2014 WEC/ELMS&TUSC news.

[Rob]

Is it confirmed that Audi will not use diesel engines next year?

have not heard they were planning to move to petrol.

[Nand0Nand0]

Thanks Rob, I read it on another forum but there was no source. btw you do a terrific job with posts here.

[Rob]

FIA WEC, Shanghai: double podium with Rigon-Calado and Roda-Ruberti-Cressoni. Ferrari, AF Corse, Bruni and Vilander keep the top positions in the championship.

Two podia for the Ferrari 458 Italia at the end of the “Shanghai 6 Hours”, round 6 in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Davide Rigon and James Calado, in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #71, took the chequered flag in third position of the GTE Pro category. Same spot, this time in the GTE Am, for Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Cressoni in the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia (managed by AF Corse).

The leaders of the GT Drivers standing, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, did not gain points in the Chinese event. A few seconds after the green light, Bruni was innocently involved in an incident and the Ferrari 458 Italia #51 was destroyed. With two rounds to race before the end ofthe competition, Bruni and Vilander remain first in the GT Drivers championship with 131 points (Mokowiecki, Porsche, is second thanks to 106.5 points).

Ferrari is leading the GT Manufactures championship with 221 (Porsche in second place, 214). AF Corse keeps the top position in the GTE Pro Team classification with 131 points (Porsche Team Manthey is second with 120).

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be in Bahrain, November 15th.

[Rob]

Thanks Rob, I read it on another forum but there was no source. btw you do a terrific job with posts here.

i have been asking same thing, thinking maybe they will look at moving to petrol after seeing how Toyota and Porsche are clearly quicker. But, think next year they may increase the hybrid output. Can also see, Audi has more D/F than the Toyota and Porsche, as when in corners, they close on them, but as soon as they hit a straight, they are left behind.

Also, thankyou. Your welcome.

[Rob]

FIA World Endurance Championship, round 6 in Shanghai/China, GT, Race report.

Double victory for Porsche 911 RSR in China.

Stuttgart. Important success for Porsche at the six-hour race in Shanghai: On the Grand Prix circuit at the outskirts of China’s economic powerhouse, the 911 RSR fielded by the Porsche Manthey squad secured the second double victory of this year’s Sports Car World Endurance Championship (WEC) in front of 45,000 spectators. Crossing the finish line as the winner after 167 laps were the French Porsche works drivers Frédéric Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet, with second place going to their factory pilot colleagues Jörg Bergmeister (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria). Currently ranking second in the manufacturers’ championship, this success has enabled Porsche to make further headway in the fight for the title.

The double victory on the Shanghai International Circuit was the feather in the cap for a faultless performance from the entire team. Despite the adverse weather conditions during free practice, the 470 hp 911 RSR, which is based on the seventh generation of the iconic 911 sports car, could be perfectly set-up for the critical qualifying. There, the Porsche pilots locked out positions two and three, which they then turned into a dream result at Sunday’s race. Patrick Pilet took the lead of the GT field in the final third of the race, shortly before that Jörg Bergmeister had overtaken the Ferrari in front. They held on to these positions to the flag – to bring home the second double victory for Porsche since the season-opener at Silverstone.

Star gymnast Marcel Nguyen had witnessed Porsche’s success directly from the pits. The two-time silver medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games and 2012/13 World Cup overall winner, who attended the Shanghai race as Porsche’s VIP guest, is a huge motorsport fan and drives a Porsche Cayman GTS. He trains regularly in China and enjoys almost a pop star status amongst fans here. This was very evident at the traditional autograph session before the race, where his signature was equally as in demand as the popular race drivers.
Comments on the race
Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development Porsche AG: “That was a perfect weekend. The second double victory – you can’t wish for more than that. This has helped us take a big step towards the manufacturers’ championship and we will head to the final two races in Bahrain and Sao Paulo totally committed in our fight for the title.”

Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Head of Porsche Motorsport: “We’re of course very pleased. That was a real sprint race and a tough fight over six hours. The team, drivers and engineers did everything perfectly. This has put us back in the fight for the championship and we’ll be heading to the next race in Bahrain more motivated than ever.”

Patrick Pilet (Porsche 911 RSR #92): “My first WEC win – it’s about time. The race today was perfect for us, everything ran smoothly. We had a great car, perfect pit stops and the right strategy. Now I’m looking forward to Bahrain.”

Frédéric Makowiecki (Porsche 911 RSR #92): “What a day. The team did a flawless job today and can be proud of this result. Our 911 RSR was well balanced and consistently fast right from the start. That was without doubt one of our best races.”

Jörg Bergmeister (Porsche 911 RSR #91): “This is a dream result for Porsche. It’s not only important for our comeback in the manufacturers’ championship, Fred has also taken a big step forward in the fight for the drivers’ title. Now anything is possible in the battle for the trophy.”

Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 RSR #91): “That was a really tough race where we had to manage the tyres well. The mechanics did a great job in changing the tyres. First and second – what a dream result and it’ll inspire us even more for the rest of the season.”

Marcel Nguyen, world class gymnast: “Such a six-hour race is really nerve-wracking, and I was only a bystander. I’m over the moon about Porsche’s double victory. I got to know the drivers well over the last days and I witnessed their preparations for this critical race first hand. It was really fascinating for me to be so close to the action. Congratulations on this superb team effort.”

The seventh of eight races on the Sports Car World Endurance Championship WEC calendar takes place on 15 November in Sakhir/Bahrain.
Race result
GTE-Pro class
1. Makowiecki/Pilet (F/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 167 laps
2. Bergmeister/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 RSR, 167
3. Rigon/Calado (I/GB), Ferrari F458 Italia, 166
4. MacDowall/O’Young/Rees (GB/HK/BRA), Aston Martin Vantage, 166
5. Turner/Mücke (GB/D), Aston Martin Vantage, 123

GTE-Am class
1. Lamy/Dalla Lana/Nygaard (P/CAN/DK), Aston Martin Vantage, 165 laps
2. Poulsen/Heinemeier-Hansson/Stanaway (DK/DK/NZ), Aston Martin, 165
3. Roda/Ruberti/Cressoni (I/I/I), Ferrari F 458 Italia, 164
4. Collard/Perrodo/Vaxivière (FRA/FRA/FRA), Porsche 911 RSR, 163
5. Ried/Henzler/Al Qubaisi (D/D/UAE), Porsche 911 RSR, 161

Points standings after 6 of 8 races
World Endurance Cup GT driver
1. Giancarlo Bruni, Toni Vilander (Ferrari) 131 points
3. Frédéric Makowiecki (Porsche) 106.5
4. Richard Lietz (Porsche) 91
5. Patrick Pilet (Porsche) 80.5
6. Jörg Bergmeister (Porsche) 79

World Cup Manufacturer GTE
1. Ferrari 221 points
2. Porsche 214
3. Aston Martin 169

FIA Endurance Trophy GTE-Pro Teams
1. AF Corse (Ferrari) 131 points
2. Porsche Team Manthey (Porsche #92) 120
3. Porsche Team Manthey (Porsche #91) 102
4. Aston Martin Racing (Aston Martin) 93

The Sports Car World Endurance Championship WEC
Sports prototypes and GT vehicles contest the WEC (Sports Car World Endurance Championship) in four classes: LMP1 (e.g. Porsche 919 Hybrid), LMP2, LMGTE-Pro (e.g. 911 RSR) and LMGTE-Am (e.g. 911 RSR). They all compete together in one race but are classified separately.

[Rob]

Sweedler and Bell Join Scuderia Corsa for 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

North American Endurance Cup winning duo will drive no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia in GT-Daytona class.

November 6, 2014 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Demonstrating its commitment to winning the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Scuderia Corsa is proud to announce the addition of drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell to the team.

Sweedler and Bell will pilot the team's flagship no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia in the GT Daytona class. At the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia during the 2014 TUDOR Championship season, Sweedler and Bell were victorious in the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona and handily won the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup. The duo led much of the season championship in the GT-D class, and winning the championship in 2015 remains their primary goal.

"We are really excited about competing for the GT-D championship with Scuderia Corsa," said Sweedler. "Giacomo Mattioli's dedication to building the best Ferrari racing program as well as the best Ferrari dealerships offers the ideal place to maximize our racing and commercial sponsorship goals going forward. We really enjoy racing in the TUDOR Championship and competing against the best drivers and teams in sports car racing and we hope to bring another championship to Ferrari in 2015."

"It goes without saying that we are very excited about joining Scuderia Corsa," said Bell. "On many levels, this partnership will make a lot of sense. I'm thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Ferrari and to continue driving the Ferrari 458 Italia. Scuderia Corsa won two races last year, they are a championship winning team, and as a bonus for me it is great to be joining a team that is also based in Los Angeles where I live! I am looking forward to a lot of success with this program."

In the 2014 season, Scuderia Corsa captured two victories in the GT Daytona class (Detroit and Indianapolis) after winning the 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT class championship. The team also competes in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, where Scuderia Corsa driver Chris Ruud had captured the 2014 championship in the Coppa Shell class.

"As winners of the Rolex 24 at Daytona as well as the North American Endurance Cup, Bill and Townsend were some of our most formidable competitors in the GT-Daytona class," said Mattioli. "We are very excited that they will be joining us at Scuderia Corsa. Everyone within the team is committed to winning in the TUDOR Championship and to represent the Ferrari brand in the premier racing series in North America. After competing against Bill and Townsend over the past year, we are thrilled that they will be in our Ferrari and not competing against us!"

Sweedler and Bell will compete with Scuderia Corsa for the first time at the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 22-25 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

[Rob]

NEWS ALERT
PARIS - 07 November 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

BAHRAINI BATTLES AVAILABLE TO GLOBAL TV AUDIENCE


The seventh and penultimate round of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship moves to the sunshine, palm trees and warm hospitality of the Middle East for the 6 Hours of Bahrain.

The wonderful Sakhir International Circuit will host the 27 cars due to take the start on Saturday 15th November, and a TV distribution package has been arranged which will give viewers worldwide the opportunity experience the sights, sounds, thrills and occasional spills of international sports car racing. With Toyota Racing poised to win its first World Endurance Championship title, and the battle in GTE even closer between Ferrari and Porsche, the racing will be intense as it goes through the setting sun and into the night in Bahrain. The green flag for the start will be waved at 15h00 local (+3 hours GMT).

Host broadcaster BeIn Sports will be broadcasting the 6-hour race live to the region’s 2.5 million viewers, with a 52 minute highlights package also available at a later date. The GTE classes features drivers from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and part of the focus will undoubtedly be on their progress through the race.

The extended TV coverage of the most recent round in Shanghai and new FIA WEC Sino Weibo account opened up the spirit of Le Mans to a massive audience in China and the Far East, and Eurosport Asia/Pacific channel will follow this up by airing part of the Bahraini race LIVE to its 7.8 million potential viewers in its 13 territories, plus delayed highlights on 18th November.

Fox Sports Australia will show the race live plus a 3-hour repeat show the following day, covering the exploits of Mark Webber among others. J Sports in Japan will run a number of highlights shows in the two weeks following the 6 Hours of Bahrain for its 7.8 million viewers, while TV3 in New Zealand, Channel Max Shanghai in China, Sony Six in the Indian sub-continent (45 million potential audience) and the Grand Prix Channel in Thailand will all broadcast the WEC’s 52’ highlights package.

In Europe, two hours of the 6 Hours of Bahrain will be available live to over 132 million potential viewers on Eurosport Inter and Motors TV and highlights will also be shown the following day as well as on Eurosport Inter and Eurosport 2 in the days following the race. Player Eurosport will broadcast the race live plus show delayed highlights.

Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Spain and Italy will all be broadcasting a 52-minutes highlights programme, not forgetting Denmark, Hungary and the Serbo-Croatian countries. With many of the teams and drivers from the WEC calling these nations ‘home’, exposure throughout Europe opens up the Spirit of Le Mans to a new fan base.

Fox Sports 1 and Fox LATAM will air the highlights show to a combined potential viewership of over 101 million, while Sport TV or TV Globo in Brazil, the venue for the final round of the 2014 Championship, will show the first and last hours of the race live.

In addition to the TV coverage, the race can be followed live and direct, together with full live timing via the FIA WEC’s ‘App’ which is available to download from the iTunes store or Google Play Store - search for ‘FIA World Endurance Championship’ or ‘FIA WEC’.

Internationally renowned endurance racing radioweb service, Radio Le Mans (www.radiolemans.com), will once again be available for its huge number of listeners all around the world. News access will also be available on EBU/Eurovision, SNTV, Reuters and Omnisports worldwide.

[Nova]

Thx Rob..Porsche has really stepped it up w/this car. Do we have an answer for it?
I certainly hope so, they r quick.
It also helps if we get to finish a race w/out being destroyed by a rival.

[Rob]

Thx Rob..Porsche has really stepped it up w/this car. Do we have an answer for it?
I certainly hope so, they r quick.
It also helps if we get to finish a race w/out being destroyed by a rival.

Im not too worried by them (touch wood ) as in Shanghai we had #51 crash out. And few other things played into their hands, we were strong last year in Bahrain and Interlagos we were on another planet. So, im sure AMR and Porsche have gained abit, but think we still have it on them. As long as we keep clear of any incidents. So gutted as we were 6 hrs away form winning the titles last weekend.

[fratelliferrari]

Im not too worried by them (touch wood ) as in Shanghai we had #51 crash out. And few other things played into their hands, we were strong last year in Bahrain and Interlagos we were on another planet. So, im sure AMR and Porsche have gained abit, but think we still have it on them. As long as we keep clear of any incidents. So gutted as we were 6 hrs away form winning the titles last weekend.

I really hope you are right Rob Sadly we have to wait for another week to see how we recover from Shanghai

[Rob]

IMSA: Series confirms switch to FIA driver ratings; alters PC, GTD driver requirements

IMSA, the sanctioning body for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, confirmed a move that had been expected and will now replace its domestic driver rating system with the global system unveiled today by the FIA. The new FIA ratings will only apply to IMSA's TUDOR Championship in 2015.

The FIA's list is comprised of 1729 drivers whose ratings of Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum have been assigned, and will be used by the professional sports car series that either operate under full FIA sanctioning or, like IMSA, have opted in to use the unified rating procedure. Bronze- and Silver-rated drivers will continue to be regarded as non-professionals (Ams), while Gold and Platinum drivers are considered professionals (Pros).

IMSA's rating system, and the determinations made for many drivers, became the subject of intense scrutiny through the 2014 TUDOR Championship season.
With the PC and GT Daytona classes required to carry Pro-Am lineups, it allowed--or encouraged--team owners and funded AMs to seek drivers with the Pro talent that carried Silver ratings. It also led Pro-Am teams, especially in GTD, to plunder Europe and lesser-known championships for hidden gems. The prize they sought were Silver-rated stars who, due to their relative anonymity in America, would not raise red flags with IMSA, and it paid off in many cases.

Audi and Porsche GTD teams were often the beneficiary of factory-supplied Silvers at the four Tequila Patron North American Endurance Championship events at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta, which complicated matters for some entrants.

The system also saw steady lobbying from some Gold-rated Pros to be reclassified as Silver-rated Ams in the interest of creating more employment opportunities. The market for Silver-rated Pros will probably never reach the heights that were seen in 2014.

Moving to the FIA's rating system will not prevent the Gold-to-Silver lobbying from happening, but it will transfer the process from IMSA's care to an appeal process governed by the FIA.
Clarification on the quantity of drivers allowed in any class was listed by IMSA with maximum of: two drivers for races less than four hours, four drivers for races between four and 12 hours, and up to five drivers for a 24-hour race.

A minimum of one Am driver is required in each PC and GTD entry at every event, and if a PC or GTD team opts for five drivers at a 24-hour race, two Ams are required.
For 2014, the rules stated PC and GTD teams could have up to three drivers for races under six hours, no more than four drivers for races between six and 12 hours, and five drivers for a 24-hour race.

The biggest change for PC and GTD in 2015 involves the balance of Pros and Ams allowed at the NAEC rounds.

[Rob]

G-DRIVE RACING AIMING TO CLINCH THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT POINTS IN BAHRAIN!

After successive pole positions and victories at Fuji and Shanghai with its new Ligier JS P2-Nissan, G-Drive Racing is determined to continue its winning streak in the Bahrain 6 Hours to reinforce its position in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 teams. These performances confirm that the no. 26 Onroak Automotive sports prototype shod with Dunlop tyres is one of the team’s keys to winning the title.

Thanks to the potential of the Ligier JS P2-Nissan, the experience and the professionalism of the team and its drivers, the G-Drive Racing squad has had two perfect meetings and scored the maximum number of points, a total of 52. This performance means that it has closed the gap to the leader in LMP2, SMP Racing, to eight points before the second-last round of the 2014 championship.

Olivier Pla, Roman Rusinov and Julien Canal will arrive at the Bahrain International Circuit with their motivation at an all-time high, but the glorious uncertainty of motor sport should never be forgotten. The G-Drive Racing trio in their no. 26 Ligier JS P2-Nissan will be up against tough opposition.

In the three free practice sessions the team will work on finding the right setup for the Ligier JS P2-Nissan, which will be having its first outing on this quick and technical layout. The drivers may have to cope with an additional factor, the high temperatures in Bahrain in a closed car as was the case in Austin.

As in 2012 and 2013 the Bahrain 6-Hours will start in daylight and finish at night. This particularity, which is in the pure tradition of endurance racing, will have to be taken into account when planning the race strategy.

Olivier Pla: “We’re going to do our very best to continue in the same vein as at Fuji and Shanghai and the title is still our main aim. I like the Bahrain circuit on which we raced in 2012 and 2013 very much. It’s got one very technical section and another that’s very quick, which means that you have to find the right balance in the car’s setup: it’s a very interesting challenge. Unlike the last two years when I was driving a Morgan LMP2, we’ll have a closed sports prototype this year so the heat will be an important parameter. We had to cope with it in Austin, and from a physical point of view it’s very difficult to double stint if the temperature is too high.”

Julien Canal: “After our last two victories we’re more motivated than ever and we’re confident that we can win the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 teams. We’ve got two races left and we must do an impeccable job and make no mistakes to clinch the title. The Bahrain layout is pretty quick and we know that the Orecas have a good top speed, so that’s something else we’ll have to work on.”

Roman Rusinov: “Every weekend it's a new challenge for us as we start from scratch each time we come to a new circuit with our new car. The last two races were perfect for us. The whole G-Drive Racing team did a great job and we were competitive every time we were on the circuit. It's been really difficult to recover from our DNF at Le Mans when we lost 50 points. We are motivated and we are in full attack and no fear mode as never before. We hope to have a good fight with KCMG in Bahrain: we were all really disappointed by the accident in China. They are real racers and it’s great to have them in the world endurance championship.”

[Rob]

New challenge for Graff LM P2 team

After a first season of exploring the prototype category VdeV Endurance Series with two Ligiers JS 53 Evo, Graff continues its path towards the endurance!

The team led by Pascal in 2015 Rauturier commit an LMP2 championship in the European Le Mans Series and a file will be submitted to participate in the legendary event 24h of Le Mans! The team wants to give its pilots a die Endurance Prototype maintaining its commitment CN ideal gateway for those wishing to compete in LMP2 thereafter.

To celebrate this new challenge and to highlight the French know how he wants to represent, Graff will the 2015 Blue-White-Red colors and each vehicle entered will receive a new design around this theme.

[Rob]

TOYOTA RACING TITLE FIGHT MOVES TO BAHRAIN
Monday 10 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing aims to tighten its grip on the FIA World Endurance Championship in the penultimate round of the 2014 season, the Six Hours of Bahrain.

After consecutive one-two victories, TOYOTA leads the manufacturers’ World Championship by 29 points with the 1,000PS four-wheel-drive TS040 HYBRID having won four of the six races so far this season.

The team is on top in the drivers’ World Championship as well, with Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, who share the #8 TS040 HYBRID, taking a 42-point advantage to Bahrain. With only 52 points still available, they can secure the title this weekend.

Test and reserve driver Mike Conway will return to a race seat in the #7 car in Bahrain when he replaces Kazuki Nakajima, who is instead competing in the final event of the Super GT season, at Motegi.

Mike’s only previous race in a TS040 HYBRID came in the rain-affected Six Hours of Circuit of the Americas in Austin, when the #7 crew finished sixth.

With the green flag flying to start the race at 15.00 local time on Saturday, the Six Hours of Bahrain will again end in darkness. A floodlight system, similar to that used last year but now implemented over the complete track, will provide artificial light.

The team has some positive memories from Bahrain, having seen the #8 car win the 2013 season finale almost 12 months ago in the final race for the TS030 HYBRID.

Practice in Bahrain begins on Thursday with two 90-minute sessions (15.15 & 19.30) providing experience of driving in dusk and night conditions. Final practice (11.10-12.20) and qualifying (17.35-18.00) occur on Friday.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “Bahrain is an important weekend for TOYOTA Racing and we are looking forward to it. Our TS040 HYBRID has proved to be competitive at every circuit this season and we believe we can be strong as well in Bahrain. The overall target has to be the World Championship so we will put the priority on finishing the race with both cars without taking unnecessary risks. It’s a nice position to be in but we know how quickly things can change in motorsport and the competition in WEC is intense, so we take nothing for granted. The finishing line for the 2014 season is in sight and we know what we have to do in Bahrain.”

Alex Wurz (TS040 HYBRID #7): “We have been quick in Bahrain in the past and the circuit should suit our 1,000PS hybrid system as it has plenty of hard braking zones. So I am sure we can be competitive if we prepare well and get the maximum out of our package. It’s been great to have been so competitive in the last two races but that’s in the past now and we have to do it all over again in Bahrain in order to strengthen our position in the World Championship. Personally, I’d love to be on the top step of the podium again so I’m fully motivated.”

Stéphane Sarrazin (TS040 HYBRID #7): “I like racing in Bahrain; it’s a nice track and our car should work well there. It’s been really strong everywhere so far this season and it’s just amazing to have a car like that; such a great feeling for a driver. Personally I have some good memories in Bahrain as I won there last season in the #8 with Anthony and Sébastien. It would be nice to win again but the important thing is the World Championship for the team and that is what we will be concentrating on. It’s been a great season so far and I hope we can finish the job in the final two races of the year.”

Mike Conway (TS040 HYBRID #7): “I am really pleased to be competing with TOYOTA Racing again and I’m looking forward to joining Alex and Stéphane in the #7 again. It’s good for me to get more time behind the wheel of the TS040 HYBRID; it’s an impressive car to drive and obviously very competitive. I will be pushing hard to contribute to the team’s World Championship challenge this weekend. I know the Bahrain track pretty well from my LMP2 days, when I won the class and also the championship in 2013. So I know what to expect and I can’t wait to get started.”

Anthony Davidson (TS040 HYBRID #8): “We are within touching distance of the drivers’ World Championship but I know we cannot afford to get carried away. Anything can happen so it’s really important we stay calm this weekend, take no risks and get the job done. It might mean we are not going flat-out for the victory with the #8 but we have to look at the bigger picture. We have built up a lot of momentum in the last two races; it feels like we are really in the zone. The team has done such a good job this season, I can’t thank them enough for their efforts and I know everyone is now totally focused on getting the points we need this weekend.”

Sébastien Buemi (TS040 HYBRID #8): “I can’t wait to get going again in Bahrain. The last two races have gone so well, it really feels like we have a good rhythm and we want to keep this going for the final two races of the season. We have to continue to do what worked well in Fuji and Shanghai; stay concentrated and prepare in the best way. Our car has been great all season so from that point of view I am optimistic. It is very exciting to be leading the World Championship so close to the end of the season and the target all year has been to win both titles; I will be giving everything to achieve that.”

TOYOTA Racing at Bahrain International Circuit:
2012 #7: Qual. 3rd; Race DNF (accident).
2013 #7: Qual. 1st; Race DNF (engine). #8: Qual. 2nd; Race 1st.

[Rob]

FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
6 Hours of Bahrain – 13-15 November
OAK Racing Press Release – 11.10.2014 – Preview

The no. 35 Morgan-Judd LM P2 at the start of the Bahrain 6 Hours

The OAK Racing-entered no. 35 Morgan-Judd LM P2 is having its third outing in the 2014 FIA WEC in the Bahrain 6 Hours. After its fantastic top-3 finish in LM P2 at Fuji followed by the slight disappointment in Shanghai, the Le Mans team is back with its motivation at 100% for its final outing. David Cheng and Mark Patterson who drove together in China will be backed up by Keiko Ihara. She is making her return to the no. 35 Onroak Automotive sports prototype after her finish on the third step of the podium with the team in Japan.


Last year David Cheng and Keiko Ihara shared a Morgan LM P2 in Bahrain where they finished fifth in LM P2 in the 6-Hour race after an impeccable drive. They have joined forces again this year to compete in this event at the wheel of the no. 35 Morgan-Judd LM P2 shod with Dunlop tyres.

After her stunning third place in front of her home crowd at Fuji shared with Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman, Japanese woman driver Keiko Ihara arrives in Bahrain determined to put on another great performance although she knows it won’t be easy given the level of the opposition. This weekend she will again be the only woman driver in the race.

David Cheng is tackling this event determined to make up for his disappointment in Shanghai in which the result did not live up to his expectations. The Chinese driver with two titles in the Asian Le Mans Series with OAK Racing Team Total to his name wants to shine in the WEC as well.

Mark Patterson is just as enthusiastic. Although his first outing with OAK Racing in Shanghai did not end with a significant result, the American driver was very impressed by the professionalism of the Sarthe-based team and the convivial ambiance that reigns there. His solid experience as a gentlemen driver should help him to quickly learn the Bahrain International Circuit layout, which he will discover when free practice starts.

The drivers like the 5.412-km Bahrain track, which combines technical and quick sections, as well as its prevailing ambiance. However, they may have to cope with high temperatures, which are often the norm at this time of the year. The race starts in daylight and finishes six hours later after night has fallen - an additional factor that the teams have to take into account when deciding their strategy.

Keiko Ihara: “I am really excited about racing in Bahrain, which is one of my favourite circuits. I won the race in the Asian LMS and was on the WEC podium at Fuji with OAK Racing. I'd like to aim for the topmost step of the podium with my OAK Racing team mates at the end of the season.”

David Cheng: "I'm very excited to once again take part in the WEC with OAK Racing. I am once again joined by Mark (Patterson) who did a really good job with us last week in Shanghai and with Keiko (Ihara) who raced to victory with us in Asian LMS Fuji round who also took part in Bahrain with me last year. As we have seen in Shanghaï the field is very competitive in WEC but we'll be pushing hard to make another good result for our #35 Morgan LM P2. ”

Mark Patterson: “My maiden experience with OAK Racing exceeded my expectations by a wide margin, which were already high - excellent engineers and mechanics, all disciplined and coordinated around common goals. At Shanghai, a small brake bias issue cost us a lot during the last third of the race, but all else was bang on target. I've never run Bahrain before and am really looking forward to notching up yet another global F1 race track on a belt that's getting pretty long now. Also planning on leaving my rain gear at home! Another first for me is sharing a race car with a woman driver, Keiko Ihara – what a kick - having competed against her at Le Mans and other venues in the recent past!"



Schedule - 6 Hours of Bahrain:
LM P1 & LM P2 Qualifying: Friday 14 November, 5:35-6:00 pm (local time -2h in France)
Race: Saturday 15 November, 3:00 am -9:00 pm (local time)

[Rob]

NEWS ALERT
PARIS - 11 November 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

AF CORSE AND KCMG - AN UPDATE FOLLOWING 6H SHANGHAI


It was clear from the TV pictures of the first-lap accident in the 6 Hours of Shanghai that there was considerable damage to the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia and the No.47 KCMG ORECA 03R. We caught up with the team managers from both teams to find out the latest news about the rebuilding of their cars in preparation for this weekend's 6 Hours of Bahrain.


AF Corse – Batti Pregliasco:
“The #51 was seriously damaged in the crash in Shanghai, nearly all at the front end – radiators, suspension, lights, floor, splitter, bodywork, everything. Everything in front of the doors was broken.

We checked the extent of the damage there and then brought here to Bahrain all the parts for reassembling the car. We started on Monday and it’s all going well although we are taking our time. We cannot afford to make any mistakes or have anything go wrong at this race, and we are going to do the job properly. We have also changed the engine; we had a spare one so used the opportunity to do this now as the car was already stripped back.”

KCMG - Erich Kolb:
“The accident in Shanghai was caused by fuel pump failure. The car was heavily damage at the rear end – gearbox, wishbones, basically the whole tail end. We weren’t sure if we could get the car ready for Bahrain or not because it was so damaged, but the main thing was that the monocoque wasn’t damaged and the engine was okay too. .

“We stripped it down in Shanghai and worked until 2am the night after the race, and the whole of Monday too. We got it to a state where we could roll it for the plane, and then we started organising all the parts we needed to come here.

“Some came by air freight last night, some is coming tonight and we will be ready in time for first practice on Thursday. Alex hurt his knee quite badly – he bent the steering wheel with it in the impact – but he called today to say he will be fine and he’s now on his way to Bahrain.”

[fratelliferrari]

Good to hear AF Corse is taking their time to rebuild the car I really looking forward to this weekend!

[fratelliferrari]

I was wondering if any of you guys know where I can find a link for the Free Practices today?

[Rob]

I was wondering if any of you guys know where I can find a link for the Free Practices today?

they dont show them, as far as i know. But you can watch quali on the FIA WEC app, but to that you have to buy the "full" app.

[Rob]

NEWS ALERT
Bahrain - 13 November 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

KEEPING TRACK OF THE TITLES IN BAHRAIN - GT POINTS PERMUTATIONS

FIA ENDURANCE TROPHY FOR LMGTE PRO DRIVERS

After the dramatic events of the first lap in Shanghai, when a collision accounted for the Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, the title battle has opened up as we approach the final two races of the season.

Three sets of drivers remain in contention. Bruni and Vilander lead on 131 points over Frederic Makowiecki (106.5 points) and Richard Lietz (91 points). The point totals for Patrick Pilet and Jörg Bergmeister are high enough to keep them in contention but, as they are co-driving with Makowiecki and Lietz, respectively, they cannot outscore their already higher-placed teammates and are eliminated from a title charge.

In the event of a tie on points, Bruni/Vilander currently hold the advantage as they have scored more class wins. However, if Makowiecki wins at both Bahrain or Interlagos, he will inherit the tiebreaker advantage.

Here are some key permutation facts to keep abreast of this weekend:

If Bruni/Vilander win the LMGTE Pro class at Bahrain, they will take the title. If they take second and Makowiecki does not win, then Bruni/Vilander are also champions. Also, if Bruni/Vilander finish third and Makowiecki does not win or finish second, then Bruni/Vilander win.

Conversely, Makowiecki will take the class lead if he wins the class and Bruni/Vilander are not classified. Makowiecki is only able to take the lead in the LMGTE Pro class points table at Bahrain but cannot clinch the title himself here.

If Richard Lietz finishes lower than third, he is eliminated from the title fight. If he finishes third, then Bruni/Vilander must also finish lower than tenth or not be classified and also, Makowiecki must not win or take the pole. In that case, Lietz remains in (remote) contention for an unlikely championship push.

FIA ENDURANCE TROPHY FOR LMGTE AM DRIVERS

Just two sets of drivers remain in contention for LMGTE Am honours and they are both from the Aston Martin Racing stable. David Heinemeier Hansson and Kristian Poulsen lead with 154 points over Christoffer Nygaard/Paul Dalla Lana/Pedro Lamy who have accrued 123 points.

If Heinemeier Hansson/Poulsen win at Bahrain, they take the title regardless of where Nygaard/Dalla Lana/Lamy finish.

If Heinemeier Hansson / Poulsen finish second or third, then Nygaard/Dalla Lana/Lamy must win in order to remain in contention.

Should Nygaard/Dalla Lana/Lamy finish fifth or higher and Heinemeier Hansson/Poulsen not be classified then the title battle will continue in Brazil.

In case of a tiebreaker, Heinemeier Hansson/Poulsen retain the advantage due to their superior first place finishes in the LMGTE Am class. That tiebreaker advantage would revert to Nygaard/Dalla Lana/Lamy in the event they won both of the remaining rounds or finished first in one and second in the other.

[Rob]

So nervous for this race, just hope #51 can have clean safe race and bring it home in P1.

[Rob]

NEWS ALERT
Bahrain - 13 November 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE AND THE BEAT OF A WING!

Everything in the FIA World Endurance Championship revolves around time, one of the key reasons that TUDOR is the FIA WEC’s valued official timing partner. But, time in motor racing is measured not just in hours and minutes but in tenths, hundredths and thousandths of a second.
The odds on such a scenario such as Shanghai qualifying ever occurring again are almost impossible to calculate. Such is the closeness of the competition, especially in the qualifying sessions in 2014; it would be a brave person who wagered against it being just as tight again in Bahrain.

With the average four laps registering exactly the same time at Shanghai it shows that every thousandth of a second counts out on the track for the driver, as well in the pit stops for the mechanics.

So, what can be done in 0.001s, which is the four decimal place timing to which most modern motorsport works too?

The beautiful Hummingbird beats its wings at an approximate average of 60 beats per second, this equates to 0.01s, which compares to a lot of time when you consider the closeness of the Shanghai qualifying session! Sebastien Buemi and Anthony Davidson would have gladly settled for that margin and thus the extra point for their title quest.

And when it comes to the human body and its complex reflexes, there are some fascinating comparisons to be made too!

The average duration for a single blink of a human eye is 0.01 to 0.04 seconds, or 100 to 400 hundredths, according to the Harvard Database of Useful Biological Numbers. For purposes of comparison, the tick sound made by a clock lasts about one second. So it would be possible to blink three times during a single tick of a clock.

In the FIA WEC even the blink of an eye is not quick enough when it comes to separating the competitors!

Whatever your perception of time, be sure to watch the 6 Hours of Bahrain action this weekend, as the protagonists fight for every 0.001s once again!

[Rob]

6HRS BAHRAIN FP2 GTE: WEC HISTORY MADE RUNNING UNDER THE LIGHTS

13/11/2014 - 19h18

A little bit of history was made in the FIA World Endurance Championship tonight when the 27 competitors took to the track for the second Free Practice Session under fully floodlit conditions. There are 495 posts and 5000 lights around the perimeter of the 5.41 km spectacular Bahrain International Circuit, and the FIA WEC’s drivers have now experienced the full effect for the first time as they completed ‘night’ practice under the lights. Saturday’s 6 Hours of Bahrain will be the third race of the 2014 season to run into the hours of darkness, but the first where permanent track lighting is used.

Aston Martin Racing’s No.95 Vantage V8 flew to the top of the LMGTE timesheets in the hands of Dane Nicki Thiim. The LMGTE Am competitor’s lap of 1:58.440 was the quickest of the day so far and a full second ahead of the leading Pro car, the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari of GT Championship leading driver Gianmaria Bruni.

Bruni and his team mate Toni Vilander were chased hard by the No.91 Porsche Team Manthey entry of Jörg Bergmeister and Richard Lietz, the 911 RSR clocking its fastest lap at 1:59.704 – three tenths of a second behind the Ferrari 458 Italia. The German-Austrian duo’s team mates in the No.92 were one tenth behind them – although separated by another LMGTE Am entry, the No.88 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR – and just ahead of the Lone Star Le Mans winning No.97 Aston Martin of Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke.

Fourth in the combined LMGTE classification but second in the LMGTE Am class was the rapid Klaus Bachler in the No.88, a car he is sharing with local star Khaled Al Qubaisi and team boss Christian Ried. Also showing well in this session, which required all drivers to complete a minimum of three timed laps as it is officially a night practice, was the No.75 Prospeed Competition 911 RSR of François Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and the youngest driver in the field, 19-year-old Matthieu Vaxivière.

A third and final practice session of one hour will take place tomorrow at 11h10 which will give the teams the final chance to complete their set up before qualifying which starts at 17h00.

[fratelliferrari]

So nervous for this race, just hope #51 can have clean safe race and bring it home in P1.

Iam totally feeling the same! Can I watch the race live somewhere for free Sunday?

[Nova]

I just dont get how the Astons r a full second clear of everyone...
Are they using a 12? mabey its the torques...
Great shots, the 458 is over the top.

[Rob]

Iam totally feeling the same! Can I watch the race live somewhere for free Sunday?

Motors TV and Eurosport. Not sure about streaming links, will check out when home from work

[Rob]

I just dont get how the Astons r a full second clear of everyone...
Are they using a 12? mabey its the torques...
Great shots, the 458 is over the top.

Aston AMs are 2014 cars.

[fratelliferrari]

Motors TV and Eurosport. Not sure about streaming links, will check out when home from work

Would be great Rob if you can find one because I haven't got both of these channels

[fratelliferrari]

I just dont get how the Astons r a full second clear of everyone...
Are they using a 12? mabey its the torques...
Great shots, the 458 is over the top.

But for the championship we have to focus more on the Porsches

[Rob]

Would be great Rob if you can find one because I haven't got both of these channels

will ask around for you.