WEC Race WEC/ALMS Round 1: The 12 Hours of Sebring - Page 9

gwyllion · 13 Mar 2012, 22:11 (Ref:3040606)

There are a lot of other factors to explain that gap: huge budget, top drivers, lots of testing done at Sebring, huge amount of experience with the 2011 R18, ...

I also agree that 2 sec is a normal gap between a factory and privateer car. That is less than the 2% difference that the ACO tolerates.

arakis · 13 Mar 2012, 22:12 (Ref:3040607)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

If one Audi drops out due to mechanical or contact-based problems then all they have to do is be the fastest petrol car. The idea of an Audi problem is not impossible.

maybe not when they had good competition chasing, and hounding them like Peugeuts, but now I don't see them making any mistakes...

gwyllion · 13 Mar 2012, 23:04 (Ref:3040640)

Report about today's testing: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...esday-testing/

The Badger · 14 Mar 2012, 00:12 (Ref:3040676)

What time did Libra get ?

tyronnezx · 14 Mar 2012, 00:36 (Ref:3040688)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

Well the Dyson Lola is still ~2 seconds slower than the slowest Audi, hooray for equivalency!

don't they adjust the equivalency prior to quali?

Acid09 · 14 Mar 2012, 00:52 (Ref:3040694)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

Well the Dyson Lola is still ~2 seconds slower than the slowest Audi, hooray for equivalency!

What do you expect? If they would be on pace with a multi-million dollar factory effort while running a brand new car I'd say that the equivalency had gone wrong...

This weekend won't help us in figuring out whether the balance is right. We need Toyota to show what they can do at Spa before passing judgement on the rules, the gap between privateers and works efforts is simply too big to be bridged by performance balancing (it shouldn't happen really as it would majorly discourage manufacturers).

cbbrit · 14 Mar 2012, 03:02 (Ref:3040725)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

What time did Libra get ?

They got no time as they didn't enter. Apparently they had a sponsor lined up who either has not followed through with the funds or has bailed. Either way this leaves them unable to score points in the ALMS as they would no longer qualify as a full season entry; unless they get an exemption. This would also apply to any other team who enters from Long Beach on, such as Risi for example.

nasdriv87 · 14 Mar 2012, 03:46 (Ref:3040732)

omg, factory amr vantage are too slow... even AM krohn and larbre are doing better laps than him...

cbbrit · 14 Mar 2012, 04:01 (Ref:3040734)

Attention Andy Blackmore!!!
Latest changes/spelling corrections (in CAPS);
#9 PC TOMY Drissi
#023 GTC Dion von MOLTKE
#11 GTC Kevin Estre replaces Michael Valiante
#031 GTC Nicki Thiim replaces Nick Tandy
#32 GTC Rene Villeneuve (no relation to JV) is third driver

Also Stefan Johansson drove the #28 in practice and Jan Charouz drove the #29 so I'll assume this will stand; if I hear differently, I'll let you know!

TF110 · 14 Mar 2012, 04:09 (Ref:3040737)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasdriv87

omg, factory amr vantage are too slow... even AM krohn and larbre are doing better laps than him...

It's also a brand new car. And this is their first race. They've tested before, but it's still early in the week. They weren't that far off pace either. Only about 2 seconds. I'm sure they can improve.

gwyllion · 14 Mar 2012, 07:09 (Ref:3040766)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

It's also a brand new car. And this is their first race. They've tested before, but it's still early in the week. They weren't that far off pace either. Only about 2 seconds. I'm sure they can improve.

It is also the first race for the wider Corvette, the wider Porsche and the 2012 version of the Ferrari

TF110 · 14 Mar 2012, 07:32 (Ref:3040772)

TBF- they're working off of cars that weren't nearly as bad as the last Vantage. The Vette team has always been good, Porsche has a solid base and Ferrari's 458 was already fast. Test pace is one thing, lets see where they stand later this week.

The Badger · 14 Mar 2012, 07:35 (Ref:3040773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

They got no time as they didn't enter. Apparently they had a sponsor lined up who either has not followed through with the funds or has bailed. Either way this leaves them unable to score points in the ALMS as they would no longer qualify as a full season entry; unless they get an exemption. This would also apply to any other team who enters from Long Beach on, such as Risi for example.

Krohn and Larbre have excellant cars with some excellant drivers on the squad .

The Badger · 14 Mar 2012, 07:36 (Ref:3040774)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

They got no time as they didn't enter. Apparently they had a sponsor lined up who either has not followed through with the funds or has bailed. Either way this leaves them unable to score points in the ALMS as they would no longer qualify as a full season entry; unless they get an exemption. This would also apply to any other team who enters from Long Beach on, such as Risi for example.

Yet another saga .

MitchZ06 · 14 Mar 2012, 08:17 (Ref:3040789)

Was hoping the Aston would be faster so we can get a good Corvette vs Aston battle going again...

crooky · 14 Mar 2012, 09:51 (Ref:3040835)

First post so be gentle...

There seems to be far more car classes this weekend than there was at Le Mans last year. Is this because it's a WEC/ALMS round?

And are these the correct descriptions of the classes?

LMP1 = Fastest prototypes racing in the WEC
P1 = Fastest prototypes racing in the ALMS
LMP 2 = Smaller engined prototypes racing in the WEC
P2 = Smaller engined prototypes racing in the ALMS
PC = Spec ALMS prototype series
GT = Fastest GT cars racing in the ALMS
GTEPRO = Fastest GT cars racing in the WEC
GTEAM = GT teams with at least two amateur drivers racing in the WEC
GTC = ALMS equivalent of GTEAM

MitchZ06 · 14 Mar 2012, 10:12 (Ref:3040843)

LMP1 = Fastest prototypes racing in the WEC
LMP1 = The top class fighting for overall wins. Hybrids, petrol and diesel power (or a combination of hybrid and petrol or diesel), no limit on pro drivers and generally where the big manufacturers can be found.

P1 = Fastest prototypes racing in the ALMS
As per LMP1 above. ALMS has dropped the 'LM' prefix on all classes.

LMP 2 = Smaller engined prototypes racing in the WEC
LMP2 = Must have production based engines, atleast one gentleman driver and be up to current spec.

P2 = Smaller engined prototypes racing in the ALMS
As per LMP2 above.

PC = Spec ALMS prototype series
Correct.

GT = Fastest GT cars racing in the ALMS
GT = GTE PRO and AM mish mash in the ALMS, no restriction on number of pro drivers or car spec.

GTEPRO = Fastest GT cars racing in the WEC
GTE PRO = Latest and greatest GTE cars, can be current spec and can have all professional driver line-ups.

GTEAM = GT teams with at least two amateur drivers racing in the WEC
GTE AM = GTE teams, cars must be atleast a year old in spec (I.E 2012 car to 2011 spec) and must have atleast one gentleman driver.

GTC = ALMS equivalent of GTEAM
GTC = Cup spec Porsche 'challenge' class

Hope this helps.

arakis · 14 Mar 2012, 10:20 (Ref:3040848)

haha, try explain that in a sentence to a non-folower of endurance sports cars. That right there is one of the reasons why this sport is being marginalized.

Just have PROTO-pro/am/cup, and GT-pro/am/cup, and I bet more people will watch..
We shouldn't have stupid code names for the classes, have nice explanatory names for people to easily understand. Keep the differentiation in the rule book, and not in the naming.

also ALMS could have called their classes the same as WEC, and differentiate them in the standings after the race.

To claryfy, PROTO-PRO-LMP1 and P1, PROTO-AM LMP2 and P2, PROTO-CUP LMPC and PC, same for the GTs

rayburn · 14 Mar 2012, 11:55 (Ref:3040882)

Quote:

Originally Posted by arakis

haha, try explain that in a sentence to a non-folower of endurance sports cars. That right there is one of the reasons why this sport is being marginalized.

Just have PROTO-pro/am/cup, and GT-pro/am/cup, and I bet more people will watch..
We shouldn't have stupid code names for the classes, have nice explanatory names for people to easily understand. Keep the differentiation in the rule book, and not in the naming.

also ALMS could have called their classes the same as WEC, and differentiate them in the standings after the race.

To claryfy, PROTO-PRO-LMP1 and P1, PROTO-AM LMP2 and P2, PROTO-CUP LMPC and PC, same for the GTs

There is a lot of sense in that post, shame that you're not in a position to make it happen (I assume!).

arakis · 14 Mar 2012, 12:02 (Ref:3040886)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayburn

There is a lot of sense in that post, shame that you're not in a position to make it happen (I assume!).

Thanks

, nahh If I had my way we'd be watching Ferrari cup races with a few Porkies to act as speed bumps

**joeb** · 14 Mar 2012, 12:39 (Ref:3040900)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crooky

First post so be gentle...

There seems to be far more car classes this weekend than there was at Le Mans last year. Is this because it's a WEC/ALMS round?

And are these the correct descriptions of the classes?

LMP1 = Fastest prototypes racing in the WEC
P1 = Fastest prototypes racing in the ALMS
LMP 2 = Smaller engined prototypes racing in the WEC
P2 = Smaller engined prototypes racing in the ALMS
PC = Spec ALMS prototype series
GT = Fastest GT cars racing in the ALMS
GTEPRO = Fastest GT cars racing in the WEC
GTEAM = GT teams with at least two amateur drivers racing in the WEC
GTC = ALMS equivalent of GTEAM

Welcome to the forum Crooky, yes the class structure at Sebring is a bit contrived because of the ALMS and WEC are both having races at the same time at the same place. The main thing to remember is the racing will be good, so just ignore the classes and enjoy the race!

arakis · 14 Mar 2012, 12:47 (Ref:3040902)

easier way to remember the classes, any car that has a class name that is a subset or supper-set of another car's class name is racing against that car.

gwyllion · 14 Mar 2012, 16:58 (Ref:3040996)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

TBF- they're working off of cars that weren't nearly as bad as the last Vantage. The Vette team has always been good, Porsche has a solid base and Ferrari's 458 was already fast. Test pace is one thing, lets see where they stand later this week.

Aston Martin has rather low ambitions for Sebring.

Quote:

We are realistic about our chances on our debut, but we always compete to win and from pre-season testing we know we have a competitive car. For us a top five finish this weekend would be a terrific result, and we know there is more to come from the Vantage GTE as the season progresses.

source: http://www.astonmartin.com/racing/ne...ner-at-sebring

cbbrit · 14 Mar 2012, 16:59 (Ref:3040998)

Attention Andy Blackmore!!!

Car #055 the third driver is Joao Barbosa
Car #95 the third driver is Ryan Hunter-Reay
Car #28 Stefan Johansson confirmed
Car #29 Jan Charouz confirmed

Victor_RO · 14 Mar 2012, 17:03 (Ref:3041000)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

Car #29 Jan Charouz confirmed

No longer confirmed, replaced by Jean-Denis Deletraz.

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