[WEC] WEC 2021 season

[Napolis]

The "whines" of amateurs has nothing to do with the future of racing. The Economic disaster of Covid will decide period. When I was at The N24 the head of a Major Company confided that he was told to reduce his racing department by 50%. This is why we feel so strongly about scrapping all GT classes for a new GT class (GT3@600HP endurance/650 Sprint). Note the grid size of GT cars last weekend at ALL races. The fat lady has sung. I pray that top races won't be reduced to LMP 3 and GT4 but if a lot of people don't face reality that will be the best case for ICE racing and E Robot Driver Racing will the new norm.

[helgi]

Originally Posted by Napolis

E Robot Driver Racing will the new norm.

It won't be cheap to organize, as they'll have to to replace cardboard fans with robotic ones.

[Napolis]

Originally Posted by helgi

It won't be cheap to organize, as they'll have to to replace cardboard fans with robotic ones.

True. ^

[Hawkwood]

Confirmed, 2 Am drivers needed for LMP2 for 2021


https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...paign=widget-1

They can both be silvers however, so the 'fake silver' issue will still be there. Not sure what this solves at all (not that I really thought there was an issue that needed solving).

[gert]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

Not that I really thought there was an issue that needed solving

But Van Eerd certainly did.
He wanted the regulation changed because all those cheating with silver drivers prevented him to get what he was entitled to: a big win.


What this probably does is only make people unhappy.

Davidson - as reported before - is unhappy because he can't continue with their line-up (so either he or da Costa is out)
Jota porbably won't be pleased either.

Rusinov will have to a bronze and drop Jensen or Vergne, or keep Jensen and take another silver.

Van Eerd can keep on running with 2 platinum drivers so he'll be happy about that.
However, with the 2 young silvers options still there, he won't tiotally get what he wanted.

United will have to add a silver to Hanson/Albuquerque or will have to break up the line-up if Hanson gets promoted or get themselves a bronze driver.


I can't see anyone who is fully happy about it.

[gert]

Just to have an idea about the changes:

Of the 15 LMS LMP2 runners currently at Monza

5 would be good-to-go under 2021 regulations:
* #25 Algarve Pro: Falb (B) - Trummer (G) - Aubry (G)
* #27 Dragonspeed: Hedman (B) - Hanley (G) - Milesi (S)
* #34 Inter Europol: Smiechowski (S) - Binder (S) - Isaakyan (G)
* #37 Cool: Lapierre (P) - Borga (S) - Coigny (B)
* #50 Richard Mille: Calderon (S) - Floersch (S) - Visser (S)

3 would be OK if they add an extra driver:
* #20 High Class: Fjordbach (S) - Andersen (B) -> can add any category
* #22 United: Hanson (S) - Albuquerque (P) -> needs a silver or bronze
* #35 BHK: Dracone (S) - Campana (G) -> needs a silver or bronze

7 would have to change at least one driver:
* #24 Algarve Pro: Enqvist (S) - Lancaster (G) - Maini (G)
* #26 G-Drive: Rusinov (G) - Jensen (S) - Vergne (P)
* #28 IDEC: Lafargue (S) - Chatin (G) - Bradley (G)
* #30 Duqueine: Gommendy (P) - Hirschi (G) - Tereschenko (S)
* #31 Panis: Canal (S) - Jamin (G) - Stevens (P)
* #32 United: Owen (S) - Brundle (G) - Van Uitert (G)
* #39 Graff: Allen (G) - Laurent (G) - Cougnaud (S)

--

This now disappeared entry would also be outlawed:
#21 Dragonspeed: Rojas (G) - Hanley (G) - Buret (S)

--
Of the 10 WEC LMP2 runners at Spa

6 would be good-to-go under 2021 regulations:
* #25 Algarve Pro: Falb (B) - Trummer (G) - Lancaster (G)
* #29 Racing Team Nederland: Van Eerd (B) - Van Der Garde (P) - Van Uitert (S) -> normally it's De Vries instead of Van Uitert but that doesn't even matter
* #33 High Class: Patterson (B) - Yamashita (G) - Fjordbach (S)
* #35 Eurasia: Yamanaka (B) - Foster (G) - Merhi (P)
* #42 Cool: Lapierre (P) - Borga (S) - Coigny (B)
* #47 Cetilar: Lacorte (B) - Belicchi (G) - Sernagiotto (S)

4 would have to change at least one driver:
* #22 United: Hanson (S) - Albuquerque (P) - Di Resta (P)
* #36 Signatech: Laurent (G) - Negrão (G) - Ragues (S)
* #37 Jackie Chan DC: Tung (G) - Aubry (S) - Stevens (P)
* #38 Jota: Gonzalez (S) - Da Costa (P) - Davidson (P)

[gert]

The decision has already been reversed

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/1...-line-ups.html

That clarification comes after an evening of anger and upset expressed by teams and drivers following the publication of the latest FIA World Motorsport Council communique

What a surprise :/


Instead, a Pro-Am subclass will be created with a separate podium and trophies.

[Adam43]

what a mess.

[gert]

@ ACO

Just watch the (mostly) am drivers in the Michelin Le Mans Cup make a complete mess of it, and realize why mandating all those bronze/silver drivers in LMP2 might not have been that good an idea after all.

After 42 minutes we are on the 19th lap: 9 have been green, the rest yellow and safety cars

[broadrun96]

Possibly strike that rule. Oh and add a new "class"

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/1...-line-ups.html

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ules-reversed/

[Adam43]

One day there will be 60 classes at Le Mans and I for one can’t wait. Imagine the podium ceremony. I look forward to seeing who’s up there collecting the coveted highest placed no. 43 trophy.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

One day there will be 60 classes at Le Mans and I for one can’t wait. Imagine the podium ceremony. I look forward to seeing who’s up there collecting the coveted highest placed no. 43 trophy.

2012 Sebring 12 Hours had 9 classes. The podium ceremony took longer than the race. Trufax.

[gert]

To be honest, I'd rather have an extra class than the proposed mandated bronze or double silver all over LMP2.


For different reasons like:
* many good gold drivers out of work
* some bronze or silvers totally out of place

[Adam43]

Of course. Although I was fine with the way it was.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by gert

@ ACO

Just watch the (mostly) am drivers in the Michelin Le Mans Cup make a complete mess of it, and realize why mandating all those bronze/silver drivers in LMP2 might not have been that good an idea after all.

After 42 minutes we are on the 19th lap: 9 have been green, the rest yellow and safety cars

Yep, and what great fun it was to watch too.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Yep, and what great fun it was to watch too.

It was, apart from the first 40-something minutes. Not much racing and too many stupid accidents.
The last 80 minutes were great to watch though.

Excellent move by Hörr on Cauhaupe for the lead, and with great championship implications as well.
Superb battle between Andlauer and Schiro in GT as well.

[WyldStallion]

Do you foresee any changes to the GTE Pro grid in 2021? I don't. Ford and BMW leaving left a huge hole that has left the class kinda neutered and less exciting just like IMSA GTLM. The Corvette C8R is now eligible for GTE Am though. I imagine all the Porsche runners will switch to the 911 RSR 19.

[Mike E]

I can't see any C8s turning up in Am, and no major changes until GT3 replaces GTE in some form or other.

[Mike E]

'Bonardel admitted that Michelin may need to sacrifice LMH tire longevity in 2021 as it focuses on ensuring the new Hypercars can consistently lap quicker than LMP2s.'

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...021-lmh-tires/

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Mike E

'Bonardel admitted that Michelin may need to sacrifice LMH tire longevity in 2021 as it focuses on ensuring the new Hypercars can consistently lap quicker than LMP2s.'

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...021-lmh-tires/

Christ, just let them have the power. SMH.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by gert

The decision has already been reversed

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/1...-line-ups.html



What a surprise :/


Instead, a Pro-Am subclass will be created with a separate podium and trophies.

This, IMO, is what GT-Am should be too.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

This, IMO, is what GT-Am should be too.

Yes

[Mike E]

Testing of reduced power LMP2 and 2021 Goodyear spec tyres at Portimao.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/1...n-engines.html

[gert]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Testing of reduced power LMP2 and 2021 Goodyear spec tyres at Portimao.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/1...n-engines.html

Results and laptimes here:

https://raceresults.nu/Results/organ...MPETITION+TEST

[WyldStallion]

Neat that Proton is giving Porsches some run in IMSA before they bring it to Europe surely for WEC/ELMS action.

It looks like GTLM at the Daytona 24 has a chance to be decent if Risi, Weathertech, and Proton show up which they might. After that though? Yeah, the series should ensure that LMP3 and GTLM run at the same pace to have some sort of racing value in there which I think will be the case. The Corvettes should beat the P3's every time though with all pro drivers and the ability to go further on fuel. Even if a P3 is slightly faster on pace which only might occur when you have a guy with the skill of Colin Braun driving it.

The GTE Pro/WEC bit is not looking great. It was awesome from 2017-2019 as everybody knows. It stood out and we had a reason to be excited and watch it. I watch replays of WEC races from 2017-19 far more than 2020 to this point. With the grid now...what is the point when we have SRO GT World Challenge available. Porsche, Aston Martin, and Ferrari all have a presence there plus you get the other GT makes too. In fact the AF Corse cars in GT WC runs almost the exact same paint livery as their WEC cars. Big overlap in drivers too as Pier Guidi was the enduro champion this year now.