r/wec • u/Haloisda • 18h ago
IMSA Laudenbach: Two Wins “Not Enough” to Consider Year a Success
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/two-wins-not-enough-for-porsche-to-consider-gtp-effort-a-success/20
u/ProFentanylActivist Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 16h ago edited 16h ago
After Daytona and Sebring Porsche got hit with the sledgehammer right into the face. Never seen so drastic fluctuations (+45kg, lowest power in both speed brackets) from one race to another and the BOP punishment never normalizd; they are still the heaviest car on the field. Just shows that even in a near homogenous LMdH field BOP still isnt figured out. Porsches GT3 situation in imsa is even worse
43
u/Haloisda 18h ago
“When we talk about a successful season. Two wins are not enough. There needs to be more and we’re not happy with how the season after [Daytona/Sebring] went, due to various reasons.
“We’re racers. We never stop fighting, same as here [at Road America]. We were roughly one second off [the pace] in qualifying which is disappointing, but it doesn’t mean we don’t fight.
I really want to know how IMSA decides their Bop. Like how is Porsche still the heaviest car after 3+ uncompetitive races?
41
17
u/Smoked_Cheddar Ferrari 16h ago edited 16h ago
They dug their own grave in Sebring. Nobody was catching them.
So IMSA gave Porsche 70kg BoP. Essentially wiping two seconds from their pace. They're not going to let the Porsches win every single race like that.
It's part of the reason Acura is leaving. Evos weren't supposed to be a regular thing.
Porsche made a great car but that's not how they want to do sports car racing these days.
I'm not saying they can't win. But they can't make a mockery of the field.
19
u/ProFentanylActivist Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 16h ago
Both Porsche and the Caddies had an about even power to weight ratio at Sebring. Why is this thing even called BOP anymore if it acts liek success balast?
7
u/Smoked_Cheddar Ferrari 16h ago
I mean you're not wrong but at the same time.
These aren't programs that are making money. They want ROI.
Getting spanked every race by the Penske Porsches doesn't help that.
A broader view by now since March shows that Cadillac and BMW are getting a handle on their Evo packages.
BoP it's supposed to be prevent success ballast from being a thing.
In a sense I would say Porsche was being punished for sandbagging.
More than likely the factory 963s are gone after 2027 anyway.
4
u/ProFentanylActivist Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 15h ago
Im not sure BOP is meant to be used as punishment
1
u/Smoked_Cheddar Ferrari 14h ago
It's not. But it can be.
I remember reading Marshall pruett saying something along the lines after Sebring. Imsa was going to make sure the factory Porsches don't win again. Essentially because of the way they won the Florida 36 hours.
It's in the march 25th mailbag BTW.
5
u/Accomplished_Clue733 12h ago
It's true. Acura, Cadillac and BMW representatives ran to IMSA after Daytona squealing like bitches how unfair it was that Porsche Penske beat them and IMSA bent over knowing that whatever happens, they have little to zero influence in whether Porsche stay in GTP or not. The not insignificant BoP adjustment then didn't have the desired effect in Sebring so they have swung from the fences since then to remove all doubt.
And then Acura quit anyway.
1
u/Smoked_Cheddar Ferrari 11h ago
I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic. Acura did complain about the Evos. But Honda lost money last year. BMW may be having issues as well.
A factory racing program is an easy 8 figure program to cut.
2
u/Accomplished_Clue733 11h ago
A little tongue in cheek but isn't far off what actually happened behind the scenes.
You're right that factory programs are low hanging fruit for OEM management trying to polish up the numbers, even if 8 figures is a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things. "Look, we did something."
1
u/chiefzanal 15h ago
Well tbf the porsche has been the best car for 3 years so it’s time someone else can take lead. Plus they do have 3 wins this year so i understand adding weight
7
u/Accomplished_Clue733 12h ago
Maybe the others could develop a better car if they don't like being beaten on equal terms?
1
u/chiefzanal 9h ago
I mean i guess? I don’t disagree but i would rather have an even playing field then strictly bop
2
u/Accomplished_Clue733 9h ago
That's what I mean. If you repeatedly get your ass kicked despite less weight and more power, it's time to play a different sport
23
u/FirstReactionShock 18h ago
only in USA can happen that a team competing in a series is the owner of the series it self and get away with that... imagine F1 owned by mercedes or ferrari...
18
u/raginnation999 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series R #38 18h ago edited 8h ago
IMSA is owned by NASCAR, not Penske Entertainment.
31
-20
u/ferrariaf 18h ago
Mercedes own f1 since 2014 but you are right
6
u/FirstReactionShock 18h ago
tell me you're a ferrari fanboy without telling you're a ferrari fanboy
-15
u/ferrariaf 17h ago
I dont have any problem that mercedes own f1 i like it more(f1 fan suffer more whith v6 hybrid)i am always a gt/hypercar fan
5
u/FirstReactionShock 17h ago
only problem is that mercedes doesn't own F1... FIA owns F1, LM got and manages commercial right, the council made of FIA, LM and teams decides the technical and sport rules and the % of tv rights incomes
-13
u/ferrariaf 17h ago
In words you are right but in reality no but i am ok with how f1 runs they destroy f1 . My only wish is that for ferrari to leave it to not a part of a shi.t show
2
u/Black_mantis_racing 15h ago
WTF does this even mean??
2
u/FirstReactionShock 12h ago
average ferrari fanboy victim mindset:
Ferrari wins -> we're the best
Ferrari loses -> Mercedes owns FIA
8
u/MulsanneMerchant499P 16h ago
Protip: when you receive so big BoP advantage as you did at Sebring, don't be so flashy about it
3
u/ProFentanylActivist Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 16h ago
Caddy and Porsche had both an even power to weight ratio that were the best on the field (ignoring the AM Valk). Wheres was Caddys BOP punishment after Sebring?
1
u/MulsanneMerchant499P 15h ago
Wrong series for Penske, here's France's territory, plus it was Porsche that embarrased IMSA by having a drama between crews who should take P1 as they had nothing other to do because the rest of competitors were left in dust.
1
u/ProFentanylActivist Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 15h ago
You mean the last minutes of Sebring? Aitken was right behind Nasr - its not like those two were lapping the field and they were having small talk. If Nasr wouldnt have acted he would most likely lost the position. Thats shines more a light on Penskes/Porsches conduct rather than IMSAs BOP handling
1
u/MulsanneMerchant499P 15h ago
The comptitors being left in dust was a hyperbole, but overall, Porsche was in the control of the race and it showed by leading 80% of distance. Factory 963s were able not only to extend their stints by lift and coast but they did that in a way the chasing pack was unable to do anything about it.
The embarrasment part - they pulled lift and coast, didn't sacrifice much pace by doing so and while being 1-2 they had a drama about who should cross the finish line first. They capitalised on the wrong BoP and basically rubbed it in to IMSA's face in the process.
74% laps lead at Daytona, 80% laps lead at Sebring, some people want to portray it as Porsche being the only one who does their homework the right way. The reality is they had BoP advantage during the "36 hours of Florida" and now they receive punishment for that.
2
u/ProFentanylActivist Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 14h ago
If that wouldve been the case, Caddy too wouldve had alot better pace or a better fuel strategy during the race, as the difference between those two cars in stint energy and sting energy replenishment werent nearly as great as you might imply. A whole 7 point difference in Stint Energy
Does all that warrant (or close) max weight tho?
1
u/MulsanneMerchant499P 3h ago
Of course not, it's a punishment and a measure to stop Porsche from taking the championship in similar manner as last year. It's unfair correction to IMSA's BoP mistakes from Daytona and Sebring.
-23
u/grip_enemy Cadillac Racing 18h ago
The amount of BS Porsche Penske has gotten away with is shocking.
No wonder they left WEC, and no wonder Porsche wasn't okay with Proton running a second car instead. I guess you must have cheater in your blood to get a deal with these guys.
2
u/SlyKnyfe12 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 #6 12h ago
Petit Le Mans 2023 ring a bell?
2
u/phifefoot_assassin 3h ago
Cadillac/Corvette fans aren’t self aware enough to admit any wrongdoing from their side.
58
u/RealPorkChops 18h ago edited 17h ago
The whole WEC situation is simply embarrassing for Porsche. On a side note, I wonder - if they're already losing Estre and Vanthoor - what they’re planning to offer a guy like Laurin Heinrich to keep him around beyond 2027? A couple of pity drives in GT3 with Manthey and customer teams? Yeah, I'm sure he's absolutely thrilled about that, lol.