IMSA IMSA 2024

[broadrun96]

P3 is already out so.....

And LMP2 fills the grid with folks who are paying, what cars are out there to replace them in Hypercar/GTP? Doesn't seem like there is a long line of pro entries beating down the door to enter. Over half the series is Am based with LMP2 and GTD, there are almost as many GTDs alone as the pro entries total. It's a different animal and why must everything be considered, and required to be, exactly the same and meet the same needs.

[broadrun96]

IMSA change, revert to previous GTD BOP system. No longer the expected performance system but rather the old we tell you what the regs are.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...er-of-season/?

[broadrun96]

Oh and torque sensors coming in GTD

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...sses-in-2025/?

[SidewaysSyd]

After a gap of some years (I was at Riverside in 1979 for the IMSA race - if it was IMSA then) I'm over from the UK to see IMSA at next weekend's Sebring 12 Hours. The Sebring website lists the Hairpin and turns 3 & 17 as good places to spectate. Are these areas good for photography - ie no fences? I have a 100-500m lens so I have a good range if I have to be further back to look over a fence. There's free parking outside the circuit but you can buy inside parking for $75. If I'm inside with the car, can I drive around the perimeter of the circuit to get to the hairpin/turn3/17? If I can't, what's the benefit of the parking ticket? I will gladly pay if it makes life more convenient.
Do you have any other helpful tips? Many thanks

[joeb]

Originally Posted by SidewaysSyd

After a gap of some years (I was at Riverside in 1979 for the IMSA race - if it was IMSA then) I'm over from the UK to see IMSA at next weekend's Sebring 12 Hours. The Sebring website lists the Hairpin and turns 3 & 17 as good places to spectate. Are these areas good for photography - ie no fences? I have a 100-500m lens so I have a good range if I have to be further back to look over a fence. There's free parking outside the circuit but you can buy inside parking for $75. If I'm inside with the car, can I drive around the perimeter of the circuit to get to the hairpin/turn3/17? If I can't, what's the benefit of the parking ticket? I will gladly pay if it makes life more convenient.
Do you have any other helpful tips? Many thanks

All good questions, it has been 10 years since I have been, so don't have answers. I always camped and never tried to drive around the infield during the race. There are always people who drive around all day, so it may be possible, but it is the parking after driving around the circuit that would be the issue. If you are parking outside, just consider yourself a pedestrian. You can get around the circuit on foot pretty easy.

The track is flat, so where the are fences, they could be an issue, but there are also some viewing mounds. I have heard that some people having good luck with RV owners allowing them on their roofs for photography too if you ask nicely!

[Coach Ep]

Lemme get back to you later re 17, now at St. Pete GP.

[JT240Z]

You cannot drive the outside perimeter of the track and there is limited access to the track on the infield side. Not so great viewing by car. You can get to most of the track by foot but not all of it.

The harpin turn is a great spot for viewing along with everything from turns 3 through 7 with good shots up to turn 8. The area around 17 is pretty congested so you'll have to pick your spot.

Although the track is relatively flat, there are some slightly elevated areas. Most of the pedestrian fencing is only 4' high. A small portable ladder would help to get above any obstructions.

[skycafe]

Great job JT240Z!

To add: Turn 10 is a great viewing spot. Either along the fence or on the spectator mound.

Turn 13 is pretty cool too.

[broadrun96]

For all non US fans, US went to Daylight Time this morning so remember to adjust your math for Sebring.

[Coach Ep]

Ok, 17 has an outside viewing area since a few years, there are some small bleachers and you can (presumably) watch all the way down the back straight and under the bridge. I've only seen it from the opposite side (inside of the turn) as that's where we flag from.

The trams that go around most of the inside of the track (?), will take you there as well. It'll save a chunk of walking time.

[SidewaysSyd]

Thanks everybody. So I'll leave the $75 parking. I understand I'll have to take everything with me for the day, but I've been to Amelia Island and the Gatornationals on this trip so I've got a stripped down list of carrying items. Over 12 hours, I'll have plenty of time to get to the places you've listed and the spectator trams look like they'll save thousands of steps. Lets hope the weather holds off, unlike the Island and Gatornationals.

[skycafe]

SidewaysSyd-Welcome to the forum! There is a section called Trackside, which has several past threads on Sebring. Loads of information there that likely is still current. I'll offer some here: hat, sunscreen, stay hydrated.

Above all, have a blast and report back to this forum about your experience!

[JT240Z]

And be prepared to party hearty! It's a Sebring tradition.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by JT240Z

And be prepared to party hearty! It's a Sebring tradition.

[broadrun96]

Ganassi and Caddy part ways at the end of the seasons, IMSA and WEC.

https://racer.com/2024/03/11/chip-ga...t-seasons-end/

Racer saying they're hearing AXR going back to 2 cars for IMSA in 25. WEC could be United, TF Sport and one other team not known in the running. CGR looking to partner with someone new to stay in sportscars

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...orque-sensors/
Wow, I had no idea that a single torque sensor is that expensive. No wonder this potential change raises cost concerns.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by SidewaysSyd

Thanks everybody. So I'll leave the $75 parking. I understand I'll have to take everything with me for the day, but I've been to Amelia Island and the Gatornationals on this trip so I've got a stripped down list of carrying items. Over 12 hours, I'll have plenty of time to get to the places you've listed and the spectator trams look like they'll save thousands of steps. Lets hope the weather holds off, unlike the Island and Gatornationals.

It's gonna be a hot one (or rather: hot few days)!

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Ganassi and Caddy part ways at the end of the seasons, IMSA and WEC.

https://racer.com/2024/03/11/chip-ga...t-seasons-end/

Racer saying they're hearing AXR going back to 2 cars for IMSA in 25. WEC could be United, TF Sport and one other team not known in the running. CGR looking to partner with someone new to stay in sportscars

I'd expect them to step in and run the Mustang programs on behalf of Multimatic in 2025 (and probably beyond) - very much like they did with the GT campaigns.

In bigger dreams, they'll run the new Ford GTP/HY program, starting 2026.

[JT240Z]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...orque-sensors/
Wow, I had no idea that a single torque sensor is that expensive. No wonder this potential change raises cost concerns.

It's one of the problems of having only one source for a part.

[Adam43]

Having competition to drive down prices here isn’t necessarily a good thing. You need each one to be identical and chasing cost could introduce reliability issues. It’s not a simple piece of kit.

I’d have a lucrative contract for the supplier, but a massive penalty for a failure. A bit like those building the Millenium dome - the contracts were lucrative, but the clawback for missing a deadline as huge.

I’ve been surprised by the limited number of failures we’ve seen.

At that price I can see why WEC went with it and it’s taken longer for IMSA.

[broadrun96]

Yeah, let's add another form of competition. And the thought that multiple providers would ever lower price is delusional, EVERY company would be trying to make a better one every version. Having one supplier who can make a fairly limited use product and everyone chips in to the costs without development actually lowers the costs long term compared to a competitive environment

[J Jay]

Multiple manufacturers for torque sensors gives another point of variation that would need to be taken into account as well. At the moment, all the torque sensors are made in the same factory, by the same process, to the same tolerances.

With something as critical to BoP as torque measurements, the less degrees of variation there are, the better.

[broadrun96]

The Kelly-Moss RR #92 has been dropped for the rest of the season after skipping Daytona and not being on the list for Sebring. It may return if the money is there but sounds like no

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/s...ay-notebook-9/

[broadrun96]

Not like this is breaking news at all but MX-s has some serious wheelman in it, Zilisch leading the crew. Great race to watch and he's gonna be an IMSA star in short order

https://racer.com/2024/03/13/zilisch...rd-at-sebring/

[PhilipR]

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/s...ay-notebook-9/

Interesting section about the white and chequered flag after the Daytona situation

Instead of saying we made a mistake and look to make sure this will not happen again, they have explained the regulations that they can throw the white flag whenever they want and that is the last lap irrespective of race time left

Also on MWM they explained the BOP issues at Daytona with Ferrari and BMW. What seems very interesting to me is that IMSA are saying both manus have exceeded the allowance and the manus say they did not. Both IMSA and the Manus have the data to show they did and did not exceed but this is not shared and nothing can be done about it
I understand sharing this data could give manus an understanding how much they can push the envelope until being foul of BOP regs or might expose IMSA's data as inadequate, but all this lack of transparency making it difficult to know what the situation is and how to improve. No wonder they reverted to the old BOP for now