WEC NAIAS 2015 press conference

[TF110]

The Indy rumors are getting stronger- racer.com are reporting they're open to a 2016 date! Could this be in the press confere

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by TF110

The Indy rumors are getting stronger- racer.com are reporting they're open to a 2016 date! Could this be in the press confere

Man, I hope not. Of all the tracks I'd like to see a WEC race at, I'd put Indy way down on the list.

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by TF110

The Indy rumors are getting stronger- racer.com are reporting they're open to a 2016 date! Could this be in the press confere

Doubtful. It’s way, way, way too early to firm up the 2016 schedule for either the WEC or TUSC and that’s especially true if you’re talking about adding a new event. Of course, having it be known that Indy is interested provides WEC and IMSA with additional leverage in negotiations with other (existing) tracks even if they (eventually) opt not to race at Indy in 2016.

[TF110]

Id rather Road America, but dont think itll happen.

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

Man, I hope not. Of all the tracks I'd like to see a WEC race at, I'd put Indy way down on the list.

Dito.. Not a very exciting layout and another track where there's already a huge event on the calendar. I think WEC would benefit a lot from racing at more circuits where they can be the main event of the year.

[Coach Ep]

Another WEC race in NA is good, even if it'll be at Indy's crappy roval course.

Indy Le Mans sounds good!

How about PWC as support act?

[Rodger Davies]

If it has to be a Grade 1 circuit in North America, I'd put Montreal and (soon, as long as they don't kill it) Mexico City above Indy. But possibly would put Indy ahead of COTA. Personal preference, of course.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by TF110

The Indy rumors are getting stronger- racer.com are reporting they're open to a 2016 date! Could this be in the press confere

... met last summer to discuss the possibility of holding a future round at the legendary circuit, and could continue the discussion next month in Detroit.

Doesn't sound like this is the content of the announcement. Or what exactly would they announce, that they're having discussions?

[TF110]

Who knows if they intend to talk about another N.A. round at their press conference. Thats why the rhetorical question.

[Coach Ep]

Is Daytona FIA grade 1 these days?

[Nick Woodbury]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Is Daytona FIA grade 1 these days?

I'm sure the oval bit could be considered Grade 1....I think. But as for the infield course, I doubt it. No gravel traps, no FIA curbs, no paved runoff...just grass.

[Deleted]

No.

And they will never, ever return to Sebring.

(btw kudos to Lamborghini for hosting it's world finals this year at Florida!)

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

I'm sure the oval bit could be considered Grade 1....I think. But as for the infield course, I doubt it. No gravel traps, no FIA curbs, no paved runoff...just grass.

The oval wouldn't be grade 1 because it has more than 1 banked turn in a row.

[Rcz]

Daytona's roval is a very simply looking track, but it's very fast on that banking. Would be very hard on the tires and suspension. It would be more interesting then Indy's roval.

[deggis]

Daytona is Grade 2, the official list doesn't separate the oval and roval.

http://www.fpak.pt/sites/default/fil...s_fia_2013.pdf

[Coach Ep]

Just a thought: might Ford be 'over-eager' and participate in both WEC and TUSC in 2016 (in GTE)?

[seanyb505]

Why would Fehan be involved in a Ford-themed press conference? I still think it's just a PSA - "Hey we have a race in Texas. Go"

Of course France, not wanting to waste the opportunity to build the public image of the Le Mans link and make it so we can't think NA sports cars with out thinking NASCAR, would want to be there.

Also Brown, Sharp and Dempsey - Main Sponsors and entertainment personality.

WEC: We have a race in Texas. Lone State Le Mans. Go to it.
TUSC & friends: We replicate (lol) that race with several North American races. See, Corvette, the main series sponsor, and this guy that you all know even if you don't know cars will all be there. Go to the races.

[TF110]

Dempsey makes for a big name in the series, but he's in the slowest class. "Come watch Patrick Dempsey (at the rear of the field we hardly focus on)!" I hope its more than that, but I sure dont expect anything grand.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

Why would Fehan be involved in a Ford-themed press conference?

Maybe because Corvette - in answer to Ford going global - is also!?!?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

In 2013 at COTA I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Doug Fehan and a few other people. I did ask him if he ever considered adding a full WEC schedule to their program. His straight up answer was, if one of the other American manufacturers did it then Corvette would do it as well. He said that he has been hounding his Ford equivalent for years to come race. Obviously there was no interest in years past, just look at Robertson and how they received zero support from the factory. I wouldn't be surprised now if Ford did announce that they were doing the WEC that Corvette would follow suit.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

In 2013 at COTA I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Doug Fehan and a few other people. I did ask him if he ever considered adding a full WEC schedule to their program. His straight up answer was, if one of the other American manufacturers did it then Corvette would do it as well. He said that he has been hounding his Ford equivalent for years to come race.

I did a short interview with Scott Atherton during Motorsports on Main 2011 in Greenville. I asked him if he thought there was an American manufacturer that would step up to the plate and complete at the international level? He talked a lot about Ford and their, then new, EcoBoost project. He basically said that it was going to be Ford to do it first. Here's hoping.

[TRuss]

The mid engined Vette is sounding more and more like a reality all of the time. How about that versus the Ford GT at LeMans!?

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by TRuss

The mid engined Vette is sounding more and more like a reality all of the time. How about that versus the Ford GT at LeMans!?

That, my sir, would be great!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by TRuss

The mid engined Vette is sounding more and more like a reality all of the time. How about that versus the Ford GT at LeMans!?

Originally Posted by CyberMotor

That, my sir, would be great!

Did you see the mid engine corvette test mule pics? Talk about frankencar.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...tte-test-mule/

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by joeb

Did you see the mid engine corvette test mule pics? Talk about frankencar.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...tte-test-mule/

Thanks, Joe. You just made me lose by breakfast. No, I had not seen those. I had seen some earlier prospective drawings and those looked good.