2019 WEC 6 Hours of Spa presented by Total Race Weekend Thread

chernaudi · 2 May 2019, 04:32 (Ref:3901117)

At the risk of this being a redundant thread (and if so, could a moderator or administrator merge it), there's no dedicated race weekend thread for the 6 Hours of Spa.

Here's the WEC's main hub for this weekend's race on their site:

https://www.fiawec.com/en/race/show/4602

Under the "practical info" tab there's the full entry list, time table and other such info.

Of course, probably the biggest story/question for this weekend is will the privateer LMP1 teams have anything for Toyota given that finally the privateers don't have to (in theory at least) engage in "lift and coast" as they've been given unlimited fuel allotments per lap this weekend. Also, almost every LMP1 team will be debuting or reverting to Le Mans spec areo this weekend to test for LM.

Also in LMP1, Kolles will debut the Gibson V8 powered incarnation of their car this weekend after having to sit out Sebring due to the engine change over.

Deleted · 2 May 2019, 08:18 (Ref:3901138)

Rebellion low df kit will be interesting.

It's traditionally been the least worst track for CLM so I think they'll do fine, however with Dragonspeed out and Rebellion/SMP out of reach they won't really have much to do.

There's also now the fake Aurus Oreca thing there next to fake Alpine Oreca, hopefully won't get much mention

chernaudi · 2 May 2019, 12:35 (Ref:3901241)

Are Toyota off the pace or just sandbagging? SMP go 1-2 in FP1. Remember that pole last year was a 1:54 vs the 1:56 that SMP set in FP1.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/0...1-for-smp.html

**skycafe** · 2 May 2019, 13:05 (Ref:3901246)

Works for race thread, thanks!

Deleted · 2 May 2019, 14:05 (Ref:3901255)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Are Toyota off the pace or just sandbagging? SMP go 1-2 in FP1. Remember that pole last year was a 1:54 vs the 1:56 that SMP set in FP1.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/0...1-for-smp.html

Not sure, last year Toyota did 1:58.392 in FP1 while Dallara only 1:59.321. However Toyota did improve considerably for FP2 so I guess that'll happen here too

Most of the P1s are doing much better top speed than last year, except for Kolles which is nowhere anyway

Coach Ep · 2 May 2019, 14:17 (Ref:3901259)

Again, what a lousy line up, just one support race for a mere 34 cars around a 7 km track. Snooze fest.

Deleted · 2 May 2019, 14:24 (Ref:3901262)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Again, what a lousy line up, just one support race for a mere 34 cars around a 7 km track. Snooze fest.

This event has had non-existing line-up for number of years now

Wasn't always like that of course
https://tentenths.com/forum/showpost...2&postcount=28

ApexTurtle · 2 May 2019, 14:59 (Ref:3901272)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Again, what a lousy line up, just one support race for a mere 34 cars around a 7 km track. Snooze fest.

I wish I could hit snooze on this post

seanyb505 · 2 May 2019, 15:06 (Ref:3901275)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

...
There's also now the fake Aurus Oreca thing there next to fake Alpine Oreca, hopefully won't get much mention

From DSC: "In LMP2, Signatech Alpine led the way, Nicolas Lapierre setting a 2:03.441 in the team’s Michelin-shod A470. G-Drive Racing’s Aurus 01, on Dunlops, ended up second with a 2:03.677 from Jean-Eric Vergne."

Rain must be dropping off, because don't look now but ByKolles is leading FP2.

Aaaaaand two toyotas. Well game over it was fun while it lasted.

Deleted · 2 May 2019, 15:12 (Ref:3901276)

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanyb505

From DSC: "In LMP2, Signatech Alpine led the way, Nicolas Lapierre setting a 2:03.441 in the team’s Michelin-shod A470. G-Drive Racing’s Aurus 01, on Dunlops, ended up second with a 2:03.677 from Jean-Eric Vergne."

*Barfs*

That classic A470 sure is giving the new 01 a run for it's money, not to mention the Orecas. But how great for brand new chassis manufacturer like Aurus to be immediately on pace right from the debut race! Such magical times we live in

TF110 · 2 May 2019, 17:29 (Ref:3901309)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

*Barfs*

That classic A470 sure is giving the new 01 a run for it's money, not to mention the Orecas. But how great for brand new chassis manufacturer like Aurus to be immediately on pace right from the debut race! Such magical times we live in

It's much worse than DPi's 'fake branding'. At least in DPi the cars have the engine makes in the back with some badge-engineering. Here in lmp2 it's just a sticker and a paint job. That's below Nascar-level imo, at least on the branding a generic chassis side.

Hope this rain goes away and we get to see proper times again. If the SMP's can improve on their FP1 pace we may actually have a battle for pole at least.

Akrapovic · 2 May 2019, 18:50 (Ref:3901357)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

It's much worse than DPi's 'fake branding'. At least in DPi the cars have the engine makes in the back with some badge-engineering. Here in lmp2 it's just a sticker and a paint job. That's below Nascar-level imo, at least on the branding a generic chassis side.

Hope this rain goes away and we get to see proper times again. If the SMP's can improve on their FP1 pace we may actually have a battle for pole at least.

Agreed. DPi is honest about what it is. Some don't like it, which is fair enough, but at least it calls a spade a spade.

The LMP2 rebranding is calling a spade a gardening tool.

ApexTurtle · 2 May 2019, 19:12 (Ref:3901367)

Hmm, the DPi cars are generally referred to as their engine though which is technically incorrect.

Akrapovic · 2 May 2019, 19:20 (Ref:3901370)

That's what sportscar racing has done for decades. I actually agree with you (we're making a habit of this), and I think it looks especially silly in timing and scoring, but it's how it's always been.

WEC does it too. They've changed the TV Graphics now to show team names, but for a long time it just listed every LMP2 as "Nissan" (with the occasional Judd) and then "Gibson".

chernaudi · 2 May 2019, 20:47 (Ref:3901396)

It should also be noted that the SMP BR Dallaras have been running their high downforce sprint package so far this weekend, possibly in anticipation of the cold and wet conditions (though I may've seen photos of the cars in LM spec, possibly being prepared to back and forth as needed).

Rebellion have been the fastest though the speed trap so far though, with a 202+mph top speed.

Juntos · 2 May 2019, 21:37 (Ref:3901412)

Consciously, sir Sarrazin, consciously. Hope the Russians can repair the blue Dallara or we won't have any nothing worth to watch on Saturday.

TF110 · 2 May 2019, 21:48 (Ref:3901416)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juntos

Consciously, sir Sarrazin, consciously. Hope the Russians can repair the blue Dallara or we won't have any nothing worth to watch on Saturday.

Apparently the car is not that damaged and it's weekend isn't affected by the off.

Truckosaurus · 3 May 2019, 07:10 (Ref:3901455)

Ahoy Comrades,

Is the only way to watch the full race to pay the 5-Euro fee on the WEC website?

(I can see that Eurosports have the start and finish on the television but switch to cycling for the middle section)

GTfour · 3 May 2019, 10:11 (Ref:3901463)

So, watertight mountaineering boots at the ready, thermo underwear, rainponcho, winterjacket and a set of gloves, just to be sure. I'll leave my videocamera at home and'll only use my cameraphone. I say: bring it on!

chernaudi · 3 May 2019, 13:34 (Ref:3901500)

Well, it seems in FP1 that Toyota were maybe screwing around, considering that in FP3 they already ran faster than last year's pole time. Possibly a moot point given that it might rain for qualifying.

Also seems that unless they figure something out that Rebellion will have a fight to better SMP this weekend. It seems that their LM kit isn't suited to Spa while SMP are running their sprint kit and Toyota's low downforce kit probably has more downforce than SMP's sprint bodywork does.

chernaudi · 3 May 2019, 14:00 (Ref:3901504)

Apologize for the double post but I think the edit timer timed out on my last post. It actually seems, based on a photo I saw on Facebook, that Rebellion did revert back to their sprint kit for FP3, probably in anticipation of rain.

Deleted · 3 May 2019, 14:01 (Ref:3901505)

Good old CLM

ydd · 3 May 2019, 15:03 (Ref:3901524)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

Ahoy Comrades,

Is the only way to watch the full race to pay the 5-Euro fee on the WEC website?

(I can see that Eurosports have the start and finish on the television but switch to cycling for the middle section)

Did you get an answer to this?

For such a big series it is really hard to follow

ApexTurtle · 3 May 2019, 15:07 (Ref:3901525)

The WEC app is the best place to watch. You can also watch it in Eurosport player.

Anyopenroad · 3 May 2019, 15:59 (Ref:3901534)

Forecast is for snow overnight and morning, then sun/showers (rain/sleet) on and off the rest of the day. Temperatures (with a cold wind) not more than 2C all day. Could be pretty chaotic, if it sleets on-and-off all race, possibly on one part of the track but not another.

I'm assuming that any settled snow can be cleared off the track by race start. They should have a few hours to do that.

Btw it's clear from the coverage that there is no spectator viewing at all at the bottom of Eau Rouge/Raidillon where the grandstands and food court have been replaced by the RallyX track.

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