[WEC Race] 2014 FIA WEC - Round 1 - Silverstone

[chernaudi]

Basically it seems like this:

Porsche: Insane speeds down the straights, relatively poor cornering performance due to a lack of downforce.

Audi: Slow down the straights, but insane cornering speeds because of them having a ton of downforce.

Toyota: Jack of all trades, master of none (yet). On the average does well, but doesn't stand out in one particular area.

But we have to remember Red Bull's past dominance of F1--very, very rarely were they among the fastest cars in a straight line, but they had insane cornering abilities and that's where they beat all comers basically.

And if it rains this weekend, that could be advantage Audi on pace. Also, that downforce can help with tire wear, and Audi nearly triple stinted tires last year (different cars, different tires, different rules, I know). Porsche might not have such a great time on that front.

[Spyderman]

@MyNameIsNigel...Porsche loose 0.6 second to Audi in sector 2

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

@MyNameIsNigel...Porsche loose 0.6 second to Audi in sector 2

True, and I suspect that the two Audis are bloody fast through Copse and through Maggotts and Becketts, carrying a lot of speed exiting Chapel. Audi's times in the first sector look a bit "suspicious" to me however.

[chernaudi]

Audi sandbagging in FP1? I don't think that everyone's shown exactly what they have quite yet, let alone Audi. But these times might be moot if Sunday is dominated by rain, and that downforce will help Audi considerably, also quite possibly with tire wear in a dry race.

Oh, and rain is a near certainty for Sunday according to the Weather Channel.

[gustavobamba]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Audi sandbagging in FP1? I don't think that everyone's shown exactly what they have quite yet, let alone Audi. But these times might be moot if Sunday is dominated by rain, and that downforce will help Audi considerably, also quite possibly with tire wear in a dry race.

Oh, and rain is a near certainty for Sunday according to the Weather Channel.

With rain on Sunday Toyota might have an advantage to, right????

[chernaudi]

Audi seem to be faster in the twisty bits than even Toyota, though rain will likely hurt Porsche the most.

[Gil Abobeleira]

First out lap for Toyota: 1:45.619 (Nakajima).

[blankfile]

1 44 290 for toyota now

[MyNameIsNigel]

And #1 Audi still in the pits. Any issue ?

[Azy]

Audi #1 is out.

1:43.134 damn!

[gwyllion]

1:43.134 for Di Grassi

Fastest race lap was 1:42.767 last year.

[fergus_r]

Only di Grassi's second lap as well

[chernaudi]

I think that the gloves are comin' off now! Only .3 behind McNish's lap record from the race last year.

[sssssssss]

and already faster than toyota's fastest lap last year.

[SpikerJack]

This morning

Top speed GTE WEC 250km/h (Ferrari)
Top speed GTE ELMS 260km/h (Ferrari)

Why? Only different setups or different BOP?

[isynge]

Group of us on inside of track by wing if people want to catch up.

[chernaudi]

#2 Audi now into the 1:43 bracket.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by SpikerJack

This morning

Top speed GTE WEC 250km/h (Ferrari)
Top speed GTE ELMS 260km/h (Ferrari)

Why? Only different setups or different BOP?

Yup... the cars in ELMS got a bit more oomph so they don't get gobbled up by the GT3s.

[chernaudi]

Audis were the only cars into the 1:43s this session. If Sunday is dry and this is similar to race pace, Toyota and especially Porsche have some work to do or they might have to get some luck on their side.

[gustavobamba]

Why AUDI complain about EOT, they are miles away from the rest….

[TF110]

No one knows just yet who is capable of what.

Audi's longest run was less than 20 laps through the practice sessions. Porsche's longest run saw them box on the 25th lap in P2. Rebellion the same as Porsche in P2 boxing on their 25th. And Toyota boxed on their 27th lap in P2.

[Bandicoot17]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Audis were the only cars into the 1:43s this session. If Sunday is dry and this is similar to race pace, Toyota and especially Porsche have some work to do or they might have to get some luck on their side.

Audi's lap was it's 2nd and after 17 laps it was in the pits/ so it definitely wasn't a full race stint simulation.
For comparison Toyota's fast lap came on lap 10 of a 27 lap stint

[Spyderman]

Toyota has serious race pace!

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Toyota has serious race pace!

Yes, looking at Nakajima's stint in fp2 its clear he was very consistent. Lots of 44's and 45's. Rebellion dont seem too far back, thats pleasing.

[Azy]

Originally Posted by gustavobamba

Why AUDI complain about EOT, they are miles away from the rest….

First of all, we already seen only 2 practice session so everything can change.
And even if Audi will be the fastest this does not exclude EOT bad for Audi.