Leveling The Playing Field | How Torque Sensors Help the IMSA GT Classes Stay Competitive

[@joest23]

IMSA, ignore the haters in the comments. The racing is better than ever.

[@mattyp3119]

I just read the comments... There's no haters just a few people with opinions. I think people are allowed to express an opinion without being labelled a hater. Besides all that: we know that IMSA has had years where they messed up BOP badly like in 2023.

[@rlsedition]

But what does the racing prove in GT3? Once you restrict the power levels so all cars are equal, the real vehicle differences are masked.

[@darwinLee81283]

It's Manufactured racing. It's not authentic. Restricting the vehicle in real time in addition to unlapping cars every yellow flag makes no sense.

[@rlsedition]

@@darwinLee81283 So the racing results mean, essentially, nothing as far as which is the better sports car.

[@Clyde-2055]

@@rlsedition - Correct …

[@Milton_Valenzuela]

Always fascinating to learn the technical side of IMSA

[@joshmiller804]

To everyone hating on the process of balance of performance, if you don't like it then go watch another racing series instead. BoP is necessary to allow different makes and models of cars to compete with one another. Only in GT racing will you see the likes of Mustangs and Ferraris racing against each other for the same trophy, something that wouldn't be possible without it.

[@RD-wg9em]

Plus it allows for a hypercar/prototype class that doesn’t bankrupt its entries into pulling out

[@rlsedition]

With BoP, a race win doesn't mean too much, especially in GT3.

[@billmartin1010]

Josh, this isn't just BoP anymore. This is REAL TIME changes to the power output of the cars, controlled exclusively by IMSA. If IMSA wants the racing closer, they can do that at any point on any lap. Might make a more exciting show. But it's a long way from the raw-boned endurance racing of the glory days.

[@_Dimon_]

But what's the point of a bunch of different cars if performance is exactly the same? It's almost like a spec series, where only difference between cars is a different livery. BoP is fine, real time adjustments - not so much.

[@inVAINwetrust]

Lmao what other racing series don’t have rules where all the cars, trucks and bikes etc don’t gotta inherit all the rules of that sport … buddy got on here just to yap nothing, great job 🤡

[@z-ro34]

I think this idea is really solid, but I’m not fully sold on in-race changes. Also, Regulating to a lap time makes total sense, but I’m not sure I like the idea of making it so the cars achieve the lap time in a similar manner (mentioned later in the video). Usually great battles are fought because cars can achieve similar lap times but have different strengths and weaknesses. It’s all a part of the strategy. I guess we’ll have to see how this works.

[@funtom45]

Pruett with the hands lol looks like hes trying to land an airplane

[@moslereverett]

His example of one car possibly having a more clogged intercooler than another car and their new tools will take care of that situation, is concerning to me because the car's condition develops during the race and that's part of the race. If one driver takes better care of his car somehow and his intercooler is in better shape during the race that's part of the race and they're going to remove that.

[@billmartin1663]

Yep. In that situation, sim racing is more realistic.

[@Tubesmaney]

This whole deal is disgusting. So unless I’m wrong they’re going to step in and actually slow cars down during the race!

[@DougSlmon]

And you’re doing awesome about the videos for the races thank you very much

[@richsimpson7273]

I can see why people are getting slightly confused due to some of his terminology and use of the word 'regulate'. But I don't think he's saying they'll alter the performance of cars during the race - rather they'll set the parameters on race morning and then if you stray outside, you can be penalised. Which we've already seen in GTP and Hypercar in WEC.

[@billmartin1010]

Yes, he's saying precisely that. They can alter the performance of the cars IN REAL TIME. During the race. And will.

[@geniferteal4178]

Yes, he's talking about turbos making more power at night and keeping that more consistent throughout the entire twenty four hour race.

[@richsimpson7273]

@@geniferteal4178 No he's not. He's saying that's an attribute of turbos which is factored into the overall values/performance window for that type of car. Not something they'll tweak at night and then alter in the daytime.

[@richsimpson7273]

@@billmartin1010 No he's not.

[@geniferteal4178]

@richsimpson7273 2:44 he says, or even a car that has an intercooler with debris in it. Debris sounds like a during the race issue. A change in conditions. That's where I got the idea that they can adjust it in real time.

[@camrsr5463]

The Torque sensor is like a hot knife through a sandbag.

[@Synystr7]

Omg hahahahaha

[@Clyde-2055]

😂😂😂

[@trainman9119]

Have to say I loved the Porsche 917 days.

[@davenorman6717]

Me too...saw then race at Daytona and Sebring in 1970 and 1971...gawd, do I miss those days.

[@loganm2766]

I love BOP

[@billmartin1010]

Previously, it was all about the driver and the car. Once BoP was set, everyone played the cards they were dealt. Now, it's about the performance of the driver, the performance of the car, and the performance of IMSA on the remote. With BoP modifications in real time, they can slow down a dominant leader or speed up a mid packer with a clogged intercooler (or other power issue). It can give the appearance of amazing come-from-behind action! But there's no way to know if driver, car, or IMSA made up the difference. That's not good.

[@finwaydiddy1977]

Not exactly how that works but, you will see.

[@striaid]

the idea of car regulation is always no fun. but if thats the cost of making sure nothing like F1 2023 happens and we get really good wheel to wheel races and championchip fights im all for it. i am new to IMSA but from what i have seen it has the best racing.

[@finwaydiddy1977]

Yes. This also allows lower/ new teams to race and be competitive. This is great if you ever been part of a team in a series like this than, you know how big teams with more money can dominate. If gives owners/ investors a change to pick a manufacturer and actually go racing.

[@Clyde-2055]

Far more fans appreciate F1 …

[@striaid]

@ you are correct but the fact that its incredibly hard and borderline impossible for new teams and even exsisting teams to even have a competative car, BOP is a form of car regulation that sets the racing apart from F1 2023 where it was the max and rebull show with some suprise guests.

[@future62]

So in other words, car regulation can be fun when done right.

[@striaid]

@@future62 id say that is a better wording. over regulation ruins racing, but under regulation can also ruin racing in different ways.

[@Maj-SHIPWRECKED]

BoP is good. It exists for the same reason the Halo exists in F1. Years of studying lead to Halo being decided as the best outcome safety wise. Years of 1 team winning every race in a championship by 20 laps and series collapsing is why BoP exists

[@Tubesmaney]

So they are going to make changes to car during the race? They’re going to “control competition”, as he said. That’s terrible. IMSA’s going to step in and slow cars down because they’re doing too well? The is repugnant to me. Having learned this it has sucked all the joy out the race for me. Wont be watching this year.

[@swealer]

the only thing which got me a bit worried is, that i hope that the TQ sensors "respect" the different cars and engines because thats what i love about this sport. NA V8,na V&, Turbo i4 and all with different displacements is just awesome to have!

[@djmohab2]

it will respect whichever manufacturer fools IMSA the most

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

It would be interesting to see how the WEC is doing BOP so that racing is still competitive.

[@EVAL-o3k]

WEC just adds weight to the cars

[@luigeorge5554]

It's the same method, WEC was the first series using torque sensors in GT3 cars last year.

[@geniferteal4178]

On a serious note, if they're changing the power level during the race or limiting power or however you call it. Could the driver report a potential issue like it feels sluggish out of turn three, yet?It's actually just power levels being restricted for fairness? You can imagine. It would be slightly weird to feel the car driving differently.Due to some outside adjustments that your team didn't make. And you are potentially unaware of.

[@finwaydiddy1977]

The driver could but, the race engineers are monitoring all the information and data so, the team is able to tell if it’s the restrictor or an actual problem. Lots of sensors on these cars to monitor data.

[@geniferteal4178]

@finwaydiddy1977 i've since learned that the sensor is only a sensor and it's up to the race team to keep the car's power level vel under the required limit, so the team is always making the adjustments to keep it under the required level, and they would all know. I thought it was those in charge of the event, overseeing the cars performance that would outwardly affect the car by limiting its peak performance like a governor but no, that's not how it works.

[@DougSlmon]

Let’s hope in March I can see the whole entire race, which is the second race of the season. I got a schedule that I wrote down for all of the races and hopefully I can see every single race without changing over to Peacock stream. I didn’t like it at all one bit

[@jasony9950]

We all hate BoP, we all hate seeing one team win over and over. Get over it people. We want to see racing and we want to see many different styles of cars. If the manufacturers don’t care, then we shouldn’t either. You’re not building the car. Enjoy the ride. @imsa - can we get some videos of more tech and higher IQ videos? People are smarter than you think and are interested

[@Nathan0A]

Agreed, was hoping for a teardown of the sensor, example of data output. I believe they are using MagCanica sensors in custom FIA anti-tamper housings.

[@konekillerking]

IMSA needs to fix the process. Having a faulty sensor require major in race service to reset/ fix etc is a huge problem. Can’t have the issue that they had with the 01 car happen again. Wasn’t fair to the fans or the teams.

[@SomeNerdWithaBeard]

Deff need to get Blake Hinsey on one of these videos.

[@abdisyahrizal4313]

Not a fans of BOP, if a car isnt good then it isnt good. They need to build a better one, thats it. To many rules and intervention around performance is bad.. I want my fav manufacturer win because they are good, not because BOP.. If you want a level playing fiield just use a single car suplier 😂😂😂😂... Make it one make race

[@jamesblunt1915]

Go watch F1 the same team winning races 4 years in a row.

[@geniferteal4178]

​@@jamesblunt1915 development restriction rules have led to that. Everyone's trying to do the same thing and level out the playing field. It's very difficult to do.

[@trevorzuliani7990]

Perhaps the 'tech center' for imsa could invest in a lapel mic for the presenter.

[@willelvs]

WEC already does this so of you watch that then this is nothing new

[@denisgonzalez8350]

Does anyone know how the regulate the cars in real time ?

[@hannesgroesslinger]

Imsa does not regulate in real time, they only monitor the power output. It's up to the manufacturers to regulate the cars in order to never exceed the allowed maximum output

[@juanca030782]

@@hannesgroesslinger The IMSA guy said they do in the video... a new thing for this season

[@juanca030782]

I would imagine that they do it through a mandatory boost pressure adjustment in the case of turbo cars or a lambda adjustment for N/A cars... but I have your same question

[@billmartin1010]

@@hannesgroesslinger watch the video. The video is all about how they can regulate power on a car IN REAL TIME during the race. Amazing technology. It's not 2022 anymore.

[@hannesgroesslinger]

@@billmartin1010 No, it's not 2022 anymore. It's 2025, where IMSA will now use the exact same system WEC has been using in their LMGT3 class in 2024, which in turn is similar to the system both series have been using for GTP/Hypercar since 2023. Meaning this is not new stuff, it has been around for a while. I have watched the video. But i have also read the rules for WEC LMGT3. The video is a bit confusing in how Kurdock explains what they are doing. The rulebook is clear about it. The confusing part seems to be where Kurdock says they can regulate the race in real time and award in-race penalties instead of only looking at the date afterwards. But he does not say "regulate the race", he says "regulate IT in real time", shortly after talking about setting the power levels of the cars. I can see how many people get confused about it and think he means "regulate the power in real time", but that is simply not the case. As part of the BoP process, IMSA prescribes a maximum power output for every car. Or rather 2 outputs, as there is one value for low speed and a different value for high speed. Before every race weekend IMSA will publish a table with the numbers for all cars. You can look up the BoP table for Daytona, it's publicly available. During the race IMSA monitors live telemetry data of all cars, to ensure the power output never exceeds the numbers prescribed in BoP. If a car exceeds it's limits, it will receive a penalty. Based on laptime differences on one race weekend, as well as the characteristics of the next track, IMSA will then adjust the power limits for the next race and publish a new BoP table. In the past, IMSA used to adjust the power of all cars by mandating air restrictors or boost levels, but that made it very difficult to get their numbers right, since different engines reacted differently to those changes. Reducing the boost pressure by the same amount for two different car models could mean that one of them was stronger affected than the other. Now IMSA just needs to mandate some numbers, and it's up to the manufacturer to figure out how to adjust their engine in order to reach but not exceed that limit. This gives IMSA much better control about the BoP throughout the season. Now that i have explained to you how it works, YOU watch the video again, especially the part from 4:10 onwards. And you will see that it says the exact same thing. But you need to interpret what Kurdock means when he says "regulate IT" or "control IT", as he refers to regulating the race, controlling BoP, etc.

[@geniferteal4178]

I get the need for complexities like this. Unfortunately, the challenge becomes maximizing peak torque to the limit at all times. The winning combination may turn out to be an electric motor with constant torque output. Yeah batteries m. just an example.

[@gibby7616]

Opening up a can of worms...

[@teddyjones8027]

Going to be a AWESOME race season. HELLZZ YYYYYYEEEEEEAAAAAA LETS GOOOOOO TEAM CORVETTE CADILLAC

[@67275gtb4]

Building horsepower is part of racing.

[@billmartin1663]

Not anymore.

[@johnegan4056]

I wonder how different gearbox and diff ratios affect the system

[@future62]

Once of the most exciting racing series in motorcycles is built around BoP (next Gen supersport). People have to let go of their purity complexes. You can have pure unbalanced machinery or great racing.

[@Herrie199]

So why not just make it a 1 make series?? Let them all drive the same car then, problem solved. Any advantage found by a manufacturer gets undone by this anyways.. i get it keeps things "fair" but at what point is this considered competition manipulation? 😂

[@koc988]

Is the point of a competition not to find a winner?

[@Clyde-2055]

Not in IMSA … Like the WWE, the “winner” is determined by the promoter …

[@bmoney2011]

BOZI

[@levelapt]

Have you not seen what the definition of competitive is?

[@67275gtb4]

I bet the engineers and designers hate that stuff. Why not just build a spec series?

[@samscast]

I don't think you understand BOP, it balances the cars out. If you play video games see it as patches. Sure it may nerf and buff some characters out. But it lets the characters have their inherited advantage. For example, the Porsche in GT3 is naturally better and exiting corners but it's not so good on straights. Yet the bop can bring say the Ferrari a bit closer to the Porsche on the straight. But the Ferrari will still be a bit faster. It keeps the cars natural advantage yet bring the cars closer so each still have a shot

[@MotownModels]

That takes away the entire point of a class like GTP existing. Every car is different, that's the point

[@billmartin1010]

@@samscast you didn't watch the video carefully. The video is all about how they can change the BoP at any time DURING THE RACE to compensate for such things as clogged intercoolers, etc. If you're down on power starting at hour 3, IMSA can fix it for you and get you back into the hunt. This isn't the BoP of previous years.

[@samscast]

@ they legit explained that they can adjust BOP on the fly if they notice any sort of sand bagging. Many times have been finding way to cleverly sand bag to gain an advantage in BoP.

[@TheChismillionaire]

Literally removes any incentive for powertrain innovation. Fancy stock cars now.

[@hannesgroesslinger]

this is a BoP based category. Powertrain innovation has never been allowed in this class anyways. You need to run the cars in the exact same technical specification as the manufacturer has homologated it before it's first race, no upgrades or improvements allowed. has been that way for more than a decade.

[@spatulaman2753]

Literally keeps costs from skyrocketing year over year. Privateers and manufacturers drop out when it gets too expensive.

[@zq3yp]

@@spatulaman2753 it doesnt cut costs, teams are dropping out because they cant afford the added costs of the torque sensor

[@spatulaman2753]

@@zq3yp can’t afford the torque sensor but can afford continual powertrain innovation?

[@Smoked_Cheddar]

​@@zq3yp These teams are paying six figures a piece for one of these cars. And you're saying the added cost of the torque sensor is what's going to break them? Get out of here with that nonsense.

[@racereview1679]

These sensors add $500k to annual operating budget for teams... some GTD teams have dropped out of the series cause they cant affort the sensors.

[@larryjackson6238]

Remove ALL Restrictions! Let manufacturers build cars and race them. May the best team win!!

[@Steve-eq8iz]

It's not 1972 anymore, friend. The manufacturers aren't willing to spend anywhere near that kind of money.

[@trentonuab]

Absolutely not. You’re ignorant to even think that would be better. That’s how you make teams leave racing series.

[@RD-wg9em]

WEC had that before the hypercar rules. Everyone except Toyota ended up leaving the series

[@OTM-BandiT]

Ok. Be prepared for under 5 cars per class with 0 competition, and less races in the season than we already have. Great way to kill the series 👍

[@N-Collective]

You do realize we lost true dtm cars for that exact reason right?

[@terrytysinger6022]

Personally, hate BoP.

[@MotownModels]

What's your solution?

[@samscast]

BOP is like game patches. Some cars are just too OP against others so they balance them out to thru can still beat each other. HOWEVER the cars respective/natural advantages remain. For example the Porsche GT3 is the best at corner exit and the best at mid corner. They won't take that ability away from it. It will still be better than other cars at those traits. However they make the feel more competitive to still be able to beat the car in a race. Just not by a large margin They do this in video games all the time. Especially in league of legends and overwatch

[@samscast]

@@terrytysinger6022 look how trash a race series can be with BOP not being present. Look at F1. 2023 was the absolute worst F1 season of all time. No one besides Redbull had a shot to win the races

[@breakaway164]

​@samscast but we haven't had a Red Bull type season in gtd, so no reason to introduce this technology

[@samscast]

@yeah because of BOP. Bop isn't a tech. If you're referring to the torque censors, those are to avoid sand bagging. In other words to make sure no one is running less power on purpose in order to gain an advantage via BOP. Say they run less power IMSA officials might be like "oh he went that fast with such little power? Guess we don't need to reduce his power" that kind of thing. Of course ots more detailed but it's a small example of what it's for

[@Thors_Garage]

It's cool but I hate it

[@erasmus_locke]

No different than referees in football giving bad calls and penalties to manipulate the game. How can you ever be sure your team is winning because they're actually better? There's no point in actually being better.

[@Supcharged]

artificially, that's how

[@presentjr]

WEC has been using this already

[@bowelrupture]

and it works pretty well.

[@Clyde-2055]

@@bowelrupture - It works well in the fashion that WWE works better than WBA professional boxing.

[@daniels.2720]

Seems to me this is a 24 Hour Car Race ...with K1 Speed gocart technology...

[@dappercanuck1852]

Socialism!

[@FeintMotion]

post source

[@HBRacing123]

Can we not get Ferrari for one race to come race the 24h Daytona

[@sandydiller4828]

Does F1 do this? If not, they should.

[@daveconder4351]

I’m sorry I foolishly thought that IMSA was about racing this sounds like IROC how bout RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG quit trying to save the European’s

[@basedgodstrugglin]

You are so misinformed bro. Since the reunification BOP has been a part of IMSA. If you go through history run what you brung makes costs go up nonstop and kills the class. Want an example? You can look at GT1 and LMP1

[@andyd4684]

Disagree, short sighted view - manufacturer money & involvement keep grids full - not who's got the deepest pockets for development. Look what happened to GT1, 2, GTE. BoP while not perfect keeps vastly different machinery within a competitive envelop, highlighting racecraft, and keeping manufacturers and teams involved while keeping price lower (dpi - now gtp & gt3 are partially successful due to lower cost). w/ tq sensors hopefully it minimizes sandbagging (downside of BoP system)

[@RubyNekomata]

@@basedgodstrugglin GT1 probably isn't a good example for the American Sports Car side since IMSA and the ALMS really botched the BOP throughout the 2006 season between Corvette and Aston... just saying ^^;;

[@basedgodstrugglin]

@ fair enough

[@thejman3489]

So now they get a penalty for hitting the gas too hard. Yeah that makes sense. May the fastest guy...get penalties and lose the race.

[@stantons27]

Seems like a neutering of any kind of uniqueness in a car’s powertrain/power delivery

[@paulman182182]

Control the competition? So it's no longer a competition

[@apexclip3458]

Too much geek influence. Now tech can modulate power based on how a car puts down power? Just off torque? What if line choice gets you out of a corner better, because a driver found more grip off line? Just set displacement limits regardless of engine architecture with no Forced Induction with a weight limit and let the fans see which engine type and car is the fastest. The competition will set their own limits.

[@MOMOf333SP]

sounds expensive