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donspeekinglesh · 27-07-2017 11:29am

It's not confirmed yet, but looking likely.
Not sure where that leaves WEC as a world championship, as they're supposed to have at least 2 manufacturer teams for that status for LMP.

donspeekinglesh · 28-07-2017 7:30am

And now it's confirmed. P1 team gone and they're off to FE. GTE and GTLM programs remain.

Grim. · 28-07-2017 10:40am

Mixed emotions about this news, on one hand its the end of the amazing LMP1 Hybrid formula but on the other it could lead to a hell of a private LMP1 team field.

Killinator · 28-07-2017 3:48pm

The ACO really need to rethink how they operate their regulations.

As for Toyota, do they:
A: continue on and hope for a victory in '18 but have it seen as a hollow victory.
Or
B: take a chance and the curse continues and they suffer a humiliation by being beaten next year by a lesser class if their car fails again.
Or
C: pull out and once again see their attempts at a win end in failure

Tough choice!

The chance to jump at a large privateer field using the ACOs hands. I'm slightly dreaming of Pescarolo's return ðŸ˜Š

[Deleted User] · 30-07-2017 2:28am

Killinator wrote: »

The ACO really need to rethink how they operate their regulations.

As for Toyota, do they:
A: continue on and hope for a victory in '18 but have it seen as a hollow victory.
Or
B: take a chance and the curse continues and they suffer a humiliation by being beaten next year by a lesser class if their car fails again.
Or
C: pull out and once again see their attempts at a win end in failure

Tough choice!

The chance to jump at a large privateer field using the ACOs hands. I'm slightly dreaming of Pescarolo's return &#55357;&#56842;

At the same time, if they "liberalise" the rules too much it'll all be dross. Hard to see what tactic they can go with.

Killinator · 30-07-2017 12:13pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Killinator wrote: »

At the same time, if they "liberalise" the rules too much it'll all be dross. Hard to see what tactic they can go with.

Yeah, it's a tough balancing act that they've got pretty right the last few years but they've really had the rug pulled from under them.
Bad form from Porsche to partake in having new regulation set and then pull out, similar to Peugeot pulling out after the WEC was formed after crying out for a championship and had also developed a hybrid LMP aswell.
But 2 major manufacturers in a year dropping out looks bad, but with the cost of an LMP 1 car that can contend becoming astronomical then it's no wonder that the most new manufacturers are willing to do is GTE like Ford and BMW.

TheChrisD · 02-09-2017 1:52am

So, the FIA have... gone bonkers with WEC. http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/new-look-strengthened-fia-world-endurance-championship-for-the-future/5354

Swapping the calendar around so that a seasons ends at Le Mans; and also going back to Sebring - but instead running a completely separate race to IMSA

donspeekinglesh · 02-09-2017 10:48am

Two separate 12 Hours of Sebring in one weekend is mad.
Hopefully these changes will help the series survive. Will miss Silverstone though.

Looking forward to Mexico tomorrow night (especially since it's the last one).

Harika · 02-09-2017 10:57am

The main problem is not addressed, that the flagship category for the series is far too expensive. And as long they won't address that while keeping the manufacturers happy they are doomed like the many Lmp series before.
Overall unlikely as Porsche and Audi are spending idiotic amounts until they drop out.

TheChrisD · 02-09-2017 4:15pm

Harika wrote: »

The main problem is not addressed, that the flagship category for the series is far too expensive. And as long they won't address that while keeping the manufacturers happy they are doomed like the many Lmp series before.

If you ask me, the best thing for the ACO to do is scrap LMP1 entirely and just have the one prototype class split kinda like how IMSA do it:
- DPi and manufacturer cars, allowed custom bodywork and engines (BoP adjusted), with full-pro driver lineups
- Privateer cars running the spec engine with pro-am driver lineups.

Grim. · 21-11-2017 6:10pm

Alonso Testing United Autosports P2 car at motorland aragon

Killinator · 22-11-2017 1:20pm

New Vantage GTE. Phwoar!

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/11/21/aston-martin-unveils-2018-vantage-gte.html

Frank Bullitt · 22-11-2017 6:25pm

Porsche are still developing their V6 engine even after they leave the LMP category...now remind me, what other category uses a V6 again?

Ghost Train · 23-11-2017 12:20am

Gintonious wrote: »

Porsche are still developing their V6 engine even after they leave the LMP category...now remind me, what other category uses a V6 again?

indycar

donspeekinglesh · 30-01-2018 12:34pm

https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/fernando-alonso/mclaren-allows-fernando-alonso-compete-2018-le-mans-and-wec/

Alonso confirmed. Wonder which Toyota driver will get the chop.

Harika · 30-01-2018 12:54pm

donspeekinglesh wrote: »

https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/fernando-alonso/mclaren-allows-fernando-alonso-compete-2018-le-mans-and-wec/

Alonso confirmed. Wonder which Toyota driver will get the chop.

Davidson was chopped where his team mates will be former F1 drivers Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima.

donspeekinglesh · 30-01-2018 2:08pm

Ah no. Ant is one of my favourites.

Killinator · 01-02-2018 10:26pm

Poor form to keep Lopez over Ant.
Poor Ant broke his back (and toe) for Toyota and gets shafted to reserve.

Killinator · 08-02-2018 8:23am

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/02/08/toyota-shows-off-201819-super-season-ts050.html

New TS050. Not a huge departure, not sure the red at the front does the new nose any favours

Sterling Archer · 08-02-2018 6:24pm

Not a fan of the Red at the front, looks too much like roadkill

Sterling Archer · 04-05-2018 7:54pm

Bad cash today.. hope fittipaldi makes a speedy recovery

jelutong · 04-05-2018 8:08pm

Interesting to see how Alonso gets on tomorrow. 2nd fastest in qualifying.

donspeekinglesh · 05-05-2018 10:21am

Shane_ef wrote: »

Bad cash today.. hope fittipaldi makes a speedy recovery

He's going to miss his Indy 500 debut now too. Awful luck.

And the pole sitting Toyota was DSQed from the session for a fuel flow issue - will be starting from the pits a lap down. Good headstart for the Alonso car.

Ghost Train · 05-05-2018 5:30pm

An hour to go (I think)
Safety car out with a car off at eau rouge

Ghost Train · 05-05-2018 6:37pm

Not too bad
Pity Porsche and Audi not in lmp1 anymore

skipper_G · 05-05-2018 6:40pm

Ghost Train wrote: »

Not too bad
Pity Porsche and Audi not in lmp1 anymore

Yeah obviously I'm happy to see Alonso win anything but sort of a hollow victory when Toyota are in a race of their own

Ghost Train · 05-05-2018 7:34pm

I guess lemans will still be the big test. They'll do well not to screw up winning it

Sterling Archer · 09-05-2018 11:55pm

Footage of that crash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5bPgU1n4yI

Ghost Train · 10-05-2018 12:43am

had wondered what happened, scary

Killinator · 10-05-2018 9:16am

That's a novel new way of going into Eau Rouge, not sure it'll catch on!

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