IMSA: USCR 2018

[Mike Hedlund]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

what is the feasibility that the team upgrades to a DPi for next season?

Of course however, a financial commitment to DPi far outweighs that to of a Prototype Challenge commitment, so budgets will always play a major factor in these decisions. So what do you all think? What are the chances that we could see Performance Tech Motorsport make the leap, and on the same note...what of BAR1 Motorsports and their future? What about those of you who have insider knowledge, what do you think?

Where do you think the additional $3-4 Million dollars a year on top of the existing LMPC season budget of $750k-1M is going to come from?

That's the only question you need to ask when wondering when or why people will or won't move up to the P class.

-mike

[TF110]

DSC clearing up the McLaren DPi non-story http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...e-project.html, also some evaluation about a DPi with a Ferrari engine. Evaluation being the key word imo.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund

Where do you think the additional $3-4 Million dollars a year on top of the existing LMPC season budget of $750k-1M is going to come from?

That's the only question you need to ask when wondering when or why people will or won't move up to the P class.

-mike

What do the budget figures look like to run a LMP3 in the second-tier proto series next year? Especially now that they've gone to 2-driver crews?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

At this point, no. Thinking there will be an upgrade shortly to the R/M Mk. 30, influenced by the Multimatic/Joest testing regimen this fall/winter. Which will encourage teams to venture back to the chassis.






L.P.

If that uses the one-off Riley upgrade, it might put off potential customers as the others will make a jump forward. I wonder if IMSA would consider a chassis BoP (or are allowed to, depending on ACO agreement) for the Riley. It's already a BoP class, so why not if they're allowed.

Originally Posted by TF110

DSC clearing up the McLaren DPi non-story http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...e-project.html, also some evaluation about a DPi with a Ferrari engine. Evaluation being the key word imo.

I'm so used to seeing headlines like "FERRARI LOOKING AT DPI" that I'm not sure how to cope with actual speculation anymore. Good article that one.

DSC understands that the comments have been misinterpreted as favouring one particular outcome when they were intended to reflect a general openness to evaluating a range of motorsport opportunities beyond F1 available to McLaren.

Need some sunscreen for that burn.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

If that uses the one-off Riley upgrade, it might put off potential customers as the others will make a jump forward. I wonder if IMSA would consider a chassis BoP (or are allowed to, depending on ACO agreement) for the Riley. It's already a BoP class, so why not if they're allowed.



I'm so used to seeing headlines like "FERRARI LOOKING AT DPI" that I'm not sure how to cope with actual speculation anymore. Good article that one.

DSC understands that the comments have been misinterpreted as favouring one particular outcome when they were intended to reflect a general openness to evaluating a range of motorsport opportunities beyond F1 available to McLaren.

Need some sunscreen for that burn.

SCS365 is very guilty of pushing the "dpi is the answer" narrative as I like to call it.

[Matt]

I mean, it is the answer in the long term though.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Back to a possible realistic WEC 'GT' only points race addition within the IWSC calendar ... Sebring might be a good choice. FIA will not want Daytona, another 24hr race, to be included in their schedule. Also fits in to IMSA's 36hrs of Florida idea.

Provisional 2018-19 WEC Schedule:
Spa-Francorchamps
24 Hours of Le Mans
Fuji Speedway
Shanghai
Jan 2019 – TBC
March 2019 – Sebring International Raceway
May 2019 – Spa-Francorchamps
June 2019 – 24 Hours of Le Mans




http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/w...ring-for-2019/





L.P.

[chernaudi]

Sebring will be a combined round with the WEC. However, the last time that IMSA and the ACO did that the results weren't the greatest.

However, if IMSA are willing to let DPIs play second fiddle to any WEC LMP1s in terms of the overall battle, I have to ask what kind of kick back IMSA will be getting or expect from the ACO?

Do they expect to have DPIs running at LM, or could we maybe see a split LMP class with DPI getting a performance bump?

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by TF110

DSC clearing up the McLaren DPi non-story http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/0...e-project.html, also some evaluation about a DPi with a Ferrari engine. Evaluation being the key word imo.

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I'm so used to seeing headlines like "FERRARI LOOKING AT DPI" that I'm not sure how to cope with actual speculation anymore. Good article that one.

DSC talk about a Ferrari-engined DPi concept funded by the money man behind a major European-based Ferrari GT customer team.
I think of AF Corse and SMP Racing that are connected to each other. SMP have a Dallara LMP2 Program now and have a project of a Dallara LMP1. If the rumors that “LMP2-plus” car with DPi-like bodywork and more powerful engines is right for LMP1 that rumor does not sound so crazy.
The problem is the V8 3.9 Turbo and the V12 6.2 or 6.5 are out of IMSA DPI rules, but I think an exception can be made.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Sebring will be a combined round with the WEC. However, the last time that IMSA and the ACO did that the results weren't the greatest.

However, if IMSA are willing to let DPIs play second fiddle to any WEC LMP1s in terms of the overall battle, I have to ask what kind of kick back IMSA will be getting or expect from the ACO?

Do they expect to have DPIs running at LM, or could we maybe see a split LMP class with DPI getting a performance bump?

I expect no LMP-1s ...







L.P.

[chernaudi]

That depends on if Toyota are gone (decision not expected until this Oct.; the WEC's set up for this might keep them until LM 2019, or maybe only though Fuji next season), how many teams buy LMP1 customer cars, and what the ACO plan on doing with the so called "DPI/LMP2+" cars that are rumored.

But then again, unless Dallara/SMP and Ginetta sell some cars, there might not be a LMP1 class if Toyota are out of it.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

That depends on if Toyota are gone (decision not expected until this Oct.; the WEC's set up for this might keep them until LM 2019, or maybe only though Fuji next season), how many teams buy LMP1 customer cars, and what the ACO plan on doing with the so called "DPI/LMP2+" cars that are rumored.

But then again, unless Dallara/SMP and Ginetta sell some cars, there might not be a LMP1 class if Toyota are out of it.

Well now we have all the info it seems. The WEC will have a separate 12hr race from midnight to noon Sunday, following the IWSC race on Saturday.






L.P.

[Akrapovic]

Best for everyone. A 70 car grid would mean a lot of mess. I love this idea. Both series get an event without screwing with each other. Imagine trying to force the WEC FCY and slow zones in an IMSA race. Nobody would be happy.

[AoB Special Stage]

New question: Who's supposed to be supplying the power in the back of the SMP Dallara P1?

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by AoB Special Stage

New question: Who's supposed to be supplying the power in the back of the SMP Dallara P1?

Ferrari?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Best for everyone. A 70 car grid would mean a lot of mess. I love this idea. Both series get an event without screwing with each other. Imagine trying to force the WEC FCY and slow zones in an IMSA race. Nobody would be happy.

<Insert 2012 IMSA/WEC Sebring podium still ongoing joke here>

[AoB Special Stage]

[consider it done]

[YZFrider]

I should have known the cooperation was too good to be true. Separate 12 hour races? WTF?

[fieldodreams79]

I don't think there's any way they'll run 2 12 hour races. No way. They've got a year and a half plus to come up with something reasonable. We shall see.

[FLGTFAN]

What a cockamamie idea. Everyone on the premises is completely spent after THE 12 Hours of Sebring. It's not Daytona. No one will want this.

[MagVanisher]

What is ACO thinking of holding a separate 12 Hours of Sebring? Would it be better if they just make it 24 Hours (with both IMSA and WEC racing together) instead of two separate 12-hour races.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

What is ACO thinking of holding a separate 12 Hours of Sebring? Would it be better if they just make it 24 Hours (with both IMSA and WEC racing together) instead of two separate 12-hour races.

I'd bet money it's all down to the issues with aligning classes between the two. The DPi/LMP1/LMP2 matter would need to be clearly addressed before they could do things effectively, and then there's the issue of GTD which could cause field size issues unless the WEC left out GTE Am for the round.

But this does not seem to be the right way to handle it. All it's done is underline the issues that need to be dealt with.

[YZFrider]

putting aside technical alignments of a theoretical combined race, one has to remember the difference in sporting regulations. There is so much to agree on it isn't realistic to have a combined race: IMSA cars stay running when doing pit stops, IMSA has its "gain a lap back" on wave around, yellow flag pit procedures, no code 60, etc .... and that's just a few examples. How's that for a sobering reality 😞

[Salamus]

And don't forget tires.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by YZFrider

putting aside technical alignments of a theoretical combined race, one has to remember the difference in sporting regulations. There is so much to agree on it isn't realistic to have a combined race: IMSA cars stay running when doing pit stops, IMSA has its "gain a lap back" on wave around, yellow flag pit procedures, no code 60, etc .... and that's just a few examples. How's that for a sobering reality 😞

Don't spoil the party with facts! The series' are too different for it to be a combined event. It worked in ALMS because the rules were aligned, this isn't the case unless WTSC and/or the ACO changes things by then. But don't count on it. At least be happy Sebring is back on the schedule.