2014 Blancpain Sprint Series

[joeb]

I think we had a thread turn into a Bleekemolen tribute page a few weeks ago. He is a heck of a talent to be able to jump in and out of different cars every week!

[Deleted]

5 posts for BSS/FIAGT race meeting (of which two actually described the event somewhat) @ the most active sportscar forum you can find on internet. Good lord. Remember how there used to be individual 10+ page event threads for regular rounds? Remember the time when you were able to tell this series - assuming you count it part of the same continuum as FIA GT - apart from all the other GT series around?

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by Chiana

5 posts for BSS/FIAGT race meeting (of which two actually described the event somewhat) @ the most active sportscar forum you can find on internet. Good lord. Remember how there used to be individual 10+ page event threads for regular rounds? Remember the time when you were able to tell this series - assuming you count it part of the same continuum as FIA GT - apart from all the other GT series around?

Now 6... I watched it. Good coverage really. Here in the States, the hour race is a "two hour" broadcast, as we get pre- and post race coverage, and the complete race. When they go to commercial break, they come back exactly where they left on the race clock. That's how a tape delayed event should be broadcast.

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by Breitling24

Now 6... I watched it. Good coverage really. Here in the States, the hour race is a "two hour" broadcast, as we get pre- and post race coverage, and the complete race. When they go to commercial break, they come back exactly where they left on the race clock. That's how a tape delayed event should be broadcast.

Wow, nice to hear somebody's getting something right for a change

[J Jay]

I'll get on the BSS post bandwagon.

Here's some more praise for SRO - the BSS streaming site wasn't geo-blocked for this race. It was still on BT Sport as well (just like GT Open, which was on just after BSS).

[Speed-King]

Posting in race threads seems to be way down almost across the board(s) these days...

While that could be due to a lack of interest, I also think it has to do with changed habits of internet usage - here are some points:

A) Availability of streaming video and the broadband connection you need to run those
It's easy to post in a race thread while listening to RLM and checking T&S the way people did ten years ago... but it gets kinda hard when you are trying to follow a video stream at the same time, especially in the one hour races, where something important could happen any moment. Not all of us have a separate "second screen", and even if you have one, you'll can't really watch the actual video screen while typing, much less while reading someone else's comments.

B) Social Media
A lot of the posting that used to be done on forums has moved to facebook, twitter and other social media (like the comment sections of many websites), meaning less traffic for race threads.

[Rodger Davies]

Agreed with that, but it's still sad when other series' race threads are flourishing. Still, when the series dropped down to hour long sprint series in line with Generation Social Media, I see your point.

I realised on Friday that even the social media wasn't that easy though; the official feed was starting Tweets with drivers' handles so they weren't even made public (accidentally)......

Another good race, not a fan of the format still but I can't argue with the hour of racing they did have on Sunday.

East showing why he is a modern great of GT drivers again. Question for you: is Maxi Buhk's star fading after last year's heroics? I'm more impressed by Gotz this year.

[Speed-King]

You won't get an argument from me against that. But then, Götz grew up 20km down the road from where I live, so I am massively biased for him...

[rich07]

Originally Posted by J Jay

I'll get on the BSS post bandwagon.

Here's some more praise for SRO - the BSS streaming site wasn't geo-blocked for this race. It was still on BT Sport as well (just like GT Open, which was on just after BSS).

Really? Dammit. I could've watched it live then. I just assumed it was geo blocked here in Australia as it usually is and waited til after the race for the replay.

We'll see if it happens again eh?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by rich07

Really? Dammit. I could've watched it live then. I just assumed it was geo blocked here in Australia as it usually is and waited til after the race for the replay.

We'll see if it happens again eh?

I was as surprised as you believe me ... I prefer using their streaming because the live timing is on the same page and it's very easy to update manually when it inevitably falls behind.

I haven't seen anything regarding changing TV packages or rights, so it may be the case that it is still blocked in Australia. Maybe SRO have seen the light, or perhaps they saw GT Open doing both and realized how stupid it was to restrict such a niche product in the first place. Still if this continues they get my thanks.

[Rodger Davies]

Ha, I hadn't tried it live either. Been using clip converter website to download.

[jasonjessica09]

A couple thoughts:

1. Unlike the endurance series the WRT team is still a potent threat to win every race

2. Enzo Ide. Wow not a typical looking race car driver. Big curly hair, thick glasses, a bit on the chubby side. But can drive fast though he is prone to mistakes every now and then. But overall I do cheer for him. Nice to have someone different like that driving.

[wewantourdarbyback]

Great stint from Rast in the conditions. Have to agree with whoever said that Buhk's star is waning a little, Gotz deserved a podium today.

[kurski]

Next year's Blancpain Sprint Series could include a round in Brazil.

[IndyMeister]

Not much news on the BSS calendar at Spa but here is what the general public is supposed to know: http://gtsprintseries.wordpress.com/...calendar-2015/

[urdragon]

All inkl returning to Ratel series:

http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/n...print%20Series

[rich07]

And also HTP are running a third car which also has two drivers with the same name. The second car probably feels a bit out of place :lol:

[Deleted]

They have sub championship Silver and Pro-Am Cups in a sprint based single category series with less than 25 entrants. What was is that certain someone said last year?

Originally Posted by Stephane Ratel

The worst year I had was 16-17 cars in one class and WEC has four classes with 5 cars, 8 cars, 6 cars, 8 cars, a series of micro Championships with a micro fight in each. 50% of the participants are on the podium to give them enough sugar that they continue spending a LOT of money to be part of this platform.

[urdragon]

Anyway, they for sure have the healthier pro grid in Europe in GT Racing with 15 PRO cars. As a Remainder, the 24h of Spa had 18 PRO cars and the BES Paul ricard 12 PRO cars.

[carbon_titanium]

Until BES will have more than 40 cars per race, Ratel will have always numbers on his side

[rich07]

Hopefully Procyk and Bleekemolen have another victorious outing for Grasser in Slovakia

[IndyMeister]

Originally Posted by rich07

And also HTP are running a third car which also has two drivers with the same name. The second car probably feels a bit out of place :lol:

Sergei and Stef share some letters as well - und both begin with "S". I see the pattern, too!
Thus, I suggest all the Stefan/Stéphane/Å*tefan/Stef/Stefano form a team for HTP next year

[pach233]

I'm late to posting on this thread as well, but CBS Sports Network is now showing BSS races and I've finally caught up on the DVR.

I have to say the races this year have been much more entertaining than the last two years. It helps when Brands and Zandvoort are two of the first three races. Also, looking at the entry list for Slovakia, I'd say that's the strongest entry for FIA GT/GT1 World/BSS in about 4 years. There's some momentum with the series it seems.

[Mike E]

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bs...ters-incident/

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Mike E

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bs...ters-incident/

Any more details on the GT masters incident? Must've been pretty serious to warrant a suspension.