[WEC Race] 2014 WEC Round 6: Shanghai

[Gingers4Justice]

Congratulations to all class winners, but Toyota and G-Drive in particular were in a class of their own.

Not the best race if I'm honest, but I love that sense of accomplishment having watched an entire endurance race - especially at the expense of a night's sleep.

[Beryl]

If Porsche and Audi are playing checkers, Toyota #8 is playing chess with nothing but queen pieces. Fantastic performance and congratulations to them. The #8 is a metaphorical wrecking ball.

Except when Lapierre is driving in the wet, then it becomes a literal wrecking ball... I'll get my coat, goodnight.

[Ephaeton]

wow, impressed with the #8 & #26, both were dealing out a continuous stream of power punches, taking the win by sheer force.
Also impressed by the ESM #30, taking second. Very nice for them.

Additionally, I was surprised to see both #30 and #31 receiving a fair amount of onboard coverage and other attention in the WEC stream -- ISTM the WEC wants ESM to stay.

Finally, I was saying in another place, to judge a racing series you can also look at the year-to-year development of attendance. If you like the product, you'll return the next year (and potentially bring some friends, plus the positive vibe usually resonates somewhere). WEC seems to be doing things right at least in Shanghai. Hope to see them grow further (so they can afford more full season entries / logistics; more rounds etc. etc.).

I enjoyed the race.

[Mechanic Z]

Great to see ESM get a podium!

Congrats to Toyota, G-Drive, Porsche and AMR on their victories!

[Gingers4Justice]

I can't imagine that result will do any harm to ESM's interest in a full-time WEC effort.

[TF110]

That was dominant from Toyota and G-Drive. If someone doesnt pick up the ligier for lmp1 it'd be a shame. It has to be the best car in lmp2 right now. Toyota built a rocketship. I cant wait to see what they do for 2015. It was nice seeing Rebellion able to race a bit with the Audi. They just need more work on the downforce and fuel usage. GTE was a mess. Still a good race even if boring up front imo.

[tyronnezx]

What does the manufacturers championship look like now?

does this mean Audi's chances are next to none?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by tyronnezx

What does the manufacturers championship look like now?

does this mean Audi's chances are next to none?

Manufacturers' title is still open, 226-197 to Toyota but there's still 86 points on offer there (maximum score for a manufacturer is 43 points with a 1-2 finish). The drivers' title is almost settled though, Buemi/Davidson need a top 6 finish in Interlagos to clinch the title, while the #2 crew need to win both remaining races with the #8 having two absolute nightmares in order to win the title.

[tyronnezx]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Manufacturers' title is still open, 226-197 to Toyota but there's still 86 points on offer there (maximum score for a manufacturer is 43 points with a 1-2 finish). The drivers' title is almost settled though, Buemi/Davidson need a top 6 finish in Interlagos to clinch the title, while the #2 crew need to win both remaining races with the #8 having two absolute nightmares in order to win the title.

Awesome. Thanks for clearing it up

[Beryl]

Have to mention how unfortunate things played out for the #37 crew. They probably deserved 2nd in LMP2, but team orders meant they didn't even get onto the podium. That's how it goes in a team sport though.

[Rennen]

Ant, said..."Shanghi is unfinished business after last years disapointment!"

If I recall, a bolt sheared off that held the suspension to the chassis when he was leading and it was unrepairable!

So a win was a nice reply.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Rennen

Ant, said..."Shanghi is unfinished business after last years disapointment!"

If I recall, a bolt sheared off that held the suspension to the chassis when he was leading and it was unrepairable!

So a win was a nice reply.

The boy done good again.

[Deleted]

Wonder if you just witnessed the last ever time open top HPD ARX racing on track, certainly in major circles?

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by TF110

Toyota built a rocketship. I cant wait to see what they do for 2015. It was nice seeing Rebellion able to race a bit with the Audi. They just need more work on the downforce and fuel usage.

I don't see what Audi can do about the fuel usage. This is the nature of the rules: bigger ERS gets longer stints (and better performance). Moreover, Audi is not allowed to improve the efficiency of the engine during the season. If the BSFC is better than the number provided to FIA in the pre-season, they get hit by a penalty.

[GT6]

Got up early and watched the last 4 hours, good race and enjoyed it but perhaps the too dominant form of the toyota's did spoil some of the excitement Shame about the leading aston

[TF110]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I don't see what Audi can do about the fuel usage. This is the nature of the rules: bigger ERS gets longer stints (and better performance). Moreover, Audi is not allowed to improve the efficiency of the engine during the season. If the BSFC is better than the number provided to FIA in the pre-season, they get hit by a penalty.

I was referring to Rebellion's fuel usage, not Audi. I think youre wrong about the bsfc. They aren't encouraged to increase the efficiency? Itd make 0 sense to limit it, especially with the equality rules changing next year.

[divxx]

It was very entertaining at the start, especially with the Toyota's restarting in last place following the FCY and slicing through the field. But once they got out front, I actually fell asleep during the last hour.

Buemi has been very surprising for me this year, seems the kid has found his true calling. I actually thought he'd be Toyota's weak link, and that Wurz was the team leader at the start of the season but boy was that backwards.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by divxx

Buemi has been very surprising for me this year, seems the kid has found his true calling. I actually thought he'd be Toyota's weak link, and that Wurz was the team leader at the start of the season but boy was that backwards.

I'd go further back than that - for me Buemi has been #8's best driver for at least a calendar year (back to Le Mans 2013) and the best of all the Toyota drivers so far this season. Him & Davidson in the same car is (IMO) as good a combination as Treluyer/Lotterer are for Audi.

[Rennen]

Originally Posted by J Jay

I'd go further back than that - for me Buemi has been #8's best driver for at least a calendar year (back to Le Mans 2013) and the best of all the Toyota drivers so far this season. Him & Davidson in the same car is (IMO) as good a combination as Treluyer/Lotterer are for Audi.

Erm...with their joint F1 experience, I say better...but less lucky up until now that is!

[TF110]

Nakajima, Buemi and Davidson are about equal imo. The rest of Toyota's drivers are a notch below but very consistent. Wurz definitely brings that to the table. I think the #8 will be the car/combo to beat for the forseeable future. But things can change next season with one result. It was nice to watch the Toyota come from the back, but it did get a little boring from there. But Im not complaining since I like Toyota Rebellion seem to be inching closer each race and hopefully that continues. They werent nearly as far back on pace. Lotus on the other hand...

[cokata]

on raw pace buemi and nakajima are equal to davidson, but are not quite as consistent, and make a bit more errors than him.I rate Davidson on par with Lotterer.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by TF110

I think youre wrong about the bsfc. They aren't encouraged to increase the efficiency? Itd make 0 sense to limit it, especially with the equality rules changing next year.

You might be right. It seems that the "dissuasive penalty" rule only applied up to Le Mans. Afterwards the BFSC could be improved.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

You might be right. It seems that the "dissuasive penalty" rule only applied up to Le Mans. Afterwards the BFSC could be improved.

Thats what I thought. Then after LM 2015, another adjustment. Btw, welcome back(?) Havent seen you post here in a while.

[GT-Eins]

Our statistic-department digged through all the Alkamel-data and processed them for a deeper understanding of the race.
interesting Example here: the LMP2-team-performances, as we had in Shanghai the best LMP2-Teams from WEC, TUSC and AsLMS racing together:

More of this stuff can be found for the other classes of the race in our race-report:
http://www.gt-eins.de/Berichte2014/wec/shang/shang.html
(Just scroll down the page below the race-result - graphs can be enlarged by clicking on them)

[JoestForEver]

Some photos on the race day lads！Because my pass is about hospitality lounge and paddock only, so no grid walk pics and no shots from the media tower either.













Hope you guys enjoy it