Pirelli World Challenge

[Mike Hedlund]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

I don't envy their choice, but I'd be curious to know if anyone is particularly delighted by the current set up of split formats. Maybe I'm wrong and the customers (both sponsors and amateur drivers) are perfectly happy with it.

As a fan and competitor, I don't like the format. Of course, nobody in the series asked my opinion before it was announced, but I did have a friendly and constructive conversation with Greg Gill in the pits at St. Petersburg.

I personally only know of one person who wanted/likes the new format. Nobody else I've spoken with about it likes or wants it. /shrug

-mike

[NaBUru38]

I don't get it. All PWC weekends but Long Beach have two races. That just less than 2 hours of racing. Why would any GT driver wish less than that?

[nasportscar]

The one good part is that it has brought some pretty killer lineups to the grid and has allowed more drivers to get seats. Seeing Michael Lewis back is awesome. Having the Taylor brothers race in the series great, having Kyle Marcelli, Mike Skeen and Andy Lee back is awesome. I love seeing Laurens Vanthoor coming for a few races, possibly some big Bentley names and few more. That part is cool.

But is it worth it to the teams like CRP, KPAX or Wright to have to increase budgets and hire another Pro driver(s)?

I am fully onboard how they ran SprintX in 2016 by keeping the focus on Pro-Am lineups and having a short championship season. If they would have lowered the traditional solo championship to 14-16 rounds and increased SprintX from 6 to 8, I think you would have seen the grid numbers still boost. SprintX would have been an awesome place to put the Cup cars and maybe even TCR.

I hope we see it shift back to the more traditional PWC in 2018, but we'll see. If they want to keep SprintX, they need to go full on SprintX and just do away with solo at that point.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

The one good part is that it has brought some pretty killer lineups to the grid and has allowed more drivers to get seats. Seeing Michael Lewis back is awesome. Having the Taylor brothers race in the series great, having Kyle Marcelli, Mike Skeen and Andy Lee back is awesome. I love seeing Laurens Vanthoor coming for a few races, possibly some big Bentley names and few more. That part is cool.

But is it worth it to the teams like CRP, KPAX or Wright to have to increase budgets and hire another Pro driver(s)?

I am fully onboard how they ran SprintX in 2016 by keeping the focus on Pro-Am lineups and having a short championship season. If they would have lowered the traditional solo championship to 14-16 rounds and increased SprintX from 6 to 8, I think you would have seen the grid numbers still boost. SprintX would have been an awesome place to put the Cup cars and maybe even TCR.

I hope we see it shift back to the more traditional PWC in 2018, but we'll see. If they want to keep SprintX, they need to go full on SprintX and just do away with solo at that point.

I think 2 or 3 Sprint X races would actually be okay if marketed as high profile "guest driver" events akin to what the Aussies do with their Gold Coast Race. Or maybe mix up the format a little bit more and have one 30-minute sprint for each driver as a qualifier and then the 60 minute feature race with the pitstop for double points.

[jjvincent]

Sprint X was originally designed to steal away entrants from IMSA. Then bring over those big SRO Euro teams to the US. Since we have a revolving door of people in charge of PWC and whoever is going to sanction it, we can pretty much rewrite history and to the intent of this series. Whatever the reason for having it this year will be different for next year. As long as it meets your agenda, then it's OK.

I really hope we can get the LMP3 rumor mill going again. If not that, the breakaway prototype series. For example, Cadillac has a Prototype and has a long standing relationship with WC Vision. Thus, breakaway prototype series. Might as well throw Dyson into the mix or have we written them off yet?

All you have to do is look back on history with Can-Am, WC and Trans Am and see how many time there was a entrant grab to go after IMSA.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Full SRO rules, or GTFO.

One major difference between Blancpain sprint and the PWC-X format, is that the PWC version features two distinct races, with the second race starting grid determined by the best lap times from race 1. I don't really like the way that race 1 in the Blancpain series is just a qualifying race. I also think that the lack of a minimum pit time is going to make the Sprint-X races a lot better than their European counterpart.
I would prefer that PWC either stick with their classic format or make the entire series Sprint-X. Unfortunately running with INDYCAR complicates matters regarding sharing pitlane. Likely this is the reason why only the PWC stand alone events feature the Sprint-X pitstops.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

The one good part is that it has brought some pretty killer lineups to the grid and has allowed more drivers to get seats. Seeing Michael Lewis back is awesome. Having the Taylor brothers race in the series great, having Kyle Marcelli, Mike Skeen and Andy Lee back is awesome. I love seeing Laurens Vanthoor coming for a few races, possibly some big Bentley names and few more. That part is cool.

But is it worth it to the teams like CRP, KPAX or Wright to have to increase budgets and hire another Pro driver(s)?

I am fully onboard how they ran SprintX in 2016 by keeping the focus on Pro-Am lineups and having a short championship season. If they would have lowered the traditional solo championship to 14-16 rounds and increased SprintX from 6 to 8, I think you would have seen the grid numbers still boost. SprintX would have been an awesome place to put the Cup cars and maybe even TCR.

I hope we see it shift back to the more traditional PWC in 2018, but we'll see. If they want to keep SprintX, they need to go full on SprintX and just do away with solo at that point.

[Speed-King]

I also think that the lack of a minimum pit time is going to make the Sprint-X races a lot better than their European counterpart.

Doesn't Blancpain Sprint have non-timed pitstops as well? I think they are only using those in the national championships.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

Has anyone on here been to VIR and how is it for spectators? I'm thinking about going up for the PWC weekend. It's absolutely one of my favorite tracks to see on tv and I have a great interest in the track's history. I remember watching a video of the track after it sat dormant for decades just when they were about to start bringing it back to life and I've always wanted to see a race there.

Last year I went to Barber for the first time and I'd like to visit a new track or two every year. Road America and Watkins Glen are on my list also and next year hopefully Le Mans or Spa.

Go! No, seriously, GO!!! It's a cracker with quite a few spectator look out spots. There are 2 paddock areas, the south one providing the option to look at the south part of the track. There's no full path to walk inside/outside of the entire track but by going by car you're able to travel around 75ish% of the premises.

You'll have a blast!

[Mike Hedlund]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Doesn't Blancpain Sprint have non-timed pitstops as well? I think they are only using those in the national championships.

Only the "Pro" Sprint-X class has open timed pit stops (fast as you can go), everyone else has time limited stops... which is stupid.

Also, PWC is the only series I know where they run a different BoP for the same chassis in the Pro and Am class (but only for Porsche....). They're doing a lot of things rite, but some things are real head scratchers.

-mike

[Rcz]

This series is very difficult to watch. When i finally got NBCsports, they then move it to CBSsports. I want to watch it but it feels like i have to wait forever to see their races.

IMSA could just lauch a GT3 series and vanquish them at any time now. Luckily they have too much on their plate for now.

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund

Only the "Pro" Sprint-X class has open timed pit stops (fast as you can go), everyone else has time limited stops... which is stupid.

Also, PWC is the only series I know where they run a different BoP for the same chassis in the Pro and Am class (but only for Porsche....). They're doing a lot of things rite, but some things are real head scratchers.

-mike

I'd adopt the system like they use in NHRA Comp Eliminator. In case you are wondering, this will keep you busy for a while trying to figure it out:
http://www.dragzine.com/features/car...on-eliminator/

[cbbrit]

The SprintX entry list just keeps climbing! It's going to be a great season for PWC!

http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...sprintx-races/

[Mechanic Z]

Abril and Imperatori are pretty impressive additions to Absolute's lineup. Could be serious contenders in Sprint-X.

Another piece of PWC news came out today: the series will implement a concussion screening test, and Preston Calvert has been named medical advisor. http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...t-as-director/

[nasportscar]

Always Evolving confirmed as well, so that's fun

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

Always Evolving confirmed as well, so that's fun

Link here:

http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...n-for-sprintx/

[Mechanic Z]

Sounds like a solid lineup.

[cbbrit]

The entry list for VIR next week has just been released! Star-studded list of drivers! Going to be mega!

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

[ivozet]

Does anyone know where can i watch/stream round 2 form Long Beach?

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by ivozet

Does anyone know where can i watch/stream round 2 form Long Beach?

Motor trend on demand

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by ivozet

Does anyone know where can i watch/stream round 2 form Long Beach?

'Haven't tried too hard myself, but, I presume you've already seen the Stream/Media schedule on the top of the PWC page...fer instance

http://world-challenge.com/streamvid...d-broadcasts/#

[Mechanic Z]

Originally Posted by jimclark

'Haven't tried too hard myself, but, I presume you've already seen the Stream/Media schedule on the top of the PWC page...fer instance

http://world-challenge.com/streamvid...d-broadcasts/#

That's actually just the CBS Sports broadcast schedule. Sprint-X rounds at VIR, Mosport, Lime Rock, Utah & COTA, along with all GTS and TC races, are still supposed to be live streamed and as bcarr6 said, MToD has replays, including Long Beach.

[Juntos]

What is the BoP for the next race?

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by Juntos

What is the BoP for the next race?

It's category B, so the same as COTA and Road America

[Mike Hedlund]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

It's category B, so the same as COTA and Road America

what about for the select Pro-Am cars that have different BoP for the sprint races?

-mike