Conquering an endurance race over multiple hours can be quite a challenge if just one class of cars is competing, but once others hit the track at the same time, the experience gains new dimensions: Multiclass racing tends to be exciting, but tough - which end of the speed chart do you prefer to be in when it comes to these events?
Image credit: VCO
Even in races that use the same class for all competitors, there are going to be speed differentials, and lapping cars certainly is part of the equation as well. However, this differential is rarely going to be as big as it is in multiclass racing, particularly if prototypes are involved.
Miscommunications can cost both classes several seconds at best, but can also have enormous consequences at worst, as races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans have shown repeatedly. The example below is from 2011, and amazingly, Audi legend Allan McNish walked away from the gigantic wreck unharmed, and thankfully no marshals or spectators were hurt either.
As a faster car, making predictable and safe moves while lapping slower cars is extremely important in order not to have your own race derailed, but also to not ruin the race of others. On the other hand, keeping an eye on the rear-view mirror almost all the time is essential to avoid being run into or being the way of faster cars. Classes that are in between need to be aware of both - which may not be for everyone.
Image credit: VCO
Even in races that use the same class for all competitors, there are going to be speed differentials, and lapping cars certainly is part of the equation as well. However, this differential is rarely going to be as big as it is in multiclass racing, particularly if prototypes are involved.
Careful When Lapping Slower Classes
This is the case in the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Sportscar Championship, for example: Multiple types of cars that are vastly different take to the track at the same time to battle it out for the overall and class wins - and a Le Mans Hypercar coming up to a GTE car not only displays a significant difference in size (as prototypes are tiny compared to GT cars), but also in speed, which makes lapping the slower classes easy on the straights, but tricky in the corners.Miscommunications can cost both classes several seconds at best, but can also have enormous consequences at worst, as races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans have shown repeatedly. The example below is from 2011, and amazingly, Audi legend Allan McNish walked away from the gigantic wreck unharmed, and thankfully no marshals or spectators were hurt either.
Different Car Types, Different Approaches
Naturally, sim racers tend to want to go fast, so the first thought would be that most of them would prefer to race in the fastest classes, but that is not always the case: As GT cars drive very differently compared to a prototype, they might fit the skill sets of some racers better, and even the races that field multiple prototype classes usually see the slower one's grids being filled as well.As a faster car, making predictable and safe moves while lapping slower cars is extremely important in order not to have your own race derailed, but also to not ruin the race of others. On the other hand, keeping an eye on the rear-view mirror almost all the time is essential to avoid being run into or being the way of faster cars. Classes that are in between need to be aware of both - which may not be for everyone.
