[WEC] 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship

[chernaudi]

Montreal, like Le Mans, is a semi-permanent track (streets combined with permanent track sections). So by that logic, Le Mans 2014 was the last ACO or FIA sanctioned sportscar race on a street circuit. But on a pure street circuit, I think that we'd have to go back almost 30 years...

Ironic that Montreal was brought up, because the WEC have said that it's a possible venue for a second NA round if they choose to expand the schedule by that route.

[Deleted]

And Montreal ticks the "mandatory" Grade 1 + asphalt runoff boxes (okay they're not 2km wide there but in recent years all corners except some of first chicane have received the usual 'makeover')

[Coach Ep]

Singapore might be an option as well, especially when the series goes 'winterseasonal' but my money is on Montreal (with the little bits of grass taken care of over this winter...).

[TF110]

Complaining of run off areas is pointless. Its always brought up, but nothing will change. Even the best drivers will make a mistake, and the speeds these cars go, that could be disastrous. Instead of constantly bringing up paved run-offs, maybe we can talk of likely places they can race.

[carbon_titanium]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Singapore might be an option as well, especially when the series goes 'winterseasonal' but my money is on Montreal (with the little bits of grass taken care of over this winter...).

I don't like at all singapore, and to me is very unlikely, being the singapore streets used as a racing track only once during the year (during the F1 race week-end). Montreal circuit hosts more races than just the F1 week-end.
Anyway I think that montreal can be included in WEC only if one between interlagos or COTA drops from the calendar.
Monza is struggling to keep on hosting the F1 race in future, if monza loses F1 maybe WEC can be a good alternative.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by TF110

Complaining of run off areas is pointless. Its always brought up, but nothing will change. Even the best drivers will make a mistake, and the speeds these cars go, that could be disastrous. Instead of constantly bringing up paved run-offs, maybe we can talk of likely places they can race.

Can race? Every Grade 2 track in existence

Would race? Grade 1 which limits North America to 3 (+maybe Mexico soon), South America to 1, Africa to 0, Australia to 1.

[TF110]

Le Mans is grade 2, and its the biggest race by far. So theres nothing saying they'll only go to grade 1 tracks. It just looks more likely thats their target.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by carbon_titanium

Montreal circuit hosts more races than just the F1 week-end.

No it doesn't. NNS/NCTS/GA weekend was dropped.

Originally Posted by TF110

Le Mans is grade 2, and its the biggest race by far. So theres nothing saying they'll only go to grade 1 tracks. It just looks more likely thats their target.

They would race at Le Mans if it was Grade 6, just as F1 would with Monaco (of course we know why it's Grade 1).

There is indeed nothing saying they couldn't race on other Grade 2 (just as they were doing only two years ago) but I take it as unwritten rule that only Grade 1 is 'acceptable'.

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by TF110

Le Mans is grade 2, and its the biggest race by far. So theres nothing saying they'll only go to grade 1 tracks. It just looks more likely thats their target.

Agreed. The WEC is simply trying to build the prestige of the series by racing at the same tracks Formula 1 does. Of course, all F1 tracks are by definition Grade 1, which causes some people to (incorrectly) assume that this is somehow a safety-related issue.

I have no doubt that if there was some market that the WEC wanted to be in and the only available option was a Grade 2 facility, they’d race there.

[TF110]

I know it was the ILMC, but the race at Zuhai was on a grade 2 circuit.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Agreed. The WEC is simply trying to build the prestige of the series by racing at the same tracks Formula 1 does. Of course, all F1 tracks are by definition Grade 1, which causes some people to (incorrectly) assume that this is somehow a safety-related issue.

I imagine seeing LMP1 cars racing in Monaco and Singapore, of all tracks. Yeah, the WEC doesn't need Grade 1 tracks for prestige.

If they grow too much by going at F1 tracks, there's a chance that Bernie Ecclestone might destroy it to protect his series and its popularity.

[Articus]

I think the prestige of the WEC is much more related to manufacturer involvement, rather than the tracks they visit although there is something to be said about an event like Bahrain...I couldn't care if BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Nissan...all raced P1's there. It wouldn't have the same flair as these same cars at Spa or Monza.

[TF110]

You gotta start somewhere. Wonder what people said about racing in other countries with no motorsport history in the distant past? Cant be a world championship without going through the world. Maybe race somewhere in Africa!

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by TF110

I know it was the ILMC, but the race at Zuhai was on a grade 2 circuit.

As was more than 50 % of that (amazing) calendar.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by TF110

You gotta start somewhere. Wonder what people said about racing in other countries with no motorsport history in the distant past? Cant be a world championship without going through the world. Maybe race somewhere in Africa!

I think Kyalami in South Africa is the only viable track for WEC, but I don't know if the WEC has the audacity to go there.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

I think Kyalami in South Africa is the only viable track for WEC, but I don't know if the WEC has the audacity to go there.

A1GP did...

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Chiana

As was more than 50 % of that (amazing) calendar.

I only mentioned Zhuhai because its goal was to host F1, but wasnt granted grade 1 status. If they were to go back to any track from 2011 (outside the U.S.) I'd like to see Imola. I love the layout and the corners. The front straight is awesome too

[Coach Ep]

With Porsche's purchase of the South African Kyalami track (see separate thread) and it's favorable climate during wintertime, it might increase the chances for an African event on the calendar in 2015/2016?

[Salamus]

That's interesting news. The schedule could easily increase to 10 rounds in the next few years with the addition of Montreal and Kyalami.

[MagVanisher]

10 rounds is too long and ambitious for WEC. 9 rounds would be better by dropping Bahrain.

[Articus]

Bahrain keeps the lights on

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Articus

Bahrain keeps the lights on

Yeah, but if ACO/FIA wants a Middle Eastern race, they could just replace Bahrain with either Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

Yeah, but if ACO/FIA wants a Middle Eastern race, they could just replace Bahrain with either Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

So you think Bahrain would pay to have a race in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Bahrain is paying for their race and it stays, there is no need to wish for anything else.

[Bandicoot17]

Bahrain is a pretty decent race anyway, personally I wouldn't want to see it go.

If they add Montreal next year, then Kyalami either 1 or 2 years later, it shouldn't be a massive strain on teams finances, as they'll surely be able to adequately budget funds. Adding them all in at once would be suicide, but given the way the WEC has approached everything up to know I don't think that'd be their plan.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Acid09

there is no need to wish for anything else.

All hail the new North-Korean emperor!