2018 Pirelli World Challenge silly season

[JorritVD]

Makes all quite sense now:
https://twitter.com/mike_hedlund/sta...00310507716608
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ma...acked-entries/

The drivers and teams still have the same budgets as some seasons ago when f.e. PWC was on its top. Those teams and drivers still want to compete in GT3. The cars not became much more expensive or somethings. There is something else fundamentaly wrong and it is not specifically about GT3, but with "Customer Racing" in general that will also hit TCR and GT4. It already hit GT4, because budgets are already to high there, as Mike mentions in his tweet that GT4 is almost similar to what is GT3 back in 2014 PWC when it was more privateer.

But as PWC teams who still have GT3 2014 GT3 budget can't be competative against the factory supported teams. They need to spend money on stupid engine lease check-ups, need to hire an engineer to start the car or magically have a fast engine mapping. They rather spend their GT3 budget on a competative factory supported GT4 effort where they can at least pay the engineers and stupid engine checks.

[Accident]

Is the Jeff Leper guy related to someone who runs the series or something? Guy fumbles so much. I mean I'm sure he's a great guy and personally I love commentary screw ups, but it just doesn't seem like it's the best job for him.

Just watching the St. Pete races now on YouTube, and while talking about how the only piece shared between the Callaway car and the road car is the mirror covers, he says "so it is a real, purpose-built GT3 car from Callaway production Corvette race car GT3." What?

He owns one of my all-time favorite screw ups from a few years ago at Road America. While talking about the value of running two cars for Dyson he trails off then says "to run two cars so they can do those datas and go both of those."

Have to say it's nice to be able to watch the series again though, even if the GT3 is pretty depleted. I missed the ATS-V years but at least there is a Callaway car running now.

[JLGarcia]

Originally Posted by Accident

Is the Jeff Leper guy related to someone who runs the series or something? Guy fumbles so much. I mean I'm sure he's a great guy and personally I love commentary screw ups, but it just doesn't seem like it's the best job for him.

He's there to make you forget how bad Creamer is.

[cbbrit]

Exciting news for the next round at Long Beach next month, and was badly needed!

http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...or-long-beach/

[cbbrit]

More Long Beach news:

http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...che-gt4-entry/

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

There are very few places in the US (and none in Canada) were having an off-season race is really very appealing. It's winter. It's cold out. Even Austin in February isn't that great.

You'd have a series running at NOLA, Daytona, Sebring, Firebird, West Palm and Homestead. Teams like to have a break. It was questionable when Grand-Am had the season finale at the end of October and then the test days in the beginning of January.

The GTS invitational class sounds like it's a FLM, TRG and GMG class then because I can't see others jumping on the bandwagon to go wipe out a car just for fun. It's actually secret code for "we ain't got enough cars and the promoter is concerned".

Good to see Jeff Ward back. I was his DAG back when he ran Indy Lights.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

You'd have a series running at NOLA, Daytona, Sebring, Firebird, West Palm and Homestead. Teams like to have a break. It was questionable when Grand-Am had the season finale at the end of October and then the test days in the beginning of January.

The GTS invitational class sounds like it's a FLM, TRG and GMG class then because I can't see others jumping on the bandwagon to go wipe out a car just for fun. It's actually secret code for "we ain't got enough cars and the promoter is concerned".

Good to see Jeff Ward back. I was his DAG back when he ran Indy Lights.

Black Swan has a Gt4 car racing at Long Beach...edit: just saw the final line about Jeff Ward

[Rodger Davies]

They haven't even featured the live stream on their main YouTube page, classic...

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

They haven't even featured the live stream on their main YouTube page, classic...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A7dOjwcdT0

As usual with PWC, you need to dig around to find what you want. It's just the usual mess with them. Should commit to proper YouTube Streaming rather than the half measure.

[Mechanic Z]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

They haven't even featured the live stream on their main YouTube page, classic...

If you look at the first post on the COTA race thread there are two live streaming links. One goes to the PWC site's page, the other goes straight to the Youtube stream. Even without the thread, it's really not that hard to find anymore.

[jjvincent]

If you have a Ku SAT dish, it's been on all day too (and in HD). Here's the location:

Galaxy 17
12190 V 13235
DVB-S2 8psk
3/4 FEC
Pilot Off

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

If you look at the first post on the COTA race thread there are two live streaming links. One goes to the PWC site's page, the other goes straight to the Youtube stream. Even without the thread, it's really not that hard to find anymore.

Here's the PWC link:

http://stream.world-challenge.com/

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

If you look at the first post on the COTA race thread there are two live streaming links. One goes to the PWC site's page, the other goes straight to the Youtube stream. Even without the thread, it's really not that hard to find anymore.

The "/live" option they use on YouTube doesn't always work. Because PWC doesn't use YouTube properly (schedule a live event and allowed it to be turned into a recorded video afterwards) and instead takes the videos up and down several times a day, sometimes the live page doesn't display the session that is actually streaming live. Often the stream is live but not listed as such because YouTube hasn't caught up to the chopping and changing. Also, that link doesn't work on other devices a lot of the time - some mobile phones and games consoles can only find videos, not account pages.

And during St Petes, the PWC official site was down.

In theory, you are correct, it isn't that hard. But as always with PWC, it could be and should be easier.

[jjvincent]

Looks like Callaway ran out of money.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...atus-from-pwc/

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Looks like Callaway ran out of money.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...atus-from-pwc/

That was a run of poor excuses..

[cbbrit]

Here's the entry list for Long Beach. The original car count was expected to be at least 20, but only 19 entries so far. With Callaway being a no-show, that would explain the drop in GT Sprint entries, and good to see TR3 is entered with Daniel Mancinelli. And big kudos to Tim Pappas/Black Swan Racing for his two GTA and one GTSA entries!

http://files.world-challenge.com/eve...-EntryList.pdf

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

That was a run of poor excuses..

Imagine of one of the Audi, AMG, BMW or Porsche teams dropped out of the ADAC Masters because of a shortage of engines. Would that be believable?

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Imagine of one of the Audi, AMG, BMW or Porsche teams dropped out of the ADAC Masters because of a shortage of engines. Would that be believable?

If this was a privateer team it would be more understandable. This is the factory though.

[jjvincent]

Plus it's a manufacturer using an American engine in America yet had a hard time finding one. It's kind of ironic as to who helped them out too.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

If this was a privateer team it would be more understandable. This is the factory though.

But they don't build the engines so factory might be a stretch. I'd say they are the builder, do they get anything beyond permission from GM for their program?

But then again, it's not like the engine they use is a rarity. So for me their excuse is bs, esp as a few articles I've seen elsewhere have referenced inquiries to dealer networks reported 12 hour delivery of their LS9s so why couldn't they find one?

[TRspitfirefan]

Sportscar365's Long Beach notebook has lot's of cool bits of news.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...kend-notebook/
Especially exciting for us Lizard fans.

Originally Posted by Sportscar365

***Flying Lizard Motorsports is set to return to GT competition later this year, with Andy Wilzoch confirmed for a three-round program in GTA with his Porsche 911 GT3 R, according to Law. The car, which has been upgraded to Evo specification, is expected to begin its limited-season campaign at Road America in June.

[TRspitfirefan]

Several news pieces regarding entries for the remainder of the season.

Second Truspeed Audi set for the rest of the Sprint-X season.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...er-of-sprintx/

Plans are also in place for the GMG Porsche to complete the Sprint-X season + potential for more sprint races.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...sprint-season/

TR3 and Mancinelli have apparently gotten over their issues from St Pete and now say that they will contest the rest of the Sprint races after all.
+ DXDT claims that they will actually bring their Lamborghini Huracan GT3 to VIR for the Sprint-X race.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...kend-notebook/

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

TR3 and Mancinelli have apparently gotten over their issues from St Pete and now say that they will contest the rest of the Sprint races after all.

I think RFerri also has the Evo kit now, so there's really no difference between the cars now

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

I think RFerri also has the Evo kit now, so there's really no difference between the cars now

Correct! The R.Ferri car had the update kit at CoTA last month.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

But they don't build the engines so factory might be a stretch. I'd say they are the builder, do they get anything beyond permission from GM for their program?

But then again, it's not like the engine they use is a rarity. So for me their excuse is bs, esp as a few articles I've seen elsewhere have referenced inquiries to dealer networks reported 12 hour delivery of their LS9s so why couldn't they find one?

The team themselves consider the program a factory. There's no excuses for them. It's pathetic.