2025 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)

[marcosgt]

freedman said:

From the Ford and Le Mans press, it appears they've completely forgotten the C100 programme existed

You can see why.

It was generally unreliable and the two cars famously collided with each other while leading in the rain at Brands Hatch taking both cars out!

Not Ford's best programme - It even made the half-hearted WRC effort today look good!

M

[marcosgt]

FredericRobinson said:

I'm well aware of it as a derogatory term for amateurs, but it's not a simpler term than, er, amateurs.

Rich amateurs have always been a part of sportscar racing, and it doesn't exist without them, you don't get a sport that's just WEC hypercar without the lower ranks and support classes.

I've still never figured out what it is that you, under whatever your latest use name is, actually enjoy?

Most seem to be 'entrepreneurs' which is probably a euphemism for barely legal businessmen.

M

[FredericRobinson]

marcosgt said:

Most seem to be 'entrepreneurs' which is probably a euphemism for barely legal businessmen.

M

There’s clearly plenty of that, a couple of familiar names have been in court in the last few days

[bergclimber34]

The best thing about the C100 was the DFL which ended up being a mainstay powerplant for C2 all over the world for a lone period, fabulous engine

[airbusA346]

FredericRobinson said:

There’s clearly plenty of that, a couple of familiar names have been in court in the last few days

Mike Wainwright was recently. Who else?

[The Hypno-Toad]

Didn't the dentist thing start off with Colin Kolles?

[FredericRobinson]

airbusA346 said:

Mike Wainwright was recently. Who else?

Fritz van Erd has been up before the Dutch beak, going to trial later in the year

[bergclimber34]

It's not funny!

[marcosgt]

bergclimber34 said:

The best thing about the C100 was the DFL which ended up being a mainstay powerplant for C2 all over the world for a lone period, fabulous engine

Actually that was, initially, one of the worst things about it!

Bad vibrations and unreliability as I recall.

The Hypno-Toad said:

Didn't the dentist thing start off with Colin Kolles?

I'm pretty sure Louis Krages (AKA John Winter) was a dentist.

M

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 12th February 16:58

[Truckosaurus]

FredericRobinson said:

There’s clearly plenty of that, a couple of familiar names have been in court in the last few days

[freedman]

marcosgt said:

I'm pretty sure Louis Krages (AKA John Winter) was a dentist.

M

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 12th February 16:58

David Mercer was a dentist

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

[FredericRobinson]

freedman said:

David Mercer was a dentist

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

So was Tony Brooks, not that he’d have been getting in the way of the pros

[airbusA346]

Looks like Haupt Racing Team (HRT) could be in a bit of hot water after running a car in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for SMP Racing.

They've potentially violated EU sanctions.

https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/rheinlan...

https://www.motorsport-total.com/24-stunden-von-du...

[VladD]

Just a reminded that the Qatar 1812km race is on Friday, not Saturday or Sunday. Qualifying is on Thursday.

Session timings here

[Truckosaurus]

In television news, I believe Eurosport is shutting down from being broadcast on the television this week (to become part of TNT Sports behind a paywall) but the Eurosport+ app continue (for now...)

Those of us with a suitable Sky subscription get free access to the Discovery+ app, so that should let us watch WEC content (hopefully!).

[Gary Woodland]

Do any channels anywhere in the world have this now or is it all apps? Googling is tricky as it’s just showing me their own tv app rather than actual channels.

Answered my own question: https://press.fiawec.com/assets/fileuploads/67/bc/...

Think I’m feeling Brazilian on Friday !

Edited by Gary Woodland on Tuesday 25th February 16:42

[MG CHRIS]

The tv rights for this is nuts a growing series with major manufactures coming on board within hypercar and gt3 yet the coverage is behind complex conditions. Imsa has all races live on youtube one of the biggest media channels free to view. Why is wec not on youtube free to air to reach more people baffles me.

[bergclimber34]

One reason, and one reason alone Le Mans. Eurosport is French or was, it might change now, they just want you to pay, in all honesty they dont need more fans at venues, they did, but not now, it is about money as it is with ALL television sport these days.

[FredericRobinson]

Available on YouTube in South America apparently, if you can VPN it, and, presumably, use Radio Le Mans for commentary

[Truckosaurus]

bergclimber34 said:

One reason, and one reason alone Le Mans....

Indeed. They could always get some broadcasters to pay for the Le Mans rights, so the whole series has gone behind various paywalls.

At least on Eurosport you could get it with a basic Sky non-sport package.