[WEC] 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship

[ger80]

They almost have it like a football season now, could start in September at COTA and have Le Mans as the final race. And maybe add Sepang on 7th December

[deggis]

Originally Posted by ger80

They almost have it like a football season now, could start in September at COTA and have Le Mans as the final race. And maybe add Sepang on 7th December

If nobody cares about WEC title now, having LM as the last race would diminish it even more. Winter series is an interesting idea but there must good reasons why nobody apart from A1GP has tried it.

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by TF110

No, in the beginning of the year. Replace Silverstone with it. Move Silverstone to August or something.

Have to agree. Silverstone in April is not a great idea, the weather can still be 'iffy' and even wintry. Move Silverstone to the August Bank holiday weekend.

The ACO need help with drawing up a calendar. You do NOT have a 3 month gap after your best, most famous event. You're failing to capitalise on the added interest; by the time 3 months have passed, your casual fan/ media have lost interest.

I also think they need to start the season earlier than late April, what about Brazil in March?

[deggis]

Only positive thing in the break I see that if there's going to be an additional European round (2015), it's pretty obvious where it is going to be put.

[JoestForEver]

There's also a huge gap between Red Bull Ring and Paul Ricard of ELMS, perhaps ACO's good old habit of 3 month summer vacation?

[NaBUru38]

Spain is a very bad idea. I doubt that even Barcelona would attract a decent crow, no matter the number of Audi, Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari factory entries.

I think that the extra race should be Germany or Italy.

[Salamus]

What about the Red Bull Ring?

Nevermind, forgot that the ELMS is already going there.

[NelisB]

Imola or monza would be awesome. Those are pretty easy to travel to for most Europeans.

[Victor_RO]

Or for a different WSPC throwback, if we need an Italian round and Monza has all these noise issues... Mugello?

[SpikerJack]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Or for a different WSPC throwback, if we need an Italian round and Monza has all these noise issues... Mugello?

I wonder why this sound issue is valid for every series except F1...... Mmmmmh.... Strange...
By the way last year GT open and Elms were very quiet (even the 458 gte and the c6r ) so I don't think that sound will be an issue even with the addiction of Lmp1 cars..

[Coach Ep]

The rescheduling of the Sao Paulo race also opens up the possibility of an extra race in North America, Road America late August would be awesome!

[PascaLM]

I think that Toyota is able to do it this year, with a strong experience and the best electrical hybrid system, in my opinion.

[TF110]

They will definitely have a lot of power, whichever option of 'MJ' they take (I believe 6MJ or 8MJ). Will be interesting to see which route Porsche and Audi take.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by SpikerJack

I wonder why this sound issue is valid for every series except F1...... Mmmmmh.... Strange...
By the way last year GT open and Elms were very quiet (even the 458 gte and the c6r ) so I don't think that sound will be an issue even with the addiction of Lmp1 cars..

Aren't these noise issues usually related to the local laws that determine how many "noisy" days (=track activity) there can be in a year, so the actual decibels are irrelevant?

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by NelisB

Imola or monza would be awesome. Those are pretty easy to travel to for most Europeans.

I'll bet on Monza.

[rich07]

Please be Monza

[SpikerJack]

Originally Posted by deggis

Aren't these noise issues usually related to the local laws that determine how many "noisy" days (=track activity) there can be in a year, so the actual decibels are irrelevant?

Maybe for both of them. I didn't find any specific document but from what I read there is also a 70db limit for the circuit but F1 had much much more. Maybe they have some "bonus" noisy days to spend in a year (e.g. F1)..

[Rodger Davies]

We seem to be trying to work out what the extra track is despite there being no indication that there will be one. I agree, to be honest, that the calendar looks really strange as is but there's no chance of an extra race this year and I'd say slim for next year, it'd just whack the costs for competitors up even further.

In my dreams they'd get rid of one of the end of season rounds to accommodate a more 'classic' circuit, but none of those looks likely to go anywhere (apart from maybe COTA, but the series needs a North American round). Anyway, that's one for the 2015 thread.

[TF110]

I think 2015 needs at least 1 more round. Porsche Audi and Toyota (TMG) are ALL located in Germany, yet theres no German track on the list? That will probably change if I were to bet on adding races, but agreed on this year staying as-is.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by TF110

I think 2015 needs at least 1 more round. Porsche Audi and Toyota (TMG) are ALL located in Germany, yet theres no German track on the list? That will probably change if I were to bet on adding races, but agreed on this year staying as-is.

If they will host a race in Germany in 2015, it might be Nürburgring (GP Circuit).

[Flo aus N]

Originally Posted by TF110

I think 2015 needs at least 1 more round. Porsche Audi and Toyota (TMG) are ALL located in Germany, yet theres no German track on the list? That will probably change if I were to bet on adding races, but agreed on this year staying as-is.

Audi and Porsche want to have a German race. But the simple fact is, that the ACO doesn't care about this
Especially if you look at Monza and Germany, these 2 rounds would be way cheaper than for example Bahrain or Shanghai for the teams, because most of the teams are located in Europe and travelling costs are one major factor in WEC.... especially for the P2 and GTE-Am teams....

[Rodger Davies]

Yes, but Audi also want Brazil, China and the US on there, Bahrain is suspected to pay the costs of its race and I can't see them giving up Japan whilst Toyota are around.

[Pontlieue]

One problem with a german round is that the Nürburgring is currently for sale. Don't know what the problem with Hockenheim would be, though.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by SpikerJack

Maybe for both of them. I didn't find any specific document but from what I read there is also a 70db limit for the circuit but F1 had much much more. Maybe they have some "bonus" noisy days to spend in a year (e.g. F1)..

How far from from the circuit/track edge that 70db? Inside the circuit any race car is going to break that limit, maybe that's the general limit for a noisy day?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Flo aus N

Audi and Porsche want to have a German race. But the simple fact is, that the ACO doesn't care about this

"Simple fact" is that you pulled that claim out of a hat.

e.g. April 2013: http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/..._13040401.html

Especially if you look at Monza and Germany, these 2 rounds would be way cheaper than for example Bahrain or Shanghai for the teams, because most of the teams are located in Europe and travelling costs are one major factor in WEC.... especially for the P2 and GTE-Am teams....

How did this go from "additional round" to "replacing existing rounds"? The same manufacturers you said want German round also want that Chinese round.

And Bahrain: we know it's only there because they pay well, so it is beating a dead horse, lets just hope FIA-ACO puts the money in something other than cocktail parties.