[WEC] FIA World Endurance Championship

[trickyd]

Does anyone know when the calendar for next years WEC is out, and whether they are planning on filling the giant gap between Le Mans and Interlagos? I mean, I've heard of summer breaks, but not ones that literally take up the whole of summer!

[zanfo zanfagni]

July is too much close to june and private teams need time to receive spare parts to repair their cars after le mans, while lmp1 manufacturers prefer use the summer to make intensive test sessions. This year porsche, audi and toyota will spend summer months to develope and test their 2014 cars. In 2011 ILMC there was the imola race in early july, oreca team folded the event and audi sport had to make a lot of work to be in grid with 2 new chassis (after LM 2011, the winning car was retired, while #2 and #3 gone destroyed). So I think that both manufacturers and private teams prefer to don't run in july.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by trickyd

Does anyone know when the calendar for next years WEC is out, and whether they are planning on filling the giant gap between Le Mans and Interlagos? I mean, I've heard of summer breaks, but not ones that literally take up the whole of summer!

The long summer break is used to ship the cars to Brazil instead of flying them out. All in order to save costs. Sensible call imo.

[trickyd]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

The long summer break is used to ship the cars to Brazil instead of flying them out. All in order to save costs. Sensible call imo.

Yeah but all that interest and momentum gained by Le Mans is lost when the casual fan has nothing to watch for 2 months. Fair enough don't have a race too close to Le Mans, but a month break is long enough IMO. Surely to Christ they can get to Brazil a bit quicker than that, or have it at the beginning or end of the season?!

[GT3.14]

The teams need to do a post Le Mans rebuild of the cars before shipping them off to Brazil. Two months is pretty reasonable.

[zanfo zanfagni]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

The long summer break is used to ship the cars to Brazil instead of flying them out. All in order to save costs. Sensible call imo.

Don't know if is this the reason also because in 2 last years europeans cars running for the ILMC were shipped to sebring via air cargo just 2 weeks before the event. Brazil race is in september, I don't think that cars will be shipped for brazil before mid-august. This year DHL is a partner sponsor of WEC, so travels should be also more facilitated.

[SpikerJack]

I heard from Monza's Director on Eurosport that they are in negotiation with WEC for 2014. Monza is in a very bad moment because it could go off F1 (Ecclestone told that today) for economic reasons so I think that they are trying to search for other races for next year. Obviously these are all rumours (obviously exagerated by the media) but I only reported you what I'm hearing in this days in Italy..

[valedave]

Oh man a WEC race at Monza would be awesome

[trickyd]

Originally Posted by SpikerJack

I heard from Monza's Director on Eurosport that they are in negotiation with WEC for 2014. Monza is in a very bad moment because it could go off F1 (Ecclestone told that today) for economic reasons so I think that they are trying to search for other races for next year. Obviously these are all rumours (obviously exagerated by the media) but I only reported you what I'm hearing in this days in Italy..

That would be awesome, have Monza in its traditional April date (from the old 1000km days) and move Silverstone back to August. Bingo. Ecclestone could just be posturing about F1 though.

[wewantourdarbyback]

Monza would be a fantastic race to have, to add another classic track to the series would give it an extra edge in my opinion.


Now, to let us use the version without the chicanes that Audi tested on...

[TF110]

Monza would be a great preparation for LeMans. Silverstone should be late July/ early August imo. I would rather Imola, but another additional race is a plus regardless where it takes place.

[gwyllion]

The last edition of the 1000 km of Monza (i.e., 2007 and 2008) were held in April.

[zanfo zanfagni]

Audi has too much influence in any WEC decision, being the only and real promoter of the championship. In my opinion audi prefers to visit monza to make private tests of their low drag/LM package than run a 6H race.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Salamus

The Toyota finished 3rd, so it only gets 15 points. The Audi in 2nd basically stole 3 points from Toyota. And Audi finished first so they get the full 25.

Audi - 25
Toyota - 15

I don't see a problem.

But I read that this way

Audi 25
Audi 0
Toyota 15

If 2nd Audi gets points, it still steals points from Toyota.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by SpikerJack

I heard from Monza's Director on Eurosport that they are in negotiation with WEC for 2014. Monza is in a very bad moment because it could go off F1 (Ecclestone told that today) for economic reasons so I think that they are trying to search for other races for next year. Obviously these are all rumours (obviously exagerated by the media) but I only reported you what I'm hearing in this days in Italy..

Slightly exaggerated, yes: http://www.givemesport.com/355401-ec...om-f1-calendar

I don't think this (dropping the GP) is going to happen, considering how always evil Bernie agreed to pay Hockenheimring's losses from his own pocket and now (in the above story) lifted Nurburgring's fee. In other words: too important to be dropped.

But can't WEC still go to Monza? Altough it didn't seem like the previous LMS races where were the biggest successes.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by zanfo zanfagni

Audi has too much influence in any WEC decision, being the only and real promoter of the championship. In my opinion audi prefers to visit monza to make private tests of their low drag/LM package than run a 6H race.

Are you now mixing "promoter" and "track side advertiser"? Peugeot used to test at Monza too, it's not like it is some Audi-only territory.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by deggis

If I was an average viewer I'd be really confused by the ten (10) titles in WEC

I totally agree. Endurance racing is a team sport, it's ridiculous to have drivers titles.

There should be just one title per class - ok, two in LMP1 for manufacturers and private teams. The rest should be teams titles too.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by trickyd

That would be awesome, have Monza in its traditional April date (from the old 1000km days) and move Silverstone back to August. Bingo. Ecclestone could just be posturing about F1 though.

I totally agree. August is a great place to do the Silverstone race, because F1 is on holidays.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by deggis

But I read that this way

Audi 25
Audi 0
Toyota 15

If 2nd Audi gets points, it still steals points from Toyota.

2nd Audi gets 0 because only one car counts.

Honestly, whether one or two cars count, the results will usually end up the same by seasons end.

It's just that the following scenario annoys me when two cars count.

Audi - 25
Toyota - 18
Toyota - 15
Audi - 0 (DNF)

It just annoys me when the winning manufacturer ends up with less points. You can argue that Toyota "as a team" did a better job but at the end of the day Audi WON.

To give you an example, would you rather want a Gold or a Silver&Bronze? I would personally want the Gold because it tells people that I was the best at an event.

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I totally agree. Endurance racing is a team sport, it's ridiculous to have drivers titles.

There should be just one title per class - ok, two in LMP1 for manufacturers and private teams. The rest should be teams titles too.

Having 2/3 drivers in a car = team sport.

There should be a drivers title for each class and a team (P2/GTAM)/manufuacturer (P1/GTPRO) title too.

[werner]

I always have the feeling that the races after Le Mans are seen as almost irrelevant to the greater public. If I'm correct, then maybe a thought outside the box could be interesting.
Would it be an idea to make Le Mans the finale of the WEC-season wich runs over the winter?

Oktober: Road Atlanta
November: Fuji
December: Bahrein
Februari: Interlagos (or Potreros de los Funes if possible!)
March: Sebring
April: Silverstone
May: Spa
June: Le Mans

If Monza is really a good opportunity Silverstone could be the opener in September, and Monza in April.
Yes, I know Sebring will be hard to arrange, but honestly, it really should be in the WEC.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by werner

I always have the feeling that the races after Le Mans are seen as almost irrelevant to the greater public. If I'm correct, then maybe a thought outside the box could be interesting.
Would it be an idea to make Le Mans the finale of the WEC-season wich runs over the winter?

Oktober: Road Atlanta
November: Fuji
December: Bahrein
Februari: Interlagos (or Potreros de los Funes if possible!)
March: Sebring
April: Silverstone
May: Spa
June: Le Mans

If Monza is really a good opportunity Silverstone could be the opener in September, and Monza in April.
Yes, I know Sebring will be hard to arrange, but honestly, it really should be in the WEC.

I've suggested this before. It makes so much sense to me. A1GP got a lot more attention than it otherwise would have done due to being on in the winter months...

More drivers would also be available in the winter months with fewer clashes. Le Mans would come as a super climax to the season!

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Salamus

To give you an example, would you rather want a Gold or a Silver&Bronze? I would personally want the Gold because it tells people that I was the best at an event.

I don't know how to answer that question , because a medal system (btw, remember when Bernie Ecclestone suggested this for F1?) is completely different system and rarely used in a seasonal championships (without a separate points system).

[zanfo zanfagni]

Originally Posted by deggis

Are you now mixing "promoter" and "track side advertiser"? Peugeot used to test at Monza too, it's not like it is some Audi-only territory.

Speaking the truth also oak racing, af corse, aston martin and some other teams tests their cars at monza. About audi influence, go to fiawec.com at the end of the page there is a banner WEC's partners it includes audi, michelin, tudor and DHL. As you can see audi has a much more important role than only as "track side advertiser".

[deggis]

Originally Posted by zanfo zanfagni

About audi influence, go to fiawec.com at the end of the page there is a banner WEC's partners it includes audi, michelin, tudor and DHL. As you can see audi has a much more important role than only as "track side advertiser".

Still I have to believe it is completely separate from any sporting related thing. Probably isn't even the same subsidiary of Audi.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by deggis

I don't know how to answer that question , because a medal system (btw, remember when Bernie Ecclestone suggested this for F1?) is completely different system and rarely used in a seasonal championships (without a separate points system).

I'm not suggesting a medal system. It was just a metaphor.

deggis, we must be die-hard fans to argue about the points system.