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Just cut right to the chase, why doncha 😂Honestly, just eliminate the entire class. The excitement (and manufacturer involvement) is in Hypercars and LMGT3.
But yes, exactly this.
Just cut right to the chase, why doncha 😂Honestly, just eliminate the entire class. The excitement (and manufacturer involvement) is in Hypercars and LMGT3.
For one I think WEC and even IMSA should limit the amount of cars each manufacturer can have on track. I honestly don't care to see 4-6 Porsche 963s in a race at a given time when some of that dpace could have been anpther cadillac, Lamborghini sc63 or even another manufacturer. I think it should be 3 max per manufacturer including customer cars. Theres so many more manufacturers that have interest in the hypercar class that I think they should consider doing just hypercar only races especially if they choose to allow more then 2 cars each team. Imagine 30-40 teams trying to fight to have a spot for a 6-24hr race.I truly wonder about the customer Hypercar entries in the long run. Group C lived for so long because there were a lot of customer entries, but of course the WSC didn't have to share the track with GT cars back in the '80s, unlike today's WEC. It's great to have such a wide array of manufacturers but at one point they will lose interest because there are only so many podium places at any given race or championship. Sure, nobody wants a 963 Cup but I'm worried how soon the OEMs lose interest when they don't see their cars up the rankings.
I wouldn't be against Hypercar-only races but I'm not sure whether there's enough interest from the OEM side to put up a 25-30 car grid. On one hand there's the mandatory 2-car rule for next year, so there will be another Lambo and Caddy. On the other, Cadillac wasn't in a rush to go beyond the a single car in WEC (apart from Le Mans) while in the DPi area they were the ones with several customer cars (but ruled them out this time) and seemingly only BMW considers customer cars on any level beyond Porsche.For one I think WEC and even IMSA should limit the amount of cars each manufacturer can have on track. I honestly don't care to see 4-6 Porsche 963s in a race at a given time when some of that dpace could have been anpther cadillac, Lamborghini sc63 or even another manufacturer. I think it should be 3 max per manufacturer including customer cars. Theres so many more manufacturers that have interest in the hypercar class that I think they should consider doing just hypercar only races especially if they choose to allow more then 2 cars each team. Imagine 30-40 teams trying to fight to have a spot for a 6-24hr race.
You broke that down pretty good, I have a better understanding of how WEC sets up these grids and potential manufacturers who could be dropped or join. I like the idea that I mentioned a week or two ago where LMP2 should be moved into races with LMP3 and possibly GT4 and just have hypercar and LMGT3 have various races with each other with a few being solo class races. It would open up more grid spots and give some race choice flexibility for WEC.I wouldn't be against Hypercar-only races but I'm not sure whether there's enough interest from the OEM side to put up a 25-30 car grid. On one hand there's the mandatory 2-car rule for next year, so there will be another Lambo and Caddy. On the other, Cadillac wasn't in a rush to go beyond the a single car in WEC (apart from Le Mans) while in the DPi area they were the ones with several customer cars (but ruled them out this time) and seemingly only BMW considers customer cars on any level beyond Porsche.
Looking at next year:
OEM entries:
Alpine - 2
Aston - 2 (if they come)
BMW - 2
Cadillac - 2
Ferrari - 2
Lambo - 2
Peugeot - 2
Porsche - 2
Toyota - 2
IF - 2 (if it comes through)
That's 20 entries out of 22 allotted. We'll have the #83 Ferrari and maybe the Proton 963.
I'm not sure what other OEM would be in play tbh. I don't trust McLaren, I believe more in Hyundai/Genesis than them and we have Acura/Honda, although I don't see them coming to WEC, either. If we discount IF but add the latter 2, that would be 22 OEM cars in 2026. Granted, I don't have the big picture of the industry and I'm not privy to any sort of information apart from what you can read on the big sportscar news sites, so my "analysis" is purely speculative and influenced by my personal bias. Nevertheless, I can't see a bigger grid without customer cars and I most definitely wouldn't limit the number of cars per OEM.
The FIA and ACO are so hellbent now in only giving slots to WEC participants and a select few invitees, plus the spec Oreca racing that we will never see stuff like the Le Mans-only GTE Pro field where the OEMs brought over their IMSA GTLM teams. I personally wouldn't mind if the 62 LM24 slots would be half HY, half GT3 if we could get some extra cars from IMSA or customer Hypercars, no matter the brand - same with GT3, the demand is clearly there and I wouldn't mind allowing the AMG GT3s, either. The whole loyalty thing stinks a bit for me.
PS: I'm not against LMP2 in general, it serves FIA and ACO very well, no question. However, given the current state of affairs and the grid limits, I wouldn't be opposed to boot them out of Le Mans for a while.
OH HOHOHOValkyrie LMH Spied Testing at Silverstone – Sportscar365
Images emerge of Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH on track at Silverstone...sportscar365.com
Due to the many classes in Super Taikyu and the limited number of pit garages at certain circuits, that series alternate the lower classes at different venues. It could work for WEC if grid size/race entries were ever a problem.You broke that down pretty good, I have a better understanding of how WEC sets up these grids and potential manufacturers who could be dropped or join. I like the idea that I mentioned a week or two ago where LMP2 should be moved into races with LMP3 and possibly GT4 and just have hypercar and LMGT3 have various races with each other with a few being solo class races. It would open up more grid spots and give some race choice flexibility for WEC.
I hope the gold livery carries over.Jota takes over Cadillac's WEC program for 2025.
I imagine it will. Maybe some small tweaks here or that but I think they have a very good livery in general.I hope the gold livery carries over.
I don't find the current Cadillac WEC liveries to be very good, despite relating to the Cadillac crest.
I see it as a good and bad thing. Sucks for Isotta because this was their debut year and even though they didnt have much success in the standings who knows how year 2 could have looked for them. But each hypercar that bows out or limits their numbers makes room for another. Now I wonder if Vanwall will make that comeback and if WEC will even consider it and maybe Acura will contemplate on joining.One down.
Isotta Fraschini withdraws from WEC
Isotta Fraschini’s Tipo6-C LMH Hypercar has withdrawn from the FIA WEC ahead of Lone Star Le Mans next week, with the revived Italian marque pulling its car from the forthcoming races at CoTA…racer.com