[WEC] Toyota LMP1 Discussion

[S griffin]

Who do people think are going to be Toyota’s closest challengers at Sebring?

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Who do people think are going to be Toyota’s closest challengers at Sebring?

electronics/electrical/mechanicals failure of course

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by canaglia

electronics/electrical/mechanicals failure of course

On a serious note, they have the pressure situation of having to be perfect or look like failures.

[chernaudi]

Depends on the outcome of the test. It seems that also that Toyota are also doing that endurance test because of it being Sebring and it being hot down there compared to Europe and most of the US. In terms of competition, probably Rebellion. They haven't tested at Sebring yet, but the basic chassis and engine have with the Oreca LMP2 cars in testing and racing, even though the increased power and aero are still variables. The BR1 Dallaras haven't tested at Sebring, or tracks with similar characteristics (namely the bumps) as far as I know.

Such test did provide nearly bullet proof cars for Audi and Peugeot over the years. And I say nearly because Le Mans is still Le Mans.

Also, watching this video, I sort of forgot how pretty the sprint spec Toyota looks in comparison to a lot of other cars out there. Only the Rebellion R13 IMO looks as good.

[canaglia]

Sebring has heavy breaking zone like turn 3, 7 and 13 and moderate breaking zone like 10 and 16. Useless to say that because of hybrid boost, none other car will have the same acceleration and exit corner speed, so about performancne, just because of that, toyota will be about 2 seconds faster than private lmp1 IMHO. Better top speed of private lmp1 will compensate poorly.


In theory, it should be a 2013 sebing copycat, with just some private lmp1 more.... anyway, testing at sebring helps a lot but may mean anything actually. Remember 2011 (season with best LM and sebring of recent past to me) 4 work cars, peugeot 908 and audi r15++, just one of them finished at podium because of mechanical issues and silly mistakes by drivers

[XtC24]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Also, watching this video, I sort of forgot how pretty the sprint spec Toyota looks in comparison to a lot of other cars out there. Only the Rebellion R13 IMO looks as good.

Don't know why so many people hate the looks of modern LMP1s and loving Group C at the same time.

Obviously the fins aren't cool but it all depends on angle and given car. TS050 for example looks really bad from the side but 2017 919 looked quite ok with the fin from the side. 2017 919 was generally good looking for me.

And The TS050' s front looks just gorgeous IMHO.

Group C was just the same.

In my opinion 962 kurzheck did look great, 962 Langheck did not.
C9 was beautiful, while Lancia C not so much.

It all depends.
For me the death of LMP1 will be just as sad as it was with group C.

[Deleted]

I don't remember any ugly ACO prototypes from this decade, except for 2014-2016 R18s, TS040 and AMR-One. Possibly Dome S103

[chernaudi]

It helps that the TS050 reminds me a bit of the 2003 Bentley Speed 8, which many hold as one of the most beautiful modern racing cars of all times, and is a favorite of mine.

[TF110]

Toyota aren't alone at Sebring anymore. Yesterday they were but today Dragonspeed was there with their lmp1 and a couple of others tested as well. Toyota has also committed to the 2019/2020 wec season today.

[Deleted]

Didn't someone claim here earlier that Dragonspeed wouldn't do any more than mandated bare minimum running for their LMP1

[chernaudi]

I'm thinking that it may've been their LMP2 testing?

[TF110]

This is the lmp1 testing at Sebring https://twitter.com/juanuy2010/statu...527547392?s=19

[CTD]

Was that the Rebellion following it?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by CTD

Was that the Rebellion following it?

I don't think so. No word from Rebellion about them testing at Sebring now, but one team that has a similar livery and is confirmed to be testing at Sebring this week is JCDC/Jota.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by CTD

Was that the Rebellion following it?

No, that's an lmp2. I think the one that Anthony Davidson drives, forgot the name.

[gttouring]

why didn't they merge the WEC race at Sebring with the 12 hours?
i really don't get it.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by gttouring

why didn't they merge the WEC race at Sebring with the 12 hours?
i really don't get it.

Both series have their reasons. I think imsa doesn't want the dpi's being second fiddle to lmp1 and I think the wec doesn't want to have a bunch of non-wec committed teams running in their race. Those are the two things that stick out to me.

[chernaudi]

And we do have to remember that the ACO and IMSA tried that back in 2012. The results weren't the greatest.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

And we do have to remember that the ACO and IMSA tried that back in 2012. The results weren't the greatest.

<Insert "Podium-ceremony-still-not-completed" joke here>

Apologies for taking the low-hanging fruit again.

[Deleted]

And once again I feel the need to point out that even though it didn't work in 2012 (although I still think it wasn't the disaster most people, especially JH claims it to be) thanks to the arrogance of both organisational sides, it did work in 2011 with ILMC. So it can be done*. And also as said before, the ACO actually did originally want the event to be merged with the 12 hours, but IMSA refused the offer (= for the protection of DPi)

* PLM 2011 is perfect example of good compromise taking as well, see arranged pre-qualifying for the GTC class in order to meet the maximum circuit grid limits

[Deleted]

I do love their positivism on this!

[TF110]

motorsport.com says they covered over 4000km in the test.

[Lanky Turtle]

I think the split races are the best way to go for this even though I enjoyed both the 2011 and 2012 races, and I'm really glad they switched the WEC race to Friday evening instead of Saturday at midnight.

Pretty positive that was the Jackie Chan/Jota car behind the Dragonspeed LMP1. I really regret not getting to see them testing but I couldn't make it down there for a couple days because of a work emergency.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

I think the split races are the best way to go for this even though I enjoyed both the 2011 and 2012 races, and I'm really glad they switched the WEC race to Friday evening instead of Saturday at midnight.

Pretty positive that was the Jackie Chan/Jota car behind the Dragonspeed LMP1. I really regret not getting to see them testing but I couldn't make it down there for a couple days because of a work emergency.

2011 sebring is still the best 12H of recent years to me, the whole 2011 ALMS/ILMC/LMS seasons and LM have been quite epic actually.


BTW agree, if sebring 12H is an IMSA event, you just can't let dpi have a jobber role

[ATLFalconsFAN]

So according to this entry list update from DSC:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/0...confirmed.html

Only see one Toyota with the WEC designation next to it. Does this mean that the 2019/2020 WEC season will only have one Toyota in it???