Lone Star Le Mans: Pre-Race Notes

Track surface impressions

Yesterday the teams and drivers got their first taste of the new track surface at CoTA. While only sections of the circuit have been repaved for this year, it is making a significant difference.

The general consensus appears to be that the new surface is a significant improvement, with fewer bumps making for a less violent experience behind the wheel.

Sam Hignett from JOTA did make an interesting point when DSC caught up with him yesterday: “It’s almost too grippy in places, it’s surprising, easy to cook tyres.”

It has made a huge difference to the lap times too…

Lap times

Let’s talk more about lap times. Yesterday’s qualifying saw head-turning pace from many of the cars.

LMP1, with the Success Handicap system, isn’t directly comparable to the last time the FIA WEC visited Austin in 2017, because the Toyotas have been slowed. It’s still interesting to see how the times compare though. The LMP1 Qualifying lap record was from Neel Jani in 2017, a 1:44.656, this year the best time came from Norman Nato, a 1:47.387.

The most useful comparison is in LMP2, as the 2017 Lone Star Le Mans event featured the current crop of LMP2 chassis (back then it was all ORECA, and the first year of this generation).

The best lap from qualifying that year was a 1:54.021 by Nicolas Lapierre, while this year the best time was a 1:48.695 by Nyck de Vries!

There are three factors at play that explain such a huge improvement in lap time for what are effectively the same cars: 1. the weather (it’s a lot cooler at this time of year), 2. the improvements in the tyre technology from Michelin, 3. the new, smoother track surface.

Qualifying format tinkering?

WEC CEO Gerard Neveu spoke to select media yesterday, to discuss a variety of topics ahead of what is going to be a rather important week for the WEC and IMSA at Sebring next month.

One of the subjects spoken about was the Qualifying system, and whether or not Qualifying races were still being considered, as they were a handful of years ago.

Neveu said that the FIA WEC management are not opposed to the idea of changing the qualifying system in the future.

“I like the idea (of holding Qualifying on race morning) but it’s not a single person’s decision,” he said. “The best way to change it is to brainstorm. It has to be something you share with everyone in the paddock, the officials, the teams and look at the weather. I’ve never investigated something like this and found 100% of people having the same opinion.

“The way we do it now is sophisticated. But we put this system in because at Fuji we had a huge crowd years ago, and me and Pierre say cars do an out lap, do one lap then wait in the pits for the other cars (creating lengthy periods with no cars on track) and we thought it was disrespectful to the fans who have paid for tickets and come for the weekend. We introduced the system with two drivers to ensure the cars stay on the track for longer to create a best lap.

“We have to find a better solution though, maybe, because it’s a little too sophisticated, difficult to understand. If we want to change it though we have to make sure that the cars stay on track for the whole of qualifying. We are working on different processes. I hope one day we will be able to propose something different, that maintains the show and simplifies the system.”

He was also asked about the two-day format we’re using this weekend in CoTA, and whether that would be something we’d see more of in the future. Neveu said it’s not expected, and that this weekend’s time table was a product of the WEC having to cancel the race in Brazil and fill the gap in the schedule with the race in CoTA.

The importance of Sebring

It will come as no surprise that Aston Martin’s postponed hypercar effort and the future of the WEC also came up in conversation between the media and Neveu too.

Here’s what he had to say about what next season will look like, and how important the ‘Super Sebring’ event will be:

“This week was a difficult week. We are working like crazy. When I’m thinking about Sebring, I have a weekly meeting with John (Doonan) on the phone, and Sebring will be amazing. I’m hopeful of a very good announcement of LMDh, that will be fantastic for the sport,” he explained.

“We just learned a few days ago about the Aston Martin decision. We have working group sessions with Pierre (Fillon) and a few people in the ACO and FIA, so for sure you will have an exact definition of what will happen next year in the FIA WEC before we open the entry registration.

“At the same time our first priority now is to deliver the convergence strategy at Sebring. How this announcement is received will give us an indication of how the championship will be in 2021, and will give us a chance to decide the format for 2020.

“The WEC will be here in 2020, no question and we will work on very small modifications and adaptations, the final configuration. You can understand that this discussion will involve the ACO, FIA, Toyota and a few others round the table. It’s too early to tell you something today.”

Qualifying highlights

Catch up with yesterday’s Qualifying session with a quick recap video below:

How to follow

Today’s race starts at 12:00 local time in Austin. The FIA WEC site has a full explanation of how you can follow the race wherever you are in the world HERE >>>