[WEC] FIA World Endurance Championship

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Not sure if this is common knowledge but Graham Goodwin just mentioned on RLM that Michelin is re-entering LMP2 in an official capacity for next year.

Was reported a week or two ago, report was about Sebastien Loeb Racing testing new LMP2 Michelin rubber on their Oreca.

[GT3.14]

Michelin's return was made official a few weeks ago.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Thanks guys, I don't usually miss things like that.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Keith Wiggins of HVM IndyCar fame is looking for a WEC partner.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104224

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Keith Wiggins of HVM IndyCar fame is looking for a WEC partner.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104224

Sounds like they slowly edging their way towards the exit door to be honest.

[Mr Pink]

If they switch I hope Simona will follow, I'd love to see what she can do in sportscars!

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Mr Pink

If they switch I hope Simona will follow, I'd love to see what she can do in sportscars!

She's already signed for KV Racing for next year though, and there's a number of calendar clashes between WEC and Indycar.

[trickyd]

Quite like the look of the new Austin circuit, for what its worth. Its like a cross between the A1-ring and the new Silverstone.

[TF110]

It's elevation change is pretty cool. I hope the WEC doesn't have the rubbering in the track issue that F1 has had this weekend.

[cmk]

I don't see there being any reason to expect a rubbering-in issue different from other well-used tracks. There are a number of events scheduled next year so it'll hardly be green.

That said, it sounds like it's a genuinely low-grip surface, rubbered in or not. I like that, it is exciting because drivers have to hustle the cars that much more. I would not change the way it's been running this weekend as the onboards have been some of the most entertaining this year. T19 is mighty stuff with its off-camber downhill high speed layout coupled with minimal grip.

[TF110]

It's a new track so it might be part of the issue. I forgot that WEC will be there with a double header ALMS weekend, and they'll run the day after the ALMS, so I think they'll be fine.

[Pandamasque]

By 2013 it'll be fine. It's not like there'll be no other racing on the track throughout the year like in Korea.

[Simmi]

It's not Sebring but COTA is providing some good racing at the moment.

[TF110]

Texas is dry and dusty. My brother lived there for 2 years. I can imagine if the track isn't used for a month it'll be lacking grip with the way the weather is there. But the good thing is the track will be hot when the race takes place there next year.

[Fogelhund]

Very good track, should provide good racing for Sportscars too.

[Purist]

I'm not certain about that. I think I mentioned it in the Austin 2013 thread over in V8 Sypercars land, but it seems like a lot of the fast corners on newer F1 tracks are that fast ONLY for F1 cars, and may be substantially less so for virtually all other categories.

We'll have to see, and maybe F1 speeds up noticeably next year with Pirelli bringing softer tire compounds, meaning that this year's pace may not be quite as indicative of what we will see with the sportscars.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Purist

I'm not certain about that. I think I mentioned it in the Austin 2013 thread over in V8 Sypercars land, but it seems like a lot of the fast corners on newer F1 tracks are that fast ONLY for F1 cars, and may be substantially less so for virtually all other categories.

We'll have to see, and maybe F1 speeds up noticeably next year with Pirelli bringing softer tire compounds, meaning that this year's pace may not be quite as indicative of what we will see with the sportscars.

The fast corners will still be fairly quick for sportscars, but what really makes the track is how wide it is at the braking zones, and how much braking is required. There are some mega spots for late breaking, and taking unique lines. Really going to help with multi-class racing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Considering how green the track was and despite my misgivings for Tilkedromes, it actually produced a good F1 race.

[Maelochs]

I agree with Fogelhound---the track will offer a wealth of opportunities for prototypes to hit GTs.

[Purist]

I can't say that I particularly care for those wide entries at Turns 1 and 11. You can't really use that tarmac, or you won't make the exit of the corner because your line is too shallow. That type of variation, most definitely, increases the chances for collisions; visualize that shallow line, and the traditional line, and see at what kind of angle those two cross. Also, it's one of the cardinal rules of track design that the corner exit should NOT be narrower than the corner entry.

Apart from all that, I think those wide entries, and what it does to the visible apex, look just plum ugly that way.

[Maelochs]

The drivers seemed to like the hidden apexes---a little challenge for them.

[Purist]

That had to do with the elevation. It would be the same with conventional, radiused inner corners at 1 and 11, because it's the profile of the hills and valleys that makes them "hidden".

[TF110]

Who cares what we think. As long as the racing is good and has more than 4 circle turns iits all good imo.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Purist

I can't say that I particularly care for those wide entries at Turns 1 and 11. You can't really use that tarmac, or you won't make the exit of the corner because your line is too shallow. That type of variation, most definitely, increases the chances for collisions; visualize that shallow line, and the traditional line, and see at what kind of angle those two cross. Also, it's one of the cardinal rules of track design that the corner exit should NOT be narrower than the corner entry.

Apart from all that, I think those wide entries, and what it does to the visible apex, look just plum ugly that way.

I thought we saw cars able to make their lines work from anywhere into T1 today, under the right circumstances at least. Sure, the traditional wide line into the corner is definitely the best and helps keep that nice open exit, but people pulled off passes all the way over to the extreme left hand side on several occasions. At the very least it also helped keep cars side by side into 2, which was even more exciting.

[Bentley03]

Not sure if this has been mentioned already (apologies if it has), but Marcel (ten Caat - DSC) has spotted some movement in the European F3 calendar, part of the 2013 Silverstone ELMS/WEC support package, which would imply that the opening rounds of the ELMS and WEC are about to be moved back a week to the weekend of the 19th to 21st April. Watch this space!