tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8101784122100352616.post878037973589750022..comments2024-03-14T08:19:36.636+00:00Comments on Trussers (Paul Truswell's blog): The FIA World Endurance Championship of 2012Paul Truswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17160575296019945600noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8101784122100352616.post-75487657584763012002011-08-04T21:32:33.379+01:002011-08-04T21:32:33.379+01:00I don't know that we're headed for another...I don't know that we're headed for another dip, as we've just had one. I think the people involved who were that much on the edge before September 2008 have been flushed out of the system in terms of being involved in LM-type racing.<br /><br />I'm not sure the ALMS expressly states itself to be "endurance racing" across the board. Anyway, from the beginning in 1971, IMSA had a mix of race durations. For several seasons in the '70s and into the '80s, the top class (GTO, GTX, even GTP) had individual races ranging from 1 to 24 hours. Two hours seems decent for a street race; pushing three hours can have consequences (the first year at St. Petersburg was a bit much) As for the 2hr 45min stuff, there's some sort of cut-off in the FIA track regulations that occurs at 165min. So, the time limits on the regular rounds probably have something to do with that. You might note that the shortest track in the LMS this year is 2.599 miles (Estoril). Every track the ALMS visits, except for Sebring and Road America, is shorter than that.<br /><br />I think it would be hard to take away much brilliance from the Le Mans event itself. The real issue there, I think, is in this age of constant media bombardment, maintaining presence more year-round demands having these other series to keep more of a consistent spotlight on sportscar racing. Also, in the end, the WEC caters to the factories first, and most entries, at Le Mans or elsewhere, are not going to be the full works efforts. Those privateers had to come from somewhere, and you can't be a well-prepared and long-running team anymore by just running LM each year. You need a series to hone your craft, get attention more locally, and where you can get more exposure/moneys-worth out of the investment you made in the equipment.<br /><br />Now, if the WEC would just run their South American round at Potrero de los Funes, there would be quite a few people, myself included, who would be very happy.<br /><br />RobertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8101784122100352616.post-10909198832730838452011-08-03T11:10:37.386+01:002011-08-03T11:10:37.386+01:00Robert:
Thanks for your response - in many ways I’...Robert:<br />Thanks for your response - in many ways I’m surprised that I haven’t had more, as I was deliberately provocative in my article. Don’t get me wrong, I think that the ALMS did (is continuing to do?) a marvellous job in fuelling interest in Le Mans-style racing… but endurance races lasting less than three hours? I think not. A section of the US market has always been interested in Le Mans - and the ACO has always courted US customers, particularly in the years since the Second World War. It’s really just a question of hierarchy I suppose - Le Mans is at the top of the tree as far as sportscar racing is concerned. The proliferation of “Le Mans Series” spin-offs, initially under the ACO’s jurisdiction, is an indication of healthy interest, but it is in danger of spoiling the spectacle by reducing the impact. Le Mans being part of an FIA World Championship is excellent news, but I don’t expect it to continue to be so. And are we not due another dip in the cycle in any case?Paul Truswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17160575296019945600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8101784122100352616.post-22634111914201526832011-08-01T23:13:57.915+01:002011-08-01T23:13:57.915+01:00At least here in the States, I really do believe t...At least here in the States, I really do believe that no ALMS would have meant a premature end to the Chrysler Viper program, and absolutely no Corvette program. Simply put, not enough people over here would have even known that Le Mans existed without the ALMS. And if the ALMS disappeared, that vacuum would return. I think this also holds true for the events here, as I'm quite certain most would have withered and died altogether without the ALMS, and I cannot see them continuing without an ALMS. Along that same vein, I cannot take a "World Championship" that seriously if it lacks even just one round in North America (like what happened with F1 in 2009 when Canada was called off).<br /><br />Also, the privateers need a place to run, and I'm not sure the WEC provides a good setting for that, not to mention, some races may have oversubscribed grids, and sportscar racing is still not in the sort of position where it can just turn down entries with impunity. And then there are the Dysons of the world, who have chosen not to run Grand-Am, or another such option, but have no particular intent of running Le Mans on their own dime, if at all.<br /><br />The big thing I want from the WEC is to take in the major, classic events. In Europe, that would mean events like the Spa 1000, Nurburgring 1000, Monza 1000, and Le Mans itself, of course. The Fuji 1000 is about the only Asian round that has history with the previous iteration of the series. North America has Sebring, Mosport, and Road America with a least a bit of history in the WSC. Then again, the two most obvious events to include now are Sebring and Road Atlanta. I can't really see South Africa returning, though Kyalami is still there and up-to-code to host the 9 Hours again, in theory. If they go to South America, do either interlagos or Potrero de los Funes.<br /><br />As for China, it's a great market, in theory. However, can the WEC get anywhere near enough people to pay Western ticket prices for either Zhuhai or Shanghai to be decent events, and thus get the exposure participants ant? And how well can the Chinese people follow the series online, or on TV? And as a technical thing, after the first year, is Bernie Ecclestone going to demand the WEC run one of the shorter layouts at Shanghai to make sure it doesn't steal F1's thunder?<br /><br />Regards.<br /><br />Robert Pfeiffer<br /><br />Wichita, KS, United StatesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com