IMSA IMSA 2024

[NaBUru38]

John Doohan will do a big announcement right now.

I would guess it's Ford-Ganassi in GTP, but you never know.

[Adam43]

Or he’s just started the successor to this thread

[NaBUru38]

Oh wow. I can't imagine people waking up for that.

[Geer van der Helm]

So, howbdo you folks rate my son Tijmen van der Helm in GTP? I know most were critical, because him being a pay driver.

[veeten]

Hey, well he did pretty good. Very solid driving.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Geer van der Helm

So, howbdo you folks rate my son Tijmen van der Helm in GTP? I know most were critical, because him being a pay driver.

Anyone critical of a driver purely on the fact they're a pay driver does not understand motorsport - especially endurance racing. Pay drivers are essential to the sport.

[Coach Ep]

He's kinda under the radar, don't you think? It's hard to tell from the outside who's in the car when it flashes by so have to look at data (lap/stint times per driver) to make a more accurate assessment.

[Geer van der Helm]

Please do. Outpacing his teammates in the last 3 seasons. Porsche now assisting in making mileage in GT3 too.

[Coach Ep]

Didn't you race yourself at one point, BRL series comes to mind (or was it Supercar Challenge)?

[Geer van der Helm]

? my passion was with karting, but raced in DNRT, WEK and Westfield cup.

[GT3_Fan]

https://www.imsa.com/news/2024/03/19...et-separately/

Interesting article about GTD Pro and GTD Am dynamic. Seems to be less of an issue with more "pro" cars now. But I guess when a safety car comes out and the GTP leader is between the two "class" leaders. The leaders in each group end up a lap apart and the one area they don't do wave arounds is here. So I guess that is how the GTD Pro (and overall GT) winner ended up 2 laps ahead of the GTD Am winner at Sebring? It was not because of pace?

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by Geer van der Helm

So, howbdo you folks rate my son Tijmen van der Helm in GTP? I know most were critical, because him being a pay driver.

Above all it was an unfortunate end to the race for JDC's Porsche due to mechanical issue or whatever happened there. Looking at what Proton's Porsche was doing, they most likely could have challenged for TOP5 positions. But still let's take a look at laptimes (yellows, in-/outlaps and damage to the car in Hour 1 were excluded):

Driver	No laps	Fastest	Average all	Top 20 average	Top 40 average
P. Hanson	64	1:51.095	1:52.692	1:51.632	1:52.068
T. van der Helm	52	1:50.672	1:52.553	1:51.489	1:52.411
R. Westbrook	62	1:50.730	1:52.823	1:51.498	1:52:447

Looking at data available, your son did well in that race Top 40 is a bit flawed due to premature end to the race for the 85 car... Better luck next races to them.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Geer van der Helm

? my passion was with karting, but raced in DNRT, WEK and Westfield cup.

Originally Posted by tomcug

Above all it was an unfortunate end to the race for JDC's Porsche due to mechanical issue or whatever happened there. Looking at what Proton's Porsche was doing, they most likely could have challenged for TOP5 positions. But still let's take a look at laptimes (yellows, in-/outlaps and damage to the car in Hour 1 were excluded):



Looking at data available, your son did well in that race Top 40 is a bit flawed due to premature end to the race for the 85 car... Better luck next races to them.

Picking up on this. I looked at Daytona too.

Average Lap time (ranked by Top 100 laps).

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 50	Top 100	Top 150	Laps	GF
1	Richard Westbrook (Porsche 85)	1:36.666	1:37.350	1:37.628	1:37.894	270	252
2	Tijmen van der Helm (Porsche 85)	1:36.105	1:37.340	1:37.746	1:38.093	232	216
3	Phil Hanson (Porsche 85)	1:36.586	1:37.508	1:37.843	1:38.176	216	179
4	Ben Keating (Porsche 85)	1:38.288	1:39.672	NA	NA	71	38

*GF are how many laps they crossed the line with a Green Flag.

Tijmen van der Helm had the fast lap. Westbrook was (slightly) the more consistent driver over more laps.

[Adam43]

I produced the chart for Sebring too. tomcug - recreating what you did

Average Lap time

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 10	Top 20	Top 40	Laps	GF
1	Richard Westbrook (Porsche 85)	1:50.730	1:51.172	1:51.498	1:52.447	62	48
2	Tijmen van der Helm (Porsche 85)	1:50.672	1:51.103	1:51.501	1:52.496	52	46
3	Phil Hanson (Porsche 85)	1:51.095	1:51.402	1:51.632	1:52.068	64	56

I got slightly different averages for Top 20 and Top 40 for Tijmen van der Helm. Not sure why - I'll check my code later.

Anyway, looking at the two races the three main drivers are pretty evenly matched.

Conclusion Tijmen van der Helm is driving very well

[broadrun96]

Interesting grid for Long Beach in GTD

Lexus bringing both cars, driver lineup tweak since GTD Pro ain't making the trip
https://racer.com/2024/04/08/vasser-...to-long-beach/

Flying Lizard coming over to IMSA with an Aston
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/f...with-sabo-lee/

[Geer van der Helm]

Thanks!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Interesting grid for Long Beach in GTD

Lexus bringing both cars, driver lineup tweak since GTD Pro ain't making the trip
https://racer.com/2024/04/08/vasser-...to-long-beach/

Flying Lizard coming over to IMSA with an Aston
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/f...with-sabo-lee/

27 entries in total:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2...or-long-beach/

[broadrun96]

Kat out at Gradient, McAleer in her place the rest of the season

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/m...der-of-season/

No reason given for her departure. Wonder if DCR is giving her more than just an Indy ride or she wasn't allowed to pursue an Indy ride and once announced she was out. Not a Honda vs GM thing since Coyne is Honda aren't they?

[GT3_Fan]

Originally Posted by joeb

27 entries in total:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2...or-long-beach/

It will be a good grid and an interesting race for sure. Glad to see all 11 GT3 manufacturers still being represented. That is why for now running a race with GTD Am without Pro can work. I think I would have had GTD Am at Detroit and Pro at Long Beach myself. A GTP/GTD Pro only grid has the feel of an all star race which Long Beach is a great spot for. I guess they want Detroit for that where the auto companies stomping grounds reside.

[broadrun96]

NO chance of Pro not running at Detroit, they want the pro drivers and teams there with the honchos. Especially with the previous having to skip on GTLM with LM test weekend and schedule tweak to move it and ACO moving the test a bit too. Don't think there's a conflict this year and we already know next year so maybe the ACO won't do it but the French so....

[Adam43]

Did I miss something? Why no Lamborghini SC63 for Long Beach?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Did I miss something? Why no Lamborghini SC63 for Long Beach?

I think the Lambo is only scheduled for the endurance rounds. Which sucks, would love to see it at Laguna.

[Adam43]

Cheers. I completely missed that.

[veeten]

Yeah, they will do the longer rounds in both IMSA and WEC. It was part of their plan.

[Adam43]

Not doing the longer races in WEC?