412 replies to this topic

[Exb]

Round 2 of the WEC gets underway tomorrow at Spa-Francorchamps

(photo 'borrowed' from WEC twitter feed  )
WEC Preview video:
"http://www.dailymoti...mps-teaser_auto" 
 
What time are the sessions?
Schedule (local time) (UK -1 hour)
Free Practice 1 Thu 30th Apr - 12h00
Free Practice 2 Thu 30th Apr - 16h30
Free Practice 3 Fri 1st May - 14h00
Qualifying - LMGTE Fri 1st May - 18h00
Qualifying - LMP Fri 1st May - 18h35
Race Sat 2nd May - 14h30

Who's who?
Spotters Guide:
http://www.fiawec.co...ide_WEC_SPA.pdf

 
How can you watch it?
All TV information here:
http://www.fiawec.co...ion 29.4.14.pdf

 

And of course the all important weather forecast:

https://www.meteoblu...ium/weather-spa

Showers Thursday and supposedly dry Fri/Sat 

 

 

Edited by Exb, 29 April 2015 - 20:57.

[Exb]

Nice comparison of the Audi high and low downforce package:
https://twitter.com/...515994405941248

[Risil]

That's a lovely photo. Looking forward to this one!

[FerrariV12]

Oh balls I'm away this weekend, totally freeing up the space on my Sky planner though (been mass-recording Sky's classic F1 races but there's those from 2011-14 that I can happily cull) and watching all 6 hours though even if it is on the Monday  

Edited by FerrariV12, 30 April 2015 - 00:31.

[Afterburner]

Nice comparison of the Audi high and low downforce package:
https://twitter.com/...515994405941248

Wow, they lose that much downforce by changing the direction of the windscreen wiper?

[Lemans]

I'm looking forward to this. Spaceships racing around Spa! I hope Porsche wins this weekend.

[404KF2]

45 years since I watched the 1000 km race there in person....love that place.  The laps were a lot longer back then.

[d246]

Nice comparison of the Audi high and low downforce package:
https://twitter.com/...515994405941248

I didn't appreciate the differences in trim are quite so dramatic. Almost a different car!

[FullThrottleF1]

Is there any live streaming over the weekend? 

[Victor_RO]

Is there any live streaming over the weekend? 

 

WEC app, Eurosport Player (both paid subscriptions) or Motors TV if you watch on TV.

[Sash1]

Wow, they lose that much downforce by changing the direction of the windscreen wiper?

 

Not really, but they did it by loosing the mirrors.

[Exb]

FP1 is underway
Timing here: http://live.fiawec.com/

[Imateria]

Is it me or are the rear wheel covers taller on the low downforce spec car. Seems to me that that would kind of defeat the purpose of a low downforce/low drag set up.

[Victor_RO]

Red flag, #1 Toyota and #8 Audi crashed at Les Combes, Nakajima being extracted from the Toyota. 

 

Update: Audi #9, not #8.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Doesn't sound good. Trying to work out what could've happened with it being the chicane at the end of the long straight. Only thing I can think of is maybe 1 of them cutting across the other too quickly and sending them into the barriers? Either that or maybe 1 of the cars suddenly slowing due to a problem and the car behind being unable to slow down and move out of the way because of being so close, and then both cars shooting off track?

[Victor_RO]

Update from WEC and the commentary team via Twitter: session will be extended to account for the red flag, Kaz is fine but is at the circuit medical center for precautionary checks.

EDIT: Further update:

https://twitter.com/...738811173134336

‏@sniffermedia
Nakajima hit the back of Jarvis' Audi after being unsighted by an LMP2 in spray on the Kemmel Straight.Naka having precautionary checks.

[Dan333SP]

Is it me or are the rear wheel covers taller on the low downforce spec car. Seems to me that that would kind of defeat the purpose of a low downforce/low drag set up.

 

Pretty sure they considered that . Apparently the fenders are the same overall height as the high downforce package, but Audi changed the treatment of the front edge of the fender-

 

http://www.mulsannes...ewsmarch15.html

 

"The leading edge shape of the rear fender has changed.  While the overall height of the fender is no different, the peak point is much higher and further rearwards"

 

I hope that both the Audi and Toyota chassis can be repaired for the race, it'd be a shame for Toyota to only have one car competing this weekend, that would really impact their chances at retaining their WEC title. I imagine they have a spare tub built up in Germany where they base their team, so hopefully if this one needs to be replaced they can get another to Spa before qualifying.

[MikeV1987]

I'm pretty noobish when it comes to WEC. but why is AF Corse only running 1 car in the LMGTE Pro category? Do they normally only run one car?

Edited by MikeV1987, 30 April 2015 - 12:45.

[Dan333SP]

I'm pretty noobish when it comes to WEC. but why is AF Corse only running 1 car in the LMGTE Pro category? Do they normally only run one car?

They have 2 pro-only cars entered, the #51 and the #71, based on live timing they've both run in this session (17th and 21st at the moment).

 

The AF Corse workshop must be immense. It seems like they have at least 4 cars entered in just about every sportscar race in Europe these days, and in every class in which the 458 can compete (Challenge, GT3, GTE-Am, GTE-Pro). Still makes me amused that a guy named Ferrari who is completely unrelated to Enzo would end up running a factory-blessed Ferrari racing team.

[MikeV1987]

Oh ****, I didn't see the other AF Corse car on the 1st page of that spotters guide 

[FerrariV12]

They have 2 pro-only cars entered, the #51 and the #71, based on live timing they've both run in this session (17th and 21st at the moment).

 

The AF Corse workshop must be immense. It seems like they have at least 4 cars entered in just about every sportscar race in Europe these days, and in every class in which the 458 can compete (Challenge, GT3, GTE-Am, GTE-Pro). Still makes me amused that a guy named Ferrari who is completely unrelated to Enzo would end up running a factory-blessed Ferrari racing team.

 

Yep, I believe they run the SMP Racing LMP2 program as well? Or have I imagined that? 

[Dan333SP]

Yep, I believe they run the SMP Racing LMP2 program as well? Or have I imagined that? 

 

I think you're right. Their website says they have a 10,000 square meter factory with 35 full time employees and 60 part timers. That's pretty immense for a GT team!

[Dan333SP]

My other random comment for the day about LMP1 cars is that, as cool as these cars are because of their speed and spaceship looks, why can't Audi and Porsche get a decent livery together? Both cars look (IMO) like hodgepodges of sponsor names and weird graphics. The black and red cars Porsche will run at LM look excellent, but the mostly white car in its current appearance is so boring, and the Audis have been ugly as sin since they moved from the R10 to the R15 a few years ago. These cars make me miss the Group C machines with simple and attractive schemes. Silk Cut Jags, all-silver Mercedes, Shell Porsche (plus all the simple privateers like Repsol Brun), Esso Peugoets, whatever. They were all clean and attractive. These cars could be too.

 

Edit: This is the only exception to the rule for Audis of late. Bring it back!

Edited by Dan333SP, 30 April 2015 - 13:17.

[Exb]

I just noticed whilst on my lunch break that on the WEC twitter feed they had a tweet about being able to follow live coverage via Periscope (at least for FP1). I can't link it as I can't access twitter at work (and also I have no idea what Periscope is - some kind of video app???)

[Dan333SP]

I just noticed whilst on my lunch break that on the WEC twitter feed they had a tweet about being able to follow live coverage via Periscope (at least for FP1). I can't link it as I can't access twitter at work (and also I have no idea what Periscope is - some kind of video app???)

 

From what I've seen on the website, the only live coverage of FP1 was via live timing updates, so maybe Periscope is just their name for that?

[Exb]

From what I've seen on the website, the only live coverage of FP1 was via live timing updates, so maybe Periscope is just their name for that?

I just googled it:
Periscope (app) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periscope_(app)
Periscope is a live video streaming app available on iOS developed by Kayvon Beykpour and Joe Bernstein. It was purchased by Twitter for a reported $100 million in early 2015

[Dan333SP]

Damnit, why can't I make something that has already been done, give it a clever name, generate buzz, and then sell out for bucketloads of cash to Twitter or Google or something?

 

SoundChopz- Send 10 second audio clips to your friends! Record whatever you want! Share! Share! Share!

 

Are you listening, Google execs? It's going to be huge.

[FerrariV12]

My other random comment for the day about LMP1 cars is that, as cool as these cars are because of their speed and spaceship looks, why can't Audi and Porsche get a decent livery together? Both cars look (IMO) like hodgepodges of sponsor names and weird graphics. The black and red cars Porsche will run at LM look excellent, but the mostly white car in its current appearance is so boring, and the Audis have been ugly as sin since they moved from the R10 to the R15 a few years ago. These cars make me miss the Group C machines with simple and attractive schemes. Silk Cut Jags, all-silver Mercedes, Shell Porsche (plus all the simple privateers like Repsol Brun), Esso Peugoets, whatever. They were all clean and attractive. These cars could be too.

 

Edit: This is the only exception to the rule for Audis of late. Bring it back!

 

Agreed on both counts - both generally and also that Audi there being an exception. It's not like I expect brightly coloured liveries, I'd expect a works Porsche to be predominantly white and Audi silver, but that pic shows they can still look good just with clean well defined lines. My favourite Audi LMPs colour wise are probably still the 2000 ones, pretty much plain silver with the red/black/yellow trim to differentiate them, I'd love to see a similar theme on the modern cars.

[Victor_RO]

#1 Toyota will not be back on track today due to the damage suffered in the FP1 accident, repairs mean that the car will only be back out for FP3 tomorrow.

 

EDIT: Car will be rebuilt overnight around the spare tub. https://twitter.com/...781600493666304

[Sheepmachine]

Nakajima has been ruled out for the rest of the weekend.

[Exb]

FP2 is underway - looking at live timing quite a few of the LMP1 and 2 cars do not seem to have gone out yet (25 mins into the session) - the site also indicates it is raining so that is probably the reason.

[FerrariV12]

Hope Nakajima makes a swift recovery. Do Toyota have a reserve now that Conway has been promoted or will Davidson and Buemi drive by themselves? They had plenty of experience of that to the end of last year to be fair.

[Victor_RO]

Kobayashi is Toyota's reserve, but judging by his Twitter feed I don't think he's at Spa, so it'll be just Davidson/Buemi in the #1 then.

[Pete_f1]

I am looking forward to seeing some awesome cars around an awesome track  

[WhiteBlue]

Why is there no free TV coverage on the European Astra Satellite?. Ridiculous.!

Edited by WhiteBlue, 30 April 2015 - 16:25.

[Amin]

Can anyone with the paid WEC app answer some of my questions:

1) Does the live stream have commentary? If so, who does it?

2) Can I get the live stream on pc, or can I only get the app through ios/android?

3) Can I buy the races as one-offs, or do I have to buy the full season?

Thanks.

[Victor_RO]

1) WEC app commentary feed is John Hindhaugh and Graham Goodwin (two of the best-known voices from Radio Le Mans).

2) This year subscriptions have been made cross-platform, so as long as you subscribe on the PC and then sign in with the same account on your mobile device you can watch on both.

3) It's 5 Euros to watch one race, 20 for all 6hr races and 30 for the full season (all 6hr races plus Le Mans).

[Amin]

Thanks Victor.

[Exb]

Practice highlights
https://youtu.be/BqsHluXfA_s

[Prost1997T]

Nakajima has a broken vertebra from the practice crash: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/118728

[tormave]

A +1 for the WEC app from here. You have a selection of in-car feeds in addition to the race feed. Laptimes and real-time track positions too. My only beef is that the track positions could be a lot smoother. Whatever the season pass cost, I think it was good value.

[Richard T]

Checked in at the Hotel in Liege. Looking forward for two days at Spa   Will be awesome to see this 2nd generation of hybrid LMP1 beasts for real tomorrow 

[Ducks]

 

Seriously rooting for Hulk this weekend.

[TF110]

Gutted for Nakajima. I hope he gets recovered before LM. If not, I look forward to Kamui Kobayashi to get his chance.

[Victor_RO]

Half-way through FP3 and the first dry running of the weekend... Porsche are 1-2-3 and 1.6 seconds clear of the rest of the LMP1 pack. O.O

[TheRacingElf]

This is what I feared when Porsche announced they would step up to 8MJ..

[Gilles4Ever]

Gutted for Nakajima. I hope he gets recovered before LM. If not, I look forward to Kamui Kobayashi to get his chance.

 

Toyota Motorsport GmbH team director Rob Leupen said that it would require a "small miracle" for the Japanese driver to recover in time from the fractured vertebra he sustained in an accident in free practice on Thursday at the Spa World Endurance Championship round.

"Normally this type of injury takes two to three months to heal and the Le Mans test day is in five weeks [on May 31]," Leupen told AUTOSPORT.

"Being realistic he is not going to recover in time to do Le Mans."

 

 

http://www.autosport...t.php/id/118736

[Dan333SP]

Half-way through FP3 and the first dry running of the weekend... Porsche are 1-2-3 and 1.6 seconds clear of the rest of the LMP1 pack. O.O

 

 

Am I reading the timing screen correctly where it shows Hulk setting the best time in that #19 car, or was that Tandy? If it was Hulk, that's mighty impressive for his first competitive times in an LMP1.

[Victor_RO]

Am I reading the timing screen correctly where it shows Hulk setting the best time in that #19 car, or was that Tandy? If it was Hulk, that's mighty impressive for his first competitive times in an LMP1.

Hulk is currently in the car, the timing screen had Nick Tandy in the car when it set its fastest time.

[Risil]

Half-way through FP3 and the first dry running of the weekend... Porsche are 1-2-3 and 1.6 seconds clear of the rest of the LMP1 pack. O.O

 

Spa's laptime is about 20% longer than any other short circuit. Which... still leaves a pretty big gap!