189 replies to this topic

[highdownforce]

Just a reminder, the 6h of Portimão is this week.

[DN5]

Looks like Eurosport won't show the whole race this Sunday

[jonpollak]

Once again.
If you have either Sky Sports or BT Sport you get Discover + for Free. They have full coverage of WEC all year long.

And it’s on when You wanna watch, kinda like a VCR.
Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 10 April 2023 - 21:06.

[DN5]

Once again.
If you have either Sky Sports or BT Sport you get Discover + for Free. They have full coverage of WEC all year long.

And it’s on when You wanna watch, kinda like a VCR.
Jp

I get Sky Sports/ BT Sport via a dish so I don't think I have that option

[highdownforce]

Where to watch the race
https://www.instagra...id=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Edit: We Brazilians will have acess to free WEC YT channel in portuguese.

Prepare your VPN's.

Edited by highdownforce, 12 April 2023 - 22:20.

[Burai]

I get Sky Sports/ BT Sport via a dish so I don't think I have that option

 

You do, you just need to set up and activate an account:

 

https://www.sky.com/..._discovery_plus

 

The best thing is that you aren't tied to using it on your Sky box; the same login works on the Discovery+ app on your phone, tablet, games console, PC or smart TV.

[FLB]

[ARTGP]

FP3 at Portimao will be live on the official WEC youtube channel: LIVE Free Practice 3 (English) | 2023 6 Hours of Portimão | FIA WEC - YouTube

 

 

Anyone seen any footage of FP1?  There is some irony here since practice being televised has only been normalized in F1, but had the consequence of people complaining that it was boring. I'd rather be able to watch than to have nothing. 

Edited by ARTGP, 14 April 2023 - 15:17.

[highdownforce]

Toyota one-two in FP1
http://fiawec.alkame... Practice 1.PDF

Edited by highdownforce, 14 April 2023 - 16:13.

[kumo7]

Toyota one-two in FP1
http://fiawec.alkame... Practice 1.PDF

Ferrari is now the one to chaise theeroos step. The names was not prominent in prototype racing, reviving up its newly found speed. For how long and to where? Do anyone knows of the chairman Elkann is willing to put all on this crown?

[jonpollak]

Is this now the race thread for Portimao ?
Cuz we GREEN for the free you tube FP3

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 15 April 2023 - 10:15.

[jonpollak]

Love the undulations of this track.
Jp

[jonpollak]

I sure hope the Toyota breaks or crashes without injury or ya know
Jp

[ANF]

Is this now the race thread for Portimao ?
Cuz we GREEN for the free you tube FP3

Jp

Thanks, I didn't know there was a live stream. Now I got a better look at that Goodyear advertising and noticed that it's not made out of stiff boards but rather soft fabric.

[jonpollak]

Pleasure ANF

Old JV doing well in a car he hates … oh how times have changed.



Jp

[jonpollak]

Back in January I checked on the price of a hotel room at the circuit €1600.00 4 night minimum

Vegas GP prices. !!!

Jp

[TennisUK]

Fair play to Kolles, the car looks decent in fp3, and is ahead of four quite tasty manufacturer entries.

[ARTGP]

Ferrari seemingly have an answer to Toyota over 1 lap. Split by less than a tenth in FP3. 

Edited by ARTGP, 15 April 2023 - 12:19.

[EvilPhil II]

I've got paddock tickets and pitlane access tomorrow. Will share some photos after race.

[jonpollak]

Thank you midgrid.

Enjoy the race Phil II
Jp

[EvilPhil II]

Question: does anyone know where to find a schedule for the events details? I can't find one anywhere lol

[ANF]

Question: does anyone know where to find a schedule for the events details? I can't find one anywhere lol

Try http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/

[EvilPhil II]

Thank you. They really don't make it easy for fans to engage with this series do they. I wonder if there is a certain element of purpose in that?

[ANF]

Thank you. They really don't make it easy for fans to engage with this series do they. I wonder if there is a certain element of purpose in that?

Yeah, it's a bit like F1. All the interesting documents during a race weekend are on FIA.com and I don't think there are any links from the F1 website.

[ARTGP]

Thank you. They really don't make it easy for fans to engage with this series do they. I wonder if there is a certain element of purpose in that?

 

That's part of the charm. The WEC has now replaced F1 as the premier niche european strategy board game 

Edited by ARTGP, 15 April 2023 - 14:10.

[Dan333SP]

Pleasure ANF

Old JV doing well in a car he hates … oh how times have changed.



Jp

 

I saw the FP3 results and assumed Dillman must have been in the Vanwall to get it that high up the running order. For JV to have done that is actually pretty astonishing given how far off he was at Sebring, would be interesting to see an interview where he's asked about that. Plenty of rumors that their driver lineup will change significantly after Le Mans which I'd assumed was an implication that JV would be dropped, but if he's suddenly on the pace and the quickest of the 3 that changes things for sure. Guess we'll see how things go in qualifying. 

[Capeta]

It was not Villeneuve who set that lap, I wasn't able to follow the FP closely so I took a look at the data (available there for everybody : http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/), look at the fastest lap by driver.
Tom Dillman did 1'32"922.

Jacques Villeneuve did 1'36"547.

That was better as Villeneuve best laptime from FP2 was 1'38"616.

Facts are still hard to swallow.

[EvilPhil II]

3.5 seconds. That is huge. What is his reasons for lacking that sort of pace?

[thegamer23]

ouch

 

[EightGear]

Bit of a let down this qualifying to be honest.

[Capeta]

I guess everybody appart from Toyota struggled so much with tire degradation at Sebring that they went for very safe setup on that front and that reflect on the qualy pace and warmup of the tires.

[ARTGP]

Toyota = Red Bull 

Edited by ARTGP, 15 April 2023 - 16:13.

[ARTGP]

I guess everybody appart from Toyota struggled so much with tire degradation at Sebring that they went for very safe setup on that front and that reflect on the qualy pace and warmup of the tires.

 

Yes but Toyota's "safe setup" is 1.4 seconds ahead of the others on their own "safe setup"  . It's not like Toyota has ever focused on qualifying pace. 

Edited by ARTGP, 15 April 2023 - 16:11.

[ferrarista]

I guess everybody appart from Toyota struggled so much with tire degradation at Sebring that they went for very safe setup on that front and that reflect on the qualy pace and warmup of the tires.

https://www.motorspo...yashi/10456705/

https://www.dailyspo...h-portimao.html

Yes, apparently Toyota going a bit more for quali pace and Ferrari for race pace (both remembering the respective weaknesses at Sebring) opened a gap in qualifying between them, let’s see in the race.

At Sebring, in the race, Ferrari was as fast and often faster than Toyota at the beginning of the stints, but Toyota was more consistent overall, let’s see if Ferrari improved.

Edited by ferrarista, 15 April 2023 - 16:36.

[Silverstone96]

So when is the next BOP review?

[FLB]

So when is the next BOP review?

After Le Mans.

[Silverstone96]

After Le Mans.

Oh…

[LolaB0860]

After Le Mans.

 

Not true

 

https://sportscar365...more-stability/

 

Additionally, the option is open for the BoP values of an entire platform to change every two races, if deemed necessary. Hybrid and non-hybrid LMHs are in the same platform.

--

Commenting on the option for platform BoP changes, Kuratle said: “I think that’s reasonable. But there’s a chance to do that, whether it’s necessary or not, that will be proven. “But the first one [could] be after the Portimao race effectively for the Spa race. I think that’s sensible because it’s all new to all of us.

[FLB]

 

Not true

 

https://sportscar365...more-stability/

 

Additionally, the option is open for the BoP values of an entire platform to change every two races, if deemed necessary. Hybrid and non-hybrid LMHs are in the same platform.

--

Commenting on the option for platform BoP changes, Kuratle said: “I think that’s reasonable. But there’s a chance to do that, whether it’s necessary or not, that will be proven. “But the first one [could] be after the Portimao race effectively for the Spa race. I think that’s sensible because it’s all new to all of us.

 

 

Source: Why the WEC's eagerly-anticipated new era is unmissable (autosport.com) There are two BoPs, one for platform (the one that could be changed, the one Kuratle mentions) and the manufacturer BoP (the one that is set until Le Mans) :

 

 

There here has been a significant change to the BoP process from the first two seasons of the LMH-only Hypercar class. The BoP has been set for the first four races up to and including Le Mans in June. The move, thrashed out by the rulemakers – the FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest – and the participating manufacturers, has been devised to stop manipulation of the BoP ahead of the race that really matters.

“One of the benefits of a fixed BoP is that there is no incentive anymore for sandbagging,” says Vasselon. “In past years there were a lot of stories about sandbagging that were bad for everyone. The aim now is to balance the potential of the car and then stay stable.”

The BoP could change before Le Mans, but only in terms of the balance between the cars built to the two different rulesets. The rulemakers now talk about the platform BoP and the manufacturer BoP. The former refers to the balance between LMH and LMDh, the latter to the BoP for each car.

The platform BoP could change for round three of the WEC at Spa at the end of April, based on data accrued at Sebring and round two of the series at the Portimao 6 Hours two weeks ahead of the Belgian race. So for example, if the Cadillac LMDh receives a weight break, the Porsche will get it too. The manufacturer BoP can then be reset after Le Mans for the remainder of the season, while the platform BoP could change after another two races – Monza in July and Fuji in September – for November’s season finale in Bahrain.

[LolaB0860]

Yes? Not bop breaks for Ferrari and Pug and privateers, but bop breaks to Porsche and GM more likely than not

Edited by LolaB0860, 15 April 2023 - 19:23.

[FLB]

Yes? Not bop breaks for Ferrari and Pug and privateers, but bop breaks to Porsche and GM

Not between the manufacturers themselves. Nor between Peugeot and Ferrari. Nor Glickenhaus and Toyota, for instance. So not between Cadillac and Porsche.

 

 

Between LMDh and LMH. So if Porsche gets a break, Cadillac gets the same because it's the whole LMDh class that gets the adjustment.

Edited by FLB, 15 April 2023 - 19:29.

[highdownforce]

Lotterer finding 963 tough to drive

Penske Porsche driver Andre Lotterer says he finds the 963 tricky to drive. When asked to compare the experience of driving the 919 Hybrid to the 963, he told DSC that the newer car is not as enjoyable of an experience behind the wheel, and was critical of the performance gap bewteen the cars in Hypercar and LMP2, which around a circuit like Portimao is only a couple of seconds.



“The LMP1 was an animal, it was 6-10 seconds a lap quicker per lap, had much more downforce, was lighter, had four-wheel drive and more power,” he said. “It was a lot more natural and intuitive to drive. These cars are quite a handful, heavy and with less downforce. It’s quite stressful. It’s much less enjoyable than an LMP1 car. It’s a shame the rules are like this with weight and downforce because we struggle in traffic, LMP2s are faster than us through corners.

“You can get stuck behind someone for a while in the race, for me the gap isn’t enough. You’re almost racing them, so there is a risk of touching someone.”

https://www.dailyspo...dock-notes.html

[JHSingo]

Great, likely another Toyota walkover. How thrilling... 

[ARTGP]

Great, likely another Toyota walkover. How thrilling... 

 

Toyota don't think so. Toyota think Ferrari ran a different tire compound in qualifying, and also suggested that based on free practice, Ferrari had very strong race pace. 

Edited by ARTGP, 16 April 2023 - 00:31.

[kumo7]

As Toyota fan and new enthusiast on this category, I love to see this result. Toyota had been pulling the WEC for decades with tiny group of race teams and maintained its position as the rabbit in the field. I recognize the chases from the competitions, especially Ferrari, to remain consistent through which the series will up its presence to the fans. I say this is good for the sport.
while I am thrilled to follow the race between Ferrari and Toyota, I am very disappointed by the performances from the Porsche. Porsche comes and wins at any instances till today to which perhaps it had missed the winning way. I would not blame Porsche but perhaps the journalism could. I donno.

Never the less as Toyota WEC were here for longer than it’s current opponents it is reasonable to have this speed differences. But sooner or later the difference will diminish. When and by who is the question. It looks like Ferrari will be putting up new era of racing story against Toyota. I am excited that this will be the legendary narrative to our children!

Edited by kumo7, 16 April 2023 - 01:18.

[ARTGP]

As Toyota fan and new enthusiast on this category, I love to see this result. Toyota had been pulling the WEC for decades with tiny group of race teams and maintained its position as the rabbit in the field. I recognize the chases from the competitions, especially Ferrari, to remain consistent through which the series will up its presence to the fans. I say this is good for the sport.
while I am thrilled to follow the race between Ferrari and Toyota, I am very disappointed by the performances from the Porsche. Porsche comes and wins at any instances till today to which perhaps it had missed the winning way. I would not blame Porsche but perhaps the journalism could. I donno.

Never the less as Toyota WEC were here for longer than it’s current opponents it is reasonable to have this speed differences. But sooner or later the difference will diminish. When and by who is the question. It looks like Ferrari will be putting up new era of racing story against Toyota. I am excited that this will be the legendary narrative to our children!

 

Porsche are racing a platform they have much less control over now. So they made their bed so to speak. Without the rumored F1 participation, it's mind boggling that they didn't leverage their own technology and experience to build an LMH car. They could have dusted of the 919 hybrids and with some re-mapping of software, and bodywork massaging, they would have been right there. Oh well. The hard way for them it looks like. I have not heard anything good from the drivers about that car. Most describing it as hard and unintuitive to drive. That is not what you want to hear about an endurance car.  The car looks like a tire muncher as well in both IMSA and the WEC. 

Edited by ARTGP, 16 April 2023 - 02:25.

[kumo7]

Porsche are racing a platform they have much less control over now. So they made their bed so to speak. Without the rumored F1 participation, it's mind boggling that they didn't leverage their own technology and experience to build an LMH car. They could have dusted off the 919 hybrids and with some re-mapping of software, and bodywork massaging, they would have been right there. Oh well. The hard way for them it looks like. I have not heard anything good from the drivers about that car. Most describing it as hard and unintuitive to drive. That is not what you want to hear about an endurance car. The car looks like a tire muncher as well in both IMSA and the WEC.

Porsche choose to be the shape giver or some sort of the New reg, I understood it some time a go. Multimatic build the monocoque and bit more, to which I have little knowledge about, and Porsche to cover it up with the aero parts and build the power train. A half cooked Porsche, so far, is not good enough to beat neither Ferrari, Cadillac nor Toyota. At some point I expect the brand to build its own chassis and come join the grid.

Edited by kumo7, 16 April 2023 - 07:55.

[Capeta]

https://www.dailyspo...dock-notes.html

Quite consistent with what was seen on sims that got LMH or Lmdh, thoses cars are terrible but fit a new set of rules and allow lot of brands to have a go at the topclass in endurance.

[kumo7]

So, In the race trim, Toyota is not as good. 

[SilverArrow31]

Hoping the Iron Dames can get a WEC win under their belt.

Jeez more issues for Peugoet, one of their cars never even made it out of the garage.

Damn someone just ruined the IMSA result for me haha

Edited by SilverArrow31, 16 April 2023 - 10:39.