[WEC] 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship

[Simmi]

The WEC session at Paul Ricard is not to be officially known as a test but as a 'Prologue'.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/les...m-de-prologue/

Very Tour de France.

[911targa]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

Bachler is gold this year and Ragginger is not classified int he ACO pdf but It wouldn't surprise me if he is classified as gold too.

I hate this system.

I hate it too, sounds like having a silver-rated driver is really tough. Narac is a silver driver this year but he has to drive for Imsa in ELMS. Seems both Horst Felbermayr are Bronze rated.

If I got it right, Camathias is silver-rated after driving for Jwa in 2012?

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The WEC session at Paul Ricard is not to be officially known as a test but as a 'Prologue'.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/les...m-de-prologue/

Very Tour de France.

I like that... prologue to the FIA WEC.

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by 911targa

I hate it too, sounds like having a silver-rated driver is really tough. Narac is a silver driver this year but he has to drive for Imsa in ELMS. Seems both Horst Felbermayr are Bronze rated.

If I got it right, Camathias is silver-rated after driving for Jwa in 2012?

They made their own problems here by classifying full time professional drivers, like Stuart Hall, as Silver, thus the complaints last year that some crews were all-Pro lineups. Changing the rule about requiring a bronze driver won't solve the root cause unfortunately, which means the faster gentlemen like Narac get penalised when being categorised as Silver.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

http://www.dailysportscar.com/?p=16733
Does anyone remember the GAINER International team since it (might have) substituted Greaves Motorsport for the Fuji round?

[Starfish Primer]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

They made their own problems here by classifying full time professional drivers, like Stuart Hall, as Silver, thus the complaints last year that some crews were all-Pro lineups. Changing the rule about requiring a bronze driver won't solve the root cause unfortunately, which means the faster gentlemen like Narac get penalised when being categorised as Silver.

The problem here is how do you classify a driver as Am or Pro. If you use the rule "if is being paid is pro" then the GP2, FR 3.5, GP3 field... are Am drivers. The previous system qualified the drivers based on the achievements so guys like Hall or Pumpelly where Silver. Now with the new rules, you are ruining the career of many drivers.

The split shouldn't be PRO-AM by driver, it should be PRO-AM by team.

[Simmi]

I'd like to see a young driver like Bachler get at least a year at silver to help further his career. No one is under any illusions he's on the rise but give them a year to find their feet before telling them they've essentially 'made it'.

[Starfish Primer]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I'd like to see a young driver like Bachler get at least a year at silver to help further his career. No one is under any illusions he's on the rise but give them a year to find their feet before telling them they've essentially 'made it'.

I agree 100%. There should be some kind of special tratment to drivers below a certain age to help their sportscar/GT careers.

[Rodger Davies]

So realistically, anyone who is a businessman during the week and races at weekends should be a bronze, would we agree on that?

[courageous]

Trouble with writing Pro/Am into the rules in any way is it isn't black and white - much the same problem as saying what constitutes a works, semi-works or privateer team.

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by 911targa

I hate it too, sounds like having a silver-rated driver is really tough. Narac is a silver driver this year but he has to drive for Imsa in ELMS. Seems both Horst Felbermayr are Bronze rated.

If I got it right, Camathias is silver-rated after driving for Jwa in 2012?

Felbermayr Jr is Silver and Snr is Bronze. Narac was Silver last year too.

And I seem to remember Joël being demoted from Gold to Silver in 2013 (but I don't have the 2013 classification PDF).

Be interesting to see if Palttala races in WEC this year.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

And I seem to remember Joël being demoted from Gold to Silver in 2013 (but I don't have the 2013 classification PDF).

Be interesting to see if Palttala races in WEC this year.

Camathias is still rated silver.

Here's the updated rating from three days ago - http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...tification.pdf

Pretty much every named driver in GT-Am got demoted to bronze heading into this year.

Didn't realise Palttala was a silver. He'd be a great Am guy.

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Camathias is still rated silver.

Yeah I know that.

He was rated as Gold in 2012 as far as I am aware, but I can't check because I don't have last years PDF.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I'd like to see a young driver like Bachler get at least a year at silver to help further his career. No one is under any illusions he's on the rise but give them a year to find their feet before telling them they've essentially 'made it'.

It's an interesting conundrum. Bachler is fast enough to be at least a Gold driver but he also needs to gain more experience for top teams to hire him. Ultimately, he needs a GTE-Am ride and a few years down the road a GTE-Pro position with Porsche AG.

If Bachler was ranked Silver instead of Gold, he, Christian Ried, and Nick Tandy could race for Proton at Le Mans. That would be amazing.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

How did Super Formula driver Ryo Hirakawa had a Gold rank when he never raced in the Le Mans-related series (WEC, ELMS, AsLMS, etc.)? I'm just asking.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by TheNo1F1Fan

How did Super Formula driver Ryo Hirakawa had a Gold rank when he never raced in the Le Mans-related series (WEC, ELMS, AsLMS, etc.)? I'm just asking.

The ranking isn't solely down to performances in sportscars it's a subjective decision based on the driver's overall career.

They see a guy who has been a champion in Japanese F3, Carrera Cup and tested an Indycar and decided he was a legitimate talent. Distinguishing yourself in national championships is actually one of the key criteria for gold status.

Given that the guy is 19, he'd again be a prime candidate for a one-year silver 'step up' ranking IMO.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The ranking isn't solely down to performances in sportscars it's a subjective decision based on the driver's overall career.

They see a guy who has been a champion in Japanese F3, Carrera Cup and tested an Indycar and decided he was a legitimate talent. Distinguishing yourself in national championships is actually one of the key criteria for gold status.

Given that the guy is 19, he'd again be a prime candidate for a one-year silver 'step up' ranking IMO.

Cool. And since Patrice Goueslard never raced in WEC (but in Le Mans), his rank for 2014 is silver.

[Richard117]

This are the rules about the ranking:

1/ Platinum: professional driver generally recognized as a well-known driver on the international scene, under the age of 55 and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- has held a Super Licence (for Formula One);
- has won the Le Mans 24 Hours outright;
- has been a Works Driver, paid by a car manufacturer;
- has finished in the top 10 in the general classification in F3000, CART/Champcar, IRL or GP2;
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of an F3 international series (British/Euro F3) or a major international single-seater Championship (e.g. World Series by Renault);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Platinum by the Endurance Committee.

2/ Gold: semi-professional driver in international series or who has distinguished himself in national Championships and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- driver satisfying the criteria of the category A (Platinum) but aged 55 to 59;
- has competed competitively in the World Karting Championship or single-seater series and is under 35 years of age;
- has finished in the top 10 in the general classification of a secondary international single-seater series (A1 GP, Renault V6, FR2000 international…);
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of a national single-seater series (F3, FR2000…);
- has finished in the top 5 in the general classification of an entry level single-seater series (F-Ford, F-BMW, F-Zip, Autosport Academy…);
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of the Porsche Supercup;
- has finished in the top 3 of the general classification of a national or international series organised by a manufacturer (Porsche, Seat, Peugeot, Renault…);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Gold by the Committee.

3/ Silver: amateur driver satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of categories A (Platinum) and B (Gold) ;
- driver satisfying the criteria of the Platinum category but aged 60 or over;
- driver who has finished in 1st place in the general classification of national Championships or international series in association with a professional driver;
- driver who has won a non-professional drivers’ series (Ferrari Challenge, Maserati Trofeo, Lamborghini Supertrophy…);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Silver by the Endurance Committee.

4/ Bronze: amateur driver. Any driver holding an International B licence without a significant record of achievements in motor sport.
c) Rectification:
Any driver has the right to ask the Committee to rectify his categorisation at the latest 15 days before the start of the first Event in which he takes part with the support of all the necessary proofs and documents. Without proof, the request will not be examined.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by Richard117

This are the rules about the ranking:

1/ Platinum: professional driver generally recognized as a well-known driver on the international scene, under the age of 55 and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- has held a Super Licence (for Formula One);
- has won the Le Mans 24 Hours outright;
- has been a Works Driver, paid by a car manufacturer;
- has finished in the top 10 in the general classification in F3000, CART/Champcar, IRL or GP2;
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of an F3 international series (British/Euro F3) or a major international single-seater Championship (e.g. World Series by Renault);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Platinum by the Endurance Committee.

2/ Gold: semi-professional driver in international series or who has distinguished himself in national Championships and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- driver satisfying the criteria of the category A (Platinum) but aged 55 to 59;
- has competed competitively in the World Karting Championship or single-seater series and is under 35 years of age;
- has finished in the top 10 in the general classification of a secondary international single-seater series (A1 GP, Renault V6, FR2000 international…);
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of a national single-seater series (F3, FR2000…);
- has finished in the top 5 in the general classification of an entry level single-seater series (F-Ford, F-BMW, F-Zip, Autosport Academy…);
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of the Porsche Supercup;
- has finished in the top 3 of the general classification of a national or international series organised by a manufacturer (Porsche, Seat, Peugeot, Renault…);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Gold by the Committee.

3/ Silver: amateur driver satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of categories A (Platinum) and B (Gold) ;
- driver satisfying the criteria of the Platinum category but aged 60 or over;
- driver who has finished in 1st place in the general classification of national Championships or international series in association with a professional driver;
- driver who has won a non-professional drivers’ series (Ferrari Challenge, Maserati Trofeo, Lamborghini Supertrophy…);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Silver by the Endurance Committee.

4/ Bronze: amateur driver. Any driver holding an International B licence without a significant record of achievements in motor sport.
c) Rectification:
Any driver has the right to ask the Committee to rectify his categorisation at the latest 15 days before the start of the first Event in which he takes part with the support of all the necessary proofs and documents. Without proof, the request will not be examined.

Good!

[Rodger Davies]

So surely, SURELY... 55-year-old Johansson should be gold.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

So surely, SURELY... 55-year-old Johansson should be gold.

You'd certainly think so, he seems to meet the Platinum criteria perfectly apart from age.

Is the any time-limiting factor?
He's been in F1 and won the 24 Hours, but they were nearly 20 years ago. Would that time make a difference?

I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't be Gold.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't be Gold.

Probably because it's very convenient for him and whichever team he's racing for. He's clearly lobbied for that status.

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

You'd certainly think so, he seems to meet the Platinum criteria perfectly apart from age.

Is the any time-limiting factor?
He's been in F1 and won the 24 Hours, but they were nearly 20 years ago. Would that time make a difference?

I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't be Gold.

It must be due to the amount of time unless it's a mistake on the chart. I'd say any driver who has won Le Mans outright and stood on the podium in F1 driving for Ferrari AND McLaren should be at least gold rated no matter how old he is.

How can they rate Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace gold but Stefan silver?

[Simmi]

Alvaro Parente to RAM Racing in the Pro car for WEC alongside Matt Griffin.

On loan from McLaren. Quite a surprise.

Got a lot of time for that announcement - he's a quality addition to the WEC.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Alvaro Parente to RAM Racing in the Pro car for WEC alongside Matt Griffin.

On loan from McLaren. Quite a surprise.

Got a lot of time for that announcement - he's a quality addition to the WEC.

Argh, beat me to it! http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/alv...ee-en-gte-pro/

I never thought I'd say this, but given that lineup, I think RAM could challenge for GTE-Pro wins.