Shake Up of Calendar and LMP1 Regs
Discussion
Here's the announcement of how things will be pan out from 2018 following the departure of Porsche:
http://www.lemans.org/en/News/the-24-hours-of-le-m...
It should make things interesting but it would appear we've lost Silverstone rounds.
http://www.lemans.org/en/News/the-24-hours-of-le-m...
It should make things interesting but it would appear we've lost Silverstone rounds.
Silverstone seems to want to pull out of all major events at the moment as they can't afford them anymore. I wonder who will take up the reigns in future. Perhaps we could even get a 24 hour race if the track is remote enough.
No mention on what the LMP1 budget is. Good to see they are going to look at making it cheaper. Should mean a lot more teams in LMP1
No mention on what the LMP1 budget is. Good to see they are going to look at making it cheaper. Should mean a lot more teams in LMP1
Great Dane said:
So it is WECIT.... goodbye to Silverstone and good riddance (although GG hears that they might be back in September after the 'super season'
To be fair when LeMans Series was in Silverstone on the Aug bank holiday weekends that was a superb weekend at Silverstone. We did it a number of times - when you could camp inside the track. Then it moved to March.... never went saw it a bit on TV but as you'd expect Silverstone 6 he race in the dire usual March weather meant pretty much zero spectators.
Imagine moving the Le Mans 24 Hrs to Feb... it would destroy it as an event.
Was out watching rallying yesterday so have only caught up with the news. Hmm...
Do the ACO know what they're doing? Dropping 2 of the bigger spectator events?
Right, we all know the WEC is struggling, so costs have to be cut - that's fine, and so action has to be taken to keep the 'World' status; but this is the best they can come up with?
I don't really understand the 'Winter' calendar, when it actually isn't a proper winter series.
Why not just have 6 races; Spa, Le Mans, Nurburgring, Silverstone, plus a US round and Fuji....job done. Four races in the European heartland, plus an Asian race, and an a Americas race to give you 3 continents.
Sebring makes no sense unless it's the proper/ official 12 Hours of Sebring; and that's not feasible.
I've said before; the ACO may run Le Mans, but they can't run/ promote a World series - and they prove this time & again.
Do the ACO know what they're doing? Dropping 2 of the bigger spectator events?
Right, we all know the WEC is struggling, so costs have to be cut - that's fine, and so action has to be taken to keep the 'World' status; but this is the best they can come up with?
I don't really understand the 'Winter' calendar, when it actually isn't a proper winter series.
Why not just have 6 races; Spa, Le Mans, Nurburgring, Silverstone, plus a US round and Fuji....job done. Four races in the European heartland, plus an Asian race, and an a Americas race to give you 3 continents.
Sebring makes no sense unless it's the proper/ official 12 Hours of Sebring; and that's not feasible.
I've said before; the ACO may run Le Mans, but they can't run/ promote a World series - and they prove this time & again.
Welshbeef said:
To be fair when LeMans Series was in Silverstone on the Aug bank holiday weekends that was a superb weekend at Silverstone. We did it a number of times - when you could camp inside the track.
Then it moved to March.... never went saw it a bit on TV but as you'd expect Silverstone 6 he race in the dire usual March weather meant pretty much zero spectators.
Imagine moving the Le Mans 24 Hrs to Feb... it would destroy it as an event.
I've often thought this. The last race to be held in August was great. The weather was lovely and it was really pleasant to wander about. Then it moved to March.... never went saw it a bit on TV but as you'd expect Silverstone 6 he race in the dire usual March weather meant pretty much zero spectators.
Imagine moving the Le Mans 24 Hrs to Feb... it would destroy it as an event.
Every year since I've had to dress up like an arctic explorer to cope with the cold, windy weather and it's really spoiled what was once an enjoyable event. There has been some fab racing mind but Silverstone in March/April typically isn't a place you want to be!!
Switching onto live coverage in Mexico on BT Sport (only 26 entires but loads of overtakes and contact) after a dull F1 replay.
It's noticeable that the screen coverage mostly head on and hard to get into positions ( as very rarely see side on shots of dots for first 3 in class). Blancpain series with all positions shown on windscreen display much better for TV viewing (LMP1 and LMP2 have smaller screens but shoudn't be such a big problem)
It's noticeable that the screen coverage mostly head on and hard to get into positions ( as very rarely see side on shots of dots for first 3 in class). Blancpain series with all positions shown on windscreen display much better for TV viewing (LMP1 and LMP2 have smaller screens but shoudn't be such a big problem)
"According to provisional calculations, in 2019/2020 an LMP2 team will run in the WEC with a budget similar to 2016; meaning 20% less than now."
Sounds great - till you read
"With the new format of calendar, the number of races will be reduced from 9 in 2017 to 8 in 2018/2019 (over 18 months) then to 7 in 2019/2020"
So to take the positive spin off of it "We're going to charge teams as much for 7 races in 2019/2020 as we did for 9 races in 2016". Or "For 20% less money than this year we're going to give you 33% less race time".
Also am I the only one who read "from the 2018-2019 season onwards, the level of performance of the current non-hybrid LMP1 regulations [will be] managed via equivalence of technologies will be aligned with the current LMP1 hybrid regulations." and started looking for Toyota to publish their "We're pulling out of the WEC" press release?
Sounds great - till you read
"With the new format of calendar, the number of races will be reduced from 9 in 2017 to 8 in 2018/2019 (over 18 months) then to 7 in 2019/2020"
So to take the positive spin off of it "We're going to charge teams as much for 7 races in 2019/2020 as we did for 9 races in 2016". Or "For 20% less money than this year we're going to give you 33% less race time".
Also am I the only one who read "from the 2018-2019 season onwards, the level of performance of the current non-hybrid LMP1 regulations [will be] managed via equivalence of technologies will be aligned with the current LMP1 hybrid regulations." and started looking for Toyota to publish their "We're pulling out of the WEC" press release?
Edited by //j17 on Monday 4th September 14:17
Well at least nobody could accuse them of burying their heads in the sand! It's a helluva big change to throw into the series, but I don't think any of us dispute that something radical needed to be done after Porsche took their ball home.
Giving P1 non-hybrid a chance to compete on a relatively level playing field may p1ss Toyota off, but given that the alternative was them cruising at half-speed to a Le Mans walkover next year then it starts to make sense. Especially when remembering that Le Mans is the heart, lungs, brain and wallet of the WEC...
Joest back at La Sarthe with a pair of 'privateer' non-hybrid 919s next year anyone??
Giving P1 non-hybrid a chance to compete on a relatively level playing field may p1ss Toyota off, but given that the alternative was them cruising at half-speed to a Le Mans walkover next year then it starts to make sense. Especially when remembering that Le Mans is the heart, lungs, brain and wallet of the WEC...
Joest back at La Sarthe with a pair of 'privateer' non-hybrid 919s next year anyone??
gt6 said:
Good news Silverstone back on the calendar for next year but moved to 19th of august
Now that's a very good date for the UK should be good weather 3 weeks after Silverstone classic and for those not wanting or able to nip overseas for a family holiday this could be a great opportunity. Well done common sense at last.
gt6 said:
Good news Silverstone back on the calendar for next year but moved to 19th of august
That is good news. Here's the revised calendar incase people haven't seen it:2018/19 Calendar :
6 & 7 April: The Prologue, Circuit Paul Ricard (FRA) **
5 May: WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
16 & 17 June: 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)
19 August: 6 Hours of Silverstone (GBR)
21 October: 6 Hours of Fuji (JPN)
18 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai (CHN)
16 & 17 March 2019: 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) *
4 May 2019 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
15 &16 June 2019: 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)
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