Imsa 2023

[CurtEgerer]

Ferrari is all but guaranteed to enter at least 1 Hypercar in IMSA next year. Some stories floating around where they basically avoid answering the question "until after Le Mans". But they can't not enter. It's their biggest market. And arch-rival Lamborghini will have an LMDh in IMSA next year. Ferrari will most likely use RISI to run the team like Porsche does with Penske.

Also, WEC is not coming back to Sebring. My guess is they go to COTA (or maybe Laguna Seca) for the North American round.

Looks fairly certain now WEC is going to Indy for NA round next year, maybe as a double with IMSA.

[CurtEgerer]

Time running out for Penske-Porsche for Le Mans Bringing up the rear in Long Beach qualifying just now and 2 seconds off the pace in WEC FP2 in Portimao today. BMW making good progress and now faster than Porsche.

[astrochex]

I just saw someone saying that part of the struggle for Porsche may be the GT experienced drivers coming to grips with GTPs.

[rfuerst911sc]

Today's Long Beach race is televised on USA network and 5:00-7:00 eastern time . Acura looks blistering fast . The rest of the field has some work ahead of them .

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by astrochex

I just saw someone saying that part of the struggle for Porsche may be the GT experienced drivers coming to grips with GTPs.

Well that would be interesting for Porsche to somehow stick an experienced GTP driver in one of the cars for a test and see what happens. It just seems at this point that there's something fundamentally wrong with the car. Daytona, Sebring, Portimao, and Long Beach - all far different types of tracks and Porsche is consistently a couple seconds back. Engine and suspension can be tweaked and would've been done by now. So I'm guessing aero package problem which is locked in by design and not really changeable.

[CurtEgerer]

Jeeeuzzz, just looked at FP3 Portimao and even VanWall and Peugeot (which were basically running LMP2 lap times at Sebring) are ahead of the Porsches. Not saying it's over, but the fat lady is off-stage clearing her throat ....

And they've got Andre Lotterer in one the 963s which would completely rule out any driver problems.

[CurtEgerer]

[astrochex]

I think you’re right Curt. Putting Brendan Hartley in the car is not going to gain 1 sec a lap.

A fascinating problem that I hope Porsche can figure out.

It is strange that Porsche missed the mark with the GT3 car too.

[rfuerst911sc]

I have to think the twin turbo V8 in the Porsche has to provide enough HP/torque to be competitive . And the hybrid system is off the shelf so same or similar as everyone else . So that leaves chassis/setup/drivers . I personally don't think it's the drivers . Not sure how " adjustable " the chassis is but they better pull out all the stops .

The GT3 . Is the car off pace or was Porsche hit with too big of an BOP adjustment ? Time will tell on that one as IMSA has made some changes to BOP and we have to see the results .

[pwd72s]

Never bet against Penske...

[rfuerst911sc]

Gutsy strategy call by Penske teams paid off . They were the only LMDh teams to not change tires . Well done . I didn't care for another race ending under yellow ☹️ . Taylor was flying in the Acura but mental mistake bit them hard . BMW must be happy as they are seeing progress .

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Gutsy strategy call by Penske teams paid off . They were the only LMDh teams to not change tires . Well done . I didn't care for another race ending under yellow ☹️ . Taylor was flying in the Acura but mental mistake bit them hard . BMW must be happy as they are seeing progress .

That crash was ridiculous, but racers wanna race!

[CurtEgerer]

Another entertaining race and a fantastic result! Penske did the only thing they could do to have a chance - 1 tire strategy and great driving. They got lucky with the crashes and it worked. Ricky Taylor was impatient and had plenty of time to setup a high-percentage pass instead of that banzai move.

6 Hrs of Portimao is live now with 1 hour down. Porsche running well behind the 2 Toyotas and 2 Ferraris.

edit: well, 1 Toyota basically out with an FIA-mandated pit to change an axle for defective telemetry sensor. Porsche now 4th. 3 more retirements needed!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Another entertaining race and a fantastic result! Penske did the only thing they could do to have a chance - 1 tire strategy and great driving. They got lucky with the crashes and it worked. Ricky Taylor was impatient and had plenty of time to setup a high-percentage pass instead of that banzai move.

6 Hrs of Portimao is live now with 1 hour down. Porsche running well behind the 2 Toyotas and 2 Ferraris.

edit: well, 1 Toyota basically out with an FIA-mandated pit to change an axle for defective telemetry sensor. Porsche now 4th. 3 more retirements needed!

I have to admit I laughed when I saw him hit the tire barrier and take himself completely out of the race and DNF on an totally insane pass attempt. 100% driver error in the red mist.

[ltusler]

Ahh, poor Rickey made a boo boo.

[CurtEgerer]

Anyone else watching Portimao? One of these modern, clinical, video game-type tracks with no character whatsoever. Looks the same as every other track of this type. What's bizarre - there are NO spectators. Don't know if nobody showed up or they don't allow spectators or what?

[CurtEgerer]

1. Toyota 2. Ferrari 3. Porsche 4. Cadillac 5. Peugeot

Porsche need to find 2 seconds before Le Mans.

[rfuerst911sc]

Overall a good weekend for Porsche Penske . They still have small teething pain ( power steering today in WEC ) but still have to find pace . I think it's aero , does Adrian Newey do side jobs ? 😋

[red 928]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Taylor was flying in the Acura but mental mistake bit them hard .

Broke me up, almost as much as watching
Castroneves punt it into the tires on the first lap today.

[CurtEgerer]

Villeneuve's brake explosion in the Vanwall was pretty wild ....