[WEC] 2016 WEC Discussion

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Alex Langheck

Still a 'new' championship so they're taking it in steps to build it up. Good to see the post Le Mans gap has been reduced. However, I still think the season should start earlier - mid April is way too late; put another race before Silverstone in so we have 3 before Le Mans.

As others have commented, the number of Tilke tracks is disappointing, but understandable. Personally, I'd like each WEC race to be each tracks main event - not a back up to the F1/ MotoGP race.

I think it's risky putting races earlier than Silverstone - an event that has been attracting reduced grids as it is with teams not ready.

I do agree there is some big PR to be gained by picking up historic tracks that are driver and fan favourites. Don't agree it should completely avoid places like Silverstone, Spa, Fuji just because they are in F1.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by TF110

The layout is still nice and close to og besides the goofy stadium section. Maybe they can do like Nurburgring and run a modified chicane there.

I've actually never minded AHR, reminds me of Montreal, and Melbourne.

[TF110]

Sc365 talking about Monza and Indy considerations. Monza left out because a self imposed limit of 4 races in Europe. Indy is a sideways move from Austin. Thoughts? The 4 race limit in Europe is stupid imo. Indy instead of COTA wouldnt make a difference though.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by TF110

Sc365 talking about Monza and Indy considerations. Monza left out because a self imposed limit of 4 races in Europe. Indy is a sideways move from Austin. Thoughts? The 4 race limit in Europe is stupid imo. Indy instead of COTA wouldnt make a difference though.

I have to say I disagree with you on this.
A world championship needs at least 3 continents, and out of 8 or 9 races having more than 4 in Europe seems a bit ridiculous to me.

Especially taking the commercial wants of the manufacturers into account, with Asia and the Americas being so important and realistically needs two races each.

[TF110]

A calendar expansion solves that issue.

[Hingo]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

adding Mexico and fixing post LM gap are two (big) plusses, more Tilke **** is a grande min (how Nurburgring got the nod over Hockenheim is the biggest mystery in recent WEC history!).

Hockenheim is by name only as that track is long gone. The previous iteration was something special.

[chernaudi]

Old Hockenheim was like a half-scale Le Mans, which is why Joest used to test there often.

Mexico City is one I remember from the NASCAR races there, and it was an interesting layout. The GP layout is broadly similar outside of the last corner. Seems like a good track for the WEC cars.

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I have to say I disagree with you on this.
A world championship needs at least 3 continents, and out of 8 or 9 races having more than 4 in Europe seems a bit ridiculous to me.

Europe isn't a continent by any legitimate definition and this year 7/8 races are in Eurasia...

We don't need arbitrary limits on where races are located. Event locations should solely follow demand, not politics and idealist quotas.

[TF110]

This could be big dsc has news that Labre could jump to gte pro with the vette next year.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I have to say I disagree with you on this.
A world championship needs at least 3 continents, and out of 8 or 9 races having more than 4 in Europe seems a bit ridiculous to me.

Especially taking the commercial wants of the manufacturers into account, with Asia and the Americas being so important and realistically needs two races each.

They do need 2 races each, and they have that don't they? Fuji/Shanghai, Mexico/COTA?

Meanwhile, most of your teams are European based, so having the majority in Europe makes sense.

LMP1 - 5 teams based in Europe, 1 in America
LMP2 - 4 based in Europe, 1 Russian, 1 American, 1 Hong Kong
GTE-Pro - 3 (Grouping Aston Martins entries in 1) in Europe
GTE-Am - 6 Based in Europe (SMPs car being an AF Corse entry)

Overall

Europe: 18
America: 2
Russia: 1
Hong Kong: 1

So there should be considerably more events in Europe.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by TF110

This could be big dsc has news that Labre could jump to gte pro with the vette next year.

This would be brilliant if this finally comes off. The conversation with Wayne Taylor is also interesting.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Can anyone explain why on earth the season finale is helt at Bahrain? Do they have any series sponsor from there or something that generates money to WEC? Why not go to Abu Dhabi instead, run it as an evening race just like COTA? Surely both the facilites and the track is far better there.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Can anyone explain why on earth the season finale is helt at Bahrain? Do they have any series sponsor from there or something that generates money to WEC? Why not go to Abu Dhabi instead, run it as an evening race just like COTA? Surely both the facilites and the track is far better there.

I can, with three characters: $$$ i.e. they probably pay a generous fee. We can only hope FIA/WEC uses it for something else than cocktail parties.

I'm sure WEC doesn't get paid this well but relatively the difference in fees could be similar:

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Can anyone explain why on earth the season finale is helt at Bahrain? Do they have any series sponsor from there or something that generates money to WEC? Why not go to Abu Dhabi instead, run it as an evening race just like COTA? Surely both the facilites and the track is far better there.

You've answered you're own question.

Edit - Dammit deggis.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Well considering that table, wouldnt Abu Dhabi still be the better option?

J Jay: Well which sponsor?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Well considering that table, wouldnt Abu Dhabi still be the better option?

I've understood the fees start higher and then gradually get lower in F1... which explains for example Red Bull Ring's high fee. Bahrain has been in the calendar a long time...

J Jay: Well which sponsor?

Not a sponsor, but the circuit (in Bahrain's case, the kingdom itself since it is state propaganda tool).

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Well considering that table, wouldnt Abu Dhabi still be the better option?

J Jay: Well which sponsor?

Not sponsor (the track is owned by the royals), but the entry fee will be significant, in line with the difference in figures deggis posted above.

As for not Abu Dhabi, without knowing the figures we can't be sure but I would assume Bahrain puts on (down) something a bit more to ensure that Abu Dhabi doesn't get the WEC finale, in the same way that Abu Dhabi pays more then Bahrain to ensure it gets the last F1 race. There may also be a surprising bit of differentiating going on, with Neveu not wanting to ape the F1 calendar too much by using the same track for its season ending race.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Well thank you, that explains it a lot better

[Koenigsegg]

Does anybody have a list with possible 2016 entries? This what I came up with.

LMP1
2x Audi
2x Porsche
2x Toyota
2x Nissan (???)
2x Rebellion
1-2x Kolles
1-2x SARD/Greaves (???)

LMP2
2x G-Drive Ligier
2x ESM Ligier
1-2x KCMG Oreca
1-2x SMP/AF Racing BR01 (???)
1x Strakka Gibson
1x Jota Oreca
1x Dutch team/Frits van Eerd
1x Signatech (???)
1x Morand Morgan (???)
1x Eurasia Motorsport Oreca (???)
1x Pegasus Racing Ligier (???)

GTE-Pro
2-3x AMR
2x AF Corse
2x Multimatic/Ganassi Ford
2x Team Manthey (???)
1x Larbre Corvette (???)

GTE-Am
2x AF Corse
2x AMR
1x Dempsey-Proton
1x Abu Dhabi-Proton
1x SMP Racing
1x Formula Racing (???)
1x Larbre (???)

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Simmi

This would be brilliant if this finally comes off. The conversation with Wayne Taylor is also interesting.

One or both of the Taylor brothers perhaps? I dont have the 2016 Calendars in front of me so cant tell if there are any clashes between WEC and Weathertech.

[deggis]

Lots of information, Neveu hints that something wasn't right with Interlagos (economy):

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/n...y-mexico-city/

Freight from Europe to Mexico is paid by WEC, free for teams.

While having been in discussions with a number of other circuits, including Monza, Montreal and Indianapolis, Neveu said not to expect any further expansion in the calendar in the short-term.

However, he wouldn’t rule out unsuccessful events being replaced. Neveu said initial contracts with circuits are typically “one plus-two” meaning the WEC has the option to renew for two additional years after the initial event.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by TF110

Sc365 talking about Monza and Indy considerations. Monza left out because a self imposed limit of 4 races in Europe. Indy is a sideways move from Austin. Thoughts? The 4 race limit in Europe is stupid imo. Indy instead of COTA wouldnt make a difference though.

Above longer story somewhat clears that up... it doesn't sound like a limit per se but that there needs to be some kind of a balance and 1 more in Europe "can't" replace 1 in some other continent and two more races at once would too much.

[TF110]

Someone claiming in the comments the Toyota team pushed for both Mexico and Canada! Wonder if true. NA is their biggest market afterall.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by deggis

Lots of information, Neveu hints that something wasn't right with Interlagos (economy):

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/n...y-mexico-city/

Freight from Europe to Mexico is paid by WEC, free for teams.

Mexico City two weeks before COTA? If people think Austin was hot!

[Pontlieue]

I would have liked Montreal on the calendar. I won't judge Mexico City before I've seen the F1 race this year. But I guess (having seen the plans for the track changes) that Tilke has successfully killed any character the track had. I'm not even referring to Peraltada, but to the fact that he turned every damn corner into a kink.