FIA WEC 2014 - Round 2 - 6 Hours of Spa

The now-usual Le Mans dress rehearsal.

28 cars on the entry list: no Ram Ferraris, no Millennium Racing/ADR-Delta (looks like that team isn't going to run at all this season, since they also pulled their Le Mans entries), still no Lotus T129 (that car is more and more reminiscent of the USF1 toasters), but Rebellion are bringing both new R-Ones to Spa, and a couple of extra entries: Jota doing their annual trek across the ELMS/WEC border for Spa+LM, as well as the third factory Audi.

As for the factory teams, the full-season Audis will continue to run in high-DF config, while all the other works cars (third Audi, both Toyotas and both Porsches) should be in Le Mans trim.

SCHEDULE WARNING: this is a two-day weekend, with practice/quali this Friday and the race this Saturday. Classic format, 6 hours, hopefully no biblical floods like the one that curtailed proceedings at Silverstone.

Qualifying: Friday, 19:20 CET, 25-minute session for GTE, 25-minute session for LMP. Fastest-4-lap-2-driver average for each car sets the grid.

Race start: Saturday, 14:30 CET. 

Coverage - Motors TV, Radio Le Mans, WEC streams from behind the paywall. To be honest, despite the quite outrageous price for a full-season pass, once they actually got it working, the WEC app ran flawlessly for Silverstone race day, combining a stream on the PC with the onboards in the mobile app worked like a charm. Hopefully it keeps working well at Spa.

So... what else is there to say, apart from: 6 hours of the world's top sportscars around arguably the best modern racetrack around, and with just about 6 weeks to go before the big one, Le Mans itself. 

Yes! I already feel my Webberitis acting up. Shame about RAM and the Lotuses. But yay for Rebellion.

Audi vs. Toyota vs. Porsche, round two.

Will rain be a factor again? I heard that the weather will be balls.

Edited by OvDrone, 29 April 2014 - 11:48.

Are you asking whether weather will be a factor at SPA!?

A bit unfair to compare the Lotus to the USF1 "team", we at least know that the Lotus exists in some form.

Your essential 6h of Spa brew guide

Crucially for races at Spa, you must embrace the fact that Belgium is often considered the "Disneyland of beer". This means that you have to be prepared to sacrifice your usual lager in favor of something more... Lets say adventurous! Beer in Belgium is like tea in Sweden, any taste will do!

Take the chance to try out the magnificent fruit beer with taste of lemon, or why not a champagne beer? Anything is possible!

A popular alternative for the ladies is the one and only STELLA ARTOIS

Just remember to add a healty dose of:
 

Are you asking whether weather will be a factor at SPA!?

 

Damn it, you're right. Shame on me. Shame.

Shame about RAM, their team boss was pretty open about his disappointment on last weeks MWM. It took me a few laps at Silverstone to twig that then Ben Collins in the #53 was the Stig!! 

I'm hoping for a better P2 turn out this weekend, there's 5 listed still to race. 

After the drama of Silverstone I have a niggling feeling that Audi will walk this in P1, they were the quickest car at Silverstone, just the inclement weather stopped that lasting any longer than the first hour etc. Visually the Audi looked light years ahead through the corners. 

I'm holding off buying the official app at the moment, the teams have met with the FIA/ACO and conveyed their displeasure of it being put behind the paywall. I have a sneaky feeling the tab will be picked up by big manufacturers. It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. 

we are planning a trip to the ring for the wekend...so maybe a quick trip on the saturday to watch a bit of racing...the weather should be ok on the ring for saturday...

Oh gawd, after an overkill of watching racing last weekend, I was hoping to avoid another weekend of being camped in front of the computer.  People tell me there's an outside world, but I don't think I've seen it in a while.  Oh well, Spa it will be. 

Neil

Hooray, no clash between the WEC and BTCC this weekend! 

Oh gawd, after an overkill of watching racing last weekend, I was hoping to avoid another weekend of being camped in front of the computer.  People tell me there's an outside world, but I don't think I've seen it in a while.  Oh well, Spa it will be. 

 

Neil

Dude, just slowly but surely, convert your mates and matettes to racing. That is what I do. It's tedious at first, but the rewards are tenfold.

What's the situation with LMP2 cars, are most of them doing the ELMS instead? Why can't they combine some of the WEC and ELMS?

What's the situation with LMP2 cars, are most of them doing the ELMS instead? Why can't they combine some of the WEC and ELMS?

Most LMP2 cars are in the ELMS, one ELMS team (Jota) is doing the Spa WEC race too. As for the second question, combined WEC/ELMS races would have about 60 entries, but right now the fact of the matter is related to different race lengths and the different budgetary requirements that that brings. WEC races are 6 hours apart from Le Mans, ELMS races are 4 hours.

I'd like to see this, but since FIA WEC to pay to view, I won't get to.

I'd be quite interested to hear how viewing figures have dropped off since they brought that in. Really poor show, so much for "fan friendliness."

I'll be sticking to FIA Rallycross instead, on the basis you CAN actually watch that online for free.

(Or at least still can, from what I last heard)

Afterburner, I think some Nigerians are looking for you.

Neil

Nah, a few decent streams kicking around. 

I'll get the app for Le Mans but probably not Spa, check out WEC on reddit to find details of coverage etc...........

Nah, a few decent streams kicking around.

Plus, if you live in the US and don't mind a motorsports-induced bout of sleep-deprivation, it's on one of the two Fox Sports channels (probably 2, can't remember) from 2-6 AM over the course of the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday, can't remember). The first race may also have been shown at the same time, a few weeks ago, too (it was either two or three, can't remember).

Can't remember the last time I stayed up for a race, so I'll probably DVR it. Need to check and see if it's recording--can't remember.

Actually the races dont air live in the U.S. Fox sports is showing 52 minute recaps of silverstone this weekend.

Only picture of the R-One in it's final livery so far.. It looks good, kind of Arden inspired

Wondering if Porsche got their high-downforce package ready, otherwise they will have no chance against Audi and Toyota.

Wondering if Porsche got their high-downforce package ready, otherwise they will have no chance against Audi and Toyota.

Both Toyotas and 1 of 3 Audis will use low downforce-package at Spa, so will Porsche. I guess their high DF package will be introduced after Le Mans

Edit:

Toyota Low DF

Edit 2:

Audi low DF

Edited by Richard T, 01 May 2014 - 10:46.

Endurance-Info has a gallery of the Rebellion R-One official unveil: http://www.endurance...n-r-one-reveal/

Have to say, I really like the look of it. Okay, they did nick the headlights from the old Peugeot 908, but still...

Endurance-Info has a gallery of the Rebellion R-One official unveil: http://www.endurance...n-r-one-reveal/

 

Have to say, I really like the look of it. Okay, they did nick the headlights from the old Peugeot 908, but still...

I like it veeeery much!

Nice detail with the Rebellion logo in the headlights 

Endurance-Info has a gallery of the Rebellion R-One official unveil: http://www.endurance...n-r-one-reveal/

 

Have to say, I really like the look of it. Okay, they did nick the headlights from the old Peugeot 908, but still...

what engine are they running??? JUDD/zytek???

what engine are they running??? JUDD/zytek???

As far as I'm aware, either the same Toyota RV8KLM engine they've been running for the last 3 years, or a development of that engine.

There's still a Toyota Motorsport GmbH sticker on the car if you look carefully.

That Rebellion. 

Shame it's going to be the slowest of the four.

Neil

I like the colour scheme, back to how it was before the misguided tie-up with Lotus (minus the gold trimming).

I like the colour scheme, back to how it was before the misguided tie-up with Lotus (minus the gold trimming).

Yeah they could have more gold in there! would be nice with some chunks of it between the red and white. Now it seems like there only is tiny strokes here and there.

Good news! There was an update to the WEC app today and live timing is now free for the whole thing (according to the update log).

Yup, and not just for Spa but for all upcoming events.

fiawec.com/app

Endurance-Info has a gallery of the Rebellion R-One official unveil: http://www.endurance...n-r-one-reveal/

 

Have to say, I really like the look of it. Okay, they did nick the headlights from the old Peugeot 908, but still...

It looks great, but it would be even better with the pre-Lotus gold!

Although this is reminiscent of another Lotus livery in any case..

5 minutes to qualifying. Don't forget, race is TOMORROW.

Good to see both Rebellion cars out on track for qualifying.  Hope the 2nd car manages  to run reliably and put decent times in after missing FP2. Any one know why it wasn't out in FP2?

Good to see both Rebellion cars out on track for qualifying.  Hope the 2nd car manages  to run reliably and put decent times in after missing FP2. Any one know why it wasn't out in FP2?

RLM just said, electrical issue with ECU + FIA data logger that caused the gearbox to misbehave.

Well...I am really growing to like this aggregate qualifying! That was a really really exciting session and I was absolutely glued to the screen. 

Looks like the rules are biased for petrol against diesel. 

Edited by KingTiger, 02 May 2014 - 18:38.

RLM just said, electrical issue with ECU + FIA data logger that caused the gearbox to misbehave.

Looks like the rules are biased for petrol against diesel. 

Well it's been the other way around for long enough! 

Beside, it was improving mixed conditions and there are countless other factors. I'm sure that's not the whole picture.

Edited by Ben1445, 02 May 2014 - 18:43.

MARC LIEB!!!!!

And no, the rules aren't biased towards petrol and against diesel, they're biased towards the more-energy-recovery classes against the less-energy-recovery classes. And coincidentally, Toyota and Porsche both run 6 MJ with Audi at 2 (because they abandoned the MGU-H-style second hybrid system, otherwise I think they would have run 6 MJ too, 8 MJ isn't yet advantageous enough).

Wow great lap from Lieb! His first run was quickest single lap as well
The first laps tomorrow will be absolutely epic! Watch out for Audis through middle sector as well

Yeah, but being 20kph down on Toyota and Porsche down Kemmel is definitely going to be a hindrance, and they were running into the limiter at under 280kph while the others were hitting almost 300 before braking for Les Combes.

Isn't this a slightly odd choice from Audi to run high downforce on their main 2 cars? Sounds slightly strange to me...

Isn't this a slightly odd choice from Audi to run high downforce on their main 2 cars? Sounds slightly strange to me...

It does, but it seems to be the right choice in terms of that car's configuration, the #3 (which is in low-DF trim) seems to be even slower around the lap. I know it's early days, but it seems to me like Audi might have mucked up this season quite comprehensively; they may have prepared as thoroughly as ever, but it seems to me like they've underestimated Toyota and Porsche for once.

Ingolstadt looks like it'll have to take quite a lot of pain from Cologne and Weissach...

EDIT: This is the first overall pole-position for a full-blooded Porsche effort in contemporary (multi-make) sportscar racing since the RS Spyder at Mosport, in the ALMS, in 2010 (Muscle Milk), and the first overall pole-position for a factory Porsche in a FIA-sanctioned world championship since the FIA GT race at Silverstone in 1998.

 

Ingolstadt looks like it'll have to take quite a lot of pain from Cologne and Weissach...

It is surprising to say the least. I am bemused as to how the No.3 is even slower, I mean logically it should be faster at Spa. 

They were quick at the beginning of Silverstone, so it we may not have seen everything yet. But it certainly hasn't been a good start and the momentum isn't with them right now...

Either way, it is shaping up for a good exciting season if if continues like this 

Yeah, but being 20kph down on Toyota and Porsche down Kemmel is definitely going to be a hindrance, and they were running into the limiter at under 280kph while the others were hitting almost 300 before braking for Les Combes.

I am sorry for my incompetence but how does qualifying work in WEC? Is it just ranked after the fastest lap for each driver for each team or something combined?

Looking forward to watch it tomorrow.