2014 Dunlop 24H Dubai - January 9,10,11 2014

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Have they mentioned what happened to Salman?

Give the 24HSeries twitter a tweet about it. Not sure what answer you'll get though considering Darren Cox is one of the only people they could talk to about it.

Speaking of Darren Cox he was just in the studio and got asked where Jann Mardenborough was. He said "he's in New Zealand for a holiday." If you consider a month of racing wings-and-slicks every weekend with some very quick teenagers then he's not lying :lol:



He also got asked about where the Academy is heading in the future ("is the world GT Academy's oyster?"). Did a great job of not answering the question by going back to how the Academy did Dubai in their first year; how pressed for time they were in preparation for Dubai (Lucas apparently had 10 miles in the GT4 350Z around Silverstone prior); and how things are now with the new guys. Come on Darren give is a little more than your P.R. speak!
 
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2nd in class #140 just took 20 seconds out of Nick in the #123 at the end of that Code 60. :odd:
 
Does anyone have any more information on the new planed "GT Plus" regulation set that they just mentioned on Radio LeMans? Quick google search mainly gets me some gt plus medications...

Edit: Found something

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/fia-aco-to-create-unified-gt-class-by-2015-303977.html

I'm torn on this. On the one hand it makes sense for the regulations to come together, but not at the detriment of the extremely close manufacturer-involved racing you get in the ALMS. Having such a great variety of manufacturer and customer backed cars would be fantastic in a unified form.

On the other, I don't trust the FIA to handle this well. I hate the whole Balance of Performance; instead of creating a level playing field, it crippled the American entrants at Le Mans last year, leaving only Porsche and Aston Martin (the two main WEC manufacturer teams - coincidence?) in with a chance of victory. The most competitive class at Le Mans year on year and the FIA killed it stone dead last year. So I don't trust them and BoP one bit.
 
I'm torn on this. On the one hand it makes sense for the regulations to come together, but not at the detriment of the extremely close manufacturer-involved racing you get in the ALMS. Having such a great variety of manufacturer and customer backed cars would be fantastic in a unified form.

On the other, I don't trust the FIA to handle this well. I hate the whole Balance of Performance; instead of creating a level playing field, it crippled the American entrants at Le Mans last year, leaving only Porsche and Aston Martin (the two main WEC manufacturer teams - coincidence?) in with a chance of victory. The most competitive class at Le Mans year on year and the FIA killed it stone dead last year. So I don't trust them and BoP one bit.

1. ALMS is no more.
2. They screwed GTE up badly, where were Corvette Racing, the other customer 911's, the SRT Vipers, the 458's in contention? Nowhere.
 
1. ALMS is no more.
2. They screwed GTE up badly, where were Corvette Racing, the other customer 911's, the SRT Vipers, the 458's in contention? Nowhere.

1. Sorry, I meant USCR/ALMS in previous years.

2. Exactly. The BMWs weren't even allowed in the race at all. It's bad enough that prototype was an Audi walkover, but potentially the most exciting class in the field, GTE, was reduced to a two-horse race by ridiculous BoP adjustments. I thought balancing performance meant levelling the playing field, not filling it full of craters? Seeing Corvette Racing and the Ferraris, two of the most successful GTE teams of recent years, floundering way behind was just embarrassing. Makes you wonder why they didn't pull out.
 
1. Sorry, I meant USCR/ALMS in previous years.

2. Exactly. The BMWs weren't even allowed in the race at all. It's bad enough that prototype was an Audi walkover, but potentially the most exciting class in the field, GTE, was reduced to a two-horse race by ridiculous BoP adjustments. I thought balancing performance meant levelling the playing field, not filling it full of craters? Seeing Corvette Racing and the Ferraris, two of the most successful GTE teams of recent years, floundering way behind was just embarrassing. Makes you wonder why they didn't pull out.

I remember Corvette saying with identical cars and set ups saying they had lost 5 seconds. Also BMW themselves really chose to focus on the ALMS Z4 programme.
 
LeMans in 2013 was a regulations gift to Aston and Porsche due to anniversaries they had. Doing something like this is dumb, I agree. BoP should balance the field, not give treats to some. Most GT3 championships where very well balanced in my opinion.

Wow it got dark quickliy in Dubai! :eek::eek::eek:
 
I remember Corvette saying with identical cars and set ups saying they had lost 5 seconds. Also BMW themselves really chose to focus on the ALMS Z4 programme.

See that's a joke. A front-running car being FIVE SECONDS a lap slower is a farce. I'm surprised they and other teams didn't pull out in protest. The good thing about both GTE and GT3 is that generally they are very balanced and give good close racing with a variety of cars - reminds me a lot of the 1990s BTCC Super Touring regulations. Loads of different cars and models all racing very closely with a chance of victory.
 
See that's a joke. A front-running car being FIVE SECONDS a lap slower is a farce. I'm surprised they and other teams didn't pull out in protest. The good thing about both GTE and GT3 is that generally they are very balanced and give good close racing with a variety of cars - reminds me a lot of the 1990s BTCC Super Touring regulations. Loads of different cars and models all racing very closely with a chance of victory.

You could say how much of the BoP is also down to the ACO... but we're straying off topic here.
 
hey sweet, they let you rewind the footage 2 1/2 hours so I didn't miss much by sleeping.
 
It's kind of hard for the leaders to stay out of the pits when it has effectively been under 60 for an hour

I ain't laughing. That is the RAM Racing Ferrari. One of only two teams from GBR. The other being the Team LNT Ginetta G55.
I didnt think he was really holding anyone back. Some people just wanted to run an unreasonable pace, but they answered quickly to any overtakes. Since the car is still in the top 10 I don't think they're having any quickness issues
 
I really like this code-60 rule... they should use it at LeMans and Spa, it's way less bizarro than the multiple safety car stuff.
 
They are using it at next LeMans as far as I've heard. The flag color takes some getting used to.

I'm also a huge fan of this ruling ever since they used it at the Nürburgring 24h. The full course 60 only makes sense at GP tracks thought, on large tracks like Sarte or N24, shutting off sectors seems better. Spa is probably on the edge where I would probably limit sectors only.
 
I'm guessing the rule where amateur cars have to run 2:05 laps is to keep it fair for amateur drivers so the pros don't run away with it during their stint..? Not sure I like that rule...
 
I'm guessing the rule where amateur cars have to run 2:05 laps is to keep it fair for amateur drivers so the pros don't run away with it during their stint..? Not sure I like that rule...

That's how I understand it too...

I think it's stupid to be honest!
 
Its an option where you limit the cars speed, but in choosing so they gain a weight advantage (pre race), resulting in a better fuel economy and longer stints.
 
I'm guessing the rule where amateur cars have to run 2:05 laps is to keep it fair for amateur drivers so the pros don't run away with it during their stint..? Not sure I like that rule...

Its an option where you limit the cars speed, but in choosing so they gain a weight advantage (pre race), resulting in a better fuel economy and longer stints.

Thanks for that, I was a bit confused when Barfy was talking about running to a 2:05. The way he was talking the car could go a load faster but I thought they may have been pacing themselves rather than forced to go at that target.
 
I understand why they're doing it, but in my opinion it kind of kills the whole point of a "race" to begin with.. And wasn't the live stream in HD last year? It's not a big deal but..
 
I kind of like that it's not in HD, or else I wouldn't be able to watch it.

Also, just heard that the #123 car, leading SP2 class, is 6 laps ahead of 2nd place...

Edit: And just as I say that they are in for a water leak and losing time. :scared:
 
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I kind of like that it's not in HD, or else I wouldn't be able to watch it.

Also, just heard that the #123 car, leading SP2 class, is 6 laps ahead of 2nd place...

They traded the lead with that orange viper a few times (Nick got passed in his first stint) but I the viper had to spend some time in the garage so after Lucas took the car they've been clear in PIC#1 for a good while.

Video quality is also plenty adequate for me. I'm only watching it on a 21" monitor though (I'm such a whore telecommuting today so I can have the race running on my desktop in the background ;) )

Crazy that the #123 n00b car is way ahead of the mostly pro #126 (though the 126 has had some mechanical issues).
 
Any time #123 lost for the water leak they are making up since the 2nd place car has been in the pits for over 8 minutes.

Edit: GT Academy cars running 1-2 at the moment, #123 in 1st by a HUGE margin. :)
 
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Current running for SP2 class, top 5:

1) #123 (194 laps)
2) #126 (186 laps) +8 laps
3) #12 (171 laps) +23 laps
4) #140 (170 laps) +24 laps
5) #144 (166 laps) +28 laps
 
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