[WEC Race] 2014 FIA WEC - Round 1 - Silverstone

[Beetle]

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this race thread was delayed by a week and I couldn't put as much time into it. Expect better for Spa, but I hope this will do.

That's right - the wait is finally over. The FIA WEC roars into an April opening round at Silverstone with a stronger, more competitive field than ever before. Audi and Toyota have both revitalized and prepped their LMP1 packages for the fight. Porsche AG, the newcomer to the LMP1 fray, dominated The Prologue (preseason testing) at Paul Ricard HTTT, but will their dominance in France translate into a victory in Great Britain?

LMP2 has been just as interesting. Strakka Racing will return to competition after quitting their LMP1 early last year. Although they weren't present at The Prologue, the British team will run a Dome S103-Nissan for a full season attack with Danny Watts, Jonny Kane, and Nick Leventis. Millennium Racing is a clear favorite, with both lineups incorporated a mix of experience and savvy with young talent and outright speed. G-Drive Racing will benefit from the talent of Olivier Pla while getting former Larbre Competition driver Julien Canal comfortable with the new car. Don't count out KCMG, either, as the rapid Tsugio Matsuda will come aboard for select rounds this year alongside Matthew Howson and Richard Bradley.

GTE-Pro will see an addition team on track this year in Ram Racing. Matt Griffin and Alvaro Parente will pilot the no. 52 Ferrari 458 at Silverstone along a TBA driver, likely James Rossiter. James Calado and Davide Rigon make up the newcomers at AF Corse, while Bamboo Engineering and Aston Martin Racing partner together to create a new, dynamic entry: the no. 99 Vantage GTE of Hong Kong star Darryl O'Young, former Larbre Competition Corvette racer Fernando Rees, and former WTCC driver Alex MacDowall. Frederic Makowiecki joins Porsche AG Team Manthey as a factory driver this year.

GTE-Am will see AF Corse, Proton Competition, AMR, and 8 Star return with new-and-improved lineups. Aside from GTE-Pro, Ram Racing will also enter a GTE-Am Ferrari 458, under the controls of Ben Collins (the "Stig"), Mark Patterson, and Johnny Mowlem. Prospeed Competition has also graduated to FIA WEC competition from the ELMS last year.

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Roll on FIA WEC!

[GT6]

Would have loved to vote for Rebellion but I think Toyota are the team best prepared

[TF110]

I think Toyota or Audi are the favorites. Audi seemed good with their downforce at the test, but Toyota's high downforce package was a bit faster in top speed. Porsche probably takes GTE PRO.

[isynge]

Hopefully, Porsche to star, Toyota to win, Rebellion to have a creditable run and get one of their targeted podiums.

Either way, relishing prospect of a great weekend.

[GT6]

Originally Posted by isynge

Hopefully, Porsche to star, Toyota to win, Rebellion to have a creditable run and get one of their targeted podiums.

Either way, relishing prospect of a great weekend.

I think Rebellion's chances will be dictated to by which car they use

[isynge]

Originally Posted by GT6

I think Rebellion's chances will be dictated to by which car they use

Absolutely. If it's the Lola a reliable run to benefit from other's problems is possible, with the R One it'll just be too new.

[GT6]

iam hoping that if it is the R1 it might just surprise people

[isynge]

Originally Posted by GT6

iam hoping that if it is the R1 it might just surprise people

Like you I'd be delighted if it showed up and astonished, and being an optimist I like to think at some stage this year it will make people sit up and take note.

That said, given the car will barely have time to be shaken down I think we need to be realistic. If nothing else 2011 and 2012 particularly showed us that cars take time to bed in and unexpected issues will always crop up, which can only be nailed by testing, and proper well sequenced development.

If we could poly-hierarchically post this in the Rebellion thread, I'd see them getting a respectable result at Silverstone with the Lolas, a niggly run at Spa, a promising but still a bit troubled outing at Le Mans, and then come the back half of the season getting a decent result or two when the cards fall right for them.

[vincegail]

My guess is that the two voters for a Porsche win are slightly biased

(not that there's anything wrong with that, of course)

[jsTrecu]

I hope Porsche wins. They probably won't so Audi would be my second favorite.
Rooting for Manthey in GT too.

Still two weeks to go...

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by jsTrecu

I hope Porsche wins. They probably won't so Audi would be my second favorite.
Rooting for Manthey in GT too.

Still two weeks to go...

+1

[GT6]

Originally Posted by vincegail

My guess is that the two voters for a Porsche win are slightly biased

(not that there's anything wrong with that, of course)

the eternal optimist in them hopes that porsche will win in the same way that many here would love rebellion to pull off a specatular success but realism means we voted toyota

[The Fat Clerk]

Heart says Porsche, head says Audi

[Gingers4Justice]

I have a really good feeling with Toyota. The way they've gone about their business smacks of quiet confidence. That's the best kind of confidence

I think Toyota's hybrid system is going to matter more than ever, and Audi's troubles with theirs could prove to be more damaging than ever. Porsche will be there or thereabouts, but a lack of experience will cost them. Toyota have lost plenty of races with the faster car due to a lack of experience.

I still back Audi over 24 hours, purely because they're Audi. But I think Toyota could end up being favourites for every other round of the WEC.

[Pandemonium]

I voted for Rebellion but I kind of want the Lotus project to succeed.

[Beetle]

Well this was a race thread but it's turning into a predictions competition lol!! Well if all of you are really into this be sure to enter the FRC Predictions Competition. Lots of informed people on this forum who would really do to throw their hat in the ring!

I really want to see Toyota pull off a win, but at this point I can't realistically see anything other than an Audi R18 in victory lane. Which one, I'm not sure.

I'm actually astonished to see so many people pulling for Toyota for a race win. They were a bit down on the pace of Audi and Porsche at the tests so what gives?

[NelisB]

Originally Posted by Beetle

Well this was a race thread but it's turning into a predictions competition lol!! Well if all of you are really into this be sure to enter the FRC Predictions Competition. Lots of informed people on this forum who would really do to throw their hat in the ring!

I really want to see Toyota pull off a win, but at this point I can't realistically see anything other than an Audi R18 in victory lane. Which one, I'm not sure.

I'm actually astonished to see so many people pulling for Toyota for a race win. They were a bit down on the pace of Audi and Porsche at the tests so what gives?

I guess everyone thinks Toyota was sandbagging a bit at the test. If you're asking me I'd say it's pretty even between Toyota and Audi again. When you saw the Toyota exiting slower corners it was more often than not leaving black lines. So that to me means they've still to get the hybrid system dialed in completely to their liking. Unless ofcourse they were running older tires with a bit less grip.
What it comes down to is that no one really knows who stands where. All we know is that the cars in the LMP1 category are running and are capable of quick laptimes. So roll on Silverstone and let's see who's the fastest.

[J Jay]

Given the most recent (and final?) fuel flow adjustments, I can't see past a Toyota win. I'd like to because it would be great to see Porsche make a winning return, but there will be reliability doubts around the 919 all the way through to Le Mans.

Audi will be thereabouts as always ... I predict a 0.1s/lap gap to the Toyotas though

[wewantourdarbyback]

Tests mean naff all, for me I feel there's a chance the Audi will take a hit from the EoT and Toyota are at the culmination of a three-year project where they really should be challenging for the win.

[gwyllion]

I predict an easy victory for Toyota.

They already won Silverstone with ease in 2012, they are much better prepared for this season than last year and it seems that they have the rules on their side.

[chernaudi]

Toyota lost Silverstone in 2012. They lost ironically because they had to pit for a splash of fuel because of poor fuel consumption that year.

But at this stage, depending on how the rules come out and if practice at Silverstone backs up what testing at PR may've proved, it'll easily be down to Audi or Toyota as far as that goes. Porsche's reliability is still suspect and they don't have a sprint areo package to my knowledge.

[PhilipR]

Massively excited about this race. Will be my first time at Silverstone. Looking forward to exciting and entertaining racing. I think it will be really close between Toyota and Audi and hope Porsche will keep close by.

[Beetle]

You cynical lot. No one thinks Lotus may win it?

[GT6]

I am just hoping they turn up

[Beetle]

Interesting tidbit from S365 here.. http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/g...pecs-revealed/