2023 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)

[ArnageWRC]

In what should be a golden era for Sportscar racing, I think we need a thread here covering all series.

Dubai 24 kicks things off the weekend after next, swiftly followed by the ROAR before the 24 Daytona test..

[LukeBrown66]

Am beginning to think GT racing is becoming almost a bit stale, I watched quite a few GT world challenge races last year and they were often very dull, the BoP seems to be almost working too well, you almost need a different tyre maker in there to spice things up a bit? I think some of this is also circuits.

GT cars need very special tracks tog et good passing, places like Brands, Imola, Valencia are not really suited too much to GT racing, they need longer tracks with long straights and low speed corner areas where aero makes less difference.

[greeny12]

LukeBrown66 said:

Am beginning to think GT racing is becoming almost a bit stale, I watched quite a few GT world challenge races last year and they were often very dull, the BoP seems to be almost working too well, you almost need a different tyre maker in there to spice things up a bit? I think some of this is also circuits.

GT cars need very special tracks tog et good passing, places like Brands, Imola, Valencia are not really suited too much to GT racing, they need longer tracks with long straights and low speed corner areas where aero makes less difference.

Yes, I agree with this. I've really enjoyed the SRO series in the past but last year wasn't a vintage running. Such a shame that Bentley pulled out as a works entry. Not only was that my favourite car but it also tended to be a bit of a wild card that performed vastly differently (by GT standards) depending on the circuit, so was hard to BoP into submission!

[LukeBrown66]

I think also the fact that DTM came in using GT3 cars made it pretty awful, the sprint series was woeful at times, but even in the endurance races, some silver drivers were almost as quick as platinum, so were clearly driving to laptimes and tyre limits, this is a common Pirelli theme it seems.

Hopefully with DTM gone, we might get back some of the bigger teams, the lack of 911's and Lambo's was noticeable., and even Ferrari was a bit poor

[indigorallye]

ArnageWRC said:

In what should be a golden era for Sportscar racing, I think we need a thread here covering all series.

Dubai 24 kicks things off the weekend after next, swiftly followed by the ROAR before the 24 Daytona test..

.....and Bathurst not long after that!

[Stuart Thompson]

LukeBrown66 said:

I think also the fact that DTM came in using GT3 cars made it pretty awful, the sprint series was woeful at times, but even in the endurance races, some silver drivers were almost as quick as platinum, so were clearly driving to laptimes and tyre limits, this is a common Pirelli theme it seems.

Hopefully with DTM gone, we might get back some of the bigger teams, the lack of 911's and Lambo's was noticeable., and even Ferrari was a bit poor

DTM hasn’t gone, it’s been taken over by ADAC.

[LukeBrown66]

But you know what I mean, having two series in one country was stretching it a bit thin, especially hen DTM were paying big money hence a lot of former GTWC teams went there or manufacturers did. It matters not that goodness it is gone as it was a stupid decision although initially it seemed a good idea

[df76]

Quite a good selection of early season racing to keep everyone occupied, and most of it free to view. My race list is (have I missed anything?):

14 Jan - Dubai 24h
21 Jan - Abu Dhabi 6h
28 Jan - IMSA Daytona 24h
5 Feb - Bathurst 12h
11/12 Feb - Asian Le Mans Dubai
18/19 Feb - Asian Le Mans Abu Dhabi
17 Mar - WEC Sebring
18 Mar - IMSA Sebring 12h

[FredericRobinson]

df76 said:

Quite a good selection of early season racing to keep everyone occupied, and most of it free to view. My race list is (have I missed anything?):

14 Jan - Dubai 24h
21 Jan - Abu Dhabi 6h
28 Jan - IMSA Daytona 24h
5 Feb - Bathurst 12h
11/12 Feb - Asian Le Mans Dubai
18/19 Feb - Asian Le Mans Abu Dhabi
17 Mar - WEC Sebring
18 Mar - IMSA Sebring 12h

That’ll get us through to the European season starting, also particularly looking forward to the MX5 races ar Daytona and Sebring

[df76]

FredericRobinson said:

That’ll get us through to the European season starting, also particularly looking forward to the MX5 races ar Daytona and Sebring

The MX5s are definitely at Daytona, but unfortunately I don’t think they run at Sebring.

[FredericRobinson]

df76 said:

The MX5s are definitely at Daytona, but unfortunately I don’t think they run at Sebring.

Well I suppose there should be enough going on that weekend to entertain, the MX5s are pretty much always the best race of an IMSA weekend though

[LukeBrown66]

I cannot warm to them, yes great racing is good but they sound like angry bees and I have never really liked one make stuff, even Porsche Cup I find a bit dull! But you cannot argue with the grids and quality of driving and racing

[itsallyellow]

Can’t wait for Daytona, flying out on the Wednesday. Will be our first time there spectating

Mike

[NoBrakesWC]

FredericRobinson said:

df76 said:

The MX5s are definitely at Daytona, but unfortunately I don’t think they run at Sebring.

Well I suppose there should be enough going on that weekend to entertain, the MX5s are pretty much always the best race of an IMSA weekend though

Always a lot of bumping and the guy who starts in 10th can easily win with the bump drafting that goes on at Daytona.

[G321]

itsallyellow said:

Can’t wait for Daytona, flying out on the Wednesday. Will be our first time there spectating

Mike

Same here, we're also flying out on the Wednesday from Heathrow

[rlw]

df76 said:

Quite a good selection of early season racing to keep everyone occupied, and most of it free to view. My race list is (have I missed anything?):

14 Jan - Dubai 24h
21 Jan - Abu Dhabi 6h
28 Jan - IMSA Daytona 24h
5 Feb - Bathurst 12h
11/12 Feb - Asian Le Mans Dubai
18/19 Feb - Asian Le Mans Abu Dhabi
17 Mar - WEC Sebring
18 Mar - IMSA Sebring 12h

Free to view where please?

[Truckosaurus]

rlw said:

Free to view where please?

The Creventic stuff is on YouTube

IMSA is free on their website (if you are outside of the USA)

All the SRO GT series are on their 'GT World' Youtube channel

NLS is on Youtube

ELMS is on Youtube

I think WEC is the only series that is on a paid channel (either Eurosport or via the WEC website/app)

A good resource is the 'Radio Le Mans' website as they have a calendar with links to the many things they commentate on.

[Truckosaurus]

Replying to myself to add:

Perhaps we can post links to the live Youtube coverage of events as they appear.

[LukeBrown66]

I think GTWC is on The Race, ELMS I just type that in and search and it is usually easy to find. Bathurst I think might have its own youtube channel for the race and qualifying

IMSA is a bit more tricky, their website is awful, but once you understand the time delays you can usually work it out.

WEC is behind a paywall, and really that only matters at Le Mans, that is their big money spinner, but again their website for live sreaming is awful, it is not clear if it is app only or you can watch through the website, there is no real information to guide you, I would typical French after experiencing the same at Le Mans once or twice, but maybe just me.

Just seems to me with these organisations they want you to pay top dollar but they spend no time letting you know how or making it easy

[alisdairm]

I'm getting a bit bored with F1 and plan to start following WEC based on comments from quite a few posters on Piston Heads.

Are there any good documentaries either on YouTube or IPTV that I should watch?