Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[trickyd]

If this series came to pass it would probably be better than WEC. I'm not sure if they could do anything about it, but would the ACO and FIA want that? It might even cause the WEC to fall flat and become an ELMS again, if budgets and priorities started to split. Surely, surely, the common sense thing to do is realise that Sportscar racing is a European and North American 'thing' and have a WEC based largely in those two areas, with a race or two in Asia and South America. One big strong series is better than two that are slightly compromised. Maybe Ganassi wouldn't want to race outside of the US, but surely even he can be persuaded to get a passport. Anyway, won't happen like that. Maybe this is why Jim France was at Le Mans. Maybe there will be the new Rolex series and a 4 or 5 race 'super series' involving P1 cars at big races?

[TF110]

Dont see it becoming better than the wec, especially with the new teams forming in lmp especially.

[Mal]

Maybe it will involve WEC expanding to run say 4 races in America

[Pandamasque]

Mike Newton on Tiga LMP2:

“While the LMP2 option is very exciting, we are at the very early stages with this project, and will target track testing late summer if the initial evaluations are suitably
encouraging.”

https://www.dailysportscar.com/?p=9335

'Very early stages' with testing planned in late summer sounds way more solid than most other LMP projects for next year.

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by Mal

Maybe it will involve WEC expanding to run say 4 races in America

That would actually be great! 3-4 races each in Europe and NA, one in Japan and 1-2 in SA. I think a race in Mexico City would have real potential too!

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by Mal

Maybe it will involve WEC expanding to run say 4 races in America

I believe the ultimate goal of all the manufacturers feeding into this rumor is to get more races (besides just COTA) for P1s in NA as this is one of their primary markets for their upscale cars. Exposure at one race in the US hardly seems worth their while. So I agree with you that it is their ultimate goal to pressure the WEC into increasing the number of races in the US to more than 1 and to perhaps add some other NA sites as well. I really don't believe they actually want to compete in more than one series as that would probably almost double their expenditures.

DK

[Gingers4Justice]

The ACO and FIA won't let a series take anything away from the WEC, let alone be better than it.

It really does seem a bit pointless racing in Bahrain, that round could be so much better placed in the US.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

The ACO and FIA won't let a series take anything away from the WEC, let alone be better than it.

It really does seem a bit pointless racing in Bahrain, that round could be so much better placed in the US.

Pointless except for the fact that, I beleive that is the only race that pays the ACO money

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by Mal

Pointless except for the fact that, I beleive that is the only race that pays the ACO money

Rumor is that COTA is.

[TF110]

I think India or Korea (Inje circuit) would be better than Bahrain. Abu Dhabi even has a better track imo. At least the GT1 races there were good action.

[Starfish Primer]

I like the Yas Marina track, a 6hr night race there could be fabulous.

[Beetle]

Yes, I love the idea of a 6 hour race at Yas Marina. Start around 4:00 or 5:00 and around 10:00-11:00 at night. Also, the Merdeka 12 Hours of Sepang is epic, as well.

Sepang


Yas Marina

[Salamus]

This P1 North American championship rumour won't happen. The idea is absolutely absurd. And it makes no sense.

[FstrthnU]

A championship like that would simply repeat the death of ALMS over the past few years: 1 or 2 good years, then a rapid collapse. With most racing bodies of interest piling into USCR or World Challenge, this theoretical series is unfeasible

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Beetle

Yes, I love the idea of a 6 hour race at Yas Marina. Start around 4:00 or 5:00 and around 10:00-11:00 at night. Also, the Merdeka 12 Hours of Sepang is epic, as well.

Sepang


Yas Marina

Both of those would be excellent.

However, even though sportscar racing is run in the dark, I feel like running Yas Marina under full lights for the endurance race would be awesome...even if untraditional.

[Mr Pink]

I'm suprised that so many of you like Yas Marina, I think it's just a tad better than Bahrain and Shanghai which in my book still makes it a really bad circuit. The surrounding structures are impressive though, however sterile they may be.

[TF110]

Its almost like a street course but theres more than one layout. It has some interesting turns and a decent length straight. Plus its a 'marina' not the desert.

[deggis]

Also, politically much more acceptable place...

[TheDude]

Any news on the GT3 jag?

[Racenut]

Originally Posted by TheDude

Any news on the GT3 jag?

What GT3 Jag? Every time the Jaguar management get asked about it they say there are no plans to race. A pity really, the F-Type is a sweet looking car.

[aneesh99]

Just posted this in the GT3 thread but someone literally just posted on the MWM collective that a GT3 GTSR is being unloaded in Moorseville.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by deggis

Also, politically much more acceptable place...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates

[deggis]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates

I'm not blue-eyed but as far as I've understood it is regarded as quite liberal for a Middle-Eastern country. At least compared to Bahrain. Also, no blood on the streets, so that alone makes it more acceptable.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by deggis

I'm not blue-eyed but as far as I've understood it is regarded as quite liberal for a Middle-Eastern country. At least compared to Bahrain. Also, no blood on the streets, so that alone makes it more acceptable.

None of the Middle East is more liberal or conservative than the other - it is one big convoluted, power-flaunting, corrupt, totalitarian, financial, no nonsense, scary hellhole of a place that I would rather not visit.

This first article explains all of the problems with human rights in the UAE alone...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_..._Arab_Emirates

...and this covers LGBT rights, a considerable argument not mentioned in the first article...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_r..._Arab_Emirates

But to some extent, I agree with you - racing is racing, and as long as you are allowed to race and no one will be in mortal danger, then nothing is wrong with it. The country's got its problems, but racing has nothing to do with human rights, unless a driver is a minority that is discriminated against in said country. Otherwise, it's OK.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Beetle

it is one big convoluted, power-flaunting, corrupt, totalitarian, financial, no nonsense, scary hellhole of a place that I would rather not visit.

That's a very good description of Planet Earth