[WEC] WEC 2024

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by GT3_Fan

With just 2 classes I think if Hypercar/GTP will have a red number plate still then., GT3 should go with green. No need to keep orange honestly at this point. Less distinctive from the red.

It's a good point actually. I wonder whether they might even try to rebrand it completely with the introduction of GT3 and do a previously unused colour?

[broadrun96]

Do you really need an endplate color at all? Only one GT class and if you can't tell GT from Hypercar would an end plate really do anything to help?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Do you really need an endplate color at all? Only one GT class and if you can't tell GT from Hypercar would an end plate really do anything to help?

My thoughts exactly, no need to dictate a teams livery in this instance. And at the same time, no mandated hypercar colors either with the absence of other protos. Of course at Le Mans something may change but just make the p2's do it.

[Simmi]

There is no endplate or livery colour mandate in WEC...

[broadrun96]

Can't say I had noticed one way or the other so just assumed above was accurate. Never understood the IMSA requirement for it either

[Mike E]

On the latest episode of TWISC, Graham suggests that the 2025 schedule could be largely determined by the ability of circuits to accommodate 40-odd cars comfortably in the pits. If I heard right...

What would that mean for the calendar?

[broadrun96]

Means more ME races and less at classic tracks. Guessing Imola, Monza out of consideration and how's Portimao's pit situation and Fuji but gotta figure Toyota will make that work out

COTA, Spa and Bahrain seem like they could be ok but hey means they can't screw up Road Atlanta on me cause there's no garages unless you bring one.

[Mike E]

Fancy that!

'The amount of garage space has received a significant boost with 50 pit boxes now usable at the circuit.'

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...-of-wec-debut/

[veeten]

Basically, it means that races will be, mostly, at circuits that can accommodate similar to Le Mans, where pit and garage are integrated. These are also the same circuits that Formula 1 also race on. It stands to reason that WEC would rather be at Spa, Silverstone, Catalunya, and other such places. Even COTA, Hermanos, and Circuit Gilles Villineuve would get first nod for North American race dates for similar reasons.

[veeten]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Can't say I had noticed one way or the other so just assumed above was accurate. Never understood the IMSA requirement for it either

That's because you, like many of us both here and at the races, commonly follow this type of motorsport. Now, ask this of someone that generally doesn't follow it, and is watching it for the first time and has, absolutely, no idea what is happening. It can get quite tedious, having to answer the same questions over and over again. This makes it a little easier for them to follow the action and keep track of a particular car, driver, or team, in whichever type the race in. Be it Hypercar/GTP, LMP2, GTLM/Pro, or GTD.

[JT240Z]

Originally Posted by veeten

That's because you, like many of us both here and at the races, commonly follow this type of motorsport. Now, ask this of someone that generally doesn't follow it, and is watching it for the first time and has, absolutely, no idea what is happening. It can get quite tedious, having to answer the same questions over and over again. This makes it a little easier for them to follow the action and keep track of a particular car, driver, or team, in whichever type the race in. Be it Hypercar/GTP, LMP2, GTLM/Pro, or GTD.

Agreed, the IMSA method of marking colors helps to make it easier to identify car classes for first time or even more experienced spectators.

[Gerard C]

I find the three side leds rather helpful too (entertaining when one of the leading car enters the pits).

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by veeten

That's because you, like many of us both here and at the races, commonly follow this type of motorsport. Now, ask this of someone that generally doesn't follow it, and is watching it for the first time and has, absolutely, no idea what is happening. It can get quite tedious, having to answer the same questions over and over again. This makes it a little easier for them to follow the action and keep track of a particular car, driver, or team, in whichever type the race in. Be it Hypercar/GTP, LMP2, GTLM/Pro, or GTD.

Everyone quotes that being the case but having had tons of new folks visit with others around our site and just stopping by none have noticed that ever and assume all cars race together regardless of shape or color. It seems like something they need to provide the data to support it actually has an impact and not just on the graphic artist statements. Ok, my dataset is tiny but still seems like a no, no one really notices

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Everyone quotes that being the case but having had tons of new folks visit with others around our site and just stopping by none have noticed that ever and assume all cars race together regardless of shape or color. It seems like something they need to provide the data to support it actually has an impact and not just on the graphic artist statements. Ok, my dataset is tiny but still seems like a no, no one really notices

The "assuming the cars race together" thing is a good point that I've noticed with my non-motorsport friends when they see Le Mans. And because they're so outside the loop, when you point out that there are different classes, they often still can't see the difference between a Peugeot 9x8 and a Porsche 911 GTE.

Because of that, I've always found IMSAs coloured endplates even weirded. Multiple uses of the same colours. Explaining THAT to people was fun.

[broadrun96]

Fun example, when we visited the LM museum my wife pointed out right when the cars didn't look like cars but rather racecars. Yes, in her mind cars stopping being cars and became race cars. Oh and for reference it was at the GT40s with a few later but even the modern 911s she declared racecars not cars.

[Mike E]

Cadillac to continue with a single car.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...4-fia-wec.html

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Cadillac to continue with a single car.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...4-fia-wec.html

Not ideal in year two that.

[joeb]

Citing cost as main factor. Wrecking a car every other race in both series can't have helped this season.

[Mike E]

A very thorough summary of the likely shape of the grid for next year

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...d-now-set.html

[TF110]

Not much talk about Qatar but the f1 race was plagued with tire issues. I hope that doesn't carry over to the WEC. I suspect that it was more of a pirelli issue though.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Fancy that!

'The amount of garage space has received a significant boost with 50 pit boxes now usable at the circuit.'

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...-of-wec-debut/

Plenty of VIP space available then when the series will only run 36 entries. How on earth does IMSA stuff 48 full season and 57 endurance cup entries to their grid then?

[broadrun96]

Cause they bring tents and popup canopies in their hauler, not full chalet, factory, 2500 employees and celebs and all the other nonsense that doesn't make the race better

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Plenty of VIP space available then when the series will only run 36 entries. How on earth does IMSA stuff 48 full season and 57 endurance cup entries to their grid then?

IMSA is more self aware as a series and knows teams can operate out of a tent and that fans want Road America on the calendar

WEC thinks it as F1 level and should only go to F1 circuits and teams need full on Grade 1 garages to operate out of, and don't really care what the fan survey says about the calendar.

[TF110]

Sebring wasn't grade 1 but they ran there. Theres differences between imsa, a 'local' series running in one country and the wec which runs around the world visiting different continents. I can't begin to imagine the logistics between the two. Costs included! 40 cars would be great but were going to be spoiled by variety so this seems trivial to miss 4 cars.

[Akrapovic]

They did run at Sebring! And they dropped it in favour of Qatar and COTA.