107 replies to this topic

[Exb]

The penultimate round of the World Endurance Championship takes place this weekend in Bahrain   
 
Video preview: http://www.dailymoti...of-bahrain_auto
 
Timetable: (Local time = GMT+3)
Free Practice 1 Thu 13th Nov - 15h15
Free Practice 2 Thu 13th Nov - 19h30
Free Practice 3 Fri 14th Nov - 11h10
Qualifying Practice Fri 14th Nov - 17h00
Race Sat 15th Nov - 15h00
 
Could we see the Toyota #8 secure the championship this week? (currently leading the points with 147 to next best of 105 for Audi #2)

Toyota are 30 points ahead of Audi so another strong weekend for Toyota could also see them wrap up the constructors title.

Plenty of other championship battles throughout the other categories as well. 8 points separate the top 2 in LMP2 whilst it is 11 points between AF Corse and Porsche team Manthey in GTE-pro (with Ferrari leading the constructors by 7 points from Porsche)

http://www.fiawec.co...sification.html
 
TV coverage:
Motors TV has live coverage from 11.30 - 18.35 on Saturday whilst British Eurosport are showing the final 2 hours (16.00-18.00)
Race coverage also via radio Le Mans http://www.radiolemans.com/
 
Entry list: http://www.fiawec.co...entry-list.html

[TF110]

If Buemi and Davidson place 5th or above, they in the #8 win the driver's title. If Toyota finish 1-2, they win the manufacturer's title no matter where Audi places.

Edited by TF110, 12 November 2014 - 04:21.

[Richard T]

Hey there. Just thought I pop in from the cold that is the F1 world and hang around here for the weekend, alright? :laugh:

Delighted to hopefully see Toyota clinching the world title this weekend

[Exb]

Practice 1 finished, Toyota #8 quickest ahead of the #7 with Porsche #20 3rd

Edited by Exb, 13 November 2014 - 13:53.

[Risil]

I think I see the way this is going.

 

What's the weather forecast for Saturday?

[Exb]

Just seen a link to a story on amus (can't post it as I'm now back at work and can't access twitter, which is where I saw the link) that both Audi chassis were cracked and since Tuesday the team have been working to build up new cars.

[Imateria]

Must have come as a bit of a shock to Audi to find that both of their chassis were cracked.

 

Porsche are reminding me a lot of how Peugeot were back in 2007, very fast over 1 lap but lacking the long run pace, if they can fix that for next year we should have some amazing races between them and Toyota.

 

What are Audi doing to fix things, they've been badly lacking in pace everywhere but Le Mans, and even then they were'nt completly on terms with Toyota. I know that they've already said they'll stick to the current ERS set up but will they switch the power class they're in, like move from 2MJ to 6 like Toyota and Porsche are currently on?

[TF110]

Theyll have a hard time reaching 6mj. 4mj should be achievable though. Theyll need it if Toyota and/or Porsche are going to 8mj class next year. Plus Nissan and whatever they do.

As far as the practice goes, the long run pace looks good for Toyota and Porsche is close.

[Exb]

Audi are having a tough time in Bahrain:

from the Autosport Live page:

 

Fri 09:21 WEC - Bahrain: The #1 Audi wasn't out in that session. The reason? It is being rebuilt around a second fresh monocoque in two days.

The R18 was found to have damage to the tub after an inspection following FP3 last night. The team opted not to give its mechanics a second all-nighter in a row, which means the car will also miss qualifying this evening.

[huisne]

Audi's season is going from bad to worse. They can't even get close to the pace of Porsche and now they have these unexpected problems with the chassis too. I bet they can't wait for the end of this season. 

[Imateria]

That's like 6 chassis, or somehting close, that they've gone through this year. Would I be right in saying that's vertually unheard of? Certianly for Audi it is.

[huisne]

Porsche on pole again. Great job by them this year, I hope in 2015 they'll be contenders for the title. 

[Leprechau]

Time for Audi to stop getting chassis from Dallara, then.

 

Porsche again very fast on qualifying but I still expect them to be miles behind Toyota in the race

 

Seems Audi only developed a car for Le Mans, this season. Their special low-drag Le Mans spec car had the strongest race pace at Le Sarthe and the win was not totally gifted, as some people believe. But they have been very slow elsewhere

Edited by Leprechau, 14 November 2014 - 15:44.

[Victor_RO]

Time for Audi to stop getting chassis from Dallara, then.

 

YCOM are manufacturing the 2014 tubs, but after the amount of tub damage this year I suspect Audi might be thinking of going back to Dallara. :/

 

Sounds like the transfer of the #1 from Audi to Toyota and from Duval/Kristensen/di Grassi to Davidson/Buemi this weekend might be a mere formality. Of course, it's 6 hours so you never know, but still, Porsche and Toyota seem miles ahead this weekend.

 

Quick stat from quali: the fastest lap of the lone Audi in qualifying was slower than 12 of the 16 qualifying laps of the 919s and TS040s.

[TF110]

On another forum, a user reported that sportauto are saying Audi are losing some key people to Toyota and Porsche next year. I do think LM was gifted to them. Thanks to Lapierre, the #8 was never back to 100%. There was aero issues with the car that couldnt be repaired. The #7 was never able to get to the point where the track was at its best. So the 'fastest stint' belonging to Audi was a given. Lets see what happens tomorrow, but Toyota's long run pace still has an advantage. I expect it to be close up front though for at least a stint.

[OvDrone]

Finally I have the time to just sit down and enjoy a WEC race. Haven't done this since Le Mans and I am completely love this series. Lovely to see Alonso mucking about with friends on the grid and in the paddock. And frankly, over the years I warmed up to this circuit.

[Richard T]

Good morning, let's go raci'n

[ch103]

Does anyone know which channel this race is on in the USA?

[DampMongoose]

Just waiting for the start... Shame the marshals outnumber the spectators 5 to 1.

[OvDrone]

Porsche keeping the Toyoras honest. Great.

[AllenT]

first 14 min so epic 

[huisne]

What's up with the #2 Audi? They are way back behind the #1 too. 

Great racing in the fist 15 minutes!

[Mat13]

Just managed to put it on; the picture on Motors TV is bloody awful! Love the look of the LMP1 cars though.

[Wingcommander]

Seems like there is no stopping the toyotas. The opening laps were great.

[DampMongoose]

Just managed to put it on; the picture on Motors TV is bloody awful! Love the look of the LMP1 cars though.

Picture quality on Motors does generally resemble something filmed on a potatoe. Commentary team not favourable for me either. But at least its on.

[Mat13]

Picture quality on Motors does generally resemble something filmed on a potatoe. Commentary team not favourable for me either. But at least its on.

I don't mind the commentators too much; they seem pretty clued up, and haven't fallen into the trap of shouting over everything to try and make every turn, brake or pitstop the most exciting thing that's ever happened. I'm glad you think the footage is lousy, thought it was my telly!

[OvDrone]

Commentary team not favourable for me either.

 

Aren't the Radio Le Mans guys doing the commentary? I enjoy it, it's solid and fun.

[muramasa]

noooo

[huisne]

Problems for the #8 Toyota.  I don't think their championship is in danger, but would have been nice to win it here with a race victory. 

[WhiteSGPlayer]

For such a slow car, Lotterer is killing it

[muramasa]

#8

fix taking so long

alternator issue, can be fixed?

c'mon mechanics

[muramasa]

yes!

#8 out!

hopefully it's fixed and will complete the race.

[OvDrone]

For such a slow car, Lotterer is killing it

 

Lotterer is the real deal.

 

Davidson in the pits again.

[OSX]

6 Hours of Bahrain Live Timing

http://live.fiawec.com/
 

[huisne]

I really hope Porsche can somehow win this race. I think they deserve a victory this year. Don't wish anything bad on the other Toyota though.

Audi's pace is interesting. Soo slow at the beginning (especially the #2), so fast now. 

[Option1]

Would be grateful if someone could PM a stream...

 

Neil

[Option1]

Thanks guys!

 

baddoworacie, thanks mate, but just be aware that it's frowned upon to post streams or torrents in the forum itself.  Would hate to see the mods sending you to the naughty step for trying to help.

 

Neil

[baddoworacle]

sorry my bad. not up on the tech speak, should have read the rules more closely.  Didn't understand what PM meant, kinda just thought it meant "post".  Kinda late now, can I remove the post?  I rarely post, saw the question, was watching the race, cut, paste, click, without thinking.

[Prost1997T]

Mike Conway I'd like to see him get the full-time Toyota drive next season.

[Risil]

That was a very impressive stint from Weezy. Looks like the Number 7's got both Porsche strategies covered.

 

Do we think on the whole that Calado and Rigon ought to be pushing the Bruni/Vilander squad a little harder than they are?

 

I discovered the other day that Toni Vilander raced in the original GP2 season alongside Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen and Jose-Maria Lopez. Not to mention current WEC big dogs Jani, Bruni, Pla and Lapierre. And Giorgio Mondini, whose name alone would've guaranteed him a drive with one of those early 90s shed formula Grand Prix teams.

Edited by Risil, 15 November 2014 - 15:40.

[OvDrone]

That pitstop under full course yellow for the #7 could have some consequences.

[AllenT]

Sarrazin is slow, losing too much time. Bye bye race win.

[Sheepmachine]

I'd watch this but the picture is more pixelated than a pixelated thing on pixelated pills. Thanks Motors TV

[OvDrone]

Go Webber Go!

 

What a pass by Rigon after exiting turn 10. Great switchback.

[Exb]

I'd watch this but the picture is more pixelated than a pixelated thing on pixelated pills. Thanks Motors TV

Can you get (British) Eurosport (1)? - the final 2 hours are being shown live there as well.
(I presume Eurosport in other countries are also showing it???)

[Leprechau]

It doesn't happen often, but when battles build up, they are far better than the fake racing of DRS/Pirelli F1

 

First 40 min were very good, and then some amazing battles here and there, as well.

 

If the 4 manufacturers have cars similar in pace next year, this series will humiliate F1's "show"

[Exb]

With the #8 not able to, I would not mind seeing Porsche take the win.

[Risil]

Jani is gradually bringing down the gap to the leader, but he presumably has to make an extra stop. Webber in the other Porsche is on the same pit strategy as the #7, but his pace is less sparkling.

Edited by Risil, 15 November 2014 - 16:44.

[Risil]

If the 4 manufacturers have cars similar in pace next year, this series will humiliate F1's "show"

 

Not wishing to be glib, but a quick glance at this forum shows that F1 will not be humiliated, however exciting the WEC is for its enthusiasts.

[OvDrone]

I don't think that Webber and Sakhir mix well. Jani is in another world though. Great racing all over the field today.