[WEC Race] 6 Hours Of Spa-Francorchamps 3-5 May 2018

[Bentley03]

Super Season starts today!

6 Hours Of Spa-Francorchamps 3-5 May 2018

Entry List

Timetable

Spotters Guide

[Mike E]

Good times!

Still trying to work out how we have 10 spend-what-you-like LMP1s but 8 cost capped LMP2s, but I'm very happy about it.

[Truckosaurus]

Because Cost Capping never works

[Deleted]

Cost caps are Devil's work.

Anyway Dragonspeed is angry and fuming because of ACO's new artificial stint limitation
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/l...length-limits/

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Cost caps are Devil's work.

Anyway Dragonspeed is angry and fuming because of ACO's new artificial stint limitation
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/l...length-limits/

And rightly so. FIA/ACO make a big fuss about fan surveys and all the rest then just make up artificial rubbish like this. With increasing performance equalisation, being able to make a difference through strategy and tactics can set you apart and costs nothing. Do they actually want a race?

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Mike E

And rightly so. FIA/ACO make a big fuss about fan surveys and all the rest then just make up artificial rubbish like this. With increasing performance equalisation, being able to make a difference through strategy and tactics can set you apart and costs nothing. Do they actually want a race?

Technically ACO is already breaking their own rules by allowing Hedman to be there, so in that respect they shouldn't be overly moany about their driver situation, but yes I agree with what you say overall of course.

The only saving grace for the ACO is that regardless what they do, the hybrid and nonhybrids do have their own individual regulations that do not match, and are mot really even intended to match in performance (regulations do not say they need to). Then again if the separation is as wide as it seem Nonhybrid could just become LMP2, current LMP2 new LMP3, and current LMP3 new LMP4. But obviously hybrid-only P1 with 2 cars isn't too good looking on paper...

[Badlands99]

Originally Posted by Mike E

And rightly so. FIA/ACO make a big fuss about fan surveys and all the rest then just make up artificial rubbish like this. With increasing performance equalisation, being able to make a difference through strategy and tactics can set you apart and costs nothing. Do they actually want a race?

Only if Alonso/Toyota win.

Surprised that the 'OTHER' Toyota hasn't been shackled by something or other!

[XtC24]

For the moment non-hybrids are looking quite good and close.
Alonso fastest.
But not Ginetta... they didn't set a lap yet.

And Maldonado - amazing... this Oreca LMP2 is fast, no wonder that in LMP1 version it is good out of the box.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Cost caps are Devil's work.

Anyway Dragonspeed is angry and fuming because of ACO's new artificial stint limitation
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/l...length-limits/

Am I understanding this correctly? The ACO says, here is how much energy you get per lap, oh but by the way, only go 17 laps on that fuel? How far could teams have gone I wonder?

I like Dragonspeeds response:

“We’re spending a fortune on engines for using a fuel flow sensor. We’re spending triple the money than the P2 engine to run lean, to then save fuel. It’s pretty stupid.”

[Irie]

Im a bit confused did they set a limit on the number of laps or just adjust the tank capacity?
The eot document says

In terms of stint length, in any case, the maximum number of ‘green’ laps (without safety car, slow zone(s) and not
depending on track conditions) should not exceed 11 laps for LMP1H and 10 laps for LMP1NH in Le Mans 2018 race and
19 laps for LMP1H and 17 laps for LMP1NH in Spa 2018 race.

Is this a hard cap or guideline for future EoT?

[RedSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Irie

Im a bit confused did they set a limit on the number of laps or just adjust the tank capacity?
The eot document says
In terms of stint length, in any case, the maximum number of ‘green’ laps (without safety car, slow zone(s) and not
depending on track conditions) should not exceed 11 laps for LMP1H and 10 laps for LMP1NH in Le Mans 2018 race and
19 laps for LMP1H and 17 laps for LMP1NH in Spa 2018 race.


Is this a hard cap or guideline for future EoT?

This is disgusting.

[GasperG]

Originally Posted by Irie

Im a bit confused did they set a limit on the number of laps or just adjust the tank capacity?
The eot document says


Is this a hard cap or guideline for future EoT?

Tank capacity + max fuel energy per lap defines exact numbers of "green" laps per stint, so yes a hard cap. The only way to get more laps would be to use less fuel than allowed, but of course that degrades performance.

[Irie]

Originally Posted by GasperG

Tank capacity + max fuel energy per lap defines exact numbers of "green" laps per stint, so yes a hard cap. The only way to get more laps would be to use less fuel than allowed, but of course that degrades performance.

Then i don't understand the article by sportscar365 as they cann still run lean to extend their stint

[Mike E]

I wonder what the story is with Manor?

https://twitter.com/The__Advantage/s...308711424?s=19

Track running costs money...

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by joeb

Am I understanding this correctly? The ACO says, here is how much energy you get per lap, oh but by the way, only go 17 laps on that fuel? How far could teams have gone I wonder?

I like Dragonspeeds response:

“We’re spending a fortune on engines for using a fuel flow sensor. We’re spending triple the money than the P2 engine to run lean, to then save fuel. It’s pretty stupid.”

Hedman is spending a fortune - only for it to be thrown out of the window by getting in the car himself (which I don't blame him for btw). WEC is only making sure that money really goes to waste!

[RedSquirrel]

Look at BMW and Aston Martin. Please ACO, please don't capitulate to their whinging. Please.

[Akrapovic]

We need to stop calling it EoT now. It was an EoT. But when you're setting artificial stint lengths it's no longer EoT and is purely BoP now.

LMP1 is a BoP class now.

[XtC24]

And the best sector 2 goes to... BR1. (in HD i guess).

[bobec]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

We need to stop calling it EoT now. It was an EoT. But when you're setting artificial stint lengths it's no longer EoT and is purely BoP now.

LMP1 is a BoP class now.

I say it always has been. The way it was implemented, EoT was just a fancy name for BoP

[EffectiveSprinkles]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

We need to stop calling it EoT now. It was an EoT. But when you're setting artificial stint lengths it's no longer EoT and is purely BoP now.

LMP1 is a BoP class now.

Based on a clickbait article by someone who constantly misinterprets stuff to make up headlines?

So far I've seen zero confirmation that a LMP1 car is not allowed to run more than 17 laps in a stint.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Based on a clickbait article by someone who constantly misinterprets stuff to make up headlines?

So far I've seen zero confirmation that a LMP1 car is not allowed to run more than 17 laps in a stint.

Decision of the Endurance Committee
SPA 2018 - LE MANS 2018
During the two first race events, the performances will be analysed and checked in comparison with the homologated
data sheet during each session.
If the analysis will not be possible due to lack of confidence of the onboard data or lack of proper dry running conditions,
FIA/ACO will keep the possibility to take some precaution on the fuel allocation of LMP1NH for the race.
If some adjustments are necessary, before Le Mans 2018, it could be done for any engine type (NA or TC) of LMP1NH by:
 Addition of a maximum of +20kg ballast associated with minimum weight increase of +20kg;
 Reduction of the maximum fuel flow (with associated fuel/lap and fuel/stint) without changing engine hardware
homologation;
 Any other adjustments required if necessary.

In terms of stint length, in any case, the maximum number of ‘green’ laps (without safety car, slow zone(s) and not
depending on track conditions) should not exceed 11 laps for LMP1H and 10 laps for LMP1NH in Le Mans 2018 race and
19 laps for LMP1H and 17 laps for LMP1NH in Spa 2018 race.

[Mike E]

Presumably that is what is being referred to.

[LC2guy]

Just an observation, comparing Practice 1 times to last years Q times;

GTE-AM, 2 seconds quicker than last year Pole, 2.16.6 compared to last years Pole of 2.18.6. GTE-Pro, 0.003 quicker than last years Pole, LMP2, 0.8 sec slower than last years Pole, Toyota, nearly 4 seconds slower than they qualified last year, but still 1-2 in the timing sheets. That's a fair bit of sand.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by LC2guy

Just an observation, comparing Practice 1 times to last years Q times[...]Toyota, nearly 4 seconds slower than they qualified last year, but still 1-2 in the timing sheets. That's a fair bit of sand.

Apples and oranges. Compare FP1 2017 to FP1 2018 though, there's less than half a second in it (1:57.940 vs 1:58.392).

[XtC24]

There was always big improvement in every practice session for LMP1H in last couple of seasons. So I think come qualifying they will get there.