[LM24] Le Mans 2023 Prospective (and Confirmed) Le Mans Entries

[Simmi]

Nice lineup for the Tower entry - https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...-24-hours.html

Obviously Farano is a very limiting factor on their total pace. But could be up there in the opening hours.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Obviously Farano is a very limiting factor on their total pace. But could be up there in the opening hours.

How limiting is Farano?
I know he's a bronze, a 'proper' Am, but how fast/slow is he? He's obviously fast enough to have won the LMP2 class at Sebring, though the depth of field isn't quite the same in IMSA LMP2.



The occasional bronze can mix it with the pro drivers, like Keating for example. At Daytona a year or so back he was in thr DPi category, and if I remember rightly he wasn't the slowest of the 4 drivers in his car, or at least, was right up there with them? Anyway, it seems almost unfair to other bronze drivers that they have to compete against Keating

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

How limiting is Farano?
I know he's a bronze, a 'proper' Am, but how fast/slow is he? He's obviously fast enough to have won the LMP2 class at Sebring, though the depth of field isn't quite the same in IMSA LMP2.



The occasional bronze can mix it with the pro drivers, like Keating for example. At Daytona a year or so back he was in thr DPi category, and if I remember rightly he wasn't the slowest of the 4 drivers in his car, or at least, was right up there with them? Anyway, it seems almost unfair to other bronze drivers that they have to compete against Keating

Trying to compare IMSA to Le Mans is a bit misleading. It's much easier for teams to mitigate the bronze drivers with cautions and laps back. Dwight Merriman has a Rolex which literally tells you everything you need to know. Plus IMSA mandates a bronze I believe which Le Mans/WEC does not. So any bronze would be competing with a much higher calibre of 'Am'.

[Dominion]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Trying to compare IMSA to Le Mans is a bit misleading. It's much easier for teams to mitigate the bronze drivers with cautions and laps back. Dwight Merriman has a Rolex which literally tells you everything you need to know. Plus IMSA mandates a bronze I believe which Le Mans/WEC does not. So any bronze would be competing with a much higher calibre of 'Am'.

The Pro-Am sub class still exists for LMP2 at Le Mans though so that’s where they’ll be competing, it’s only dropped for the rest of the WEC rounds.

[Simmi]

We've got the lineup I was hoping for for the additional IMSA Porsche:

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...completed.html

Tandy, Nasr, Jaminet is superb.


EDIT: Only something like 20 unfilled seats remaining.

[Mike E]

Hard to believe Tandy's win in the 919 was 8 years ago

[rx555]

Surprised that there are still 7 seats open in Hypercar. Thoughts on who might get those? Quite a few more in the lower classes. I imagine they probably know who many of them are going to but just haven't announced it.

[rx555]

Nevermind, I was looking at an old list that the FIA has posted. Only the Glickenhaus seats open.

[Aysedasi]

Paul Dalla Lana has retired from racing. The entry is being taken over by Heart of Racing although as per the ACO rules, it will still race as Northwest AMR. I assume this leaves Thiim and Jeffries without a drive?

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...om-racing.html

[KA]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Paul Dalla Lana has retired from racing. The entry is being taken over by Heart of Racing although as per the ACO rules, it will still race as Northwest AMR. I assume this leaves Thiim and Jeffries without a drive?

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...om-racing.html

Looks like, as both reports I've read put Ian James/Alex Riberas/Daniel Mancinelli in the car from Spa onward

[Aysedasi]

Yep....

[S griffin]

Can't wait, we've got a great entry of teams, drivers and cars. Should be a great one to watch.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Paul Dalla Lana has retired from racing. The entry is being taken over by Heart of Racing although as per the ACO rules, it will still race as Northwest AMR. I assume this leaves Thiim and Jeffries without a drive?

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...om-racing.html

How come the 1st reserve entry hasn't been promoted to that spot? What's the point of having a reserve list then?

[Aysedasi]

Because the entry remains as Northwest AMR. Just acquired by Heart of Racing. There has been no withdrawal. This isn't anything new. It has happened several times in the past.

[Simmi]

Yeah I think it's a WEC thing beyond simply Le Mans reserve list. Mutually beneficial situation it seems like, given the abrupt timings.