IMSA 2023

sounds very different to the excellent sounding road car as well I found...

 

Pretty close results in qualifying between main contenders.
Really hope BOP won’t destroy fair competition..

 

Qualifying

 

All nine GTP cars were in the 1:34 range, so there is little to choose between them.

 

Yep, slow…new Ferrari 296 2 seconds off times last year with 488


1:46.1 is poll lap time… Last years poll was 1:46.3

Corvette qualified better in the pack this year but was at 1 sec slower on lap times.

Lap time for poll and 1st few rows on par with times last year.

Ferrari was .3 sec slower than Vette with mid 1:48’s to 1:49.8 for a few Ferrari teams…..Porsche teams were also in the 1:48’s ….much slower than there times of 1:46 last year for some reason……


I can’t wait for this weekend… the espresso machine will be going as I stay up watching it all.

I use to drive over and watch around 12hrs and then head home to Tampa.

 

Aldo Costa, ex-Ferrari and Mercedes F1:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/qa-with-dallaras-costa-on-dual-lmdh-involvement/

 

Strange that the new revised cars from Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari are slower than last year. No doubt their engines are restricted. Which doesn't make sense for Imsa to make them run LESS hp than last year.

 

Yep! We will see what the race brings. I wonder if IMSA will do any BoP for these cars?

 

They may wait until next race to do adjustments. Can't wait, I'm gonna need some energy drinks lol. I was surprised to see the GTP cars so close. Acuras are fast. Reliability wise, I think Porsche will be strong.

 

IMSA probably wants to keep the pecking order GTP>LMP2>LMP3>GTD PRO>GTD, and BoP accordingly.

The ACO will probably do the same LMH>LMDh>LMP2>GT3 Pro, etc ... So I think the GT class will be well restricted in future.

That's unfortunate as it removes one of the element of endurance racing, reliability issues.
When GT cars race with engines 150hp down compared to their street versions, there should be hardly any mechanical breakage.

 

It’s ridiculous. It’s like telling sprint runners that some of them have to carry lead weights in their shoes.

 

I think they

got embarrassed the year a viper bear all the prototypes

 

Both Risi Comp and Cetilar Ferrari have retired their 296GT3 claiming floor board issues. Ventilation got rear ended. I can't find anything on line about what's happening with Risi. I've watched the entire race other than 4hrs when i slept.

 

Is there a good website for current timing for this race? The spotty coverage is maddening

 

Live timing:

https://www.imsa.com/scoring/

A decent stream without adds:

http://imsaradio.com/index.php/live-video/

 

Read that same thing happened to the #62: retired due to floor damage from contact.

 

The best part of the race was the long version of the Porsche commercial…says a lot about the race.

 

That P2 finish was crazy but otherwise not the best race. hope Penske gets those Porsches sorted….

 

I'm really impressed by the Acuras, although I think their performance would be less on shorter circuits. Porsche and BMW have been out of Imsa in the top class for years, they with get it sorted. Cadillac looks good already.

 

What a finish in LMP2

 

Quite surprised about that the Porsche was the less reliable despite doing testing for a year. Anyway, the cars are not so closely matched as it seems, looks like the Porsche and Acura are well above the rest.

 

that plus Porsche not being able to deliver customer cars doesn’t give me a good feeling about this program

 

Disappointed by the 296gt3 results.
BOP problem ?

 

BoP, plus Risi and Cetilar both withdrew with floor damage (not sure specifics on what was damaged)

 

25% of the Ferrari’s finished the race