2026 Sportscar Thread (WEC, IMSA, NLS, GT World Challenge)
Discussion
richhead said:
Daytona has always been like this, its why it will never be one of the great races like lemans, anyone with a cheque book can race there.
What an odd statement. It’s no different to any other endurance series? One would argue it’s the “am” element in GTD and LMP2 that make it exciting. Let’s not forget that most of the money allowing these amazing grids we have comes from the am’s.Also some great AM characters, people literally living the dream!
The problem for me is having them in at the start of the race, I know why it is done, but a few of them have showed themselves to be wholly incapable of doing full race starts without causing issues. That is probably the most high pressure part of any long race yet Mr money gets to do the start, and potentially write off weeks of testing, millions of dollars and wastes three other drivers chances just because he is not good enough to deal with a start.
We all know they have to be there, and why, but this is the worst aspect of endurance racing for me, the rich dentists who are used to getting their own way, used to buying success, doing what they want then getting utterly found out at times in race cars. It annoys the hell out of me, not for them I don't care a toss about these rich cretins, I care about the teams, the guys working for hours, the other drivers, and actually the other crews who get caught up in their incompetence and selfishness.
there is no answer, it is how endurance racing is and has always been, but I do think some level of better coaching, or penalty system needs to be applied in these races for first lap stuff, it happens every bloody year, one guy a few years ago binned it without even seeing the green flag, I mean that is beyond pathetic I'm sorry.
We all know they have to be there, and why, but this is the worst aspect of endurance racing for me, the rich dentists who are used to getting their own way, used to buying success, doing what they want then getting utterly found out at times in race cars. It annoys the hell out of me, not for them I don't care a toss about these rich cretins, I care about the teams, the guys working for hours, the other drivers, and actually the other crews who get caught up in their incompetence and selfishness.
there is no answer, it is how endurance racing is and has always been, but I do think some level of better coaching, or penalty system needs to be applied in these races for first lap stuff, it happens every bloody year, one guy a few years ago binned it without even seeing the green flag, I mean that is beyond pathetic I'm sorry.
MikeGTi said:
Daytona spotter s guide here
The Valkyrie looks great and sounds great (in that it is recognisably different from the other GTP cars, shame Ferrari is not in IMSA in this regard, and LMP2 is a single manufacturer series), but is it not competitive because of BOP or its still too early in its racing development programme or because it is not that fast?If the latter, is this the quandry for motorsports fans?
Would you rather have 1990s V12 screamers and the arms race that pushed the sport into financial instability, or present day cars with sustainable grids and manufacturers returning which are objectively faster and technologically more capable but less evocative?
bergclimber34 said:
The problem for me is having them in at the start of the race, I know why it is done, but a few of them have showed themselves to be wholly incapable of doing full race starts without causing issues. That is probably the most high pressure part of any long race yet Mr money gets to do the start, and potentially write off weeks of testing, millions of dollars and wastes three other drivers chances just because he is not good enough to deal with a start.
We all know they have to be there, and why, but this is the worst aspect of endurance racing for me, the rich dentists who are used to getting their own way, used to buying success, doing what they want then getting utterly found out at times in race cars. It annoys the hell out of me, not for them I don't care a toss about these rich cretins, I care about the teams, the guys working for hours, the other drivers, and actually the other crews who get caught up in their incompetence and selfishness.
there is no answer, it is how endurance racing is and has always been, but I do think some level of better coaching, or penalty system needs to be applied in these races for first lap stuff, it happens every bloody year, one guy a few years ago binned it without even seeing the green flag, I mean that is beyond pathetic I'm sorry.
They really should insist that the fastest qualifier from each entry takes the start, which would generally be a pro rather than an am driver. That’s probably the best way of doing it, without alienating too much those who do indeed contribute massively to the running of endurance racing. Really not a good look to have half a dozen cars go off at the first corner, again. We all know they have to be there, and why, but this is the worst aspect of endurance racing for me, the rich dentists who are used to getting their own way, used to buying success, doing what they want then getting utterly found out at times in race cars. It annoys the hell out of me, not for them I don't care a toss about these rich cretins, I care about the teams, the guys working for hours, the other drivers, and actually the other crews who get caught up in their incompetence and selfishness.
there is no answer, it is how endurance racing is and has always been, but I do think some level of better coaching, or penalty system needs to be applied in these races for first lap stuff, it happens every bloody year, one guy a few years ago binned it without even seeing the green flag, I mean that is beyond pathetic I'm sorry.
itsallyellow said:
richhead said:
Daytona has always been like this, its why it will never be one of the great races like lemans, anyone with a cheque book can race there.
What an odd statement. It s no different to any other endurance series? One would argue it s the am element in GTD and LMP2 that make it exciting. Let s not forget that most of the money allowing these amazing grids we have comes from the am s.Also some great AM characters, people literally living the dream!
At first i thought it was a bit off to move the date just for him. Who would a clash with sebring actually effect though? Maybe some BMW and Merc drivers from GTD? Im not sure a VLS race actually attracts any of the pro drivers any more?
The exposure the VLS series will get far out weighs any determent i think. The smaller teams will also like the extra attention the series will get. I guess its a win win really, im just not sure i like one driver having that much power to move a whole race meeting!
The exposure the VLS series will get far out weighs any determent i think. The smaller teams will also like the extra attention the series will get. I guess its a win win really, im just not sure i like one driver having that much power to move a whole race meeting!
To concentrate on F1! Joke really but expected sadly.
And let's be fair here, the Alpine WEC team was basically the Alpine WEC tam of years ago just with Renault backing to get them up there.
I would guess if they can find a backer they might continue, but I am doubtful, Signatech is a very French concern, and I dont see any other French companies wanting to get involved.
Others will replace them, this is all the ACO care about, and they have won a race, but it is a shame as it is the car that for me has shown the biggest improvement over the last year.
Don't be surprised if Alpine name continues in LMP2 where it always was before however
And let's be fair here, the Alpine WEC team was basically the Alpine WEC tam of years ago just with Renault backing to get them up there.
I would guess if they can find a backer they might continue, but I am doubtful, Signatech is a very French concern, and I dont see any other French companies wanting to get involved.
Others will replace them, this is all the ACO care about, and they have won a race, but it is a shame as it is the car that for me has shown the biggest improvement over the last year.
Don't be surprised if Alpine name continues in LMP2 where it always was before however
Sheena Monk is one of my favorite female drivers in the IMSA paddock right now and here’s her recent interview as she prepares to race with Myers Riley in 2026. She talks about losing her previous seat, stepping into a top team and how she is approaching this next chapter. Definitely worth a listen if you are following the series.
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