[WEC] Toyota LMP1 Discussion

[Deleted]

Kobayashi never seemed to care about anything other than F1, when he was with AF Corse he openly said how slow the car felt in comparison to F1 and he seemed out of place for that season anyway before going after the useless-desperation-seat-available-at-Caterham. And now he still wants to keep hanging on to nothing...
http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/...1-reserve-role

Wouldn't really want man with no motivation in the team

[Beryl]

I'd like to see Toyota test their own Kazuya Oshima and James Rossiter in the TS040. I really like the way both have driven in the past year, they deserve a chance.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Kobayashi never seemed to care about anything other than F1, when he was with AF Corse he openly said how slow the car felt in comparison to F1 and he seemed out of place for that season anyway before going after the useless-desperation-seat-available-at-Caterham. And now he still wants to keep hanging on to nothing...
http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/...1-reserve-role

Wouldn't really want man with no motivation in the team

Thats false. If he had no motivation he wouldnt be driving for free. He was only interviewed about the difference between f1 and the gte ferrari. He never complained about being in the 458. Not sure where you got his lack of motivation from. And not sure how you can fault him for hoping to be in f1 either Nowhere has he said thats his only option or desire, but that it was his main goal. Big difference between that and "Im only interested in F1" mistranslation that floated around. He even goes on to thank Caterham, and says hes not seeking an apology from them for not keeping him up to date, even though its probably warranted.

[Acid09]

The TS040 is an absolute world-beater, shame it did not win Le Mans otherwise It would already be one of the most successful and dominant prototypes ever build.

Hopefully they can complete the car's history next year

[ederss7]

Originally Posted by TF110

Thats false. If he had no motivation he wouldnt be driving for free. He was only interviewed about the difference between f1 and the gte ferrari. He never complained about being in the 458. Not sure where you got his lack of motivation from. And not sure how you can fault him for hoping to be in f1 either Nowhere has he said thats his only option or desire, but that it was his main goal. Big difference between that and "Im only interested in F1" mistranslation that floated around. He even goes on to thank Caterham, and says hes not seeking an apology from them for not keeping him up to date, even though its probably warranted.

I think he meant "no motivation outside F1".

[tyronnezx]

if Audi goes, Andre, Truleyer, Douval are three names Toyota should snap up for there 3rd car. Huge Huge opportunity to Maximize the chances of getting that top step at Le mans podium if they manage that.

i have a huge felling that Alex and Lappiere are past their prime in sports cars now

[TF110]

Originally Posted by ederss7

I think he meant "no motivation outside F1".

Yeah, thats what I thought. His lack of motivation just mysteriously appeared from sensational internet stories. Its like saying Buemi has no motivation because he was or is trying to get an F1 seat. Not everyone wants to do f1, not everyone wants to do sportscars. It shouldnt matter either way.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Acid09

The TS040 is an absolute world-beater, shame it did not win Le Mans otherwise It would already be one of the most successful and dominant prototypes ever build.

Hopefully they can complete the car's history next year

Same feeling as you are. Now the only thing I want to see for the remainder of 2014 WEC season is winning both the drivers' and manufacturers' championship.

With that said, I hope next year's Le Man will be lucky for Toyota this time around.

[Maelochs]

What I want is Toyota management to realize they could win everything all season long if they brought in a third car fro Spa and Le Mans.

[cokata]

Originally Posted by Acid09

The TS040 is an absolute world-beater, shame it did not win Le Mans otherwise It would already be one of the most successful and dominant prototypes ever build.

Hopefully they can complete the car's history next year

I'm a fan of Toyota (not the brand or their road cars, but i really like the path they have taken with their P1 cars), and i can say that the 2013 Audi R18 was much more dominant than the TS040. It had a pace advantage at Le mans that i can only remember seeing before in 2008.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by cokata

I'm a fan of Toyota (not the brand or their road cars, but i really like the path they have taken with their P1 cars), and i can say that the 2013 Audi R18 was much more dominant than the TS040. It had a pace advantage at Le mans that i can only remember seeing before in 2008.

I disagree about the 'dominance'. They used their diesel advantage to gain pace by sacrificing distance. From 2012 to 2013, the pace increased but the stint length dropped (slightly). Toyota increased both in 2013. They were off pace in the early season, but picked it up a bit at Austin. 'Won' Fuji, and almost had Shanghai but for bad luck. And convincingly won Bahrain. I cant remember anytime that Audi had the pace and distance advantage like were seeing this year. Even Porsche are getting to the point where Audi cant compete.

[kaivo]

Just posted to Mulsane FB wall

Joao Carlos Costa
JENSON BUTTON piloto Toyota WEC em 2015. A revelação vai ser feita no Domingo, após o Grande Prémio do Brasil de F1.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&fref=nf

[Simmi]

Apparently that's a guy from Eurosport - saying the announcement will happen after the Grand Prix in Brazil on Sunday.

[J Jay]

Yeah, my Google-fu said the same thing about the source.

Well we won't have long to wait to potentially/officially welcome Jenson to the fold...

[Simmi]

The rumour seems to be picking up some momentum on social media - for what it's worth.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Yeah, my Google-fu said the same thing about the source.

Well we won't have long to wait to potentially/officially welcome Jenson to the fold...

And if it happens(it will)it further degrades F1.

With Sutil and Perez out there now too, Nissan really, really needs to take a hard look. F1 as we know it is dying a slow, very, very painful death.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

And if it happens(it will)it further degrades F1.

With Sutil and Perez out there now too, Nissan really, really needs to take a hard look. F1 as we know it is dying a slow, very, very painful death.

You can point to F1's issues re. finances and teams for it's poor health. But not really the driver situation. It's been this way for a long time. Button's F1 career has been fading for a while. It's a perfectly natural time to step away while he's still with a top team, dignity intact.

Just this evening Force India confirmed Perez is staying with the team.

What's most exciting for me is that the WEC is now such a credible series the drivers are being instantly linked with it. But it doesn't have to be one series versus the other.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Simmi

You can point to F1's issues re. finances and teams for it's poor health. But not really the driver situation. It's been this way for a long time. Button's F1 career has been fading for a while. It's a perfectly natural time to step away while he's still with a top team, dignity intact.

Just this evening Force India confirmed Perez is staying with the team.

What's most exciting for me is that the WEC is now such a credible series the drivers are being instantly linked with it. But it doesn't have to be one series versus the other.

Yes, but with drivers, goes credibility.

The casual fan, doesn't care about the truth...what they see is an F1 driver leaving F1 to go to WEC. Webber, now Button, and maybe Alonso? Really? That's a big deal.

F1 is "loosing is stars"...there may not be drastic consequences right away, but, expect, eventually, to see issues.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Yes, but with drivers, goes credibility.

The casual fan, doesn't care about the truth...what they see is an F1 driver leaving F1 to go to WEC. Webber, now Button, and maybe Alonso? Really? That's a big deal.

F1 is "loosing is stars"...there may not be drastic consequences right away, but, expect, eventually, to see issues.

Actually, what the casual fan will see is an F1 driver who has been heavily rumoured as not being kept on in F1, and heading somewhere else after it.

Or simply put, jumping before he's pushed.

[Rodger Davies]

Actually, what the casual fan will see will be Button retiring from F1.

There's no 'point scoring' to be had, as I see it, but it's still good to see the allure of LM to the top talent without F1/Indycar drives.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

F1 is "loosing is stars"...there may not be drastic consequences right away, but, expect, eventually, to see issues.

But Jenson isn't really an F1 "star". He's not one of the out-and-out fastest guys on the grid. He won't be pushing to the ragged edge in search of that extra tenth. He doesn't get involved in the (melo)drama behind the scenes, nor does he let it affect his performance. There's really not much to spin a headline-grabbing story round.

What he is however, is a very quick and capable driver with a reputation for being easy on the car and an affable personality, all of which stand him in great stead if/when he gets inside the rocketship Toyota bring to Le Mans next year...

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by J Jay

But Jenson isn't really an F1 "star". He's not one of the out-and-out fastest guys on the grid. He won't be pushing to the ragged edge in search of that extra tenth.

Pushing for extra tenths doesn't make you a star necessarily - it makes you a great driver.

If you want to talk about stars and drivers who have a high profile - they don't come much bigger than Button. He's an absolute household name, especially in this country. Far more so than Webber and he has more profile than most drivers in the WEC put together.

If he does move to the series it's massive.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

Actually, what the casual fan will see will be Button retiring from F1.

There's no 'point scoring' to be had, as I see it, but it's still good to see the allure of LM to the top talent without F1/Indycar drives.

Yep, always best to retire before you're released.

[TF110]

If he does join, I wonder if he'll be in the #8 car with fellow Brit, Anthony Davidson That'd be cool to see.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Pushing for extra tenths doesn't make you a star necessarily - it makes you a great driver.

And I said as much later on in my post.

Originally Posted by Simmi

If you want to talk about stars and drivers who have a high profile - they don't come much bigger than Button. He's an absolute household name, especially in this country. Far more so than Webber and he has more profile than most drivers in the WEC put together.

But that won't be enough to hold people's interest. Once he's out for a year or two he'll only be mentioned in passing regardless of how well he's doing, like Webber is now (although Ricciardo has a bit to do with that). That high profile with the general population won't last long when he's outside the circus. His departure won't be remembered as Jenson choosing LMP1 over F1, it will be remembered as Jenson leaving before being sacked.

I do agree however that this is a very big and very good thing for the WEC as it seeks to establish itself (and sportscars in general) as a genuine alternative to the single seater ladder.