r/wec • u/AutoModerator • Nov 02 '24

Session has Ended [OFFICIAL] 8 Hours of Bahrain - Post-Race/Season Thread

aaand that's a wrap! 2024 WEC season is over! How was the finale? Sound off below!

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99

u/afito Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 Nov 02 '24 edited Nov 02 '24

funny but the big 3 all took something off this season

Ferrari won Le Mans

Porsche won the drivers title

Toyota won the manufacturers title

for all the many complaints, some deserved, some undeserved, and a whole lot of talks and even controversy, that's a fairly "balanced" outcome in a way

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u/rotary_nut_91 Corvette Racing C8.R #33 Nov 02 '24

Fitting, because all 3 have been the standout cars and teams of the 2024 season and of this Hypercar/GTP era thus far

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u/afito Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 Nov 02 '24

not only of 2024 but also of 2023, really the main protagonists of modern WEC in general which tbh is not surprising at all

interesting bit will be who eventually breaks open this big 3 and gets more than maybe an occasional podium and, as sad as it may be, who soon enough kills off their program because surely not getting anything at all will raise some questions in many boardrooms

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u/rotary_nut_91 Corvette Racing C8.R #33 Nov 02 '24 edited Nov 03 '24

I have to think Cadillac will eventually, especially with double the effort on both sides with 3 cars in IMSA and 2 here starting next season.

On paper that's the most involved any other manufacturer besides Porsche will be starting next season.

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u/clearedmycookies Nov 02 '24

As controversial as the BOP is, it is also the reason we had such a great season. The BOP is also why there will never be an era like Audi's dominance again. The barrier of entry is lower than ever. And it's all about expectation management. BMW invested in a younger crew to build the future; Alpine needs not be biased by the F1 efforts; Peugeot does deserve a mulligan by having additional Jokers and Cadillac needs some better drivers and a shaman to ward off the bad luck they had this season.

And finally: Can we finally admit it now? Toyota is a great, competitive team that deserves to be Champion. Sure maybe next year they can break that Le Mans curse, but lets give them credit where credit is due.

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u/DatGuy8927 Nov 02 '24

Honestly imo, winning the WEC title should be held higher than winning Le Mans now. Le Mans always requires some form of luck, whereas winning a season requires consistency.

But with Toyota's history, and how fandom is, they are absolutely gonna gun for Le Mans victory.

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u/onlinepresenceofdan Ferrari AF Corse 499P #51 Nov 02 '24

Truth be told its just like Indycar, that one race to the outsiders means a lot more than the championship

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u/996forever Mercedes CLK-GTR #11 Nov 03 '24

History and iconography are what matter. LeMans24 will exist with or without a parent championship series, as it did many times before without one. The Constructor's Championship win is really only important in F1.

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u/recehbijak BMW Team WRT M Hybrid V8 #15 Nov 03 '24

interesting bit will be who eventually breaks open this big 3 and gets more than maybe an occasional podium 

With the rise of bmw in the later part of the season I'm optimistic that they will have what it takes to take it to the big 3 next year, and also caddy with jota might be a strong contender for title in 2025

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u/DatGuy8927 Nov 02 '24

Cadillac also walked away with something, and that was parting ways with CGR.