IMSA IMSA 2024

[broadrun96]

Kat out at Gradient, McAleer in her place the rest of the season

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/m...der-of-season/

No reason given for her departure. Wonder if DCR is giving her more than just an Indy ride or she wasn't allowed to pursue an Indy ride and once announced she was out. Not a Honda vs GM thing since Coyne is Honda aren't they?

[GT3_Fan]

Originally Posted by joeb

27 entries in total:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2...or-long-beach/

It will be a good grid and an interesting race for sure. Glad to see all 11 GT3 manufacturers still being represented. That is why for now running a race with GTD Am without Pro can work. I think I would have had GTD Am at Detroit and Pro at Long Beach myself. A GTP/GTD Pro only grid has the feel of an all star race which Long Beach is a great spot for. I guess they want Detroit for that where the auto companies stomping grounds reside.

[broadrun96]

NO chance of Pro not running at Detroit, they want the pro drivers and teams there with the honchos. Especially with the previous having to skip on GTLM with LM test weekend and schedule tweak to move it and ACO moving the test a bit too. Don't think there's a conflict this year and we already know next year so maybe the ACO won't do it but the French so....

[Adam43]

Did I miss something? Why no Lamborghini SC63 for Long Beach?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Did I miss something? Why no Lamborghini SC63 for Long Beach?

I think the Lambo is only scheduled for the endurance rounds. Which sucks, would love to see it at Laguna.

[Adam43]

Cheers. I completely missed that.

[veeten]

Yeah, they will do the longer rounds in both IMSA and WEC. It was part of their plan.

[Adam43]

Not doing the longer races in WEC?

[broadrun96]

I thought they are running all of the WEC as is required by the regs?

[Adam43]

Yeah. I suppose all races are longer in WEC! But it’s odd way to express it, so just checking I hadn’t missed anything.

[tomcug]

Full season in the WEC, pretty sure of that. Endurance cup only in IMSA.

[Adam43]

[veeten]

Originally Posted by tomcug

Full season in the WEC, pretty sure of that. Endurance cup only in IMSA.

That's what I meant to say. Thanks, tom.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/r...or-long-beach/
That's interesting.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...n-never-stops/

To help GTP teams to attack the 1.968-mile temporary circuit, IMSA has adjusted the GTP weekend tire allocation to permit use of three of the four allotted set tires in qualifying and the 100-minute race.
With quicker tire warm up, a more aggressive Michelin compound and a third set of tires now available, the GTP cars can choose to be on full attack for the entire race.

So are Porsche going for 1 set of tyres again or this time they don't?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...n-never-stops/
So are Porsche going for 1 set of tyres again or this time they don't?

That was the call of the race last season, wonder if a caution will sway their decisions one way or the other.

[joeb]

Free Practice 1 is over and things went well for GM. Caddy topped GTP and Corvette in GTD.

[Adam43]

Sandbags!

[joeb]

And in FP2 Caddy again at top but Mcaleer takes the Gradient Acura to the top in GTD

Of course the top 15 cars were less than one second apart, so really we are close in GTD

[tomcug]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyOWvNQZ1JY
GTP qualifying starts now Lexus on top in GTD.
Derani on pole, also crashed on the last lap.

[veeten]

BMW not too shabby, right beside the Caddy. Only one more lap, and they would've snatched pole from them.

[tomcug]

Some notes from me:

• same as Sebring, wasn't the quickest qualifying session in GTP (1:09.909 in 2023 vs 1:11.388 this year)
• as veeten already pointed out, BMW and Caddy super close but Porsche and Acura not far behind
• two factory Porsches and the JDC car quite close on pace but the Proton Porsche massively off-pace (driver error? wrong setup? tyre strategy mistake?)
• last year's poleman (Albuquerque) didn't have a good run this year
• Derani crashes again after Sebring (small incident this time)
• JDC's Porsche could have challenged Penske but van der Helm locked up on his (potentially) best attempt (purple S1)
• JDC are doing good progress with that car in general, good to see a small team performing well
• most cars joined the track immediately after green flag, some waited a bit but the 01 didn't leave the pits until about 5 minutes remaining (wonder why)

Race will be on YouTube as well for international viewers

[veeten]

And here we go!!!!!!

[veeten]

Hot pass by the Ferrari to break up the Lexus' ... (Lexi?)

[tomcug]

FCY...