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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Fuji WEC Notebook
News and notes on the eve of the FIA WEC Six Hours of Fuji...
The dramatic backdrop of Mt. Fuji, part of the atmosphere of this weekend's FIA WEC round in Japan. (Photo: John Dagys)
UNIFIED GT CATEGORY IN WORKS — The Automobile Club de l’Ouest and FIA revealed Saturday evening in Fuji that plans are being put into place for a single set of GT regulations, which could be launched as early as 2015.
Technical chiefs from both organizations confirmed that a working group will be formed to create the new worldwide GT platform, based on the merging of the current GTE and GT3 categories.
The first meeting, which will include all of the major GT automakers, is scheduled for November.
The philosophy of the unified category would be to take the technology creditability of GTE and merge it with the reduced costs of GT3.
Few details are known at this point, but FIA technical director Bernard Niclot indicated a formal announcement of the new regulations could be made as early as next June.
SPEED.com will have more on this developing story later next week.
JRM EYEING EXPANSION — 2012 has been very much a learning year for JRM Racing, which transitioned from the FIA GT1 World Championship into a top-flight privateer LMP1 effort in the FIA WEC.
While the U.K.-based squad has been through some ups and downs, the building blocks are in place for a possible expanded effort next year.
"We're looking at two cars, if possible, for next year, depending on the economic climate,” team manager Nigel Stepney told SPEED.com. “We've got some bigger plans hopefully that will take us into 2014 and 2015. Things are falling into shape.”
Stepney confirmed JRM’s program would see the continuation of the HPD ARX-03a package, although with some upgrades, including the use of full-size front tires, which the car was originally designed for.
A hybrid system, however, has been ruled out for next year but remains an option in 2014 when the new LMP1 regulations take effect.
NOTES FROM PADDOCK
** Drivers from all four FIA WEC categories will be recognized with end-of-season titles, beginning next year. An FIA World Cup will be awarded for GTE drivers, while FIA Endurance Trophies have been added for the LMP2 and GTE-Am championships. The Drivers World Championship, meanwhile, will continue for LMP1.
** The controversial Toyota “Wheel Arch” first introduced at Silverstone in August will not be outlawed for 2013, according to ACO sport director Vincent Beaumesnil. The ACO and FIA expect the Japanese manufacturer’s clever interpretation of the rules, which effectively allows for a full-width rear wing, to be copied by all LMP1 constructors in 2013.
** Howden Haynes is back engineering an Audi, filling in for No. 2 car engineer Kyle Wilson-Clarke, who is best man at a wedding this weekend. It’s the first time “H” is reunited with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen since their win at Sebring and also his first time engineering a hybrid.
** Twenty-seven cars will start Sunday’s race as the No. 61 AF Waltrip Ferrari was withdrawn prior to Free Practice. Rob Kauffman was unavailable for this weekend, leaving the car without a Bronze or Silver-rated driver. It’s expected that Kauffman, Rui Aguas and Michael Waltrip will make up the team's lineup in Shanghai.
** Rebellion Racing’s No. 13 Lola tub arrived at Fuji Wednesday afternoon after being flown to the UK for repair following the car’s practice accident in Bahrain two weeks ago. It was ready for the first Free Practice on Friday after a complete build-up in the garage.
** Takuma Sato, who makes his sports car debut this weekend in the No. 15 OAK Racing Oak-Pescarolo HPD, has the familiar company of HPD engineer Christian Imhof, one of the regulars in the California-based manufacturer’s IndyCar engine supply program.
** The No. 55 JWA-Avila Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has switched from Pirelli to Michelin tires for the final two rounds of the season.
PHOTOS: FIA WEC Six Hours of Fuji
Technical chiefs from both organizations confirmed that a working group will be formed to create the new worldwide GT platform, based on the merging of the current GTE and GT3 categories.
The first meeting, which will include all of the major GT automakers, is scheduled for November.
The philosophy of the unified category would be to take the technology creditability of GTE and merge it with the reduced costs of GT3.
Few details are known at this point, but FIA technical director Bernard Niclot indicated a formal announcement of the new regulations could be made as early as next June.
SPEED.com will have more on this developing story later next week.
JRM EYEING EXPANSION — 2012 has been very much a learning year for JRM Racing, which transitioned from the FIA GT1 World Championship into a top-flight privateer LMP1 effort in the FIA WEC.
While the U.K.-based squad has been through some ups and downs, the building blocks are in place for a possible expanded effort next year.
"We're looking at two cars, if possible, for next year, depending on the economic climate,” team manager Nigel Stepney told SPEED.com. “We've got some bigger plans hopefully that will take us into 2014 and 2015. Things are falling into shape.”
Stepney confirmed JRM’s program would see the continuation of the HPD ARX-03a package, although with some upgrades, including the use of full-size front tires, which the car was originally designed for.
A hybrid system, however, has been ruled out for next year but remains an option in 2014 when the new LMP1 regulations take effect.
NOTES FROM PADDOCK
** Drivers from all four FIA WEC categories will be recognized with end-of-season titles, beginning next year. An FIA World Cup will be awarded for GTE drivers, while FIA Endurance Trophies have been added for the LMP2 and GTE-Am championships. The Drivers World Championship, meanwhile, will continue for LMP1.
** The controversial Toyota “Wheel Arch” first introduced at Silverstone in August will not be outlawed for 2013, according to ACO sport director Vincent Beaumesnil. The ACO and FIA expect the Japanese manufacturer’s clever interpretation of the rules, which effectively allows for a full-width rear wing, to be copied by all LMP1 constructors in 2013.
** Howden Haynes is back engineering an Audi, filling in for No. 2 car engineer Kyle Wilson-Clarke, who is best man at a wedding this weekend. It’s the first time “H” is reunited with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen since their win at Sebring and also his first time engineering a hybrid.
** Twenty-seven cars will start Sunday’s race as the No. 61 AF Waltrip Ferrari was withdrawn prior to Free Practice. Rob Kauffman was unavailable for this weekend, leaving the car without a Bronze or Silver-rated driver. It’s expected that Kauffman, Rui Aguas and Michael Waltrip will make up the team's lineup in Shanghai.
** Rebellion Racing’s No. 13 Lola tub arrived at Fuji Wednesday afternoon after being flown to the UK for repair following the car’s practice accident in Bahrain two weeks ago. It was ready for the first Free Practice on Friday after a complete build-up in the garage.
** Takuma Sato, who makes his sports car debut this weekend in the No. 15 OAK Racing Oak-Pescarolo HPD, has the familiar company of HPD engineer Christian Imhof, one of the regulars in the California-based manufacturer’s IndyCar engine supply program.
** The No. 55 JWA-Avila Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has switched from Pirelli to Michelin tires for the final two rounds of the season.
PHOTOS: FIA WEC Six Hours of Fuji
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