I listened to the 24 Hours of Daytona on IMSA radio and watched the live timing. It was fun to follow. The 296's don't seem to be up to the pace. They qualified back in the pack and they never seemed powerful enough to make an attack. Maybe a BoP, maybe just not in the right design compared to the competition. We'll see. Looking forward to Sebring.
BoP all the way. Ferrari knows the performance needed out of a GT3 car. How many GT3 versions of the 488 did they run? I expect the Ferrari and Porsche will be much more competitive at Sebring.
In the past MotorTrend tv has had the coverage. I believe they do for this year as well but couldn't find confirmation of that. I did find this but don't know a ton about it. https://motorsport.tv/program/fia-wec-live-racing/10
My understanding from principals is the 296s were running substantially dialed back because of concerns related to endurance, not to mention they’re new cars. I suspect as teams become more familiar with them they’ll be noticeably faster in the coming months. They’d better considering the new 296 gt3 was two seconds off the old 488 gt3 times at Daytona last year. I am still disappointed Ferrari left Michelotto in the first place. Not an inditement on Oreca, but I’d have preferred to see M vs O built 488 GT3 cars for comparison before watching one picked over the other… particularly with the history.
Ferrari have said that for the 296 they they handled all the design in-house versus, I suppose, the 488 and earlier cars being designed at Michelotto. They’ve made it pretty clear that the cars are only built and supported by Oreca. Considering how the GTP Acuras went, maybe they should have let Oreca handle the design also, ha-ha.
Interesting that there are two Florida tracks in a row on the schedule. I get Sebring has history, and no offence to anyone but, it seems like a throwback track with a makeshift appearance, laid out on a flat piece of land. I guess I don't get it. But hey, if the 499P, 488 GTE, 296 GTD and GTD Pro can do well, I don't where they race.
Sebring a throwback track ? You must be kidding. Flat? Yes, it's built on an airfield. Sebring has been a pioneer in endurance in the US, with an almost continuous racing history since 1952, Beside Sebring must be the most challenging circuit on the calendar and the 12 hours a real test of endurance for cars.
it’s an old airport in Florida, of course it’s flat I would like to see if repaved. Lap times instantly 5 seconds faster Sebring is a dump, but it’s a charming dump, like wrigley field
What part of FL isn't flat? There aren't a lot of places where you can run an endurance race Jan-Mar other than FL.
I really need to see that car in person. From all the photos and videos of seen I still really hate how it looks. I also find the 296GT3 to be very odd looking.
the wing is goofy but what's cool about LMDH (at least right now) is all the different approaches. someone will show up with the winning package and all the others will copy it next season I love the 296, both as a road car and GT3 car.
I was being kind calling it a throwback. Charming dump is more poetic. I do appreciate how Sebring roughs up the cars.
Of course an airfield in Florida is flat, that's what I'm sayin'. At least Daytona has 20 feet of banking! And I'm sure Road Atlanta is fine in March. But I get it, Sebring has its place. I just hope the Ferrari P cars don't rattle to death, that would be embarrassing.
That's the point ! Other tracks are like billiard tables compared to Sebring. I hope it never lose that roughness.
