Five of the six cars slated to compete in the GTE-Pro class at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans have been issued new Balance-of-Performance (BoP) changes heading into the race, including Chevrolet’s Corvette C7.R, according to Sportscar365. In the ‘Vette’s case, BoP changes are limited to an extra 10 kg of mandatory weight; some of the other GTE-Pro contenders were hit with fuel capacity changes and different turbocharger boost pressure limits.
Of the Corvette C7.R‘s competitors in GTE Pro, only the Porsche 911 RSR received no BoP changes. The BMW M8 GTE and Ferrari 488 GTE were both granted small increases in maximum allowable boost pressure, while the Aston Martin Vantage GTE, which ran nearly five seconds off-pace from the pack on Test Day, has been given a larger boost limit increase. The Aston was also granted an extra 4 liters of fuel capacity, while BMW and Ford lost 2 liters each. Ford’s formidable GT was administered a small boost penalty, but got a 13 kg weight break, while BMW was given an extra 13-kg penalty.
After winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE-Pro class in 2015, Corvette Racing suffered an embarrassing defeat the following year, only managing a best result of seventh-in-class. The team redeemed itself somewhat the following year by making it onto the podium in third. This year, the factory-backed effort will try for its ninth class win at the storied endurance race, fielding a pair of cars driven by Jan Magnussen, Antonio García, Mike Rockenfeller (No. 63 car), Oliver Gavin, Marcel Fässler, and Tommy Milner (No. 64).
Comments
So tell me, how is this racing again? if the sanctioning body is going to handicap the better performing cars for parity; then it may as well be a spec series with cookie cutter cars.
Balance-of-Performance or (BoP) is used to keep the racing close without resorting to “a spec series”, which in most series is boring. Watch any NASCAR Cup Racing lately? pretty much “a spec series”!
Frankly, spec racing and BoP both are far more detrimental to racing than just setting a budget cap. 50% of great racing is watching cars of different design philosophies fight it out in the highly skilled hands of the drivers.
The only time the sanctioning body should step in and dictate car design is when it becomes obvious that all teams have settled on the same formula for success. Then the powers that be should step in and flip it all on it’s head with significant but extremely loose guidances that allow for unique (preferably factory based) race cars, limited only by a strictly enforced budget cap.
Go get’em Jake!
Yes.
While BOP suck from pure racing it does several things.
It keeps MFG in the series.
It keeps cost down.
It keeps the cars close no matter how they are configured.
It keeps the fans coming to the track.
If they go unregulated the cost would climb dramatically and then the MFGs pull out. Then you are left with one brand or a spec car and then no one watches.
That happened to the Corvette in the ALMS series as they were the only cars in class for a short time till the rules were changed. It was to the point GM was thinking of leaving as racing yourself serves no purpose.
The days of pure racing are over from F1 down to soap box derby. The cost and technology has driven pure racing away.
We race soap box derby and we have to run a spec car now due to cheating and costs. They have an unlimited division but some of those cars are using wheels that cost thousands of dollars as well much more for the car itself. Few can afford it and odds are it will die like the Can Am series did several times.
Read up on the history of Can Am and see what unregulated and over regulated series fair.
Besides the BOP has kept the Corvette relevant cars that have many advantages in balance, center of gravity and power to weight.
would like to see a new type of racing… stock car racing. only add cages.
classes based on retail cost, availability and minimum sales numbers.
They did that.
The SCCA ran show room stock for a while.
The MFGs all showed up then raced in production cars. Chevy even would drive their cars to the 24 hours of Nelson and back to Detroit to prove a point.
But then things happened. The Corvettes dominated the show. Porsche threatened to pull out so they banned the Corvette.
Chevy then ran the Z28 and beat the 944 Turbo. So Porsche then ran the next year prototype. GM then did the 1LE. Then things spiraled out of control.
The specialty companies came in and stunk up the show till everyone stopped watching and MFGs all quit.
It was fun while it lasted.
Oh the Corvettes got the Corvette Challange as a consolation to the ban. It was a bore watching 25 of the same cars go round and round.
GM saw little promotion then shut it down.
Here is the problem everyone wants to win. They will work the rules till they get stopped and by then the series starts to degrade and then you are left with a series no one wants to race in or watch.
This has happened in Can Am, Trans Am, IMSA, ALMS, Indy, and now even NASCAR .
The the BOP is not perfect but it has kept the series viable to where you have close racing, mfg involvment, controlled cost and people still paying to watch them run.
We do not need to see history repeat it’s self again.
At this time most sports are losing fan base. Sports car racing actually has been doing better than most so best not to mess it up.
In a perfect world it would be a run what you brung. But that ship has sailed a good while ago. And the world will remain far from perfect.
THIS! I’m pretty much a fanatic about all things automotive and mechanical. And when it comes to classic racing of the past, some of the best and most recognized race cars were factory based. Trans Am racing in the late 60s-early 70s was pure nirvanna for a guy like me. As well as alot of the European ralley racing and cross country racing of the 30s-early 60s.
The cars were homolagted specails and modified street cars. They looked like what you could or did drive. The racing was better because they were not glues to the track. Drivers with skill were very easy to identify, unlike now we’re a spectator is hard pressed to actually understand why Tony Stewart won his 1000th race, or why exactly Lewis Hamilton won the championship..again besides being in a car with unlimited budget.
Racing is BORING now. The only auto sports that still offer variety and excitement along with awesome displays of driver skill are Outlaw drag racing, club racing, WRC, and drifting. We won’t even discuss street racing.
A few years back they stopped having the vintage Trans Am and Can Am racing with the local StePete Grand Prix. They replaced it with trophy trucks. They all look alike and aren’t half as entertaining and awe inspiring as the older Wilder, louder, and far more unique vintage race cars. And it shows in the spectator crowds during the race. It’s like intermission until the Indy and World Challenge cars come out.
Frankly the Indy cars bore me as well. They all look alike and after a lap or two, I may as well be watching slot cars. The WC cars are always a good show, and they look like what I see on the street. The variety is great as well; KTM, B!W, PORSCHE, VETTES, CAMAROS, MUSTANGS, BENTLYS, MERCEDES, FERARRI, CADILLAC, JAGUAR, AUSTIN MARTIN, heck one year Kia was running Optimas, and they were damn competitive too!
Variety of cars and tracks that allow for displays of driver skill and excitement are whats best. Not artificial limiting of superior cars, and lame courses that don’t promote passing.
Like I stated I agree it is great racing and some neat cars but it kills the series.
Case in point Can Am in 1973. The Penske 917 was a monster and dominated everything. It drove up all teams to spend more money till they just could not afford it anymore.
Even McLaren built a TT V8 Chevy but could not afford the only trans axle that could hold it. They soon pulled out and the series died.
They went to a spec cheaper formula and even a spec formula but no MFGs were attracted.
NASCAR now has had Gibs dominate last season and Ford this year with Stewart. Now the stands are emptywith one dominate brand or team.
There is no money in road racing. If you do not keep cost in check and teams competitive you will lose them. You lose the MFGs you will lose the series.
As for WC you do realize they also have regulated rules much like BOP?
They do. Same with Pirelli cup. Air restrictions and tire sizes along with other methoeds are employed. That is why fields are large and cars are close.
Same in the present version of Trans Am. I have friends over there that have limited budgets yet the can compete and the series is strong. I saw them start around 75 cars at Mid Ohio in three classes a few years ago. They have had to split it up as they gained even more cars.
A strong series is one that is carefully balanced to retain teams, fans and MFGs. No one is going to go in and empty their pockets anymore unless they can be competitive.
Also in many cases many of today’s cars would not last if not modified.
Look to the Group B rally cars of the late 80’s. It was unlimited. But drivers died. Spectators died. The cost were to where many MFGs just could not afford to compete and cars were far from stock form like the mid engine 1000 HP Lecar. It took a decade Ford the series to recover. Audi started the spending and it got out of control. Even they left.
A good series is one always in flux that remains to be competitive and affordable. That is what the BOP has done.
If not for BOP the Vette would have been pulled out years ago by GM.
I wish it were different but in the real racing world you have to deal with the reality of all the factors and not just cherry pick from the past.
Outlaw racing has a small fan base and fabricated TV show just do not show all that goes on. It is more like wrestling. Reality TV is seldom real 100%. Creative editing and often scrips hide the truth. Sure some parts are real but not all of it.
They could try the late model dirt track thing but with a much higher pricetag.
You win your car is up for manditory sale if another competitor wants to buy it!
I deal with these folks at work. IMCA claimer engines. This has had mixed results and would never work with MFG’s They spend tens of millions on these programs and will not give them away.
This type of racing is a joke! BOP racing needs to go away! They need to setup car rules for the year and leave them be!
Having one car or manufacture that’s faster is not boring! If you think it’s boring then your not a race fan!
Could you imagine the Olympic officials making Usain bolt wear a weighted jacket during the 100/200 sprint so that it’s fair to the other competitors and make the race closer so the fans can enjoy the race more?
What a load of crap that would be! I love watching the field being dominated! Makes the other guys work harder!
Brian you have to use the real world factors here.
MFGs are in to racing for promotion. They invest and if they get no return they leave. Hard to justify tens of millions to not be competitive
People true fans will stop watching if there is no passing and if they know who is going to win before the race. Look at the stands in NASCAR.
Bolt is not a corporation If he wins he get endorsements if he does not no company has to answer to share holders on the cost or money lost.
To be honest working with BOP makes you work harder as if you are put at a disadvantage you have to work other areas of the car and driver to gain back the advantage. It forces you to search the details for an advantage.
Sorry the real world just does not work the way you want it to work.
If we had it the way you would like to see it the Corvette would have not been competitive for many years now. Cars like the GT and the Ferrari hold a great advantage in lower center of gravity and more centered balance. The GT was a race car built for the street in limited numbers. GM could not have competed with no BOP and they would not have killed the present car to build a limited model like Ford at the expense of the present Corvette formula .
The primary directive of the Corvette is to be a volume high value Sports Car. That will not change even with the C8.
BOP is not perfect but it is better than no racing at all. History has proven this over and over and over.
Even FI now is controlling cost working to keep more teams competitive. That should speak volumes.
Wrong! They made the Corvette teams take massive amounts of power out of their engines so the competition could keep up! Don’t believe me? GM made a commercial about it! Go YouTube it!
Watch “Corvette’s Sebring ALMS Commercial – Just To Be Fair” on YouTube
https://youtu.be/ViS5gbTswWk
If what you say is correct then tell me why nascar ratings where off the charts during the 5 straight years Jimmie johnson won 5 nascar cup titles in a row? Everyone new he was the best team and was going to win most of the time on the track regardless of what city they were in.
Do you think less fans tuned in when Bolt ran the 100? No people flocked to it!
Do you think people where turned away from a mike Tyson fight because they knew he was going to win before he got to the ring? Nope! It was just watch TV!
Brian just to be fair you should also add in the fact that all the cars face HP reduction in various ways. Intake restriction. Boost increases or reductions. Added weight etc. The Corvette is not the only one that has been restricted.
The commercial is just good marketing while leaving out the facts the naïve tend to never consider.
Back in Jimmy’s time you have to again consider all the facts.
#1 the big gorilla in the room Dale Jr. People just watched for him win or lose.
#2 Jimmy won championships but he did not win every week. Most times he only dominated in the Chase. He was a points racer.
#3 The Chase was bad but it is even worse today with all this stage crap etc. When a driver can sit out half a year and still win a championship tainted the whole deal to the die hard base.
#4 they have taken the personality out of the racing. The drivers like Dale SR. Petty and Pierson could never get a ride today as they would be seen as not marketable enough.
As for Bolt and Tyson. They are not dependent on corporate support to pay the millions to participate. When a MFG invest 100 million dollars they expect a return on this. Tyson only needed Don King and Bolt may have had a shoe deal. that was a couple million. They are very different in investment and expectations on return of that investment.
The bottom line is if you have the cars here unrestricted the GT dominates by hours and laps ahead. The other MFGs stop investing in the series and teams with draw. No MFGs and few teams the series dies. Again history proves my point time and time again. I can give you dozens of examples over the years.
Keep in mind this is not what I think, this is just the way it is.
You sound like one of these people who came from the era where participation trophies were handed out and everyone needed to be able to compete on a level playing field or their feelings got hurt!
It’s kind of like going to the dragstrip pulling up to the line and saying since your car is faster I think I should get five car lengths head start.
THAT’S NOT RACING!
This is just sad,
I wont compete if I am going to get embarrassed!
I wont watch if it’s a beat down!
Look we are never going to agree!
I dont care if companies dont like it or fans dont like it true racing should not be compromised!
The answer to the question at the end of this article could be “Brian”. (now don’t just click on over and scroll to the end. ; )
NASCAR Fans Are Racing Away From The Sport Even Faster
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davecaldwell/2018/05/02/stock-car-fans-continue-racing-away-from-nascar/#730021161df5
The last time I watched a NASCAR race was a few years ago, but only because I was at the VFW’s NASCAR party. Donating some of my old NASCAR memorabilia to be auctioned off to support the post. Them good’ol boy’s at the VFW have been watching it for years!
Me? not soo much since the old man died.
ooh and by the way… Lagano got ripped off that day by “NASCAR”. He went low to go under Edwards for the lead at the end on a restart (that’s what racing is right? “racing for the lead”). Just to have Edwards run him off the track and taking himself (Edwards) out of the race. They hadn’t even completed half a lap if my memory serves me correctly. Lagano should have inherited the lead but those fantastic rule makers pushed him back on the next restart!
Who won that race (a few laps later), and title (for winning the race) that year? …Bet you Brian knows!
After reading the article in the link, I think NASCAR needs to take GM’s CEO Mary Barra’s quote “earn our right” to exist in the future and put it on there boardroom walls.
Brian it is not about what we think or feel. The cold hard truths is this. Racing is a mega dollar industry and it comes down to the point people want a return for their investment or they leave the industry.
Results are what they want in wins, being competitive or their products in a goo light.
In the 60’s things changed they started to take money to go faster. Once that happened the racing for pride went out the door.
Pure racing is dead like it or not. Even on my sons Derby has a few thousand dollars invested and we are a low buck effort with no engine. We even market to sponsores to help pay the bills.
I am not arguing with you just giving you a reality check.
You talk about investors but the real problem is pathetic fans who dont have the attention to sit and watch a race even if the race is lopsided.
Why do people need things to be competitive to enjoy watching? When I watched bolt run I knew he was going to win, the only question was by what margin.
As long as the eyeballs continue to watch investors will always be involved. Looks like racing fans need to rededicate themselves to watching and attending racing events. Make the place more fan friendly, make the telecast more fan friendly. But leave the true racing alone! And if one team wins by a mile so be it! Not every race is going to come down to a drag race to the finish!
You make excuses for the competitors involved because they need to have a chance to compete and win. And you look to the rules to provide this, when it should be on the teams to build cars that can compete. I dont care what the cost is! I have never heard the teams with money complain about what things cost. It’s the little teams that ask for changes.
If you want things to be competitive then give teams a clean sheet of paper to work from and drop the green flag!
This is just a mircocausiom of our society let’s make sure every kids has a chance to play and win. It’s pretty sad! But you keep trying to justify it!
maybe there is a way to design a stock car series without factory participation and winnings are restricted to bragging rights.
They have that class at the local tracks. It is called Detroit Iron. or Street Stock. Basically junkyard cars left stock and put on the track to race with a cage. Even that can require a sponsor to be competitive.
Racing is not an art it is a business and people make money while others spend money to go faster to make money.
There is little racing for pride anymore.
Just look at the budgets for even the smallest teams.
Racing is a multi billion dollar industry.
You are completely ridiculous! Your making the case for BOP racing and you dont even like it! Investors will be in racing if the ratings are high enough! Period!
Stop telling me it’s a business! I get it. The business end of it is just a excuse to leave the series because that team is not competitive.
So why do you think cars have to be within a few tenths of each other in order for it to be exciting racing? I dont! It is what it is!
In other forms of sports which I tried to explain to you but fail to understand any of it. Tyson and bolt had plenty of sponsors and promoters that wanted to be apart of the event. They didnt care if they won by a mile or knocked him out in the first round. What they cared about were people in the stands and eyeballs on television.
Racing is not a investor problem or a sponsor problem it’s a spectator problem. If millions of people tune in to watch the series will thrive regardless of what happens on the track!
You don’t have to like the truth but just because you hate it changes nothing.
Sorry if you have a real problem with reality.
The time between cars depends on the series. In NASCAR and many series if there is no passing or competition on track the stands are empty.
In F1 it is one of the rare exceptions where the strategy and technology rule. But then again the teams are closing in on $200,000,000 per car per season for operation cost. This has lead them to use engines for more than one race and limiting things in the name of holding cost as the fields were declining in cars.
As for Tyson and Racing it is apples and oranges. What is not to understand. They may both be sports but they have different parameters.
No racing is a spectator, sponsor and owner problem. All are needed and all have expectation on return.
The spectator is wanting to be entertained with a good race for his time invested or price paid for the ticket. The sponsor and MFG is expecting a return on investment that can be shown it has sold product. The owner of the team expects to make enough money to pay everyone and make a profit or he shuts his doors like many teams have in recent years.
The only series that millions tune in on with no passing has been F1 and even that is changing. The years of Senna and Prost showed them what they were missing. Today the new owners of F! are looking to make racing closer and cheaper. If they fail they risk fields of less than 10 cars.
My paycheck comes from racers and I have been blessed to see this from the inside. I know what is in play. I work for a major sponsor of several teams and I know what they look for and expect in return for the money paid. It is not an excuse to leave if you are not seeing the benefit from a sponsorship package.
Sponsorship with no benefit is like going to the store and buying a product and only getting the box.
Again welcome to reality.
The day the first sponsor name went on the body of a car racing changed and it will never go back to what it once was.
It’s not a money issue its a pride issue when a Corvette runs circles around Porsche and Ferrari they get their feelings hurt. So they have two ways to deal with it, one complain and get the rules changed to slow down the Corvette or pull out the series! Either way its weak and sad!
Now they tell you its because of money but in reality it’s all about them not being able to tell their bosses we can’t compete with a poor man’s sports car the Corvette!
It’s never the reason they give its always a reason that they dont want the public to know. And people like you fall for it! Well I dont if they ran straight up no BOP Corvette team would dominate which the exotic teams just cant stand or do anything about without forcing Corvette team to slow down!
You really are the least intelligent, most ill-informed person I’ve ever seen. Your view of the world is so incredibly child-like. I question whether you truly are a child, or are mentally deficient. Either way, you are wrong on this issue, much like with every other discussion on this forum.
So you must live by the notion that every child is special and nobody stands out because they are better! I bet you stood in line with the rest of the people on this site that got participation trophies!
Unfortunately what I said was the truth it just stings to much for people to accept. High profile teams getting beat by the lowly Corvette team has got to be hard to explain when you take the gloves off! ( why cant you run faster then the Corvette team with out BOP rules must be hard to explain to the executives at Porsche, Ferrari and Audi)
I think a better question is why cant Porsche and Ferrari compete in a no holds bar type competition?
As for being smart if you think I am dumb because I don’t follow other people around mimicking their thoughts. (This is called being a sheep) This is not me, I have my own way of thinking!
In my opinion being a sheep shows just how stupid you really are! You are one of these sheeps!
how to turn on a smok vape