[WEC Race] Sao Paulo 6 Hours 2012

[NelisB]

Originally Posted by pach233

After Silverstone, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of buzz about this one. Hopefully it'll be a good race but honestly for me, finding out next year's schedule will probably be the most interesting part of the weekend.

In my opinion the circuit seems to suit the Toyota a bit more then it suits the Audi. So I hope this might be the first race win for Toyota and if that happens it probably will be a very memorable race... Well at least to me.

[TF110]

Yeah, I think so also. Don't see how this won't be a good race. Even with the altitude robbing some power from Toyota, they'll make up for it on those turns with their hybrid release.

[Simmi]

Looking forward to this as always. I'm excited to see what Toyota can do once again. Will also be interesting to get a look at Di Grassi over some stints and check out his relative pace.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by kober

Don't be sad, that's the best option (the WEC site that is). No commercial breaks, RLM commentary, live timing - all of it, conveniently on the same page of your web browser

Is Audi tv covering the whole WEC season? Because like Silverstone I'll be using that to watch the race if so. Had no problems at all and they used RLM commentary so very happy.

[Articus]

Well if Toyota is not making any power maybe the fuel economy picks up? Anyway if Toyota has the fuel economy of Silverstone it does not matter how fast the hybrid makes them. They cannot win. Audi could save as much as 1.5 pitstops worth of fuel. Have a car that's just as quick over a single lap.

[TF110]

I don't agree with that. Audi would have had to make at least a splash of fuel for the E-Tron were it not for the 2nd safety car. Toyota needed a full fuel stop, but with the time made up on track, they would have been VERY close at the end of the race. What bothers me is that it takes a shorter amount of time for Audi to refuel their car! It's supposed to be even amount of time. Yet it took longer for the Toyota to fill it's tank than Audi. That's something they should address IMO.

[gwyllion]

If the engines produce less power in Sao Paulo, they will use less fuel. Consequently, the R18 ultra and e-tron will have no trouble finishing 6 hours with 6 pit stops, whereas Toyota will also have to do at least one extra stop.

[kober]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

If the engines produce less power in Sao Paulo, they will use less fuel.

Excuse my total ignorance, but since the lower amount of power is the result of thinner air on high altitude, aren't the N/A engines just less efficient on the highlands? Therefore, don't they make less power (compared to levels achievable on lowlands) out of the same amount of fuel?

[GT3.14]

Originally Posted by kober

Excuse my total ignorance, but since the lower amount of power is the result of thinner air on high altitude, aren't the N/A engines just less efficient on the highlands? Therefore, don't they make less power (compared to levels achievable on lowlands) out of the same amount of fuel?

Indeed, fuel will have to be increased to produce the same amount of power, only making it less efficient. The Audi's turbocharged six will not suffer nearly as much in the thinner air.

[Articus]

Toyota will have to run adjusted engine maps because logically you cannot dump the same amounts of fuel into the cylinders when the air is thinner. So I expect the fuel economy to pick up compared to Silverstone. They'll rely heavily on the hybrid power which is exactly the way toyota wants it. I'm convinced that if Toyota wrote the rule books they would have a super small 4 cylinder petrol engine and a huge hybrid system.

[kober]

Originally Posted by Articus

Toyota will have to run adjusted engine maps because logically you cannot dump the same amounts of fuel into the cylinders when the air is thinner.

That makes sense (even to me). Unfortunately, with the assumption that they'll have 10% less power, even the 10% better fuel economy won't put them on Audi's level. Toyota is not yet able to win based purely on speed/strategy - they'll need some bad luck to hit their opponent.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by GT3.14

Indeed, fuel will have to be increased to produce the same amount of power, only making it less efficient. The Audi's turbocharged six will not suffer nearly as much in the thinner air.

I guess it depends on what the potential of the engine is.
If they are already running maximum engine maps from Sivlerstone then any more fuel will just be unburnt and coming out the tailpipes. Very inefficient indeed. They will have to match the fuel to the air for max power but no more fuel than is needed. It will inadvertently help the fuel economy at a track like Brazil's.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by kober

That makes sense (even to me). Unfortunately, with the assumption that they'll have 10% less power, even the 10% better fuel economy won't put them on Audi's level. Toyota is not yet able to win based purely on speed/strategy - they'll need some bad luck to hit their opponent.

The downforce from the new package (at Silverstone) probably aided in consuming more fuel. We saw that at LeMans they were able to go at a reasonable distance compared to the E-tron. One lap I think was the distance between the cars? So maybe 9 or 10 miles further (at least with the lower downforce package) maybe a little more. So if the same stays for Brazil, the track at 2.6 miles, equates to Audi being able to do 4 more laps if we go by the fuel economy at LeMans. But who knows what will happen here at Brazil.

[GT3.14]

Originally Posted by Articus

I guess it depends on what the potential of the engine is.
If they are already running maximum engine maps from Sivlerstone then any more fuel will just be unburnt and coming out the tailpipes. Very inefficient indeed. They will have to match the fuel to the air for max power but no more fuel than is needed. It will inadvertently help the fuel economy at a track like Brazil's.

Don't know what logic I was using there. Obviously entirely dependent on air/fuel ratio, less air should be less fuel.

[andy_b]

WEC Spotter Guide for Sao Paulo is now online


download at.... http://www.spotterguides.com/2012-wec

[MitchZ06]

Once again Andy, brilliant work.

[rich07]

Thanks Andy as always for taking the time and effort with the spotter guide. Keep up the great work

[NaBUru38]

Your guides are beautiful, Andy. Thank you!

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by NelisB

I'm waiting to see how they scheduled the American rounds and what the round is going to be. (Sebring, PLM, CotA)

It will be COTA.
And I'd guess it will be in April. Other than that, I doubt next year's calendar will be that different from this year's.

[andy_b]

Thanks guys. ALMS @ VIR also available now

[TF110]

Just like I thought- Nakajima will miss Brazil due to SuperGT. Too close together I assume... http://www.toyotahybridracing.com/sa...toyota-racing/

Kazuki Nakajima misses this event due to Super GT commitments in Japan.

[gwyllion]

That is a bit strange because the SuperGT was last weekend. Normally he should have plenty of time to travel to Sao Paulo.

The drivers from Europe left to Brazil only this week. For instance, Alex Wurz toke his flight yesterday:

Originally Posted by @alex_wurz

Europe bye-bye, Brazil here I come, samba samba - 6h World Endurance Championship race of Sao Pualo with @Toyota_Hybrid

source: http://twitter.com/alex_wurz/status/245465210004074496

[kober]

Maybe it's not the race, but some PR stuff, or testing even, that keeps him busy in Japan.

[Slipknot]

As always, thanks for the spotters guide.

[TF110]

To be fair, Alex nor Nico have raced back to back to back weekends, this would be Nakajima's situation.