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19 Sep 2017, 03:47 (Ref:3768475) | #5901 | |
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Shame, too. He has Toyota ties in Japan. If a spot opened up I would rather stay with lmp1 and run Toyota than lackluster F-E.
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19 Sep 2017, 05:26 (Ref:3768488) | #5902 | |
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'lackluster'
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. . . but I'm not a traditionalist so maybe my opinion doesn't count! -TF110 |
19 Sep 2017, 18:06 (Ref:3768612) | #5903 | |||
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Quote:
And for me its 'lacklustre'........ |
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44 days... |
19 Sep 2017, 20:34 (Ref:3768639) | #5905 | ||
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Quote:
_________________________ I still see no validation for claims of Formula E being so mediocre. (I'm going to start an argument, I know. Eh, we have nothing to talk about until Fuji anyway ) |
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. . . but I'm not a traditionalist so maybe my opinion doesn't count! -TF110 |
19 Sep 2017, 21:04 (Ref:3768642) | #5906 | |
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Mediocre as in it isn't fun. Or interesting. And I consider myself an advocate for EVs. As a racing series, Formula E is mediocre.
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19 Sep 2017, 21:19 (Ref:3768644) | #5907 | ||
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I can't claim its mediocre as I've only watched a few minutes of it, but it just doesn't float my boat at all - and, I somehow suspect it won't float Lotterer's much either....
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19 Sep 2017, 21:20 (Ref:3768645) | #5908 | |
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. . . but I'm not a traditionalist so maybe my opinion doesn't count! -TF110 |
19 Sep 2017, 23:12 (Ref:3768659) | #5909 | ||
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Depends on how much Porsche or VAG want to pay Andre to race there. I can't see him going to Formula E.
My bets are GTE-Pro/GTLM for Porsche in the WEC or IMSA, or maybe going back to Audi Sport and run GT3 cars. Of course, what that has to do with Toyota (since TMG will likely retain at least most of their current driver line up) is beyond me aside from rumors and Lotterer's past connections to Toyota in Japan with Super Formula and Super GT. |
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20 Sep 2017, 00:28 (Ref:3768668) | #5910 | ||
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Quote:
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. . . but I'm not a traditionalist so maybe my opinion doesn't count! -TF110 |
20 Sep 2017, 01:13 (Ref:3768679) | #5911 | ||
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Same can be said of Porsche, though I can't exactly say that Porsche in GT3 has been that competitive outside of like Spa this year. They're not setting the world on fire in GTD in IMSA, either.
Seems like Porsche is focusing on the GTE/GTLM program. And as we saw at Spa, if Lotterer wants to run for WRT, they and Audi Sport seem to be happy to make room for him. Though the same thought can be applied to the GTE/GTLM stuff, too. If Toyota want him, they're going to have to put up a lot of coin to buy out his VAG/Porsche contract. And Andre seems to be happy to be at VAG, aside from the Audi Sport and Porsche LMP1 programs shutting down in consecutive years. |
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20 Sep 2017, 04:39 (Ref:3768719) | #5912 | ||
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Quote:
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20 Sep 2017, 06:44 (Ref:3768728) | #5913 | |
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No, I just think everything is relative. For example, TCR is a great set of series. But if Lotterer left WEC and went to TCR, I'd consider that a step down, and in comparison, 'lackluster'.
Sorry, I've tried FE. I just don't find it fun. It has an odd tone where it pretends it's incredible and then everyone drives like a BTCC driver on an overdose. Hoping Electric GT will be better. If Toyota isn't an option for Lotterer then I'd be looking to see if any P1 teams, or IMSA teams (Mazda Team Joest...) are interested. |
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20 Sep 2017, 08:22 (Ref:3768742) | #5914 | ||
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It would be great if, wherever he went, he could have the weekend off and drive at Le Mans. I doubt it's likely, but Toyota would be great.
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Seriously not taking motorsport too seriously. |
20 Sep 2017, 18:04 (Ref:3768844) | #5915 | ||
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Quote:
But how well might VAG like Lotterer at another factory team (in IMSA), even if they're not involved. Super Formula's different because VAG (like every other foreign automaker) has a small market share in Japan and it's not nominally a factory squad. On another note, who might be Porsche FE's other driver (Jani obviously set to be one)? |
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. . . but I'm not a traditionalist so maybe my opinion doesn't count! -TF110 |
30 Sep 2017, 00:46 (Ref:3770657) | #5916 | |
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Interesting, if not obvious story on motorsport.com. "Toyota 'demands' non-hybrid competition to stay in wec" is the article title.
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30 Sep 2017, 21:53 (Ref:3770806) | #5917 | ||
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1 Oct 2017, 03:49 (Ref:3770837) | #5918 | |
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5 Oct 2017, 17:50 (Ref:3772131) | #5919 | |
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Does the recent information about LMP1 (Dallara and Ginetta = in) and (Peugoet = out), make you speculate if Toyota is in or out for 2018 now?
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6 Oct 2017, 07:01 (Ref:3772255) | #5920 | ||
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Talking about road relevance:
Quote:
http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/19001900/ Toyota is not going out of WEC anytime soon. |
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6 Oct 2017, 22:11 (Ref:3772375) | #5921 | |
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Headlights look like the current TS050 also. Nice to see that the wec program is mentioned in this.
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7 Oct 2017, 14:46 (Ref:3772476) | #5922 | |
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This does not mean anything.
The problem for Toyota will be the lack of a long-term perspective with the way LMP1 is unfolding now. I'm sure they would have been willing to bridge 1-2 seasons racing against sped-up privateers until works opposition comes...but that is not in sight at all. So what's the gameplan here? Run circles around the Kolles & Rebellions of the world for years to come, or worse, get beaten by them? Hard to get any good PR out of that, repeated victories against privateers will have no value and losing to them will be even worse. Toyota will stay around as long as it takes to clinch their deserved Le Mans win and after that they're outta here, and you can't even blame them..LMP1 has no future the way it is set up currently. You can't sustain a class with one manufacturer and no one else on the horizon. Even Audi, who's loyalty was endless back in the day, didn't stick around by themselves indefinitely, the years they were running alone was either because there was proper competition for the car in other series (ALMS) or new arrivals were on the horizon (Peugeot). None of this applies to Toyota, they can't enter the car anywhere else and there is no one coming to save LMP1 in its current form. |
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7 Oct 2017, 14:56 (Ref:3772480) | #5923 | |
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We will see in a year if no one will be on the horizon.
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7 Oct 2017, 23:24 (Ref:3772780) | #5924 | |
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Exactly. Especially with the moves IMSA has made with Michelin as their tires and the fact that they are open to having DPi the same as lmp1. That means you can give those manufacturers on the fence another reason to join thanks to having a program/car that can run both series for the overall win with little adjustment. Racing private/small teams never hurt Porsche or Audi's claim of Le Mans wins.
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9 Oct 2017, 06:08 (Ref:3773146) | #5925 | |
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It's true that Toyota is making GR brand Hypercar with WEC in mind.
Although the car that's gonna be at the autoshow is only TH050 themed car and nothing like it on the inside. They wont release the car for a while(2020ish) but the spec comparable with Top end hybrid super cars out there. (1000hp ~ 1200hp is the target) However, this project is nothing to do with Toyota continuing WEC. the only reason why the project is alive is due to some on(not gonna say who) said "I want to build a hyper car before I retire..." Anyways, Let's look forward to Fuji! |
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