[WEC] New rules. New manufacturers. The 2021 and beyond positivity thread!

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by canaglia

like mclaren, bentley is supposed to go full electric in near future so it fits much more in FE than lmdh... and also because, honestly... after porsche, audi and maybe lamborghini sharing same platform, a fourth rebadge of the same car would be ridiculous

From what Graham said it was a fully private venture anyway - not factory backed. So not a surprise they don't have a high order slot on the chassis production line.

In hindsight, very optimistic for year one, but there could be more possibilities of this nature in future years.

[S griffin]

It wasn’t likely to go far without factory backing. Especially if the actual manufacturer didn’t consider LM a priority. I never thought it was going to happen this year anyway. We’ll just have to get through the next few years and see what happens

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by joeb

In keeping with the thread title, I am positively confused on the basis for the LMDH category. I understand they will be based off of a P2 tub, but is this one of the current generation cars, or the next gen P2 chassis? Because I still don't know what a next gen P2 car is. I have seen no announcements about the future of the class, but thought it was due for a refresh in 2022 or 2023.

Dallara: “Totally Different Grounds” With New Gen LMP2
Dallara looking to take lessons learned from first-gen LMP2 car into new 2024 contender…

“I know the ACO guys and I believe everyone wants to see diversity,” Angelelli said. “I believe every one of us has learned a lesson.
“I think the next LMP2 generation will start from totally different grounds. I believe we’ll see representation from all four constructors.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...5UZXw1_fMsSF-g

[Pandamasque]

Other than Oreca, all the other LMP2 cars were flawed in one way or another. Angelelli seems confident this wouldn't happen again, but he doesn't say why. Is he implying there'll be BoP in P2 now? I don't know if that's the solution, but it's quite clear that any concept of a prototype with arrested development (an oxymoron, I know) is likely to produce problematic machines. The one car that turned out just fine is the result of a development process that began before the rule set was even carried over to P2, and that development involved actual racing and a lot of troubleshooting. Who knew that having an exclusive opportunity to rehearse a job interview and knowing all the questions in advance may give you an edge vs. other candidates, right?

PS: I wonder how many separate articles can John Dagys produce in the coming weeks and months based on a single talk with Angelelli

[GingerPixel]

Excited to see the Peugeot tomorrow!

[Aysedasi]

It'll be good to see it, but all of this silly video hype is actually getting pretty annoying....

[Mike E]

Not sure this really tells us anything but maybe there will be a useful announcement some time soon.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...h-convergence/

[Pandamasque]

The article implies IMSA was concerned that LMH hybrids under current regs would outperform LMDh cars. So they'll be slowed down some more and, of course, fans will once again blame Aston Martin

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

The article implies IMSA was concerned that LMH hybrids under current regs would outperform LMDh cars. So they'll be slowed down some more and, of course, fans will once again blame Aston Martin

Considering IMSA and WEC will have different bop, I think LMH will get a more favourable bop in WEC, the oppoiste in IMSA

[Gingers4Justice]

Full future convergence!

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/0...from-2023.html

[Mike E]

Great news!

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by canaglia

Considering IMSA and WEC will have different bop, I think LMH will get a more favourable bop in WEC, the oppoiste in IMSA

Well, today's convergence agreement pretty much means ACO and IMSA shook hands on what you've just said.

Isn't this what Napolis very cynically said all along?

[canaglia]

I can't speak about peugeot because we don't even know their real interest for anything but le mans, but I find really unlikely toyota would be happy to accept the possibility to be beaten by a lmp2+ with spec parts.
Everything is getting bopped or spec'ed.

[Adam43]

I think all of them are looking forward to a big healthy sportscar world championship. As for racing in IMSA? Hmm. Probably depends on Toyota US operations, which isn’t a simple thing! They’ve been there before. So, who knows? It’s a bonus for the program if they do.

Maybe major races?

Peugeot are unlikely to want to do much IMSA as it’s just not their market.

More generally what about Sebring? Part of the world championship proper? Or still two races?

[S griffin]

At least it means we might see a team or manufacturer run a duel program in the WEC and IMSA. Anything that helps both series boost numbers can’t be a bad thing

[seanyb505]

I feel this will benefit wec and le mans more than imsa. I'd like to think glickenhaus would run some imsa races, but I struggle to think the other lmh manufacturers interested in anything beyond Sebring anyway.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

I feel this will benefit wec and le mans more than imsa. I'd like to think glickenhaus would run some imsa races, but I struggle to think the other lmh manufacturers interested in anything beyond Sebring anyway.

Daytona is quite prestigious and not to forget Ferraris last major sportscar succes was on that track, I can see them going there.

I am possitive about this and sure a goof balance will be found. Until now we have only seen good sporting interest from all parties.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

I feel this will benefit wec and le mans more than imsa. I'd like to think glickenhaus would run some imsa races, but I struggle to think the other lmh manufacturers interested in anything beyond Sebring anyway.

In the past 20 years, when ACO-centric manufacturers could cherry pick IMSA races, they went to Sebring and Petit. Of course, now Daytona will be the top pick. But there's an argument that if you add just one more race (Glen) to those three you can come away with a NAEC trophy.

[Mike E]

I guess it must be easier to do something interesting with underbody aero like Pug seem to be doing if you go down the LMH route rather than LMDh. Bigger investment means bigger marketing potential.

I am really looking forward to seeing these cars lined up together to see what is possible from the two approaches.

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by CTD

Daytona is quite prestigious and not to forget Ferraris last major sportscar succes was on that track, I can see them going there.

I am possitive about this and sure a goof balance will be found. Until now we have only seen good sporting interest from all parties.

Antonello Coletta said 3 months ago that they want to be at Daytona 2023.

Ferrari has set itself the aim of an early 2023 race debut. Its target for the first track test is April or May next year, but this will depend on how the coronavirus pandemic pans out.
The date of that first race could depend on whether IMSA allows LMH cars to compete in its top class. IMSA’s season typically starts with the Rolex 24 at Daytona each January, several weeks before the WEC usually begins.
Ferrari is understood to be eager for LMH cars to run in both the WEC and IMSA.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...r-lmh-program/

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

In the past 20 years, when ACO-centric manufacturers could cherry pick IMSA races, they went to Sebring and Petit. Of course, now Daytona will be the top pick.

Back in the day following Group C, I always assumed it was Daytona that was the one you wanted to win. And that impression was certainly helped by Jaguar winning and pushing it.

But as I've grown up I've moved more to Sebring being the one I see as the blue ribboned event. Even at half the distance. That has had more recentish history, but I also see it as being more historic overall now. Interesting how I've changed there. I guess it helps that the race is the main event to be held at that venue, where it isn't at Daytona.

I'll get to Sebring next year, not so bothered about Daytona.

Although this is a pointless exercise ranking two top events.

[Pandamasque]

As a spectacle/circuit I much prefer Sebring. But I'm under the impression that Daytona 24h is more of a household name (a stretch, I know), especially now that it came out of the isolationist Grand Am era.

[canaglia]

do daytona and sebring I imagine it like a logistical nightmare for an european team, even for an european based manufacturer actually... because it means ship the cars on december, race daytona on january, to park the cars somewhere in florida and run sebring in march to ship everything back in europe.
Considering also that european based LMH manufacturers spend winter months to do dozen of test sessions....
Let's say that a WEC LMH manufacturers should ship the cars on plane to run daytona on january, come back europe by plane to test on february and then ship the cars on plane again to run sebring and get back in europe... is possible of course, but damn... it must really have a great desire to run in USA...

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by canaglia

do daytona and sebring I imagine it like a logistical nightmare for an european team, even for an european based manufacturer actually... because it means ship the cars on december, race daytona on january, to park the cars somewhere in florida and run sebring in march to ship everything back in europe.
Considering also that european based LMH manufacturers spend winter months to do dozen of test sessions....
Let's say that a WEC LMH manufacturers should ship the cars on plane to run daytona on january, come back europe by plane to test on february and then ship the cars on plane again to run sebring and get back in europe... is possible of course, but damn... it must really have a great desire to run in USA...

[canaglia]

toyota tested at sebring only in february - early march 2019 because needed to be there anyhow because of WEC sebring race. It's the only time toyota ever tested in USA since 2012, it was basically a necessity, logistic issues or not.
TMG usually tests at paul ricard and aragon, recently at portimao too.
It was audi that used sebring as main track for R18 test, having sessions over sessions from late november to march