402 replies to this topic

[OvDrone]

Just about when hope seemed to flicker completely out from a racer's heart; trapped in the formless maw of Winter's frigid husk-winds, a shining light starts blossoming, delivering us salvation and some much needed VRRROOOOOOOOOM on the last day of the Sun in January all the way from a hallowed and sacred place in... Florida.

 

Remember this from last year?

Your answer should be yes, yes and for sure.

 

Goddamn yeah!

There has been SO MUCH negativity, fear and primordial anxieties going on all around these past month and I, for one, want to be done with it. I am truly happy that this race happens just as a New Moon in Aquarius dawns; truly a breakfree and inspirational little moment in our daily lives. Rise up from rockbottom with some hot DP action.

 

Blessed be.

 

Yeah, we had the Dakar, but that broke my heart ( like Peterhansel did with that rider's leg ).

Yeah, we had Rally Monte Carlo but that somehow left a weird tase in my mouth.

Yeah, we are Bernie Ecclestone-less now but who care right now? We have JEFF GORDON.

 

Proper.

 

When:

 

28th Jan - 7pm GMT; 2pm ET -> 24 hours long baby

 

Jan. 28-29, Rolex 24 at Daytona
Sat. 28^th, FSGO* 2pm – Sun. 29^th 3pm
Sat. 28^th, FOX, 2 - 5pm
Sat. 28^th FS2, 5 - 10pm
Sat. 28^th FS2, 11pm– Sun. 29^th 12:30pm
Sun. 29^th FS1, 12:30–3pm

 

FS = Fox Sports; I guess you can watch the race on Motors TV if you're Yuropean. Or go Nigeria y'all.

 

 

Track Guide:

 

hahawhat?

 

Our holy Spotter's Guide:

 

http://www.spottergu...G_17_DAY_v1.pdf

 

So here we are: 4 categories, so much talent, new cars, ACTUAL FUN and we can pretend we are watching some surreal version of Le Mans or the 500 all day long.

 

The Who:

 

Jeff Gordon

The Taylor Bros

RC Enerson

Oliver Gavin

Tommy Milner

Marcel Fassler

Joey Hand

Dirk Muller

Sebastien Bourdais

Patrick Pilet

Frederic Makowiecki

Jack Hawksworth

Dominik Farnbacher

Pierre Kaffer

Jeroen Bleekemolen

Davide Rigon

Oswaldo Negri

Ryan Hunter-Reay

Pedro Lamy

Marco Sorensen

Tristan Vautier

Boris Said

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN

Marc Basseng

Scott Pruett

Gustavo Menezes

Sage Karam

Harry Tincknell

Andy Priaulx

Tony Kanaan

James Calado

Giancarlo Fisichella

Toni Vilander

Jan Magnussen

Mike Rockenfeller

Antonio Garcia

Gustavo Yacaman

Loic Duval

Nicolas Lapierre

Mike Conway

Dane Cameron

Eric Curran

Joao Barbosa

Christian Fittipaldi

Filipe Albuquerque

Brendon Hartley

Pipo Derani

Ryan Dalziel

Scott Sharp

Bruno Senna

James Hinchcliffe

Robert Wickens

Martin Tomczyk

Nicky Catsburg

Kuno Wittmer

Olivier Pla

Jorg Bergmeister

Maxime Martin

Katherine Legge

Graham Rahal

Sam Bird

Christina Nielsen

Emmanuel Collard

Francois Perrodo

Richard Lietz

Laurens Vanthoor

Kevin Estre

Scott Dixon

Richard Westbrook

Ryan Briscoe

Bill Auberlen

Augusto Farfus

Bruno Spengler

Marc Goosens

Rene Rast

Spencer Pigot

Stephane Sarrazin

Sebastien Buemi

Neel Jani

and

Nick Heidfeld.

 

Roll on Sunday; Cheers and let's have a good one.

 

 

 

[jonpollak]

Oh Hell Yeah...thanks OvyDee

As dumb luck would have it I will be WORKING around 90 miles away from Daytona on Sat/Sun

Would you frickin' believe it?!?!?!

 

Jp

[PiperPa42]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time.

Oh Hell Yeah...thanks OvyDee
As dumb luck would have it I will be WORKING around 90 miles away from Daytona on Sat/Sun
Would you frickin' believe it?!?!?!
 
Jp

I'm starting to believe you are in control of the tour dates and locations.

[JHSingo]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time.

 

Same. As I said in another topic, this race has been getting better and better every year since the merger. This may be the best one yet, now with uniformity in the prototype class, rather than the "run what you've brung" feel of previous years with P2s, DPs and the Deltathing (RIP).

 

I do wish they'd pensioned those sodding LMPC cars off though. They're so old, you can probably use them in historic racing by now - and the only thing they're good for here is causing cautions.

 

Great quality grid, and loving the look of the DPis. Rebellion is my tip for the win.

Edited by JHSingo, 25 January 2017 - 23:55.

[ezequiel]

Any chance IMSA TV will be showing this?

[paulb]

Oh Hell Yeah...thanks OvyDee
As dumb luck would have it I will be WORKING around 90 miles away from Daytona on Sat/Sun
Would you frickin' believe it?!?!?!

Jp

Are you working south of Daytona? I'm in the Space Coast now and would love to meet if possible.

[Victor_RO]

There should be an official Nigerian on the IMSA website for international audiences, so if you're outside the USA and don't have Motors TV (or can't be bothered to reach for the TV) you can still watch. Also, don't forget RLM/IMSA Radio, their commentary should be on the international video stream too. (hopefully)

[jcbc3]

What did Van Gisbergen do, that he deserved a shout out? I think we should be told.

[AlexLangheck]

Winter racing's depression?? We've had Dakar & the Monte.......

[prommer]

Thanks for the OP, OD!  I'm hoping to catch as many hours of this as possible this year.  My most recent relationship has gone south, so I have an almost unlimited amount of time for watching motorsports while playing Civilization VI.  The 24hrs should just fly by! 

[JHSingo]

What did Van Gisbergen do, that he deserved a shout out? I think we should be told.

 

Last year's V8 Supercars champion. Arguably one of the fastest and most spectacular drivers in the world, that most people won't have heard of:

 

Edited by JHSingo, 26 January 2017 - 13:05.

[kevinracefan]

this is my favorite race of the year... (because it means racing season's back)

 

23 hours televised!

[Risil]

I am ready for this race and the new moon in Aquarius. Official practice starts 3:15pm local today.

 

Today!

[Dan333SP]

Same. As I said in another topic, this race has been getting better and better every year since the merger. This may be the best one yet, now with uniformity in the prototype class, rather than the "run what you've brung" feel of previous years with P2s, DPs and the Deltathing (RIP).

 

I do wish they'd pensioned those sodding LMPC cars off though. They're so old, you can probably use them in historic racing by now - and the only thing they're good for here is causing cautions.

 

Great quality grid, and loving the look of the DPis. Rebellion is my tip for the win.

 

They literally are already racing in historic events! One of them finished second in the HSR race at Sebring last year-

 

http://hsrrace.com/w...16/06/HPGME.pdf

 

The LMPC car traces a direct lineage back to the Courage LC70 LMP1, which debuted in... 2006! Put the damn thing out to pasture.

[paulb]

What did Van Gisbergen do, that he deserved a shout out? I think we should be told.

 

He is a stud driver as JHSingo clarified. A Bathurst 12hr winner too.

[jonpollak]

Are you working south of Daytona? I'm in the Space Coast now and would love to meet if possible.

 

Nope J-Ville Fla. and looks like I ain't getting south at all over the weekend...

 

The best laid plans of Jp....cursed and charmed in equal measure.

 

PS..

Our Sam 'The Bird is the Word' looking rather handy in the #63 at the mo.

 

Jp
 

[Peat]

GT grids are set.

Can anyone challenge the Caddy's in DPi?

[TF110]

That's quite a time from the #66 Ford, nearly a second better than any other rival brand.

[paulb]

That's quite a time from the #66 Ford, nearly a second better than any other rival brand.

 

At least one Ford isn't sandbagging.

[Dan333SP]

It's weird to me that the road-going version of that Ford that won Le Mans last year only just debuted, and isn't on sale yet. Even the "street legal" GT1 cars from '97-'98 couldn't race until they'd produced a handful and put them up for sale within the calendar year of the car's competition debut, right?

[Prost1997T]

It's been discussed already, they got a waiver.

[TF110]

I think that subject has been beaten to death, but 1:36.9's for two Cadillac's! Rebellion qualified third only 2 tenths back. Hartley did well with a 1:37.6 in the ESM Nismo, that's some of his first laps in the car as well.

[August]

He is a stud driver as JHSingo clarified. A Bathurst 12hr winner too.

And Blancpain endurance champion. It's great to see how much he's doing sports car racing besides his VASC campaign.

[JHSingo]

It's weird to me that the road-going version of that Ford that won Le Mans last year only just debuted, and isn't on sale yet. Even the "street legal" GT1 cars from '97-'98 couldn't race until they'd produced a handful and put them up for sale within the calendar year of the car's competition debut, right?

 

My bigger issue is why do they need four cars? Kinda strikes me as overkill when the most any rival manufacturer is running is two.

 

When a manufacturer enters that many cars, it just makes me wish that they'll break down. I'll root for the underdog teams instead.

[jonpollak]

Your Qualifying results...

 

Jp

[Prost1997T]

They're running 2 cars in WEC and 2 in the IMSA championship, hence 4 at the marquee events.

[JHSingo]

They're running 2 cars in WEC and 2 in the IMSA championship, hence 4 at the marquee events.

 

Yeah, I understand why - I'd just rather they didn't. I honestly wouldn't mind if there was a limit on the number of cars a manufacturer team could run, because I'd rather not see one team completely lock out the podium places.

[Dan333SP]

Fun fact- the fastest DP in qualifying from their first race in 2003 would have qualified 53rd on this grid.

[Peat]

Yeah, I understand why - I'd just rather they didn't. I honestly wouldn't mind if there was a limit on the number of cars a manufacturer team could run, because I'd rather not see one team completely lock out the podium places.

 

It's like putting chips on every number and then wildly celebrating "Yeah! I won!"

[FPV GTHO]

I think the only problem is all 4 cars are Ganassi. If there were 2 factory cars and 2 privateers it wouldn't be any different to the hoard of Porsches that compete worldwide.

[PiperPa42]

Time for the Real Big mag to shine, not the fake Juan. It would be Nice to see a Corvette 1-2 finish again, just with the correct one in front.

[SonnyViceR]

I think that subject has been beaten to death, but 1:36.9's for two Cadillac's! Rebellion qualified third only 2 tenths back. Hartley did well with a 1:37.6 in the ESM Nismo, that's some of his first laps in the car as well.

 

The newest BoP adjustments must have made their job

http://competitors.i...tlm_gtd_bop.pdf

 

Anyway, since the only Dallaras are under the GM body panels here, one cannot 100% know if the pace is more up to the Dallara base LMP2 or the BoP values "Cadillac" aesthetics and engine have

Edited by SonnyViceR, 27 January 2017 - 09:26.

[SonnyViceR]

Yeah, I understand why - I'd just rather they didn't. I honestly wouldn't mind if there was a limit on the number of cars a manufacturer team could run, because I'd rather not see one team completely lock out the podium places.

 

But that'd be another artificial restriction a la F1. I thought you have said you preferred the IMSA freedom?

 

This may be the best one yet, now with uniformity in the prototype class, rather than the "run what you've brung" feel of previous years with P2s, DPs and the Deltathing (RIP).

 

Uniformity? There's still two set of rules for the class.

[AustinF1]

Those Taylor boys are good kids. Treated my sons very well here in Austin. 

 

That's a hell of a driver lineup. Look forward to watching Jeff Gordon and SVG. Maybe we can see more V8SC guys run there someday. Love to see how Mr. Mostert would do. Kid is properly quick imho. 

[Prost1997T]

The newest BoP adjustments must have made their job

http://competitors.i...tlm_gtd_bop.pdf

 

Anyway, since the only Dallaras are under the GM body panels here, one cannot 100% know if the pace is more up to the Dallara base LMP2 or the BoP values "Cadillac" aesthetics and engine have

 

You do realise the Cadillac\Dallara has the same gurney flaps as at the Roar test? It has a lower fuel capacity than some of its rivals and a whopping 1mm difference in fuel flow.

 

According to you, 0.2s means they got unfair BoP breaks, rather than the more likely case that they weren't up to speed at the test.

Edited by Prost1997T, 27 January 2017 - 12:14.

[JHSingo]

But that'd be another artificial restriction a la F1. I thought you have said you preferred the IMSA freedom?

 

 

Uniformity? There's still two set of rules for the class.

 

Not really just an IMSA thing, since they ran four cars at Le Mans last year as well. Like I said, I'm just not a fan of it. When you've got arguably the fastest car, and a numerical advantage over the competition, it takes away some of the excitement out of what is normally a fantastic battle in GT.

 

And come on, you know as well as anyone that they are all LMP2 cars, behind the DPi moniker and fancy bodywork. But if you want to split hairs, put it this way: they're hardly massively different as DPs and P2s were, are they?

[kevinracefan]

My bigger issue is why do they need four cars? Kinda strikes me as overkill when the most any rival manufacturer is running is two.

 

When a manufacturer enters that many cars, it just makes me wish that they'll break down. I'll root for the underdog teams instead.

well, it is 2 teams of 2, even though it's the same owners..

 

If you were Ford, and you had 2 cars running in Europe, whose drivers and crew  wanted to race, would you refuse them?

[ezequiel]

Whatever happened to Dragonspeed?

[Peat]

Crashed in FP2, wrote off the tub.

[Crazy Canuck]

Remember how ugly DP cars use to be?

 

Now we have this abomination:

 

 

CC

[Peat]

The last iteration of DP's were just about acceptable, but I personally much prefer the ACO-look.

Bar the big honking fin.

[JHSingo]

Remember how ugly DP cars use to be?

 

Now we have this abomination:

 

 

CC

 

The Cadillac is actually my favourite of the three up to now - particularly in WTR colours.

[Risil]

Er, interesting Cadillac branded snowplough on the front of that car.

 

Cool livery though.

[Crazy Canuck]

I think the Caddy would look great in an all black livery at night.

 

The Mazda is my fave of the new cars.

 

CC

[highdownforce]

Bling bling!

 

[Dan333SP]

I think the Caddy would look great in an all black livery at night.

 

The Mazda is my fave of the new cars.

 

CC

 

Hahaha.

Agree on the Mazda.

 

I think Ford is a dark horse for the overall win with the GT. They're only 8 seconds a lap slower than the protos, and unless I'm mistaken none of these P teams have done a 24h race with these current cars. It's happened before...

[HairyScalextrix]

I remember when the top flite at Daytona were just that. Sad state of affairs.

[JHSingo]

Hahaha.

Agree on the Mazda.

 

I think Ford is a dark horse for the overall win with the GT. They're only 8 seconds a lap slower than the protos, and unless I'm mistaken none of these P teams have done a 24h race with these current cars. It's happened before...

 

This article confirms that reliability is a concern for all the prototype runners: http://www.racer.com...prototype-teams

 

That's how endurance racing should be! We don't want bulletproof race cars.

[Risil]

I remember when the top flite at Daytona were just that. Sad state of affairs.

 

I'm feeling quite chipper about them. But then, I don't remember when the the top flight of sportscar racing was at Daytona.

[Andy35]

That thread title has to be the biggest kick in the teeth for WRC ever !  

 

Go whip yourself with birch branches OvDrone until your botty is as pink as a Florida sunset.....

 

I'm hoping the Porsche do well here so that I can then complain the latest 911 is no longer rear engined and so is a big cheat

 

Andy