[WEC] FIA World Endurance Championship

[AGD]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Interesting article in DSC about the WEC. Malcolm seems to believe that the North American event will not be at a track the ALMS currently visits, nor will it actually be an ALMS event.

Homestead? Texas?

Daytona 24?

Sometimes it defies logic as to what the ACO might be thinking, assuming Malcolm has been correctly informed, which he usually is.

Well, not racing at ALMS events would clear up the issues about TV rights and such. It still seems like a pretty dumb idea though. Maybe they will race at Montreal or some other Canadian venue? Maybe Mexico? Peugeot would probably like that.

[Audi Racer]

Originally Posted by AGD

Well, not racing at ALMS events would clear up the issues about TV rights and such. It still seems like a pretty dumb idea though. Maybe they will race at Montreal or some other Canadian venue? Maybe Mexico? Peugeot would probably like that.

Perhaps the Texas Austin GP track. It would make alot of sense for them to not use an ALMS venue because that would clear up the tv rigths issue as you've stated. They certainly want this race to be on either CBS,Fox, or ABC. Without the awful commentators.

If only everyone could be as excited as John Hindaugh

[JAG]

Athertons take on things.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ec-involvement

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by JAG

Athertons take on things.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ec-involvement

Malcolm claims that the ALMS didn't know about the WEC until it's announcement. What is to say he really knows what is going on with the schedule or future plans?

One of the key words there is "hopeful"... it says right there he doesn't know if his races will be involved... but he is "hopeful".

[Canada ALMS fan]

^Yikes. Imagine a Sebring or Petit with only the current ALMS grids and a couple of European visitors... scary stuff. Surely one of them will be included at least. Sebring 2009 only had 26 starters if I remember correctly. At least it included Peugeot vs. Audi and the Acuras.

[AGD]

If you read Dagys' "5 questions with Frederic-Henry Biabaud" article from this week and look at the second question, it seems as if Sebring is in for at least 2012. Then again, who knows.

[Asa]

If WEC is not racing at Sebring or Petit, then probably the ACO's direction is that all WEC races will be ACO property and no joint races at all with LMS or ALMS.

That means throw the existing ILMC calendar out of the window, except Le Mans and maybe China (already an ACO event).

The 2012 calendar could look like this:
1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Spa
4. Le Mans
5. Silverstone
6. India
7. China 1
8. China 2

[eddsc]

Please note that I'm using my old log-in here, so I'm not Ed. DSC, but I am eddsc..
John Dagys's latest article ensures that one of my points might be out of date (with Scott Atherton pushing for Sebring and PLM to be the two American events). But the organisers did originally suggest that they wouldn't be.
Are these two tracks ratified for FIA events though?
I think I preferred 2004 to 2011...

[Fogelhund]

Road Atlanta has definitely not been inspected, and if it were, would probably be found insufficient to hold a combined ALMS/WEC grid.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Asa

If WEC is not racing at Sebring or Petit, then probably the ACO's direction is that all WEC races will be ACO property and no joint races at all with LMS or ALMS.

That means throw the existing ILMC calendar out of the window, except Le Mans and maybe China (already an ACO event).

The 2012 calendar could look like this:
1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Spa
4. Le Mans
5. Silverstone
6. India
7. China 1
8. China 2

If there really is the amount of activity rumoured from Japan i would be surprised if a Japanese race is not on the schedule

[NaBUru38]

I don't think that WEC entries can fill a track. It's 4-7 LMP1s, a couple of LMP2s, and GTs come from local teams who already run in the continental championships (e.g. AF Corse en Europe, Risi in North America).

[JAG]

Super GT covers the domestic market, but that series is also venturing out to China, Malaysia etc., so perhaps Japanease manufacturers would welcome two China rounds.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I don't think that WEC entries can fill a track. It's 4-7 LMP1s, a couple of LMP2s, and GTs come from local teams who already run in the continental championships (e.g. AF Corse en Europe, Risi in North America).

There's around thirty full season entries, Rebellion, Pescarolo and Strakka have indicated they are looking at two car P1 teams, there's the possibility of ORECA-Nissans, customer AMR-Ones, another pair of Lola-Toyotas, Dempsey, AF Corsa and Krohn P2's etc.

I wouldn't take anything for granted, but with higher stakes, you'll see more investment, all the while trying to keep costs in check.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JAG

I wouldn't take anything for granted, but with higher stakes, you'll see more investment, all the while trying to keep costs in check.

That does bring up an interesting point about why LMP2 is involved in a world championship at all. LMP2 is supposed to be a class with costs that are kept in check, so it seems strange to have them flying all over the world.

[Fogelhund]

Sebring's certification is not an issue for bringing a WEC event, so red herring there.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by joeb

That does bring up an interesting point about why LMP2 is involved in a world championship at all. LMP2 is supposed to be a class with costs that are kept in check, so it seems strange to have them flying all over the world.

Field filler material would be my guess. Same with GTE-Am. Also, I guess they feel that there are a lot of gentleman drivers who want to compete in the WEC. They may be right about that. I thought keeping LMP2 out of the WEC might be one way to keep the national series vital (well, the LMS at least), but I guess not.

The other thing is that some pretty big OEMs have their name on LMP2 engines with some big names potentially on the way (Ferrari, Mazda, Lotus, etc.). Ok, Honda/HPD may be on the way out, but still. Those names look nice on the entry list.

[deggis]

What do you mean with the FIA inspection/certifying? The circuit grading system? Both Sebring and Road Atlanta are Grade 2 circuits. Grade 1 is only required for F1 anyway.

Source: http://www.f1technical.net/forum/vie...128479#p128479

[joeb]

Originally Posted by AGD

Field filler material would be my guess. Same with GTE-Am. Also, I guess they feel that there are a lot of gentleman drivers who want to compete in the WEC. They may be right about that. I thought keeping LMP2 out of the WEC might be one way to keep the national series vital (well, the LMS at least), but I guess not.

The other thing is that some pretty big OEMs have their name on LMP2 engines with some big names potentially on the way (Ferrari, Mazda, Lotus, etc.). Ok, Honda/HPD may be on the way out, but still. Those names look nice on the entry list.

I suppose you are right, just because LMP2 is a cost-capped class doesn't necessarily mean teams are running on shoe-string budgets. And the manufacturers cant mind having other people foot the bill to run their P2 engines on the big state.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by deggis

What do you mean with the FIA inspection/certifying? The circuit grading system? Both Sebring and Road Atlanta are Grade 2 circuits. Grade 1 is only required for F1 anyway.

Source: http://www.f1technical.net/forum/vie...128479#p128479

Despite never being inspected, it's graded level 2? Proof being an internet forum?

btw... my information on Sebring came from Sebring this morning... it is not currently certified.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

btw... my information on Sebring came from Sebring this morning... it is not currently certified.

does the FIA require a certain level of smoothness in the pavement on track? If so, Sebring would have some major work ahead of them.

edit: what other tracks would be good (by FIA track rating standards) for a WEC round? Utah? Watkins Glen? Laguna?

[TF110]

Probably none are 'good enough' to please the FIA, but they'll race them anyway. My guess is the new track in Texas will be 1 of the American tracks.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Despite never being inspected, it's graded level 2? Proof being an internet forum?

btw... my information on Sebring came from Sebring this morning... it is not currently certified.

My apology, Sebring is Level 2. It is Road Atlanta that isn't currently certified.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Despite never being inspected, it's graded level 2? Proof being an internet forum?

Sorry that I didn't get the transcript of your call this morning, but I still don't think that list has been completely pulled out of the poster's ass even if there is a contradiction. If it is from some document, it's not available on fia.com. That post was made in 2009 though and "expires" column says 12 for both tracks.

Originally Posted by joeb

does the FIA require a certain level of smoothness in the pavement on track? If so, Sebring would have some major work ahead of them.

Some related documents here: http://fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulatio.../Circuits.aspx

[duke_toaster]

The circuit licence list is/was on FPAK (the Portuguese ASN's) website.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Despite never being inspected, it's graded level 2? Proof being an internet forum?

The guy who posted that on F1T is a circuit architect, so he must know a thing or two. That being said if you look at the date, it's Oct 11, 2009.