2023 Auto Racing Season (Not F1)

[Pyoro]

There was a lot of racing again.

IndyCar
As I said, I don't usually watch this but I saw some laps at the end; including Grosjean's neat overtake. Shame he couldn't hold on to a win.

Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS
... not to be confused with GT America by AWS, which is also GT3, and on the same track during the same events, but different races.
I occasionally watch this, mostly for the Mario Farnbacher / Ashton Harrison combination, and because GT3s are basically always fun. Unfortunately on Saturday the race was delayed for ages due to rain. Anyway; in neither race they managed to see the finish line so that was a bit depressing ... but otherwise it was some fun semi-chaotic racing at NOLA, a track I personally don't really know.

FIA WEC Spa 6h
Well, Toyota's win again in the top class, but Ferrari clearly had pace. Just started on the wrong tyres unfortunately. LMP2 was interesting and could have seen the first WEC victory by a female driver with Doriane Pin, but Prema got a huge penalty (don't know for what, track limits I think?). Didn't matter though as Lilou Wadoux won in GT-AM so WEC still saw a first victory for a female driver I suspect most thought the Iron Dames would do it ...

F1 Academy
Talking about female drivers, this happened too. Wasn't streamed or anything, so, eh. Just wanted to mention it since the highlight package is out now. And it turns out that not only did they have full camera coverage of the circuit but also live commentary to cut the highlights from. Basically everything in place; just decided not to broadcast anything. Very weird.

[kamnet]

I'm behind on my racing, including IndyCar, GT World Challenge America, GT America, 6h Spa... also some ADAC Prototype at Hockenheim, International GT Open in Portimao, GT World Challenge Australia, and some Baja racing in Mexico.

[kamnet]

So now that Eurovision is over, back to the racing...

Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia - Philip Island Grand Prix Circuit had some decent laps but a lot of penalties and fines handed out for some wild driving over the weekend.
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEz649zA2Ug
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRLoExuJ5k4

Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia - Buriam @ Chang International Circuit saw a rain delay and some slick tracks on the first day, while today's action saw lots of yellows.
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7ovCFcSnk0
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdqNeMOgxcI

[kamnet]

And we just finished up the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe at Brands Hatch
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tj_B8KdSxo
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w822SjolX7o

[Pyoro]

Lots racing this weekend again. There also was IndyCar on the awful Indy Road Course. Also some IMSA at Leguna Seca.

Brand's Hatch unfortunately is to GT3s what Monaco is to F1 cars. Borderline fell asleep during race 1.
Philip Island got to be one of the most picturesque locations for a race track. What a backdrop ...
... also featured an OnlyFans sponsored car, driven by an pornography actress who also happens to do racing sometimes ^^;
Buriam had fun mixed conditions once it got going, otherwise not a track I knew before.

[kamnet]

I've never seen a race at Brands Hatch before, certainly a challenging course for cars as big and fast as GT3s. Qualifying pretty much locked in your top finishers, and nobody was advancing unless a spin out or crash gained you some spots.

IMSA at Leguna Seca:

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Cup
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaVGYw5XsSg
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtj4zRt7AnI

Mazda MX-5 Cup
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwEWUs2cMMc
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tut72Zw7aw

There was also some Trans Am Western Series racing but I haven't seen any good video for it, from the official channel it's a few sparsely placed cameras with bad views and boring commentary.

[kamnet]

The 2023 Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship opens the season on a wet and messy track at Misano. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N15Dgp5ZZRM

[Pyoro]

Indy 500 qualifying is this weekend, but more importantly of course is the N24h This time for real:

Looks like a Ferrari victory at the moment, which would be historic.
Unfortunately the equally historic Dacia Logan got obliterated by a Porsche :/

[kamnet]

SRO America rolled into Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX and just wrapped up. This is a freaking wild course with 130 feet in elevation changes nearly 3 miles long, and some misty weather off and on all weekend.

TC America (TCX, TC, TCA)
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAzx6dmjrDQ
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQkCevaMy5M

Toyota GR Cup North America
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtYLlyUpq1g
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_MydeToxQ

Pirelli GT4 America
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbGRCXknvbU
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvpNZ4IiqjQ

Fanatec GT3 America
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLX_49AWP0A
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCRtRq9X9_g

Fanatec GT World Challenge America
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-SGkem8fPo
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9AC4tNaeg

[kamnet]

I've only been watching GTs for a few years, but this is the worst wreck I think I've seen so far, from GT World Challenge America Saturday, Chandler Hull and Manny Franco try to bump and rub and end up in a spectacular spin out and explosion into the wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJAUUcT9l6A

[Pyoro]

I actually remembered to check GT America during the N24h, but once again I got myself mixed up between GT America and GT World Challenge America and so didn't see the main races. But caught up with the races today

Hull's move there was really stupid. In and on itself, but also points-wise. Ruined their second race with a penalty too. But very typical for racing: at NOLA, Razer's Edge was very quick but DNF'd twice, here they were comparatively slow, but since everybody else messed up, they got a first and a second. Funny how these things work out.

Crash really wasn't anything too serious; just unfortunate with the wheel flipping up the other car.
I don't particularily like focusing too much on crashes but if you want look up DTM Hockenheim 2022 - ripped out Olsen's Porsche engine and slammed the entire block into somebody's side. Including a nice fireball. Or the Vanthoor brothers at last year's N24h, right at the end of Döttinger Höhe at max speed, touched, instantly into the barriers ... that was seriously scary.
Spa also had some awful crashes at Raidillon/Eau Rogue, since the cars tend to spill back onto the track. I think it was two years ago when it really tore apart a whole bunch of GT3s.

Luckily GT3 are insanely safe (probably because of the whole Pro/Am/Gentlemen driver) thing. I barely remember any serious injuries; usually it's just the wrist or maybe a bit of the back. Lucas Auer this year crashed right into the Daytona pitwall (pure concrete at that point) which injured him somewhat seriously, but that's about the worst I can remember top of my head and "ironically" the crash doesn't look nearly as bad as these others ^^;

[kamnet]

Luckily GT3 are insanely safe (probably because of the whole Pro/Am/Gentlemen driver) thing. I barely remember any serious injuries; usually it's just the wrist or maybe a bit of the back.

I agree, I don't focus on the crashes too much. It was kind of attractive to me when I was younger and more ignorant ,but I started to lose my appetite for it after Dale Earnhardt lost his life, and then for awhile it seemed like the only point of NASCAR races was to be boring for all but the last two laps, then try to turn the whole track into a demolition derby. Ugh.

One thing I appreciate about racing these days, especially in road racing, is that the crashes are mostly boring and in nearly every instance the drivers can just unbuckle and walk away with nothing more wounded than their pride.

[Pyoro]

This weekend kicks of DTM, where today we had the first Lamborghini victory in its history. With mostly factory supported drivers and teams this is one of the premier non-endurance GT3 racing series no doubt; I'll personally be very interested in who is going to win it: there's no clear favorites as of yet.

Also of course Indy500 but oval racing is not my cup of tea ^^;

e: Also British GT at Oulton Park; a track I have nightmares about due to ToCA Race Driver 2

[Chrill]

Duuuude. Ericsson came much too close to win the Indy 500 twice in a row. That was a race. Newgarden was incredible all race, cycling through from way back. In the end, he deserved it.

We also got close to something far worse, when a tyre from a Kirkwood-Rosenqvist crash cleared the catch fence and flew up into the stands. Luckily, there was a small gap in the stands right there and the tyre struck a parked car. That could have landed in a packed crowd and killed a lot of people. I cannot believe they did not talk about it more, that was some of the scariest stuff I have seen. Right up there with Grosjean in Bahrain, Hubert at Spa, or when Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone.

[kamnet]

Just finished watching the extended highlights from the Indy 500

Was I watching IndyCar or NASCAR? So many wrecks, so much sloppy driving, and all the pit road incidents made this one of the most dangerous races that I can remember. This was just such a crazy, crazy race. As thrilling as it was for the fans, I don't like races like this.

Big up to rookie driver Callum Ilott, qualified on his first try, through an incredible break of pitting right before a caution leapfrogged the field and lead for a hot minute, stayed in the top 10 for most of the rest of the race, finished 12th, his best finish in IndyCar to date.

Roger Penske announced that the fan whose car got hit by the flying tire will be getting a new car courtesy of Penske Motorsports, who owns both the racetrack and the IndyCar series.

This year's winner took home $3.367 million, runner up took home $1.04 million. Largest crowd attendance since 2000.

[Chrill]

I must visit the 500 some time. Perhaps after they install taller fences to keep those pesky tires from hitting people.

[kamnet]

That was pretty weird. The wheels are supposed to be tethered to the chassis to prevent what ended up happening. But that was a pretty violent accident, that whole part was just sheered off.

[kamnet]

First, let's take a lap around the historic Watkin's Glen International Raceway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_-nb16m_JQ


The Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen featuring GTP, LMP2, LMP3, GTD Pro and GTD classes. Great racing for the entire six hours, but the last 20 minutes offered some exciting lead changes in GTP and GTD Pro up until the last 3 minutes, where a crash brought down a full course yellow on the next to last lap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rzL-iRSRMI

Mazda MX-5 Cup
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH8IFXX9T_c
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cZ6ZTp-sgE

Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1R2-VOFpYk
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mesiqamDgJU

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Cup
Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waOr9d2b08s
Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17nXO3qeQuE

[kamnet]

NASCAR makes its debut in Chicago with a street course... on a weekend that saw epic thunderstorms roll through the midwest all weekend. A wet, sloppy course with multiple blind 90-degree corners made for some real white-knuckle racings.

The 2nd-tier Xfinity The Loop 121 scheduled for Saturday but bumped due to rain, and then ran about half the race before it was suspended due to lightning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EqtgVkOsU4


The NASCAR Cup race started late and was cut short 25 laps due to poor weather and losing the daylight. New Zealand driver Shane van Gisbergen made the jump from V8 Supercar Championship to NASCAR, becoming the first rookie to win his debut NASCAR race since USAC IndyCar driver Johnny Rutherford in 1963, and only the 7th NASCAR rookie to ever pull off the feat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkNtOxnoHh0

[Chrill]

SVG really showed what that car is capable of on a road course. I'm not saying NASCAR drivers are poor, this type of racing was actually much more like the Americans came to his backyard than the other way around, but I saw a video about him using the clutch to stabilise the car under downshifts and into corners which just shows how quickly he adapted his V8 Supercar experience to the NASCAR. Really impressive win, what a way to make your debut.