[WEC Race] 2014 FIA WEC - Round 4 - Circuit of the Americas

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by Breitling24

Yep, also post number one of this thread.

Like they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Didn't notice it in post one but it jumped out with the race icon.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Chiana

http://www.fia.com/news/preview-6-ho...rcuit-americas
Location: Circuit of The Americas is a world-class motorsports and entertainment venue in Texas, the only FIA-certified Grade 1 track in the United States, and is located nine miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and less than 15 miles from downtown Austin.

Either they are drunk or Indianapolis has lost it's Grade 1 status since the last circuit licencing update.

As far as I know, they are only Grade 1 licensed when F1 is testing, or racing there. If not, they won't be a Grade 1.

I may be wrong, but, unless there is intent to test or race, it's always a Grade 2.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

As far as I know, they are only Grade 1 licensed when F1 is testing, or racing there. If not, they won't be a Grade 1.

I may be wrong, but, unless there is intent to test or race, it's always a Grade 2.

Nope. For example Imola is still Grade 1 even though F1 has been gone for almost a decade soon. And Dubai and Qatar which have never even hosted GPs are Grade 1 too (not a surprise from such asphaltdromes really)

Circuits with F1 test-only licence are 1T

Of course all WEC classes could handle Grade 2 (and GTE Grade 3 as well) but we are robbed of that joy beyond LM

[Rennen]

Originally Posted by TF110

Silverstone was the first race of the year. Audi ran the most wing, thats why their top speed was way down. Being faster in the corners is a given when youre running higher wing. But it didnt serve them any good as it was Toyota who had the fastest stints.

LM showed what? They had good late race pace against competition that had car issues? Its clear that more hybrid power is hugely beneficial. Saying it isn't is wrong. We'll see in a week.

You are correct...Silverstone and SPA too for that matter, both of which Toyota won, weren't even their strongest circuits, as both are 'flowing' high speed tracks, with few places to brake and charge the Hybrid Batteries!

As for LeMans...#7 was way, ahead in the lead at 5am, until an FIA sensor failed and burned out the wiring loom! #8 was severly wrecked in that freakish downpour just after the first hour, which caught Lapierre out, and after an hour of major repairs was never the same car again! So to finish 3rd was amazing!

What would have won LM for Toyota was a budget like Audi's, as it was having a third car which won them the race!

[TF110]

If I was a millionaire I'd help with their budget

In other news, Nissan is going to hold a press conference in Austin on thursday. I wonder if it relates to their lmp1 program.

[Deleted]

Probably...

If I was a millionaire I'd bribe ACO and Le Mans city council from sanitizing Circuit de la Sarthe further. We all have our allegiances

[dave_l]

I do wonder what advantage Toyota enjoyed at Le Mans due to their moving rear wing. It would be very interesting to have seen their lap times had they not been allowed to use it.

In some ways this weekend may be the first time we see all 3 manufacturers on an equal footing. All with high downforce and nobody with bendy bodywork!

[TF110]

It wont matter much at these tracks. Hybrid power will. Last year they could only use 2mj per lap, this year its 3.76mj per lap.

[airbusA346]

Richard Lietz will not be racing this weekend.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by CyberMotor

Like they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Didn't notice it in post one but it jumped out with the race icon.

Yes, it is, and that is pretty much all that post #1 of this thread is.

Being a racing journalist (IIRC, that's what you do), kind of surprised you hadn't heard this name before now. Not looking to be contrary, just observing.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

Richard Lietz will not be racing this weekend.

Bummer

[chernaudi]

COTA's Facebook page has garage area photos of the WEC garage set ups. Strange to see that no one has the scissor jacks that they use at most of the other rounds--even Audi, Toyota and Porsche have their cars set up on hub-mounted stands.

That's sorta strange because I think that I remember that when the #1 Audi last year needed that tail change, they did use a scissor jack for that and the tire change in the garage.

[TF110]

I guess theres no RLM coverage on Fox S2's broadcast http://twitter.com/specutainment/sta...46128890318848

[chernaudi]

FS2 are basically supposed to have their TUSCC/LM guys commentating I think.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

Richard Lietz will not be racing this weekend.

That's a shame . I'm guessing his arm hasn't healed enough to be declared race fit.

[Acid09]

Looking at the pit lane photos, I'm sort of confused on how this will work this weekend.

The WEC teams are setting up their usual European-style fueling rigs outside the garages but there's also a pitwall for the TUSC competitors.

I remember last year the wall was removed after the ALMS race but this might prove difficult this week given how there's no night in between?

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by TF110

I guess theres no RLM coverage on Fox S2's broadcast http://twitter.com/specutainment/sta...46128890318848

"Change of plans" sounds weird considering Varsha said weeks ago that it would be the in-house FOX team. Also, FOX/SPEED has always used their own crews in the broadcasts, unlike rent-channels like Motors TV.

I think last weekend's Formula E was one of the first times in a long time they used international feeds instead of their own, but even that's gonna be replaced by next May IIRC

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Looking at the pit lane photos, I'm sort of confused on how this will work this weekend.

The WEC teams are setting up their usual European-style fueling rigs outside the garages but there's also a pitwall for the TUSC competitors.

I remember last year the wall was removed after the ALMS race but this might prove difficult this week given how there's no night in between?

The lower 'inside' pitwall which is clearly visible here

will be removed again in between the two races, hence the big break in the schedule. Apparently IMSA/CotA have managed to bring down the 'breaking down' time with several hours, hopefully everything goes to plan and no delays will occur.

[Pandemonium]

Is radiolemans covering free practice?

[chernaudi]

Weekend looks like a wash because of tropical moisture and off and on thunderstorms. Area's under a flood watch today, too.

I think that everyone will make some runs in FP1 even if the track's in bad shape because of the threat of rain that runs through Saturday night.

[joeb]

The National Weather Service is predicting 30% chance of rain Saturday during the day, and 20% at night.

[isynge]

Moderate nerdy question about coverage - has anyone had any success in Chromecasting the WEC app? Seems silly to watch it on a phone screen when there's a perfectly good HD TV in the sitting room that could be put to use.

[seanyb505]

What are the chances there will be timing for the practices?

[isynge]

Originally Posted by isynge

Moderate nerdy question about coverage - has anyone had any success in Chromecasting the WEC app? Seems silly to watch it on a phone screen when there's a perfectly good HD TV in the sitting room that could be put to use.

Looks like the app itself answers this question. Looking forward to seeing if this works...

[joeb]

Originally Posted by isynge

Moderate nerdy question about coverage - has anyone had any success in Chromecasting the WEC app? Seems silly to watch it on a phone screen when there's a perfectly good HD TV in the sitting room that could be put to use.

I would be interested to hear how that works for you. I have had great success streaming other sports apps video to Chromecast, but only when the app supports it. You can now stream whatever is on you screen via Chromecast, but I haven't tried that yet.