GT Sports Cars & Prototype Racing News

[blueline]

The 2024 WEC schedule has been released including, of course, the 24 hours of Le Mans for next year. Sebring is out for 2024 but COTA (Circuit of the Americas) returns.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-ra ... d568259d8a



2024 WEC Schedule

Feb. 24-25 - Official Prologue, Qatar
March 3 - Qatar
April 4 - Imola
May 11 - Spa-Francorchamps
June 15-16 - 24 Hours of Le Mans
July 14 - Sao Paulo
Sept. 1 - Austin, Texas
Sept. 15 - Fuji
Nov. 2 - Bahrain

[blueline]

BoP as currently administered is a problem. At least that's my take on it - something needs to be done. An interesting idea from Autoweek:

"Why It’s Time to Overhaul IMSA’s Balance of Performance Model"

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-ra ... d568259d8a

levitt-ctmp-0723-031200-64b05a29e11d3.jpg (118.35 KiB) Viewed 464 times

(IMSA photo)

[blueline]

Indy 500 Winner Josef Newgarden to Make IMSA GTP Debut at Petit Le Mans with WEC veteran Laurens Vanthoor piloting a Porsche 963 for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the IMSA finale.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-ra ... d568259d8a

[blueline]

Autoweek article headline:

For Fans' Sake, It's Time for IMSA’s GTD Pro, GTD to Become Single Pro Class. If IMSA wants to improve its fan appeal, a single GTD Pro class for all GT3 cars makes sense.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-ra ... d568259d8a

[WillyDaP]

Boy was the imbalance of the BOP mandates apparent at VIR this past weekend for the GTD Pro and GTD races. When a Porsche can barely make it into the top 10 of both group qualifying times and the bottom 4 are all Stuttgart flat sixes, it shows that there needs to be some changes. BMW GTD vehicles ( one Pro Driver and one Amateur ) and Merc racers were ahead of the first Pro Porsche and they looked like fodder for all the other makes.

Sure we are all biased , but the BMW, Mercs, Corvette, Lambos, and Aston Martins were reasonably close in their respective Classes but the Porsches were just there to fill the field. Sad to see that the World's most popular Sports Car company is neutralized by the Balance of Power and with the throngs of Porsche fans out there one would think IMSA would work to get things more equitable!!

[blueline]

Boy was the imbalance of the BOP mandates apparent at VIR this past weekend for the GTD Pro and GTD races. When a Porsche can barely make it into the top 10 of both group qualifying times and the bottom 4 are all Stuttgart flat sixes, it shows that there needs to be some changes. BMW GTD vehicles ( one Pro Driver and one Amateur ) and Merc racers were ahead of the first Pro Porsche and they looked like fodder for all the other makes.

Sure we are all biased , but the BMW, Mercs, Corvette, Lambos, and Aston Martins were reasonably close in their respective Classes but the Porsches were just there to fill the field. Sad to see that the World's most popular Sports Car company is neutralized by the Balance of Power and with the throngs of Porsche fans out there one would think IMSA would work to get things more equitable!!

The BoP is frustrating. Musical chairs that are not always equalized in application. (And we all know that the powers that be play games with BoP.) However, I don't have the answer.

My big concern would be politicized versions of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours". Or, some scenario where the ruling body says "Porsche if you continue to piss me off, your BoP will pushed further towards hell".

[WillyDaP]

The politics in Racing are quite interesting and you have to commend GM as they have often been able with their Reps and racing Marketing Mavens to push things more towards their direction. Porsche has been fairly successful over the years but it seems their success has been stifled the last 4-5 years as IMSA and other race groups push to get more Manufacturers into the fray. Amazing to me is how MB is so dominate and the new push is coming strong from BMW, so those companies are doing their due diligence to play the game. Some folks say that Porsche is pouring their money into their Prototype program, but I fail to see them not working hard on their bread and butter programs. Needless to say, with their inclusion in the Prototype Division , which FIA and IMSA really want, fellow Porschephiles hope they can leverage this major expenditure and pressure for a bit more fairness in the GTD grouping so they can effectively compete?

[blueline]

"Michelin Returns to Scene of F1 U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis Debacle...Plenty of firsts expected at IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Battle of the Bricks at IMS."


https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula ... d568259d8a

[996C438]

Congratulations to Porsche Penske for a 1-2 finish . I already have my ticket and Porsche corral parking pass for Petit LeMans . Looking forward to seeing the 963 in person .

[blueline]

"IMSA WeatherTech GTP Season Set for Unbelievable Finish at Petit Le Mans. Only 38 points separate the top four manufacturers and teams vying for the first GTP championship."

Coming up this weekend!

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-ra ... d568259d8a