2014 SCCA World Challenge - Page 40

Lagunaseca_4life · 31 Aug 2014, 00:22 (Ref:3449148)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund

No. The camera was accidently turned off on the grid before the race when I asked one of the guys to make sure it was on.

-mike

Bummer, hopefully next time

BullMan · 1 Sep 2014, 01:04 (Ref:3449370)

Those Friday night BoP adjustements IMSA put through are BS, but SCCA managed to one-up that! They made whatever car Shea Holbrook is driving change the rev limit 45 MINUTES before the second race of the weekend. Wow.

https://twitter.com/SheaRacing/statu...03321472806912

WolfsburgRS · 5 Sep 2014, 16:43 (Ref:3450572)

If you can't beat 'em, join em.

Awesome to see this step being taken by Cadillac.

I do wonder what this means for the the Realtime Acura in terms of BOP? Probably not much, but as the only high-level non-GT3 car it could be interesting for them...

http://sportscar365.com/gt/first-pho...-car-revealed/

Deleted · 5 Sep 2014, 16:56 (Ref:3450576)

If GT3 was a group that had some kind of universal ruleset or even common charasterics Acura being the only outsider could indeed mean something, but since they are just all randomly balanced together on race by race basis it doesn't matter

pederb · 9 Sep 2014, 06:11 (Ref:3451399)

Wow, 3 Lambos at Miller Park

**joeb** · 12 Sep 2014, 02:30 (Ref:3452383)

Cadillac just got a bop weight break for the final round. Yes that's right, the championship leading CTS gets help from the series for the final round.

Couple this with the corvette gtlm breaks in IMSA for the final two rounds and it makes you wonder what GM's influence in racing is exactly.

Lagunaseca_4life · 12 Sep 2014, 05:04 (Ref:3452439)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

Couple this with the corvette gtlm breaks in IMSA for the final two rounds and it makes you wonder what GM's influence in racing is exactly.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

pederb · 12 Sep 2014, 05:15 (Ref:3452442)

Who says, let the best man win anymore

Accident · 12 Sep 2014, 08:47 (Ref:3452488)

Oh come on.

Aside from the starts, where exactly have they been for the last several races? Johnny O is still a great driver, certainly one of the best in the field, and we know Pratt and Miller build good cars, and the team has shown they are strong over the last few years, so they deserve to be fighting at the front. As it is, they fight for spots the first 4 or 5 laps, then cruise around and try to use traffic to their advantage, then hang on for the last handful of laps.

BoP isn't supposed to be dependent on who leads the championship, but rather the pace of the vehicles, ensuring that they can battle on track. Anyone watching lately has been able to see the Cadillacs are a little off the pace, it shouldn't matter if they are leading the championship. I'd be willing to bet that if they weren't leading the championship there would still be a bunch of *****ing "oh they need BoP so they can pass the others to win the championship!"

As for building the best car, that was completely thrown out when GT3 was introduced (if it was even like that before hand) and that really can't be used to defend/attack any car in the GT3 "formula."

Deleted · 12 Sep 2014, 12:20 (Ref:3452553)

Have to agree there.

**joeb** · 12 Sep 2014, 12:59 (Ref:3452568)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accident

Oh come on.

Aside from the starts, where exactly have they been for the last several races? Johnny O is still a great driver, certainly one of the best in the field, and we know Pratt and Miller build good cars, and the team has shown they are strong over the last few years, so they deserve to be fighting at the front. As it is, they fight for spots the first 4 or 5 laps, then cruise around and try to use traffic to their advantage, then hang on for the last handful of laps.

BoP isn't supposed to be dependent on who leads the championship, but rather the pace of the vehicles, ensuring that they can battle on track. Anyone watching lately has been able to see the Cadillacs are a little off the pace, it shouldn't matter if they are leading the championship. I'd be willing to bet that if they weren't leading the championship there would still be a bunch of *****ing "oh they need BoP so they can pass the others to win the championship!"

As for building the best car, that was completely thrown out when GT3 was introduced (if it was even like that before hand) and that really can't be used to defend/attack any car in the GT3 "formula."

You bring up some good points. Cadillac has still been a top 5 finisher for the most part in the second half of the season, and a lot of that may be do to the drivers. But the car is getting old, and is hard on the tires which makes staying competitive for the whole stint increasingly difficult. Spot on comments on building the best car too.

Coach Ep · 12 Sep 2014, 13:11 (Ref:3452575)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accident

BoP isn't supposed to be dependent on who leads the championship, but rather the pace of the vehicles, ensuring that they can battle on track. Anyone watching lately has been able to see the Cadillacs are a little off the pace, it shouldn't matter if they are leading the championship.

Going with this one surely had to expect more changes, it's not like the McLarens have done that great over the last couple of races (or season for that matter!).

This adjustment has a certain smell over it, not impressed by PWC by how they're dealing with one.

Mike Hedlund · 12 Sep 2014, 15:35 (Ref:3452613)

Facts:

Last seasons "modified" Audi LMS was faster than a FIA spec GT3 Ultra. (I was told this by Audi themselves last year when I drove a "stock" LMS)

They gave Cadillac more power before the season even started because they were "scared" of the GT3 cars.

The Cadillacs still have all the adjustment allowed in the rulebooks, where the GT3 cars only have springs, sway bars, ride height and rear wing angle to tune the car from track to track.

None of the GT3 cars had launch control at the start of the season. I'm still not 100% sure if it's legal for the GT3 cars. I get a different answer depending who I ask -- either way, most of the manufacturers won't provide it as it isn't used anywhere else in the world.

The driver level and caliber this year, is frankly, orders of magnitude better than last year. Johnny 'O is far from the best driver in the series.

There are very particular scenarios where the GT3 cars have an advantage over the Cadillacs (high speed turns, that's all).

Most of the cars can be setup to "drive their tires off" and most people compromise the setup so they can drive hard the entire race. The Cadillac guys choose to do what they've always done because it's always worked.. until the competition level goes up.

So to sum it up: the Cadillacs cars got faster, their competition cars got slower (compared to the fastest car last year, the LMS), but the overall driving level and the teams they're competing against at the front have vastly improved.

To be blunt, I'm ok with Cadillac (and to a lesser degree, GMG/Audi) having an advantage (Audi restrictor increase before RA. The reason they were slower on the straights than most others was they have the most downforce -- it's common sense) this season because they've basically kept the series afloat over the last 5-10 years. But, it can't be forever and I don't like people ****ing on me and saying it's raining. Just call it what it is.

Having said all that -- the series is still the best in North America, by far. They've got some room to improve it and from speaking with some people they're really trying to do it without screwing the long time teams/entries.

-mike

seanyb505 · 12 Sep 2014, 15:45 (Ref:3452618)

Appreciate the insight.

Coach Ep · 12 Sep 2014, 15:46 (Ref:3452619)

One would expect the new GT3 Cadillac (assuming the project goes all the way) to be balanced more equally next year as it's a full blown GT3 and not a PWC GT 'special'.

That leaves the Acura of course.

Mike Hedlund · 12 Sep 2014, 15:54 (Ref:3452622)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

One would expect the new GT3 Cadillac (assuming the project goes all the way) to be balanced more equally next year as it's a full blown GT3 and not a PWC GT 'special'.

That leaves the Acura of course.

Only if it's homologated and has a base line BOP from the FIA and/or SRO. Otherwise it's no different than the PWC specials. Just calling it a "GT3" doesn't make it a GT3 if it doesn't have to play to the same requirements as the competition.

So far Cadillac hasn't committed to developing a full GT3 car, they're just exploring it. I really hope they do. Not just for PWC, but for the rest of the world.. we need more proper GT3 cars around the world to represent American car companies (the only one is Viper, and I don't think anyones running it in a major GT3 series).

-mike

Rodger Davies · 12 Sep 2014, 20:06 (Ref:3452688)

You're more likely to know than me, but I wasn't aware of the Viper attending any GT3 tests in France. Not to say it hasn't, but surprised that it wasn't publicised more if so.

The rumours were that the Caddy GT3 that was photographed at O'Hare was en route to Clermont Ferrand for BoP tests, so here's hoping it will be in the rulebook alongside the others.

What time is Race 1 from MMP tonight please? I've gotten muddled up with my US time zones again.

TRspitfirefan · 12 Sep 2014, 20:10 (Ref:3452689)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

What time is Race 1 from MMP tonight please? I've gotten muddled up with my US time zones again.

6;40 pm Eastern time, according to the PWC TV website.

http://www.world-challengetv.com/

Coach Ep · 12 Sep 2014, 20:13 (Ref:3452691)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

You're more likely to know than me, but I wasn't aware of the Viper attending any GT3 tests in France. Not to say it hasn't, but surprised that it wasn't publicised more if so.

The rumours were that the Caddy GT3 that was photographed at O'Hare was en route to Clermont Ferrand for BoP tests, so here's hoping it will be in the rulebook alongside the others.

What time is Race 1 from MMP tonight please? I've gotten muddled up with my US time zones again.

The broadcast for the TC race starts at 5pm ET/4pm CT, GTs at 6.40pm ET/5.40 CT.

Rodger Davies · 12 Sep 2014, 20:17 (Ref:3452692)

Thanks guys, will set the alarm for 1:30am then!

**joeb** · 12 Sep 2014, 23:51 (Ref:3452737)

Sounds like after chaos at the start, race one was quite good. Bentley flexed their muscle and the kias both dnf, that's big for gts.

Lagunaseca_4life · 12 Sep 2014, 23:51 (Ref:3452738)

Crap start but what a race for those Bentley boys!!

Congrats Guy!

TF110 · 13 Sep 2014, 05:49 (Ref:3452810)

Missed it! Any replay video up yet?

Lagunaseca_4life · 13 Sep 2014, 06:28 (Ref:3452820)

Nope not yet

pederb · 13 Sep 2014, 06:57 (Ref:3452829)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund

Only if it's homologated and has a base line BOP from the FIA and/or SRO. Otherwise it's no different than the PWC specials. Just calling it a "GT3" doesn't make it a GT3 if it doesn't have to play to the same requirements as the competition.

So far Cadillac hasn't committed to developing a full GT3 car, they're just exploring it. I really hope they do. Not just for PWC, but for the rest of the world.. we need more proper GT3 cars around the world to represent American car companies (the only one is Viper, and I don't think anyones running it in a major GT3 series).

-mike

Mike, don't you think the rumor is true that Caddy sent a car to France for homologation by FIA for GT3 ?

Good luck at Miller

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