We sort of figured that we’d be seeing quite a few Balance of Performance adjustments for the Corvette C8.Rs in the opening rounds of the 2022 IMSA campaign as we are essentially racing in the new GTD-Pro class with a waiver. So it’s no surprise that race organizers just handed Jake and the boys their second BoP update since last week’s Roar practice sessions.
The team was already unhappy with the C8.Rs pace and we qualified well down the GTD-Pro class with a P8 and P9 finish during last Sunday’s qualifying race. Following that race, organizers have handed the Corvettes a 15 kg weight increase and now the mimimum weight for the Corvettes is listed at 1335 kg.
However, the BoP Gods have also granted an aero adjustment to the rear wing angle (-3 degrees) which will hopefully improve the straight-line speeds of the two Chevy race cars. We’ll have to wait and see in the practice sessions if that will aero change will improve the overall speeds of the cars.
The BMW M4s did even worse than the Corvettes during the Qualifying race to finish 12th and 13th in class, and they also received adjustments from the latest BoP update. The BMWs received 10 kg of extra ballast as well as an aero change to their rear wing (-2.2 degrees), and they will lose 4-liters of fuel capacity.
Further changes in the GTD class targeted the Acura NSX GT3 with a 25 kg weight break and 4-liters additional fuel capacity, the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 had a 1-degree increase in minimum rear wing angle, while a 1.2-degree increase was given to the wing of the Mercedes-AMG GT3. Finally the McLaren 720S GT3 was given a 4-liter increase in fuel capacity.
Racing returns to Daytona International Speedway with the first of three practice sessions on Thursday. The green flag for the 60th Rolex 24 at Daytona will drop at 1:40 pm ET on Saturday, January 29th.
Source:
Sportscar365.com
Related:
[VIDEO] Jordan Taylor Takes Us Behind the Scenes of the 2022 Roar Before the Rolex 24
Corvette Racing at Daytona: Rolex 24 Comes into Focus
Corvette Racing at Daytona: New Year, New Challenge
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So let me get this straight…
The Corvettes and BMWs hovered at the bottom of the time sheets…and they get penalized with more weight and less aero?
I could assume this is because they were showing speed in the infield but lagged on the straights?
This is like what was happening in 2019. The Porsches were light years ahead of everyone, but IMSA sure stuck it to them with taking weight and aero off, and opening their restrictors and gave them more fuel…and then wondered why they ran away.
Hopefully Corvette can overcome this…
So clesrly IMSA has some sort of agenda going on.
How long before Corvette simply packs there bags and goes over to WEC full time.
looks like it may be a LONG race for the team.
If IMSA didn’t want the Corvettes, which are a massive draw for them, they would have packed up and left already.
I did some more research into the BoP adjustment directly from the IMSA rulebook. The weight was added as they did in fact have an infield speed advantage, but they lagged on the straights, so the adjustment made logical sense, as much as I do not agree with it. All truth be told, this was a minor adjustment in an already close field.
So, no agendas.
The C8.R has good competion this year and have had a great last two.
Best of luck to them.
Run what you brung
I have never been a fan of BoP. I do understand why they are implementing it. They have been losing makes and teams due to the lack of competition. One team or car seems to outshine them all. Also, no matter what the moves are, there is always the stink of a conspiracy. It is a no win situation. I mean is it saving the division…no…even their stalwart Corvette program is leaving.
BoP stifles innovation. When the Corvettes first came back to racing…The Vipers we KILLING us. We complained. We were told…Build a better car….so we did….and it not only helped racing but also helped the production Corvette. When the European brands were complaining about the Corvette Drivetrain (Light and small Pushrod, vs the heavier DOHC engines…side note to the side note…these engines were essentially forced upon those brands because of European tax laws on Engine volume even though the larger volume Pushrods had better gas mileage) They were essentially told…build a pushrod…
Now I am not saying I want to be F1, but I would rather see innovation and then having to make a decision to limit that innovation later. I would rather see more specs to adhere to instead of trying to fiddle with someone else’s car right before a race…Yeah…run what you brung…as long as it fits in the guidelines…if that isn’t competitive enough for them maybe look at your guidelines… Do your BoP BEFORE the season as it relates to different engines and styles…not on a race to race basis…unless there is something completely egregious…
Corvette Racing will do fine come race time.
Are they trying to piss off teams and get zero participation????? This BoP gang sounds like more of a problem then an asset.
Brian L sound like a fanbois, You cant say had an infield advantage but no straight advantage and then reason its ok to take away the only thing making them competitive, the infield advantage… FFS where is it ALLOWED to be a good car to be competitive? Why build a great car if its just going to be blackballed out of being competitive unless its brand name is PORCCHE of course?
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