Gen 7 in NASCAR could mean Carbon Fiber, New Manufactures & the death of V8

Normally, I would've been watching the race in Kentucky but mother nature had other plans due to the rain storms. Oh well, Sunday shall be race filled regardless with Silverstone in F1, along with this race. It however got me thinking to an article that I read a few months back. Now as we all know, NASCAR updated their cars to gen 6, to make it look it more like the cars you would see on the street. It also came to one other conclusion....

This is the car of tomorrow with an updated shell...

So in the article it shares that information but also at the same time, NASCAR is one step ahead & thinking about Gen 7. To which some of the ideas would IMO work but are rather "radical" to the NASCAR fan... Here are some of the rumors.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/could-nascar-use-turbo-v6s-and-carbon-fiber-frames-by-2-509350566

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/nascar-could-abandon-v8-engines/

According to the report, planning for the new generation car has just recently begun, and everything's on the table right now, even the engine rules that have gone largely unchanged since the early 70s and the steel tube frames that have been used since the late 60s.

The most notable of the new engine options potentially on offer is that of the turbo V6, which would be popular with heavily invested manufacturers Ford and Toyota while also helping court new manufacturers (most notably Volkswagen, who's been considering joining the sport on-and-off for the past three years). If the decision is made to switch to turbo V6s, NASCAR would join IndyCar and F1 in going a V6-only route, though it'd be safe to assume that all three would keep different specific rules, and by extent safe to assume that we're not just four years from seeing an F1 engine in a stock car.

Also on the table is a switch from frames built out of steel tubes to a DTM style hybrid chassis, half carbon fiber tub and half steel tube frame. Considering NASCAR has already announced a plan to run a North American DTM series starting in 2015, the success of that series could very well dictate whether or not this idea comes to fruition.

I don't think it would just be VW going in, this would beg for other to plays as well including rumored Honda, Nissan, Hyundai for example. Like the article said, it has to depend on how well DTM America does but in all honesty, I do think its time for a change, it seems V8's are slowly fading away in motorsport.

Speaking of DTM America, reports are the 3 DTM brands along with Toyota, Honda & Nissan are rumored to be in considering Super GT is adapting the same chasis as DTM. Other rumors include American manufactures (hopefully, Cadillac, Lincoln or Buick). 

Either way, Gen 7 is expected at the 2017 season.

New Rules & Regulations for the 2014 F1 season...

Some news came out of the FIA headquarters today regarding next season. So here are some key notes that stuck out to me...

Rules:
- 
- Further to a request from Mercedes, it will be permitted to supply engines to a maximum of four Formula 1 teams in 2014.
-  A penalty point system for drivers will be introduced. If a driver accumulates more than 12 points he will be banned from the next race. Points will stay on the driver’s licence for 12 months. The amount of points a driver may be given for infringements will vary from one to three depending upon the severity of the offence.
- Track testing will now also be permitted in January 2014 in order to allow earlier testing of the new power units.
- No manufacturer will be allowed to homologate more than one power unit during the homologation period from 2014-2020. Changes to the homologated unit will continue to be permitted for installation, reliability or cost saving reasons.
- The pit lane speed limit, which is currently set at 60km/h for the free practice sessions and 100km/h for the qualifying practice and race (60km/h for the whole event in Melbourne, Monaco and Singapore), has been amended so it is set at 80km/h for the whole event (except the three races mentioned which would stay at 60km/h for the whole event). This is for safety reasons, as most accidents happen during the race when the speed limit is higher; drivers also have very little chance to practice stopping from 100km/h until the race.

Tech:
- Personal favorite.... Measures have been put in place to ensure that the cars do not incorporate a step in the chassis behind the nose. These changes will also ensure that a genuine low nose, introduced for safety reasons, is always used. (basically, the Platypus nose is DEAD!!!)
- The minimum weight limit has been raised by 5kg, as the power unit is now likely to weigh more than originally expected.
- In order to ensure that the cockpit rims either side of the driver’s head are stronger, the amount of deflection during the static load tests has been reduced from 20mm to 5mm.

Oh happy day! the platypus has been put out to pasture but we all knew that the cars were going to have some changes, the penalty phase... Honestly, I didn't see this coming but considering repeat offenders such as Roman Grosjean & Pastor Maldanado  would get hit the hardest with this rule. The only other rule I didn't see was about the engine freeze but it wouldn't surprise me if it happens.

This also kind of bothered me, but then again it could be the language...

The FIA President and the Commercial Rights Holder advised that negotiations regarding the Concorde Agreement were close to conclusion with the intention the contract between the FIA and FOM will be signed in the near future.

In all honesty... Shouldn't this have been done I dunno months ago?

Last but not least as a final treat, Renault has released the sound of their v6 engines which would power the F1 cars but also could power possible LeMans cars as well, only time will tell.  IMO, the sound is fantastic & going in the right direction.


http://www.renaultsport.com/Come-on-feel-the-noise,2630.html?lang=en

The Future of GT Racing: GT3

GT or Grand Touring racing has dramatically changed over the past 15-20 years. Long gone are the days of the Le Mans GT1 and GTP classes of the 90's. Exotics like the McLaren F1 GTR, Porsche 911 GT1, Toyota TS020(GT-One), Nissan R390, and the infamous Mercedes CLR all took advantage of the multiple loopholes in the GT1 rules; that the car must have a road going counterpart. Teams built one or two street legal cersions of their race car to satisfy the requirement. There also be suitable for public use. The ACO tested this by requiring space for a small buisness suitcase be avalible in the car. This led to Merc building a small cubby hole in some unused area underneath the rear.  The ACO  changed the rules for GT1 leading to the GTS (GT1) and GT (GT2) classes being created to allow only the true street going cars being classified for GT homologation.  In 2010 GT1 was phased out of   endurace racing leading to the rise of the GT2 class, now called GTE. Since GTE became an official class in 2011, the class has lost the variety it had when it debuted when it had eight different models race at Le Mans and in 2013 there was 6. Now the decline is not a big deal but the rise of another GT class is and is threating GTE/GT2 perch as the top class of GT.

GT3 is the fastest growing form of Motorsport there is today and the ACO has already taken notice of its rise. The European Le Mans Series allowed GT3 spec cars under the name GTC as a potential cure to their problem of not having a full grid and canceling races. At the 2013 3 Hours of Imola event, the GTC class had 14 entries while the top tier GTE class had 13. In the States GT3 spec cars race in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series and when the merger with ALMS to form the United Sportscar Racing both GTE and GT3 will be on the same track at the same time. The only series missing is the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But I think that in 2014 the ACO will realize that the majority of manufacturers are making GT3 spec cars and not GT2 spec as GT3 is not only cheaper but also has a wide variety of cars, including car models that are racing in GTE, but also produces better racing as seen worldwide. Do not be surprised if in 2015, GT3 cars will mix it up at Le Mans.

Webber switching to Endurance, Jaguar says no to "Insane" V8's & what is a number mean to some?

Well, the 2nd worst kept secret finally revealed it self (for those wondering what #1 is, its McLaren switching back to Honda & don't be surprised if #3 is Kimi Raikkonen going to Red Bull can we possibly say Senna/Prost round 3). Mark Webber finally had enough with Multi Order 21 & told Infiniti Red Bull thanks but no thanks & has gone to sign with Porsche to race their LMP1 car in the World Endurance Championship. IMO, I think its time for AussieGrit to move on & I wish him the best, I think he'll find his niche in WEC.

An interesting bit of news came recently from Jaguar's camp saying that they had offers come up to them by 2 V8 supercar teams but recently backed off while throwing some jabs at their luxury rivals Mercedes & Volvo while doing so...

We did take a serious look at it, but we have said no.”
Blackhall added emphatic swipes at the Erebus-AMG customer V8 Supercar program and the task that the Swedish-based Polestar will face to get its S60 race cars on the pace next year.
“I don’t know what it does for AMG getting flogged by a V8 Commodore every week,” he said.
“The same issue will be faced by Volvo, which has to convert a 20-year old Yamaha V8 into a racing engine. Good luck to them both.”

Sadly... I was hoping someway or somehow Jags would come back into racing someday, one can dream right.

SN: for those that read Motor Trend, there is an interesting editorial that was put in the issue about V8 in the USA, seriously its a good read check it out.

Lastly, for those that know, I follow all types of motorsports & growing up in the South one of the biggest motorsports is of course... NASCAR. So when I mention the number 3 most of us know who it is, even some people worldwide know what the number symbolizes... I am according referring to the late great 7 time champion, the "Intimidator" Dale Earnhardt. Most people remember back in 2001, Earnhardt tragically lost his life due to a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500, since then, the number has not touch a sprint cup car... Why do I bring this up? Richard Childress the owner of RCR was Earnhardt's boss. He has stated that their would be only two acceptions to the #3 would ever come back, if its was driven by Earnhardt or a Childress family member, if rumors are correct, by 2014, the 3 will be back, to be driven by Truck champion & Nationwide ROTY, Austin Dillon, who happens to be Richard Childress' grandson. Now some purists look at this & say, NO NO NO, he's not worthy or Little E or an Earnhardt should drive or RETIRE IT! Now if that's the case, why isn't 43?  5? Even #7 or #28 in memory of Allan Kuwicki or Davey Allison?

In all honesty, I wouldn't mind seeing Austin drive the 3, if grandad feels that he has earned, let the kid drive with it. He's won a championship in Trucks, won ROTY in Nationwide, the kid has talent its just a matter of time. Although until they announced a new driver for RCR since Harvick is going to Stewart-Haas racing, Dillon has got big shoes to fill. I still feel that him & Ty will do just fine... So it brings the question readers, how would you feel with Austin getting the 3? Does it bother you or are you ready for the 3 to come back?

Scandavian Success Down Under?

The Australian V8 Supercars series has been growing not only its presence in Australia, but worldwide. This year is the debut season for the "Car of the Future" but two new manufacturers, Nissan with their Altima and Mercedes-Benz AMG with their E63,  joined the Aussie powerhouses of Ford AU and Holden. Expanding the international presence of V8 Supercars brought a new race to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The 2014 season will mark the return of a brand who has found success racing down under: Volvo.

Volvo last raced in Australia during the 1990's and even won the Aussie Touring Car tittle in '86. The Swedish car maker is bringing its S60 model and its factory team Polestar Racing to team up with Gerry Rogers Motorsports to become what will be the fifth make in the championship. Volvo bringing its factory team shows they are there not only to compete, but to win.

Series officials are contemplating if a limit on the number of manufacturers should be installed.
Rumors are going that the limit would be either 5 or 6. I believe that manufacturers see V8 Supercars is what the future of touring car racing and see Australia as a potential market that is growing along with its national racing championship.

Audi, the LeMans juggernaut, can they be stopped & by whom?

Before I start on this post, I would also like to send out my thoughts, prayers & condolences to the family & friends of Allan Simonsen. R.I.P.


Every gear head looks forward to a specific day depending on the sport, for NASCAR its Daytona, for IndyCar, its Indianapolis & for Formula 1, its Monaco. However, in my opinion there is always one race that all motorsports look forward to... The 24 Hours of LeMans, the world's greatest Endurance Race. This race alone is one of the most grueling & toughest challenges to not only a driver but the crews and cars themselves. It truly can take a lot out of everything. I was watching most of the coverage on Speed (in the US) and just seeing most of the exhaustion that goes on, but for LeMans, its a wonderus victory, just to have that on your racing record is hero worthy. It even brought out some of the greatest rivalries in motorsport as well. Ford vs. Ferrari, Corvette vs. Porsche & now recently, Audi vs. Toyota.

Ah yes, the 4 rings, one of the most if not the dominant team in endurance & it seems like no matter which auto manufactures comes in, they must deal with the juggernaut that is Audi but it leads to the question, can anyone stop them?


Sure it seems that they're unstoppable but can it be done? I think so... Just not now. The furthest anyone could this year was Toyota but before hand there was another... Peugeot who did beat them, once but they were the big rival to Audi but due to the economy, Peugeot had to relinquish Endurance for the time being. Toyota is still young but they have experience, so they could be a threat but its still too early to tell.

The one thing I've often said is I've always wanted to see more auto manufactures get involved, kind of like other motorsports, just having 2 or 3 manufactures just seems rather boring. I had a bit of a problem with IndyCar when they only had Honda engines. Although, I think the future in LMP1 looks bright. Why would I say this? Simple, more auto manufactures are coming in.

One that is making a huge impression is of course a legend in racing, Porsche, who has experience in LeMans, they have a lot of history in prototype as well as GT, now they want to see what they can do and I think they can do it. Other reports of Nissan coming in with their Zeod RC electric car which is a Deltawing coupe and Peugeot... They've returned to Pike's Peak, why is this a big deal? This is a return to the world stage, Peugeot's new boss Maxime Picat has even said beyond 2014, there is a possiblity to renew the rivalry depending on money but it may look into other opportunities as well.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/peugeot-le-mans-shanghai-motor-show-2013-04-24

Then there are always others rumored to come back, Bentley, Jaguar to name a few but either way, other are interested to join in LMP1 game in LeMans and as a fan, I look forward to that day. 

Le Mans Review

Now before my review of the race I want to send my condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of Aston Martin Racing GTE Am driver Allen Simonsen, who tragically lost his life in a crash in the Tetre Rouge corner, ten minutes into the race. Motorsports has lost a champion.

This Years Le Mans proved to be a good one with an Audi winning.......again. The surprising thing is that the #1 Audi who dominated for a good portion of the opening part of the race had what turned out to be an alternator problem, which caused the defending race winner go  11 laps down opening the door for Allan McNish, Loïc Duval, and Mr. Le Mans himself: Tom Kristensen to win his 9th Overall, 3rd for McNish and 1st for Duval. Toyota was poised to get the bottom two steps on the podium until Lapierre wrecked his #7 Toyota with two hours to go.

In LMP2 it proved to be the OAK show as their Morgan-Nissans claim 1st and 2nd  dominating the entire race from the drop of the tricolore with G Drive getting 3rd.

The best racing through out the whole 24 hours proved to be in the GTE Pro class with an epic battle between Aston Martin and Porcshe. The race was decided when the leading Aston wrecked coming out of the Forza Chicane (1st chicane) and gave the victory to Porsche with a 1-2 and Aston getting an emotional 3rd.

The race was plagued by a record amount of safety cars and each safety car came with Armco repair from the wreck that caused the safety car. Le Mans and the FIA need to figure something out as cars are now piercing the barriers prolonging the caution period from 5-10 minutes to 30-45 minute to even an hour. Armco may be cheap for the street portion of the track but repairing it is costing the teams and fans green flag racing and that's a problem. Hour long safety car periods are fine if it cannot be avoided for say medical or multiple car crash but for Armco repair no. Armco needs to leave in Le Mans, its time for a fix.

Le Mans Part 2

GTE Pro
The Pro class of the two GTE catagories is filled with diversity with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette, Porsche, and the return of Viper. As the Viper and New Porsche 911 (991) enter the race for the first time the Corvette C6.R makes its final appearance in the higher of the two GTE classes as the new C7.R will make its debut next year at the Daytona 24 but with that said both of the American sports cars have been off the pace in both testing and qualifying. The good news is that it's a long race, the bad, it's a 24 hour sprint. Expect this class to be a fight to the end
Predictions
1st: Porsche #92, 2nd: Aston Martin #97, 3rd: Corvette #73

GTE Am
The Am class gets some Star power in Patrick Dempsey making his 2nd trip to the twice around the clock race, and is looking to be a serious threat for a Podium as Porsche factory driver: Patrick Long is the Pro for the team. Dempsey is not the only Star as there is 8 as in 8Star Motorsports looking strong in their Ferrari in the WEC in both Spa and Silverstone. This class will be decide on which team has the best amateur driver.
Prediction
1st: 8Star #81, 2nd: Labre #50, 3rd: Dempsey-Del Piero #77

Le Mans Preview and Predictions

Le Mans marks 90 years since its first race, even though it is the 81st race and the 89th anniversary. Why are they calling it the 90 years celebration, I have no idea?

LMP1
 Anyways the four rings of Audi Sport returns with an upgraded R18 E-Tron Quattro and are the favorites to win. Toyota needs to prove they can last for 24 hours before trying to dethrone the German Dynasty. I feel that only one TS030 will cross the line at 3:00 pm (France Time) but will be on the podium as Audi will have one car that runs into problems. If both Audi and Toyota have one car running into trouble, that opens the door for Rebellion Racing to get on the podium,
Prediction for LMP1
1st: Audi #2, 2nd: Audi #1, 3rd: Toyota #8

LMP2
Call this the Oreca-Nissan class as Oreca supplies the most chassis and Nissan the most engines. It was not that long ago that LMP2 was a dying breed but now it's alive and well with 22 entries for the race. Because of the large amount of entries the winner could be anybody but a few cars stand out as favorites like the G-Drive/Delta ADR team or Signatech or even Greaves could stand atop the podium on Sunday.
Predictions
1st: G-Drive #26 , 2nd: Signatech #36, 3rd: Greaves #41

GTE Coming Soon!

Welcome

Welcome to Five Lights motorsports blog! Here I will discuss the latest racing news from dirt to pavement, ovals to circuits, if it has a motor and some tires, you could expect to read something about it   here. My opinion is one that you may like or one that will make you want to argue with to no ends and that's welcomed.

Thanks for showing up on the grid for the Five Lights
-Jacob