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Thread: 2012 WEC, ALMS&ELMS News

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    Smile 2012 WEC, ALMS&ELMS News

    This is going to be a cracker of a year for Sportscars and GT racing. Toyota back at Le-Mans. Hope Audi can get back to speed with the Pugs to give them good fight over race distance with more speed.

    Status GP announce Lola LMP2 programme
    BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 13, 2012

    Status Grand Prix will this year develop an LMP2 sports car programme following its decision to acquire a new 2012 specification Lola B12/80 Coupe. The Silverstone based team will take delivery of the car in the coming weeks and is currently finalising its 2012 test and race programme with the ultimate goal of competing in the full FIA World Endurance Championship in 2013.

    This ambitious sports car project will be developed alongside Status GP’s existing GP3 Series activity, the team having been a championship contender and regular race winner in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The sports car project will not affect the team’s commitment to its GP3 single-seater programme, being operated from expanded premises by a dedicated crew of experienced sports car engineers and technicians.

    Status GP has previously been the technical partner operating both GT1 and LMP2 cars on a sub-contract basis, competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2006 and 2011 and also running cars in FIA GT and Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge events, but this is the first time it will field its own entry. Announcements concerning key technical partners and driver line up will be made when the 2012 programme is finalised.

    “This is a significant step for the team and perfectly complements our important GP3 activity as we seek to develop parallel racing programmes up to World Championship level in the future,” said team founder Mark Gallagher. “We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Lola over the last eight years and believe this is an exciting time to enter the world of sports prototype racing. There are more automotive manufacturers coming into the sport, the European and American Le Mans Series have paved the way for the creation of the FIA World Endurance Championship, while sponsors and drivers are recognising the benefits of competing with these superb cars at prestigious events around the world.”

    ‘We are delighted to welcome Status GP into the Lola LMP family,” said Martin Birrane, Executive Chairman of the Lola Group. “Although a new entrant to sports cars, the relationship between Status and Lola goes back to the first year of A1GP in 2005. Like Lola, Status GP shares a determined and professional approach in the business of going racing and have proved to be winners in both A1GP and GP3. We very much look forward to a long and successful partnership with them on the global sports car stage.”

    Status GP was founded in 2005 and won the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport for Ireland in 2009, the culmination of four seasons in the powerful single seater category. The team graduated to GP3 for the series’ inaugural season in 2010, achieving 4 wins and 8 podiums to finish 2nd in both the Driver and Team standings. It was again a championship contender in 2011 with 6 podiums including victories in Turkey and Italy. Status GP’s major shareholder is Teddy Yip Jr, whose father ran the famous Theodore Racing team, and the management team includes former F1 and Le Mans driver/team coordinator David Kennedy.

    http://www.planetlemans.com/2012/01/...mp2-programme/
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    ALMS.

    12 THINGS TO WATCH IN 2012

    It's going to be an action-packed year
    2012-01-12

    We’ve already seen a number of positive announcements centered around the ALMS, and there is plenty more still to come! Starting this week you can expect a wave of news regarding the numerous areas in which the Series will grow this year. Here's a sneak peek to get the buzz going…
    1. Look for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida to be one of the greatest sports car races in history, as the 60th anniversary of Sebring will also feature the debut race of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

    2. Look for a brand new, manufacturer-backed team in GT: two cars with unprecedented sponsorship activation from an existing Series marketing partner.

    3. Look for the unique DeltaWing LMP to hit the track for the first time.

    4. Look for absolutely terrific battles to continue in all three ALMS Prototype classes; LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC. Exciting newcomers to the Prototype categories will include Conquest Endurance, Dempsey Racing and Black Swan Racing bringing new chassis and engines into the Series. LMP1 champion Dyson Racing and Muscle Milk Pickett Racing are both returning with new cars; Pickett with a new HPD LMP1 and a new LMPC entry as well. Level 5 is back in LMP2 for a full season championship run.

    5. Look for the debut of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR to challenge BMW, Corvette and Ferrari in ALMS’ white-hot GT competition. Spearheaded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Team Falken Tire and Paul Miller Racing, the new model Porsche is stunning in appearance and seems to be well-equipped to take on returning GT champs BMW in the world’s most competitive form of sports car racing.

    6. Look for a beautiful new venue to fill out the 2012 calendar of 10 ALMS races.

    7. Look for four LIVE ALMS races on ABC Sports and ESPN2 to add to the record-breaking audience growth and appeal for the Series on TV in 2012.

    8. Look for the ALMS to further expand its “ways to watch” with incremental options to watch and listen to all ALMS broadcasts at home, on your computer or on your phone. ABC, ESPN2, ESPN3, ALMS.com and others to be announced soon.

    9. Look for International TV coverage of the ALMS to increase substantially in 2012 with ESPN International broadcasting all events. ESPN International proved enormously popular around the world with nearly 4 million viewers. Expect that audience to grow as we work with ESPN to enlarge the audience worldwide.

    10. With the continued partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International, the Series celebrates its fourth anniversary of the MICHELIN ® GREEN X ® Challenge. Watch as America’s greatest sports cars compete to be clean, fast and efficient, proving that sustainability can be achieved without sacrificing competition.

    11. Look for a new, user-friendly, fan-focused alms.com to debut in March, featuring customized content for users, a richer Web experience, streaming in-car camera views, and much more.

    12. Last but not least, look for a major IMSA / Series announcement of an alignment with a new global consortium for the purposes of taking the green racing platform to the next level – with IMSA and ALMS leading the way.
    This is only a taste of things to come. Look for additional details on the above to be revealed in the coming days, starting today with No. 12. It’s going to be a phenomenal season of racing and we look forward to seeing you all at Sebring.
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    FIA WEC

    Krohn Racing Announces 2012 Plans to Enter WEC
    BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 13, 2012
    Tracy W. Krohn, owner of the Krohn Racing team, announced his Team’s entry to the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship today. The Championship is a competition created in partnership with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the International Automobile Federation (FIA). The WEC schedule features eight races on three continents, and includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    “Our plan is to run the full season of the World Endurance Championship in 2012 with the new Ferrari F458 GT and we’re looking forward to it,” said Team Owner/driver Tracy Krohn. “They have added one more venue this year so it will be a total of eight races, including Le Mans and Sebring. We’re very excited! Some of the tracks we will have seen and some will be new to us. We’re looking forward to flying the American flag around the world and believe 2012 will be a banner year for us. The idea is to make it even better than last year.”

    Drivers for Krohn Racing’s 2012 WEC Team will include Team Owner/driver Krohn, along with longtime teammate and friend, Swede Nic Jönsson, and Italian Ferrari sports car standout, Michele Rugolo. The trio was teammates for the 2011 ILMC Series with enough success and driver style symbiosis to make 2012 driver selections a natural repeat.

    The American-based Krohn Racing Team finished second in the GTE-Am C lass in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge Series, the predecessor to the World Endurance Championship. Successes include two victories in their home country of the United States, at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans. Additionally, they finished third in class at the 6 Hours of Zhuhai (China) to celebrate another podium. An unfortunate DNF at the 24 hours of Le Mans, which awarded double points, spoiled their chances for winning the GTE-Am Class overall.

    “I think any time you come into an inaugural season and you have a podium finish for the season, then you should be happy with that. That’s a really good result. The team did a great job; the cars were extremely well prepared; Nic did a great job, as usual. He’s a friend and mentor for many years and helps keep me focused as well. Second overall is a good result. Had we not had some pretty bad luck at Le Mans with the motor and crankshaft, we would have won it! “

    Krohn Racing is unique in that no other American racing team has attempted a full campaign in the World Endurance Championship for sports cars in nearly three decades.

    “We are taking on the best in the world because Krohn Racing has a team of carefully selected, internationally experienced specialists; managers, engineers, technicians, and logistics staff,” said Krohn Racing Motorsports Manager Jeff Hazell. “We have a committed Team Owner and great support from Ferrari and Dunlop. The logistics and engineering operations of a World Championship team requires no less a combination. Racing at this level is a serious challenge, but we felt equipped, and if you think you are good, you need to prove it!”

    Krohn Racing took delivery of a new Ferrari F458 GTE built to 2011 specifications, per GTE-Am class requirements, in December 2011.

    “To win consistently you must have the best of everything,” added Hazell, who oversees Krohn’s motorsports operations. “This year it is permitted to race the F458 in the GTE-Am class, which Ferrari has developed with Michelotto all through 2011. The F430 is very well proven, still fast and reliable and is capable of winning again, but we race Ferraris and we feel that means whenever possible we should race their current model in front of the world media, contribute to the further development of the race car and put it into the winners circle.”

    “We expect the Ferrari F458 certainly to be easier to drive,” added Krohn, a native of Houston, Texas. “The direct injection should aid response and fuel economy. It’s also got another little advantage in the gearing in that it will be paddle shift, as opposed to regular stick shift, and that will be more fun to drive. I’ve driven the street car and it’s a completely different feel than the 430. It’s a great car. I think Ferrari has made a really spectacular automobile here.”

    “We see racing the new Ferrari F458 as a step forward in drivability and reliability,” said Krohn Racing Team Manager/Race Engineer David Brown. “So far the newly built car has only completed a hand-over shakedown test. We will do a single day test locally near the Atlanta shop to check out our systems and installations on a track we know well, and then go to the official Sebring test in early February.”

    Tracy Krohn is thrilled with the team’s invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. Having competed in every race since 2005, the Texas oil man is delighted to return.

    Tracy Krohn is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of W&T Offshore (NYSE: WTI), an independent oil and natural gas acquisition, exploitation and exploration company, with a focus primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, he is an investor in Cross Creek Pictures, LLC, a financier of the numerous Hollywood movies including “Black Swan”, “The Ides of March”, “A Woman in Black” and “Rush”, a movie about Formula One’s Niki Lauda and James Hunt and directed by Ron Howard.

    Entries to the WEC Series are due by January 18th for the 2012 season. A formal announcement by the ACO and FIA will be made on February 2, 2012 to announce the full list of entrants for both the World Endurance Championship and the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    The 2012 World Endurance Championship race schedule includes:

    12 Hours of Sebring, Sebring, Florida, USA on March 17;
    6 Hours of Spa; Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium on May 5;
    24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans, France on June 16-17;
    6 Hours of Silverstone, Silverstone, England on August 25;
    6 Hours of Sao Paolo, Brazil on September 16;
    6 Hours of Bahrain, Middle East on September 29;
    6 Hours of Mount-Fuji, Japan on October 14;
    6 Hours of China, Zhuhai or Shanghai, China on November 11 or November 18

    http://www.planetlemans.com/2012/01/...-to-enter-wec/
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    24 HOURS OF LE MANS

    Corvette Racing announces 2012 racing plans
    BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 13, 2012
    Corvette Racing will seek its ninth American Le Mans Series championship and its eighth victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012. With a win in the GTE Pro class at Le Mans and runner-up finishes in the ALMS GT team and driver championships last year, America’s premier production sports car team has focused on improving all aspects of its performance as it prepares its Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars for the 2012 campaign.

    Corvette Racing’s revised driver lineup delivers a powerful combination of youth and experience. Antonio Garcia joins Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, and Tommy Milner as the four full-season drivers. Richard Westbrook will reprise his role as third driver in endurance events (Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans), and Jordan Taylor will join Corvette Racing for the three long-distance races.

    “The level of competition in the 2011 American Le Mans Series GT category was intense, and we expect it to be just as fierce in 2012,” said GM Racing Director Mark Kent. “Corvette Racing has been working hard over the winter to develop a complete package of cars, drivers, team, and technology that will be able to win in this extremely competitive environment.”

    Jordan Taylor, a 20-year-old resident of Apopka, Fla., will become the 23rd driver to race in Corvette Racing colors. The son of championship-winning driver Wayne Taylor, this second-generation racer literally grew up at race tracks. After progressing quickly through karting and school series, he made his debut in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in 2008. Taylor and his co-driver piloted the Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to a runner-up finish in the 2011 Rolex GT championship, just two points short of the title. He will continue to compete in the Rolex Series in 2012 with Autohaus Motorsports in addition to driving for Corvette Racing in endurance races.

    “Corvette Racing is one of the most iconic names in motorsports, and joining this team is a huge opportunity for me,” said Taylor, a student at the University of Central Florida. “There are certainly going to be challenges as I learn the capabilities of the Corvette C6.R race cars, become familiar with the team, adapt to new tracks, and race with new competitors. It’s going to be amazing to race a Corvette at Sebring, Le Mans, and Road Atlanta, and I can’t wait to get started!”

    GM has a longstanding association with the Taylor family, reaching back to the Chevrolet Intrepid GTP, Oldsmobile Aurora WSC, and Cadillac LMP programs. Wayne Taylor Racing currently campaigns a Corvette Daytona Prototype in the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

    “We have watched Jordan develop as a fine young driver over the years, and when he had an opportunity to test for Corvette Racing, his performance was very impressive,” said Kent. “He is totally dedicated to racing, gives great feedback, understands how to interpret data, and knows how to make changes to the car and his driving style to suit the conditions. He has tremendous potential and we see this opportunity as an investment in the team’s future.

    “I also want to acknowledge the contributions of Olivier Beretta to Corvette Racing,” Kent continued. “Olivier was a valued member of the team, and he played a key role in our success in the ALMS and at Le Mans. Although we have parted company with Olivier, we’ll look forward to seeing him at the race track, and we wish him all the best in the future.”

    Corvette Racing will participate in the Sebring Winter Test on February 8-9 in preparation for the season-opening 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17. With two automatic invitations to qualify for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team will return to the French circuit for the 80th running of the classic endurance race on June 16-17, 2012.

    “Corvette Racing’s starts every season with the same objectives: to capture the ALMS GT championship and to win at Le Mans,” said Kent. “We’ve never worked harder to achieve these goals. The entire team is energized and excited, and the strength of the competition drives us to strive for continuous improvement.”

    http://www.planetlemans.com/2012/01/...-racing-plans/
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    Peugeot's Anthony Davidson sure FIA can solve diesel/petrol equivalence rows in World Endurance Championship
    By Mark Glendenning Sunday, January 15th 2012, 14:25 GMT

    Peugeot sportscar driver Anthony Davidson is optimistic that the involvement of the FIA will help to achieve parity between petrol and diesel-powered cars in the new World Endurance Championship.

    The gap in performance levels between diesels and petrol cars has been one of the main points of debate in top-level sportscar racing since the Audi R10 TDI arrived in 2006, but Davidson is confident that the category's return to world championship status this year will help to keep things on an even keel.

    "We've seen in touring cars how hard it is to get things level, and different things come into play, like altitude," said Davidson at AUTOSPORT International.

    "This year we're going to Brazil, 800 metres above sea level, and in a turbodiesel that's going to be a huge advantage against a normally-aspirated engine. Trying to get that level is quite difficult. But now we have the involvement of the FIA, I've got full confidence that it will be comparable."

    The Briton believes that the arrival of Toyota will also help to balance the two engine types out if it opts for a petrol-powered car.

    "[Toyota] is a manufacturer with a big budget that is able to produce a good petrol engine - assuming they are going to have a petrol engine - against the diesel," he said. "It's great technology, and that's what modern motorsport should be about."

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97033
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    Toyota's new Le Mans contender tests for first time
    By Gary Watkins Monday, January 16th 2012, 13:52 GM

    Toyota's all-new 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours contender hit the track for the first time last week.

    The Japanese manufacturer's petrol-electric hybrid LMP1 coupe was shaken down over three days at Paul Ricard, starting on Wednesday. No comment has been forthcoming from Toyota Motorsport GmbH about the test, but it is understood that the car completed several hundred kilometres of largely trouble-free running.

    All three of the drivers who will race Toyota's solo entry at Le Mans and in selected rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship this year were on hand at the test.

    It is believed that Alex Wurz, whose team-mates are Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima, was at the wheel for the first laps and undertook the majority of the driving.

    Further testing is scheduled at Ricard at the end of the month, when more official details of Toyota's progress should emerge.

    The car, a name for which has yet to be announced, is expected to make its race debut in the Spa WEC round in May.

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97047
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    The list of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón venues continues to grow with the addition of historic Virginia International Raceway for the 2012 season.

    North America’s leading sports car championship will contest its first race at VIR on Saturday, Sept. 15 in a four-hour enduro.
    The first ALMS race at VIR – located in Danville, Va. – also will mark the first competition on the track’s impressive 4.1-mile, 31-turn Grand Course. It’s a safe bet that track speed records will fall at the hands of the world’s most exotic prototype sports cars and premier production-based GT cars. The race will be broadcast on ESPN2.

    “For years we have received numerous inquiries from fans and competitors on when we would race at VIR, I’m proud to say that time is now,” said Scott Atherton, ALMS President and CEO.
    “Virginia International Raceway is an excellent addition to what no doubt will be a fantastic 2012 season for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Given VIR’s history and acclaim as a world-class road racing facility, this is a natural fit. We look forward to working closely with the VIR team to introduce their fans and lots of new ones to the fastest, toughest and most entertaining competition VIR has witnessed.”

    The history book at VIR is ripe with the biggest names in North American road racing. Built in 1957, the track played host to its first race in August of that year – an SCCA event that attracted the likes of Carroll Shelby, Bob Holbert, Carl Haas and more. VIR also played host to the first IMSA GT race in 1971 – Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg drove a Porsche 914-6 to a victory over Dave Heinz’s Corvette. Gregg and Haywood also won in the 1972 IMSA GT race at VIR.

    Competitors over the years have heaped praise on the circuit. Paul Newman once opined that “if there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.” Car and Driver named it one of the six best road courses in the U.S. and called a lap around the Grand Course the closest thing in America to a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

    “The list of drivers and manufacturers who have achieved success at VIR is a storied one,” Atherton said. “We are thrilled at the prospect of ushering in a new era of competition at VIR as the first series to run its Grand Course. The sights and sounds of our prototype and GT cars racing at high speeds around such a demanding and picturesque layout will create a spectacle no one should miss.”

    The track closed in 1974 but reopened in 2000 after New York real estate developer and vintage racer Harvey Siegel acquired the track property in 1998. In addition to a repaving and widening of the circuit, VIR added resort facilities that include three hotel and multiple dining options. The track plays host to numerous events during the course of a season including sports cars, motorcycles and karting.

    "Virginia International Raceway and our partners in the surrounding communities are thrilled to witness the incomparable show that will be delivered by the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and IMSA’s top-flight development championships,” said Connie Nyholm, managing partner of VIR.” To be able to give our fans and sponsors the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and the Global Leader in Green Racing, competing at speeds never seen at our historic track is an opportunity not to be missed.”

    Along with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup will compete on the weekend.
    Tickets for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón race at VIR on Sept. 15 will be available at VIRnow.com beginning Feb. 1.

    The 2012 American Le Mans Series season gets underway with the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on March 17. It also will mark the first race of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. Visit sebringraceway.com for details on tickets and accommodations.

    The annual Sebring Winter Test is scheduled for Feb. 8-9 at Sebring International Raceway. Tickets are $10 with no paddock access granted.

    http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|16465
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    im sure this is where Topgear went on their American trip, with the Merc SLS, 458 and think Hammond was in the Porsche.
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    really shocked by this news....

    Peugeot ends Le Mans programme with immediate effect
    By Matt Beer Wednesday, January 18th 2012, 15:26 GMT

    Peugeot has announced that it will end its endurance racing programme with immediate effect.

    The French manufacturer had been Audi's main rival in sportscar racing, running the variants of its diesel 908 prototype in the Le Mans 24 Hours and associated series since 2007.

    "This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe," Peugeot said in a statement on Wednesday. "Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012."

    Le Mans victory in 2009 was Peugeot's greatest success, while last year it won the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup title ahead of the series' transformation into the World Endurance Championship this year.

    The decision to can the programme comes amid declining car sales for the Peugeot group, and will be a major blow to the formative WEC - which had been expected to see a season-long battle between Audi and Peugeot.

    Toyota is embarking on a new LMP1 programme but will not contest a full campaign this year, while Porsche's new car will not hit the track until 2014.

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97080
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    Yeah really sad, going to miss the battle between Audi and Peugeot.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sianellen View Post
    Yeah really sad, going to miss the battle between Audi and Peugeot.
    yeah for sure At least there will be Toyota v Audi. But, now with the Pugs gone, think Audi will walk it.
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    Peugeot brings down the curtain on its endurance programme so as to ensure the success of its numerous launches in 2012.
    18 February 2012

    After 14 victories in the last 16 races, including a double at the Le Mans 24 Hours 2009 as part of the ILMC championship won by Peugeot two years running, in 2010 and 2011, the Brand has decided to close its 2012 endurance programme and will not be taking part in the next Le Mans 24 Hours.

    This decision has been taken against the backdrop of the challenging economic environment in Europe coupled with a particularly busy year for the Brand in terms of new vehicle launches. In this context, Peugeot prefers to concentrate its 2012 resources on its commercial performance and, in
    particular, ensuring the successful launches of the 208, 3008 HYbrid4, 508 RXH, 508 HYbrid4 and 4008 which will take forward the Brand's strategy of moving upmarket and extending its global presence.

    In keeping with its social responsibility obligations and as part of the GPEC (forward management of jobs and skills) agreement signed by 5 trade unions, all of the employees concerned will be offered redeployment solutions within the Group thanks to a special system set up to oversee and lead occupational training/retraining as well as internal mobility.


    Press contacts
    www.peugeot-pressepro.com

    http://peugeot-media.com/index.php?n...=167&langue=en
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    Such a shame, and so out of the blue! Big blow for the WEC as well.

    I hope Toyota can start with a good car out of the box, but given that this is their first season back, and they're not even doing a full season, I think Audi will walk it. Would've been nice to see Pugs vs Audi vs Toyota all go at it tooth and nail in LMP1, but oh well.

    The future is RED

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    Quote Originally Posted by ek583 View Post
    Such a shame, and so out of the blue! Big blow for the WEC as well.

    I hope Toyota can start with a good car out of the box, but given that this is their first season back, and they're not even doing a full season, I think Audi will walk it. Would've been nice to see Pugs vs Audi vs Toyota all go at it tooth and nail in LMP1, but oh well.

    Was looking forward to 3 big names battling it out this year. But, i hope Toyota can be competitive straight off. I cannt see it, think the WEC and Le-Mans is Audis to loose.
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    sebringraceway Sebring Raceway
    "Peugeot's Last Stand." Abandoned Sebring paddock garage for testing this weekend. We will miss the Lion!

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    Ferrari wins the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi

    Maranello, 21 January – The AF Corse team swept the board for Ferrari, winning both legs of the Gulf 12 Hours held today at the Yas Marina circuit. The event got underway on Friday, with cars from around the world taking part in various classes – GT3, GT4, CUP and CN2 – tackling two 6 hour races. The Italian team’s 458GT3 was crewed by Cioci-Griffin-Perazzini and their names are therefore at the top of the roll of honour with a well deserved victory in what was the first running of the Abu Dhabi endurance race.

    The Kessel Racing 458 GT3 came second in the hands of Peter-Broniszewski-Ramos-Coimbra, the Swiss car crossing the line ahead of the Audi R8 driven by Potolicchio- Popow-Dalziel, setting fast times to the very last of the 300 laps.

    AF Corse’s second 458 GT3 rounded off a good day which underlined the performance of the Maranello cars, with a fourth place for Arana Perez-Cirò- Cadei.

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    World Endurance
    Gene: "I signed the contract Peugeot three days ago!"

    The Spaniard accepts the decision of the Quesnel Leone, but was completely unaware
    January 19, 2012 16:33

    Marc Gene did not expect. The bomb's withdrawal from the World Endurance Peugeot is shaking the endurance races . The announcement yesterday is destabilizing the long-awaited birth of the FIA World Championship season. The Spaniard has signed a new contract three days ago when the idea of a program stop was not even aired: " I was surprised - Marc admits - but was taken aback that I did not even Quesnel had no warning of what was decided by the top of the Lion House . " Gene admits that he is at least strange that the contracts have been renewed for four out of six riders: "A continuation ok I had already had a voice - tells the Iberian - but just three days ago I signed the contract that is in full force and effect. And yesterday there was a halt to the program. " The grounds of the House of Leo is economic, the prefers brand-Alpine "... focus its resources on sale for 2012" . It is, therefore, a measure that has a demonstration, because the bulk of spending for the season had already been done with the construction of Hybrid4 machine and the development of the 908 HDi FAP. "Yes, indeed it is strange - Gene admits - and was doing a good job, but when it comes to such drastic decisions that may not take place. Luckily I do not stay unemployed: F1 Grand Prix will be the commentator for Spanish television and continuous collaboration with Ferrari in the work of the simulator. Of course I regret not being able to drive in the race ...".

    http://www.omnicorse.it/magazine/147...-tre-giorni-fa
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  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nova View Post
    Ferrari wins the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi

    Maranello, 21 January – The AF Corse team swept the board for Ferrari, winning both legs of the Gulf 12 Hours held today at the Yas Marina circuit. The event got underway on Friday, with cars from around the world taking part in various classes – GT3, GT4, CUP and CN2 – tackling two 6 hour races. The Italian team’s 458GT3 was crewed by Cioci-Griffin-Perazzini and their names are therefore at the top of the roll of honour with a well deserved victory in what was the first running of the Abu Dhabi endurance race.

    The Kessel Racing 458 GT3 came second in the hands of Peter-Broniszewski-Ramos-Coimbra, the Swiss car crossing the line ahead of the Audi R8 driven by Potolicchio- Popow-Dalziel, setting fast times to the very last of the 300 laps.

    AF Corse’s second 458 GT3 rounded off a good day which underlined the performance of the Maranello cars, with a fourth place for Arana Perez-Cirò- Cadei.
    brilliant news, didnt see the race what a way too start the year off

    Forza Ferrari
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    REBELLION Racing Confirms FIA WEC Entry
    BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 21, 2012

    The REBELLION Racing 2012 programme will centre around running two Lola-Toyota LMP1 cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the prestigious 24 Heures du Mans.

    REBELLION Racing will be looking to re-confirm its status as the best privateer sportscar team at the highest level of endurance racing.
    In 2011, the Swiss team won the Le Mans Series LMP1 Team Championship and the Le Mans Series Manufacturers Championship for Lola and Toyota. In the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, REBELLION Racing ended the season in third place in the Teams classification as the best private team behind Peugeot’s and Audi’s factory teams. REBELLION Racing’s other main achievement of the 2011 season was the 6th place overall finish at Le Mans 24 Hours; recording the highest placed finish for a petrol LMP.

    REBELLION Racing will remain the exclusive partner of Toyota Motorsport GmbH for the petrol V8 3.4 litre RV8KLM engine programme. In 2012, TMG will supply REBELLION Racing an upgraded version of the RV8KLM engine on an exclusive basis for the second year in a row.
    REBELLION Racing has selected four drivers that will share driving duties in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. The team have renewed the contracts of three of its regular 2011 drivers; Andrea Belicchi, Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost.

    REBELLION Racing is pleased to announce that former Aston Martin Racing LMP1 works driver Harold Primat will also be joining the team. Harold Primat, was an Aston Martin Racing LMP1 official works driver from 2009 to 2011; winning the 6 Hours of Laguna Seca in 2011 and the 500 km of Okayama in 2009 on top of many other podiums finishes in both the Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series and a 6th place overall finish at Le Mans 24 Hours in 2010.

    Bart Hayden, REBELLION Racing Team manager; “We have another strong driver line-up for this year. Complementing our existing driver line-up, I am pleased to welcome Harold on- board, he will bring a great deal of experience to the team.”

    More details on 2012 team’s Lola LMP1 cars and team’s full driver line-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be unveiled at a later date.
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  20. #20
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    New Driver Alignment to Optimize Performance in Sprint and Endurance Events

    A new alignment of drivers will pilot Corvette Racing's new Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars when they make their competition debut at the season-opening 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. With additional testing following the announcement of the 2012 driver roster, the team has now finalized the lineups for the twin Corvettes.

    Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia will be full-season drivers in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R, joined by Jordan Taylor as third driver in endurance events (Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans). Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner will co-drive the No. 4 Corvette C6.R, with Richard Westbrook joining them as third driver in the three long-distance races.

    "As part of our comprehensive review of Corvette Racing, we considered every element of the program, from the chassis and engine to the driver pairings," said GM Racing Director Mark Kent. "Preseason testing and data analysis suggested that a revised driver alignment could improve the team's overall performance. Certainly physical size is a factor in minimizing the time required for driver changes during pit stops, but we also evaluated the drivers' individual styles and their preferences on chassis setups. With these pairings, we can minimize compromises and maximize driver confidence.

    "This new alignment also combines experienced and younger drivers," Kent added. "We expect the veteran drivers to mentor the younger drivers, accelerating the process of learning and development."

    This new driver alignment sees Magnussen, 38, return to the No. 3 Corvette C6.R that he drove from March 2007 to August 2010. The Dane will co-drive with Garcia, 31, who moves from the third-driver role he began in 2009 to a full-season campaign in the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team's newest member, Jordan Taylor, a 20-year-old from Apopka, Fla., joins Magnussen and Garcia as the third driver in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R.

    Tommy Milner, 25, of Lake Mary, Fla., joined Corvette Racing in 2011 as a full-season driver in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R. Milner now moves to the No. 4 Corvette C6.R alongside Oliver Gavin, 39, a Corvette Racing driver since 2002. Richard Westbrook, 36, will mark his second year as third driver in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R.

    Corvette Racing will introduce its new driver lineup at the Sebring Winter Test on February 8-9 in preparation for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17.

    http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|16468
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  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rob View Post
    brilliant news, didnt see the race what a way too start the year off

    Forza Ferrari
    Yes it is..for a Ferrari forum, it doesnt appear the infamous Ferrari GT's have much of a following...
    In the days of the 512's, P3/4's and 312PB, I preferred sports racing over F1..If any Ferrari is in a race..Im there

  22. #22
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    i know I have started to enjoy GT (sports car) racing abit more over the the past few years. F1 is still my fav, but with the big names in GT racing, every race is like a sprint. Alot more close racing and the strategies are brilliant. Risi springs to mind, as they called some crackers in past couple years to end up winning. If there a Ferrari there, im supporting it.
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  23. #23
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    Toyota expands Le Mans 24 Hours attack to two LMP1 cars
    By Gary Watkins Tuesday, January 24th 2012, 18:00 GMT


    Toyota has expanded its attack on this year's Le Mans 24 Hours from one to two cars, the manufacturer announced at the launch of its 2012 LMP1 car on Tuesday.

    The Japanese squad made the announcement of its revised programme as it unveiled the petrol-electric LMP1 hybrid at Paul Ricard in France. Toyota stated that it could also run two of the cars, to be known as TS030 HYBRIDs, in additional rounds of the new FIA World Endurance Championship.

    No drivers have been confirmed for the second Le Mans entry, but Toyota Super GT and Formula Nippon driver Hiroaki Ishiura is a candidate after testing the new coupe at Ricard earlier this month.

    Toyota said the first TS030 completed several hundred kilometres at Ricard during a three-day shakedown on January 11-13, which included running at night. Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre, who will share the lead entry with Kazuki Nakajima, undertook the driving along with Ishiura.

    TMG technical director Pascal Vasselon said: "The two main performance drivers of our car are the aerodynamics and the hybrid system. The development team at TMG has worked very hard to achieve an optimum aero concept based on windtunnel testing and CFD.

    "Judging by the positive feedback we received during the roll-out, we have a very good base on which to build in the coming weeks."

    It was also confirmed that the TS030 will make its race debut in round two of the WEC at Spa on May 5 in the hands of the Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport GmbH squad, which has developed the new chassis. The team's participation in further WEC rounds will be confirmed soon.

    The TS030's powertrain is based around an all-new 3.4-litre normally-aspirated V8, not the Super GT-based powerplant used in the Rebellion Racing Lolas last year, and uses super-capacitors instead of batteries to store energy from its regenerative braking system.

    Toyota is evaluating retrieving energy from either the front and or rear axle and will make a decision on what route to take in the near future.

    The TS030 HYBRID continues the nomenclature of previous Toyota Le Mans challengers. It follows the TS010 Group C car of 1991-1993 and the TS020, the internal codename for the car that raced at the 24 Hours as the GT-One in 1998-99.

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97163

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    The countdown begins in Daytona for the 24 Hour race

    The Ferrari of AIM Autorsport Team FXDD is second in qualifying

    Maranello, 27 January –Qualifying for the Daytona 24 Hours, the famous endurance race at the International Speedway has now taken place, for the opening round of the 2012 GrandAm season.

    There are five Ferraris in the GT class and fastest was the AIM Autorsport FXDD car in the hands of Jack Segal. The Miami driver stopped the clocks in 1.49.357, a few tenths slower than the Brumos Racing Porsche GT3, on pole in 1.49.342.

    Fifth fastest was Gimmi Bruni, lapping in 1.49.661 on his debut at Daytona Beach, driving the Risi Competizione 458 Grand AM.

    The Houston team’s other car could only manage eleventh in the hands of the Finn Toni Vilander (1.50.191) one place ahead of the Estreme Speed Motorsports 458 in 1.50.197. 26th time for the AF Corse Waltrip car in 1.51.105 as the Italian team is working on the Grand AM project in conjunction with Michael Waltrip Racing, both Robert Kauffman and Michael Waltrip racing with Travis Pastrana and Rui Aguas.

    Following on from qualifying, two hours of free practice at 18h30, while tomorrow, there are a further two sessions at 9 and 11 to give drivers a last chance to get to grips with the track before the race gets underway at 15h30 on Saturday 28 January.

  25. #25
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    Audi to enter hybrid R18s at Le Mans
    By: Chris Pickering
    Date: Thursday 2nd February 2012

    Audi has revealed that it will be running two hybrid cars in the Le Mans 24 Hour race this year. They will be entered as part of a two-pronged approach that also sees a pair of conventional diesel-only R18s taking to the grid.

    Technical details on the system are virtually non-existent at this stage, but previous hints about ‘progressive electrification’ of the R18 suggest it will be a purely electrical system, rather than a mechanical or electro-mechanical one.

    "To develop the hybrid technology for Le Mans is at least as ambitious and challenging as our diesel project was in its early stages," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "The first test results are very encouraging and we are intrigued to see just how this technology performs in combination with our ultra lightweight technology on the race track at Le Mans.

    “As before, we still, however, see potential with the conventional drive - just as our colleagues do in production development. This is why we are absolutely delighted that the ACO and FIA selection committee has accepted our entries and that we can join the grid with four cars at the commemorative [80th anniversary] running of the Le Mans race."

    http://www.racetechmag.com/news/news.php?id=196
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    Nick Heidfeld joins REBELLION Racing
    BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ FEBRUARY 1, 2012

    REBELLION Racing is pleased to announce that Nick Heidfeld will drive one of the team’s Lola-Toyota LMP1 coupés during the FIA World Endurance Championship opening rounds and the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours.

    The former Formula One German driver, will race for the Swiss team at Sebring 12 Hours, Spa 6 Hours and the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours.
    Nick will share the seat of the #12 Lola-Toyota with Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost.

    Nick Heidfeld, 34, started 183 Formula 1 Grand Prix reaching the podium on 13 occasions. He began in Formula One at Prost GP in 2000 before moving onto Sauber (2001-2003), Jordan, (2004) Williams (2005), then BMW Sauber (2006-2009). In 2010 Nick was Mercedes GP third driver and Pirelli test driver and had a part season (five races) with Sauber. In 2011 Nick was a Lotus-Renault driver.
    Nick Heidfeld had one Le Mans 24 Hours start in 1999 with AMG-Mercedes factory squad with the #5 Mercedes CLR.

    Nick Heidfeld : “I am really looking forward to this new challenge and I am especially excited that the first race in Sebring, being a new circuit for me, is only a few weeks away. Since I did Le Mans in 1999 I always knew that I wanted to come back to endurance racing. I am very happy to join Rebellion Racing and hope I can help building up on their already impressive achievements which include winning the Team and Manufacturer championship in the Le Mans Series and finishing just behind the Peugeot and Audi works teams in the Intercontinental Le Mans cup.”

    Bart Hayden, REBELLION Racing Team Manager : “We had a number of options for high profile drivers joining our Team for the longer distance race events such as Sebring and Le Mans. Nick Heidfeld was available and was looking for a new challenge. Nick will be a valuable addition to the team, he is quick, highly-experienced, enthusiastic and very happy to be part of REBELLION Racing. We are pleased to welcome Nick to the team and are looking forward to the start of the season next month at the Sebring 12 Hours, opening round of the new FIA World Endurance Championship.”

    http://www.planetlemans.com/2012/02/...ellion-racing/
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  27. #27
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    Heres the entry list for this years Le-Mans 24hr...

    http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/..._mans_2012.pdf

    and here is the list for this years WEC....

    http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...ist_310112.pdf
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  28. #28
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    Risi not going to Le Mans again?

    The future is RED

  29. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by ek583 View Post
    Risi not going to Le Mans again?
    im not sure mate. Im waiting for an email back
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  30. #30
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    looking forward to see the R18 Hybrid race. Finally.
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