Spa 6 Hours

[Kristof]

Entry list has been published today (see attachment).
34 cars
9 LMP1 - 12 LMP2 - 7 LMGTE-Pro - 6 LMGTE-AM
1 extra car in LMP2 : #38 G-Drive Racing for Dolan/Van der Garde/Dennis

[Kristof]

http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/04/fia-wec-spa-entry-list-other-news.html

[Kristof]

http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/05/fia-wec-6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps.html

[Kristof]

Some travel advice for those of you coming to Spa this weekend. There are roadworks on the E40 near Herstal, big traffic jam today from Loncin. Also on the E42 just before the Spa exit (nr all trafic has to go on 1 lane, so expect delays there too.

It's a bank holiday weekend in Belgium, so Thursday and Friday should be ok, but if you're arriving on Saturday morning, traffic could be a mess to get to the track.

[Kristof]

First Spa galleries are online !

Wednesday : http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/05/fia-wec-6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps_73.html
Thursday : http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/05/fia-wec-6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps_5.html
Friday : http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/05/fia-wec-6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps_6.html

More pictures are available on my site : www.kristofvermeulen.com

[Kristof]

*rant mode on*
Forcing accredited photographers to buy 4 drink tokens to get into the cafe on top of the paddock, even if you just need to be there for 2 minutes to take a picture ?  Really ? 
F*cking twats !!!  That's no overview pictures during the race then.
*rant mode off*

[Boorish Grobian]

Great photos Kristof, been watching the race this morning.  Looks like a nice day in the Ardennes.  The Spa 6 Hours is at the top of my bucket list of races I've yet to attend, very jealous of everyone there this weekend.
Fax

[Bob U]

All you need is a flight Fax. We'll get you you to the race and look after all else. Next year OK?

[Boorish Grobian]

Hi Bob, you have no idea how much I want to take you up on that offer, but sadly we're probably looking at 2018 before we could make the trip over.  All of my vacation time off work for the next twelve month's or so is already bid out, and would be difficult to change it.  In addtion we've got a house that's going to require some costly maintenance in the coming month's.   But I do very much appreciate the offer, perahps in 2018?
Fax

[Kristof]

Busy days at work, so bit of a delay in all the post race Spa blog & pictures.
Part 1 is online now : http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/05/fia-wec-6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps_11.html
LMP1 race review

[aricus654]

I'm trying to work out what happened across the first two races.

At Silverstone Toyota looked a bit behind Porsche and Audi and I though we were going to see a race where they just followed.

And then Spa!

So I know that Toyota ran high downforce and Audo low drag.  Was that it? Was that the difference that put Toyota back into contention?

Aricus

[Kristof]

http://clubarnage.blogspot.be/2016/05/fia-wec-6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps_12.html

LMP2 & GTE Review

[Kristof]

I'm trying to work out what happened across the first two races.

At Silverstone Toyota looked a bit behind Porsche and Audi and I though we were going to see a race where they just followed.

And then Spa!

So I know that Toyota ran high downforce and Audo low drag.  Was that it? Was that the difference that put Toyota back into contention?

Aricus

The main thing that brought Toyota back into contention was that they didn't suffer of any mechanical or technical gremlins until their engines failed. Porsche and Audi had one problem after another. Toyota ran in high downforce setup, which gave them lower topspeed but they could hold on to Audi and Porsche in the technical mid section of the track. What suprised me was that the #5 easily created a gap to the Audi #8, knowing the Audi should have a faster car thanks to its aero configuration and based on the Silverstone result.

My guess is that Toyota might surprise everyone at LM. Nobody saw their low downforce kit yet, Davidson said it is so specific that it will only work at Le Mans.  They will come up with something good. The TS050 showed its pace this weekend, if they can make it reliable, don't count them out next month !

It seems like all 3 manufacturers are pushing their cars and technology to the limit this year. LM won't be 24 sprintraces of an hour as in the past years, it will be a race of "last man standing", expect lots of troubles and reliability issues. We're in for a classic !

[Barry]

It seems like all 3 manufacturers are pushing their cars and technology to the limit this year. LM won't be 24 sprintraces of an hour as in the past years, it will be a race of "last man standing", expect lots of troubles and reliability issues. We're in for a classic !

Totally agree, think it will be a nail biting race.
Looking forward to the test weekend when the low downforce kit gets rolled out.
If the non factory LMP1's have trouble free races, and the big boys don't, I think they could be in the running for a podium as well. Considering the commitment that Rebellion have shown over the years it would be great to see them get a good result.

The other question that remains to be answered is 'are Ford sand bagging?'
The cars seem to cruise around under the radar a bit, but, as one commentator pointed out, rarely have trouble overtaking when they do catch up a car. There is also the mystery of the fast lap that was recorded at one point during the Spa weekend. Timing glitch or their real pace?

The anticipation is building, hoping the weather is kind!
Can't wait for LM week!

[landman]

It seems like all 3 manufacturers are pushing their cars and technology to the limit this year. LM won't be 24 sprintraces of an hour as in the past years, it will be a race of "last man standing", expect lots of troubles and reliability issues. We're in for a classic !

Totally agree, think it will be a nail biting race.
Looking forward to the test weekend when the low downforce kit gets rolled out.
If the non factory LMP1's have trouble free races, and the big boys don't, I think they could be in the running for a podium as well. Considering the commitment that Rebellion have shown over the years it would be great to see them get a good result.

The other question that remains to be answered is 'are Ford sand bagging?'
The cars seem to cruise around under the radar a bit, but, as one commentator pointed out, rarely have trouble overtaking when they do catch up a car. There is also the mystery of the fast lap that was recorded at one point during the Spa weekend. Timing glitch or their real pace?

The anticipation is building, hoping the weather is kind!
Can't wait for LM week!

If Rebellion made it on to the podium then I'd actually stay after the race & join the throng on the track.

The Ford's still sound weird/rough to me and if they were sandbagging then I think that they'd have put in a slightly better performance.  Their advantage will be in numbers and consequently reliability issues with others would see them on the podium.  A podium with no Fezza's would please me 

The only known unknown is the weather but if there is a repeat of last year's storm then can I join you in your drinks tent again please?