Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Casto
That doesn't sound like enough to really expose true performance in an objective way. I believe on the LMP1 cars they are required to provide a slew of values. Fuel pressure, fuel flow, boost pressure, various temps and most importantly... engine torque!
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I think your evaluation of the situation is correct, as evidenced by Ford last year. They ran with a trail of sand at Spa to the point where it was embarrassing watching the car short shifting up kemmel and getting absolutely no where near the rev limit. Then a late race yellow and a technical issue for a Ferrari meant they could sniff a win (despite the sand) and suddenly the car found a bag of pace. Despite the obvious sand bagging, they were given a BOP break for Le Mans, and they ran off into the distance miles faster than what they should've been able to do.
The ACO is not collecting enough data about the GTE cars performance to effectively BOP them without reasonable assurance that they are not being manipulated by dodgy practices. I don't see the downside of your suggestion of monitoring the GTE cars more closely. If they insist on going down the BOP route, then that is what they should be doing - otherwise they aren't doing the job effectively.
Funny you should mention a torque sensor. That was the plan the ACO put in place, was to have this mandated on all cars. That's the reason Porsche have given for them developing a brand new NA car, whilst everybody else went turbo. The ACO never did go down the torque sensor route and the result is Porsche regretting not using a turbo motor in the new GTE car.
In LMP1, you're right again. Porsche was penalised several times mid race for using too much fuel. They know exactly what is going on with the LMP1s, and as a result it's very rare we see an adjustment to the EoT. Unlike the BOP, which is adjusted so much that it's clearly a reaction to the race results rather than balancing of cars. Not that you should be balancing the GTE cars IMO, as it's meant to be a manufacturer backed development class.