[WEC] WEC 2023 Season - A new beginning!

[Ferrari333SP]

Top times still 3 seconds off last year's best IMSA qualifying times

[kvenom]

Originally Posted by kvenom

Whatever issue the Ferrari had, it seems serious. Hasn't returned to the track or completed any laps.

Dagys said Calado crashed on his out-lap, with front end damage.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

Top times still 3 seconds off last year's best IMSA qualifying times

Dpi were quick!

[TF110]

Approaching 295kmh in speed traps for the Porsche and Ferrari.

[Adam43]

It’s good the established car is fast and consistent. The others are still learning.

Some others haven’t had a great test. Which must be a little worry. Especially Glick. Peugeot not been amazing either, considering they have some race time under their belt.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Adam43

It’s good the established car is fast and consistent. The others are still learning.

Some others haven’t had a great test. Which must be a little worry. Especially Glick. Peugeot not been amazing either, considering they have some race time under their belt.

Peugeot haven't done that much running at Sebring, have they? Glickenhaus are just blowing the cobwebs out.

It's too early to read too much into pace, but not too early to spot some patterns. Hard to escape the conclusion that the Toyota is fast and consistent, like you say.

An uninformed look at the timesheets today suggests the Porsche and Cadillac are close on pace but are all over the place consistency wise. They have a lot more to learn about their machines.

[kvenom]

51 Ferrari out for the rest of the test, might have monocoque damage

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Peugeot haven't done that much running at Sebring, have they? Glickenhaus are just blowing the cobwebs out.

It's too early to read too much into pace, but not too early to spot some patterns. Hard to escape the conclusion that the Toyota is fast and consistent, like you say.

An uninformed look at the timesheets today suggests the Porsche and Cadillac are close on pace but are all over the place consistency wise. They have a lot more to learn about their machines.

But the Peugeot is not new, they did their first race already in summer of 2022.

[veeten]

When you look at the overall numbers, the Toyota is fast but by a tenth to the Caddys and slightly more to the others.

Next week of course, two others will enter the equation: Acura and BMW. With one getting a penalty and the other a break in BOP, the comparison should be interesting.

[veeten]

15 minutes to the 4th session.

[kartman24]

LMP2`s just dipped into the 1.50`s..........

[kvenom]

No Vanwall or 93 Peugeot yet an hour in.

[joeb]

Red flag towards the end of the session, a gt ferrari and porsche are shown as stopped

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by veeten

When you look at the overall numbers, the Toyota is fast but by a tenth to the Caddys and slightly more to the others.

Next week of course, two others will enter the equation: Acura and BMW. With one getting a penalty and the other a break in BOP, the comparison should be interesting.

Except those two are running in a different series, with a slightly different BoP and areo. So apples and peeled apples therefor. But pretty relevant nevertheless.

[kvenom]

Group photo

[TF110]

Takeaways from the test for me, Toyota has stepped it up vs last year and that's good because there's new cars and competition. Cadillac looks like its closest to Toyota in times but who knows over a stint (or two) how the tires will hold up. Ferrari and Porsche are right there too as is Peugeot based on the final session. I was surprised to see Vanwall so close and actually a little faster ultimately than the Glickenhaus, but this weekend that can all change. Villeneuve isn't there on pace, but hopefully that changes. Imo hypercar is still too slow for lmp2 to be on the same track but it seems like that class is going to get axed like GTE, sadly. Rooting for Vanwall and for a proper battle up front barring accidents.

[Mike E]

I'm so psyched for the 1000 Miles that I keep forgetting about the 12 Hours. Nice problem to have.

[GT3_Fan]

Originally Posted by TF110

Takeaways from the test for me, Toyota has stepped it up vs last year and that's good because there's new cars and competition. Cadillac looks like its closest to Toyota in times but who knows over a stint (or two) how the tires will hold up. Ferrari and Porsche are right there too as is Peugeot based on the final session. I was surprised to see Vanwall so close and actually a little faster ultimately than the Glickenhaus, but this weekend that can all change. Villeneuve isn't there on pace, but hopefully that changes. Imo hypercar is still too slow for lmp2 to be on the same track but it seems like that class is going to get axed like GTE, sadly. Rooting for Vanwall and for a proper battle up front barring accidents.

Since you mentioned it. I do look forward to a WEC that is only Hypercars and GT3 cars. Same for IMSA Weathertech series without LMP3 cars. Might get both next year.

[veeten]

But a lot of those LMP2 teams are only there for the season, as next year most are taking on their new LMH/LMDh cars, freshly minted and ready to go. Others might be moved to ELMS or AsLMS racing, to show up at major events in the season.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by veeten

Videos!!!
Our friend Lanky Turtle has videos of today's action up on YT. Go check them out...

So good!
Looks like Discovery Velocity will be showing the race here in Canada. Good news but tons of Commercials. Will be looking for a commercial free stream online.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

So good!
Looks like Discovery Velocity will be showing the race here in Canada. Good news but tons of Commercials. Will be looking for a commercial free stream online.

Just purchase it directly from WEC?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by veeten

But a lot of those LMP2 teams are only there for the season, as next year most are taking on their new LMH/LMDh cars, freshly minted and ready to go. Others might be moved to ELMS or AsLMS racing, to show up at major events in the season.

There will be almost as many teams ready to take their place. Let's not make mistake of betting everything on a factory-backed class which will inevitably decline (hopefully not for the next 5-10 years).

If United don't find a manufacturer, they could fill the LMP2 class on their own

[Adam43]

It’s not 5-10 years before the first team pulls out. Oh woe is us!

[seanyb505]

For the US fans - motortrend on demand is now showing upcoming live events:
Qualifying Thursday at 620pm
Sebring 1000 mile pt1 Friday at 1130am
Sebring 1000 mile pt2 Friday at 4pm

All times EST. UTC-4, I think. Our clocks went forward last weekend.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by veeten

But a lot of those LMP2 teams are only there for the season, as next year most are taking on their new LMH/LMDh cars, freshly minted and ready to go. Others might be moved to ELMS or AsLMS racing, to show up at major events in the season.

I think MOST would be most applicable to AsLMS or ELMS rather than LMDh. 11 Hypercar entries would be insane, I think even 5/6 of them in Hypercar would be best case. Think I count 4 to Hypercar, most of the drivers in LMP2 also aren't going to want to run behind the pros with near zero chance of winning. Think you'll see good size ELMS grids and possibly an expanded AsLMS schedule, so honestly not really a bad thing is it?