Imsa/wec 2025

[CurtEgerer]

I'm another one watching on Max (actually TNT Sports via Max). Full commercial-free coverage beginning 9AM EST Sat.

Hopefully, we won't be overly exposed to the WEC's annoying 'social media sports presenterette' Alexa. She seems like a very nice young woman but can't we get an ex-driver or somebody with some actual experience in the sport? She seems better suited to presenting boy bands .... I guess I'm not their target audience.

[URY914]

[CurtEgerer]

Cadillac has NO CHANCE to win, maybe a top 5 at best. This, according to Bourdais .... Asked if he expected to see Ferrari and Toyota so far back, Bourdais retorted: “No, and I still don’t believe it. I think they’re making fun of us.

cadillac-has-no-chance-to-win-le-mans-24-hours-despite-pole-position

[CurtEgerer]

The headlines write themselves. The sandbags have been removed. Oh, and did I mention 'anybody but Ferrari (or Toyota!)?

[Deschodt]

Why would Ferrari sandbag Hyperpole ? are there possible BoP changes between pole and the race ?

[William930t]

I am a bit surprised Cadillac racing locked out front row in hyperpole qualifying. Alex Lynn set the best time of 3 min 23.166 seconds in #12 Team Jota Cadillac while Earl Bamber put the sister #38 car alongside and only 0.167 seconds slower. Both cars have a great driver lineup. First Le Mans pole for USA since Ford did it in 1967. #5 Penske Porsche 963 was third fastest. Must note, long race so pole means very little in race strategy, plus there may be some qualifying sandbagging involved with the other manufacturers (Ferrari). 21 cars in the top class take the green flag Saturday.

LMP2 has #29 on pole

LM GT3 class, #27 Aston Martin got pole, #21 Ferrari second fastest, #46 BMW third, #61 AMG Mercedes fourth and fifth fastest #92 Porsche. Interesting that top 8 GT3 qualifiers are all different manufacturers.

Watching as much as I can on Max tomorrow

[CurtEgerer]

What is going on with Wayne Taylor Racing? I guess I missed the explanation as to why they're basically in last place. They've been a gigantic disappointment for Cadillac this year.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Why would Ferrari sandbag Hyperpole ? are there possible BoP changes between pole and the race ?

No, but I think it would mainly be for a more favorable BoP in 2026 (and the rest of the 2025 WEC season). They use the previous year's data from Le Mans for the Le Mans-specific BoP. Also, they might save some tires and/or tire wear for use in the race. So far at 1-1/2 hours into the race, they don't appear to have an advantage over Cadillac and Porsche.

[astrochex]

3.5 hrs in Ferrari 1, 3-4, Porsche 2 and 5. Highest Caddy is Whelen.

[rfuerst911sc]

The first 20 hours don't mean much other than to survive . The last 4 hours your best drivers will be in the seat going full force .

[dlockhart]

[CurtEgerer]

I really think the power increases and weight decreases given to Ferrari before the race should have been far more. While they are dominating the first 3 places in Hypercar, there are still a few other cars on the SAME lap. Seems like it would be better racing to have the Ferraris lap the field a few times. Because that is apparently what FIA/WEC want to see

There would be no complaints whatsoever if this were an open-spec type racing and Ferrari simply built the best car. But it is not. This is BoP racing where WEC is constantly fiddling with the cars to make them 'equal'. With this type racing, it is team execution and drivers that are theoretically important. How are all 3 Ferraris dominating the race if WEC's BoP system works? To give WEC the benefit of the doubt, I'll blame it on incompetence, not politics or lobbying or playing the system ....

[CurtEgerer]

There's still 4 hours left to go and they're actually talking about whether the President of Ferrari would prefer the yellow Ferrari to win or one of the red Ferraris win. Because obviously Ferrari will win ... short of some kind of misfortune that takes out all 3. I'm switching over to reruns of Leave it to Beaver. This is not worth watching.

[rfuerst911sc]

With aprox 21 hours raced and Ferrari holding the top three positions you have to question the BOP adjustments . Porsche/Cadillac/Toyota are top tier race teams but it appears are out matched .

Still a little over 3 hours to go and everyone will be pushing as hard as they can . A mistake or a part failure can change the running order quite quickly . But on pure pace it looks like Ferrari's race for the win .

[Baz]

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/06/15/robert-kubica-leads-le-mans-in-yellow-83-ferrari-with-two-hours-to-go/

Matt Campbell is second in the #6 Porsche, around 20s off Nielsen. Campbell and his #6 teammates have been there or thereabouts the whole race. They were fast in the cooler temperatures during the night, leading for significant periods of time.

Antonio Fuoco is third in the first of those factory Ferraris, with the Dane behind the wheel of the #50. But he’s well over 40 seconds behind Kubica with the gap growing, and Campbell is in between, the fly in the ointment.

[Baz]

The #6 Porsche and #50 Ferrari pit at the same time — tension is sky-high!

With everything still to play for, the final outcome hangs in the balance. ��⏱️ #LeMans24 #WEC pic.twitter.com/Z4Z3DgvEQS

— 24 Hours of Le Mans (@24hoursoflemans) June 15, 2025

[Baz]

Porsche rules the LMGT3 class once again with the #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R of @manthey_racing 1st Phorm!#LeMans24 #WEC pic.twitter.com/aQwlt6zmIk

— 24 Hours of Le Mans (@24hoursoflemans) June 15, 2025

[Baz]

Let's celebrate our 24 Hours of Le Mans winners! ����#LeMans24 #WEC pic.twitter.com/SpInTAPdx9

— 24 Hours of Le Mans (@24hoursoflemans) June 15, 2025

[rfuerst911sc]

Congratulations to Ferrari for the win . I think the BOP adjustments they received stacked the deck in their favor . Porsche Penske did good to get 2nd . Manthey Porsche just seems to always be consistent with race pace and strategy . Congratulations to them for the GT3 win .

[CurtEgerer]

Who did the President of Ferrari decide should win, red or yellow? And can we have a moderator correct the title of this thread from IMSA/WEC 2025 to IMSA/FEC 2025? Is it too early to predict a 4-peat at LM in 2026? With Ferrari's, umm, 'lackluster' qualifying performance they will likely get another favorable BoP boost.

Luckily, we've got IMSA where the BoPs do provide some close racing.