FIA WEC Spa BoP

[NJGT]

"Stunning" location to quote Ford Performance. I had the good fortune to take a 2 day AMG driving school at Spa several years ago. Going through Eau Rouge and then going flat out on the Kemmel straight was an experience not to be forgotten. A lot of history in the area as well given that it was the sight of intense fighting during the Battle of the Bulge. The Circuit de Spa Francorchamps website refers to the WEC - 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps as the new Battle of the Ardennes. Looking forward to the Americans from Dearborn winning this battle as well.

But what a location....

 

[RALPHIE]

A Picture from Spa today - Practice 1

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[RALPHIE]

And From Practice 2 Today

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[RALPHIE]

Motorsports Article on Monday

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http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...-for-the-le-mans-24-hours-732961/?tp[0]=4&s=1​

 

[RALPHIE]

Television Schedule for the Spa 6-Hour

According to the television programming for the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, this is what I have been able to find -

SATURDAY - 05/07​

Start of Race:

Fox Sports 1 - 8:30 am to 9:00 am, Eastern Daylight Time (5:30 to 6:00 am Pacific Daylight Time)

Balance of Race:

Fox Sports 2 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (8:30 to 11:30 am Pacific Daylight Time)

I couldn't find any TV for the Practice on Friday, which occurs at 11 o'clock Central European Time, or for Qualifying at 1600 hours.

 

[dbk]

Just watch on the FIA WEC app. No worries about broadcast interruptions or channel switching.

Last race I ran the full live timing and in-car on my iPad and the race broadcast streamed to the TV. Worked well.

 

[RALPHIE]

More Pictures from Today (05/05)

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[RALPHIE]

And a Few More (05/05)

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[canibl]

Thank you Ralphie for the photos! I'm excited for SPA!

 

[canibl]

 

[Awsum GT]

Spot on!

 

[RALPHIE]

Qualifying Results

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[Awsum GT]

curious why the antenna's on both cars are in different locations... same on the cars at Laguna Seca...

 

[Brombear]

Going to bed now, 4 hours sleep left, departing tomorrow morning 8:00 am CEST, 2-3 hours Drive, great weather ahead. Hope to see a great race with lots of reasons to celebrate.

@DBK Any updates ?

 

[dbk]

#66 took down one of the Astons, up to 4th. Franchitti's run of bad "luck" continues, gets hit and spun out by a GTE-Am Ferrari.

GTs running P4 and P7 after 43 minutes.

Ferraris are comically faster than the rest of the Pro field. Kudos FIA. One hell of a BoP process you've got there.

 

[dbk]

Lucky yellow after a bonehead moment for a Toyota LMP1. Spa when it's sunny like this is the most beautiful venue in all of motorsport. Gorgeous.

 

[dbk]

GT takes advantage and Pla in the #66 makes the very easy pass on the Aston to move up to P3. Zero chance they catch the Ferraris on raw speed though. Ferraris are running 2-4 seconds a lap faster than the field.

 

[dbk]

The announcers are talking about Ford sandbagging. Here's the reality:

Ford has the lightest production car in the field. They have been saddled with the heaviest car in the race series.

Ford has the fewest cylinders and smallest displacement engine in the field. They have been saddled with lower boost than the larger displacement/two-extra cylinder Ferraris. What do you think 3 PSI is worth between those two engines? It ain't 20 hp.

Sandbagging or not, if the WEC doesn't adjust these cars closer to the field, it's going to be irrelevant at Le Mans because the handicaps are greater than any inherent aerodynamic/efficiency advantages the GT has.

 

[dbk]

Crazy race so far. Basically all of LMP1 with issues. Porsches with hybrid issues, blown tires. Audi in the garage. Toyota spearing someone on a botched corner.

5th place GTE-Pro Aston gets tapped and then flips when he hits the tire wall.

 

[dbk]

Billy Johnson in the Andy Priaulx in the #66 in P3, #67 in P4. Ferraris running 1-2.

Announcers discussing how ridiculously fast the Ferraris are and the fact they need to be reeled back in before Le Mans.