2014 United Sports Car Championship

[RACECAR]

The tricky point is does the ACO take Sebring off the 2014 WEC calendar. I dont see why they should. It would be great for both series to share the same race. More airtime for both. I think it would be a mistake to drop Sebring for a generic 6 hour race at the Circuit of the Americas. Theres no way that race would gather as much media and fan interest as the Sebring 12 hours.

Who ever said they would?

As far as I can tell, there hasn't really been any mention of COTA being a WEC event.

Taking out the Le Mans prototype for DPs is pretty much making it Grand-Am.

Seeing as it can't even attract more then 3 full season entries and with no european entries interested outside of Sebring thanks to the WEC, is there really a point in keeping it in the US? If anything, I kinda feel the WEC has essentially killed Regional Prototype racing.

 

[Earth]

Who ever said they would?

As far as I can tell, there hasn't really been any mention of COTA being a WEC event. .

Well theres a large number of conspiracy theorists who believe Grand Am will alienate itself from the worldwide motorsport community. They think Grand Am will either sell Petit Le Mans and Sebring to be zoned for residential housing, or they will lock the WEC out of those tracks.

 

[RACECAR]

Well theres a large number of conspiracy theorists who believe Grand Am will alienate itself from the worldwide motorsport community. They think Grand Am will either sell Petit Le Mans and Sebring to be zoned for residential housing, or they will lock the WEC out of those tracks.

Let me guess, these are the same people who have this zenophobic theory of how the France Family will kill off Road Racing and totally sever any global connections, making this new series a NASCAR-type spec series thats exclusively American.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Maybe Sebring is why bothe ACO and FIA sjow interest in this "merger"? I'm sure they both know that teams who intend to do Le Mans likes to do Sebring, because it is a good measure of reliability for the cars.

Looking at this with a critical eye, I really can't see the ACO granting any spots at LM for a series outside their control - IE GTE. If teams want an auto invite, they better go to WEC.

 

[Patrick]

I can't imagine Sebring not happening.

 

[Blaze_409]

Who ever said they would?

As far as I can tell, there hasn't really been any mention of COTA being a WEC event.

Actually this is what it is heading towards atleast from what I have heard. COTA is one of the only tracks in America that will have the number 1 FIA homologation rating. Proper runoff, barriers etc. Right now we can expect Sebring to be the American round of the WEC for 2013 with a joint ALMS running. Since there is no ALMS in 2014 WEC will not be merging there ACO homologated cars to run with DP's and Grand-GT in a Sebring 12 hour. Keep in mind that 2014 WEC can expect to have some 35-40 entries. DP fields already have some 30-40 entries. There is no room for 80 cars at Sebring...simple as that.

And logically you have it the other way around. There is no room for 80 cars at Daytona. WEC and Grand-AM will never be racing in the same race.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Right, who's excited for their announcement, TOMORROW? 👍 👍 👍

 

[RACECAR]

Nervous would be the right word for me at the moment, mostly because of the big unknowns and the fact that beyond all this speculation, we have no idea whats about to happen.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Nervous would be the right word for me...

Technicality... We agree, you just word it differently.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Best case scenario.

ALMS to drop P1, P1 and DP teams to buy P2 and P2 becomes primary category.

Le Mans links maintained.

Worst case scenario

P1 & P2 dropped, DP to be primary category.

Le Mans links lost.

2014 is when the new ACO rules start. That is when Porsche re-enters the big league.

 

[Snaeper]

With any luck, Grand-Am's North American Endurance championship might have some merit! Petit Le Mans, Sebring 12 Hours and Daytona 24 Hours will make it a legitimate endurance series. Granted, assuming they don't move the dates, that means the Daytona and Sebring races would be practically back to back.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

With any luck, Grand-Am's North American Endurance championship might have some merit! Petit Le Mans, Sebring 12 Hours and Daytona 24 Hours will make it a legitimate endurance series. Granted, assuming they don't move the dates, that means the Daytona and Sebring races would be practically back to back.

Daytona is in January, in Florida. Sebring is in March, in Florida. I see no problem with this.

 

[Jav]

Nervous would be the right word for me at the moment, mostly because of the big unknowns and the fact that beyond all this speculation, we have no idea whats about to happen.

Same here, been reading on other more informed threads and it really doesn't look good for any of the ALMS teams. There's no intention of continuing with any of the ALMS classes at all, it simply is the Daytona Group buying off the ALMS and all its assets including Sebring and Road Atlanta. Sorry to be the pessimist but it looks bad for GT-E/LMP in the US at the moment.

 

[IforceV8]

Tomorrow 10am ET watch the death of the ALMS live http://stream.speedtv.com/breaking-news

 

[Earth]

Tomorrow 10am ET watch the death of the ALMS live http://stream.speedtv.com/breaking-news

Thanks for the link, its in the first post now.

 

[RACECAR]

Same here, been reading on other more informed threads and it really doesn't look good for any of the ALMS teams. There's no intention of continuing with any of the ALMS classes at all, it simply is the Daytona Group buying off the ALMS and all its assets including Sebring and Road Atlanta. Sorry to be the pessimist but it looks bad for GT-E/LMP in the US at the moment.

Sad thing is even if Grand-Am weren't around to buy it out while it was still going down this path, I don't think it would have survived anyhow. Too few prototypes even in the "Cost-Capped" class and a ever changing rules package just doesn't seem like it would have worked out. The ACO clearly doesn't care and as someone mentioned, Don Panoz might have seen the writing on the wall. I guess really, its matter of would you rather the dog just die a slow painful death or would you just want it put out of its misery.

 

[tpark103]

So does this mean that NASCAR is officially tightening its grip on American racing?

 

[Mac K]

Nervous would be the right word for me at the moment, mostly because of the big unknowns and the fact that beyond all this speculation, we have no idea whats about to happen.

Nervous is right, but I mean how bad could it be? They can't screw it up that bad can they?

 

[RACECAR]

So does this mean that NASCAR is officially tightening its grip on American racing?

No, it doesn't. It simply means that after 2013, no more ALMS. Besides, Sportscar racing has hardly been a threat to NASCAR.

Nervous is right, but I mean how bad could it be? They can't screw it up that bad can they?

We'll see tomarrow. Its not necessarily a bad feeling, just the thought "what happens next?".

 

[Mac K]

No, it doesn't. It simply means that after 2013, no more ALMS. Besides, Sportscar racing has hardly been a threat to NASCAR.

Again, we're just speculating at this point aren't we?

 

[RACECAR]

Again, we're just speculating at this point aren't we?

Despite this is based on what little details I've gathered, it kinda still is.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

So does this mean that NASCAR is officially tightening its grip on American racing?

I'm ashamed of that comment. You have approximately 16 hours to wait, until we find out. Hold your criticisms, shenanigans, antics, and pessimism until after. You might be pleasantly surprised, tomorrow.


Seriously, all of this speculation is only going to damage the reputation of an already wounded ALMS. The way I see everyone carrying on about how "the ALMS was great, and now it's going to be taken over by NASCAR," is really turning me off of ALMS. I mean, I wouldn't mind watching BTCC, or F1, :yawn: if Rolex were to join ALMS. Who's to say that I'm the only one?

 

[tpark103]

No, it doesn't. It simply means that after 2013, no more ALMS. Besides, Sportscar racing has hardly been a threat to NASCAR.

We'll see tomarrow. Its not necessarily a bad feeling, just the thought "what happens next?".

I mean it as in taking fans away, I meant it more in the since of financial gains. Could the marketing power of the NASCAR promoters actually have a positive effect on this merger between to two?

 

[tpark103]

I'm ashamed of that comment. You have approximately 16 hours to wait, until we find out. Hold your criticisms, shenanigans, antics, and pessimism until after. You might be pleasantly surprised, tomorrow.

Seriously, all of this speculation is only going to damage the reputation of an already wounded ALMS. The way I see everyone carrying on about how "the ALMS was great, and now it's going to be taken over by NASCAR," is really turning me off of ALMS. I mean, I wouldn't mind watching BTCC, or F1, :yawn: if Rolex were to join ALMS. Who's to say that I'm the only one?

No anger or shenanigans Intended i for one am rather excited about the announcement. Please except my apology if you were offended.

 

[Cowboys965]

I have a feeling there's going to be so many advertisements now, Half of NASCAR is just commercials.

As long as we have LMPs, and live streams with Radio Le Mans, it's all good.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

I mean it as in taking fans away, I meant it more in the since of financial gains. Could the marketing power of the NASCAR promoters actually have a positive effect on this merger between to two?

Because NASCAR advertises for the Rolex series every five minutes... yeah... In my dreams, the Rolex commercials would never stop, and I wouldn't have to listen to those god awful American oval-racer accents anymore.

 

[RACECAR]

I mean it as in taking fans away, I meant it more in the since of financial gains. Could the marketing power of the NASCAR promoters actually have a positive effect on this merger between to two?

I want to think so but given how NASCAR hardly has been any help to Grand-Am (aside from a decent TV Package and keeping them finanacially afloat), I'll be surprised if they actually lift a finger for this.

 

[tpark103]

Because NASCAR advertises for the Rolex series every five minutes... yeah... In my dreams, the Rolex commercials would never stop, and I wouldn't have to listen to those god awful American oval-racer accents anymore.

Hahaha nice! Not only tv but in some of the more exclusive finer magazines that appeal to gentlemen ie cigar magazines, things like that. It couldn't hurt! :-)

 

[tpark103]

I want to think so but given how NASCAR hardly has been any help to Grand-Am (aside from a decent TV Package and keeping them finanacially afloat), I'll be surprised if they actually lift a finger for this.

Very true unfortunately. Hey they loan there drivers out the the series occasionally, but even that's not enough. For some reason we just don't like corners on a mainstream level. Yeee Haaaaa

 

[hawkeye122]

. DP fields already have some 30-40 entries.

What? Since when has there been 30 (let alone 40) DP Entries in the past 2 years? I'd say closer to 15.

What they ought to do is widen the Air Restrictors on the LMP2 class to match that of LMP1. Keep DP, if we must, and then bring the Grand-Am GT cars up to GTE spec. That way theres still an American series which is relevant to the ACO.

Or, even better, give DP's a break in the Engine department, let them get a bit faster, and then combine the LMP classes. LMP would be as fast as today's LMP1, and DP be as fast as today's LMP2.


I am somewhat worried that the much more vast budgets of BMW RLL, ESM, and Corvette will be too much for the Grand-Am field to compete with. MAybe make Grand-Am spec cars "GT3" along with the GTC guys/IMSA Porsche Cup, and then have GTE become "GT2". I dont think the entire Grand Am GT field could be made easily competitive against the Vipers, much less, the Corvettes or BMW's.