2026 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)
Discussion
I doubt it, it will gather a few fans but not that many, it is very very different.
This has been all over the socials and tv all weekend, been on SKY F1, Max is a huge name in world sport now.
I hope it helps, but I think it depends on his future, I think he is the main man still in F1 so would clearly be silly to quit now as his earning potential is immense, but I do think he tires of F1, and finds it relatively easy in comparison to this.
But why would you quit when you could earn potentially 300 million in the next few years.
This has been all over the socials and tv all weekend, been on SKY F1, Max is a huge name in world sport now.
I hope it helps, but I think it depends on his future, I think he is the main man still in F1 so would clearly be silly to quit now as his earning potential is immense, but I do think he tires of F1, and finds it relatively easy in comparison to this.
But why would you quit when you could earn potentially 300 million in the next few years.
Jonnny said:
I'd be buying a team if I was Max, race when his calander allows and move into Sports Car Racing in a few years.
But, the current F1 rules might be enough to push him away.
He set up a team at or before the start of 2025 and was running an AM GT 3 car. With his backing he can appoint a suitable race prep team or have one built to order. None of the F1 closed club in Sports Cars.But, the current F1 rules might be enough to push him away.
Given the amount of cars slowing to cross the line after the leader/flag I’m surprised they let penalties be carried forward for more than 2 hours.
No screen timings after chequered flag or much sense on commentary on timings for last 45 minutes.
Great race though, no easy win for Max and good results for AMG and AM and then BMW touring.
No screen timings after chequered flag or much sense on commentary on timings for last 45 minutes.
Great race though, no easy win for Max and good results for AMG and AM and then BMW touring.
Impressive drive from Max, though surely no one really expected anything less from him. Impossible to know if his hard charging style and his kiss with the barrier contributed to the driveshaft failure or not, though personally I suspect it did.
A real shame that most of the other cars that would have really challenged the Winward Mercs for the race win encountered problems or had incidents early on, as it took the excitement out of the race somewhat. I was hoping to see Verstappen and Estre racing each other at some point.
Glad that Max didn't get an 'easy' win, and hopefully he'll be motivated to come back next year.
A real shame that most of the other cars that would have really challenged the Winward Mercs for the race win encountered problems or had incidents early on, as it took the excitement out of the race somewhat. I was hoping to see Verstappen and Estre racing each other at some point.
Glad that Max didn't get an 'easy' win, and hopefully he'll be motivated to come back next year.
N24: Second Place N24-Finishing ABT Lamborghini in Question
The second-placed finishing ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 s result from the Nürburgring 24 has been put into jeopardy after the car reportedly failed post-race technical inspection.
...
The car, which scored pole, is believed to have potentially exceeded the power limit enforced by the Balance of Performance when the car was tested on a dyno post-race, alongside five other cars from the SP9 class.
https://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/second-p...
This happened to Manthey in 2019 and they were DQ'd loosing 2nd place.
EDIT: According to the Motorsport-Total article it is rumored that the Lamborghini had 20 PS above the maximum.
The second-placed finishing ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 s result from the Nürburgring 24 has been put into jeopardy after the car reportedly failed post-race technical inspection.
...
The car, which scored pole, is believed to have potentially exceeded the power limit enforced by the Balance of Performance when the car was tested on a dyno post-race, alongside five other cars from the SP9 class.
https://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/second-p...
This happened to Manthey in 2019 and they were DQ'd loosing 2nd place.
EDIT: According to the Motorsport-Total article it is rumored that the Lamborghini had 20 PS above the maximum.
Edited by airbusA346 on Thursday 28th May 20:18
GTWC at Monza.
I don't normally watch GTWC as I find the races too short. Well, this round was, uhm, interesting.
I was expecting the start to have a bit of rubbing through the chicane, some cars going wide. Not the utter skittling of the Pro class field. Quite the achievement by Martine, who still claims he did nothing wrong. Thank goodness he had to retire, if he'd stayed in first and won the race; I have visions of everyone squeezing him close to the wall at Spa and generally giving him no space anywhere on the track for 24 hours.
Problem with Monza, is the tarmac runs out and becomes grass on the start/finish straight. I've seen many overtakes along the straight, then cutting in before the grass over the years, but this was something else. Maybe a barrier will appear on the grass to prevent this in the future.
The other major incident was Van Der Linde ( IIRC ) cue ball action. The result of which reminded me of Zarco flying in front of Rossi at Austria. At Spa a barrier was placed on the tarmac on the final corner; I think it was Estre who used the area for an overtake. Maybe a similar barrier will appear at Monza to stop a vehicle from coming back onto track.
Great result for Tresor. I have no idea what Sainte-Loc were thinking/did to need four stops. For team of their experience in GT, really odd to make such a mistake.
Hopefully Spa isn't too Safety Car heavy at the end of the month. As if...
I don't normally watch GTWC as I find the races too short. Well, this round was, uhm, interesting.
I was expecting the start to have a bit of rubbing through the chicane, some cars going wide. Not the utter skittling of the Pro class field. Quite the achievement by Martine, who still claims he did nothing wrong. Thank goodness he had to retire, if he'd stayed in first and won the race; I have visions of everyone squeezing him close to the wall at Spa and generally giving him no space anywhere on the track for 24 hours.
Problem with Monza, is the tarmac runs out and becomes grass on the start/finish straight. I've seen many overtakes along the straight, then cutting in before the grass over the years, but this was something else. Maybe a barrier will appear on the grass to prevent this in the future.
The other major incident was Van Der Linde ( IIRC ) cue ball action. The result of which reminded me of Zarco flying in front of Rossi at Austria. At Spa a barrier was placed on the tarmac on the final corner; I think it was Estre who used the area for an overtake. Maybe a similar barrier will appear at Monza to stop a vehicle from coming back onto track.
Great result for Tresor. I have no idea what Sainte-Loc were thinking/did to need four stops. For team of their experience in GT, really odd to make such a mistake.
Hopefully Spa isn't too Safety Car heavy at the end of the month. As if...
Used to enjoy Blancpain but I also spent a lot of time watching very boring processional races with GTWC, there are two formats a sprint and endurance.
Endurance also I feel at times needs less cars and another class to liven things up, but Ratel is obsessed with one class only, wants that to be his thing.
So I watch it less than I used to I am afraid. I do find GT3 a bit dull at times.
One thing going for it is at least he has not completely silenced the cars,l the unforgivable act the ACO have done to G3LM cars which makes them sound utterly insipid
Endurance also I feel at times needs less cars and another class to liven things up, but Ratel is obsessed with one class only, wants that to be his thing.
So I watch it less than I used to I am afraid. I do find GT3 a bit dull at times.
One thing going for it is at least he has not completely silenced the cars,l the unforgivable act the ACO have done to G3LM cars which makes them sound utterly insipid
I watched the GTWC over the weekend. As you say it was an astonishingly crashtastic race. The shear size of the grid was partly to blame in my opinion. I think there was about 60 cars all queueing into the first chicane, what could possibly go wrong 
. It’s a hell of a lot a big chunky GT cars for a relatively narrow and tight circuit.
I dread to think how much money got spent in a few seconds at the first corner, must run into millions.
The multiple FCY and safety cars just turned it into an absolute strategy lottery, and then to add insult to injury we finished under a safety car as well.
Not sure it’s a sustainable format as it stands.
. It’s a hell of a lot a big chunky GT cars for a relatively narrow and tight circuit.I dread to think how much money got spent in a few seconds at the first corner, must run into millions.
The multiple FCY and safety cars just turned it into an absolute strategy lottery, and then to add insult to injury we finished under a safety car as well.
Not sure it’s a sustainable format as it stands.
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