44 replies to this topic

[August]

WEC this weekend in Japan. 1-2 for Audi in both Friday practice sessions.

Qualifying tomorrow morning at 5:20am UK time, race on Sunday at 3am UK time.

[Nonesuch]

Fuji is an odd track, but I'm looking forward to this race.

 

After last year I think the main thing will be to hope for a dry race. The Japanese fans certainly deserve so see the full six hours play out as intended.

 

Great photo from the WEC website of the Toyota crew:

 

[TF110]

Audi looks strong, but its not faster over the long runs than the Toyota. http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com The Toyotas were super consistent. Nothing but 1:29's from Nakajima and Davidson over their stint.

[Mat13]

Where are we for coverage in the UK? Motors TV?

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Motors TV has full 'as live' coverage from 7.30am due to them showing live coverage of the Bathurst 1000 overnight.

[Mat13]

Perfect timing then, the wife will hate me this weekend! Thanks.

[August]

I put this here among this weekend's WEC discussions. 2015 WEC schedule:

2015 FIA World Endurance Championship Provisional Calendar**

27 / 28 March : Prologue Castellet

12 April : 6 Hours of Silverstone

02 May : 6 Hours of Spa

31 May : Tests Le Mans

13/14 June : 24h du Mans

30 August : 6 Hours of Nurburging

19 September : 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas ( Lone Star le Mans)

11 October : 6 Hours of Fuji

1 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai

21 November : 6 Hours of Bahrain



** Subject to clarification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

http://www.fiawec.co...eiled_2409.html

Nürburgring in, Interlagos out.

[Richard T]

Oh great a thread 

 

I really hope this race isn't washed away like last year. Im panning to go up for the start and having a long breakfast listening to the sweet voice of Hindhaugh ;)

[Nonesuch]

Nürburgring in, Interlagos out.

 

Interesting. I've been to the race at Spa for a few times in recent years, and was looking at maybe visiting Silverstone in 2015. The Nürburgring is much more convenient, however.

 

The guys at Radio Le Mans suggest Interlagos is out because of the work being done on the pitlane complex, but that it will probably be back in 2016.

 

Anyway, the results of GT Qualifying at Fuji:

 

 

Edited by Nonesuch, 11 October 2014 - 04:53.

[Richard T]

P1 time!

[Nonesuch]

... and P2!

 

Porsche quite eager to get going first, and promptly goes 317 km/h down the straight.

Edited by Nonesuch, 11 October 2014 - 04:58.

[AllenT]

Damn red flag.

porsche leading 0.008 s  

OH no. Porcshe didint come out after red flag and lost pole 

GJ #8 Toyota 

Edited by AllenT, 11 October 2014 - 05:25.

[Nonesuch]

LMP Qualifying.

 

 

Photo by @FIAWEC.

 

 

Photo by @SportsCarsRace.

 

 

Photo by Lisa Crampton.

 

Edited by Nonesuch, 11 October 2014 - 05:28.

[YDdraigGoch]

The guys at Radio Le Mans suggest Interlagos is out because of the work being done on the pitlane complex, but that it will probably be back in 2016.

 

 

Yup. They're going to completely demolish the existing pit building after the F1 race and rebuild another one to a higher specification.

[TF110]

Buemi pulled that lap off at the end! Every point is needed, and by gaining pole, he gave Toyota and his teammate another 1 point towards their championship hopes.

[OvDrone]

Buemi is the real deal.

 

What a close qualy. Great to see the #20 battling for P1.

[Richard T]

The rain from the second typhoon in a week, Vongfong, is set to arrive at Fuji on sunday evening. Which is encouraging for the race

[TheRacingElf]

Has the absent of Nicolas Lapierre something to do by throwing away several potential race wins while leading the race? Of course this is purely speculative but I found the explanation of it being for personal reasons a bit vague. It can of course have something to do with the loss of a family member or maybe because of Bianchi but in the press release they talk about a "mutual decision" which sounds a bit odd for the reasons I mentioned before.

 

Anyway hoping for a Toyota win

Edited by TheRacingElf, 11 October 2014 - 16:26.

[Imateria]

I'm really surprised with Buemi, his entire junior single seater career has been about flashes of serious pace, accidents and off weekends, his F1 career was about consistent solid performance without ever setting the world alight. Suddenly he's been able to merge the best of both worlds since joining Toyota, very impressive.

[Risil]

Interesting. I've been to the race at Spa for a few times in recent years, and was looking at maybe visiting Silverstone in 2015. The Nürburgring is much more convenient, however.

 

We doing a Silverstone meetup for 2015?

[Option1]

LMP Qualifying.

 

 

Photo by Lisa Crampton.

 

 

That is one helluva photo by Ms Crampton!  Just superb. 

 

Neil

[Richard T]

Good morning, Let's go! 

[Richard T]

Wah... 4 lead changes in the first lap. And going 3 wide (Audi, Porsche and Toyota) into the hairpin 

 

Im now awake 

[TimTams]

Webber doing a ripper job right now. Strategy could catch the #20 out however come the end of the race.

[Richard T]

Mark turning a really handy sportscar racer   Interesting strategy, will it bite back? Also interesting with split stat from the Audis

 

Edit:

Edited by Richard T, 12 October 2014 - 03:20.

[madrocker]

Is it over yet?

[Nonesuch]

Bouchut's car has caught fire in a massive way, standing near the entrance of the pitlane. It seems the #9 Lotus is going to be very damaged indeed.

 

It seems to be under control now. Nice job by the marshals.

 

Edited by Nonesuch, 12 October 2014 - 07:13.

[Exb]

Sounds bad for the Lotus P1 car on fire  Hope the driver is OK.

[AllenT]

[TimRTC]

Driver out safely. Prototype is a raging inferno. Probably a full write off.

Real danger to marshals trying to put it out as cars still going into pit road right next to it.

[TimRTC]

[Nonesuch]

Sounds bad for the Lotus P1 car on fire  Hope the driver is OK.

 

Yes he is. He was out of it quite quickly.

[Nonesuch]

Fantastic move by Pla in LMP2, as he takes the lead in an overtake that reminds one of Häkkinen's famous move on Schumacher at Spa-Francorchamps in 2000.

Edited by Nonesuch, 12 October 2014 - 07:40.

[Ev0d3vil]

ANT will win this race.

[AllenT]

Gratz Toyota 

[Exb]

 Well done to Toyota #8

Great weekend for Toyota- good to see the Porsche up there as well.

 

Nice little battle for the lead in LMP2 as well  (even though I was cheering for the 2nd)

[LoudHoward]

Yay Webbo Solid race by Porsche, and well done Toyota.

[TF110]

Toyota wins and takes 2nd at its own track in front of the bosses! That should be putting smiles on their faces!

[August]

Even as an Audi fan, I hope another team wins the WEC title. Toyota are in a great position for that.

[AlexLangheck]

Toyota wins and takes 2nd at its own track in front of the bosses! That should be putting smiles on their faces!

Yes!! And maybe more budget for next year? Even a 3rd car for Le Mans?

[OvDrone]

Seems that the momentum is with the #8 this season. I would love to see Buemi and Davidson at the FIA gala this year.

 

Anywhoo: #20 on the podium.

 

And great to see Rigon and Calado in the other AF Corse doing some serious damage.

[Richard T]

In case you missed it, here is THAT first lap!

 

http://www.dailymoti...rs-of-fuji_auto

 

Again confirmation on how the cars make their speed in completely different ways. Porsche on the high speed stretch towards turn 2, Audi through 100R and Toyota out of the hairpin 

Edited by Richard T, 14 October 2014 - 17:12.

[AlexFone]

I put this here among this weekend's WEC discussions. 2015 WEC schedule:

2015 FIA World Endurance Championship Provisional Calendar**

27 / 28 March : Prologue Castellet

12 April : 6 Hours of Silverstone

02 May : 6 Hours of Spa

31 May : Tests Le Mans

13/14 June : 24h du Mans

30 August : 6 Hours of Nurburging

19 September : 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas ( Lone Star le Mans)

11 October : 6 Hours of Fuji

1 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai

21 November : 6 Hours of Bahrain



** Subject to clarification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

http://www.fiawec.co...eiled_2409.html

Nürburgring in, Interlagos out.

I really like WEC, can't the FIA ensure that is doesn't clash with F1, would make a lot more sense, then I could have 28 weekends to look forward too.

[chunder27]

For fans the series does not clash at all.

 

As in reality fans who attend do not really go much to WEC, other than the French race most roudns are not massively well attended.

 

TV fans I am not sure, I would guess only a few thousand tune in to watch? Not sure.  Certainly nothing like would tune in to F1. And they are already doing pay per view which is hilarious!

 

FIA are more concerned with clashing with big series like MotoGP, that is the market that can take fans away from the tv market, not sports cars.

[August]

I really like WEC, can't the FIA ensure that is doesn't clash with F1, would make a lot more sense, then I could have 28 weekends to look forward too.

Well, only three clashes:

WEC COTA Sat/Sun night / F1 SGP Sun afternoon
WEC Fuji Sun morning / F1 RUS Sun afternoon
WEC Shanghai Sun morning / F1 MEX Sun evening

Not so bad clashes.