2023 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)

[df76]

ajprice said:

Another announcement. Robert Kubica has joined AF Course, his role is to be announced yet but it's probably to drive a 499P hypercar https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/af-corse-signs...

That’s excellent news! Looking forward to the third Ferrari.

Slightly underwhelming Alpine hypercar line up I’d say.

[eastlmark]

df76 said:

Slightly underwhelming Alpine hypercar line up I’d say.

Dont know really, promoting from ranks same as Ferrari did. Paul Loup Chatin is a great underated all rounder- even in a rally car.
Schumacher may well be the weak one. Dont know much about that Austrian Prince guy although he has a solid record of results.
I think getting rid of Nelson Panciatici years ago was a mistake.
despite all the "works team" looks, it has been a driver funded team to an extent and not sure much has changed in the switch to Hypercar.

[FredericRobinson]

The Isotto Fraschinni / Vector Sport deal has fallen apart

[FredericRobinson]

FredericRobinson said:

The Isotto Fraschinni / Vector Sport deal has fallen apart

The car is stil on the WEC entry list though, which is now out, no great surprises

[freedman]

I see Penske Porsche have replaced Dane Cameron with Matt Campbell in WEC

Cameron not entered for PPM at Daytona either, so has he been dropped ?

[Paul Dishman]

freedman said:

I see Penske Porsche have replaced Dane Cameron with Matt Campbell in WEC

Cameron not entered for PPM at Daytona either, so has he been dropped ?

Yes, looks like it. Replaced by Josef Newgarden for Daytona.

Good to see Exeter's Harry Tincknell in the #99 Porsche 963 in the WEC

[ajprice]

WEC 2024 entry list. 19 hypercars, 18 LMGT3 cars, 14 manufacturers, still quite a few drivers TBA.

https://www.fia.com/news/wec-14-manufacturers-and-...

https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/full-world-endu...

[df76]

Looks like Wadoux could be in a Ferrari for 2025, presumably the AF Corse car gives them options.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/67549995

Also, the Asian Le Mans series kicks off at Sepang this weekend. A pair of races on a decent track, with a pretty competitive field. Race 1 will be shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYcO2HPn7hI

[freedman]

FredericRobinson said:

The Isotto Fraschinni / Vector Sport deal has fallen apart

Seems they are partnering with Duqueine instead

[df76]

df76 said:

Looks like Wadoux could be in a Ferrari for 2025, presumably the AF Corse car gives them options.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/67549995

Also, the Asian Le Mans series kicks off at Sepang this weekend. A pair of races on a decent track, with a pretty competitive field. Race 1 will be shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYcO2HPn7hI

Actually, I guess Doriane Pin is more likely for a hypercar drive.

[freedman]

Paul Dishman said:

Yes, looks like it. Replaced by Josef Newgarden for Daytona.

Good to see Exeter's Harry Tincknell in the #99 Porsche 963 in the WEC

Cameron now confirmed, but in IMSA, so a straight swap with Campbell

[flatlandsman]

Expected he did very little in the car, Matty is on the rise clearly and did great in the States

[Teppic]

Jenson Button will be racing the Jota Porsche 963 in 2024

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/67727343

[airbusA346]

Teppic said:

Jenson Button will be racing the Jota Porsche 963 in 2024

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/67727343

The BBC writing an article about endurance racing...

[flatlandsman]

Might make it interesting for Silverstone to perhaps think about bidding for a race now, that will help put the crowd up as will Rossi being there, some foresight would have been nice, this has happened the price will no doubt double as Rossi is a huge seat filler, probably far more than Button would be

[airbusA346]

flatlandsman said:

Might make it interesting for Silverstone to perhaps think about bidding for a race now, that will help put the crowd up as will Rossi being there, some foresight would have been nice, this has happened the price will no doubt double as Rossi is a huge seat filler, probably far more than Button would be

The paddock was bad enough for Alonso, I dread to think what it would be like for Rossi. The crowd waiting for him would literally block the paddock and they would have to keep parting like the Red Sea to let people through.

[coppice]

God above. I must be in the minority who love being around racing cars in the paddock , and watching them on track , but I'm completely indifferent to the presence of celebrity drivers and the hysteria they provoke . I have interviewed a few 'names' and watching the reaction of the public to them is eye opening - WTF do they do with all those selfies?

[flatlandsman]

My point was really about the UK circuit dropping the ball and dumping WEC just as it is going to be a big deal! I can see the point, in the Toyota years, the crowds were poor, they were skint and the hosting fee was probably more than their gate money, but now, man alive you would get a half decent crowd at the place with Button and Rossi.

But they have their pay day that makes them tens of millions a year so I expect they couldn't care less, WEC would still cost a bomb and would not bring in perhaps much more than 20-40k.

As for big name drivers, if you have always liked racing, they mean very little, but it does attract a crowd if marketed properly.

The GTWC race at Brands always used to be fairly quiet on any day, until Rossi turned up, first year it was heaving even on a Saturday for qualifying, he is an immense crowd puller just about anywhere. But nowhere near as much as he was when on bikes.

[coppice]

I'd love to see a WEC race here. and lose the will to live when I see those motor racing meccas Qatar and Bahrain get rounds at their joke circuits and we don't . The hypercar initiative has seen Endurance racing as, probably better , as I can ever recall- and I go back to a long way before Gp C .

[generationx]

The races at Silverstone were great. I remember when Porsche returned with Mark Webber the pit walk was absolutely rammed. I think Hypercar could achieve similar levels.