- 35,335
- Addison,Texas
- GTP_RACECAR
2014 United Sports Car Championship
- Thread starter Earth
- 6,133 comments
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braunracing88
(Banned)
- 908
- Troy, MI, USA
- braunracing88
Yes, and the DPs could lose a little weight, too. The LMP2s are less than 1 ton, while the DPs are around 2100 pounds.
What I'm concerned about is what's gonna happen with the current LMP1-fielding teams of Muscle Milk and Dyson. What are they gonna run should they choose to still compete?
- 3,019
- Essex
Maybe they'll move to the WEC?
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
Dyson certainly not. They don't have anywhere near the budget. Or the aspirations. They don't even go to Le Mans. But both cars could run LMP2 with an engine change. And that's where I would expect to see them, if at all.
I kind of miss Miller Motorsports Park too--really a great track.
I kind of wish the 2014 season would expand to include a lot more races. But for various reasons, (cost, budget, the break for Le Mans, etc) I can't see more than 10 events on the schedule and that may be pushing it.Going out on a limb and just my personal opinion, here's what I would expect for 2014:
1. Daytona
2. Sebring
3. Circuit of the Americas
4. IMS
5. Road America
6. Watkins Glenn
7. Mosport
8. VIR
9. Laguna Seca
10. Road Atlanta
There may be some pressure to keep Baltimore. And while the event may be very popular, those rail road tracks and the temporary chicane kind of make the circuit a bit Mickey Mouse. So as a 'RACE' (as opposed to an 'event') I wouldn't be sorry to lose it.
Likewise, I would hate to see Lime Rock go as I'm usually up there for ALMS race and it's the closest circuit relative to where I live. But I can't imagine a 1.5 mile circuit with 30+ cars. It would be a traffic nightmare for the entire race. I'll probably be branded a heretic for even saying it, but I wish they had expanded that track with the proposed "North Loop" back in the 1970s. There's pretty much NO chance of it ever happening now. The blue laws in that section of CT even prevent them from racing on Sunday.
The Long Beach race was a link with Indycar and I have a feeling that might go after this year. Although it would leave Southern California without a race--an important market.
NJ Motorsports Park is not a bad circuit but it's in the middle of nowhere. Granted, a lot of tracks like Road America and Watkins Glenn are too, but they at least have a long racing history and an established fan base. And it doesn't help that NJ Motorsports park has been in and out of bankruptcy.
EDIT: I'm sure there's pressure to keep at least one Canadian event. Mosport has just spent a lot of money on expanding the facility. Where as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve means shutting down a major park and a lot of work and expense setting up and breaking down.
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- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
I wonder if they'll alternate with infi-sears-noma and Laguna Seca
- 10,276
- Sacramento CA
- cnd01
The rumored schedule is this:
Daytona(Jan)
Barber(Feb)
Sebring(March)
Mid-Ohio(April)
COTA(May)
Mosport(July)
Watkins Glen (July)
Road America (August)
VIR(September)
Road Atlanta
Possibility of adding 2 more tracks. IMS would be the most likely track to be added along with something like Mid-Ohio, New Jersey, or Lime Rock.
Daytona(Jan)
Barber(Feb)
Sebring(March)
Mid-Ohio(April)
COTA(May)
Mosport(July)
Watkins Glen (July)
Road America (August)
VIR(September)
Road Atlanta
Possibility of adding 2 more tracks. IMS would be the most likely track to be added along with something like Mid-Ohio, New Jersey, or Lime Rock.
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
Whose rumor is this?
The only reason I have some doubt about this schedule is because it would mean there isn't a single race West of Austin. Portland is long gone, as is Miller Motorsports park. But it would mean both Long Beach and Laguna get the boot.
Scott Atherton specifically mentioned the IMS at least twice in his presentation and once during an interview during the race, so I just assumed, as with Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta, it was a shoe in. But perhaps not.
- 1,493
- White House, Tennessee
- tbwhhs
I can't see Barber, Mid-Ohio, and VIR all being on the schedule and Indy and Laguna Seca both being left off. Lime Rock is possible but if it were added they would probably have to split the classes into 2 races like they did with the CTSCC last season.
- 10,276
- Sacramento CA
- cnd01
Whose rumor is this?
The only reason I have some doubt about this schedule is because it would mean there isn't a single race West of Austin. Portland is long gone, as is Miller Motorsports park. But it would mean both Long Beach and Laguna get the boot.
Scott Atherton specifically mentioned the IMS at least twice in his presentation and once during an interview during the race, so I just assumed, as with Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta, it was a shoe in. But perhaps not.
That was a rumored proposal out of someone else's mouth. Barber is almost definitely in. VIR probably would be the first race to go. Mid-Ohio would be next. Grand-Am hasn't gone to Laguna every year like ALMS has. IMS needs to be added to make a 5 race endurance championship. Once they finalize the schedule, they will announce the TV package as well as series sponsors.
- 10,276
- Sacramento CA
- cnd01
tbwhhs
Well barber is historically run early in the year in the grand am schedule. There is a huge gap in time between daytona and sebring. It would be very hard on fans to put barber in the summer because of how hot it gets in Alabama in the summer. That's why barber is a good fit. It fills the void between daytona and sebring.
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
SuperShouden
(Banned)
- 7,542
- SuperShouden
Indy should be on there, shouldn't it?
We know five or six races as it sounds like all the endurance races are staying put. So, we know Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Indy and Road Atlanta. That's pretty much what we know for sure. And they said it's going to be an 11 race schedule. We can also infer that any place both series already race at, like COTA, they'll keep. Which would leave maybe one or two extra races we don't know about. Which means, that Grand Am will probably get to pick and extra one from their schedule and ALMS will get to pick one from their schedule.
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
This may be a stupid question...
What about the new Kansas (?) roval?
What about the new Kansas (?) roval?
- 7,594
- Ontario,Canada
- macospet1
- My What?
That and Baltimore must die.. just saying.
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
SuperShouden
(Banned)
- 7,542
- SuperShouden
Kansas isn't really even an Infield course. It's an oval with a chunk missing. That's it. Like an apple someone tried to take a shot at an only skimmed it. Boring circuit. It doesn't make the cut.
- 10,276
- Sacramento CA
- cnd01
Looks bland to me. I would like to see Lime Rock, but that would have to be a split race. That track doesn't have nearly the space needed. It would be a caution fest.
The breakaway rumor has had an update. Apparently, the ringleaders are Duncan Dayton and Greg Pickett. Rodger Penske claims no involvement.
- 35,335
- Addison,Texas
- GTP_RACECAR
- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
Why doesnt Muscle Milk just SPONSOR Highcroft, and they can go run a WEC race next to Strakka. Or go to LMP2. Whatever.
- 10,276
- Sacramento CA
- cnd01
That's another very reasonable option. If you want LMP1, go and get it. Don't make a fool out of yourself. I'm sure the Dyson guys are either prepping their car to be brought to LMP2 specs or looking at a DP chassis order.
- 3,585
- Phoenix, AZ
- GTP_Snaeper
Daytona
Sebring
Barber
Long Beach
Circuit of the America's
Mid-Ohio
Mosport
Road America
Watkins Glen
Indianapolis
Laguna Seca
Virginia International Raceway
Road Atlanta
This would, in my honest opinion, be an absolutely awesome schedule. VIR and Long Beach being the weakest links on the list(?), and likely to be replaced with an even weaker event due to commitments.
Kansas, Detroit and Baltimore are all likely expecting a series to visit, and will more than likely have money to bring the cars there. As much as we may want certain tracks, we have to remember that money is a huge deciding factor in schedule making.
It's interesting that the DeltaWing is going to be skipping the Street Course races though, as it's "not ideally suited for such events". Might be a sign of what events will be dropped, which is a shame. As much as street courses are unsavory, they're still a different kind of challenge and environment to put your drivers and cars through. And Long Beach has such history, it'd be a real bummer to see it go, even if it is an IRL-centric event.
Speaking of commitments though, it'd be nice to see IMSA use the American DTM series to fulfill race contracts for the street-course tracks and smaller fish. Lime Rock (being BMW's US turf) would be the perfect setting for a DTM race.
Sebring
Barber
Long Beach
Circuit of the America's
Mid-Ohio
Mosport
Road America
Watkins Glen
Indianapolis
Laguna Seca
Virginia International Raceway
Road Atlanta
This would, in my honest opinion, be an absolutely awesome schedule. VIR and Long Beach being the weakest links on the list(?), and likely to be replaced with an even weaker event due to commitments.
Kansas, Detroit and Baltimore are all likely expecting a series to visit, and will more than likely have money to bring the cars there. As much as we may want certain tracks, we have to remember that money is a huge deciding factor in schedule making.
It's interesting that the DeltaWing is going to be skipping the Street Course races though, as it's "not ideally suited for such events". Might be a sign of what events will be dropped, which is a shame. As much as street courses are unsavory, they're still a different kind of challenge and environment to put your drivers and cars through. And Long Beach has such history, it'd be a real bummer to see it go, even if it is an IRL-centric event.
Speaking of commitments though, it'd be nice to see IMSA use the American DTM series to fulfill race contracts for the street-course tracks and smaller fish. Lime Rock (being BMW's US turf) would be the perfect setting for a DTM race.
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freshseth83
(Banned)
- 8,246
- freshseth83
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
👍 Yes, I just want to echo this. Duncan Dayton is one of the most enthusiastic racers you'll ever meet. And he's an experienced businessman; it's hardly fair to blame him for what happened to Highcroft.
Likewise, where are these rumors coming from? I've searched high and low and while Pickett and Dayton may not really like the terms of the merger, I can't find anything substantiated to suggest that they're really looking to start a break away series. Neither are naive enough to think it could happen. I call BS.
