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What a race and what a win! Its been a looooong time coming. The entire race had my eyes glued to the screen.
I do feel a bit sorry for Oliver Jarvis though. We all know it was in their best interest for Mazda as they kept Oliver in 2nd during the end. Hopefully we'll have a #77 win for Jarvis and the winning credit for his record laps.
Watching John Doonan after the race was just amazing. He looked like a kid on christmas morning who just got the greatest gift ever! You just can't duplicate that level of pure joy. Just awesome.
so the only good thing about it being Monday is that it's still Race Week!
quick turnaround this week as they're up at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Will the Mazda's keep their pace at that track? What's Acura got in their bag of tricks this weekend? What about Cadillac? Does this track suit their setups better as they were definitley off the pace at the Glen.
Man, so much could happen but I'm still just stoked abou the Mazda win yesterday. I truly hope IMSA doesn't just BoP them out of existence though. It's one race IMSA, let them keep running. If they still are that much faster after this weekend then I could see them doing something but on such a short turnaround I hope we don't see changes.
Lamborghini has revealed ambitions of launching a top-level prototype program, either in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship or FIA World Endurance Championship under the series’ respective new-generation regulations.
Sportscar365 has learned that the Italian manufacturer has been involved in talks with both IMSA on its so-called DPi 2.0 platform, as well as the FIA and ACO with the recently confirmed ‘Hypercar’ formula, although discussions are still at exploratory levels.
According to Lamborghini motorsport boss Giorgio Sanna, such a program would not come until 2022 at the earliest, and as of now, would largely be customer-focused.
It makes sense that they'd look at both the FIA and IMSA platforms but this is where things get really interesting... (emphasis mine)
Sanna said he considers DPi 2.0 and Hypercar to both be “interesting scenarios” for the luxury high performance brand, although he’s waiting on further clarity from the FIA and ACO on the projected costs of a Hypercar program.
A targeted annual budget of €20-25 million ($22-28 million) was documented by the FIA in December, although Sportscar365 understands that figure has risen significantly in recent months.
It’s understood that current DPi manufacturer budgets are under $10 million, with a platform which Sanna said is currently working “very, very well” with “solid technical regulations and very good exposure.”
so the only good thing about it being Monday is that it's still Race Week!
quick turnaround this week as they're up at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Will the Mazda's keep their pace at that track? What's Acura got in their bag of tricks this weekend? What about Cadillac? Does this track suit their setups better as they were definitley off the pace at the Glen.
Man, so much could happen but I'm still just stoked abou the Mazda win yesterday. I truly hope IMSA doesn't just BoP them out of existence though. It's one race IMSA, let them keep running. If they still are that much faster after this weekend then I could see them doing something but on such a short turnaround I hope we don't see changes.
The RT-24P's were certainly quick, but they weren't blowing the Acura away at the straights. It would be a shame if BoP heavily changes that.
I agree.
I think Tincknell talked about it, they went with lot of downforce to maximize grip knowing they'd suffer a little in the straights but felt it gave them the best setup for that track.
In the straights the Acuras as still the fastest.
High-Voltage Hybrids Emerge as Favored Option for DPi 2.0
High-voltage hybrids appear to be the favored option among manufacturers following the latest round of DPi 2.0 meetings to shape the next-generation top class prototype regulations.
Set for a 2022 debut in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, significant progress is understood to have been made in the latest steering committee meeting held last week at IMSA’s headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Sportscar365 understands that the meeting, which saw more than 40 industry representatives in attendance, was focused on hybrid technology and an overview of the ancillary systems and procedures that teams, tracks, operators and corner workers will have to adapt to.
However, last week’s meeting, led by Matt Kurdock, IMSA’s director of technical systems, is understood to have been focused on the potential use of larger hybrid units.
Suggestions of a 400-volt system, providing in the range of 70-90 kW (90-120 hp) of electric power, is believed to have been in discussions, a move that would provide a meaningful level of boost that could be deployed in various yet-to-be-determined methods.
Despite the increased power over a low-voltage system, it’s understood IMSA has still targeted a $100,000 cost-cap for the spec hybrid system, which could be put up for tender.
A decision on the hybrid’s specification is understood to not yet have been taken but could come at the next meeting, which is scheduled for early August prior to its Road America event.
We all know these cars are going to have to adopt some form of electric / hybrid systems and I'm actually okay with that as it's the natural evolution of cars and engines right now but this could negativelyimpact some of the customer based cars.
Privateer Teams Express Concern on Potential Rising Costs
While manufacturers appear to be on board for the increased electrification, several current DPi team owners, including Wayne Taylor, have expressed concerns on potential rising costs for customer teams.
“It’s a very big worry for me,” Taylor told Sportscar365. “As it may look from the outside that we’re a factory program, we’re not.
“We are customers just like every other Cadillac [DPi]. But we’re racing against Honda, which is Penske and factory, and we’re racing against Mazda, which is factory with Joest.
“Quite honestly, the budgets have got to such a point that at the moment, it’s almost impossible to keep going at this level.
“We’re spending $5.6 million for ten races, which is absolutely absurd.
“A team like mine will not exist unless a manufacturer calls up and says they’ll pay for everything.
“If I don’t get that manufacturer call, then I can’t see how we will compete after 2021.”
Lamborghini, which is among the nearly dozen manufacturers represented in the meetings, has also expressed caution on excessive costs around hybrid systems.
As revealed by Sportscar365, the Italian manufacturer is looking to enter the DPi ranks in 2022, but only with a customer-based model similar to Cadillac’s current program.
“Hybrid is the future, that’s clear,” Lamborghini Head of Motorsport Giorgio Sanna told Sportscar365.
“We have very good expertise in the low-voltage in terms of technology in the company. But in any case, we’re open to discuss any opportunities.
“What is very important is to have attention on the budget cap and the budget needed for this kind of technology. If it’s managed in the right way, we’re open to any kind of opportunity.”
Intersting how lately we've been hearing quite a bit about the costs involved in running in this series but dang, WTR is spending $6 Million Dollars this season?!
Steve I don't see IMSA going down that road as they're fully aware that's what's killing WEC /FIA and they need to control costs if they're going to continue being successful.
Steve I don't see IMSA going down that road as they're fully aware that's what's killing WEC /FIA and they need to control costs if they're going to continue being successful.
SNTP, Doonan works miracles with his budget
I hope you are right. IMSA becoming boring will be a death blow, and IMSA is one of the more interesting series out there. OTOH, I guess Mazda could use their rotary range extender or something.
06-30-2019, 02:24 PM
