GTPNewsWire
Contributing Writer
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- GTPHQ
This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:
This article was published by Andrew Evans (@Famine) on January 21st, 2021 in the FIA WEC category.
2021 World Endurance Championship
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
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- 6,260
- Ottawa
- Pyano1132
GTE needs to die. Replace it with Endurance GT3 cars. There’s hardly any difference between the two classes anyways and nobody is interested in Pro anymore. If pretty much all the GTE entries are customer cars now, it makes sense to just go with GT3 as that’s already a customer category.
Also pretty disappointed with the Hypercar turnout. Toyota is showing up with their TS050 in drag (literally) and there are only three more cars besides them. It’s less of a turnout than there was last year when LMP1 was dying and this was supposed to be the big revival that top-class prototype racing needed.
Meanwhile besides the Toyotas which are guaranteed to win, we have Alpine using one second-hand LMP1 car and two SCG cars that are completely unproven. This is looking like another wash of a season right now.
(For reference there were 6 entries in LMP1 last season to this year’s 5 Hypercars)
But I think the most damning thing of all is that in the first season of Hypercars there’s not a single entry based on an existing road car like what was initially proposed/expected for the class, with all three entrants this year going the prototype route with no road car or a road car based on the prototype. No Senna GTR, no Valkyrie, etc.
Also pretty disappointed with the Hypercar turnout. Toyota is showing up with their TS050 in drag (literally) and there are only three more cars besides them. It’s less of a turnout than there was last year when LMP1 was dying and this was supposed to be the big revival that top-class prototype racing needed.
Meanwhile besides the Toyotas which are guaranteed to win, we have Alpine using one second-hand LMP1 car and two SCG cars that are completely unproven. This is looking like another wash of a season right now.
(For reference there were 6 entries in LMP1 last season to this year’s 5 Hypercars)
But I think the most damning thing of all is that in the first season of Hypercars there’s not a single entry based on an existing road car like what was initially proposed/expected for the class, with all three entrants this year going the prototype route with no road car or a road car based on the prototype. No Senna GTR, no Valkyrie, etc.
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- 86,793
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
No, it's a 2022 entry:
https://www.gtplanet.net/le-mans-hypercars-preview-20200923/
The odd one is ByKolles. It should be there, but isn't. I'd expect maybe it'll be at Le Mans, but if it isn't...
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- 1,097
- GB
- ro_har_
Heres a news article about bykolles, it sounds like that they may not be racing this year
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mo...les-hypercar-update-colin-kolles/5149082/amp/
- 567
- S. Shields
I was sooo looking forward to the 2021 WEC. But I suppose the beauty of multclass series is you can focus on other classes not just the top class. Though I do think at least Glickenhaus signed well in Ryan Briscoe. But hopefully things will pick up. But news so far is not encouraging. At least the LMP2's look to be packed out with a very sizable field of teams and decent drivers. Only downside is theirs 8 ORECA 07's, 1 Alpine A470 and 1 Ligier JS P217. But with luck the quality of the class and the numbers will more than make up for it. I may even do the same with the IMSA WSCC.
But GTE-PRO is doing for the GT's what LMH is doing for the Prototypes. The top class which is meant to be the feature attraction is just....dead. I do agree GTE-PRO is a class that needs to go. It has run it's course. BMW and Ford withdrawing just sent it on an inevitable slope down to now. But @TheHun99 said on the IMSA thread in reply to a comment I made about GT3 being the top spec of GT car. He said "would Stephane jeopardize the GTWC Europe for a chance to run in Le Mans". Make of it what you will but for me that could mean the GTWC would suffer if teams like Grasser, HTP and Sainteloc joined the grid. The only team that does both is my team AF Corse.
I am just hoping that thinks will pick up.
But GTE-PRO is doing for the GT's what LMH is doing for the Prototypes. The top class which is meant to be the feature attraction is just....dead. I do agree GTE-PRO is a class that needs to go. It has run it's course. BMW and Ford withdrawing just sent it on an inevitable slope down to now. But @TheHun99 said on the IMSA thread in reply to a comment I made about GT3 being the top spec of GT car. He said "would Stephane jeopardize the GTWC Europe for a chance to run in Le Mans". Make of it what you will but for me that could mean the GTWC would suffer if teams like Grasser, HTP and Sainteloc joined the grid. The only team that does both is my team AF Corse.
I am just hoping that thinks will pick up.
- 864
- PA
- attilag78
- TheHun99
ACO put in the road car-based rules to please Aston Martin, Hypercar/LMH was originally pure prototype.
- 864
- PA
- attilag78
- TheHun99
Corvette typically only takes part in Le Mans and at the US round, they're not a full season entrant.
The Alpine A470 LMP2 car is an ORECA 07, just renamed, like the Aurus in the last years.
- 1,251
- England
- NS_Zokeo_9
People seem to be under the impression that the top class in endurance racing is bad because of only 5 cars this year. Short-term I can understand that, but long-term we'll have a grid of:
Toyota
Glickenhaus
Peugeot
Audi
Porsche
Potentially Acura/Honda based on their IMSA plans at least.
The GT categories on the other hand are unfortunately on their way out in their current forms. If they do decide to go for GT3's I'd prefer to see a "Works/Pro" BoP & a slightly slower "Customer/Am" BoP to encourage more factory efforts in collaboration with existing teams (Like how Chip Ganassi Racing were responsible for the factory Ford effort). Maybe even some slightly more advanced aero parts that could be bolted on for the Pro class.
Just stay patient, and we'll see what happens.
Toyota
Glickenhaus
Peugeot
Audi
Porsche
Potentially Acura/Honda based on their IMSA plans at least.
The GT categories on the other hand are unfortunately on their way out in their current forms. If they do decide to go for GT3's I'd prefer to see a "Works/Pro" BoP & a slightly slower "Customer/Am" BoP to encourage more factory efforts in collaboration with existing teams (Like how Chip Ganassi Racing were responsible for the factory Ford effort). Maybe even some slightly more advanced aero parts that could be bolted on for the Pro class.
Just stay patient, and we'll see what happens.
- 1,062
- Kansas City
GTE should definitely get dissolved and they should turn it into GT2/3. Several manufacturers have GT2 cars as well as GT3.
Maybe WEC needs to do
Hypercar/LMDH
LMP2
GT2
GT3/am
Maybe even a Cup/Trofeo just to add cars.
Potential GT2 offerings below
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/08/02/whos-coming-to-gt2-and-where-will-they-race.html
Maybe WEC needs to do
Hypercar/LMDH
LMP2
GT2
GT3/am
Maybe even a Cup/Trofeo just to add cars.
Potential GT2 offerings below
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/08/02/whos-coming-to-gt2-and-where-will-they-race.html
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- 2,946
- Austria
- GTP_SnowCrash
The name "GT2" is deceptive. The GT2-cars are slower than the GT3 cars. They have less aero and are generally much closer to road cars.
GTPNewsWire
Contributing Writer
- 21,591
- GTPHQ
This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:
This article was published by Andrew Evans (@Famine) on January 22nd, 2021 in the FIA WEC category.
- 864
- PA
- attilag78
- TheHun99
As you might remember, SCG said that they'd skip Sebring and start at the first European race (Spa I think). Now, they confirmed that they'll be there from the start at Portimao:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/01/22/glickenhaus-confirm-debut-at-8-hours-of-portimao.html
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/01/22/glickenhaus-confirm-debut-at-8-hours-of-portimao.html
Tired Tyres
Premium
- 12,529
- West Yorkshire
- Tired_Tyres
- Tired Tyres
They can't add cars. Every WEC season entry gets an automatic invite to Le Mans and that cuts down on the invitations Le Mans can send out.
- 2,946
- Austria
- GTP_SnowCrash
Because the terms "GT3" and "GT2" are trademarks. SRO realised that "GT2" was still available at the time, so they took it. Speed-wise it's between GT3 and GT4.
Here's an article about it. Link
"Eligible GT2 cars will feature a 2-1 weight to power ratio, limited aerodynamic developments, limited modification to road car shape and no modification in engine or gearbox positioning."
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