2024 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)

[RL17]

And just 10 seconds added to next pitstop for an unsafe release nearly crashing into another car in the exit lane

[airbusA346]

freedman said:

They restored Rahel Frey to the driving seat after Dorianne Pins accident earlier in the year, but she was still part of the team, just not driving

I'm not aware of how the team is funded, but Bovy is their (very quick) Bronze, so possibly brings the budget?

As far as I am aware the people backing the Iron Lynx/Iron Dames project (they also own Prema) are Deborah Mayer and Claudio Schiavoni.

[FredericRobinson]

Spa 24 in 2025 confirmed as being the week after the Nurburgring 24, which itself is the week after Le Mans, this is so idiotic as to be barely believable

[VladD]

FredericRobinson said:

Spa 24 in 2025 confirmed as being the week after the Nurburgring 24, which itself is the week after Le Mans, this is so idiotic as to be barely believable

With Le Mans Classic the weekend after Spa a few people are going to have the best road trip ever.

[VladD]

freedman said:

VladD said:

Exactly. He's unlikely to make the same mistake again.

Whilst that's probably true, hes unlikely to ever do it again even without the penalty, after all hes been racing for decades and I'm not aware hes done it before

The main gist of my point was the severity of the penalty

Only 10 days ago we had Robert Kubica deemed at fault (correctly) for putting Dries Vanthoor in the wall at LM

A crash at close to 180MPH which ended Vanthoor's race, fortunately with only minor injuries

Kubicas penalty. a 30 second stop go

Actually, given that context, you're right.

[VladD]

CLK-GTR said:

VladD said:

Frey and Gatting are gold rated and Pin is silver.

Aye but they need a Bronze in the 3rd seat.

They also need a Silver but they have two of those in Frey and Pin.

Edited by CLK-GTR on Tuesday 25th June 18:20

I wonder why they didn't put Célia Martin in the car as she's bronze rated. She races with Karen Gaillard (Silver) in the Road To Le Mans Huracan.

[CLK-GTR]

VladD said:

I wonder why they didn't put Célia Martin in the car as she's bronze rated. She races with Karen Gaillard (Silver) in the Road To Le Mans Huracan.

Maybe not enough time to get her prepared, a 24hr is a big effort and she's new to the team.

I don't know why they've shifted the Ring 24 back for next year. It's usually well before LM.

[VladD]

CLK-GTR said:

VladD said:

I wonder why they didn't put Célia Martin in the car as she's bronze rated. She races with Karen Gaillard (Silver) in the Road To Le Mans Huracan.

Maybe not enough time to get her prepared, a 24hr is a big effort and she's new to the team.

I don't know why they've shifted the Ring 24 back for next year. It's usually well before LM.

Yeah, fair point. The R2LM races are pretty short, so fitness and preparation for multiple stints over 24 hours is a big ask.

[Red Firecracker]

VladD said:

Yeah, fair point. The R2LM races are pretty short, so fitness and preparation for multiple stints over 24 hours is a big ask.

Plus the R2LM races are mostly under FCY or SC as they're all utter maniacs, so not very tiring :-D

[freedman]

Spa 24

Estre, Vanthoor & Pilet over 3 seconds off the pace, qualifying 44th….

There’s something big wrong with that car!

[airbusA346]

freedman said:

Spa 24

Estre, Vanthoor & Pilet over 3 seconds off the pace, qualifying 44th….

There’s something big wrong with that car!

They've already changed the engine after it overheated and suffered terminal engine damage during the Parade.

[CLK-GTR]

freedman said:

Spa 24

Estre, Vanthoor & Pilet over 3 seconds off the pace, qualifying 44th….

There’s something big wrong with that car!

All the Porsches are off the pace and it's not like they've not filled them with some seriously quick drivers.

[airbusA346]

CLK-GTR said:

All the Porsches are off the pace and it's not like they've not filled them with some seriously quick drivers.

Probably the stupid ride height they are having to run like in DTM.

[airbusA346]

Pre-race BOP adjustments for Spa...

BMW M4 GT3: -10kg
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II: +5kg
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2: Minimum rear wing angle changed.

https://sportscar365.com/sro/world-challenge-europ...

[Red Firecracker]

airbusA346 said:

Pre-race BOP adjustments for Spa...

BMW M4 GT3: -10kg

You'd almost think that some of these race organisers really REALLY want a certain BMW to win. Almost...

[airbusA346]

Red Firecracker said:

You'd almost think that some of these race organisers really REALLY want a certain BMW to win. Almost...

And that it's WRT's home race.

[freedman]

CLK-GTR said:

All the Porsches are off the pace and it's not like they've not filled them with some seriously quick drivers.

They are a bit off in general, but the Estre/Vanthoor car was 2 seconds slower than the quickest Porsches, and they would have expected to be fastest of the brand

Made progress to the top 20 but retired due to suspension failure pitching Pilet off at Eau Rouge/Radillon

[freedman]

So much wrong here

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6EHIADQqvSA&si=DA3...

Stupid unnecessary accident on the straight

Dreadful driving with cars completely ignoring waved yellows

Poor from race control, it should have immediately been called a FCY, well before the secondary crash

[Sandpit Steve]

freedman said:

So much wrong here

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6EHIADQqvSA&si=DA3...

Stupid unnecessary accident on the straight

Dreadful driving with cars completely ignoring waved yellows

Poor from race control, it should have immediately been called a FCY, well before the secondary crash

It looked like none of the dozen cars passing that accident lifted an inch, despite the double yellows clearly visible on the light board.

You’d hope for serious sporting penalties being handed out there, but I won’t be holding my breath.

[VladD]

Just stumbled across this YouTube video that says that WEC will no longer allow single car entries in Hypercar next year. That means Isotta Fraschini, Lamborghini and Aston Martin will all need to bring two cars if the want to compete.