[WEC] 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship

[tyronnezx]

Originally Posted by deggis

Let's replace Shangai, Fuji and Bahrain with Monza, Suzuka and Nurburgring. Better? But does not increase the amount of non-Grade 1 tracks. So, pretty useless point.

I don't think there is Grade 1 obsession per se, unlike in F1 where it is actually a requirement, it's just a result of picking the latest and biggest track which coincidentally usually happens to be the one that holds F1 GP. La Sarthe will obviously never be Grade 1...

...or maybe in the same way that Monaco somehow is Grade 1.

I dont Understand why we dont have a German Round?!

[GT6]

Lets us hope Montreal Is aware that they will have to pick a new date as the WEC will not want to move the date of the big race

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by tyronnezx

I dont Understand why we dont have a German Round?!

Probably a lack of money on the part of German promoters.

Haiti could get an FIA WEC race if they offered loads of money to the series. I'm honestly surprised Spa is still on the schedule as that's the only non-LM race on the schedule without big bucks being provided via the Circuit or a sugar daddy.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by deggis

So now you want some rusty Chinese circuit instead of European classics? I picked on purpose to show that the grade itself has little to do with this, and definitely does not mean the track is always some new Tilkedrome in the middle of nowhere.

Why does this matter, because they'd probably still pick COTA and Montreal or in an emergency case use Road America? Unless you're suggestiong it's a good idea to rotate and use a different track every year. And having more than 2-3 US races, probably not going to happen.

I'm not saying they should go to those circuits, but that they could. But that cannot be the case if Grade 1 is the magical keyword here. You too made it sound that if they didn't go to Fuji and Bahrain or whatever they'd automatically choose Grade 1 tracks.

If the CotA race does as horribly this year as in 2013, they should be looking for other venue (as indicated by Dagys too) and for Grade 1 requirement there is only one other in United States, one in Canada. Roval and street circuit for 6 hour race...

IMO there should be multiple races in North America, it's the traditional market. I would have 3 in US alone. This is not like Formula 1 where it's 1 GP / country.

Originally Posted by Salamus

It looks like Montreal is replacing F1 with WEC. 2014 is the last year in Montreal's current F1 contract and F1 already has 22 GPs contracted for next year.

It's not supposed to replace F1 but become the new NNS/NCATS/GA replacement that used to run in August until it got canned last season.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Chiana

It's not supposed to replace F1 but become the new NNS/NCATS/GA replacement that used to run in August until it got canned last season.

Just to add to this that - as mentioned before - this whole Montreal thing is still more of a rumour.

[TF110]

There were talks about it last year in Brazil. Its a fast track, huge braking zones, should be on the schedule! Imola is in its likeness in terms of speed and chicanes, wish both were visited.

[BudLightJaguar]

CotA will have its second chance this year. Last year the concept didn't work and as far as I know, it was very poorly promoted even compared ALMS, which had a joint event on Saturday, or even compared to Grand-AM.

Six-hour day race on Sunday in the middle of the desert didn't succeed to gain attendance. Not just because of poor marketing but because basically CotA is far away from anywhere if you don't live in Austin metro area.

[Deleted]

It's a slightly better concept now with race happening the same day + going into night, and also there's no conflict with Longhorns football, however they will be fooling themselves if they think the attendance is gonna be radically improved from last year.

They have appointed new ACO representative for American market... for this one race, ehh. Maybe if you made some promotion for your series in said market area and had some TV coverage you could get some boost in interest. And American flavour in the grid too...

CotA's the only circuit in US I hate (that and New Jersey Motorsport Park + some rovals). It's no worse than say Buddh or Sakhir or Shanghai but it looks and feels exactly the same, dull grey and boring and could be located in Asia.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by Chiana

It's not supposed to replace F1 but become the new NNS/NCATS/GA replacement that used to run in August until it got canned last season.

That is what it says in the article but I'm just making a speculation. If F1 doesn't return to Montreal then it makes sense that the organizers are fishing for another World Championship.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Salamus

That is what it says in the article but I'm just making a speculation. If F1 doesn't return to Montreal then it makes sense that the organizers are fishing for another World Championship.

If they'll be in a position of looking for Formula 1 replacement then asking Nationwide back (since Sprint Cup has already said no) or even contacting IndyCar would make much more sense if they want to continue to have profitable headliner motorsport event for the city of Montreal. It's a track that currently only hosts one weekend of racing per year and I'm afraid 6 hour sportscar race as weekend headliner won't do it...

As secondary August event, even in full 6 hour format it might make sense if you also bring along other known series and Canadian flavour.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by Chiana

If they'll be in a position of looking for Formula 1 replacement then asking Nationwide back (since Sprint Cup has already said no) or even contacting IndyCar would make much more sense if they want to continue to have profitable headliner motorsport event for the city of Montreal. It's a track that currently only hosts one weekend of racing per year and I'm afraid 6 hour sportscar race as weekend headliner won't do it...

As secondary August event, even in full 6 hour format it might make sense if you also bring along other known series and Canadian flavour.

Except that Nationwide stopped going to Montreal because it wasn't profitable for the organizers. And as of right now, IndyCar is a ticking time bomb that is not even a shadow of its former self. There are a lot of sports car fans in the area, a WEC round may work. Plus, WEC wants a North American round (especially if Austin doesn't work) and they love Grade 1 tracks.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Salamus

Except that Nationwide stopped going to Montreal because it wasn't profitable for the organizers. And as of right now, IndyCar is a ticking time bomb that is not even a shadow of its former self. There are a lot of sports car fans in the area, a WEC round may work. Plus, WEC wants a North American round (especially if Austin doesn't work) and they love Grade 1 tracks.

Montreal wanted Sprint Cup but NASCAR didn't agree.

Let's be perfectly honest here, if the NASCAR freaking NATIONWIDE ie the second biggest North American motorsport series with all of it's big names and Canadian guest stars like Ron Fellows etc cannot be profitable enough for the secondary August event on street circuit, what kind of a chance does 6 hour niche non-American sportscar series have especially if, and only if, it were to replace F1...

IndyCar is actually becoming more and more healthy and is attracting good attendances, even if the TV ratings continue to suck. It's certainly no CART or anything but it's not a bad bang for buck.

Doing doubleheader with ICS wouldn't be the worst of ideas (especially if you also throw in NASCAR Canadian Tires etc), but even then I would urge FIA to re-think if they really need to have 6 hour races everywhere...

WEC does love Grade 1 tracks, that is certain though.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

CotA will have its second chance this year. Last year the concept didn't work and as far as I know, it was very poorly promoted even compared ALMS, which had a joint event on Saturday, or even compared to Grand-AM.

Six-hour day race on Sunday in the middle of the desert didn't succeed to gain attendance. Not just because of poor marketing but because basically CotA is far away from anywhere if you don't live in Austin metro area.

Austin is right in middle of the Texas Triangle: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metros all within or close to 3 hours of the track so millions of potential spectators in close proximity.

And yes, it was poorly promoted, hardly any advertisements or tv commercials, just 1 or 2 billboards close to the track, that was it. Not convinced FIA/ACO-COTA will do a better job this year.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

And yes, it was poorly promoted, hardly any advertisements or tv commercials, just 1 or 2 billboards close to the track, that was it. Not convinced FIA/ACO-COTA will do a better job this year.

Maybe they expect USCC to do all the promoting and hope whoever comes to see them sticks around long enough for the start of their marathon.

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by Chiana

IndyCar is actually becoming more and more healthy and is attracting good attendances, even if the TV ratings continue to suck. It's certainly no CART or anything but it's not a bad bang for buck.

WEC does love Grade 1 tracks, that is certain though.

Actually, the biggest problem with Indycar (outside of their pathetic television ratings) is that it's not great 'bang for buck.' Many promoters have revealed Indycar sanction fees are higher than Nationwide and Indycar provides them with little to no television money while even the Truck Series does. In the United States television money is a much bigger boost to promoters than ticket revenue. This is why most major racetrack owners in the U.S. are rich while major racetrack owners in Europe are so often on the verge of financial collapse.

Not saying FIA WEC is a better deal, but Indycar certainly isn't a good deal for promoters and their F1-like reliance on Government funding is showing this.

If Nationwide didn't make money there then I can't think of what would.

[Deleted]

Why does ICS seem always be the first choice for street circuit events? I'm not saying you're wrong but surely they must be doing something right.

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Why does ICS seem always be the first choice for street circuit events? I'm not saying you're wrong but surely they must be doing something right.

Government Funding.

ICS and their minions (Andretti, BRD, Cotman ect) usually approach local governments before local governments approach them. Mayor hears it will be 'the next Monaco' and tourism will increase by 9000% or whatever and then signs up Indycar for a load of money.

Problem is the Montreal Government was unwilling to fund NASCAR and have recently and rightfully called out the F1 conundrum they are in.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by FordCosworthPanoz

Government Funding.

ICS and their minions (Andretti, BRD, Cotman ect) usually approach local governments before local governments approach them. Mayor hears it will be 'the next Monaco' and tourism will increase by 9000% or whatever and then signs up Indycar for a load of money.

Problem is the Montreal Government was unwilling to fund NASCAR and have recently and rightfully called out the F1 conundrum they are in.

Yet majority of these ICS street events keep breathing on?

With F1 it's kinda 50-50 since while Uncle Bernard's CVC feeds are outrageously horrendous, you do get tons of PR and tourism for organizing it.

[TheMightyM]

A couple of points:

1. I'm not sure what's in it long-term for TUSC or WEC having a double header at CotA. I doubt that a combined event can meet the commercial needs of both series.

2. The WEC business model seems closely tied to Grade 1 tracks, which is to say they are trying to suggest their quality by only racing on F1 circuits plus Le Mans. Thus Montreal makes sense -- or maybe more accurately, it's the only track besides CotA in North America that's consistent with what they're trying to do.

3. Montreal could be a flirt though, an attempt to get a better deal from CotA to keep the race there.

4. The WEC is a fragile mix: It has factory team, a couple of privateers, but about half the grid is in the Pro-Am categories. That makes adding more races difficult — while most of the factories teams probably like the idea, adding more races increases the cost to the series and is likely to push some teams back to ELMS or out of ACO-style racing entirely. And the WEC grid post Le Mans is looking a bit suspect this year. So it's far from certain whether Montreal would be in addition to the current races or in place of one of them.

[Deleted]

WEC calendar has practically been tailor made with manufacturers in mind first, and all the rest is secondary in importance. And then you hear ACO themselves admitting the facts:

Originally Posted by Vincent Beaumesnil

“We have to protect them [LMP1 privateers] because manufacturers come and go [in a snap]. If you remember in 1999, we had six manufacturers on the grid [at Le Mans]. In 2000, there was only one remaining."

I'd say 2011 ILMC with four rounds in Europe, two in NA and one in Asia was cheaper than WEC (not to mention better). Also with less distance you wouldn't need to worry so much about the logistics, which has been one of the major excuses of ACO for the ludicrous plus three month post LM gap

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Chiana

WEC calendar has practically been tailor made with manufacturers in mind first, and all the rest is secondary in importance. And then you hear ACO themselves admitting the facts:

I'd say 2011 ILMC with four rounds in Europe, two in NA and one in Asia was cheaper than WEC (not to mention better). Also with less distance you wouldn't need to worry so much about the logistics, which has been one of the major excuses of ACO for the ludicrous plus three month post LM gap

A large gap has been created to accommodate sea transport instead of going through the air and thus saving a considerable amount of money for all participants. Most transfers are however still being made by air transport, hence the 31 or 32 cap for seasonal entries (not reached so far...).

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

A large cap has been created to accommodate sea transport instead of going through the air and thus saving a considerable amount of money for all participants.

Yes I know (wrong place to save but whatever). However I didn't recall we still lived in the 1700's and sea freight took three months to carry over Atlantic. And then later the gaps between races is just weeks again, even if we are on another continent. Look at the gap between Bahrain and Interlagos, and then attempt to justify LM-CotA again!

Here's how outstandingly badly the calendar is actually divided (one row = one week):

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Paul Ricard Prologue


Silverstone 6 Hours

Spa 6 Hours



Le Mans Test Day

Le Mans 24 Hours













CotA 6 Hours


Fuji 6 Hours


Shanghai 6 Hours

Bahrain 6 Hours

Interlagos 6 Hours
____________________________________________________________

And then - then the gap between the end of this season and the start of the 2015 one (presumably in halfway April again) is only around one month longer than the gap between LM & Round 4, or as I like to call it "wait this series still exists?"

Who came up with this brilliant idea?

Most transfers are however still been made by air transport, hence the 31 or 32 cap for seasonal entries (not reached so far...)

I'd say the main reason for season gap is there because of the LM auto entry isue.

[TF110]

The wec transports the cars. They scheduled the rounds with that in mind, not manufacturers. Silverstone to Spa is not a far travel. Then next month in France for LM. The (too) big summer break gives teams the chance to recover and get ready for the 'flyaway' races.

[Coach Ep]

The 'summer break issue' is another one that can be solved by making the WEC a manufacturers-only championship. All transport can be done by air freight, no need to save costs on logistics.

[Pandemonium]

LONG LIVE THE WEC!!
go home party poopers!!
Montreal is the real deal. To atract some kind of people the lmp1´s would have to be racing in square tires and be bashing each other. Forget it...