[WEC Race] 2014 FIA WEC - Round 4 - Circuit of the Americas

[Beetle]

Fans of motorsport from around the world are in for a Texas-sized treat this September as the FIA WEC makes its return to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The world's premier endurance racing series will make its return appearance alongside the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship, comprising the aptly named "Lone Star Le Mans" weekend of endurance sportscar racing.

From September 18-20, the world's finest teams, drivers, and racecars will descend upon Circuit of the Americas, a unique 5.5-kilometer (3.4-mile) venue done up to FIA Grade 1 standards. With billiard-smooth pavement and ultramodern facilities, "CoTA" was the brainchild of racer, promoter, and Austin native Tavo Hellmund and 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz. With financial backing from billionaire investor Red McCombs and technical assistance from famed German track designer Hermann Tilke, CoTA was groundbreaking on multiple levels. Aside from its big claim to fame in bringing Formula 1 back to the United States, the Texas circuit would soon after host rounds of MotoGP, V8 Supercars, the now-defunct ALMS and Grand-Am Series, and the FIA WEC, which makes its return alongside a spate of IMSA series after a reasonably successful 2013 debut.

Audi Sport is looking to further eat away at Toyota's lead in both the LMP1 constructor's and driver's championships after a Le Mans win. The No. 8 Toyota dominated the first two rounds of the championship but the team had a disastrous run at the 24-hour endurance classic, putting them only 1 point ahead of the Ingolstadt crew (115-114). The Porsche 919 is showing solid pace but is still waiting in the wings after frustrating mechanical gremlins nagged them again at La Sarthe. Meanwhile, Lotus is finally set to debut its No. 9 T129-AER from Romania with Christophe Bouchut, James Rossiter, and a TBA driver set to compete in the LMP1-L class alongside Rebellion Racing.

In LMP2, G-Drive Racing is making the switch from a Morgan chassis to the new Ligier JS P2, debuted at Le Mans, but will still retain the same drivers as they look to challenge SMP and wrestle back the points lead after a bizarre running in France. KCMG is back while American team Extreme Speed Motorsports is set to field a one-off entry, a Honda-powered No. 30 HPD ARX-03b as they test the waters for a potential 2015 expansion.

GTE-Pro is consistently one of the most competitive classes in professional sportscar racing anywhere. The No. 51 AF Corse pairing of Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander currently lead points comfortably, while Porsche runs 2nd and 3rd. Aston Martin Racing hasn't matched their 2013 pace after a somewhat lackluster start to the season, but perhaps competition from their old GT1 nemesis Corvette Racing, another American team from TUSC making a one-off effort in the WEC, will spur them to bigger heights! Brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor will co-drive with Tommy Milner in the No. 65 Corvette C7.R.

GTE-Am sees the "Dane Train" come in with a solid points lead in the No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage. Richie Stanaway, from New Zealand, replaces Nicki Thiim at Austin, while American Jeff Segal subs for the missing Potolicchio in the No. 90 8Star Ferrari 458. Meanwhile, Krohn Racing, based just down the road in Houston, Texas, will be the third and final American team to make a one-off start while evaluating 2015 plans surrounding a potential LMP2 entry.

CIRCUIT WEBSITE

TICKETS

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
all times local
Thursday, September 18

Start	End	Race	Session	Duration
08:00	08:30	GT3 CUP	PRACTICE 1	30'
08:45	09:45	GTSC	PRACTICE 1	60'
10:35	11:15	GT3 CUP	PRACTICE 2	40'
12:55	13:55	GTSC	PRACTICE 2	60'
14:10	14:30	GT3 CUP	QUALIFYING	20'
14:45	16:15	FIA WEC	FREE PRACTICE 1	90'
16:30	16:45	GTSC ST	QUALIFYING	15'
17:30		FIA WEC	PRE-EVENT PRESS CONFERENCE
17:00	17:15	GTSC GS	QUALIFYING	15'
17:30	18:30	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (ALL CLASSES)	PRACTICE	60'
19:30	21:00	FIA WEC	FREE PRACTICE 2	90'

Friday, September 19

Start	End	Race	Session	Duration
08:00	08:45	GT3 CUP	RACE 1	45'
09:00	10:00	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (ALL CLASSES)	PRACTICE	60'
10:20	11:20	FIA WEC	FREE PRACTICE 3	60'
12:20	14:50	CTSC	RACE	150'
15:20	16:20	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (ALL CLASSES)	PRACTICE	60'
16:30	16:45	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (GTD)	QUALIFYING	15'
16:50	17:05	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (GTLM)	QUALIFYING	15'
17:15	17:30	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (PC)	QUALIFYING	15'
17:35	17:50	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (P)	QUALIFYING	15'
18:00	18:25	FIA WEC	QUALIFYING (LMGTE-PRO/LMGTE-AM)	25'
18:35	19:00	FIA WEC	QUALIFYING (LMP1/LMP2)	25'
19:10		FIA WEC	QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE
19:25	20:10	GT3 CUP	RACE 2	45'

Saturday, September 20

Start	End	Race	Session	Duration
08:40	09:00	TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP (ALL CLASSES)	WARM UP	20'
09:30	10:15	FIA WEC	AUTOGRAPH SESSION	45'
11:35	14:20	TUDOR UNITED SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIP	RACE	165'
16:20		FIA WEC	PITS OPEN	5'
16:25		FIA WEC	PITS CLOSED
16:30		FIA WEC	GRID WALK opening	20'
16:40		FIA WEC	GRID WALK gate closing
16:50		FIA WEC	GRID WALKend of track evacuation
16:56		FIA WEC	GREEN FLAG
17:00	23:00	FIA WEC	RACE - rolling start	6H
23:15		FIA WEC	PRESS CONFERENCE

ENTRY LIST

EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST

HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATIONS

TRACK MAP

ANDY BLACKMORE SPOTTER GUIDES

FRC PREDICTIONS COMPETITIONS

10 TENTHS / MWM LISTENER'S COLLECTIVE MEETING
Given the number of people from both the Midweek Motorsport Listener's Collective and 10 Tenths attending this event, shouldn't we hold a semi-official 10 Tenths/MWM race meeting? Time & date / location are up for discussion!