2014 United Sports Car Championship

[nitrorocks]

I miss the old speed with the F1 shows, ALMS, Grand-Am, and everything else they had. Not Pinks, or Hard Parts South Bronx. Dumbest stuff on wheels would be good if they didn't have a stupid guy commentating.

But I really really hope ESPN doesn't get the rights to this new series.

 

[Jav]

Yeah, Speed Channel won't be greatly missed... By the time they air anything I'm interested besides F1 I've already seen it on Youtube or already know the results.
Their schedule is what? 85% some BS show 13% NASCAR racing and 2% Road Racing? Yeah, I'll stick to Youtube!

 

[Tower Turn 13]

I miss the old speed with the F1 shows, ALMS, Grand-Am, and everything else they had. Not Pinks, or Hard Parts South Bronx. Dumbest stuff on wheels would be good if they didn't have a stupid guy commentating.

But I really really hope ESPN doesn't get the rights to this new series.

See, I wasn't a big fan of the ESPN coverage until they got the Radio Le Mans guys to do it, and then I really thought ESPN3 with the full endurance races was awesome, because I could watch it at my leisure, in segments, whatever I wanted. I could watch on the campus because being a college student.

But I prefer something like what the WEC races do. I don't think free online coverage would prevent people from going to the race. Anyone who's been to one of these knows the TV doesn't do justice to being a spectator. I miss the heck out of Sebring, and even watching it online wish I was there--if I had the cash I would be--on turn 13 viewing hill or the hairpin, or start/finish...there's no comparison and if people can afford to go to their races they will. Free online viewing will only attract more people to the races when they come into their towns.

 

[01GTP]

*snip* if people can afford to go to their races they will. Free online viewing will only attract more people to the races when they come into their towns.

Totally agree.

If I had the money I'd go to Watkins Glen.
The Glen is a 5 hour drive but I think it's worth it.
On the other hand Lime Rock is 15 minutes away.

ALMS 2013 schedule

 

[Tower Turn 13]

So the new Texas track and keeping VIR in the schedule? Seems cool to me.

 

[RACECAR]

I'm very interested at the fact that the ALMS is sharing a race weekend with WEC. Thought there was the whole "no WEC event 30 days before or after ALMS" agreement or whatever it was.

 

[Snaeper]

I'm very interested at the fact that the ALMS is sharing a race weekend with WEC. Thought there was the whole "no WEC event 30 days before or after ALMS" agreement or whatever it was.

That only applies to Sebring, to allow teams to participate at Sebring should they want to.

 

[Jav]

See, I wasn't a big fan of the ESPN coverage until they got the Radio Le Mans guys to do it, and then I really thought ESPN3 with the full endurance races was awesome, because I could watch it at my leisure, in segments, whatever I wanted. I could watch on the campus because being a college student.

But I prefer something like what the WEC races do. I don't think free online coverage would prevent people from going to the race. Anyone who's been to one of these knows the TV doesn't do justice to being a spectator. I miss the heck out of Sebring, and even watching it online wish I was there--if I had the cash I would be--on turn 13 viewing hill or the hairpin, or start/finish...there's no comparison and if people can afford to go to their races they will. Free online viewing will only attract more people to the races when they come into their towns.

You are so right TT! Free online is the only way to go for almost every racing series, if they don't do it someone else will and get the hits and comercial spots for them!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty nice and simplfied piece on the GX rules by the McMahon Raceworks team:
http://blog.mcmahonraceworks.com/rolex-gx/

 

[Wilbur]

Does that mean the RX8 still has a class to race in?

 

[RACECAR]

Does that mean the RX8 still has a class to race in?

Nope. The RX-8 isn't racing anywhere next year.

 

[Wilbur]

Nope. The RX-8 isn't racing anywhere next year.

So much for that dream! I missed seeing them race by a year.

 

[Tower Turn 13]

I miss the Esperante. I don't understand why Panoz owns the series but doesn't put a car in. They had one of their more recent models run classless for what, one race? Is it because of the manufacturer rules (has to produce x amount of roadgoing cars)?

 

[RACECAR]

They had that horrendous Abruzzi running around a couple of times. Not sure why they've stopped campaigning their own cars.

 

[Jav]

Does that mean the RX8 still has a class to race in?

Technically yes.

Nope. The RX-8 isn't racing anywhere next year.

Unfourtunately that's the case.

 

[Earth]

Details will be given today (January 4)

I think we know what to expect, but Im interested in any Grand Am / WEC cross class racing. More specifically, will the DPs race at Le Mans

 

[Mac K]

What time is the announcement officially at..?

 

[hawkeye122]

"04 Jan 17:00 American Class Structure Announcement "

Thats presumably when Radio Le Mans will be talking about it, and probably providing lots of information. Not sure if thats local time or GMT.

 

[Tired Tyres]

That's UK time so it is GMT.

 

[Furinkazen]

Via facebook:

Today's Grand-AM/ALMS unified class structure press conference is set to start at noon ET. As far as I know it will NOT be streamed but once it's over AMLS will post a video of it ASAP. @RolexSeries will be providing live tweets. Fingers crossed that the new class structure won't be a complete let down.

 

[Mr.Skyline09]

It seems SPEED has already broken the story here

 

[Furinkazen]

Thats interesting. Deltawing in a combined P2 / DP class as well?!

 

[Mr.Skyline09]

It seems that way

 

[Jav]

Oh God! The Delta Wing against a Daytona Prototurtle... The way those guys race banging on each other doesn't look pretty good for the poor Delta Wing! I predict a flip over on every race weekend for the Delta Wing!!

 

[Mac K]

Didn't expect LMPC to stay. Looking forward to 2014 though, I like the structure 👍. Although it will take some getting used to..

Edit: Prototurtle

 

[Jav]

Didn't expect LMPC to stay. Looking forward to 2014 though, I like the structure 👍. Although it will take some getting used to..

Edit: Prototurtle

Same here, but PC fits very well with the NASCAR spec racing mentality so not too surprised to see it stay.

 

[RACECAR]

I am laughing my ass off all the haters and their "NASCAR is gonna takeover and Make DPs top class" comments. So it appears that LMPC will stay, I guess thats to retain a 2nd Prototype class. As for GT, thought that was interesting.


Overall, it really is a Merger in a true sense as we were first told. Great news for Sportscar racing in America 👍

 

[Northstar]

I like the set-up, now I just hope they are planning on boosting DP performance instead of lowering LMP2 performance.

 

[hawkeye122]

EDIT

Wouldnt it be easier to put the DP's in the LMPC class?

Edit 2

I also thing that come 2016 we'll see all of the tube frame cars gone, and GAGT will become... GT3
And GTE will remain mostly the same. Huh. Back to GT2 and GT3.

 

[Earth]

I am laughing my ass off all the haters and their "NASCAR is gonna takeover and Make DPs top class" comments. So it appears that LMPC will stay, I guess thats to retain a 2nd Prototype class. As for GT, thought that was interesting.


Overall, it really is a Merger in a true sense as we were first told. Great news for Sportscar racing in America 👍

There is no pleasing those people. Unless of course they got rid of all things Grand Am including DP and made this new series basically ALMS 2.0. Now how would that be considered a merger? You know the ELMS tried the formula many of these fans are pushing and where did they end up? With a half cancelled season?

Personally I'm glad we will see open and closed P2 prototypes at Daytona in the future mixing it up with DPs. Thats going to be an awesome sight that I will not miss. I certainly will follow this new series very closely. Throw in the Delta Wing, deep GT classes, great North American courses, and just wow. Suddenly the WEC looks very inferior with its two horse parades.

I like the set-up, now I just hope they are planning on boosting DP performance instead of lowering LMP2 performance.

I think the best solution will be for them to meet halfway. Speed up the DPs about 4 seconds and slow down the LMP2s 4 seconds.

 

[Furinkazen]

Don't tweak LMP2. LMP2 are not too much quicker than GTE as of now, and LMP2 is flourishing. Spec up DP's instead.