2017 General WEC/ELMS/AsLMS Discussion ThreadSports Cars

[catamount39]

The way Hindy was replying to tweets he made it sound like BMW would be joining LMP1 when the Hydrogen regulations come in

Wait there's going to be Hydrogen regs?

 

[doblocruiser]

I can see Peugeot filling in the gap. They never ruled out a return when they left the sport.

Radio Le Mans seem pretty convinced BMW is joining in 2018, and Peugeot has said 2 of their 3 requirements for rejoining have been met. Assuming the 2018 regs go the right way, that should be the final domino for them.

PSA CEO and the director of Peugeot Sport have both confirmed that Peugeot won't return to Lemans / WEC until the costs will significantly be reduced. No agreement has been found as of yet with ACO and FIA. However, rumours were that Peugeot could provide an engine 1.6L Turbo for a Ligier in LMP3.

Their current focus is Dakar and the launch of the 308 Racing Cup in 2017. TCR upgrade is planned for 2018.

 

[TDZdave]

My question is, what's going to happen with Andre Lotterer? Will he remain with Audi's program or will he jump in Mark Webbers seat at Porsche?

 

[Scuderia Paul]

My question is, what's going to happen with Andre Lotterer? Will he remain with Audi's program or will he jump in Mark Webbers seat at Porsche?

Apparently his manager was talking to Toyota at Fuji. He has a connection to Toyota through his Super Formula drive but I would imagine Audi would only release him to join Porsche so as to keep him under the VAG umbrella.

Also, Marcel Fassler is supposedly on Porsche's radar although who he would replace is the question, as Nick Tandy is allegedly odds on favourite to take the seat vacated by Mark Webber.

 

[Yakup]

Apparently his manager was talking to Toyota at Fuji. He has a connection to Toyota through his Super Formula drive but I would imagine Audi would only release him to join Porsche so as to keep him under the VAG umbrella.

Also, Marcel Fassler is supposedly on Porsche's radar although who he would replace is the question, as Nick Tandy is allegedly odds on favourite to take the seat vacated by Mark Webber.

I wouldn't be surprised if Lotterer ends up in Toyota. The priority at Porsche is clearly Tandy and Bamber. Does this mean they would drop both Lieb and Dumas to make room for Fässler?

 

[Snaeper]

He has longer ties to Toyota than just Super Formula. That Petronas SC430 in GT5/6 has his name on it and he's run in the N24 Lexus LFA before as a factory pilot, too.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

He has longer ties to Toyota than just Super Formula. That Petronas SC430 in GT5/6 has his name on it and he's run in the N24 Lexus LF-A before as a factory pilot, too.

I said Super Formula because it is the more recent link to Toyota.

I will admit though I didn't realise he drove the Lexus LF-A in 24h Nurburgring.

 

[Snaeper]

Indeed, he did it two weeks after winning Le Mans in 2011. 2012 was the final year in Super GT for him, too. I imagine he had to start trimming sportscar commitments once he, Audi and the WEC started picking up, but I dont think he ever really severed his ties to Toyota, as his Super Formula ride suggests

 

[flip55]

In other news...

Spy video of the Ligier JS P2017 testing at Estoril. I'm assuming this is with the new Gibson engine. (could be the current engine, someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

​

 

[catamount39]

In other news...

Spy video of the Ligier JS P2017 testing at Estoril. I'm assuming this is with the new Gibson engine. (could be the current engine, someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

​

Show stolen by the LMP3 and its Nissan V8.

 

[Snaeper]

They both sound like proper racing machines to me!

 

[catamount39]

They both sound like proper racing machines to me!

No the Gibson is great, but the Nissan is extra special.

 

[GTFan24]

 

[SlimCharles]

 

[fortbo]

Found this on reddit

What a video...Audi will be missed and I hope that the WEC can recover from this.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

Today was another great qualifying session across all 4 classes. Toyota #5 came agonisingly close to pole position with 0.061s separating them from Porsche #1.

What a video...Audi will be missed and I hope that the WEC can recover from this.

Audi will certainly be missed but quite often over the years the main rivalry has been between 2 manufacturers.

 

[Roo]

Audi UK have a new TV ad:



Yes, it would have been written, signed off and filmed months ago, but the timing is unfortunate.

 

[fortbo]

Audi UK have a new TV ad:



Yes, it would have been written, signed off and filmed months ago, but the timing is unfortunate.

I hate this whole situation so much...

 

[Scuderia Paul]

Come on Toyota!!! To those who will watch live...Enjoy.

Off to bed.

 

[fortbo]

Come on Toyota!!! To those who will watch live...Enjoy.

Off to bed.

I will!

 

[Tired Tyres]

Good fight for 2nd between #2 and #6. 👍

Too much tyre debris. They need harder tyres.👎

 

[SlimCharles]

Damn that fricking punctures. Could have a been an awesome battle to the end.

 

[Vinylshark]

 

[TheElbows]

I've been waiting for Audi to leave for other projects for a while now. Despite stunning success there is only so much a manufacturer can benefit from nearly dominating a series for 10+ years.

Audi will be one of my all time favourite memories as I came into motorsports as a teenager right around the launch of the Audi assault on LeMans. I was lucky enough to attend the race live in 2002 and get to see them as close as the fence would allow.

What stood out to me though was Audi setting "the" benchmark for endurance racing that all teams would adopt/follow for the foreseeable future. Consistent driver line-ups, consistent team work, engineers and management...and that's just behind the scenes. For the first five or six years Audi was the pinnacle of modularity, responding to incidents/disasters, clever strategy etc. They were the blueprint for developing and building a successful race team. Most importantly? They weren't jerks about it. There are plenty of wonderful teams/drivers in motorsport - but a lot of them come across as jerks.

I never got that from Audi. Constant professionals. I think they not only won a crap ton of races, they pushed the performance and development of endurance racing at the professional level. I suspect the trickle down will carry on for years. In 20-30 years time there will be numerous team managers etc. who "worked for Audi back in the glory days" etc. The impact on the sport will be immense (if the sport continues as it is).

Well done Audi. Thank you.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

6h Shanghai was another quality WEC race right through the 4 classes. The obvious tough part for me was the fact that Toyota #6 was looking good for another win had it not suffered the second puncture. It would have made Bahrain far more open but there is still a chance of the World Drivers' Championship.
Audi really had a day to forget. They had pace for the most part but being beset by issues, particularly for the #8 car, put paid to any challenge from them. Having them hit each other at T14 compounded the misery.

LMP2 was the usual hugely enjoyable crazy experience it usually is. Terrific from lights to flag. The GTE classes were very tense with most overtakes having a decent impact on championship standings.

It is just a pity the WEC season has to end.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Toyota replacing Stephane Sarrazin with Jose Maria Lopez:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126991/lopez-to-join-toyota-2017-wec-lineup

 

[trustjab]

I wonder why it was Conway that experienced the punctures? Maybe he was riding the curbs in an aggressive manner.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

 

[DesertPenguin09]

Awesome. WEC finale this weekend, F1 finale next weekend. Then the big off season uggghhhhhhhhhh

 

[GTFan24]

Its Audi's farewell race as well