[WEC] WEC 2021 season

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Using the same layout for both races seems like a major missed opportunity. I'd go for an experimental layout for the daylight-only 6h race.

On a different note, is it just me, or Bahrain is less suited for night racing than other tracks? With the monotone surroundings I sometimes find it difficult to tell corners apart in the dark.

Then you will be pleased to hear :
'The green flag for the race will be dropped at 14:00 and last until 22:00, the race finishing under the Bahrain circuits floodlights.'

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Using the same layout for both races seems like a major missed opportunity. I'd go for an experimental layout for the daylight-only 6h race.

On a different note, is it just me, or Bahrain is less suited for night racing than other tracks? With the monotone surroundings I sometimes find it difficult to tell corners apart in the dark.

IMSA made the same mistake when they scheduled back to back Watkins Glen rounds. Same layout on both.

Does anybody actually like the Bahrain race? Must be the country paying WEC lots of $$$$ for this. And what they gain for it who knows.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

IMSA made the same mistake when they scheduled back to back Watkins Glen rounds. Same layout on both.

Does anybody actually like the Bahrain race? Must be the country paying WEC lots of $$$$ for this. And what they gain for it who knows.

bahrain and other middle-east states like qatar and else are basically dictatorial countries, they pay to host motorsport races and other mainstream events like fifa world cup just to get international prestige and visibility....
but let's say that unfortunately this is their "nature" somehow since these middle east countries never knew democracy... the big joke is FIA that promotes gender equity, safety driving etc... but doesn't mind to get big money from countries that basically have little or not cognition at all of human rights (just to be clear, it's not about only middle east, I would include european states like russia and hungary as well).
Back in topic I would had included abu dhabi as last race instead of double bahrain, considering also this year yas marina track has a new and faster layout.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by canaglia

Back in topic I would had included abu dhabi as last race instead of double bahrain, considering also this year yas marina track has a new and faster layout.

This has been requested a few times previously, to no avail. I assume Abu Dhabi don't see any need to throw money at the WEC for it, given that they already end the F1 season.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by J Jay

This has been requested a few times previously, to no avail. I assume Abu Dhabi don't see any need to throw money at the WEC for it, given that they already end the F1 season.

is also gulf 12H financed by abu dhabi government?

Anyway there is dubai autodrome too that it's a great and underrated track.
Not to consider that remaining in europe, there are also other tracks with still a decent weather in late september/early october like montmelo and paul ricard at example.
The double bahrain race is clearly the cheapest option.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

IMSA made the same mistake when they scheduled back to back Watkins Glen rounds. Same layout on both.

Does anybody actually like the Bahrain race? Must be the country paying WEC lots of $$$$ for this. And what they gain for it who knows.

In IMSA's defence the Glen's only other alternative layout is quite short. Bahrain has eleventy thousands of possible layouts. There's got to be a suitable one in there somewhere.

I always assumed Bahrain's place on the calendar was due to financial reasons, let alone that place being an 8-hour season finale. The track produces decent F1 races, but in an endurance race the sea of beige gets old pretty quickly.
+ what canaglia said. I can't agree more. Although, I wouldn't lump Hungaroring into the same mix. Its place in calendars is more to do with tradition and continuous business relations between the local organizers and the sporting bodies. And the recent anti-liberal tendencies, while alarming, are part of a bigger populist trend sweeping through western democracies. This is not on the same level as using oil and gas money to make a series overlook journalists being cut into pieces and buried in gardens, or war crimes being "secretly" committed in neighbouring countries. A man linked to the latter went as far as naming a recent LMP1 car using his initials...

[Pandamasque]

I'd like some of the Middle East races to move to Australia and Africa, when health situation allows. It's a world championship after all. Imagine a WEC endurance race in Phillip Island! What an epic circuit https://youtu.be/m-odzPmTff4 Not quite Bathurst level, but LMH in Bathurst isn't happening, except maybe in one of the alternate worlds of Rick and Morty.

Unless I dreamt it all up, we came close to seeing a Kyalami WEC round. I really hope that comes back.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by canaglia

is also gulf 12H financed by abu dhabi government?

The double bahrain race is clearly the cheapest option.

I assume it is in part, albeit not overtly. Someone more knowledgeable than me would have to show what they know about Driving Force Events, who run the race under the "Gulf 12H" banner.

In a sense, the Bahrain double-header is the cheapest option (logistically) for all involved - except the Bahrain state!

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

I'd like some of the Middle East races to move to Australia and Africa, when health situation allows. It's a world championship after all. Imagine a WEC endurance race in Phillip Island! What an epic circuit https://youtu.be/m-odzPmTff4 Not quite Bathurst level, but LMH in Bathurst isn't happening, except maybe in one of the alternate worlds of Rick and Morty.

Unless I dreamt it all up, we came close to seeing a Kyalami WEC round. I really hope that comes back.

Those are great options that the fans would all love, but the fans aren't (directly) paying the organisers to make it all happen. Every series has its way of balancing the books, and for the WEC it means that there won't be much movement from the current calendar. Honestly, I can't ever see a WEC race being held in Australia.

If Porsche are willing to pony up the Rand though, Kyalami would be a treat!

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by J Jay

If Porsche are willing to pony up the Rand though, Kyalami would be a treat!

I know Porsche owns the facility, but was it actually Porsche financially backing the event?

[Mike E]

Kyalami was on the calendar until everything went bad.

https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/r...84903/4984903/

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Kyalami was on the calendar until everything went bad.

https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/r...84903/4984903/

Ah yes you are referring to the Koof.

[S griffin]

It probably is unlikely to return at this time

[canaglia]

calendar is basically made by manufacturers...
guess everyone of them will push to come back in china as soon as possible

[Adam43]

After today's announcement in a change to the BoP for, at least, the test day here is the development of the three parameters for the three cars.

Weight (Kg)

Bulletin	Track	GR010 HYBRID	-- 007 LMH --	---- R13 ----
23/4/2021	Spa	1040		930
28/4/2021	Spa	1040		930
2/6/2021	Portimao	1066	1030	952
5/6/2021	Portimao	1066	1030	952
12/6/2021	Portimao	1066	1030	952
8/7/2021	Monza	1066	1030	952
4/8/2021	Le Mans	1066	1030	952

Energy Allocation (MJ)

Bulletin	Track	GR010 HYBRID	-- 007 LMH --	---- R13 ----
23/4/2021	Spa	964		920
28/4/2021	Spa	964		920
2/6/2021	Portimao	962	965	918
5/6/2021	Portimao	962	965	918
12/6/2021	Portimao	962	965	918
8/7/2021	Monza	962	965	918
4/8/2021	Le Mans	962	965	844

Max Power (kW)

Bulletin	Track	GR010 HYBRID	-- 007 LMH --	---- R13 ----
23/4/2021	Spa	520		454
28/4/2021	Spa	520		454
2/6/2021	Portimao	515	520	450
5/6/2021	Portimao	515	520	450
12/6/2021	Portimao	515	520	450
8/7/2021	Monza	515	520	450
4/8/2021	Le Mans	515	520	450

It's listed by all the bulletins. Latest one I used the info in the DailySportscar and Autosport article.

Main takeaways

• No major changes all season.
• Latest Alpine adjustment probably doesn't affect their stint length (see Alpine thread)
• At least for test day the LMH cars get their normal race power (520kW) rather than the previously communicated reduction of 500kW.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/0...or-alpine.html
https://www.autosport.com/le-mans/ne...-back/6642034/

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Adam43

• At least for test day the LMH cars get their normal race power (520kW) rather than the previously communicated reduction of 500kW.

Racecar Engineering’s article on LMH estimates that the 20kW is worth 1.6s around Le Mans and 4kmh top speed.

[Adam43]

For completeness here are the season's BoPs

Weight (Kg)

Bulletin	Track	GR010 HYBRID	-- 007 LMH --	---- R13 ----
23/4/2021	Spa	1040		930
28/4/2021	Spa	1040		930
2/6/2021	Portimao	1066	1030	952
5/6/2021	Portimao	1066	1030	952
12/6/2021	Portimao	1066	1030	952
8/7/2021	Monza	1066	1030	952
4/8/2021	Le Mans	1066	1030	952
2/11/2021	Bahrain 6h	1040		930

Energy Allocation (MJ)

Bulletin	Track	GR010 HYBRID	-- 007 LMH --	---- R13 ----
23/4/2021	Spa	964		920
28/4/2021	Spa	964		920
2/6/2021	Portimao	962	965	918
5/6/2021	Portimao	962	965	918
12/6/2021	Portimao	962	965	918
8/7/2021	Monza	962	965	918
4/8/2021	Le Mans	962	965	844
2/11/2021	Bahrain 6h	909		816

Max Power (kW)

Bulletin	Track	GR010 HYBRID	-- 007 LMH --	---- R13 ----
23/4/2021	Spa	520		454
28/4/2021	Spa	520		454
2/6/2021	Portimao	515	520	450
5/6/2021	Portimao	515	520	450
12/6/2021	Portimao	515	520	450
8/7/2021	Monza	515	520	450
4/8/2021	Le Mans	515	520	450
2/11/2021	Bahrain 6h	520		454

It's listed by all the bulletins. Don't think I've missed any and as LMGTE has a new list between the two Bahrain races I assume that there will be no change for Hypercar. Not the first time there has been no change between races. There were no changes between Portimao and Monza.

Main takeaways

• Toyota and Alpine back to Spa levels for the performance elements
• Stint energy reduced for Toyota and Alpine. Proportionally slightly more for Toyota. I assume this still isn't defining the stint length for Alpine (???)

[Adam43]

Toyota and Glickenhaus also think it’s worth around 1.6s per lap.
https://www.autosport.com/le-mans/ne...h-16s/6649972/

Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe technical director Pascal Vasselon estimated "the 20kW increase is 1.6s."

Luca Ciancetti, technical director of the Podium organisation that has developed the Glickenhaus-Pipo 007 LMH, agreed with Toyota's simulations.

"I think it is in this area; more or less, I would say 1.6s is a good estimation," he said.

[Pandamasque]

So basically that really makes up the bulk of the difference between LMH and P2.

I find the parity between these classes mindboggling, considering the vast power/weight advantage of LMH.

Which brings me back to what I was saying all along, if the aero package is required to be THAT inefficient, how come they still look like LMP cars with a facelift? I hope Stellantis makes a 9X8 derived Dodge Ram pickup truck just to upset everyone

[Mike E]

It was never likely that Glickenhaus would do the races after LM but is this official now?

https://www.autohebdo.fr/actualites/...re-manche.html

[Simmi]

It's a shame but not a surprise. Jim's been open about them not running there from the start.

They need track time more than any other Hypercar team and this would have been a double bill of running heading into the new season.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Simmi

It's a shame but not a surprise. Jim's been open about them not running there from the start.

They need track time more than any other Hypercar team and this would have been a double bill of running heading into the new season.

Next thing probably is that they will complain about BOP again ...

Hard to get your car BOP'ed "correctly" if you don't run it.

[GingerPixel]

Agreed. I'm a huge fan of the team and the car, but it's hard not to feel a little aggrieved by this from a fan perspective.

[Napolis]

We have been transparent, public, and clear about our thoughts on the fairness of the BOP in the Hypercar class.
We designed, engineered, and built a LMH that met the LMH homologation requirements and performed better than the desired/predicted Le Mans lap time of 3:30.
We feel that the BOP between us and Alpine was fair, resulted in great racing and left an acceptable gap to the P2's. We also feel that the BOP of the Toyota's was unfair as evidenced by the very excessive gap to Alpine and us during the Hyperpole and the fact that even though both Toyota's had serious problems during the race they were still able to beat both Alpine and us by a large margin.
We are in cordial communication with the WEC and The ACO to address this issue and are hopeful that we can reach a solution, but we have no interest in participating in a perpetual Toyota Victory Parade and showing up to race when we don't have a fair chance to win.

[truebeliever]

Originally Posted by Napolis

We have been transparent, public, and clear about our thoughts on the fairness of the BOP in the Hypercar class.
We designed, engineered, and built a LMH that met the LMH homologation requirements and performed better than the desired/predicted Le Mans lap time of 3:30.
We feel that the BOP between us and Alpine was fair, resulted in great racing and left an acceptable gap to the P2's. We also feel that the BOP of the Toyota's was unfair as evidenced by the very excessive gap to Alpine and us during the Hyperpole and the fact that even though both Toyota's had serious problems during the race they were still able to beat both Alpine and us by a large margin.
We are in cordial communication with the WEC and The ACO to address this issue and are hopeful that we can reach a solution, but we have no interest in participating in a perpetual Toyota Victory Parade and showing up to race when we don't have a fair chance to win.

CORRECT my friend!
You should remember the old adage......''He who pays the piper, calls the tune.''
So expecting anything to change in regards the balance of performance tipped in Toyota's favor, to change, would be wishful thinking.

[Napolis]

Originally Posted by truebeliever

CORRECT my friend!
You should remember the old adage......''He who pays the piper, calls the tune.''
So expecting anything to change in regards the balance of performance tipped in Toyota's favor, to change, would be wishful thinking.

Not at all. There are a lot of things happening. I think it's very possible we'll get a fair BOP.
If we do great if not no problem as we have a lot of other mountains to climb.