2014 Blancpain Sprint Series - Page 11

Rodger Davies · 23 Apr 2014, 19:10 (Ref:3397408)

2014 is looking more and more like the year everyone messes up sports car racing.

Like most comments above, I enjoy some cars being good at some circuits and other excelling at ones more suited to their car. Variable BoP just creates more problems than it solves.

Stephane Ratel has spent the last twelve plus months moaning about ACO breaking a good, working formula. Well seems he's decided to give it a go himself now. It wasn't broke, there was no need to fix it.

Speed-King · 23 Apr 2014, 19:13 (Ref:3397410)

Arguably, it was broke as evidenced by Marc VdS's withdrawal from BES...

Rodger Davies · 23 Apr 2014, 22:39 (Ref:3397489)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Arguably, it was broke as evidenced by Marc VdS's withdrawal from BES...

I see your point, but works McLaren, Audi, Bentley, Mercedes and Nissan teams in BES, in addition to 30 privateers, is hardly doing too badly. Works BMW and Aston at Nurburgring and Spa 24s and another new manufacturer (Lexus) committed to entering next year. I'd say it's the 'least broken' ruleset around at least.

Speed-King · 23 Apr 2014, 23:09 (Ref:3397496)

Yeah, I wasn't so much commenting about GT3 in general, which still is more or less fine, but rather about the BMW-situation. It's actually quite similar to the DP/P2 problem in IMSA: The Z4 gets the same laptimes as the Audi, Merc, etc, but - relying on high DF to make up for a relatively weak engine - they are rather ineffectual in traffic and on the straights.

**joeb** · 24 Apr 2014, 00:56 (Ref:3397521)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Well, in the past, teams had much more opportunities to adapt their cars to a given circuit by using bespoke high or low-DF bodywork... with GT3 allowing only for one type of bodywork and minor modifications to the wings and diveplanes, etc, this actually makes sense.

I think allowing teams to change wings(to a degree) and diveplanes is actually good. Leaving it up to the teams is much preferable to me than a dictated setup by the organizer.

**FIRE** · 25 Apr 2014, 16:25 (Ref:3398171)

Entertaining races.

**BertMk2** · 13 May 2014, 15:46 (Ref:3405897)

The entry list is up for this weekends Brands Hatch races:

http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/s...r_meeting_id=3

22 entries:

6 Audi R8
4 BMW Z4
4 Mercedes SLS
4 Lamborghini FLII
2 McLaren MP4-12C
1 Porsche 997
1 Ferarri 458

I'm hoping to go along for at least one of the days. The grid for the supporting GT Cup looks good too - 40+ entries apparently (not seen a list though).

Speed-King · 13 May 2014, 15:53 (Ref:3405899)

http://www.gtcup.co.uk/UserFiles/Files/p_vsDSiH.pdf

There you go.

Deleted · 13 May 2014, 15:56 (Ref:3405901)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

Hopefully future gt regs are set in stone. Build your car to these max dimensions, these max power levels, these minimum weights! No bop allowed. If your car is slow make it faster

It's a nice dream... but unfortunately only a dream. I'm convinced (by the tone of the manufacturers) it'll be just another BoP class

carbon_titanium · 13 May 2014, 16:05 (Ref:3405905)

If future GT/GT+ will basicly be more or less advanced GTE style bodywork + GT3 engines, I fear that bop will remain just to balance the huge range of different engines

airbusA346 · 13 May 2014, 19:46 (Ref:3405981)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

1 Porsche 997

Hopefully, Tandy has a good race.

urdragon · 13 May 2014, 22:08 (Ref:3406033)

For what I can see, Audi has started to build it's own R8 2.0 (2015) to GT+ regulations, so expect a GT+ Rules based on GT3 with a support of kits for aero upgrades for what would be the top GT class, don't think they (ACO+FIA) are leaving behind the brand with more GT3 cars sold this generation, or near Ferrari minimum.

urdragon · 14 May 2014, 18:21 (Ref:3406319)

By the way, somebody knows what will be the track shape, for BoP matters?

The basic Brands Hatch layout hasn't got many turns, and there weren't too much advancements on the Nogaro track, specially with BMWs, maybe thats why Ratel said that BoP changes Stuff.

airbusA346 · 14 May 2014, 18:38 (Ref:3406325)

Quote:

Originally Posted by urdragon

By the way, somebody knows what will be the track shape, for BoP matters?

The basic Brands Hatch layout hasn't got many turns, and there weren't too much advancements on the Nogaro track, specially with BMWs, maybe thats why Ratel said that BoP changes Stuff.

They are using the GP circuit, not the Indy one as far as I am aware.

Coach Ep · 14 May 2014, 18:43 (Ref:3406330)

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbusA346

They are using the GP circuit, not the Indy one as far as I am aware.

Thank goodness!

urdragon · 14 May 2014, 18:48 (Ref:3406336)

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbusA346

They are using the GP circuit, not the Indy one as far as I am aware.

Thanks, I see (wikipedia) that's a much nicer one :

Accident · 15 May 2014, 03:16 (Ref:3406451)

I see that Piquet Jr. isn't in the BMW anymore, do we know if it's just because of a conflicting schedule thing or is he out? Article I read just mentioned he was "replaced."

Juntos · 15 May 2014, 04:56 (Ref:3406469)

Perhaps Piquet Jr got fed up of puncturing every time he hit the track. They say we only run from the things that truly scare us.

stuart thompson · 15 May 2014, 18:19 (Ref:3406725)

Piquet Jnr isn't doing the full season, and unfortunately Brands is one he's missing.

fergus_r · 15 May 2014, 23:07 (Ref:3406802)

Sadly the grid is down to 20 cars after one Reiter Lamborghini and a Fortec Mercedes have been withdrawn.

Rodger Davies · 16 May 2014, 14:37 (Ref:3406954)

Blancpain GT Twitter account still refusing to acknowledge my questions as to whether or not it will be available in the UK. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but it would be nice of them to say.

J Jay · 16 May 2014, 15:30 (Ref:3406966)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

Blancpain GT Twitter account still refusing to acknowledge my questions as to whether or not it will be available in the UK. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but it would be nice of them to say.

Given the trouble other series are having, it would be a feather in SRO's cap to at least clarify their streaming availability. I'm slightly surprised that nobody at SRO has seen the good PR (however slight) to be had here.

**joeb** · 16 May 2014, 17:23 (Ref:3407001)

In other blancpain series news, they have a tv deal in the US now. Same day coverage for both championships. http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/cb...pain-gt-races/

Accident · 16 May 2014, 21:17 (Ref:3407064)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

In other blancpain series news, they have a tv deal in the US now. Same day coverage for both championships. http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/cb...pain-gt-races/

Great... Here comes the geoblocking. I see it also mentions they will show 1 hour highlights packages of the BES races, hopefully that doesn't mean the full BES races will be geoblocked too... although I suspect it does.

Looks like I'm done with this series again.

Alfaholic · 16 May 2014, 21:47 (Ref:3407071)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

Blancpain GT Twitter account still refusing to acknowledge my questions as to whether or not it will be available in the UK. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but it would be nice of them to say.

My Sky Guide is showing it as being on ESPN live on Sunday which means you will need to have a BT Sports pack subscription.

It will also be shown later in the week as a 1/2 hour highlights package on Eurosport.

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