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Post by René on Mar 12, 2023 10:57:24 GMT
To get in the mood, the WEC Prologue at Sebring. Some great looking cars out there.
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Post by mikael on Mar 12, 2023 13:39:10 GMT
Wauw! Those new Hypercars are so quiet! It seems that the Porsche 911's are dominating the "soundscape" of those tests; but as I recall from Suzuka (where a Porsche Carrera class typically acts as "warm up" to the GP), even a racing-spec Porsche 911 Carrera is not that terribly loud by any means - even though it sounds great!
But, regarding the Hypercars again, of course, as we know from Formula One, higher efficiency means less sound ...
Porsche Carrera Cup "pure sound" (from Australia)
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Post by René on Mar 15, 2023 19:59:09 GMT
Toyota #8 fastest in first practice but closely followed by the two Ferraris #51 and #50 who were much faster than during the prologue test. Interesting!   |
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Post by René on Mar 17, 2023 12:16:55 GMT
Wow, Ferrari on pole position! What a lap by Antonio Fuoco and what a great return to sports car racing after 50 years! This is very cool. Enzo would be pleased.   Hypercar results: 1. #50 Antonio Fuoco Miguel Molina Nicklas Nielsen Ferrari 499P HYPERCAR 1'45.067 2. #8 Sébastien Buemi Brendon Hartley Ryo Hirakawa Toyota GR010 - Hybrid HYPERCAR 1'45.281 0.2143. #7 Mike Conway Kamui Kobayashi Jose Maria Lopez Toyota GR010 - Hybrid HYPERCAR 1'45.548 0.4814. #51 Alessandro Pier Guidi James Calado Antonio Giovinazzi Ferrari 499P HYPERCAR 1'45.874 0.8075. #2 Earl Bamber Alex Lynn Richard Westbrook Cadillac V-Series.R HYPERCAR 1'46.082 1.0156. #6 Kevin Estre Andre Lotterer Laurens Vanthoor Porsche 963 HYPERCAR 1'47.193 2.1267. #5 Dane Cameron Michael Christensen Frédéric Makowiecki Porsche 963 HYPERCAR 1'47.210 2.1438. #94 Loic Duval Gustavo Menezes Nico Müller Peugeot 9X8 HYPERCAR 1'47.455 2.3889. #93 Paul di Resta Mikkel Jensen Jean-Eric Vergne Peugeot 9X8 HYPERCAR 1'48.205 3.13810. #708 Romain Dumas Ryan Briscoe Olivier Pla Glickenhaus 007 HYPERCAR 1'49.164 4.097 |
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Post by chrisb on Mar 17, 2023 13:10:10 GMT
Well done Ferrari, this is really shaping up to be an incredible series and something for every motor sport fan, tragic that they are not at Silverstone, really miffed about that, come Silverstone get your act together, looking forward to Sebring being a cracking race
and of course the banner image above is far more evocative in my humble opinion 😂
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Post by Carl on Mar 17, 2023 16:20:54 GMT
No tyre warmers? Will number one drivers have to draw their own baths at the hotel?  |
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Post by René on Mar 17, 2023 16:38:57 GMT
No tyre warmers indeed.
I am watching it live right now via the WEC app. Only €7 to watch this race live.
Very exciting to see the Ferrari leading the field. Now they’re on a different strategy after going in for a refuel during the safety car. Toyotas are leading but Ferraris are working their way back to the front.
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Post by René on Mar 18, 2023 10:54:51 GMT
I enjoyed that race! Really special for me as a lifelong Ferrari fan to see the works team in action in the prototype class. I was simply too young to have seen the 312PB in action so this was magic. The pole position made it even more special and for a short period the Ferrari lead the race. Then they made a strategic error by refueling too early and combined with a few more mistakes by both team and drivers, they could not keep up with the Toyotas. But the #50 car finished a strong 3rd in front of the Cadillac and Porsches which was really impressive. Toyota deservedly won the race and demonstrated what a professional and well oiled operation they are. Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac and Peugeot have their work cut out to match the Toyota pace and perfect race execution but Toyota now knows they must look over their shoulder for the first time in years.    © Autosprint |
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Post by Carl on Mar 18, 2023 16:41:35 GMT
I watched the final hour, always dramatic at Sebring with the sunset perfectly framed beyond the start/finish straight, and even more dramatic this year with the beautiful rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, where the moon missions were launched. Although mistakes were made, Ferrari was strong and will have better days this year!
I have to say that, despite a disastrous Sebring, the best looking prototype is the Peugeot! If they can perfect their gearbox and jettison Pauly Dee, they may come right.
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Post by René on Mar 18, 2023 18:34:08 GMT
Yeah that was spectacular with the rocket launch in the evening! And Ferrari was strong indeed, an impressive return. They have good drivers but none of them have raced in the top prototype class before. But I can certainly see them winning this season, hopefully Le Mans or at Spa when I'm there!  The Peugeot 9X8 is certainly the most special car, very unique and it would be nice if they get everything together. But for now they don't seem fast enough. They have been running this car and concept longer than Ferrari have tested and raced the 499P so you would expect a stronger package. But let's wait and see.  |
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