2023 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)
Discussion
I think be I you just have to view it as different - a bit like rugby union vs leave.
WEC rules are far more strategic, for the thinking man (like union). IMSA is guaranteed action (as it’s so easy to get a lap back and they’ll throw a yellow for any excuse to bring the fields back together again). Just like league imo, where you’re guaranteed an action packed game.
So the best WEC races are better than IMSA, but the average IMSA race is more exciting to the end than WEC. Different, both have pros and cons and ultimately I’m glad we get both (but Daytona will never ever hit the prestige of Le Mans when they’re all playing on easy mode with catchup enabled)
WEC rules are far more strategic, for the thinking man (like union). IMSA is guaranteed action (as it’s so easy to get a lap back and they’ll throw a yellow for any excuse to bring the fields back together again). Just like league imo, where you’re guaranteed an action packed game.
So the best WEC races are better than IMSA, but the average IMSA race is more exciting to the end than WEC. Different, both have pros and cons and ultimately I’m glad we get both (but Daytona will never ever hit the prestige of Le Mans when they’re all playing on easy mode with catchup enabled)
They do stay yellow for far too long, laps on end, then pit stops, but once you get used to it, just do something else for a few minutes
P2 insane at the end, to lose a race by that margin must be horrendous, but fabulous racing, oreca should be congratulated for build these cars, surely one of if not the best race car built in the last 30 or so years.
Acura clearly had an advantage here, all the other teams struggled in some ways especially Porsche and BMW, worrying really for Porsche when you thnk how much they have tested and also Sebring, that is a tough place, BMW looked miles off to be honest, Cadillac I think are closest, but I do wonder how much a Toyota would be winning by if they were there, personally I think it would be close
P2 insane at the end, to lose a race by that margin must be horrendous, but fabulous racing, oreca should be congratulated for build these cars, surely one of if not the best race car built in the last 30 or so years.
Acura clearly had an advantage here, all the other teams struggled in some ways especially Porsche and BMW, worrying really for Porsche when you thnk how much they have tested and also Sebring, that is a tough place, BMW looked miles off to be honest, Cadillac I think are closest, but I do wonder how much a Toyota would be winning by if they were there, personally I think it would be close
LukeBrown66 said:
Bit disappointed by Shaw having a pop at the Porsche lad complaining about the BOP, right now every Porsche is over 50 seconds down in the GT3 class and in GTD they are ALL a lap down
Sorry Jeremy IMSA may be your pay masters but if you have spent millions on a car and it is utterly hampered by BOP you have every right to b
h in the biggest race of the year.
IMSA you got their BOP so very wrong.
Failing to correct the ridiculous deficit the saddled 5he 911s with and allowing Accurate a clear performance advantage made a mockery of the BOP systemSorry Jeremy IMSA may be your pay masters but if you have spent millions on a car and it is utterly hampered by BOP you have every right to b
h in the biggest race of the year.IMSA you got their BOP so very wrong.
I’m all for binning it and let the best team win, but if you’re going to manage a series by BOP at least apply it fairly and consistently FFS
freedman said:
LukeBrown66 said:
Bit disappointed by Shaw having a pop at the Porsche lad complaining about the BOP, right now every Porsche is over 50 seconds down in the GT3 class and in GTD they are ALL a lap down
Sorry Jeremy IMSA may be your pay masters but if you have spent millions on a car and it is utterly hampered by BOP you have every right to bh in the biggest race of the year.
IMSA you got their BOP so very wrong.
Failing to correct the ridiculous deficit they saddled the 911s with and allowing Accurate a clear performance advantage made a mockery of the BOP systemSorry Jeremy IMSA may be your pay masters but if you have spent millions on a car and it is utterly hampered by BOP you have every right to b
h in the biggest race of the year.IMSA you got their BOP so very wrong.
I’m all for binning it and let the best team win, but if you’re going to manage a series by BOP at least apply it fairly and consistently FFS
I would agree and interestingly early on the comms team were having a pop at teams moaning about it, but towards the end when Porsche was 40 seconds back an hour into a stint they were perhaps a bit more lenient, and also Acura literally just blowing past everything on the straights! Bit odd.
ArnageWRC said:
Watch it every year and great that it's free to watch on Youtube live and catch up, hoping that Manthey Racing are in the mix for the win. Rossi it seems has moved from Audi to BMW, potentially with a view to a seat at Le Mans later this year.Qualifying and Super Pole was earlier today, links below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBEZJhj_nI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjtjIq3CPs8
kalexan273 said:
Watch it every year and great that it's free to watch on Youtube live and catch up, hoping that Manthey Racing are in the mix for the win. Rossi it seems has moved from Audi to BMW, potentially with a view to a seat at Le Mans later this year.
Qualifying and Super Pole was earlier today, links below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBEZJhj_nI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjtjIq3CPs8
Rossi won’t be at Le Mans this year, not in a BMW anyway, 2024 has to be likely though Qualifying and Super Pole was earlier today, links below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBEZJhj_nI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjtjIq3CPs8
Rossi has not moved anywhere, his team moved away from WRT to get into bed with BMW and run the new hypercar in Europe and WEC in the future.
Rossi has a contract with the team as do guys like Vanthoor.
WRT are a sleeping giant in motorsport, and I think could become a huge deal in WEC with BMW, they have proven to be a step above most teams in GTWC, their strategies and pitstops are legendary, a team clearly running at a WEC type level or even higher.
Yes Vale has ambitions at Le Mans and he will get there with WRT, but the team did this away from him, it was not his decision for the to swap to BMW.
Rossi has a contract with the team as do guys like Vanthoor.
WRT are a sleeping giant in motorsport, and I think could become a huge deal in WEC with BMW, they have proven to be a step above most teams in GTWC, their strategies and pitstops are legendary, a team clearly running at a WEC type level or even higher.
Yes Vale has ambitions at Le Mans and he will get there with WRT, but the team did this away from him, it was not his decision for the to swap to BMW.
Youtube link for Bathurst 12hrs (GT World Channel) => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfS3OXbrpdU
Broadcast starts 1830 (UK Time) with race start at 1845.
Start time in Australia is 0545 so there's an hour or two of darkness at the start.
Broadcast starts 1830 (UK Time) with race start at 1845.
Start time in Australia is 0545 so there's an hour or two of darkness at the start.
LukeBrown66 said:
Rossi has not moved anywhere, his team moved away from WRT to get into bed with BMW and run the new hypercar in Europe and WEC in the future.
Rossi has a contract with the team as do guys like Vanthoor.
WRT are a sleeping giant in motorsport, and I think could become a huge deal in WEC with BMW, they have proven to be a step above most teams in GTWC, their strategies and pitstops are legendary, a team clearly running at a WEC type level or even higher.
Yes Vale has ambitions at Le Mans and he will get there with WRT, but the team did this away from him, it was not his decision for the to swap to BMW.
Fair enough, though Vale did sign a contract with BMW to become a works driver for them last December, seemed to me at the time it was separate to having the seat at WRT? It should give him the opportunity to drive for BMW in other series outside of ones that involve just WRT, maybe the DTM?Rossi has a contract with the team as do guys like Vanthoor.
WRT are a sleeping giant in motorsport, and I think could become a huge deal in WEC with BMW, they have proven to be a step above most teams in GTWC, their strategies and pitstops are legendary, a team clearly running at a WEC type level or even higher.
Yes Vale has ambitions at Le Mans and he will get there with WRT, but the team did this away from him, it was not his decision for the to swap to BMW.
I do think BoP was miles out for that race at Bathurst, Mercs were crippled but still miles faster, Audi was nowhere on straight, nor was BMW, 91 was OK, but new model awful at Daytona and utterly crippled,
Seems Ratel struggles with it as much as everyone else, Merc gained weight yet were just as fast, that car has had some serious work obviously
Seems Ratel struggles with it as much as everyone else, Merc gained weight yet were just as fast, that car has had some serious work obviously
LukeBrown66 said:
I do think BoP was miles out for that race at Bathurst, Mercs were crippled but still miles faster, Audi was nowhere on straight, nor was BMW, 91 was OK, but new model awful at Daytona and utterly crippled,
Seems Ratel struggles with it as much as everyone else, Merc gained weight yet were just as fast, that car has had some serious work obviously
I thought the BoP was the closest I’ve ever seen it at the 12 hour. The drivers made the difference for Merc (and Porsche) IMO. Remember Chaz got the fastest lap of the race in an Audi. All the fastest times we’re very similar.Seems Ratel struggles with it as much as everyone else, Merc gained weight yet were just as fast, that car has had some serious work obviously
FredericRobinson said:
February used to be a bleak month, now we have the Asian Le Mans Series to fill the gap, first 2 races this weekend, 13.30 Saturday and Sunday, on YouTube
Very strong entries as well. I guess it’s a cost effective way of running the series, and easy to get the cars and kit back well in time for the European series.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff