ELMS 2014

[SpikerJack]

Calendar for next year..

Provisional 2014 European Le Mans Series Calendar
1/2 April Official Test Paul Ricard FRA
18/19 April Round 1 Silverstone GBR
10/11 May ** Round 2 Imola ITA
19/20 July Round 3 Red Bull Ring AUT
13/14 September Round 4 Paul Ricard FRA
11/12 October Round 5 Estoril PRT
** date to be confirmed
All dates are provisional and subject to confirmation



"Next year the race duration will increase from 3 hour to 4 hours at each of the five rounds and there will be an increase to 90 minutes from 60 minutes currently in each of the two Free Practice sessions"

[Salamus]

I wish they went to Brands Hatch or Donington instead of Silverstone.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Salamus

I wish they went to Brands Hatch or Donington instead of Silverstone.

Probably safer and cheaper for the series to tag along to the WEC for that weekend.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Probably safer and cheaper for the series to tag along to the WEC for that weekend.

I know, it just gets boring when so many series go to Silverstone. GBR has a lot of other great tracks.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Salamus

I know, it just gets boring when so many series go to Silverstone. GBR has a lot of other great tracks.

Not sure about the reasons behind not going to Donington, but Brands Hatch... I suspect all the full-noise days on the GP track are already booked, the track is under some quite insane noise restrictions.

[Simmi]

Glad it's back with Silverstone and they keep the double-header alive. That's going to be pretty essential viewing for UK fans with the Porsche debut to boot.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Salamus

I wish they went to Brands Hatch or Donington instead of Silverstone.

Love to see them at Brands again . Group C was magic to watch there .

[isynge]

Can't grumble about this at all. Swapping in Estoril at the end instead of Hungaroring feels relatively logical.

Agree with those in favour of the Silverstone double header - worked well this year and see no reason for it not to do so again next year.

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by Salamus

I know, it just gets boring when so many series go to Silverstone. GBR has a lot of great tracks.

/\ Fixed it for you. For the record, I agree though, but I can follow the double-header logic (even though I wish they'd run at the same time).

[Starfish Primer]

The double header was a good idea, i liked it. It would be great a similar weekend a Spa.

[TheMightyM]

One interesting element of the schedule that’s worth noting: The Estoril ELMS race is the same weekend that WEC is at Fuji.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

One interesting element of the schedule that’s worth noting: The Estoril ELMS race is the same weekend that WEC is at Fuji.

Interesting, although realistically I'm not sure there's likely to be that much cross series damage, and given time differences it makes for the possibility of a fantastic day of racing - much like we should get with Fuji/PLM this year.

[HORNDAWG]

Combined 2014 schedule
.
Red = USCC
Blue = ELMS
Pink = WEC
.
.
Jan. 25-26 – Rolex 24 at Daytona
March 15 – Twelve Hours of Sebring
1/2 April Official Test Paul Ricard FRA
April 12 – Long Beach (Prototype and GTLM only)
18/19 April Round 1 Silverstone GBR
April 18-20 – Silverstone
May 4 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
May 9-10 – Spa-Francorchamps
10/11 May ** Round 2 Imola ITA
May 31 – Detroit Belle Isle (P, PC and GTD only)
June 1 – Le Mans Test Day
June 14-15 – 24 Hours of Le Mans
June 29 – Six Hours of The Glen
July 13 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
19/20 July Round 3 Red Bull Ring AUT
July 25 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 10 – Road America
August 24 – Virginia International Raceway
August 29-31 – Sao Paulo (TBC)
13/14 September Round 4 Paul Ricard FRA
September 20 – Circuit of The Americas
September 19-21 – Circuit of The Americas
October 4 – Petit Le Mans
11/12 October Round 5 Estoril PRT
October 10-12 – Fuji
October 31-November 1 – Shanghai
November 13-15 – Bahrain
　
**date to be confirmed
All dates are provisional and subject to confirmation




L.P.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Combined 2014 schedule
.
Red = USCC
Blue = ELMS
Pink = WEC
.
.
Jan. 25-26 – Rolex 24 at Daytona
March 15 – Twelve Hours of Sebring
1/2 April Official Test Paul Ricard FRA
April 12 – Long Beach (Prototype and GTLM only)
18/19 April Round 1 Silverstone GBR
April 18-20 – Silverstone
May 4 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
May 9-10 – Spa-Francorchamps
10/11 May ** Round 2 Imola ITA
May 31 – Detroit Belle Isle (P, PC and GTD only)
June 1 – Le Mans Test Day
June 14-15 – 24 Hours of Le Mans
June 29 – Six Hours of The Glen
July 13 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
19/20 July Round 3 Red Bull Ring AUT
July 25 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 10 – Road America
August 24 – Virginia International Raceway
August 29-31 – Sao Paulo (TBC)
13/14 September Round 4 Paul Ricard FRA
September 20 – Circuit of The Americas
September 19-21 – Circuit of The Americas
October 4 – Petit Le Mans
11/12 October Round 5 Estoril PRT
October 10-12 – Fuji
October 31-November 1 – Shanghai
November 13-15 – Bahrain
　
**date to be confirmed
All dates are provisional and subject to confirmation




L.P.

The Spa / Imola conflict is a lot more serious to my eyes. It divides the viewing public first off - I'm lucky enough to be able to travel around Europe a bit, and both Spa and Bologna are great destinations I'm very fond of, doing both isn't a starter in the same weekend.

Secondly for an ambitious LMP2 squad who might want to maximise the pre Le Mans run up and potentially get a good degree of seat time it limits them.

Okay it's fine if the WEC is oversubscribed (chances of that?) but realistically I can't help thinking there'll be a few entrants out there shaking their heads at this one.

Would it have killed them to deconflict this?

[Ginaro Zukovsky]

Wonder what's on a week later that's stopping them from moving the Imola date?

[Simmi]

Scheduling is a pretty thankless task but sometimes you do end up just scratching your head.

Similar one for me was last weekend and scheduling the AsLMS round at the same time as the CoTA double-header. Still can't fathom that.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

One interesting element of the schedule that’s worth noting: The Estoril ELMS race is the same weekend that WEC is at Fuji.

To make it more interesting the F1's are at Suzuka on the WEC Fuji weekend, I wouldn't have though the Japanese ASN or the FIA for that matter would want 2 big international events on the same weekend.
If Fuji TV are involved in the WEC coverage, they wouldn't want it either

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by SpikerJack

Calendar for next year..

Provisional 2014 European Le Mans Series Calendar
1/2 April Official Test Paul Ricard FRA
18/19 April Round 1 Silverstone GBR
10/11 May ** Round 2 Imola ITA
19/20 July Round 3 Red Bull Ring AUT
13/14 September Round 4 Paul Ricard FRA
11/12 October Round 5 Estoril PRT
** date to be confirmed
All dates are provisional and subject to confirmation



"Next year the race duration will increase from 3 hour to 4 hours at each of the five rounds and there will be an increase to 90 minutes from 60 minutes currently in each of the two Free Practice sessions"

Estoril is a bit of an odd choice. I think it may be too tight of a circuit for the ELMS, especially with the enormous speed differences in each class. Portimao seems like a much more obvious choice to me if you are talking about Portugal.

Originally Posted by Salamus

I wish they went to Brands Hatch or Donington instead of Silverstone.

I completely agree. I've never been a big fan of Silverstone. Yes, it's absolutely steeped in history, but you can't deny it's flat as a pancake, there's no scenery, and it's about as soulful as a parking lot. Plus, it's gotten too technical and tedious over the years. Donington and Brands both have a great mix of topography and lots of greenery, which is always important to get a sense of speed and to provide a natural atmosphere for the racing.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Beetle

Donington and Brands both have a great mix of topography and lots of greenery, which is always important to get a sense of speed and to provide a natural atmosphere for the racing.

Donington is a building site. Completely agree it's a good track (I'm going next weekend for British GT) - but it's also a bit soulless now after being gutted in pursuit of F1.

All the British tracks have history. And they've all hosted big sportscar events in the past. Only one has the facilities/garages/paddock suitable these days.

It's a shame as I think we'd all like to see a huge P1 battle flying down the Craner Curves or into Paddock Hill Bend.

[isynge]

Been a while since I've been to Donington, but the ELMS guys seemed to put on a good show there last year. See the realities involved in doing it at Silverstone, and have no problem with this.

I'm hearing mutterings that the Imola/Spa conflict will be sorted by moving one of the dates, interestingly this in Autosport suggests that it might be the WEC which moves, which to my eyes would be a completely inexplicable decision.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by isynge

Been a while since I've been to Donington, but the ELMS guys seemed to put on a good show there last year. See the realities involved in doing it at Silverstone, and have no problem with this.

I'm hearing mutterings that the Imola/Spa conflict will be sorted by moving one of the dates, interestingly this in Autosport suggests that it might be the WEC which moves, which to my eyes would be a completely inexplicable decision.

I don't understand why the ACO/FIA releases a WEC calendar, then days later releases an ELMS one - then needs to tinker with the calendars. Why not just wait and get them both right? They run both series!!!!

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I don't understand why the ACO/FIA releases a WEC calendar, then days later releases an ELMS one - then needs to tinker with the calendars. Why not just wait and get them both right? They run both series!!!!

Precisely. You think they could collaborate a little bit... with themselves.

I've complained too much. It should be a good season next year. I hope we'll see some more GTC entries.

[FstrthnU]

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-20991.html

Signatech confirming they will be running as "Alpine" again for next year's season.

[Intimidator]

Originally Posted by isynge

Been a while since I've been to Donington, but the ELMS guys seemed to put on a good show there last year. See the realities involved in doing it at Silverstone, and have no problem with this.

I'm hearing mutterings that the Imola/Spa conflict will be sorted by moving one of the dates, interestingly this in Autosport suggests that it might be the WEC which moves, which to my eyes would be a completely inexplicable decision.

in dailysportscar they say that the WEC calendar may change dates due to clashes with F1, not with ELMS. (Austin with Singapore and Fuji with Suzuka). In the ELMS calendar there's an "*" on the Imola event (date to be confirmed). I hope they will move the event one week later because I want to be at both Spa and Imola, plus it's no sense. Some ELMS teams would join the Spa race to prepare for LM like they have done this year. With this clash they won't be able to join

[isynge]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-20991.html

Signatech confirming they will be running as "Alpine" again for next year's season.

Good news given the changes in Renault exec management which had raised questions about the future of the Alpine engagement.

It's not the most convincing bit of rebadging we've ever seen, but they're a charismatic squad and for all they were a little low key at Ricard today, they're deserving champions and be great to see Alpine back next year.