IMSA: 2020

[chernaudi]

At least some of those programs had a place and did well in the light of minimal or no factory teams. This just seems to be a rent-a-ride program to either satisfy someone's ego or wallet, or both.

I know that the ACO and IMSA sort of have the vision of gentleman driver-backed teams running in LMP2. However, the reality is somewhat different with, one, many teams exploiting loopholes/grey area in the rules for driver allotment. And, two, there are pro-am efforts that belong, and others that don't.

To compare this to like the old Welter WM/WR efforts IMO is like comparing chalk and cheese. WM/WR was often the butt of jokes and ridicule, but it was a team of enthusiasts and sometimes turned in surprising credible results. RWR seems to be either trying to line Rick Ware's pockets, or Ware's on an ego trip.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Again, based on how they've acted so far and their NASCAR model, I find it hard to take this team very seriously. At best they're just making up the numbers in LMP2, at worst it's just a waste of money to boost someone's ego, even if that person is the one wasting his money.

The team has busted their humps getting cars on the grid in the Asian series, so I commend them. If the car is damaged, there is a pretty good chance they have no spares given their chassis. Mazda probably doesn't want to share since they have a lot of running coming up, and Riley/Multi don't have a store full of supplies for a car nobody has run in 3 years.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by joeb

The team has busted their humps getting cars on the grid in the Asian series, so I commend them. If the car is damaged, there is a pretty good chance they have no spares given their chassis. Mazda probably doesn't want to share since they have a lot of running coming up, and Riley/Multi don't have a store full of supplies for a car nobody has run in 3 years.

as far I know riley lmp2 still uses the 2017 riley tub, while mazda dpi uses a multimatic updated tub. Likely are no more compatible.
Old times where team could build an acura lmp2 using a compatible oreca/courage chassis are long gone....

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by canaglia

as far I know riley lmp2 still uses the 2017 riley tub, while mazda dpi uses a multimatic updated tub. Likely are no more compatible.
Old times where team could build an acura lmp2 using a compatible oreca/courage chassis are long gone....

It sounds like the upgrades with the Joker package were performed to the chassis and the rear deck spares are the same for Mazda and the Riley. Although as I remember the Riley had a 2 piece rear deck and I can't remember if that's what Mazda still used. Usually we only see the Mazda rear because it's on fire

[carbsmith]

Originally Posted by canaglia

yeah, but guess it would be insanely aero unbalanced at so high speeds.

You just raise the front ride height if you want to run downforce that low. You usually only have a problem if it's like the 2000 LMP rules for the V12 LMR where the rear wing was maxed out and wasn't enough to get the overall downforce level they wanted so they just ran the front end with diveplanes and a low splitter and depended on their drivers to live with the imbalance. Although I doubt most teams would have done that, Schnitzer's approach to racing the Audis was to just go flat out qualifying mode every lap and hope things worked out.

Mazda is still the split engine cover.

But that's not exactly important, the LMP2 and DPi still have different fender profiles and thus can't be the same engine cover or tail. If you take their story at face value then the part they were talking about as the rear deck has to have been either the rear wing or the shark fin itself.

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by joeb

The team has busted their humps getting cars on the grid in the Asian series, so I commend them. If the car is damaged, there is a pretty good chance they have no spares given their chassis. Mazda probably doesn't want to share since they have a lot of running coming up, and Riley/Multi don't have a store full of supplies for a car nobody has run in 3 years.

All I can comment on is what they've done in NASCAR, which is basically a field filler rent-a-ride program. As far as issues with the Riley, I'm thinking that they bought it because it's cheap. Why would a Riley Mk30 be cheap? Because not only is it basically obsolescent, but no one clearly wants one unless it's the Mazda DPI variant.

Yes, they've done well in the Asian LMS, but that's a very different theater of operations.

I hope that the team does well for the sake of the employed, but their management isn't exactly covering themselves in glory or making themselves seem to be deserving of a large amount of empathy.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

You just raise the front ride height if you want to run downforce that low. You usually only have a problem if it's like the 2000 LMP rules for the V12 LMR where the rear wing was maxed out and wasn't enough to get the overall downforce level they wanted so they just ran the front end with diveplanes and a low splitter and depended on their drivers to live with the imbalance. Although I doubt most teams would have done that, Schnitzer's approach to racing the Audis was to just go flat out qualifying mode every lap and hope things worked out.



Mazda is still the split engine cover.



But that's not exactly important, the LMP2 and DPi still have different fender profiles and thus can't be the same engine cover or tail. If you take their story at face value then the part they were talking about as the rear deck has to have been either the rear wing or the shark fin itself.

Thanks, knew someone would catch that detail somewhere. Figured they haven't changed too much but IMSA made it sound like the updates to the Mazda chassis are done on the Riley as well, outside of the DPi specific bits and styling.

I wanted to give RWR the benefit of the doubt but sounds like they either had bigger repairs, ie undertray, rear frame bits or deeper inside, or they hadn't arranged for spares or they just didn't want to send out a guy who couldn't pay for more parts to break the car again. Only thinking that as he's now fired and the "NASCAR driver" they claimed to have signed hasn't been announced yet so.

[carbsmith]

It was both Davison the pro and Kvamme the pay driver, so it's possible that Kvamme just didn't think he was getting a good deal after the test and Davison had been part of his package. It's hard to say.

[broadrun96]

Well sounds like the Riley is due for retirement now. RWR has pulled out of Daytona officially after the damage, and changing drivers (fired or mural parting who knows exactly), and ""circumstances outside the team’s control” regarding driver requirements and the funding required to be “competitive at the top” of the class.""

Sounds like the Riley will be left on the sidelines and they're concentrating on the Asian LeMans Series P2 car. But post-Daytona they will return full season in a different class. S365 saying likely appearance of Cody Ware and ______ in an Audi R8 Evo in GTD. Maybe they can get a deal on the Starworks car from last season.

RWR drivers Jonathan Hoggard, BRDC Sunoco Challenge winner, and Mark Kwamme have both moved over to PPM Lamborghini for the race. I didn't see anything about Davison having a new ride.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/r...from-rolex-24/

[joeb]

Ben Keating has to be one of my favorite drivers, he just loves the sport so much he is pulling double duty in the Rolex 24 and driving both a P2 and GT3 car! He has done double duty before, and so have others, but to do this in multiple classes has to be tough.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/k...m-lmp2-to-gtd/

I'm going to be pulling for him, in both cars.

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well sounds like the Riley is due for retirement now. RWR has pulled out of Daytona officially after the damage, and changing drivers (fired or mural parting who knows exactly), and ""circumstances outside the team’s control” regarding driver requirements and the funding required to be “competitive at the top” of the class.""

Sounds like the Riley will be left on the sidelines and they're concentrating on the Asian LeMans Series P2 car. But post-Daytona they will return full season in a different class. S365 saying likely appearance of Cody Ware and ______ in an Audi R8 Evo in GTD. Maybe they can get a deal on the Starworks car from last season.

RWR drivers Jonathan Hoggard, BRDC Sunoco Challenge winner, and Mark Kwamme have both moved over to PPM Lamborghini for the race. I didn't see anything about Davison having a new ride.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/r...from-rolex-24/

Always unfortunate to lose an entry, even if it's not considered one of the premier entries. Personal opinion - the Gibson is one of the better sounds engines on the grid.

Having said all that, this team doesn't strike me as one to pick up a GTD Audi and be happy campers, given starworks frustrations and towel in-throwing last year.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

Always unfortunate to lose an entry, even if it's not considered one of the premier entries. Personal opinion - the Gibson is one of the better sounds engines on the grid.

Having said all that, this team doesn't strike me as one to pick up a GTD Audi and be happy campers, given starworks frustrations and towel in-throwing last year.

Land had success, but they do know their Audis inside out. But I wouldn't call Starworks a slacker operation so I have to think something was just cursed with that chassis.

[seanyb505]

Yes, good points.

Things that make you go, "Hmm..."

[joeb]

Looks like Ganassi is still working on a program for next season (2021)

https://racer.com/2020/01/23/ganassi...onship-return/

Mentions GTLM and DPi, possibly taking over for Penske and the Acura programming.

[broadrun96]

And importantly what's this about in the article

"At least one new GTLM program is also said to be nearing an announcement."

[broadrun96]

Just another reason to like the Canadians.

"GTD class pole-sitter Zach Robichon explained that Pfaff Motorsports’ new plaid-and-blue jeans-colored firesuits are a “step further” from the car’s plaid livery that brought attention to the Canadian squad throughout last year." From S365

[MaskedRacer]

If you want to look ahead to Sebring, we usually have a few drop offs after Daytona from "one-off" entries. May not have any of that this year. The only one that maybe not be in the 12 hours is the #98 Aston. And that should not be ruled out either. Hope this RWR Audi comes to fruition. Maybe Sebring will increase by car.

[S griffin]

Sebring should be good. We won’t have the same entry, but it should be a quality entry nonetheless. We’ll see who makes it. It should still be a close competitive event

[joeb]

Really interesting comments from Henrik Hedman after the 24. Seems he is trying to stir up some LMP2 business and says it is cheaper than GT3!

“You don’t have to go Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo, or whatever. At the end of the day I did that for awhile and with the BoP there were certain races you just don’t have to go to. It was just ridiculous. With the LMP2, there is no BoP.

“I really hope that this will grow in the US. We’ll see, but it would be nice to see a car count at ten. At the end of the day GT3 cars now are more expensive and more expensive to run than the LMP2. Hey guys out there, go LMP2.”

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/d...-daytona-wins/

[broadrun96]

So anything added to IMSA in DPi 2.0 would be too expensive but adding LM24 to your team would be attainable? I don't see Cadillac paying for that any time soon Wayne, no matter what leverage you think 2 Daytona wins is worth. And they would likely be the DPi 2.0 with a hybrid of some spec type.

Racer and S365

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

So anything added to IMSA in DPi 2.0 would be too expensive but adding LM24 to your team would be attainable? I don't see Cadillac paying for that any time soon Wayne, no matter what leverage you think 2 Daytona wins is worth. And they would likely be the DPi 2.0 with a hybrid of some spec type.

Racer and S365

I think Toshiba really wants to go and would be footing the bill for a Le Mans program.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

If you want to look ahead to Sebring, we usually have a few drop offs after Daytona from "one-off" entries. May not have any of that this year. The only one that maybe not be in the 12 hours is the #98 Aston. And that should not be ruled out either.

How about Risi?...a no show at Sebring last year....

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by jimclark

How about Risi?...a no show at Sebring last year....

The Radio Le Mans coverage strongly suggested that Risi will be at Sebring.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

The Radio Le Mans coverage strongly suggested that Risi will be at Sebring.

Only with a BOP change announcement and a better tire pressure chart on the hauler.

[S griffin]

I hope they don't have to resort to BoP and are able to come up with their own solution to their problems