2013 WEC, IMSA&ELMS News

[Rob]

KROHN RACING FINISHES FOURTH AT THE MOBIL 1 TWELVE HOURS OF SEBRING
After a demanding 12 hours on the notoriously tough Sebring International Raceway, Krohn Racing finished the 62nd Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the fourth position in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class of the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 of team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Andrea Bertolini started 11th on the grid and took advantage of their planned strategy to be in contention for a podium finish. Italian Ferrari ace Andrea Bertolini led eight laps of the 12-hour endurance race under green flag condition in the GTLM class after the ten-hour mark.

Although Krohn and longtime co-driver Jonsson were not able to celebrate a podium finish, today’s event marked their 100th race together. The eleven years sharing the cockpit has given Krohn and Jonsson an understanding of what it takes to be successful in sports car racing, and this year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring did not disappoint.


TRACY W. KROHN, Krohn Racing Team Owner/Driver, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTLM:
“We put ourselves in a position to be on the podium but we didn’t quite get there. Andrea and Nic did a fabulous job, these guys are pros. It’s fun to watch them, and they drove just flawless. Everything went very well, the car was really good. We didn’t have any issues with it and that’s hard to do at Sebring. This is a tough place to race and a tough place to get on the podium no matter what class you’re in. It all worked out okay. We started 11th, finished fourth, and almost made the podium, so today was a good day.”

NIC JONSSON, Driver, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTLM:
“We had a pretty strong car all week even though we qualified in the back. We are the only privateer team in this very competitive class racing against factory cars. The Krohn guys have done a phenomenal job again with preparing the car. Both Tracy and Andrea did an extraordinary job in the car and our team engineer, Hayden, had a great strategy throughout the day, and it shows. A well-prepped car, along with staying out of trouble, is what pays off in these types of races. Sebring is a really rough track; it’s very hard physically to drive and also hard on the equipment. If you stay out of trouble and keep your nose clean, I think it shows you can have a good result. If you look at our car, it has no scratches on it and that’s the way to finish. Again, thank you so much to the Krohn guys. The 100th race with Tracy was awesome to finish.”

ANDREA BERTOLINI, Driver No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTLM:
“I drove the car for nearly three hours at the end. The team did a really unbelievable job, especially in terms of strategy and pit stops. At the end, the car had good balance, and I think it was on the top for us having a 2012 car. It was really good, and I’m really happy for Tracy and Nic. I tried to do my best, and in the last bit, they asked me to remain in the car. We put new tires on the left side and we achieved a good result. I am so happy, but also disappointed that we were so close. It was a dream for me to finish on the podium with Tracy and Nic, and everyone did their best. It was a really special weekend.”

HAYDEN BURVILL, Krohn Racing Engineer:
“The strategy in this kind of racing is always to take advantage of the free passes and that kind of stuff. We worked hard, being in the 2012 car, so we have between seven-tenths and one-second disadvantage on speed. We’re always looking for opportunities to recover that, and working through the rules, there are opportunities to make up for that deficit. We managed to do that all day and put ourselves in a position that, at the end of the day, we had a shot. It turned out to only be four cars in the end, and the cars beat us on pace. That was expected, but even to finish fourth in this car, and have beaten many of the factory cars, is incredible. We’re a private entry in a GTLM event and to finish fourth, that’s pretty admirable. The other way that we were able to be in contention for a podium finish is because we had a trouble-free race. The car finished the race with virtually no damage. The team incurred no penalties, and that’s critical to being competitive in these races. The team did a really good job, and it’s great to be involved with Krohn Racing.”

Next round for the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is April 12 on the streets of Long Beach, California for a combined Prototype and GTLM class race.

[Rob]

Sebring Struggles

Lucas on trackSebring, FL (March 15, 2014) - Things don't always go as planned, and unfortunately, that was the case for Muscle Milk Pickett Racing on Saturday in Sebring as the team failed to see the checkered flag, despite an impressive race leading performance early on.

The outcome at this year's 62nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring continued the string of bad luck that the team has faced at Sebring International Raceway where they've been unable to make it to the checkered flag three times in the last four seasons.

However, things were looking good for the Greg Pickett-led squad in the opening of stages of the race.

Lucas Luhr had a strong opening stint in the first couple of hours, moving up from as low as tenth to as high as second aboard the #6 Muscle Milk ORECA Nissan.

The start at Sebring Then, thanks to a combination of great driving and excellent pit stops, the team took the lead following a stop for fuel, tires, and a driver change to Klaus Graf.

The German built a 19 second lead before making his first pit stop during what was one of many caution periods that marred the race.

Unfortunately, Graf was caught speeding on pit lane and had to serve a drive through penalty, which relegated him to 12th.

By the time he handed driving duties to Jann Mardenborough, about eight and a half hours into the event, he had made it up to sixth.

While Mardenborough had a good first stint in his Nissan machine, a driveline problem on his pit stop sent the team back to the paddock for repairs. Within 40 minutes the issue was repaired and the GT Academy graduate was back on track. Sadly, the team had lost 13 laps to the leaders in the process.

Pickett Racing's misfortunes didn't end there, however. While the team continued on for about another four hours, it was trouble with their power steering that officially put an end to their day with about one hour to go in the 12-hour race.

The Muscle Milk team didn't get the result they wanted this weekend, but they've made a lot of progress since the opening race in January, closed the gap to the Daytona Prototypes and proved that they are here to battle at the front.

The team will be back in action next month at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 12, 2014.

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Quotes:

Klaus Graf, driver Muscle Milk Pickett Racing

"It wasn't the result we wanted but it is what it is. Thank you to the boys, they worked very hard and they got our Muscle Milk ORECA Nissan back out after our problem with the driveline. They were really quick to get it fixed.

"We did competitive laps and we led the race by 19 seconds at one point. It shows that we had the speed. We also had very good pit stops. It's just that the car is still new, new to Sebring, new to the U.S. and we still have to learn a lot of things together with ORECA.
"The TUDOR Championship is obviously very competitive and we'll come back strong at the next race."

Lucas Luhr, driver Muscle Milk Pickett Racing

"To start with the positive, we were very competitive in one part of the race and led some laps.
"On the negative side, we had some issues and that's very disappointing.

"We just have to keep on working and try to make it better. The boys did an awesome job on the pit stops, so big thanks to them. I know they've had some hard weeks and long hours working and even today, they were not ready to give up, they tried to fix it but it was not meant to be today.

"All we can do now is keep on working and try to make it better. We made a big, big step from Daytona to here so we need another big one for Long Beach."

Jann Headshot Jann Mardenborough, first time racing at Sebring

"It wasn't the start that I wished to have for my first time racing in America but it's been a great experience driving for Muscle Milk Pickett Racing. The last week and a half I've been out here in Sebring testing and racing with them and I've learned a lot. I've made some great friends within the team and I've had the chance to work with two really professional drivers. I've definitely come out a better driver and a more experienced one. I'll know what to expect next time if I get to come back here at Sebring and have another crack at it.

"The result may not look amazing but there's been many positives to take out of it.

"I love the Sebring track. It's a challenge and a unique circuit. Turn 1 and especially Turn 17, you don't see corners like that, at least from what I've experienced in Europe or New Zealand. It's very, very bumpy so your line is dictated by the bumps. It's pretty difficult, especially when there is this much traffic. It keeps you on your toes."

[Rob]

Electrical Problem Ends Competitive Run for Scuderia Corsa at Sebring

After contending for lead in GT-Daytona, team's Ferrari 458 Italia ultimately finishes in 18th
March 16, 2014 (Sebring, Fla.) - A strong first half of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring for the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia led to another frustrating result for last season's GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

From the drop of the green flag, the Scuderia Corsa Ferrari - which was started by Alessandro Balzan, before teammates Jeff Westphal, Lorenzo Case', and Kyle Marcelli cycled through the car - was a contender in the GT-Daytona class. The car led the class on several occasions, and ran well within the top five throughout the pit stop cycles, staying out of trouble during a race marred with several caution periods and one red flag.

Just before the eight hour mark of the race, while running in fourth position, Case' was forced to pit to allow the team to diagnose an electrical problem that had started during his stint. Further problems later in the race would cause the car to go many more laps down. The Scuderia Corsa crew was able to get the Ferrari back on track in the closing stages, and team newcomer Kyle Marcelli set the team's fastest lap in the closing stages of the race.

"The team did a big job to give us a great car," said Balzan "This weekend, things went really well, but at the end of the race we had some problems that took our car out of contention. The Ferrari was really good, very fast, easy to drive. Now, we just look to Laguna Seca."

His teammate Westphal shared Balzan's thoughts.

"We had a plan in this race, and we executed it perfectly, and we led a bunch of laps," said Westphal. "As the track got hot and the conditions got worse, the Ferrari remained a very easy car to drive. It's too bad we didn't get the chance to battle for the win at the end, especially when you consider how good the car was. Clearly, at the end of the race, the car had great pace and we could have been battling for the lead."

"The entire Scuderia Corsa team and drivers showed a lot of speed and a lot of competitiveness today in our first 12 Hours of Sebring," said Giacomo Mattioli, team owner of Scuderia Corsa. "We were all very motivated to do well at Sebring, a track where Ferrari has enjoyed so much success and celebrated so many victories, and a track where we enjoyed the company of many of our friends and partners. But unfortunately for us, it wasn't meant to be. I'm very proud of the effort that our drivers and crew put in to put a competitive car on the track."

The next round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship that the GT-D class will compete in will be the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California on May 3-4.

[Rob]

[Rob]

38 cars on the entry list for the first ELMS gathering of 2014.

The key players of the 2014 European Le Mans Series will soon be gathered together at the Circuit Paul Ricard on 1st/2ndApril for a seasonal debut which is a great reflection of Europe's booming endurance racing industry. No fewer than 38 of the 42 cars registered for the whole season will travel to the south of France, and there will be more than 90 drivers representing 20 different nationalities.

The European Le Mans Series this year has three categories: LMP2, LMGTE and GTC.

LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) will be represented by 11 cars and 6 manufacturers. Signatech Alpine will be defending its title in 2014 with the No.36 Alpine 450 Nissan which will be driven by European LMPC Drivers' Champion, Paul Loup Chatin, LMP2 Champions Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues and Briton Oliver Webb. Jota Sport has recently announced that Audi driver Filipe Albuquerque will be joining the team at the wheel of the Zytek Z11SN Nissan and the Portuguese will be accompanied at Paul Ricard by Simon Dolan and Harry Tincknell. The two other ZytekS on the grid will be the No.41 AND No.28 Greaves Motorsport entries, driven by American Chris Dyson and Briton Tom Kimber- Smith, and Tony Wells and James Littlejohn.

Thiriet by TDS Racing will enter the new Ligier JS P2 -Nissan later in the season, and will be at the Castellet test with the n°46 Morgan-Nissan. Team boss Pierre Thiriet will be teamed with Ludovic Badey and Tristan Gommendy.

Three additional Morgan chassis will be present in the ELMS in 2014, the first being the No.43 Morgan -Judd of Newblood by Morand Racing which will be in the hands of two top drivers, former F1 driver Christian Klien of Austria, the Swiss Gary Hirsch who was 2013 European LMPC Champion and French Romain Brandela. Pegasus Racing has entered the No.29 Morgan Nissan with Frenchman Julien Shell and Swiss driver Nicolas Leutwiler on board. The third Morgan will be Judd-powered and run by Larbre Compétition which is returning to the ELMS with Jacques Nicolet in the No.50 entry.

The Irish Murphy Prototypes team will enter the No.48 ORECA03-Nissan with two yet-to-be-announced drivers, while a second car from the Varois manufacturer will be in the hands of German René Rast and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor representing one of the new teams for this season: Sébastien Loeb Racing. Finally, Race Performance has entered an ORECA03-Judd for Michel Frey and Frenchman Franck Mailleux.

The largest category for the Le Castellet test session will be that of LMGTE with 14 cars and three different manufacturers. Eight Ferrari 458 Italias will be on track, two of which will be from the Italian AF Corse team and driven by Piergiuseppe Perazzini and Marco Cioci in one, and by Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin, now a WEC driver, in the other. Newcomer to ELMS, the French SOFREV -ASP team, will run Frenchmen Soheil Ayari, Anthony Pons and former World Champion footballer Fabien Barthez. AT Racing, also a newcomer to the ELMS this year, will run the No.56 Ferrari 458 Italia with the Belarus line up of Alexander Talkanitsa Senior and Junior. JMW Motorsport is due to announce its drivers soon, while Kessel Racing will enter two Ferraris for Pole Michael Broniszewski and Italians GiacomoPiccini and Marco Frezza. The second car will be in the hands of Nigerian Kolawole Aluko who will be teamed up with Thomas Kemenater and Matteo Cressoni. After having won the GTC title in 2013, last but not least amongst the Ferraris will be that of the SMP Racing team which will be driven by Andrea Bertolini, Viktor Shaitar and Sergey Zlobin.

Two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs will be entered by IMSA Performance Matmut. The No.67 crew will benefit from an all-French line up, composed of Erik Maris, Jean- Marc Merlin and Eric Helary, while the No.76 will be driven by Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo and Belgian driver Laurent Pasquali. Crubilé Sport's Porsche 997 GT3 RSR will be in the hands of François Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Sébastien Crubilé. Gulf Racing UK will enter another Porsche 911 GT3 RSR to be driven by Michael Wainwright, as well as an Aston Martin Vantage V8 in the hands of Roald Goethe and Stuart Hall. The last Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on the LMGTE grid will be the one of Prospeed Competition with German Paul van Splunteren, Greek Dimitris Deverikos and Belgian Maxime Soulet.

The GTC class is also booming. SMP Racing will be defending its title with three Ferrari 458 Italia GT3s. The No.57 will be driven by Boris Rotenberg, Finn Mika Salo and Italian Maurizio Mediani. The team's second car, No.71, will have a 100% Russian line up in the hands of Anton and Kirill Ladygin and Aleksey Basov while the No.73 will feature Monegasque driver Olivier Beretta alongside Alexander Frolov and David Markozov. Four further cars from the Prancing Horse marque will be on track at Paul Ricard: two for the Italian AF Corse team crewed by an all-Danish line up of Mads Radsmussen and Dennis Lind in the No.63 and Per Nielsen and Christian Overaad in the No.64. The ELMS welcomes two new teams for the final two Ferraris, Team Sofrev-ASP (Christophe Bourret, Pascal Gibon and Jean-Philippe Belloc) and the Danish Formula Racing team for whom Jan Magnussen, Johnny Laursen and Mikkel Mac Jensen will drive.

In addition to its commitment in LMP2, Sebastien Loeb Racing will also be present in GTC with the only Audi R8 LMS on the grid. It will be driven notably by Frenchman Henry Hassid. Team Russia by Barwell will enter the only BMW Z4 GT3, its Russian-British line up being Leonid Machitski, Timur Sardarov and Jonathan Cocker. A Porsche 997 GT3 will also be present in the category, driven by Frenchmen Franck Perera, Lucas Laserre and Eric Dermont for the Pro GT by Almeras team. ART Grand Prix will be competing with two McLaren MP4-12C GT3s which will undoubtedly make an impression on the European series with its cars being driven by Mexican Ricardo Gonzalez and Syrian Karim Ajlani in one, Estonian Kevin Korjus and Grégoire Demoustier in the second. Finally, Boutsen Ginion Racing will enter the GTC class in 2014 with a third McLaren MP4 12C GT3, for which the driver line up is still to be announced.

The official test session of the European Le Mans Series will be held on 1st/2ndApril at Le Castellet. A pre-season press conference will be held on Tuesday 1st at 12:30pm.

Tuesday, April 1

9:00 am to 1:00 pm - morning session

12:30 pm - press conference

2:00 to 6:00 pm - afternoon session

7:00 to 9:00 pm - evening session



Wednesday, April 2

9:00 am to 1:00 pm - morning session

2:00 to 5:00 pm - afternoon session

[Rob]

Vincent Capillaire and SO24! with Sébastien Loeb Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans !

Le Mans native Vincent Capillaire and La Sarthe-based project SO24! have joined Sébastien Loeb Racing for the team's endurance program. Vincent Capillaire will drive the No. 24 ORECA 03 LM P2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in in the European Le Mans Series. For the twice-around-the-clock classic in la Sarthe, he will share driving duties with René Rast and Laurens Vanthoor, two Audi Sport customer racing GT drivers.
Vincent Capillaire : « A child's dream and a grown-up's job ! »

Born in Le Mans and winner of the Volant ELF in 1996, Vincent Capillaire has raced in several disciplines, whether it be single-seaters, GTs or prototypes. After several races in Formula Le Mans and in the NASCAR Euro Series, he finished second in the Challenge Endurance – Proto VdeV last year, with six podium finishes and six pole positions. Like his teammates, René Rast and Laurens Vanthoor, he will be taking part in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans. « I was born in Le Mans, I work here and I live here. I'm realising a child's dream and grown-up's job. » admits Vincent, who is also a driving instructor at the Le Mans Circuit. « It's the coming together of an important goal thanks to the hard work of SARTHE OBJECTIVE 24 (SO24 !) and Sébastien Loeb Racing. For the past three years, highly motivated people have been bringing together a hundred enterprises as well as institutional or individual bodies, based in La Sarthe region, with the goal of having a Sarthe-native race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and maybe one day a 100% La Sarthe driver lineup. It's a great story. I'm lucky enough to have two professional drivers beside me who have an impressive track record. My goal is to accomplish my mission, without making mistakes, while being reliable and consistent, with the goal to get closer to being as fast as them. Taking part in the ELMS will allow me to prepare and familiarise myself with the car, before taking on this motor sport monument that I've dreamed of for so long. I'd like to thank Sébastien Loeb Racing and SO24! for their support. »


Franck Tiné : « We were taken by the passion and human element of SO24! »

It's with this number, full of symbolism, the No. 24, with a Le Mans native driving with support from a consortium of partners based in La Sarthe that Sébastien Loeb Racing will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. « From the start, we were taken by the passion and human element of the SO24 ! project which supports Vincent Capillaire » explains Franck Tiné, Sporting Director at Sébastien Loeb Racing. « Vincent has the ideal profile to race alongside René and Laurens. He has experience, a calme nature and a professional approach. We are convinced he will be up to the challenge. We have three drivers making their debut at Le Mans, and the team will be discovering the race as well. Therefore we are approaching this legendary event with a lot of humility. Our drivers and our technical team, led by Léo Thomas, have good qualities, and we have several positive ingredients, such as the Michelin tyres and ORECA chassis. The objective is clear : every person must give their all and we will see what the result is at the end. With a driver from Le Mans like Vincent Capillaire, SO24! project and the No. 24, our challenge is a real Le Mans story. That pleases us, and it's all the more reason that the 24 Hours of Le Mans hold a special place in the team's objectives in both the short and medium terms. »

Alongside René Rast and Laurens Vanthoor, Vincent Capillaire completed his first laps in the ORECA 03 Sunday and Monday during testing in Portugal. In addition to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he will contest with his German and Belgian teammates, Vincent will race in the full European Le Mans Series with two other drivers whose names will be revealed at a later date.

[Rob]

THE DAWN APPROACHES FOR THE NEW SEASON AT THE PROLOGUE

In just over one week's time the cars will take to the track at the Circuit Paul Ricard for The Prologue on the 28 and 29 March 2014. This is the official pre season test for the FIA WEC and most of the 31 full season entries will be there. It will also be the first opportunity to see the LMP1-H cars from Audi, Toyota and Porsche running together on the same track.

The two days of testing at The Prologue will begin at 9am on Friday 28March for three sessions, including a run in the dark on Friday evening. The event will continue on Saturday with the public being invited to attend and take part in an autograph session at lunchtime. Tickets are available HERE

The Entry List for The Prologue is available HERE

Friday 28 March

09:00 - 13:00 Morning Session

14:00 - 18:00 Afternoon session

19:00 - 21:00 Night session

Saturday 29 March

09:00 - 13:00 Morning Session

13:15 - 13:45 Driver Autograph Session

14:00 - 17:00 Afternoon session

[Rob]

PRE-SEASON PREPARATION AND PLANNING FOR THE FIA WEC

As any top racing team will tell you, the secret to success is in the preparation. Now in its third year, the FIA WEC has the same approach to its championship as any of the world-class teams within it.

As part of that preparation, FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu and key members of the organisation team have completed highly successful visits to Shanghai, Fuji and CoTA in recent weeks for productive meetings with the promoters and organisers of Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.

As well as discussions regarding logistics, marketing and promotion, entertainment and sporting matters, the meetings were also a chance to discuss how to enhance the events.

The Chinese round of the championship will include an increased support race package and more promotion to attract more visitors from Shanghai and increase the numbers of spectators from the impressive number of 28,000 that came to see the FIA WEC in 2013.

Staff at Fuji International Speedway outlined plans for work on an improved drainage system around the circuit which will help alleviate the problem of standing water in the event of heavy rainfall. Everyone is, however, praying for a repeat of the sunny 2012 event!

[Rob]

TOYOTA TS040 HYBRID - WHAT'S UNDER THE COVER?

20/03/2014 - 11h17

In just one week the covers will be taken off the new Toyota TS040 Hybrid, the Japanese team's challenger for the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship. The excitement is mounting to see the last of the three LMP1-H competitors in the flesh, with Audi and Porsche having already revealed their cars in recent weeks.

The launch is due to take place at Circuit Paul Ricard in France just ahead of The Prologue, the official pre-season tests for the WEC, and all of Toyota Racing's drivers and team principals will be present. As previously announced, the No.7 will be driven by Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima, and the No.8 will be in the hands of Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buemi.

Toyota Racing released a teaser about their new LMP1 in the form of a sound recording of the TS040 Hybrid's new V8 petrol engine at full throttle.

[Rob]

So, looking forward to this new season. Gearing up to be, real cracker. Like to see Risi, compete in WEC, shouldnt bother with the IMSA TUDOR.

[Rob]

To hold firm once again at the front of the FIA World Endurance Championship
(WEC): a new challenge for Ferrari and AF Corse
28 March 2014 - Off the back of last season’s successes, which culminated in a triple victory in the FIA.

World Endurance Championship, the Manufacturer and the Italian team – are back on duty for the new season with the aim of proving their dominance at the highest level. Top notch and the well-proven cars and drivers will be entered by Ferrari and AF Corse in the GTE Pro Class starting from the first round scheduled in Silverstone (18-20 April).

In the first Ferrari 458 which bears the #51, the GT World Champion Gianmaria Bruni will run together with Toni Vilander. The two drivers have been long-time team mates, winning the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, together with Giancarlo Fisichella. The 458 #71 will feature the Scuderia Ferrari test driver Davide Rigon and the Englishman James Calado; the latter is a new entry for AF Corse who will fly the Ferrari flag with the Italian team in his home race in Silverstone.

No less than two 458s are entered in the GTE Am category with highly rated crews: the car number #61 will be in the hands of Luis Perez Companc, Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi while in the Ferrari #81 will race Steve Wyatt, Michele Rugolo and Sam Bird.

AF Corse will also manage the technical assistance of the 8 Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 #90 and the trio of Enzo Potolicchio, Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti will lined up to win the GTE Am title.

Before the kick of the seasons teams and drivers will first take to the track today and tomorrow with the official collective tests at the Paul Ricard Circuit for the Prologue of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

[Rob]

TIMES TUMBLE IN THE PROLOGUE'S SECOND TEST SESSION

28/03/2014 - 18h37

As the ambient temperature rose this afternoon at the Circuit Paul Ricard, venue for The Prologue – the official pre-season tests for the FIA World Endurance Championship – so the times dropped on the track in all classes.

At the close of the second 4-hour test session, it was Porsche’s No.20 919 Hybrid which had taken the initiative from Audi at the head of the time sheets. Timo Bernhard set the fastest lap of the day so far, 1:41.788, just a tenth ahead of his team mate in the No.20 Mark Webber, and 2.85s ahead of the No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

In LMP2 the two cars which were unable to post a time this morning turned around their fortunes for the afternoon. The No.23 Millenium Racing ORECA 03 Nissan of Shinji Nakano marked the best lap of the afternoon, the Japanese driver lapping the Le Castellet track with a time of 1:48.970. This was just 0.11s in front of the No.26 G-Drive Racing Morgan Nissan of Olivier Pla.

Porsche Team Manthey held the upper hand in LMGTE Pro, but this time it was new Porsche factory signing Fred Makowiecki who set the fastest time of the session with a lap of 1:58.041. Another newcomer to the WEC, recently announced AF Corse Ferrari signing James Calado, put the No.71 Ferrari 458 Italia second in class, only 0.23s behind the Porsche 911 RSR.

8Star Motorsport’s No.90 F458 Italia also maintained its place at the top of the LMGTE Am category, Paolo Ruberti once again leading the way. His best lap of 1:58.507 was an improvement of 2.5 seconds over his fastest lap of the morning, but only 0.03s ahead of Sam Bird in the No.81 AF Corse Ferrari.

The third and final session of the day will begin at 19h00 and run into darkness to allow teams and drivers an opportunity to experience night running ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The two hour session will finish at 21h00.

[Rob]

NIGHT FALLS ON DAY ONE OF THE PROLOGUE

28/03/2014 - 21

The third and final session of the first day of The Prologue was run for the most part in total darkness around the Circuit Paul Ricard at Le Castellet. With several drivers new to endurance racing or new to the WEC, the two-hour night practice offered teams and drivers within the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship a great opportunity to experience night running before the third round of the championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Seven cars chose not to run at all, and many of the others completed a limited number of laps. At the close of play tonight it was Brendon Hartley in the No.20 Porsche 919 Hybrid who claimed the fastest lap of the day with a time of 1:41.289, ahead of its sister LMP1-H the No.14. Neither of Rebellion Racing’s privateer Lola Toyotas were on track.

In LMP2 Shinji Nakano again set the pace, his lap of 1:49.246 in the No.23 Millenium Racing ORECA 03 Nissan. The two SMP Racing entries followed in class, the No.27 just six tenths of a second behind the class leader.

Porsche junior driver Klaus Bachler showed a clean pair of heels to the Pro class, his lap of 1:58.662 in the GTE Am No.88 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR placing him ahead of the leading LMGTE Pro entry – the No.71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Davide Rigon (1:58.986). The Italian’s new team mate, James Calado, showed how evenly matched the pair will be; just 0.003s separated the two AF drivers at the end of the night! Ram Racing’s No.52 Ferrari was second in the GTE Pro category, Alvaro Parente getting quickly up to speed in the WEC.

The No.61 F458 of the championship-winning squad was second in the Am category behind the Proton Porsche, Luis Perez Companc thoroughly enjoying his transfer from the LMP2 category to GTE and setting the fastest lap of the three drivers in the AF Corse Ferrari.

The cars will be back on track tomorrow morning at 09h00 for a further 4-hour session and the action will take place in front of almost 8,000 fans eager to see and meet their endurance racing heroes.