2016 WEC, IWTSC, ELMS thread.

[Nova]

Blancpain Sprint Cup: the Ferrari 488 GT3, following the achievements in the Blancpain GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Cup, completed its season debut with another success in the GT3 PRO AM category. In fact Kessel Racing and the duo made up of Giacomo Piccini and Michal Broniszewski clinched the GT3 PRO AM Team and Drivers’ Titles with a 20 and 14-point advantage over Team AKKA ASP and its standard-bearers Morgan Moullin-Traffort and Jean-Luc Beaubelique. Pic... See More

[Rob]

MARK WEBBER CALLS TIME ON HIS RACING CAREER


Mark Webber will end his professional racing career at the end of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season, but will continue to be involved in motorsport as a Porsche special representative. The 6 Hours of Bahrain on November 19 will be the last time the reigning World Champion from Australia will compete as a works driver.

Afterwards, new tasks await the nine times Formula One Grands Prix winner: 40-year old Mark Webber will represent Porsche at global events and, as a consultant, will contribute by lending his experience to the motorsport programmes of the sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart. This includes talent search as well as driver training for up-and-coming professionals and the huge number of worldwide Porsche amateur racers.

CEO of the FIA WEC Gerard Neveu said: ““We cannot underestimate the huge contribution that Mark has made to the WEC, both on and off track. From the moment he joined Porsche and our paddocks in 2014, he completely embraced all the FIA WEC has to offer and he has never given less than 100% in everything he does. He has been a superb ambassador for endurance racing, and we shall miss seeing him on a regular basis. We hope he will often be back to see us for fun instead of work!”


“Mark Webber stands for everything what Porsche implies: sportsmanship, power of endurance, straightforwardness and focused work for success. He is full of beans and always a thoughtful listener. I want to thank Mark for his great performance in the World Endurance Championship and am pleased he will remain tightly connected to Porsche in the future”, says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board.

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “Mark has strengthened us with all his experience and he seamlessly integrated himself into the team. Behind the wheel he is a fair fighter, never shy of even the toughest wheel-to-wheel battle. At the same time, he thinks strategically and is team orientated. This mixture makes him invaluable as an endurance racer. Winning the 2015 Drivers’ World Championship together with Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley almost seemed to be a logical consequence. Also thanks to his performance, we hope to win the world championship titles for manufacturers and drivers again in 2016.”

[Rob]

Been reading some stuff from the rumour mill, that Audi may pull out of WEC after 2017.

[458 Italia]

Nooooooooo they can't!!!

I'm still missing Leena!

[458 Italia]

Hmmmmmmmm BT Sport or Motors? Decisions, decisions...

[Rob]

Nooooooooo they can't!!!

I'm still missing Leena!

it is just rumours.

[Rob]

Eurosport To Broadcast WEC & Le Mans Through To 2020

The Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA WEC will be broadcast on Eurosport for the next four years, the ACO has announced. The agreement will see Eurosport offer live race action throughout Europe and the Asia Pacific region over the next four years up to and including 2020.

Under the new agreement, the broadcaster will continue to offer full coverage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as live coverage from each of the remaining eight rounds of the WEC. Live race coverage will continue to be available across multiple platforms, including Eurosport channels and Eurosport Player – the live and on-demand digital platform which will also offer a range of additional content, such as on-board camera feeds.

“We’re very happy about the renewal of our partnership with Eurosport for Le Mans 24 Hours for the next four years. We’re delighted that this agreement also guarantees continued coverage of the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said Pierre Fillion, President of the ACO.

“We’re very focused on developing TV coverage of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA WEC, and we gave an undertaking to our partners to achieve this. This new agreement confirms our determination. It will strengthen our positioning and result in the enhanced broadcasting of our world championship events and the flagship race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, across Europe and Asia-Pacific.”

“The announcement regarding Eurosport’s continued coverage of the World Endurance Championship is very good news indeed for all motorsport fans, and especially those of endurance racing.” Added Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA WEC. “The channel’s extensive reach covers many international borders and, by showing live the excitement and non-stop action of our WEC races around the globe, it entertains millions and puts a spotlight on us which will also bring new fans through our doors, both physically and virtually.”

[458 Italia]

Audi #8 on overall pole.

Both AF Corse 488s line up behind the two gt40s.

[Rob]

Fords slightly quicker than us. Speaking to James yesterday after quali, not to happy. 3rd car on pace.

Forget how moving the Japanese national anthem is.

[Rob]

Audi #8 on overall pole.

Both AF Corse 488s line up behind the two gt40s.

if #83 finish in top 3, the GTE AM title is pretty much heading our way.

[458 Italia]

Eurosport To Broadcast WEC & Le Mans Through To 2020

The Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA WEC will be broadcast on Eurosport for the next four years, the ACO has announced. The agreement will see Eurosport offer live race action throughout Europe and the Asia Pacific region over the next four years up to and including 2020.

Under the new agreement, the broadcaster will continue to offer full coverage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as live coverage from each of the remaining eight rounds of the WEC. Live race coverage will continue to be available across multiple platforms, including Eurosport channels and Eurosport Player – the live and on-demand digital platform which will also offer a range of additional content, such as on-board camera feeds.

“We’re very happy about the renewal of our partnership with Eurosport for Le Mans 24 Hours for the next four years. We’re delighted that this agreement also guarantees continued coverage of the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said Pierre Fillion, President of the ACO.

“We’re very focused on developing TV coverage of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA WEC, and we gave an undertaking to our partners to achieve this. This new agreement confirms our determination. It will strengthen our positioning and result in the enhanced broadcasting of our world championship events and the flagship race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, across Europe and Asia-Pacific.”

“The announcement regarding Eurosport’s continued coverage of the World Endurance Championship is very good news indeed for all motorsport fans, and especially those of endurance racing.” Added Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA WEC. “The channel’s extensive reach covers many international borders and, by showing live the excitement and non-stop action of our WEC races around the globe, it entertains millions and puts a spotlight on us which will also bring new fans through our doors, both physically and virtually.”

Mixed feelings about this, I really value Eurosport's coverage of LeMans, but I do enjoy the commentary of John and Grahame.

I thought the singer was going to sing "The Best Is Yet To Come" from Metal Gear

[458 Italia]

if #83 finish in top 3, the GTE AM title is pretty much heading our way.

Here's hoping for a trouble free race!

Also here's to the FIA WEC going from strength to strength

[Rob]

Here's hoping for a trouble free race!

Also here's to the FIA WEC going from strength to strength

everything crossed.

Great seres, great racing, love it.

Did hear, if it gets too warm, the Fords dont like the heat. They may of fixed that problem but they have struggled in warmer races with high tyre deg.

[Rob]

#51 #71 a;; the best, clean race, hard race give them hell.

[458 Italia]

Forza Ferrari!!!

[458 Italia]

I'd really like to see Audi get a clean run today!

[Rob]

#31 nice overtake on the inside.

[458 Italia]

Kob was got pretty close to #71 when he lapped just now!

Who's started in the #51/#71?

[458 Italia]

N/M. Yes great pass by Sam!

[458 Italia]

#83 in 2nd :)

[Rob]

Kob was got pretty close to #71 when he lapped just now!

Who's started in the #51/#71?

Gimmi and Sam.

[458 Italia]

Damn #7 :(

[Rob]

#7

[Rob]

LMP2 good action.

[Rob]

Louise Beckett

[458 Italia]

She really is fine!

[458 Italia]

Calm down AF Corse guys!

[Rob]

hey hey hey Sam what helll you doing????

[458 Italia]

hey hey hey Sam what helll you doing????

There was really no need for that!

[458 Italia]

The petrol v diesel fuel rate needs looking at again.