2014 United Sports Car Championship

  • Thread starter Thread starter Earth
  • 6,133 comments
  • 323,178 views
Tired Tyres
That looks like a perfectly legitimate complaint to me. :grumpy:
Click to expand...

And yet the BMW and Corvette teams that are factory supported haven't complained. No one else but Porsche drove into the 1:44 lap times, I agree there needs to be fairness but why not try talks first before releasing a media report to bad mouth the evil American race series just because they didn't get the same exaggerated BOP cuts they were given in WEC, especially during Le Mans, when Ferrari didn't have it, nor Viper or Corvette
 
What bop cut?. Corvette had to use WEC specification tyres. I didn't hear of any other changes. Was there something else?

As for Viper. That car has an illegal engine size so no amount of bop is getting around that.

The issue Prodrive (AMR) has is that IMSA gave out their own bop's ignoring the ACO/WEC standards.

Ferrari are the only ones who really should be aggrieved. They direct injected their engine, improved fuel economy (A primary endurance task) and got told they had to use a smaller fuel tank! That's daft right there!

As for factory backing, who is to say who get what support? The teams definitely won't say, so no judgement can be made.
 
Well, if everyone was like Aston Martin then everyone who is not as fast as the fastest guys could go home.

Thinking of quiting after this one race is pathetic at best.
The Ferrari's had great speed on the oval to make up for lack of experience, as well being a very balanced car by nature.
What Aston needs to understand is that they are running against very strong competition. Most have experience with either the car or track, or even both. You can't just expect to run just as fast without having a good base to work on. Many guys had setups from last year to work from.
I haven't followed the EWC so i am not sure how the Astons did there?
 
Tired Tyres
What bop cut?. Corvette had to use WEC specification tyres. I didn't hear of any other changes. Was there something else?
Click to expand...

Um no, they had more than that, there was an added 1.4mm to the air restriction, rear wing was lowered, and 5kg of weight added. Ferrari had worse aero restrictions and their tanks were cut down 5 liters more from the already 90. While as I've been saying Porsche and Aston were given the more benefit than balance.

As for Viper. That car has an illegal engine size so no amount of bop is getting around that.
Click to expand...

Yet some how TUDOR in the first year made it work and run comparable times to everyone else...

The issue Prodrive (AMR) has is that IMSA gave out their own bop's ignoring the ACO/WEC standards.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware they were an ACO affiliated group to the degree ALMS was, could have fooled me with the GTD and P1 crap. They don't need to follow ACO standards if they don't think it is beneficial for the series, and unless you're some hidden Aston fan, I saw nothing wrong with the GTLM class especially compared to GTE 24 hours of Le Mans last year. The only thing I can agree with is what you've said on Ferrari.

Ferrari are the only ones who really should be aggrieved. They direct injected their engine, improved fuel economy (A primary endurance task) and got told they had to use a smaller fuel tank! That's daft right there!
Click to expand...

This I agree with as I said.

As for factory backing, who is to say who get what support? The teams definitely won't say, so no judgement can be made.
Click to expand...

What? We know BMW and Corvette are supported by Factory not sure what you're talking about.
 
^ As in no team will tell how much support they will receive.

GT3 and GTE should get rid of all the bop and fit fuel flow metres like F1 is doing this year.

Then you just match the fuel tank size, lets say 100 Litres, to the flow rate of 100 litres per hour. Since you can't physically use more fuel than the flow rate allows you can run any engine you like. No constantly changing the goal posts needed.

Edit.

Elkins clarifies new penalty explanation.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/elkins-explains-imsas-new-officiating-rules-procedures/

& Flying Lizards wanting explanation.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/flying-lizard-seeking-clarity-in-rules-after-rolex-24-decisions/

Apologies if already posted.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Tired Tyres
That looks like a perfectly legitimate complaint to me. :grumpy:
Click to expand...

It is, it's the packing up and threatening to go home if nothing is changed after one race that bothers me..
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
And yet the BMW and Corvette teams that are factory supported haven't complained. No one else but Porsche drove into the 1:44 lap times, I agree there needs to be fairness but why not try talks first before releasing a media report to bad mouth the evil American race series just because they didn't get the same exaggerated BOP cuts they were given in WEC, especially during Le Mans, when Ferrari didn't have it, nor Viper or Corvette
Click to expand...
BMW didn't complain because they were near the front, and the only reason Corvette wasn't is a lack of reliability on a brand-new car.

For those who didn't watch the WEC:
Aston Martin won the first few races, Porsche won Le Mans, and Bruni (Ferrari) won the drivers championship (Which went down to the final event). It was pretty even, the Ferrari's were slightly slower, but not too much as the drivers standings illustrate.
 
A car company that sells 3500 cars worldwide a year dictating terms.:boggled: The WEC is a better fit for them anyway since thats about the same number of viewers a WEC stream has watching a race.
 
1 - Sports Cars at this level isn't where you want to have Toyota Camrys battling it out with Ford Fusions to increase sales.

2 - This is the closest you get to the pinnacle of motorsports if you don't opt for single seaters.

So ...

IforceV8
A car company that sells 3500 cars worldwide a year dictating terms.:boggled: The WEC is a better fit for them anyway since thats about the same number of viewers a WEC stream has watching a race.
Click to expand...

3 - If that car company is Aston Martin you better listen.
 
One thing I'm sorta wondering a lot about is why that car seems to skip abit on downshifts. Don't think I've ever heard a car do that before.
 
Mac K
It is, it's the packing up and threatening to go home if nothing is changed after one race that bothers me..
Click to expand...

Interesting how many 'fans' threatened to do the same
 
That TV screen is perhaps the most unique thing on that Vette. It actually tracks faster cars and tells the driver the relative position of the faster car.
 
sumbrownkid
That TV screen is perhaps the most unique thing on that Vette. It actually tracks faster cars and tells the driver the relative position of the faster car.
Click to expand...
I've seen other cars have them.
 
hawkeye122
BMW didn't complain because they were near the front, and the only reason Corvette wasn't is a lack of reliability on a brand-new car.
Click to expand...

They weren't near the front most of the race and attrition played in their favor, also they've dealt with GT racing in America for years, so they aren't going to complain like Aston because they know how to actually operate with these organizers. Like you know talking first before crying. It's one thing to talk and talk and nothing happen then **** talk the organizers to the media/public.

For those who didn't watch the WEC:
Aston Martin won the first few races, Porsche won Le Mans, and Bruni (Ferrari) won the drivers championship (Which went down to the final event). It was pretty even, the Ferrari's were slightly slower, but not too much as the drivers standings illustrate.
Click to expand...

That's because they altered the BOP through the season to articulate a close championship with a "fair BoP". The Ferrari were much slower, the standing don't tell squat, other than a system that was moved around to make close action. I think tired tyres had the right idea with the fuel flow rate.

sumbrownkid
That TV screen is perhaps the most unique thing on that Vette. It actually tracks faster cars and tells the driver the relative position of the faster car.
Click to expand...

Yeah they've using that for a couple years and others have too, probably the inspiration for PD finally putting it in the game.
 
Has anyone found video of the Continental race? I don't have Speed2 and don't see video on the IMSA site. Hopefully they will add it soon? I need some Camaro time! :D
 
First off, let's start it our right. I took this vid Sunday morning


Cars sound great

A damn good start to TUSC if you ask me. If you didn't like that race, you're not a race fan.

Here's a good analysis of the situation. http://ohioautoracing.com/2014/01/29/2014-rolex-24-no-surprise-to-me/

Here's some pros and cons from actually attending the race

pros:
68 cars on the grid.
Very close competition throughout the race
Lots of diversity
AXR won. They were the team that had the most data points from offseason testing. Shows that hard work can still bring large dividens in a so called "spec" class.
GTD race was the best race I've ever watched for the first 23:58 of that 24:00 race top to bottom.
DP to LMP2 gap was actually somewhat even. LMP2 had pretty much the pace of the DP, but LMP2 had much more trouble in traffic. Their speed was made in the infield, so if they got stuck behind a GT car for a turn or two, it turned into a lot larger of a gap for the whole lap because they didn't have the legs of the DP on the oval.

cons:
Chevy DP was as OP as BMW DP was last season compared to the Ford DP and the BMW DP
High attrition rate especailly in the GTLM class
GTLM beating the PC class. PC was in the way with the difference in top speed
Mazda LMP
Poor Memo. Why in the world didn't Matteo pull off the track????
Paul Walters (ALMS official for years and Grand am official last season for merger purposes NOT NASCAR) calling the late race caution
The whole penalty situation


As for the "fans" who don't want to watch this series anymore, how many of you actually attended the race? My suggestion to you is to either A.) Take the time and attend a race or B.) Stop spamming negativity here and find some other series that's better to you. I know it isn't perfect, and I do have some serious concerns about the longevity of IMSA with the decision making in the offseason too. I'm not going to dwell and nit pick every single aspect that's not perfectly the way I would do it and throw a blanket on the series based off of the first race.

The only negativity I heard at the track was people complaining about how small the number panels are and not being able to see them as well as not knowing the difference between the two GT classes.

In fact, most people there were really happy with the race. I'm sure fellow board members who were there can back me up that it was an awesome race and a lot of fun to be there.

Some loud noises to end this post
 
So here's the scenario in 2017 after reading that article:

GTP: Good until IMSA lost control of it
DP: the bastard child of the GTP
LMP2: The French bastard child of the DP along with its annoying little sister, the FLM/LMPC
2017 IMSA P(probably ELMS and ASLMS(if still in existance by then) P) and WEC LMP2: The inbred child of the LMP2 and FLM/LMPC

Hey, I'm a fan if it's affordable enough for teams to get 20+ of them out there and they put on a good show. The material of choice for the chassis should make 0 poops as to how good the race is.
 
cnd01
So here's the scenario in 2017 after reading that article:

GTP: Good until IMSA lost control of it
DP: the bastard child of the GTP
LMP2: The French bastard child of the DP along with its annoying little sister, the FLM/LMPC
2017 IMSA P(probably ELMS and ASLMS(if still in existance by then) P) and WEC LMP2: The inbred child of the LMP2 and FLM/LMPC

Hey, I'm a fan if it's affordable enough for teams to get 20+ of them out there and they put on a good show. The material of choice for the chassis should make 0 poops as to how good the race is.
Click to expand...

P2 is also biggest success story in prototype racing in the last 10 years in my opinion.
 
cnd01
First off, let's start it our right. I took this vid Sunday morning


Cars sound great

A damn good start to TUSC if you ask me. If you didn't like that race, you're not a race fan.

Here's a good analysis of the situation. http://ohioautoracing.com/2014/01/29/2014-rolex-24-no-surprise-to-me/

Here's some pros and cons from actually attending the race

pros:
68 cars on the grid.
Very close competition throughout the race
Lots of diversity
AXR won. They were the team that had the most data points from offseason testing. Shows that hard work can still bring large dividens in a so called "spec" class.
GTD race was the best race I've ever watched for the first 23:58 of that 24:00 race top to bottom.
DP to LMP2 gap was actually somewhat even. LMP2 had pretty much the pace of the DP, but LMP2 had much more trouble in traffic. Their speed was made in the infield, so if they got stuck behind a GT car for a turn or two, it turned into a lot larger of a gap for the whole lap because they didn't have the legs of the DP on the oval.

cons:
Chevy DP was as OP as BMW DP was last season compared to the Ford DP and the BMW DP
High attrition rate especailly in the GTLM class
GTLM beating the PC class. PC was in the way with the difference in top speed
Mazda LMP
Poor Memo. Why in the world didn't Matteo pull off the track????
Paul Walters (ALMS official for years and Grand am official last season for merger purposes NOT NASCAR) calling the late race caution
The whole penalty situation


As for the "fans" who don't want to watch this series anymore, how many of you actually attended the race? My suggestion to you is to either A.) Take the time and attend a race or B.) Stop spamming negativity here and find some other series that's better to you. I know it isn't perfect, and I do have some serious concerns about the longevity of IMSA with the decision making in the offseason too. I'm not going to dwell and nit pick every single aspect that's not perfectly the way I would do it and throw a blanket on the series based off of the first race.

The only negativity I heard at the track was people complaining about how small the number panels are and not being able to see them as well as not knowing the difference between the two GT classes.

In fact, most people there were really happy with the race. I'm sure fellow board members who were there can back me up that it was an awesome race and a lot of fun to be there.

Some loud noises to end this post
Click to expand...


Ive been at every single Grand-Am event since 2011 and all Alms last year. I agree with most of what you said. You cant base a whole new series on one race and a roaval race at that. I think its going to be an interesting and fascinating year to say the least. The conti series always brings in some great racing, nice to see GT Academy alum Bryan H, get a ride in the Skullcandy Nissan and Muscle Milk car for the 24hr.
 
Furinkazen
P2 is also biggest success story in European prototype racing in the last 10 years in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Fixed and I agree with you 100%. Had LMP2 come first in America, I will bet you the internets that it would've been the same way here in America had the DP not been invented first
 
My only real issue with the DP is that I have doubts about how safe it is. Having seen the accident that Mike Rockenfeller survived relatively unharmed at Le Mans in 2011 live on Eurosport, and then seeing Memo Gidley's crash at Daytona last weekend, I can't help but question the safety of the tube frame chassis, although my fears may be ungrounded.

Otherwise, they're both good categories, and isn't that what we all want?
 
Roger the Horse
I can't help but question the safety of the tube frame chassis, although my fears may be ungrounded.
Click to expand...

This should alleviate those fears(The only injury that came from this was a bruise).



The worst part about Gidley's crash was that there was nowhere for the energy to go, he pretty much ran head on into a near stopped vehicle.
 
Roger the Horse
My only real issue with the DP is that I have doubts about how safe it is. Having seen the accident that Mike Rockenfeller survived relatively unharmed at Le Mans in 2011 live on Eurosport, and then seeing Memo Gidley's crash at Daytona last weekend, I can't help but question the safety of the tube frame chassis, although my fears may be ungrounded.

Otherwise, they're both good categories, and isn't that what we all want?
Click to expand...

I've seen a ton of discussions over this since the accident. The cars are quite safe, however they're nowhere near the safety levels of a P1/P2 car. Rockenfeller's crash was at much higher speed, and I suspect the armco didn't really have any more energy absorption than the back of the Ferrari that Gidley hit. Gidley's crash was a huge impact still, however with the reports that he had to be cut out, and there was cockpit intrusion from some of the front end I'm slightly worried about their safety too. I'd prefer it if they had the same crash structures as the ACO regulations require with the P1/P2 cars, however they're a completely different design and I'm not sure how easily they could modify the current cars to be more resistant to an impact like that. In an ideal world, they'd just get rid of the DP's, but that's not going to happen.
 
Sorry, you can't compare Rockenfeller's and Gidley's crash, they are completely different scenarios.

This is pretty much what happened to Gidley...



Granted the Ferrari isn't a wall, but with the difference in speeds it might as well have been. It doesn't matter how safe you make the cars, that type of crash will always be the most dangerous as the energy doesn't get dissipated.

Whereas Rockenfeller was already rotating before he hit the armco, which makes it easier to dissipate energy.
 

Similar threads

Jimlaad43
Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix 2025
6 7 8
Replies
211
Views
14K
McLaren
McLaren
Jimlaad43
Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix 2024
2 3 4
Replies
108
Views
15K
sillybilly
S
MagpieRacer
  • Sticky
Project Motor Racing Career Mode Event List and Discussion Thread
Replies
0
Views
3K
MagpieRacer
MagpieRacer
B
Sports Car GT Mods?
Replies
0
Views
530
Battor
B
ScottPuss20
2025 World Endurance Championship
26 27 28
Replies
821
Views
107K
ro_har_
ro_har_
Back