[WEC] OFFICIAL 2012 WEC ENTRY LIST (02/02/12 16:00 CET / 15:00 UK)

[KA]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Gulf Racing Middle East ? ..... thats brilliant news . Hope they have both of them in the one car .

I'm not sure they can?- the ACO driver grading rules say that there has to be a 'Silver' or 'Bronze'-graded driver in each car for LMP2:

Originally Posted by ACO rulebook

For the LMP2 category only: the rule governing the composition of the crews derives from the categorisations of the drivers: a crew of 2 or 3 drivers must include at least one Silver or Bronze driver

I think Giroix was graded 'Gold' last year, and Fatien 'Bronze'?

Johansson will be either a 'Platinum' or 'Gold' depending on his age (According to the rulebook, drivers eligible for 'Platinum' grading are graded 'Gold' if they're over 55- IIRC Stefan is 55), and I'm assuming Charouz would be Platinum as well (he's had a couple of F1 reserve/test driver gigs, so presumably will hold an F1 Superlicence)

How about Maxime Jousse and Keiko Ihara? both with single-seater backgrounds, but as I recall, Ihara didn't do much in British F3 and I know little about Jousse apart from him being Julien Jousse's younger brother..

Just looked Jousse up -6th in Italian F3 last year according to Wikipedia, which if I'm reading the rulebook correctly suggests he may be another Gold, so I'm guessing Ihara must be to be 'Silver' at best?

I thought the entry list as given on Planetlemans had the Gulf pairings as Giroix/Jousse in #28, and Fatien/Ihara in #29?

If I'm interpreting the gradings right ,and they had already announced those pairings, I think they might now need a bit of a reshuffle to put Fatien in one car and Ihara in the other to give their required Silver/Bronze driver in each?

Of course, I could be reading all of this wrongly and talking total garbage...
Either way, putting Johansson and Charouz into the Gulf cars makes them much more interesting contenders in P2...

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by KA

I'm not sure they can?- the ACO drive grading rules say that there has to be a 'Silver' or 'Bronze'-graded driver in each car for LMP2.

For the LMP2 category only: the rule governing the composition of the crews derives from the categorisations of the drivers: a crew of 2 or 3 drivers must include at least one Silver or Bronze driver

I think Giroix was graded 'Gold' last year, and Fatien 'Bronze'?

Johansson will be either a 'Platinum' or 'Gold' depending on his age (According to the rulebook, drivers eligible for 'Platinum' grading are graded 'Gold' if they're over 55- IIRC Stefan is 55), and I'm assuming Charouz would be Platinum as well (he's had a couple of F1 reserve/test driver gigs, so presumably will hold an F1 Superlicence)

How about Maxime Jousse and Keiko Ihara? both with single-seater backgrounds, but as I recall, Ihara didn't do much in British F3 and I know little about Jousse apart from him being Julien Jousse's younger brother

I though the entry list had the Gulf pairings as Giroix/Jousse in #28, and Fatien/Ihara in #29

Just looked Jousse up -6th in Italian F3 last year according to Wikipedia, which if I'm reading the rulebook correctly suggests he may be another Gold, so I'm guessing Ihara has to be 'Silver' at best? If they had already announced the pairings I'd posted, I think they might need to have a bit of a reshuffle to have Fatien in one car and Ihara in the other to give their required Silver/Bronze driver in each?

Of course, I could be reading all of this wrongly...

Maxime Jousse is Silver as per the ACO's classification this year, as far as I'm aware.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Maxime Jousse is Silver as per the ACO's classification this year, as far as I'm aware.

Thanks Victor- that makes a bit more sense- either way, I suspect we might not see Johansson and Charouz in the same car

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by KA

Thanks Victor- that makes a bit more sense- either way, I suspect we might not see Johansson and Charouz in the same car

Definitely not, for Sebring it's apparently Giroix-Jousse-TBA and Fatien-Ihara-TBA right now. So it would be definitely Johansson in one car and Charouz in the other, let's see which one in what car.

As for the driver classifications, bookmark this link and have a look at it: http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...tification.pdf Maxime Jousse is on page 4 (after his brother in the list) and is classified as Silver (while his brother is classified as Platinum). As for Johansson, you're right, he is graded as Gold (probably on the age rule; Martin Brundle is 52 and therefore still classified as Platinum).

[KA]

E-I are listing the Gulf Lola drivers as

Giroix-Jousse-Charouz
Fatien-Ihara-Johansson
http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-9759.html

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by KA

E-I are listing the Gulf Lola drivers as

Giroix-Jousse-Charouz
Fatien-Ihara-Johansson
http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-9759.html

Well now that it's announced, they all would, wouldn't they.

[The Badger]

They all would what Victor ?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by The Badger

They all would what Victor ?

They all would... have them listed as such, of course.

[AndrewF31]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Definitely not, for Sebring it's apparently Giroix-Jousse-TBA and Fatien-Ihara-TBA right now. So it would be definitely Johansson in one car and Charouz in the other, let's see which one in what car.

As for the driver classifications, bookmark this link and have a look at it: http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...tification.pdf Maxime Jousse is on page 4 (after his brother in the list) and is classified as Silver (while his brother is classified as Platinum). As for Johansson, you're right, he is graded as Gold (probably on the age rule; Martin Brundle is 52 and therefore still classified as Platinum).

Funny to see Rui Aguas as Silver and Waltrip in Platinum.
When you see them on the track it looks like Rui is Gold and Waltrip Silver.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

Funny to see Rui Aguas as Silver and Waltrip in Platinum.

Waltrip was a "factory" driver and multiple race winner in NASCAR and he's under 55 years of age, so they classified him as such.

[AndrewF31]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Waltrip was a "factory" driver and multiple race winner in NASCAR and he's under 55 years of age, so they classified him as such.

I know all that. It just hasn't shown on the track. Rui hasn't driven enough times to be higher up but he's shown quality.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Waltrip was a "factory" driver and multiple race winner in NASCAR and he's under 55 years of age, so they classified him as such.

I'm not sure how you would classify Michael Waltrip as a factory driver. NASCAR (and Indycar) drivers generally are signed with their teams, not with manufacturers. Teams have affiliations with manufacturers, but then almost every NASCAR/IRL driver would be classified as being a factory driver if you use that as factory driver criteria. Waltrip may own a team that receives manufacturer money and drive for himself, but it's not like he's receiving that manufacturer money for his driving. Someone like Tony Stewart would be a different story. Of course, I would put Michael Waltrip more in the class of owner-drivers like Brett Bodine and Dave Marcis than Tony Stewart. Of course, all of those drivers have won Winston Cup races.

[Acid09]

The Waltrip thing is a joke really. The ACO/FIA should acknowledge that NASCAR racing requires a vastly different skill set and as such the amount of success there doesn't always transfer well to road racing.

Sure, there are plenty of NASCAR drivers who are recent road racers as well but I wouldn't classify any of them as platinum for sports car racing really.

Waltrip is a silver driver in road racing terms, gold if we´re really really generous.

[KlBD]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Definitely not, for Sebring it's apparently Giroix-Jousse-TBA and Fatien-Ihara-TBA right now. So it would be definitely Johansson in one car and Charouz in the other, let's see which one in what car.

As for the driver classifications, bookmark this link and have a look at it: http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...tification.pdf Maxime Jousse is on page 4 (after his brother in the list) and is classified as Silver (while his brother is classified as Platinum). As for Johansson, you're right, he is graded as Gold (probably on the age rule; Martin Brundle is 52 and therefore still classified as Platinum).

So, does it mean anything that apparently regulations state that teams in LMP2/GTE Am must have one or more silver or below drivers, yet the document which lists all the driver classifications says at the end that the document itself "has no regulatory value"? Or is that just fancy rulesspeak confusing me?

After combing through it, it seems there have been very little movements from last year (3-4 drivers have upgraded rankings), and it's weird to see a driver like Marino Franchitti only being rated as gold. Sure, he doesn't fit the exact criteria of open wheeler success that platinum requires, but surely based on the clause that his achievements otherwise can attest he is arguably of platinum grade? Though as you guys have been discussing certainly politics plays a role in deciding these rankings as well...

edit: Also despite so many ALMS drivers being on this listing, Steven Kane is also missing? What do you guys reckon he would probably be rated? I think on the back of last year's performance probably gold.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by KlBD

So, does it mean anything that apparently regulations state that teams in LMP2/GTE Am must have one or more silver or below drivers, yet the document which lists all the driver classifications says at the end that the document itself "has no regulatory value"? Or is that just fancy rulesspeak confusing me?

After combing through it, it seems there have been very little movements from last year (3-4 drivers have upgraded rankings), and it's weird to see a driver like Marino Franchitti only being rated as gold. Sure, he doesn't fit the exact criteria of open wheeler success that platinum requires, but surely based on the clause that his achievements otherwise can attest he is arguably of platinum grade? Though as you guys have been discussing certainly politics plays a role in deciding these rankings as well...

edit: Also despite so many ALMS drivers being on this listing, Steven Kane is also missing? What do you guys reckon he would probably be rated? I think on the back of last year's performance probably gold.

Fancy rulespeak I guess. And drivers can probably apply for a classification during the season anyway, especially if they are brought in for Le Mans in a class which requires some form of driver rating restriction (i.e. everything bar GTE-Pro). As for Steven Kane, he had quite a "random" career before going to the ALMS, jumping from series to series, but with his pace in the ALMS at the end of last year, he should probably be classified as Gold.

[Spyderman]

According to Dagys ACO has given Corvette a 0.4mm larger restrictor.
I'm wondering if this is the same increase that we discussed earlier (I think it was in this thread)

[urdragon]

Hey, there is not Spotter guide for sebring 1 week before the event?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

According to Dagys ACO has given Corvette a 0.4mm larger restrictor.
I'm wondering if this is the same increase that we discussed earlier (I think it was in this thread)

Yes, I think IMSA just posted the already posted FIA/ACO changes that were highlighted earlier in this thread (post 175). So in other words, IMSA did not change the ACO's restrictor/wing height rules for GTE.

I'm not sure if the IMSA LMP regs are any different from the ACO. I do find the IMSA stated P2 regs interesting. The only engine missing is the Nissan, so I don't know what their restrictor is, but the HPD has a 1.7mm bigger restrictor than the Ford, and the Judd had a 0.5mm bigger restrictor than initial size. I think those increases in the Judd and HPD are carryovers from the ACO adjustments last year.

[Spyderman]

[C6R Racing Fan]

Originally Posted by urdragon

Hey, there is not Spotter guide for sebring 1 week before the event?

Saturday from what I hear, for the A.Blackmore version!

[Articus]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

According to Dagys ACO has given Corvette a 0.4mm larger restrictor.
I'm wondering if this is the same increase that we discussed earlier (I think it was in this thread)

Oh dear. I imagine there will be so much sandbagging in the practice sessions and qualy for GTE from BMW, Corvette, and Porsche. Ferrari has come out guns blazing however. If they can go lower than 2:00:0 they ran in test then I will be impressed. I cant make any qualified predictions but a Vette with more front downforce and more power is going to be very good.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by C6R Racing Fan

Saturday from what I hear, for the A.Blackmore version!

Sunday or Monday. Largest guide ever produced and a couple of teams are still working on designs

[FstrthnU]

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet, but JRM has their LMP1 livery up.

[The Badger]

Id expect that to change somehow , distinct lack of sponsorship here !!!

[MitchZ06]

They never really had big sponsor logos on the SumoPower or JRM GT1 GTRs tho.