[WEC] 2016 WEC Discussion

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by AoB Special Stage

Miller is closing down in October of this year

I thought it'd been saved now it's being bought?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I thought it'd been saved now it's being bought?

Yes, a Chinese car manufacturer has purchased the facility and plans to keep it open. As far as we know.

[HORNDAWG]

Be nice if Porsche rebuilt/refurbished and upgraded Kyalami. Hold an F-1 round, a WEC round and use it for their driving experience when not being used for competition. De Beers would be a good sponsor for those races and fits well into their Global advertising/reach.








L.P.

[Rcz]

Daytona, for the lulz.



But seriously, I've said this before, but why not Watkins Glen? It's getting a repaved, got run off, grade 2. New garages wouldn't be out of their budget being own by ISC.

[Giba]

Originally Posted by Artur

Motorsport(specially endurance racing) is not super popular in Italy. F1 has been losing massive amount of viewers there(see graph bellow), so I don't see a WEC race happening.


I read in the begining of the year that the first couple of 2015 GPs were under 1 million viewers on Italy.

In Germany, the huge drops regarding F1 tv ratings are similar(year on year decrease since 2009). I'm far from sure Nurburgring is a safe event, btw. We'll have to wait but I suspect grandstands will be empty...

With the number of channels available to people now and the fact that since 2013, Italy's F1 rights have been spilt similar to in the UK with some races not free to view live then tv figures with have decreased. The down side is that having less motorsport being free to view then it could decrease the number of people interested in going to a race in person. On that note, does anyone know if the Italian GP attendence has been dropping as well?

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Daytona, for the lulz.



But seriously, I've said this before, but why not Watkins Glen? It's getting a repaved, got run off, grade 2. New garages wouldn't be out of their budget being own by ISC.

And whats the media infrastructure like? Medical? Access? Parking? Hospitality?

There is a ton of stuff that goes into selections of a new venue. Not just a repave and some garages.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by TF110

If they go somewhere in South America, I prefer this

Now that is a proper circuit. WEC would fit really well on that track. Its both long and wide, with lots of straights to pass slower cars.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Now that is a proper circuit. WEC would fit really well on that track. Its both long and wide, with lots of straights to pass slower cars.

Not to mention its beatiful scenery circling that lake. Plenty enough run-off. The GT1 races there were great.

[deggis]

Monza again in danger of being dropped from F1 calendar:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120405

I think it is time for Neveu to strike.

Also in that story: if/when German GP returns, it sounds like it will be Hockenheim without alternation with Nurburgring.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by TF110

Do you really have to add stuff like this? Bahrain isnt in Europe or America, so of course attendance will be lower! The fact that even 4k people showed up is amazing considering only 1.3 million people live in the country. Compared to Shanghai attendance of 45,000 from China's 1.3 billion thats a good ratio. Especially so considering the humanitarian issues both countries have.

4k as the official attendance may be a fact, but another thing is how many of those were actually non-phantom, Bahrainian humans and how of many of those actually paid for a ticket, with their own money. And amazingly naive to think the oppressive kingdom is interested in building any kind of motorsport culture. The circuit is a propaganda tool to lure business tourists.

Bahrain is a small state, and has high population density (looks like 7h in the world). Would make more sense to compare just to Shangai alone. Altough, like I just said, this is nearly irrelevant because the average Bahrainian probably has bigger problems than to be interested in moving adboards.

[TF110]

That was part of my point. Not so many native people have the means to attend a race in Bahrain. And theres no 'culture' of motorsports there. Its a wonder even that many show up. China is probably not quite as bad but why even compare the differences, right?

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

There are 5 more races in Europe in the ELMS, let privateers join one or more of those.

The factories will probably like your 'twin Middle East finale' idea however.

Really effectively four with the WEC and ELMS sharing at weekend at Silverstone.

[TheMightyM]

Random thoughts:

1. Cost containment matters a lot if the series is going to expand to nine or even 10 races. The WEC needs P2 and GTE-Am entries to keep the grid large enough. Yet P2 and GTE-Am teams have two options of getting to Le Mans: The WEC or ELMS. The longer the WEC schedule becomes (and thus more costly and time consuming for the amateur drivers cover a big portion of the costs), the greater the tendency for some teams to go to the ELMS instead.

2. So whatever happened to the WEC becoming a winter series, beginning the season in the fall with the last race being at Le Mans and then taking a long summer break? The WEC were talking that up a year or two ago, now they seem to have gone in the complete opposite direction with the mention of a possible race in July...

3. We apparently have the (strong?) potential for Road America to replace COTA in 2017. Road America's traditional IMSA date is in early August. Does this factor into the WEC's planning for 2016? Are any new additions in 2016 one year deal(s) like the Nurburgring this year or is the series entering into longer-term commitments? If longer-term deals, do they accommodate a Road America date in 2017?

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

3. We apparently have the (strong?) potential for Road America to replace COTA in 2017. Road America's traditional IMSA date is in early August. Does this factor into the WEC's planning for 2016? Are any new additions in 2016 one year deal(s) like the Nurburgring this year or is the series entering into longer-term commitments? If longer-term deals, do they accommodate a Road America date in 2017?

We have to wait and see how other deals play out to ensure that the paddock garages, and new media center are built. There are(is one?)other series that are(is) failing to commit after multiple "promises" to give Road America a date....

Without a signed contract, there may be a further delay. But, now with the WEC honestly looking and in talks, it may move things forward.

It's extremely fluid right now, though, 2017 is still a good target.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Random thoughts:

1. Cost containment matters a lot if the series is going to expand to nine or even 10 races. The WEC needs P2 and GTE-Am entries to keep the grid large enough. Yet P2 and GTE-Am teams have two options of getting to Le Mans: The WEC or ELMS. The longer the WEC schedule becomes (and thus more costly and time consuming for the amateur drivers cover a big portion of the costs), the greater the tendency for some teams to go to the ELMS instead

But as long as you can buy yourself garage spots at Le Mans with WEC participation, it automatically means that it's the preferred option over regionals

If LMP1 Non Hybrid was allowed in ELMS and those teams would choose it instead of WEC, that'd be different because ACO would still 100% grant them LM entries in this day and age, but alas, that's not the case. LMP2 team running in regionals has like 75-90% chance of getting in (with one car, second lower), and non-factory/non-AFCorse GTE 50-75% I'd say (--).

This year the amateur Oak entry seems to have given up immediately post-LM, which tells where their priorities are just like with many teams folding after June, but obviously ACO isn't going to punish them because of the connections and being the future $$$ supplier

[Coach Ep]

Porsche apparently still undecided on continuing their GTE-Pro effort next year:

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/p...te-pro-return/

To me it sounds like a No - especially with Ford raising the bar quite a bit.

[bckf]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Porsche apparently still undecided on continuing their GTE-Pro effort next year:

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/p...te-pro-return/

To me it sounds like a No - especially with Ford raising the bar quite a bit.

They just need to make it official, because that's what everyone had already figured I guess.
Hope they will come back strong in 2017.

[Coach Ep]

DSC thinks I'm wrong - both on the Porsche GTE-Pro return and the possible calendar expansion. Even the dreaded post LM summer break might continue (I can't help thinking about all that potential being wasted there....).

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/0...ment-more.html

[Deleted]

Apparently stability is good and needed even when it's faulty stability.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

DSC thinks I'm wrong - both on the Porsche GTE-Pro return and the possible calendar expansion. Even the dreaded post LM summer break might continue (I can't help thinking about all that potential being wasted there....).

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/0...ment-more.html

I wouldn't say you are wrong... There is a lot going on right now. I wouldnt' expect a calendar expansion, but a readjustment as far as dates go.

Porsche should be back in GTE, there is zero reason to belive otherwise currently.

[TheMightyM]

The latest per John Dagys:

• Paddock speculation indicates a round at Monza could be added to open the 2016 season in late March or early April, with the series reportedly in continued talks with Montreal and Mexico City as well.

• FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu told Sportscar365 they’ll only consider expanding the WEC calendar should it make economical sense for its manufacturers and teams. He ruled out the possibility of a second round in the U.S. for 2016, with its current focus on building the event at Circuit of The Americas.

• It’s understood a rumored event at Road America is currently not on the cards, with the circuit’s current infrastructure and the lack of hotel rooms in the area being just two factors, with Indianapolis Motor Speedway being the only other facility in the U.S., (outside of COTA) that’s capable to host a WEC event.

• Neveu has also ruled out an imminent switch to a winter or “reverse” calendar, which would see the championship conclude at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

[deggis]

Monza as the opener? If Silverstone is then moved to July/early August, then two problems fixed at once.

[Deleted]

Truly shocking to hear that about RA - Indianapolis "Only capable", hahahah...

As for Silverstone next year, that already has a fixed date for middle April, so it's a no...

Monza in March...

[J Jay]

I dunno, maybe there's a requirement that any US track can only be considered for the WEC if it expects to get <10% of their maximum capacity in attendance

[Deleted]

Does Road Atlanta have consiredably less hotel capacity in the vicinity than say Road Atlanta when it was part of the ILMC, or can we just safely slot this in the excuses locker as usual when it comes to NA choices?

Well at least the comment finally and undeniably proves that only grade 1 level of standard is now good enough, if that wasn't clear before...