinker's side just forward of the tire cutout

[Mike E]

Clearly an AI job

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by veeten

Thank you, Graham. This is exactly what I've been saying, in different words, about the difference between "our sport" and F1, especially in the last couple of years.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...osed-shop.html

Yes, very well said.

[broadrun96]

My problem is each team gets more than IMSA uses as an operational budget as a series, IMSA isn't paying the teams anything of the budget TV pays them but rather charges them to play. More teams is spreads the costs vs takes away from their pie.

Not saying he's wrong at all, he's not, but you can get why some of them respond that way.

[Adam43]

In many of the things he says he’s spot on, I agree, but who’s to say the F1 way is the wrong way! I certainly don’t. Just a different way.

I wouldn’t use this to big up the virtues of sportscar racing. The teams in it would say the same thing if the sport actually directly gave them any money and this would reduce their slice of the pie. When push comes to shove they’d be the same selfish so and sos they just aren’t in a situation with that temptation.

Long may sportscar be no where near as successful (in those metrics) as F1 then. That also means us sportscar fans can remain alternative and superior.

[FIRE]

Kudos to our friends at Endurance Info who beat DSC to the punch on this one, but ART Grand Prix looks set to return to endurance racing in 2024. The French team is set to request a two-car LMP2 entry for the European Le Mans Series.

The move from the current FIA Formula 2 Championship-leading team looks set to be the first step for the team towards a potential bid for a near future Hypercar programme.

ART was last involved in LMP racing back in 2018/ 2019 as the service provider for SMP Racing’s LMP1 efforts, with a two-car BR Engineering BR1 effort in the FIA WEC.

...

Source: https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...-campaign.html

[veeten]

Another example of folks seeing something really good going on in sportscar racing, and looking to get in on the action. Ain't no 'velvet ropes' here...

[veeten]

Is it me or does look like teams are choosing a color scheme similar to WTR/Andretti racing?

[broadrun96]

An Alpine is gonna be blue barring some extreme sponsor requirements so it's gonna be similar

[FIRE]

Cyril Abiteboul is the new motorsport president of Hyundai.

Maybe I'm generalizing but him being French there must be some love for Le Mans. Hopefully this brings the Korean manufacturer to Le Mans/WEC/IMSA.

[Nick Woodbury]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Cyril Abiteboul is the new motorsport president of Hyundai.

Maybe I'm generalizing but him being French there must be some love for Le Mans. Hopefully this brings the Korean manufacturer to Le Mans/WEC/IMSA.

Hyundai certainly have a substantial base going in IMSA with their defacto factory effort in IMSA's TCR class atleast. Hopefully all the stars align to result in something bigger in the future. Though, it looks like they are really content with their existing hatchback and 4 door sedan philosophy.

[broadrun96]

There's been a few rumbles of potentially a return to a coupe with the Genesis line but that may have been the SUV "sports coupe" model that was recently announced. I would expect any GT to be a Genesis base rather than a Hyundai badge

[veeten]

Not to mention, there's still the Hydrogen-powered prototype racer that they haven't given up on. Looking to compete with Toyota and BMW in that particular area.

But if Cyril is looking to take them into Hypercar/GTP, then using the Genesis name would make for a better manufacturer.

[v8supes]

Would love to see this "exclusive track only" Dallara hypercar be converted for Le Mans. It wont happen though.

https://www.777hypercar.com/

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Would love to see this "exclusive track only" Dallara hypercar be converted for Le Mans. It wont happen though.

https://www.777hypercar.com/

I assume it's based on the Dallara LMP2.

[tomcug]

So the Gibson V8 is targeted to run at 800 hp in this "track only hypercar" while it couldn't do 700 hp in the Vanwall chassis. Ok Collin, sure your chassis was good

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by tomcug

So the Gibson V8 is targeted to run at 800 hp in this "track only hypercar" while it couldn't do 700 hp in the Vanwall chassis. Ok Collin, sure your chassis was good

Apples and pears?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Apples and pears?

Yeah, there's little to no chance that the 777's engine will run as hard for as long as the Vanwall did.

That doesn't necessarily mean that the chassis was decent; the Gibson V8 ran pretty much flawlessly at 600+hp in LMP2, so it may be a mix of both ... you can decide how much "blame" goes each way.

[TF110]

Heavier car, nearly 100 more hp, different mounting etc. Kolles needs an engine that is made for his car or a car made for or to accommodate the engine. The plug and play doesn't work as well as it sounds I assume.

[Steve McQ]

Yeah, and Hypercars are fuel flow limited. Air/Fuel Ratio is not entierly free and so is the power curve.

[Adam43]

Are there defined limits to this, or is it they define and govern the power delivered to the wheels and the energy used in a stint?

[Bentley03]

I see Lotus are on the list of exhibitors in the Manufacturers Village at Le Mans this year, and the only non-participating manufacturer doing so. Wondering if there's any significance to this, or if I've missed a rumour or announcement?

[veeten]

Kind of like the return of LOLA, with their chassis development for Formula E. They are also interested in working with a manufacturer in building a GT/Hypercar. Definitely great to see some of the famous names making a comeback, especially at this time and era.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I see Lotus are on the list of exhibitors in the Manufacturers Village at Le Mans this year, and the only non-participating manufacturer doing so. Wondering if there's any significance to this, or if I've missed a rumour or announcement?

I thought Colin had fallen out with the ACO?