[Somewhat OT] Why I don't much follow sports car racing - Even Le Mans!...

I have worked on several Grand Am and ALMS teams, all teams finds ways around rules, and by mid season the crew members are better at spotting violations on other cars then the officials are. I think most race fans would be surprised what teams can get away with.

does money make a difference? yes it does, though it matters how you spend it.

 

Obviously we won't agree on this as to me only F1 drivers matter. Call me a snob, so be it.

And seeing F1 drivers in endurance racing would give fans like me more direct access to them than when they were in F1.

Besides: I love it when drivers do "the triple crown" however you define that (e.g. Indy 500, F1, Le Mans).

 

GREAT comeback my friend!

 

I am a fan of endurance racing. I also follow F1, DTM, and World Superbike too. For me they are all great fun as a lover of motor racing.

Those Audi turbodiesels are awe inspiring machines, and Audi absolutely pours money into the development of their endurance racing program. They built a car to spec., as did the other teams.

Do a better job, get ****ed sums it up quite nicely.

 

Just thought it worth mentioning here that after the final qualifying session for the Blancpain Endurance Series race at Silverstone today the top 25 cars were all within 1 second of each other.

Cars from Nissan, Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Lamborghini, McLaren all that close together proves that the 'Balance of Power' approach works just as well as a single set of rules that has to be conformed to like in Formula One.

Qualifying Results

>8^)
ER

 

I really can't comprehend why you don't see the benefits of keeping all the contenders on equal footing, allowing them each a chance for victory. I'm guessing you hated it when teachers graded on a curve in school as well?

>8^)
ER

 

The problem is that the BOP can be altered to change the status quo at will and help someone if necessary, most often moved by commercial interests (i:e: help someone to sell diesels or bring BMWs to the championship, despite they haven´t anything that can compete against Porsches, Ferraris, etc...).

 

I can't wait until Audi puts a diesel in its R8 and kicks ass at Daytona. A diesel with 400hp and 1000lb ft of torque and dual clutch tranny will be tough to beat on the street or track.

 

They are leveling the playing field with those changes to make for more competitive racing on the track and less about any technical development advantages one car or team might have. I get the impression you are more interested in an engineering contest and poking holes in the rules like we see in F1, when racing is supposed to be a driving competition.

>8^)
ER

 

If motorsport was only about driving, why not all the series are single-marque?

 

The FIA or Bernie level the playing field when they need to, but F1 only needs a couple of teams to look like they might win to make it interesting. Compare that with a 24 hour race and tiny advantages turn in to boring multiple lap wins.

F1 is so restricted it really is spec racing, especially engine wise (at the moment). They even level the engine competitiveness until everybody is happy.

It really is time they removed 90% of the rules!
Pete

 

+1

 

While that is true in general, they do level the playing field during the season by deeming something legal or illegal.

Whether that was the mass damper or the super diffuser, the idea remains the same: Give/take an advantage to keep the championship interesting.

It is not as obvious as it is in endurance racing, but it happens too in F1.

 

According to Charlie Whiting, the "spirit of the rules" is the BOP of Formula 1.

 

There you go. My point all along.

 

You say potato and I say potato.

Lets call the whole thing off.

 

They are often clarified.

I have no problem with this either, but Bernie and his TV show do hence they go looking deeper ...

Then Ian you should be into sportscar racing. The engineering is far more interesting and the cars are out of this world, especially the top tier. F1 quality easily.

F1 stopped being an engineering competition when Ferrari stopped using the v12 engine, allowing the FIA to specify engine size, number of cylinders, engine bore spacing ... everything. The only thing they can design is the name on the camcover AND then if you happen to design a better engine the others are allowed to continue development until they catch up.

AND if one team gets too much aero advantage the FIA will go over the car with a fine tooth comb with the rule book in one hand.

F1 cars are awesome, Sportscars are simply more awesome because the engineers are allowed to think. Only the aerodynamic person in a F1 team is still allowed to think ... just sad.
Pete