[WEC] 2017 WEC Season

[chernaudi]

I may have misread, but it seems that Toyota and Porsche might both run LM bodykits though LM.

IMO, that's sort of odd given that Toyota seem to have their sprint bodywork up and running.

[chernaudi]

Also, we better hope for some dry running this weekend, since it's supposed to rain at Monza all weekend now.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

I may have misread, but it seems that Toyota and Porsche might both run LM bodykits though LM.

IMO, that's sort of odd given that Toyota seem to have their sprint bodywork up and running.

SC365 says differently on the Toyota

***While the pair of Toyotas debuted in low-downforce trim, Vasselon said they will both run with the high-downforce aero kit at Silverstone and Spa, with the third entry to sport the Le Mans kit in Belgium. “At the moment it’s what’s likely to happen,” he said.

***Porsche has yet to declare what aero configuration its LMP1 contenders will be in for the first two rounds, in the wake of a reduction to only two kits allowed per season. “In theory, you could come with the low-downforce kit up to Le Mans, sacrifice Silverstone and have more time [to develop] a high-downforce kit and bring it for the Nürburgring,” Porsche LMP1 team principal Andreas Seidl said.

[chernaudi]

I originally read that Toyota wanted to run their sprint kit at Silverstone and maybe Spa, then I caught on DSC that it might not have been the plan. I don't know if that was a typo or what. But I had thought that Toyota wanted to run their sprint kit at least for Silverstone.

If so, and Toyota have the speed, Porsche might have a hard race as Toyota should have the edge on grip and probably tire wear (more important this year, since the 6 hour races will have 4.5 sets of tires vs 6.5/8.5 last year)

Also, Toyota will have three cars at Spa, so the #9 might be in the LM kit, similar to what Audi did in 2013/14.

[TF110]

Yeah I think it's safe to say that's what they mean when Vasselon says the third entry will sport the LM kit in Belgium. So that'd be the #9 getting prepared for the big race.

[TF110]

Standing after the first hour https://twitter.com/SpeedChillsView/...82720769146880


The P1's are already a second faster than the best lap from the Peugeot 908 in 2008's race.

[kvenom]

Why is it so hard for the WEC to have live timing for the prologue? Every year its the same song and dance.

[kvenom]

Not a good omen, the Bykolles has yet to turn a lap.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by kvenom

Why is it so hard for the WEC to have live timing for the prologue? Every year its the same song and dance.

Another missed opportunity to connect with the fans. When the focus is on cost reduction, slowing the cars, etc, then the mind-set is always retrograde. Focus should be on growth and improving the product for the fans.

[Victor_RO]

Porsche and Toyota trading fastest times in the first two sessions, and all 4 cars covered by under a second roughly. Looks like, at least in terms of their battle, we might be in for a good season.

[chernaudi]

And even though the LMP1s are over 4 seconds a lap faster than the LMP2s, the LMP2s have the edge into the speed traps on the order of nearly 10kmph. That's unless the lift and coast BS is being reflected into the speed traps. At least with air restrictors the speed into the speed traps are actual speeds and not gaming a laptime with fuel flow.

[kvenom]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

And even though the LMP1s are over 4 seconds a lap faster than the LMP2s, the LMP2s have the edge into the speed traps on the order of nearly 10kmph. That's unless the lift and coast BS is being reflected into the speed traps. At least with air restrictors the speed into the speed traps are actual speeds and not gaming a laptime with fuel flow.

Porsche hit 313kp/h in the afternoon session, that was the fastest.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Porsche and Toyota trading fastest times in the first two sessions, and all 4 cars covered by under a second roughly. Looks like, at least in terms of their battle, we might be in for a good season.

That's what everything hinges on. As the Audi vs. Peugeot years have shown, two manufacturers are enough to carry the sport if the battle is close enough. What we can't afford is one of them dropping the ball and falling behind though.

[chernaudi]

Well, session two had a Toyota ahead of it's teammate and both Porsche's by about a second.

I'll bet the results of Silverstone will probably hinge on luck and what aero kit Porsche runs. With Silverstone being a high downforce track and the times being close today, Toyota might have forced Porsche's hands into an early adoption of the sprint body kit.

[TF110]

Let's see what they do in the night session. I hope it's still close. And I also hope to see the CLM do some laps.

[chernaudi]

LMP2 drivers are saying that LMP1s have been struggling to pass them down the straights. Again, screw the fuel flow meters, and screw lift and coast:

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/m...ay-notebook-3/

[TF110]

Yeah and that's with the lmp2's running the high downforce package. I think the ACO should be looking at relaxing the restrictions put on the lmp1's.

[chernaudi]

Or not give LMP2s the same 600hp for their engines as what LMP1s have, or not have the fuel flow meters. Air restrictors worked fine at keeping top speeds down (the main reason why they and the fuel flow meters exist), and they're cheaper and less complicated.

IMO, it's sort of dangerous to give two classes of cars near equal engine power but two different ways of restricting them.

[TF110]

The cars are built to run to these fuel flows, so dropping them is pointless when they're already integrated into the cars. They could relax the fuel flow by a percentage and the cars would automatically go seconds faster. Look at 2015's speeds. Porsche was running damn near flat out with minimal lift and coast at Le Mans compared to now.

[chernaudi]

But like with NASCAR and ISC at Daytona, you have to appease the liability insurance a-holes...

That's even when ironically faster actually probably is somewhat safer.

And even with the ACO saying that the LMP1s are actually probably hitting 200mph before the speed trap, that's only 6-8mph faster than what the LMP2s top out at.

[TzeiTzei]

Originally Posted by kvenom

Why is it so hard for the WEC to have live timing for the prologue? Every year its the same song and dance.

Especially when Alkamel systems already has a pretty good live timing service, which IMSA for example uses.

[TF110]

alakamelsystems has the results up from today as well. I do wonder how they can't do live timing when the results are already up and the session just ended!

[cokata]

The ACO just pointlessly continue to slow down the P1 cars after 2016 when they were already 4 seconds per lap slower than 2015. Now we are going to have a situation similar to pre-2014 P1 where all the overtaking was happening in braking zones and corners which is much more dangerous. Crashes like the one McNish and Rocky had are now much more likely to repeat than they were in the past few seasons.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by cokata

The ACO just pointlessly continue to slow down the P1 cars after 2016 when they were already 4 seconds per lap slower than 2015. Now we are going to have a situation similar to pre-2014 P1 where all the overtaking was happening in braking zones and corners which is much more dangerous. Crashes like the one McNish and Rocky had are now much more likely to repeat than they were in the past few seasons.

+1

[TF110]

They cut downforce, but at least this time it wasn't fuel flow. I'm sure that's they're next bright idea though.