FIA WEC / World Endurance Championship

[///M]

new GTP regulations from 2020, with Toyota releasing a concept pic - https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/toyota-lmp1-rules-out-hiatus-1008729/ McLaren, Ferrari, and Aston Martin have already registered an interest in the new regs. Exciting times ahead!

I REALLY hope all that is true and comes to fruition!

We've both said we'd love a GT1 class to make a comeback. This is a move in the right direction for sure. Looking forward to hearing what the announcement is at Le Mans.

 

[peter]

i much prefer true prototype cars, but if GTP means more competitve cars then bring it on.

 

[peter]

oh ... and please ... no BOP.

 

[Sean197]

oh ... and please ... no BOP.

Or EoT - https://www.fiawec.com/en/news/what-are-eot-and-bop/5913
It's really working isn't it, given the Toyotas were miles ahead of the Rebellions at Spa.

 

[peter]

'Toyota’s TS050 HYBRID is only permitted to use 35.2kg of fuel per stint, compared to the 52.9kg of its privateer opponents.'

never really looked into EoT, so a bit surprised by the difference there.

 

[///M]

'Toyota’s TS050 HYBRID is only permitted to use 35.2kg of fuel per stint, compared to the 52.9kg of its privateer opponents.'

never really looked into EoT, so a bit surprised by the difference there.

Shows how ridiculous the LMP1H cars are doesn't it?

And @Sean197 @peter Totally agree about BoP EoT. It's like saying when Barcelona play certain teams, they're not allowed to play Messi. But... what are the options? Much stricter regulations? It's not helped F1 much. But then those rules are seemingly written by someone who has only ever owned a Nissan Micra...

Either way, it's still my favourite high end motorsport.

 

[peter]

yeah, we all want exciting races between different car makes but BOP and EoT just doesn't feel right. that said, it's looks like the key to convince manufacturers to sign up.

 

[///M]

yeah, we all want exciting races between different car makes but BOP and EoT just doesn't feel right. that said, it's looks like the key to convince manufacturers to sign up.

I think, although I don’t like it (especially how it can be manipulated like Ford did) the reason it doesn’t bother me so much is because I have so many people I support, especially at Le Mans) one of my guys / teams is always going to be up there.

And as pompous as it might sound, I just enjoy the racing. The last round was a good example. Not the most interesting race but some great battles up and down the midfield.

Hell even when nothing at all happens I’m still happy just watching the cars go round.

 

[///M]

@Sean197 @peter

You guys ever done Le Mans?

 

[peter]

@Sean197 @peter
You guys ever done Le Mans?

no. never. my dad went lots of years ago, but i can't remember why i didn't join him.
we did go and see group C at spa and the nurburgring in the eighties.

 

[peter]

Hell even when nothing at all happens I’m still happy just watching the cars go round.

lol! same here. i only saw the hybrid cars live once. the sheer speed of those things, possibly the most impressive live motorsport experience ever. even more impressive than group B rally cars.

 

[///M]

no. never. my dad went lots of years ago, but i can't remember why i didn't join him.
we did go and see group C at spa and the nurburgring in the eighties.

Definitely definitely definitely go mate. It's everything it's made out to be and more. Watching the LMP1 cars at night is worth it alone but the whole thing is great. Even the usually god awful French lager tastes great.

We took the Renault because Mrs M insisted on "taking him home" and my god the amount of attention it got was amazing. French guys in Porsches and Astons slowing down next to us to give us the thumbs up, not joking. The drive is GREAT with all the traffic too. And all the build up with the English Welcome and scrutineering and everything. MUST do mate. Really.

Just, my god, take your own food if you're going. Nothing there is edible!

 

[peter]

Even the usually god awful French lager tastes great.

must be really good, if it makes that drab taste great.

 

[///M]

must be really good, if it makes that drab taste great.

You know I’m a genuine beer geek mate. There’s a reason I love your wonderful country so much

The 1664 on draft at Le Mans was surprisingly good. My brother and wife are both beer geeks too and they agreed.

Funnily enough we took a load of Westmalle and Struise (from over near Ypres) but we brought most of it back to England

 

[petercronin]

Well I’ve just watched the recording of Spa highlights and just agree with most of the comments above. It’s a bit of a dire state of affairs with one team being so much further ahead than the others and not allowing their drivers to race. As much as I like Alonso and am happy he won, he probably wouldn’t have. But at least the GT racing was good.

 

[Sean197]

@///M Never been mate. To be honest, Le Mans live doesn't appeal to me, the only venue which appeals to me with regards to live racing would be Spa, sitting at the start of the Kemmel Straight watching the cars appear at the top of Radillion.

 

[Sean197]

Small update on proposed GTP regs - https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news...three-lmp1-manufacturers-for-2020-21-1037904/
The most interesting bit - "The new rules will allow manufacturers to give their GTP cars the look of their road going machinery, while maintaining present performance levels at a lower cost"

 

[///M]

@///M Never been mate. To be honest, Le Man live doesn't appeal to me, the only venue which appeals to me with regards to live racing would be Spa, sitting at the start of the Kemmel Straight watching the cars appear at the top of Radillion.

Best at the bottom of Eau Rouge and watching them go over the hill. Looks like they're going to take off and head into the sky.

Totally agree from a watching the race standpoint that of course Spa is way more interesting (and better access around the circuit) but honestly, Le Mans is a must do for the whole event. It's a riot.

 

[///M]

Small update on proposed GTP regs - https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news...three-lmp1-manufacturers-for-2020-21-1037904/
The most interesting bit - "The new rules will allow manufacturers to give their GTP cars the look of their road going machinery, while maintaining present performance levels at a lower cost"

This sounds like it has the potential to be bloody amazing!!!

 

[Sean197]

This sounds like it has the potential to be bloody amazing!!!

Absolutely, something like the old Grp 5 cars would be amazing (yes that's a Capri):



but in all honesty I'd settle for GT1-type cars.