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[nature boy]

Need to watch the last hours, unhealthy to watch it till the end :\

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjibiLB7elc

Next race is the 6h of Fuji October 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhZXtvl9U6Y

 

[bobnowhere]

Looks like Porsche are getting the nerf stick next year, they are introducing a 1000HP limit.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/10/01/lmp1-cars-set-for-1000bhp-power-cap-in-safety-review/

Kind of understand, the closing speed between LMP1 and GT cars at Le Mans this year was getting pretty scary.

 

[Shaneus]

Looks like Porsche are getting the nerf stick next year, they are introducing a 1000HP limit.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/10/01/lmp1-cars-set-for-1000bhp-power-cap-in-safety-review/

Kind of understand, the closing speed between LMP1 and GT cars at Le Mans this year was getting pretty scary.

Booo. "This team is winning too much, lets nerf them!".

How much over the 1000bhp were they? Was it looking like the other teams were going to shoot for their power rating and they were just incapable this year?

Edit: Okay, so Porsche's website says the engine is ">500bhp" and the hybrid system ">400bhp". So maybe it's nerfing them in that any advancements they make with the engine for the 2016 car can't be in the engine performance range.

Edit #2: If this is anything to go by, it looks like Nissan and Toyota would take a hit, given the latter is right on 1000bhp and the former hits 1250bhp.

 

[bobnowhere]

It seems like the 1000 BHP limit will only apply at Le Mans as it's only a FIA level 2 circuit unlike the other tracks which are Level 1.

 

[Shaneus]

So, are we surprised

Spoiler

the #17 Porsche

got pole at 6hrs of Fuji?

 

[nature boy]

Nope, it's been a 100% pole for Porsche this year.

Going to have to record this one, impossible hours for us Euros :\.

 

[nature boy]

The #18 deserved the win. Don't think the switch was necessary.

 

[Mastah]

Going to have to record this one, impossible hours for us Euros :\.

I woke up at 2am and still missed most of it :/ I don't understand why it was scheduled together with Russian GP and Japanese MotoGP round, while last weekend I think there was nothing going on.

 

[Shaneus]

The #18 deserved the win. Don't think the switch was necessary.

What happened?

 

[nature boy]

I woke up at 2am and still missed most of it :/ I don't understand why it was scheduled together with Russian GP and Japanese MotoGP round, while last weekend I think there was nothing going on.

WEC don't do races in a 2 week span, dunno if it's a logistical issue.
Russian GP didn't really affect WEC.

What happened?

Team orders.

#18 was in the lead, but #17 has a good chance of winning the drivers title.
#18 slowed down to let the #17 win.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWjXRTPne8

Next race is the 6h of Shanghai, 30th October -1st November.

 

[dubc35]

6 hours of Shanghai tonight!

 

[Psychotext]

Hmm... I'll have to check when that's on.

 

[Juicy Bob]

How did I not know this thread was a thing.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Another round, another impressive pole time for Porsche. Nearly 6 seconds under the previous qualifying record is just nuts.

 

[Mastah]

Yeah, I checked sector times and they are so much quicker than in previous years. Was there any resurfacing work since Chinese GP in April?

 

[Juicy Bob]

Drama at the start with Lotterer taking out the #18 Porsche.

 

[Lima]

Love this rain. Last race on COTA was also hilarious because of that.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Great battles between Porsche and Audi at the head of the field. The R18 has a sizeable edge in the wet, but the track seems to be drying ever so slowly, and the 919s are once again gaining pace.

 

[nature boy]

Looks like it was an interesting race, glad I recorded it. Impossible to watch at a decent time on a Sunday.


Big news for Nissan that I forgot to post a couple of days ago: Nissan LMP1 architect Cox departs company

 

[nature boy]

6h of Bahrein this weekend, race is Saturday.

Title (Drivers) decider between Webbahhhh and Lotterer.

 

[dubc35]

4am start here, I'll catch the end though!

 

[Juicy Bob]

Which goose decided it would be a good idea to have the race on Saturday and not Sunday?

That sort of thing should be banned.

 

[nature boy]

Porsche with a clean sweep of poles in 2015.

6h of Bahrain starts at Noon UK time on Saturday.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Porsche with a clean sweep of poles in 2015.

6h of Bahrain starts at Noon UK time on Saturday.

Thanks for the reminder, i'll set an alarm this time so i can watch the race live for once this season

 

[Shaneus]

What needs to happen for Webber to finally get a WDC?

 

[bobnowhere]

What needs to happen for Webber to finally get a WDC?

The obvious one, beat the Audi No. 7 or if 7 wins finish no lower than 3rd. If 7 is 2nd no lower than 6th or 7th(countback on wins) etc....

12 points difference.

 

[nature boy]

#17 in trouble, stays 4 laps in the pits with a throttle problem.

Big recovery with 5 hours to go.

#7 in 3rd.

 

[nature boy]

Drama for #8.

This is going to the end.

 

[Juicy Bob]

Seven minutes to go. Webber in position to win the title.

Paging Shaneus.

 

[nature boy]

WEBBBAHHHHHHHHHHH

And Timo and Brandon as well. Congratulations.

Le Mans, Drivers and Constructors. What a season for Porsche.

Great race, Wurz on the podium for his last race is also a great way to end the season.

 

[Juicy Bob]

F1 drivers win Le Mans and now the WEC.

Radio Le Mans guys on suicide watch.

 

[dubc35]

Crap, forgot this was on! Of course I remember 8 minutes after the finish!

 

[nature boy]

Great to see the big guns at Volkswagen and Porsche at the track.

(Funny to see the new Volkswagen CEO, previous CEO of Porsche, at the Porsche pits).

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Congratulations to Porsche for claiming both P1 and GT titles to cap a thoroughly dominant season. The 2015 919 is going to be remembered for some time.

Word is that the '16 R18 will make its public debut next Saturday (the 28th). Audi regained some of their characteristic form these last few races, and with the suspected spec of next year's car, (6MJ hybrid capacity with battery storage), it could well be a real thorn in Porsche's side.

 

[bobnowhere]

Wibbah!

 

[Shaneus]

Wibbah!

Woo!

I'm glad he acknowledges just how memey the last photo of him doing that got.

 

[nature boy]

Montoya on the 919 hydrid after the morning test:

Driving the same car which Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard drove to world championship glory on Saturday evening, Montoya lapped in a respectable 1m43.174s on his first acquaintance on Sunday morning in Bahrain.

“First impression is that the car is amazing,” said Montoya. “It’s a helluva toy – that’s the best way to describe it. I’ve driven all kinds of cars and it’s a lot of fun.

“It’s got a lot of power, it’s really, really stable and it’s actually really easy to overdrive. It’s so predictable that it invites you to hustle the hell out of it.

“It’s shocking because it’s so good. It’s actually in a way easy, but because it’s easy, it’s easy to go over it [the limit].

“The car has a lot of understeer in it. I understood in the simulator everything that I had to do with the hybrid system, and it’s OK. I was shocking when they gave me a 30-page manual on how to drive the car! At McLaren we had a page of the buttons on the steering wheel, which all had letters. You had to remember which letter did what.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/montoya-porsche-lmp1-is-so-good-its-shocking/

Can't wait to see the new Audi (nothing is publicly known at this point) and Toyota LMP1 contenders, and of course what Nissan does after the main architect of the project has left.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I know he might not secure a race deal for some time, (if it happens at all), but few things would make me happier than seeing JPM get a shot at the Triple Crown in the 919.

From his Instagram a couple of days back:

jpmonty2Does it accelerate fast enough for you??? I think it does @porscheraces @fiawec_official #919hybrid #Bahrain

I'll never get tired of seeing the 919 light the afterburners, (and the glare of the Vantage's headlights off its wing endplates totally sells the image), and just streak off. It's a fucking rocketship.

 

[nature boy]

Yep Montoya is the 2nd driver to say it's the most advanced racing car right now.

Not that it needed confirmation, but VAG CEO confirmed that WEC program outside of GTE Pro is safe:

VW Group to maintain motorsport activities after emissions scandal

Porsche will be back in the GTE class in 2017.


We need a thread for next year that includes Le Mans.

 

[Shaneus]

I'm also hoping they continue the same subscription thing as this year for next. Do they offer delayed streaming as well? If I can watch the races at my own pace (given I'm in Australia and all the times are shit) I'd definitely go that option.

 

[dubc35]

I'm also hoping they continue the same subscription thing as this year for next. Do they offer delayed streaming as well? If I can watch the races at my own pace (given I'm in Australia and all the times are shit) I'd definitely go that option.

No delayed steaming this year. They cut the live coverage pretty quick too. Bahrain they showed a quick interview with Webbah and the lmp1 podium. (Only showed lmp1 podium for Le Mans as well)

 

[nature boy]

New Audi R18 was presented this saturday:

Still diesel, but 6MJ of power to deploy.

Both Audi and Porsche will run only 2 cars at the 24h of Le Mans.

 

[Humidex]

Oh. That looks...different.

 

[DD]

Yep, it's ugly.

 

[Psychotext]

I just hope it's quick. I want even more competition next year.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The R18 hasn't been a proper looker since the TDI, but with 6MJ, this new one will be more than a handful for the 919; Toyota and Nissan better have some serious upgrades on deck as well.

 

[bobnowhere]

The car looks sad.

Pity about no 3rd cars, no chance for Hulk to repeat. I understand though, with the amount of redress and fines coming, probably should be glad they didn't just cancel all motorsports activities.

 

[nature boy]

Audi is going to be a huge threat next season. Aero advantage and now better acceleration.

Porsche needs to step it up.

Short end-of-season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1Sr1JwGAi0

Nice Porsche end-of-season video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpE4yr-3jUY

Audi end-of-season video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72t9LeWR2gw

Should we have a new thread for the 2016 season? Including or excluding Le Mans?

 

[Shaneus]

I'm almost for it going in a generic 2015 thread, save maybe for LM24 which should get its own. If we have a generic WEC thread it'll get lumped in with Community and by the time Le Mans rolls around, there's zero visibility.

 

[dubc35]

I'm almost for it going in a generic 2015 thread, save maybe for LM24 which should get its own. If we have a generic WEC thread it'll get lumped in with Community and by the time Le Mans rolls around, there's zero visibility.

Yeah, it's difficult to figure out the correct breakout. A dedicated LM24 thread is always good. Besides that, it's basically F1 and then all others get lumped into the Motorsports thread. I created the 2014 motorsports thread. There didn't seem to be a need for a 2015 one (it's mostly ongoing discussion) so I never brought it up in there. The start of 2016 could be a good time to start a new thread encompassing all sans F1 and maybe not date it as the 2016 thread. If we decide to go for a new thread I don't have time to create it so anyone interested, go for it (mine was rather shit anyway lol).