[WEC] FIA World Endurance Championship

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Stefan Johansson: Gold -> Silver

Could we start to see more from Mr. Johansson!? (I know he's starting to get old)

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by CTD

Could we start to see more from Mr. Johansson!? (I know he's starting to get old)

That depends on how well he's recovering from his broken leg.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by CTD

Could we start to see more from Mr. Johansson!? (I know he's starting to get old)

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

That depends on how well he's recovering from his broken leg.

He does interviews on his website, on all topics motorsport. He doesn't hold back his feelings either, quite entertaining.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Bernie's considering bringing the French GP back next year, on the same weekend as Le Mans.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...eturn-in-2013/

[CTD]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Bernie's considering bringing the French GP back next year, on the same weekend as Le Mans.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...eturn-in-2013/

Read it on Endurance-Info too.
Jean Todt should soon man up and go tell Bernie a thing or too!

[wolfhound]

I cannot see Jean Todt allowing the clash of a French GP and LeMans, even if Bernie wants the 23rd of June.

One thing about Todt since he has taken over at the FIA is that he has tried to improve other forms of motorsport not only F1. I doubt we would have a WEC if Max was still around.

[GT-Eins]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

... I doubt we would have a WEC if Max was still around.

Correct - this is my feeling also ...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

I cannot see Jean Todt allowing the clash of a French GP and LeMans, even if Bernie wants the 23rd of June.

One thing about Todt since he has taken over at the FIA is that he has tried to improve other forms of motorsport not only F1. I doubt we would have a WEC if Max was still around.

There had to be some sort of reconciliation between the ACO and the FIA and that was never on the cards while Max Mosley was in charge.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

I doubt we would have a WEC if Max was still around.

There is a name from the past that I don't thank you for reminding me of.

[Coach Ep]

Question is: will the 24H be brought back to its original date - June 15/16? I reckon there´s a good chance...

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Question is: will the 24H be brought back to its original date - June 15/16? I reckon there´s a good chance...

They need to consider VERY carefully before doing so. It would be an exceptionally bad piece of PR. The inconvenience (and financial implications) to their paying public will be considerable.

A swift change of dates after the provisional dates are announced is one thing, but tens of thousands of racegoers will have now made their plans. Holiday dates booked off at work, ferries (many being non-refundable), flights (as per ferries), hotels, campsites, race tickets, not to mention the time and effort spent making these arrangements.

I, for one, will be EXTREMELY hacked off if they do decide to switch dates.

[Simmi]

I don't see how they can switch now to be honest. Especially with tickets going on sale in the last few days. It's not as if the Magny Cours race has been made anywhere near official yet.

They might have to just take this one on the chin. It's already set quite a dangerous precedent moving around like it has. Ideally they could try and gain some assurances going forward but not really sure how they'd do that.

[Tim the Grey]

The ACO should just run on the dates they currently have, and let BERNIE worry about whether anyone will notice HIS circus down the road... I for one won't.
Rubbish cars, on a rubbish circuit, in the middle of nowhere. At some buttock clenching price...

[carsten66]

Looking at the drivers classifications list, I just noticed that Plowman is not listed...?

http://www.endurance-info.com/2012_W...Categories.pdf

[Simmi]

Doesn't Plowey have to apply to be on there?

The more I look at that list the more it annoys me...

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

They need to consider VERY carefully before doing so. It would be an exceptionally bad piece of PR. The inconvenience (and financial implications) to their paying public will be considerable.

A swift change of dates after the provisional dates are announced is one thing, but tens of thousands of racegoers will have now made their plans. Holiday dates booked off at work, ferries (many being non-refundable), flights (as per ferries), hotels, campsites, race tickets, not to mention the time and effort spent making these arrangements.

I, for one, will be EXTREMELY hacked off if they do decide to switch dates.

Agreed - a change in date now would imo have more affect on attendance than a clash with F1

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Doesn't Plowey have to apply to be on there?

The more I look at that list the more it annoys me...

Is this list now absolutely set in stone or is there scope for a common sense revision to it?

So - let's enter realm of fantasy - and say Fernando Alonso decides he's had enough of all this Formula 1 lark and would quite like to run in a Norma at Le Mans - is this going to be a non-starter due to him not being on the list?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by isynge

Is this list now absolutely set in stone or is there scope for a common sense revision to it?

So - let's enter realm of fantasy - and say Fernando Alonso decides he's had enough of all this Formula 1 lark and would quite like to run in a Norma at Le Mans - is this going to be a non-starter due to him not being on the list?

I think there's plenty of scope for it to get revised in terms of new drivers on a race-by-race basis. I remember Liuzzi cropping up on there sometime in the run-up to Le Mans and that being a dead giveaway he was looking at sportscars.

As for revisions to the decisions - I'm not sure. It would appear that Ricardo Gonzalez is going to appeal his promotion to Gold as it impacts quite severely on his opportunities. Maybe others will do the same but I certainly feel like there needs to be something done.


One idea I have is similar to what we have in cycling where, when a young rider moves up into the pro ranks they are deemed a 'neo-pro' for two years. They have to be taken in on a two-year contract to provide a bit of security early in their careers.

What I would propose for the classifications is have a guaranteed two-year freeze on young drivers coming through. Don't have a young driver like Alex Brundle try to make his name one year and then penalise him the next due to some decent results and flashes of pace.

After two years then revisit things. Maybe they won't need to move up. Maybe they will be promoted up into a bigger team and naturally make the progression that way. A guy like Lucas Ordonez has had the chance to establish himself over two seasons now and would have a fighting chance of a drive even without his backing.

[Graham Goodwin]

There is an appeals process - several appeals are likely from this list

[tyronnezx]

this may have been asked already, but whats the deal with 12 hours sebring next year? and most importantly will audi and Toyota run it?

[Maelochs]

It looks like Audi yes (maybe only one car) and Toyota , no. Otherwise it will be whatever ALMS (and a few ELMS/WEC) teams decide to show up.

Hopefully everyone who can will get old cars out of mothballs for one final run, but it might end up being two P1s (Muscle Milk and Rebellion) four P2s, half-a-dozen PCs and the usual great GTE field sans BMW and Flying Lizards (ouch!) and oh, yeah, GTC.

It also might be the last real Sebring in human history, so go there.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

There is an appeals process - several appeals are likely from this list

No surprises to hear of that happening. Its good that there is an avenue of appeal, of course you will have disagreement not only by the fans and teams but by the drivers themselves.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

It looks like Audi yes (maybe only one car) and Toyota , no. Otherwise it will be whatever ALMS (and a few ELMS/WEC) teams decide to show up.

Hopefully everyone who can will get old cars out of mothballs for one final run, but it might end up being two P1s (Muscle Milk and Rebellion) four P2s, half-a-dozen PCs and the usual great GTE field sans BMW and Flying Lizards (ouch!) and oh, yeah, GTC.

It also might be the last real Sebring in human history, so go there.

5-6 LMP1 and 7-10 LMP2 is what most folks who should know are saying.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

The ACO should just run on the dates they currently have, and let BERNIE worry about whether anyone will notice HIS circus down the road... I for one won't.
Rubbish cars, on a rubbish circuit, in the middle of nowhere. At some buttock clenching price...

I'd agree with that. It's not as if Bernie is being sincere about re-establishing the French GP either. It's merely filler because the New Jersey GP's been been shelved for a year.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Not sure if this is common knowledge but Graham Goodwin just mentioned on RLM that Michelin is re-entering LMP2 in an official capacity for next year.