2014 WEC/ELMS&TUSC news. [Archive] - Page 3 - TheScuderia.net

Rob

23rd September 2014, 19:56

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SCUDERIA CORSA CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS.

This past weekend marked another time this season in which Scuderia Corsa was in two very different parts of the country competing in both the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship as well as the Ferrari Challenge. While the weekend would bring a number of challenges for both sides of the team, things would finish on a very high note for the team in the Ferrari Challenge.

At the Circuit of The Americas near Austin, Texas, drivers Alessandro Balzan and Jeff Westphal would face one of the more difficult weekends they have encountered this season. Starting the race, Westphal would make up several positions in the first hour of the race before pitting from ninth position to hand the cover over to Balzan.

With fast work in the pits by the Scuderia Corsa team and speed on the track, Balzan would pass three additional cars to move the Ferrari to sixth position. However, a punctured tire and a failure of the A/C system meant additional pit stops and one extra driver change which caused the car to lose several positions. At the end of the race, Westphal saw the checkered flag with the Ferrari in 11th position.

At the Ferrari Challenge race at Watkins Glen International, in Watkins Glen, New York, Scuderia Corsa fielded a pair of Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluziones. John Horejsii would compete in the Trofeo Pirelli class, while Chris Ruud entered the weekend as the championship leader in the Coppa Shell class.

Both drivers would deliver their strongest race on Sunday. Horejsi qualified in third position in Trofeo Pirelli class, his best qualifying performance of the season, and would ultimately finish in sixth position. Ruud qualified fifth in the Coppa Shell class, and finish in third position.

Ruud's third place finish means he has nearly clinched the season championship in the Coppa Shell class.

"I am glad to be at Watkins Glen for the first time this weekend with Ferrari on such a historic track," said Ruud. "I am also glad I was able to continue my streak of a podium finish at every circuit so far this season thanks to a last lap pass of my friend Robert Herjavec. The weather today was tricky with rain making the surface very slippery for some parts of the track. I am looking forward to our last US race as part of the Formula One weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin in the beginning of November."

Scuderia Corsa team owner Giacomo Mattioli had mixed feelings about the weekend but was pleased to see things end well at Watkins Glen.

"While our team faced a number of challenges this weekend, everybody at Scuderia Corsa pushed hard to deliver the best results possible for our team and our drivers," said Giacomo Mattioli, owner of Scuderia Corsa. "We definitely had a rough day in Austin, but everybody pulled together to make the best of the situation. And in Watkins Glen, both John and Chris also had some difficulty on the first day but did an exceptional job of driving on Sunday especially when you consider the weather that came into play. Chris is also on the verge of securing the Coppa Shell championship and we can't wait to see him do that!"

The final race of the TUDOR Championship will be the 10 hour / 1000-mile Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia on October 4. The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will hold its North American finale at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on October 31-November 2 as part of the Formula 1 World Championship weekend.

Rob

23rd September 2014, 21:05

MARSH RACING CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS POST-RACE REPORT.

Marsh Racing competed in its second race at Austin's Circuit of The Americas, but this year was different because the team raced its Whelen Motorsports/Team Fox Corvette Daytona Prototype rather than its GT Corvette from last year.

Three practice sessions were held Thursday and Friday. Not only did the Marsh Racing team and drivers have to deal with adjusting to the track in their Corvette Prototype, but they had to deal with some difficult wet and dry conditions during practice sessions before qualifying late Friday afternoon.

The Marsh Racing crew effected changes both in aerodynamics and chassis setup over the weekend, changes that proved successful in the new car's low speed handling capabilities on the winding, hilly, 3.4-mile road course near Austin. However, more work was needed to help in the high speed esses that make COTA such a unique track.

The team wished they could have had one more practice session with the #31 Whelen Motorsports/Team Fox Corvette DP, but eagerly awaited to see the results of their work show up in their qualifying lap times.

The changes proved beneficial to Eric Curran, who lowered his best lap time by over two seconds.

"It was awesome to come back to COTA in a new Daytona Prototype," Curran said. "As always, Boris and I continue to see improvements from the hard work the Marsh crew is putting in. Obviously we still need to find some more speed, but we continue to make progress."

With the command to start their engines, Boris Said fired the ECR Chevrolet engine and made his way onto the track for the formation lap. The team decided to run Boris on a fuel-saving strategy with a goal of making only two pit stops during the race.

Everything was going to plan until suddenly the car started to sputter on lap 23 - the race's first of only three caution laps. A failure in the Reserve Fuel System had forced a pit stop earlier than expected.

Unfortunately, when the cars are under a yellow flag situation, and the pits have not officially been opened, no service other than fueling can be completed. With a quick splash and go Boris was back out. A few laps later he came in to complete the full pit stop and hand the car over to Eric.

With one hour, 40 minutes remaining in the race, it was now essential that Eric continued to run the team's fuel saving strategy. Eric put his head down and ran strong consistent laps. His biggest challenge came from the Texas sun causing increased track temperatures throughout his two stints.

He commented: "Throughout my two stints behind the wheel, during the race, the high temperatures lessened the amount of rear-end grip that the car was had, causing it to oversteer - where the rear end loses traction and tries to arrive at a turn before the front end does. But like many problems cars have in racing, after the race the team a learned a broken rear wing was a major contributing factor to how 'loose' the car became.

Eric and the Marsh Racing boys withstood the high temperatures and humidity to finish the race 8th place in the Prototype class. Nothing gained, nothing lost. With another quick turnaround of less than a week, the team will re-prepare the car and send it back south to race Oct. 2-4 in the prestigious, 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

"I'm really excited to get to Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta," Curran said. "We were able to do a few days of testing which should really help us quickly get up to speed. It's always fun to race in such a great event, and I'm even more excited to run it this year for the first time in a Prototype."

- See more at: http://www.imsa.com/articles/marsh-racing-circuit-americas-post-race-report?invalidate-cache=1399200504#sthash.mMDxYIG6.dpuf

Rob

23rd September 2014, 21:08

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Onroak Automotive Press Release – 09.20.2014

FIA World Endurance Championship
Round 4/8 – Circuit of the Americas 6 Hours, 20th September - Race

G-Drive Racing finishes fourth in-class in the FIA WEC Austin 6 Hours

AUSTIN, Texas (September 20, 2014) – The No. 26 G-Drive Racing machine, constructed by Onroak Automotive, finished fourth in-class in today’s FIA WEC 6 Hours, after starting on the LM P2 pole position. The team took to the 3.427-mile circuit at Circuit of the Americas with the new Ligier JS P2, powered by Nissan and shod with Dunlop tires, which was driven by Olivier Pla, Roman Rusinov and Julien Canal.

The six hour event was very eventful for G-Drive Racing. Over an hour into the race, heavy rain started to fall on the circuit, creating dangerous driving conditions, so the race was red-flagged. During the team’s pit stop throughout the red flag, they were placed a lap down. With one hour and 45 minutes left in the race, the car sustained damage after having contact with another car and launching over one of the circuit’s curbs. Despite this, the team demonstrated great teamwork repairing the car and getting it back on-track a few minutes later. The 6 Hours presented an opportunity for the new Ligier JS P2 to excel, following their successful qualifying effort.
“We had a frustrating race,” said Philippe Dumas, Team Principal. “However, I think it was a very good weekend for Onroak Automotive. The Ligier JS P2 is very competitive. After this weekend we are sure that the car is super fast and safe to drive. It was 100 percent reliable the entire weekend. The race was a mixture of bad luck and some drivers mistakes. That is racing and sometimes, that is going to happen. We still have four races to go and we will fight until the end because we still have a chance to win this championship. ”

Olivier Pla took to the wheel first and had a bit of a difficult start, dropping to third. He battled for the remainder of his stint, bringing the car back to P1 before coming in for a driver change a little over an hour into the race.

“This was a disappointing race for us,” said Pla. “However, we had great pace at the beginning and today we showed that the car is really fast. It is also very consistent and during the first stint, was easy on the tires. That allowed me to push very hard at the end of my stint. It wasn’t the finish we wanted, but we got pole position for the race and showed that the car is fantastic.”

Roman Rusinov was next in the No. 26 Onroak Automotive machine and stayed behind the wheel for a little over two hours. The Russian driver experienced heavy rainfall while in the car, an hour and a half into the race. It was then red-flagged due to dangerous driving conditions.

“When the rain arrived, we were leading the race by more than 40 seconds. We were a bit confused by the race red flag procedure today,” said Rusinov. “The team wasn’t sure how we could be leading the race in LM P2 and then have lost a lap following the red flag. Even that could not stop us and I had managed to get back close to the leaders. On a positive note, our car was very competitive and managed good lap times. Olivier (Pla) and I earned the best two lap times in the LM P2 class. The whole G-Drive Racing team was impressed by how well the Ligier JS P2 performed. ”

With two and a half hours left in the race, Julien Canal took over for his stint. Just 45 minutes after getting in the car, Canal experienced contact with another car and drove over a curb. This caused damage to the No. 26 Ligier JS P2, so he brought it in for repairs. The team was able to get back out fourth in-class.

“I learned a lot during this race,” said Canal. I did some good things, but also had some mistakes including a main one while I was pushing to catch the leader of the LM P2 class. I had slick tires on a wet track, which was difficult. But, I was recovering distance when I was surprised by a LM P1-L slow in the turn. I violently jumped on a curb producing damages on the car. We brought it back to the garage, but we lost a lot of time to repair it, and we lost a reachable win.”

Roman Rusinov completed his second stint for G-Drive Racing after repairs to the car were made. He maintained fourth-in class before switching drivers with Julien Canal one final time prior to the checkered flag. By Extreme Speed Motorsports not competing in the full FIA WEC season for championship points, G-Drive Racing was able to gain more points towards their championship fight, being halfway throughout the 2014 season.

The winners of today’s race in LM P2 was the No. 47 KCMG Oreca 03R-Nissan, followed by the No. 27 SMP Racing Oreca 03R-Nissan in second and the No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX 03b-Honda in third.

The next race for G-Drive Racing in the 2014 FIA WEC season is the 6 Hours of Fuji, which will take place on October 12.

Circuit of The Americas 6 Hours LM P2 classification :
1- #47 – KCMG – Oreca Nissan
2- #27 – SMP Racing – Oreca Nissan
3- #30 – Extreme Speed Motorsport – HPD Honda
4- #26 – G-Drive Racing – Ligier JS P2 Nissan

FIA Endurance Trophy Teams LM P2 Provisionnal classification after round 4:
1- #27 – SMP Racing 95 pts
2- #26 – G-drive Racing 68 pts
3- #47 – KCMG 62 pts
4- #37 – SMP Racing 15 pts

Rob

23rd September 2014, 21:10

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News Release September 20, 2014

Tudor United SportsCar Championship, Round 11 of 12, Austin, Texas

TUDOR GT Le Mans Class Manufacturer Championship Tied Leaving Texas

Austin, Texas. Not only were the eyes of Texas upon the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) today, the entire sports car racing world witnessed a GT Le Mans (GTLM) class battle that will see the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Manufacturer title fight go to the last race of the season. A third place finish by the No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR helped the German marque retain the point lead in the class for road car-based racecars. However, with Dodge’s Viper taking the Lone Star Le Mans race victory, the fight for manufacturer honors in the mostly factory-entered category will go to the final race, the 17th annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on October 4. Porsche won the 1,000-mile event in 2013 and has won two of the three endurance races held thus far in North America this year.

Porsche 911 RSR
The No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR led the way for the three factory-entered cars based on the iconic rear-engine sports car. Started in third-position, Michael Christensen (Denmark) drove the first one-hour and 45-minutes of the race. The Dane turned the wheel over to Patrick Long (Playa del Rey, California) for the final hour. The United States’ only Porsche factory driver fought through the hot and humid conditions of the Austin, Texas summer to finish third following the tandem of Dodge Viper SRT across the finish line.

Having entered the penultimate round of the TUDOR Championship with a narrow two-point lead in the title chase, the podium finish allowed Porsche to remain in contention with the lead now split with Dodge, 308 points apiece, entering the last of the 12-race season.

Finishing fifth was the No. 910 shared by Frenchmen Frédéric Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet. The lead Porsche 911 RSR, entered for the final two rounds as a show of support to IMSA and the TUDOR Championship, had possibly the most dramatic race of the day in the GTLM class. Having had their fastest qualifying lap disallowed at technical inspection for missing a roof camera pod, Makowiecki started last in the field. He did much with his series’ debut charging past nearly half the multi-class field in the first stint of the race. A “drive through” penalty for making contact with another car at mid-race would slow the newest 911 RSR entry’s fight to the front. However, a mistake-free effort in the second-half of the race would give Porsche North America two cars in the top-five.

The No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR of Nick Tandy (Great Britain) and Jörg Bergmeister (Germany) looked like the most likely class winner for the day. However, having led for much race, the Rolex 24 At Daytona winner was retired with 30-minutes remaining in the race having lost drive.

The fourth Porsche 911 RSR, the No. 17 Team Falken Tire entry driven by Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Bryan Sellers (Braselton, Georgia), finished eighth in the GTLM class.

Pilet, Makowiecki, Tandy and Bergmeister followed the Tudor Championship event with the six-hour FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race. The quartet of drivers are entered in the factory Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSR cars in the GTE-Pro class of the World Championship.

Porsche 911 GT America
Five drivers were tied for the GT Daytona (GTD) class points lead entering today’s Lone Star Le Mans. At the conclusion of the two-hour and 45-minute race, the battle remains hotly contested entering the last race of the year, Petit Le Mans, in two weeks at Road Atlanta. The two Porsche drivers in the middle of the championship fight, Leh Keen (Atlanta, Georgia) and Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Illinois), battled back from starting at the back of the grid – the veteran team qualified 16th but changed tires before the start relegating them to the back of the field – to finish fifth in the No. 22 WeatherTech Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America. With one of the contenders finishing third, and the other finishing behind the Porsche, Keen and MacNeil are now only four points out of first-place going to the finale.

As a result of the second-place finish, the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America of drivers John Potter (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Andy Lally (Dacula, Georgia) is still in the GTD point chase. The No. 23 Team Seattle Alex Job Racing Porsche driven by Mario Farnbacher (Germany) and Ian James (Phoenix, Arizona) held the lead in class during the middle of the race, but fell out of contention when the car hit the barrier, damaging the radiator.

Jan Heylen (Tampa, Florida) and Madison Snow (Lehi, Utah) also resided in the top three for much of the event, finishing fourth in the No. 58 Snow Racing Porsche 911 GT America.

Owen Hayes, Director of Operations, Porsche Motorsport North America: “We absolutely had the pace today. We were happy with the way things were going until, obviously, the last half-hour when we lost drive with the number 911. We ended up with a podium finish with the [number] 912 so that is really good. What that means is that we are tied with Viper going into the last race. I think that is going to be good for all the fans. We’ll bring it down to the wire and that is what it is all about. GTLM is one of the closest racing classes in the world and at the pinnacle of GT racing. It is good that we see this fight through to the end of the year.”

Patrick Long, No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “We had a very clean pit stop and I put my head down and tried to close the gap to the Viper. After the issues for the [number] 911 we took a safe approach to get to the finish. This came down to the manufacturer’s championship and we have to be there at the end. We were able to salvage some good points today.”

Michael Christensen, No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “We had a good car. Track conditions were changing from the start to the finish of my stint. This made it quite tricky. We did our best to finish on the podium and I think that is good.”

Patrick Pilet, No. 910 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “Fred did a great job at the beginning. He started last and came up to fifth. The car was running very well. We were the quickest on track. When I overtook the BMW in Turn 15, I was surprised by the car in front, a GTD car, and I touched it on the rear. I was not able to avoid the contact. I bent the front of the car a little bit. I tried to push and come back and we finished fifth. I am sad for the guys because they did a very good job. The car was really competitive but that’s racing.”

Frédéric Makowiecki, No. 910 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “It is not easy to start from the back. The first two laps I tried to quickly overtake the GTD cars and the back of the GTLM class. The car was really quick. I think we had what we needed to win the race if we did not start from the back.”

Nick Tandy, No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “We pitted at the first opportunity and it couldn’t have worked out any better. The yellow came out before anyone else could pit. That gave us an edge and we were able to keep the lead. In the last 30-minutes, I was coming out of Turn 14 and lost drive. I knew immediately that we had a problem. I was able to make it into pit lane and we confirmed our day was done.”

Andy Lally, No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “It was great to feel like we’re back again. Everyone on this team has been working so hard through the summer to get us back on track. Between some recent testing and the new Adjustments of Performance changes, we’re a lot closer to where we wanted to be. It started with John’s stint, which was excellent, and then followed up with perfect pit stops by the guys. This second place finish was the sort of effort that once again showed the quality of Magnus Racing, and we’re all very excited about the final race.”

John Potter, No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “We’re all very happy to be back to our old form. This result was well deserved for the crew. We all know how important teamwork is in this sport, and today was once again proof of that. It’s great to see IMSA and Porsche’s efforts for Balance of Performance helped with some improvements, and the car was excellent all day. We obviously would have loved to deliver a win during such a big weekend for Porsche, but second still feels like a great accomplishment, and we’re all walking away satisfied."

Jan Heylen, No. 58 Snow Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “Madison did a good job in his opening stint. I felt good when I got in the car, but the Porsche started to feel loose as it was near time for our tire change pit stop. We probably should have pitted earlier as the last couple of laps really wore me out. Near the end of the race, I was just hanging on. In the end, a fourth-place finish was good for us.”

Madison Snow, No. 58 Snow Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “I spent a bunch of laps behind two cars that I was faster than, but not fast enough to get by. Near the end of my stint, I finally got by them and the Porsche ran great when it found clean air.”

Cooper MacNeil, No. 22 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “We turned a tough qualifying run into a top five finish today. We are second in the championship, just four points back. We are going to Petit with the thought that we have to win the race. The goal has been for the last quarter of the season, get to Petit in sight of the championship. Alex Job Racing always does a great job with the endurance races and now it is in our hands to go and perform.”

Leh Keen, No. 22 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “We have another top five, which has been the secret to our season. To come from dead last on the grid because we put on new tires, to finishing fifth is a pretty good day. We also had a good points day. A few back from the BMW and put the [number] 555 Ferrari behind us heading to Petit. We didn’t expect to beat the BMW here at COTA. We wanted to get the championship to Petit and beat them there in two weeks. The improvements we made on the car helped today. Cooper had a good start and gave me the car in excellent position.”

A two-hour highlight show of today’s Lone Star Le Mans will be broadcast on the FOX Network Sunday, September 21. Check local listings for times.

The final round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will take place on October 4 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.

GT Le Mans Results
1.No. 93 Jonathan Bomarito (USA)/Kuno Wittmer (Canada), Dodge Viper SRT – 76 laps
2. No. 91 Marc Goossens (Belgium)/Dominik Farnbacher (Germany), Dodge Viper SRT – 76 laps
3. No. 912 Patrick Long (USA)/Michael Christensen (Denmark), Porsche 911 RSR – 76 laps
4. No. 62 Pierre Kaffer (Germany)/Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy), Ferrari 458 Italia – 75 laps
5. No. 910 Patrick Pilet (France)/Frederic Makowiecki (France), Porsche 911 RSR – 75 laps
6. No. 55 Bill Auberlin (USA)/Andy Priaulx (Normandy/France) – 75 laps
8. No. 17 Wolf Henzler (Germany)/Bryan Sellers (USA), Porsche 911 RSR – 75 laps
11. No. 911 Nick Tandy (Great Britain)/Michael Christensen (Denmark), Porsche 911 RSR – 66 laps

GT Daytona Results
1.No. 33 Jeroen Bleekemolen (Monaco)/Ben Keating (USA) Dodge Viper SRT – 73 laps
2. No. 44 John Potter (USA)/Andy Lally (USA), Porsche 911 GT America – 72 laps
3. No. 300 Dane Cameron (USA)/Markus Palttala (Finland) BMW Z4 – 72 laps
4. No. 58 Jan Heylen (USA)/Madison Snow (USA), Porsche 911 GT America - 72 laps
5. No. 22 Cooper MacNeil (USA)/Leh Keen (USA), Porsche 911 GT America – 72 laps
6. No. 48 Chistopher Haase (Germany)/Bryce Miller (USA) Audi RS LMS – 72 laps
9. No. 81 Damien Faulkner (Ireland)/Ben Barker (UK), Porsche 911 GT America – 72 laps
10. No. 73 Patrick Lindsey (USA)/Norbert Siedler (Austria), Porsche 911 GT America – 72 laps
12. No. 30 Henrique Cisneros (USA)/Kuba Giermaziak (Poland), Porsche 911 GT America – 71 laps
14. No. 27 Patrick Dempsey (USA.)/Andrew Davis (USA) Porsche 911 GT America – 70 laps
15. No. 19 Mark Klenen (USA)/Alec Udell (USA), Porsche 911 GT America – 69 laps
16. No. 18 Khaled Al Kubaisi (UAE)/Larry Pegram (USA), Porsche 911 GT America – 67 laps
17. No. 71 Mike Vess (USA)/Mike Skeen (USA), Porsche 911 GT America - 62 laps
18. No. 23 Ian James (USA), Mario Farnbacher (Germany), Porsche 911 GT America – 58 laps

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Rob

23rd September 2014, 21:15

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FIA WEC: the leadership is continuing.

Third step on the podium and the leadership is continuing in the championship. Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #51, finished the “6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas” – fourth event in the FIA World Endurance Championship (Wec) – with a result that does not change the top position in the GT Driver standing. Bruni and Vilander have 106 points, 25 ahead of Makowiecki. Ferrari is first in the GT Manufactures classification with 157 points ( +4 of Porsche) and AF Corse is always first in the GTE Pro Team classification with 106 points (Porsche Team Manthey is second, 86).

Staying in the GTE Pro category, Davide Rigon and James Calado took the chequered flag in the American race in fifth position.

In the GTE Am category, Luis Perez Companc, Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi, in their AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #61, gained the fourth spot. The three drivers have the third position in the GTE Am Driver standing with 76 points. At the end of the “6 Hour of Circuit of the Americas”, the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia #90 – managed by AF Corse – was fifth with Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti and Jeff Segal. Their race was affected by the suspension of the race while they were in pit lane. Seventh position for Steve Wyatt, Michele Rugolo and Andrea Bertolini in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #81.

AF Corse Press Office

Rob

24th September 2014, 20:29

LM P3 Nissan official engine supplier!

ACO press release
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Nissan will supply the engines for the future LM P3 prototypes and Xtrac will provide the gearboxes. This new Le Mans prototype category presented on 19th July will be part of the 2015 Asian and European Le Mans Series Championships.
The Japanese manufacturer will be the exclusive engine supplier with its 5-litre normally-aspirated V8 Nismo VK50. Nissan, which is already well known for supplying engines in LM P2, is also preparing its comeback to LM P1 in 2015, and will thus facilitate access for teams and drivers from LM P3 to the blue riband endurance category.

This engine has been developed to comply with the specification drawn up by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest whose aim is to make available a powerful, easy to run, reliable and economical engine.
• Power output: 420 bhp
• Endurance and reliability: 10 000 km between 2 revisions (the equivalent of almost two full seasons in the European Le Mans Series),
• Cost: 60 000 euros for the full package (engine, gearbox, electronics). Costs capped thanks to the choice of an engine close to a series production block.

Xtrac will provide the gearbox. This renowned company is famous for high quality and reliability: it will supply a semi-automatic transmission with 6 speeds + reverse and steering wheel-mounted paddles. A minimum of 7000 km will be demanded between two revisions.

As announced on 19th July the Magnetti Marelli Company will look after the electric control unit managing the gearbox and the data acquisition systems.

This engine/gearbox/control unit ensemble will be supplied and taken care of by Oreca, which will provide assistance at every race in both the Asian and European Le Mans Series.This procedure will remove a heavy burden from the teams racing in LM P3 for maintenance and spare parts.

Please note that the LM P3 cars, eligible for the Asian Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series in 2015, can take part in the Le Mans 24-Hours test day, depending on the number of places available, but not in the race itself.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest is also in contact with promoters in other championships who are already interested in running the LM P3s in the near future.

In addition, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest confirms the following points concerning the European Le Mans Series:
• Prizes awarded
1 invitation for the Le Mans 24 Hours in LM P2 for the squad winning the LM P3 teams' championship, a one-day test in LM P2 in the Nissan Junior team for the champion drivers in LM P3 with the possibility of joining the Nissan drivers' programme.

• Driver line-ups
In the case of a 3-driver line-up, only one professional will be allowed. For each type of line-up the following maxima will be allowed: one Platinum driver must be associated with two from the Bronze category. A Gold driver shall be associated with a Silver and a Bronze and 3 Silver drivers can form a single line-up.
In the case of 2-driver line-ups: one Platinum and one Bronze or one Gold and one Silver.

The time spent in the car for each one will be defined to ensure the appropriate share-out of driving time and guarantee that the Silver and Bronze drivers' stints are sufficiently long. The driving times as well as the detailed sporting regulations (including refuelling) will be announced in the near future.

The measures taken in the Asian Le Mans Series will be announced shortly.

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Rob

24th September 2014, 20:33

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PRESS RELEASE
P60’s Perfect Performance in Texas:

AER’s New LMP-1 Engine Makes Flawless debut in Circuit of the Americas Round of World Endurance Championship.

BASILDON, ESSEX - September 23, 2014 – The competition debut of any brand new racing engine is always an anxious event for the powerplant’s creators. So there were broad smiles on the faces of the Advanced Engine Research staff on site and back in England when the checkered flag waved last Saturday evening at the conclusion of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. AER’s P60 twin-turbo V-6 privateer LMP1 engine never missed a beat as it powered the #9 Lotus CLM P1/01 entry to second place among non-factory LMP1 entries in a demanding race that included a rain-induced red flag during the second hour.

“This was a very encouraging debut for the P60,” said Andrew Saunders, AER’s engineering manager. “The engine was faultless and we learned a great deal over the course of the weekend. The potential for the engine is massive and we are all very enthusiastic about further progress in coming events."

The P60’s performance was particularly impressive in wet conditions throughout the weekend in Austin. The Lotus was turning laps that were as fast, and sometimes faster than, those of the factory-entered LMP1-class Audis, Porsches and Toyotas. According to Christophe Bouchot, who shared the Lotus driving duties with James Rossiter and Lucas Auer, this was due in large part to smooth power delivery of the P60.

"The engine power is very good and driveability is excellent,” said Bouchot, who noted that his assessment was shared by co-drivers Rossiter and Auer.
AER’s Saunders credits the P60’s Life Racing ECU mapping for producing the driver-friendly torque curve that helped make the Lotus controllable in adverse weather conditions. It’s also testimony to the efficacy of the P60’s direct fuel injection system, a challenging technology that AER has mastered in recent years and applied in the P60.

The P60’s successful debut in Austin highlights AER’s reputation as a race-engine design and manufacturing company that employs leading-edge technology to produce high output powerplant solutions that are lightweight, reliable and competitive. In addition to furnishing engines for the upcoming new-generation Indy Lights car and now developing the latest LMP-1 engine, AER supplies the P57 V6 3.4-liter naturally aspirated-engines for the GP3 series.

The Lotus team, which currently stands second in LMP1-L points, plans to run the P60 in the season’s four remaining WEC events: six-hour races at Fuji, Japan; Shanghai, China, Bahrain and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“We established a great baseline this past weekend in Austin,” Saunders said. “And the P60’s performance will only improve as we continue to race it over the remainder of the season.”
####

Rob

24th September 2014, 20:39

Press release

Audi celebrates second WEC season victory at Austin.

Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer won turbulent race in Texas Audi took lead of the standings with second victory of the season Audi R18 e-tron quattro celebrates one-two victory
Ingolstadt/Austin, September 20, 2014 – Audi has celebrated the second consecutive one-two win in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Following their victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) in the fourth race of the season at Austin prevailed again. A sudden downpour of rain, red flags after a series of spins and a tactically challenging course of the race on a drying track converted the night race in Texas into a real thriller. Lucas di Grassi/Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen (BR/F/DK) completed Audi’s success by taking second place.

The 20th race in the young history of the WEC was a classic that remained open up to the very end. After six hours of racing, the victorious Audi driver trio prevailed with a very narrow margin of 53 seconds against their team-mates. The round at the Circuit of the Americas treated the spectators to supreme suspense up to the checkered flag. The race had a regular beginning in bright sunshine and temperatures of more than 30 degrees centigrade. Audi put down an early tactical marker, opted not to change tires at the first pit stop, and advanced position by position. One and a half hours into the race drizzling rain set in that soon changed into a downpour. Audi made a timely switch from slicks to wets on both R18 e-tron quattro cars. While Benoît Tréluyer took the lead and Tom Kristensen third place, numerous competitors slipped into the gravel and came to a halt in dangerous places. Therefore, race control decided to red flag the race.

About 50 minutes later, the teams resumed the race behind the safety car. Both Audi diesel hybrid sports cars kept their rain tires when the race was restarted on a wet track. Fifteen minutes later, Audi Sport Team Joest decided to switch car number 2 to intermediates. On the tires designed for mixed conditions, Benoît Tréluyer defended the lead before changing to slicks an hour later. In the case of the sister car, the team opted for a different strategy. To save the switch to intermediates, the squad wanted to use the rain tires until conditions became dry enough for slicks. This tactical option resulted in one less pit stop. However, Tom Kristensen also had to first change to intermediate tires before being able to switch to slicks at the next pit stop. Following a recovery by Lucas di Grassi at the end of the race, car number 1 finished as the runner-up.

Audi decided the WEC race in North America in its favor last year as well. For Audi, this marked the 13th victory in 20 WEC races since the beginning of the World Championship in 2012. On achieving this most recent success the squad of Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich and Chris Reinke, Head of LMP, after four of eight races, took the lead in the WEC manufacturers’ standings for the first time. Round five on the WEC calendar will be held on the track at Fuji in Japan in three weeks from now.

Quotes after the race

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “It was a very difficult race. The heavy downpour that washed some of the cars off track and our decision at the right moment to be the first to switch to rain tires all played a crucial part in our one-two victory. But so did our good pace. Everything perfectly fit: we had a good car, the drivers performed superbly and there were fast pit stops. We can enjoy this success. It’s great that things are continuing so positively after Le Mans.”

Chris Reinke (Head of LMP): “Following our victory at Le Mans, it was our aim to leave Austin as the leaders of the World Championship. We managed to do that. We delivered a commanding performance. We were briefly unfortunate in qualifying but regained our strength in the race. We acted sensibly in changing conditions because there were many obstacles to overcome. We clinched a well-deserved victory.”

Ralf Jüttner (Team Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “It was a very turbulent race. When we used the tires for two stints we started to advance. In the rain, we made exactly the right decision this time. ‘Thank you’ to the spotter, who announced all the dangers to the drivers via radio transmission. After the interruption by the red flags we moved forward with an all-out attack. It was difficult because our rivals were very fast too. We were able to manage our tires well and had sensational drivers. The one-two victory is brilliant and we’re heading the manufacturers’ world championship. We wouldn’t mind things continuing like this.”

Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): “We’re very happy because the victory was perfect – unlike our qualifying session. The race was a bit wild in the beginning, with the rain shower in the early phase. But the Audi team did the best job of maintaining an overview of the situation and took the right actions. My team-mates drove brilliantly. Towards the end of the race, I still achieved an advantage knowing that I had to make a final splash-and-dash refueling stop. It’s great that we managed to clinch a one-two victory.”

André Lotterer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): “A superb result for the team. You can’t wish for anything better than first and second place. The team performance today was superb. This also applies to our partner Michelin. The technical crew was confident that we’d only have to change the tires at every other stop. We didn’t make any mistakes in the rain either. This was an important step in the Championship.”

Benoît Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2): “It was a fantastic race. A lot happened. The number 8 Toyota was very fast in the beginning, but initially they always are. Then we had a good pace and were close to them. After the rain interruption we started at the front. That made it possible for me to control the pace and the advantage. I didn’t take too many risks and am happy with my stint. André (Lotterer) and Marcel (Fässler) drove superbly too. As at Le Mans, we didn’t touch any rivals. This is one of the key factors this year for mounting the very top of the podium.”

Lucas di Grassi (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): “This was a repetition of Le Mans – first and second place. I’m very happy about this result after the difficult qualifying. We had a wrong tire choice in the rain about halfway through the race, so our strategy no longer fit and we needed an additional stop. The car was very good. I was able to overtake two cars on my stint. I’m happy about the podium. Two podium results within two weeks aren’t too bad, are they?”

Loïc Duval (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): “A fantastic result for Audi, because now we’re heading the manufacturers’ standings. The race result, with first and second place, couldn’t have been any better either. Our car number 1 was in contention for victory this weekend as well but there were too many incidents with the rain and the red flags. We were also lacking a bit of fortune and our tire strategy didn’t pan out completely. But I’m happy about Audi’s one-two victory.”

Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1): “What a race. The conditions were tough from the beginning to the end. A lot here depended on the strategy and tire choice. A one-two result following the difficult day in qualifying is fantastic. I’m already looking forward to the next race in Japan.”

Race results

1 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 157 laps in 6h 01m52.122s
2 Di Grassi/Duval/Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) + 53.016s
3 Buemi/Davidson/Lapierre (Toyota) + 1m 03.945s
4 Dumas/Jani/Lieb (Porsche) – 1 lap
5 Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (Porsche) – 2 laps
6 Conway/Sarrazin/Wurz (Toyota) – 2 laps
7 Beche/Heidfeld/Prost (Rebellion-Toyota) – 8 laps
8 Bradley/Howson/Matsuda (Oreca-Nissan) – 12 laps
9 Mediani/Minassian/Zlobin (Oreca-Nissan) – 12 laps
10 Brown/Dalziel/Sharp (HPD-Honda) – 16 laps

– End –

Rob

24th September 2014, 20:41

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FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), round 4, Austin (Texas, USA), LMP1 race, Race report.

After a long time in the lead the Porsche 919 Hybrids came fourth and fifth in Austin Stuttgart. After a strong qualifying performance and a long time in the lead in the race the two Porsche 919 Hybrids only finished fourth and fifth in the six-hour race on Saturday.

Car number 14, driven by Romain Dumas (France), Neel Jani (Switzerland) and Marc Lieb (Germany), was leading the race for a long time, but suffered problems at the end and finished just in front of its sister car in Austin, Texas (USA). Timo Bernhard (Germany), Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) and Mark Webber (Australia) brought their number 20 car home in fifth place after an action packed fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), which was held half at night.

Starting drivers Dumas (P2) and Webber (P3) lost ground in the early stages of the race. They were running fifth and sixth when they came in for their first pit stops. After the first 100 minutes rain set in and led to chaos. On a track that was suddenly flooded half a dozen cars spun off and became stranded, car number 20 with Timo Bernhard at the wheel was one of them. The race was red flagged and stopped for 45 minutes.

At the restart behind the safety car Jani was at the wheel of car number 14, and was third in the race on slick intermediate tyres. He soon took the lead, and after 105 laps handed over to Lieb who went out on slicks. After the final stop for fuel after 133 laps a loss of engine power forced him to drop back to fourth.

Bernhard in the number 20 sister car was able to continue after the red flag and after he had been rescued from the gravel on full wet tyres, but soon changed to slick intermediate tyres as well. On lap 90 he was lying fourth and handed over to Hartley. For the last 30 minutes Webber returned to the car and finally crossed the line in fifth.

Quotes:

Wolfgang Hatz, Board member for Research and Development Porsche AG: “Until shortly before the end it was a very encouraging weekend for us in which we were fighting for the race win. The team did a great job and it is a shame it has been unrewarded.”

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “Unfortunately we did not manage to turn the development work of the recent months and the good qualifying result into the amount of championship points we wanted. Similar to what happened in Le Mans, we had chances to get a podium, perhaps even a race win. We will carefully analyse what has led to the loss of power in car number 14 and get prepared for Fuji.”

Andreas Seidl, Team Principal: “The outcome of the race is obviously disappointing. It was hard work and mixed conditions. In the beginning of the race, when it was dry and hot, we could not go at the same pace as the leaders, but in the rain we have been surprisingly strong. For the restart we split strategies to increase our chances. The decision to put slick intermediate tyres on car number 14 enabled us to take the lead. In the end a problem in the powertrain cost us a podium finish.”

Drivers car no. 14
Romain Dumas (36, France): “In the beginning we suffered a bit because of the high temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius. On a clear lap it was good, but in traffic we had too much understeer.”

Neel Jani (30, Switzerland): “When the rain set in it was completely crazy. Initially it was only wet in one corner, but then suddenly the circuit was flooded everywhere. I came uphill and then just slid away – through a gravel bed, onto the grass and back on track. The decision to restart on slick intermediate tyres paid off. I hoped the track would dry out quickly because of the heat, and then I managed to really take care of those tyres. I was leading by more than half a minute when I handed the car over. Our strategic decisions were all right, the team did a great job.”

Marc Lieb (34, Germany): “This was a tough fight. Romain and Neel did a great job. It was super to take over the Porsche 919 Hybrid as the leading car. After my pit stop the engine suddenly lost power and, therefore, I couldn’t defend the lead in the end. The team did a great job in preparing the car, we really deserved a podium.”

Drivers car no. 20
Timo Bernhard (33, Germany): “It wasn’t my day today. My stint began well before the drizzle started. I went for slick intermediate tyres but when I left the pit lane it suddenly became heavy rain. I found myself floating, I was just a passenger. Then for the restart behind the safety car we went on the safe side and took full wet tyres, but this was a disadvantage. Later with the slick intermediate tyres it was all fine. However, that’s racing.”

Brendon Hartley (24, New Zealand): “When I took over from Timo we were already one lap down. The Porsche 919 Hybrid has left a strong impression, I enjoyed driving both in the day and night. At some point I hit a big part of debris on the track, which compromised the car’s aerodynamics a bit.”

Mark Webber (38, Australia): “In the beginning it was a good battle with the Audi, but they have clearly been more comfortable in traffic and could easily pick various different lines. Temporarily I also did not have the full boost, but we were able to fix this while I was running. We have definitely learnt a lot in the high temperatures of the early part of the race and also later in the stints.”

Race result 6 hours of Austin (Texas):
1. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (CH/D/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro, 157 laps
2. Di Grassi/Duval/Kristensen (BRA/F/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro, – 53,016 s.
3. Davidson/Lapierre/Buemi (GB/F/CH), Toyota TS040 Hybrid, – 1:03,945 min
4. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (F/CH/D), Porsche 919 Hybrid, – 1 lap
5. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (D/NZ/AUS), Porsche 919 Hybrid, – 2 laps
6. Wurz/Sarrazin/Conway (A/F/GB), Toyota TS040 Hybrid, – 2 laps

FIA World Endurance Champonship (WEC) after 4 of 8 rounds,
Drivers’ standings:
1. Davidson/Lapierre/Buemi (GB/F/CH), Toyota, 96 points
2. Lotterer/Tréluyer/Fässler (D/F/CH), Audi, 85
3. Di Grassi/ Kristensen (BRA/DK), Audi, 72
4. Prost/Heidfeld/Beche (F/D/CH), Rebellion, 48
5. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (F/CH/D), Porsche, 45
6. Wurz/Sarrazin (A/F), Toyota, 43
7. Duval (F), Audi, 36
8. Gené (E), Audi, 36
9. Nakajima (J), Toyota, 35
10. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (D/NZ/AUS), Porsche, 25,5

Manufacturers’ standings:
1. Audi, 157
2. Toyota, 139
3. Porsche, 82

Rob

24th September 2014, 20:54

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Rob

24th September 2014, 20:56

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fratelliferrari

25th September 2014, 13:32

Great photos Rob :clap

budaman

25th September 2014, 18:03

Yes, very good photos.....no, they're great photos!

Ahhh, to have a press pass & access to the photo windows. In the meantime I'll just carry on with my trusty Canon T1 & $350 Tamron lense, shooting from the grandstands & hillsides;-)

Rob

25th September 2014, 20:33

BRABHAM NAME AIMING TO RETURN TO FIA WEC IN LMP2

24/09/2014 - 23h00

Brabham, one of the most successful and iconic names in motorsport history, is aiming to be back in the midst of racing once again at the highest levels… and its target is the FIA World Endurance Championship.

David Brabham, ex-F1 driver, Le Mans winner and multiple sportscar champion, has today launched Project Brabham which is an innovative model of open source racing to build and fund a sustainable team. It is planned that the motorsport community can become a key part of the team and shape its future through crowd-funding.

Brabham aims to return to the track in the FIA World Endurance Championship next season with a three-year LMP2 programme. In year four, the marque aims to return as a constructor by way of LMP1, with firm intentions of winning the only world title for sportscars and the greatest endurance race on earth, the Le Mans 24 Hours.

"We have endured a long and testing journey to protect and bring the Brabham name back under the family's control, and then decide the next step in the journey of this iconic brand,” said David Brabham, son of three-time F1 Champion, the late Sir Jack Brabham. “I have long dreamt of seeing the Brabham team back out on the track, winning at the highest level and continuing the legacy my father laid down when he first started the team in the Sixties.

“Looking at the normal racing model was not exciting or sustainable enough for me to rebuild the team from scratch. For me to bring Brabham back we have to do things differently. After careful consideration and research we have created a new model of open source racing, which will bring fans closer to the action, inspire drivers and engineers around the world and offer the rare opportunity to be a part of this new, but historical, race team.

“Project Brabham gives people the chance to be part of the team from the start. Once we have built a large community we will start to see the power of a collective force that will attract the funds and partners to make this journey a success. Come and join us and create another piece of history.”

http://youtu.be/LMO52m9Pfzg

Rob

27th September 2014, 19:34

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TUDOR UNITED SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Round 11/11 - PETIT LE MANS powered by Mazda
Road Atlanta, 4th October 2014
09.26.2014 - OAK Racing Press Release- Preview

OAK Racing is determined to end its USA campaign with a victory in the
Petit Le Mans with the Ligier JS P2!

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On 2-3-4 October the Petit Le Mans, the 11th and last round of the 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship, will take place on the Road Atlanta circuit. 56 cars including sports prototypes and GTs will do battle in the 10-hour race on the 2.54 mile layout. After having given the Ligier JS P2-Honda a brilliant debut on American soil at Austin clinching pole position and finishing second, OAK Racing with Alex Brundle, Ho-Pin Tung and Gustavo Yacaman in the drivers’ seat will be out to score the French team’s second victory this season.

The first round of the Tudor USCC, the Daytona 24 Hours, began at the end of January, and it will end with the 10-hour Petit Le Mans, which also counts towards the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup that comprises the season’s four long-distance events - a total of 52-hours racing!

On what is OAK Racing’s first entry in a North American series, the team has made a big impact being a regular front-runner in the 10 rounds held so far. The no. 42 Morgan-Nissan LM P2 has already scored a pole position and three top-3 finishes including victory, and with its Ligier JS P2-Honda the team clinched pole and second place at Austin.

Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman, who put on a stunning performance in the Circuit of the Americas, will be joined by Ho-Pin Tung for the final round. The Chinese driver has already raced in the Watkins Glen and Indianapolis events, and he is familiar with the Ligier JS P2-Honda as he drove it in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Le Mans-based team already knows the legendary Petit Le Mans. It has already taken part in three races finishing second in 2012 in the European Le Mans Series round on the American circuit, and also winning the LM P2 category in 2010 on its first outing in the USA. The team’s aim in the last race of the season is to score the Ligier JS P2’s maiden victory, and to finish the season in the top 3 in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship.

Alex Brundle: “After a great run at COTA I'm looking forward to returning to Atlanta for the final race of the Tequila Patron endurance cup. The circuit is one that I really enjoy so I can't wait to get out there. It's going to be a tough and physical race for us, but we have shown we have the speed with the Ligier JS P2-Honda and it's no secret that OAK Racing can run an endurance race! All three guys are used to working together so now we just have to arrive and deliver a faultless performance.”

Ho-Pin Tung: “Can't wait to get back behind the wheel of the Ligier JS P2 – Honda. I have good memories of the car spending a total of 12 hours behind the wheel at this years' Le Mans 24H race. Meanwhile OAK Racing - together with Honda - has continued the development of the car and it has made a very promising TUSC debut at COTA. Our objective is clear; winning Petit Le Mans.”

Gustavo Yacaman: “After a solid day’s work in the new Ligier JS P2 at Austin we learned a lot and I adapted myself to the new car. I believe our pace will be good at Road Atlanta, but none of that will matter in a 1min20secs track with almost 60 cars running at the same time. The key for this race will be patience, patience, some patience and a little bit more patience. Honestly, I think this will be the toughest race of the year but I am confident that Alex, Ho-Pin and myself will stay calm and push on throughout the 10 hour race.”

Philippe Dumas, Team Principal:“I share the same feelings as our drivers. This race is one of the most difficult and also one of the greatest in the world. The Ligier JS P2-Honda-Continental package proved to be a formidable contender at the CoTA (Austin), and we’re going to continue in the same vein at Road Atlanta.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to our drivers this season, Gustavo, Alex, Ho-Pin and Olivier who’ve all been brilliant and have shown irreproachable team spirit. I’d also like to include the whole Onroak Automotive squad, OAK Racing, our partners and Jacques Nicolet without whom none of this would have been possible. This American adventure is a fantastic experience for OAK Racing, as intense as the on-track battles!
“This championship is as great as it’s varied. I’d like to thank IMSA for its welcome, in particular Scott Elkins for his professional approach to the BoP (balance of performances), which was quite tough at the start of the year. I can safely say that at this very moment a DP or a P2 can fight for victory. Our little commando is determined to give its all to win one of the most prestigious endurance races on the planet.”

Tudor USCC classification after round 10/ Austin:
1- #5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING : Corvette DP 316 pts (3 wins)
2- #10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING : Corvette DP 294 pts (1 win)
3- #90 VISITFLORIDA.COM RACING : Corvette DP 293 pts (1 win)
4- #01 CHIP GANASSI RACING : Riley DP 286 pts (3 wins)
5- #42 OAK RACING : Morgan-Nissan LM P2 / Ligier JS P2 Honda 286 pts (1 win)

Rob

27th September 2014, 19:37

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NEWS ALERT
Paris - 26 September 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

27 STRONG GRID FOR FUJI.
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On Sunday 12 October, with 27 cars on the grid, the third running of the 6 Hours of Fuji promises to be an event of exciting track action coupled with lots of off track entertainment for the Japanese fans to enjoy. There are 10 different nations represented by the teams and 19 different nationalities among the 77 drivers on the grid.

With Audi on a roll after taking victory at Le Mans and Circuit of The Americas all eyes will be on Toyota to see if they can return to the top step of the podium at home.

After the race in the United States of America Audi now lead the Manufacturer’s World Championship by 18 points while Toyota’s Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Nicolas Lapierre hold an 11 point advantage in the Driver’s title race. The podiums for the last three races might have been shared between Audi and Toyota, but the race pace shown by the Porsche 919 Hybrid at Le Mans and in Texas means that another podium finish is possible. Maybe the race at Fuji will see Porsche return to the top step of the overall podium for the first time in 16 years?

Nine cars will compete in LMP1, with six in LMP1-H and three in LMP1-L. Japanese ace Kazuki Nakajima returns to the cockpit of the no7 Toyota TS040 to drive alongside Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin. The other works driver line ups remain unchanged from the race at the Circuit of The Americas.

In LMP1-L Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche secured the drivers and team’s title for Rebellion Racing in Texas with their fourth straight win of the season over their teammates in the no13 Rebellion R-One. The brand new Lotus CLM-AER, which secured 2nd place on its debut, is once again scheduled to have Christophe Bouchut and James Rossiter driving the Lotus, with Pierre Kaffer replacing Lucas Auer as the third driver.

Hong Kong team KCMG celebrated their first World Championship victory in Texas. They will be hoping to capitalise on their experience to add more LMP2 silverware to the trophy cabinet in Japan, where regular drivers Matt Howson and Richard Bradley will be joined once again by Switzerland’s Alexandre Imperatori.

Russian team SMP Racing are currently leading both the team and driver championships, with Sergey Zlobin holding a 27-point lead over the G-Drive Racing trio of Roman Rusinov, Oliver Pla and Julien Canal. G-Drive switched to the new Ligier chassis in Texas and while they could only manage to finish 4th in class, they will be hoping for better luck in Japan with the new closed cockpit car.

2013 LMP2 Champions and last year’s 6 Hours of Fuji winners Oak Racing will be making an appearance in Japan, entering a Morgan Judd with a driver line up which includes the only female driver on the grid, Japan’s Keiko Ihara, Columbia’s Gustavo Yacaman and Britain’s Alex Brundle.

Thirteen cars are entered in LMGTE for the 6 Hours of Fuji, with six in the LMGTE Pro class. Ferrari’s Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander finished third in the USA last time out but still lead the championship by 25 points ahead of Porsche’s Fred Makowiecki, who finished second at the Circuit of The Americas with new teammate Patrick Pilet. Aston Martin duo Stefan Mücke and Darren Turner took their first victory of 2014 in Austin, completing a great day for the British manufacturer who claimed a 1-2 in the Am class as well.

The no98 Aston Martin Vantage driven by Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy and Christoffer Nygaard also celebrated their first victory of 2014 in Texas, securing a 1-2 for Aston Martin with the no95 Vantage taking the chequered flag less than one second behind the lead car. This was enough to maintain the lead in the Team’s championship and the Driver’s title race for the Danish duo Kristian Poulsen and David Heinemeier-Hansson. The LMGTE Am grid features three Ferraris, two Aston Martins and two Porsches, including the Belgian entered Prospeed Competition 911 RSR which secured its first world championship pole position in Texas.

The 2014 6 Hours of Fuji will also include two rounds of the Japanese F3 Championship, providing a great weekend of endurance racing and single-seater action. The event gets underway on Friday 10 October and concludes with the 6 Hours of Fuji on Sunday 12 October, with the green flag at 11am (local time).

Nova

28th September 2014, 03:23

Those Astons sure r fast..they must enjoy some type of advantage..

Rob

29th September 2014, 13:54

37 cars on track for 4 Hours of Estoril.
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Competitors of the European Le Mans Series paddock are getting ready for the fifth and final race of the 2014 season, a race which will see no fewer than 37 cars on the starting grid at Estoril. A new venue for the ELMS this year, Portugal is preparing to host the series' finale and there are a great number of teams on the entry list.

Just as at the start of the season, 10 LMP2s will take the start for the 4 Hours of Estoril and the main protagonists are Signatech Alpine (Paul-Loup Chatin, Nelson Panciatici, Oliver Webb), current Championship leaders with 10 points in hand, and the British JOTA Sport team and its trio of drivers which includes Portuguese driver and local star, Filipe Albuquerque. NewBlood by Morand Racing scored its first win of the season at Paul Ricard Circuit on September 14th and the Swiss are determined to continue the momentum with their superbly balanced trio of Gary Hirsch, Christian Klien and Pierre Ragues.

Mathematically the top four are still all in with a chance of the title, and Race Performance will be there with Michel Frey and Franck Mailleux (ORECA03-Judd). Thiriet by TDS Racing, who were unlucky in France, hope to be able to compete despite the technical problems encountered with the new Ligier JS P2 Nissan since Red Bull Ring. It will be driven once again by the brilliant French trio of Pierre Thiriet, Ludovic Badey and Tristan Gommendy. The ORECA-03R-Nissan of Sébastien Loeb Racing will be led by Vincent Capillaire, with the names of the other two drivers to be announced later. Greaves Motorsport is playing the local card, with Portuguese driver Miguel Faisca alongside young Matt McMurry and the name of the third driver for the No.41 Zytek Z11 SN still to come. In the Greaves No.28 entry Luciano Bacheta and Mark Shulzhitskiy will be back on track together. At Murphy Prototypes, star performer for the team in France, Pipo Derani, returns but with two newcomers in the No.48 ORECA0 3R-Nissan, Britons James Littlejohn and Tony Wells. Finally, the Morgan Nissan of Pegasus Racing returns with the same line-up of Swiss Nicolas Leutwiler, Frenchman Julien Schell and Briton Jonathan Coleman.
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Nine Ferrari 458 Italias, two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs, one 911 RSR and an Aston Martin Vantage V8 make up the list of 13 LMGTEs entered for the final round in Estoril. The No.55 AF Corse currently at the head of the category's standings will be in the hands of its favoured line-up of Duncan Cameron, Matt Griffin and Michele Rugolo, while the crew of the No.54 of the team remains unchanged. For the last race of the season, it's great to be able to include the FIA WEC LMGTE Am trio of Emmanuel Collard, François Perrodo and Yannick Mallegol to the ELMS, and the trio will be at the wheel of the third AF Corse entry, the No.70.

At SMP Racing, the No.72 F458 - second in the points' classifications - will also be driven by WEC drivers, notably Sergey Zlobin who is dominating the WEC LMP2 Drivers rankings. JMW Motorsport will feature its duo of Daniel McKenzie and George Richardson again at the wheel of the No.66 F458, with the third driver to be confirmed. Alexander Talkanitsa will be joined by Pierre Kaffer and Mirko Venturi in the No.56 Ferrari of the AT Racing team. At Kessel Racing, its Ferraris will be driven by its usual pairings, just as at Team Sofrev-ASP (No.58 F458), which is hoping for better results after its Paul Ricard disappointments (mechanical failure). IMSA Performance Matmut won't be changing its line ups for the final race of the season in its No.76 and 67 Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs, while the same goes for Gulf Racing UK and its No.85 Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the No.86 blue and orange Porsche 911 RSR.

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For the European Le Mans Series' grand finale, the GTC class will include some newcomers among the 14 teams entered. Although it didn't achieve the desired results at Paul Ricard, Team Ombra returns to Estoril to continue its learning curve with the No.92 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, driven by Mario Cordoni and Marco Zanuttini. For the first time this season Team Russia by Barwell will not alone in entering a BMW Z4 GT3 as BMW Sport Trophy Marc VDS will join it with the No.87, driven by Belgian Bas Leinders and Finland's Markus Paltalla.

Neither the No.73 SMP Racing entry at the head of the class standings with 79 points, nor the No.60 Formula Racing Ferrari (2nd with 60,5pts) will change its line up for the final round. The crews of the other two F458s in the class, the Nos.71 and 73 of SMP Racing also remain unchanged. ART Grand Prix will rely on the same drivers for its two McLaren MP4 12C GT3s, Nos.98 and 99, while the AF Corse team will field the third Portuguese driver for the start of the 4 Hours of Estoril on board the No.63 458 of Mads Rasmussen/Filipe Barreiros, but no changes to the No.95. Team Sofrev ASP maintains its 100% French line up of Christophe Bourret, Pascal Gibon and Jean-Philippe Belloc. The Porsche GT3 R and 997 GT3R of ProSpeed Competition and Pro GT by Almeras respectively are in the hands of Max van Splunteren, Gilles Vannelet and Mike Parisy for the former, and Franck Perera, Lucas Lasserre and Eric Dermont for the latter.

The ELMS 4 Hours of Estoril will take place on Sunday 19 October in Portugal. The racing will be exciting, and the battle for supremacy will run from start to finish in every class so join us for the Grand Finale of the 2014 European Le Mans Series.

Rob

30th September 2014, 21:41

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News Release September 30, 2014

Petit Le Mans. Porsche Motorsports Event Notes.
Dateline. Braselton, Georgia.

Event. 17th Annual Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda
Circuit. Road Atlanta
Track Length/Turns. 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Course
Round. TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Round 11 of 11
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama. Round 16 and 17 of 17

Next Round.

Season Finale

Porsche Events.
TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
Date. Saturday, October 4, 11:15 a.m. ET/ 8:15 a.m. PT
Race Duration. Ten-Hours
Classes. GT Le Mans (Porsche 911 RSR), GT Daytona class (Porsche 911 GT America)
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama
Date. Race #1: Thursday, October 2, 3:35 p.m. ET/ 12:35 p.m. PT, Race #2: Friday, October 3, 11:35 a.m. ET/ 8:35 a.m. PT
Race Duration. 45-minutes
Classes. Platinum (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, M.Y. 2014), Gold (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, M.Y. 2013 and earlier)

Porsche Profile. Event Story Lines
Two For One. Porsche Factory Effort Returns with Two-Car Effort at Petit Le Mans
Porsche North America, the German auto manufacturer’s factory race team in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, has elected to return to a two-car effort for the 17th Annual Petit Le Mans. The first North American Porsche works team in recent memory entered three of the most sophisticated race versions of the iconic Porsche 911 in history at the Lone Star Le Mans on September 20 and had planned to continue the effort at the October 4 race at Road Atlanta. However, team management withdrew the No. 910 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR from the entry list due to Richard Lietz (Austria) not yet being fully recovered from injuries sustained at Virginia International Raceway in August.

Final Point. Porsche Tied for GTLM Manufacturer Title Entering Finale.
Just as the on-track action has been give-and-take this year between the competitors in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class, the battle for Manufacturer supremacy is as equally nip-and-tuck. After ten GTLM races, Porsche North America enters the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season-finale at Road Atlanta tied for the Manufacturer’s Title. The German marque went into the penultimate round at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on September 20 with a two-point lead. After the Dodge Viper SRT team took the win and 35 championship points awarded for it, they drew equal to Porsche who took third in the race but second in manufacturer’s finishing position to earn 32 points. The pair travels to Road Atlanta with 308 markers apiece. Trailing behind the leading duo is Chevrolet and BMW, each with 300 points. Ferrari narrowly trails with 294. 35 points are allocated to the winner. Each subsequent position is allocated to the highest-placing entry from each manufacturer in order of finish.

Meanwhile, Porsche also leads the Manufacturer standings in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup. The Endurance Cup trophy is awarded to the manufacturer who accumulates the most points in the TUDOR Championship’s four endurance races – events of six-hours in length or longer. The ten-hour Petit Le Mans follows the Rolex 24 at Daytona – where the No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR won the GTLM class – the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring – a Porsche victory for the No. 912 – and the Sahlen’s Six Hours of Watkins Glen. Porsche, with 36 total points, currently holds a one-point margin over Chevrolet and four points over Dodge/SRT. Points for Petit Le Mans will be earned by the manufacturer leading at the four, eight and ten-hour marks.

Nothing for Granted. GT Daytona Championship Will be Earned the Hard Way.
There are nine TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class drivers within 17 points of first place of the title with one race to go. 35 points are awarded for first place. 17 points also separate the top four manufacturers. In the driver’s championship, Dane Cameron has 275 points, Lee Keen and Cooper MacNeil 271 in the No. 22 Alex Job Porsche 911 GT America, Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell 268. Christopher Haase and Bryce Miller have 259 points with Porsche customer John Potter holding 258 markers entering the final race in the Magnus Racing No. 44. Referencing the points (below) that can be earned for the top seven finishing positions, there are endless possibilities for all these drivers. A single mistake on the track or in the pits can cost the championship.

The GTD manufacturer points are even closer, as Porsche has 311 points, BMW 310, Ferrari 309 and Audi 294. Points are awarded to the top-finishing car for each marque.

Porsche teams have entered 11 Porsche 911 GT America racecars for Petit Le Mans, with Keen and MacNeil near the top of the points in their Alex Job Racing Porsche without the benefit of a race victory. They have a second-place finish (Indianapolis) and two early season races where they were leading late in the race (Daytona and Sebring), but they have stayed in the point race with eight top-six finishes.

It’s All in the Numbers. Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Championship Fight.
20 points separate first through fourth in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama entering the last two races of the 2014 season. 40 points are available for a win in the one-make series. That's an equation for excitement during Petit Le Mans weekend at Road Atlanta.

Four promising young talents of North American road racing – Colin Thompson, 20, from Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Michael Lewis, 23, from Laguna Beach, California; Angel Benitez, 25, from Valencia, Venezuela; and Sloan Urry, 22, from Park City, Utah – are eligible to win the premier Platinum Cup (all entries drive 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racecars) championship. The four title protagonists provide a fascinating mix of varying levels of experience. Urry and Benitez were among the contenders for the 2013 championship, eventually falling short to current TUDOR Championship GT Daytona contender Madison Snow. Urry finished second in last year’s standings with Benitez third. Thompson finished eighth in the championship last season as a rookie, showing his promise. This year, Lewis is a Series’ rookie, but that's a bit of a misnomer. He spent the last three seasons in high-level junior open-wheel competition in Europe, including Formula 3, before turning his career toward sports cars this season back home in the United States.

Current Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama point standings
Colin Thompson 218 points
Michael Lewis 217 points
Angel Benitez 208 points
Sloan Urry 198 points

On the Air. Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Gets TV Contract.
Both Road Atlanta races will have television coverage on October 25. Each proceeding Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA race is scheduled for telecast with one-hour shows during upcoming weekends. Each broadcast is also will be available for streaming via IMSA.com and IMSAvids on YouTube within 24 to 48 hours following the initial Sinclair/ASN telecast. The remaining Sinclair/ASN telecasts (check local listings) are scheduled on October 4 (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park), October 11 (Road America), October 18 (Circuit of the Americas).

To the Point. The Point Structure for the TUDOR Championship.
All TUDOR United SportsCar Championship class championships are decided in the same structure. Points are awarded to the highest finisher. For drivers, each driver receives points based on finishing position. Manufacturer and Team titles are determined by the highest finishing representative of an entrant. Subsequent positions are based on the next finishing position. Meaning, if Porsche finishes one, two, three in the race order, they receive winning points (35). The next highest-placing manufacturer earns second place points (32).

1st-place 35 Points 11th 20 pts
2nd 32 Points 12th 19 pts
3rd 30 Points 13th 18 pts
4th 28 Points 14th 17 pts
5th 26 Points 15th 16 pts
6th 25 Points 16th 15 pts
7th 24 Points 17th 14 pts
8th 23 Points 18th 13 pts
9th 22 Points 19th 12 pts
10th 21 Points 20th 11 pts

Porsche Point of View.
Jens Walther, President/CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America
“The 2014 TUDOR Championship has not been without its challenges for the manufacturers, entrants and drivers. However, as we come to Petit Le Mans to bring the curtain down on the season, it would be very difficult to argue with the on-track competitiveness of all the classes, particularly GT Le Mans and GT Daytona. We are now culminating the season with multiple championship battles being decided by the narrowest of margins. There is still work for all of us to do but I believe that this is the proof of what IMSA is trying to accomplish and, for the inaugural season, I give them high marks. For the race itself, we have placed two strong works teams on track with Porsche North America. In addition, Team Falken Tire, with a customer Porsche 911 RSR, is a threat at an event they won last year. We are looking forward to ten-hours of racing for the win and the Manufacturer title in GTLM. Similarly, in GT Daytona, the customer Porsche 911 GT America entries are providing an opportunity to win the championship with a car developed exclusively for the US-market. When you add the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars competing this weekend in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series, Porsche is involved in the championship battle for every class we compete. All of these battles are being fought with production-based Porsche 911s. It will be a challenging weekend, but we could not ask more than to have the title decision come down to an endurance race at a demanding facility like Road Atlanta.”

Bryan Sellers, Driver, No. 17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR – Tudor United SportsCar Championship, GTLM Class
“Winning Petit Le Mans last year was a highlight of my career. The feeling of that victory was second to none. It leaves you wanting more. There is no added pressure from that though. Team Falken Tire puts pressure on ourselves every weekend to win. The goal for every race team is to win, and to win as frequently as possible. Team Falken Tire has had a good string of wins over the past few years and I would very much like to see that continue this weekend at Road Atlanta. All you can do is go out and give the best effort you possibly can give. The one thing you don’t want to do is walk away saying you could have given more. Having said that, it is very important to get Porsche the manufacturer’s championship and we will do anything in our power to help them achieve that goal. We have been fortunate enough to test at Road Atlanta a few times through the year and they have gone well. At the moment, I don’t see that there are too many weak areas for the Porsche 911 RSR at Road Atlanta. It is going to be 10 hours of great racing!”

Andy Lally, Driver, No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America – Tudor United SportsCar Championship, GTD Class
“Petit Le Mans certainly has a hometown feeling for me. I’ve lived 15 minutes from the racetrack for over a decade now. It’s great to have such a huge event so close to home. Road Atlanta has big high-speed corners that connect and generate a great flow and have challenging transitions from the exit of one corner to the next. Combine that with huge elevation changes and you have one of the most challenging tracks in the world. With Marco Seefried – who won with us a Sebring – joining us again as a third driver, I must say something about my regular co-driver, Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. I met John very early in his driving career, so there has been a huge gain in his speed, but the thing that makes a successful driver is the ability to drive at the limit but also have enough bandwidth available to observe and recall what the car is doing at different points in the corner. John has been able to do that in a short time where other drivers have spent decades attempting the same thing and never manage to achieve that level of multi-tasking at speed. We had a strong podium finish at COTA, and we hope to close out our year with a strong showing at Petit.”

Porsche History. Road Atlanta
1970 – Tony Dean – Porsche 908/2 – Can-Am – overall winner at first race ever at Road Atlanta
1972 - George Follmer – Porsche 917/10 – Can-Am – overall winner
1973 - George Follmer – Porsche 917/10 TC – Can-Am – overall winner
1973 – Peter Gregg – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – IMSA/Camel GT – overall winner
1973 – Ludwig Heimrath – Porsche 911s – IMSA/Camel GT – GTU winner
1974 – Al Holbert/Elliott Forbes-Robinson – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR - IMSA/Camel GT 6 hours – overall winners
1974 – Fred Baker/Mike Sherman – Porsche 911s – IMSA/Camel GT 6 hours – GTU winners
1975 – Al Holbert – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – IMSA/Camel GT 100 – Race #1 – overall winner
1975 – Peter Gregg – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – IMSA/Camel GT 100 – Race #2 – overall winner
1977 – Bob Hagestad – Porsche 934/5 – SCCA Trans-Am – TA-11 winner
1977 – John Bauer – Porsche 911s – SCCA Trans-Am – TA-1 winner
1977 – Dennis Aase – Porsche 911s – IMSA/Camel GTU (separate GTU race) – overall winner
1978 – Dave White – Porsche 911s – IMSA/Camel GTU (separate GTU race) – overall winner
1978 – Peter Gregg – Porsche 935 – IMSA Camel GT 100 Spring – overall winner
1978 – Peter Gregg – Porsche 935/77A – IMSA Camel GT Fall – overall winner
1978 – Howard Meister – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – IMSA Camel GT Fall – GTO winner
1979 – Peter Gregg – Porsche 935/79 – IMSA/Winston GT Spring – overall winner
1979 – Peter Gregg – Porsche 935/79 – IMSA/Winston GT Fall – overall winner
1979 – Howard Meister – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – IMSA/Winston GT Fall – GTO winner
1980 – Bill Whittington – Porsche 935/K3 – IMSA/Camel GT 100 – overall winner
1980 – John Fitzpatrick – Porsche 935/K3/80 – IMSA Camel GT 50 – overall winner
1980 – Gianpiero Moretti – Porsche 935 – IMSA Camel GT 50 – overall winner
1980 – Terry Herman – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – IMSA Camel GT 50 – GTO winner
1981 – John Fitzpatrick – Porsche 935/K3/80 – IMSA Camel GT – overall winner
1982 – John Paul, Jr. – Porsche 935/JLP-3 – IMSA Camel GT 150 – overall winner
1982 – John Paul, Jr., - Porsche 935/JLP-3 – IMSA Camel GT 500 Km – overall winner
1983 – Wayne Baker/Jim Mullen – Porsche 934 – IMSA/Camel GT 500 Km – GTO winners
1987 – James Weaver/Price Cobb – Porsche 962 – IMSA/Camel GT – overall winners
1997 – John O’Steen/Larry Schumacher – Porsche 911 GT2 – IMSA 2 Hours – GTS - 1 winners
1997 – Jim Matthews/David Murry – Porsche 911s – IMSA 2 Hours – GTS-3 winners
1998 – Thierry Boutsen/Bob Wollek – Porsche 911 GT-1 Evo – IMSA 3 Hrs. 45 Min,. – GT-1 winners
1998 – Thierry Boutsen/Bob Wollek/Ralf Kelleners – Porsche 911 GT-1 Evo - Inaugural Petit Le Mans – LM-GT1 winners
1998 – Michael Ligonnet/Lance Stewart – Porsche 911 GT2 – Inaugural Petit Le Mans – LM – GT2 winners
1998 – Peter Argetsinger/Richard Polidori/Angelo Cilli – Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – Inaugural Petit Le Mans - Sports Car GT-3 winners
1999 – Larry Schumacher/John O’Steen – Porsche 911 GT2 – American Le Mans Series – GTS winners
1999 – Dirk Mueller/Sascha Maassen/Cort Wagner – Porsche 911 GT3 R – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winners
2000 – Sascha Maassen/Bob Wollek – Porsche 911 GT3 R – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winners
2002 – Sascha Maassen/Lucas Luhr – Porsche 911 GT3 RS – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT Winners
2003 – Timo Bernhard/Joerg Bergmeister – Porsche 911 GT3 RS – American Le Mans Series Spring – GT winners
2003 – Timo Bernhard/Joerg Bergmeister/Romain Dumas – Porsche 911 GT3 RS – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winners
2004 – Timo Bernhard/Joerg Bergmeister/Sascha Maassen – Porsche 911 GT3 RS – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winners
2005 – Patrick Long/Joerg Bergmeister – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winners
2006 – Timo Bernhard/Sascha Maassen/Emmanuel Collard – Porsche RS Spyder – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – LMP2 winners
2006 – Patrick Long/Joerg Bergmeister – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winner
2007 – Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Patrick Long – Porsche RS Spyder – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – LMP2 winners
2007 – Joerg Bergmeister/Johannes van Overbeek/Marc Lieb – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winners
2008 – Ryan Briscoe/Helio Castroneves – Porsche RS Spyder – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – LMP2 winners
2013 – Bryan Sellers/Wolf Henzler/Nick Tandy –Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – ALMS/Petit Le Mans – GT winner

Where to Watch.
TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
Television Race Broadcast:
Saturday, October 4
Live Streaming on IMSA.com
11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. PT
Live Television on FOX Sports 2
3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT
Re-Air of Race Highlights Package
Sunday, October 5
FOX Network
Check Local Listings for Times in Your Area
Also Available at IMSA.com
Live Race Streaming:
IMSA.com
FOX Sports GO mobile app
Live Radio Broadcast
Motor Racing Network on IMSA.com, MRN.com, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)
Live Timing and Scoring:
http://scoring.imsa.com/
Live Qualifying Streaming:
IMSA.com

Rob

30th September 2014, 21:42

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Scuderia Corsa Looking to Close Out Season With a Victory at Petit Le Mans.

Team looking to help Ferrari secure manufacturer championship in the GT-Daytona class.

Brandon Davis and Kyle Marcelli join Alessandro Balzan and Jeff Westphal in no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia.

September 30, 2014 (Los Angeles, CA) - After scoring two victories this year, Scuderia Corsa has one more opportunity to score a third with this weekend's Petit Le Mans, the final round of the TUDOR United Sportscar Challenge.

A victory would not only enable the team to finish the TUDOR Championship season on a high, but would enable Ferrari to secure the manufacturer championship in the GT-Daytona class - a goal that is very important to the team, which won the 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. The team's victories at the Detroit Grand Prix and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as their second-place finish at Virginia International Raceway, have enabled Ferrari to be in a position to win the manufacturer championship.

Bolstering the team's effort for Petit Le Mans, which lasts for 10 hours of 1000 miles, will be the addition of Brandon Davis and Kyle Marcelli. Davis, a former World Challenge champion, competed in his first race with Scuderia Corsa at the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen where the team recorded a fifth-place finish. Marcelli, a multi-time race winner in the Prototype Challenge class, has contested the 12 Hours of Sebring and Detroit Grand Prix with Scuderia Corsa.

Team owner Giacomo Mattioli explained the team's expectations for Petit Le Mans.

"We are thrilled to be finishing our season at Road Atlanta, one of the premier circuit in North America, and to be competing in our first Petit Le Mans," said Mattioli. "Our goal is to win our third race of the year and to help Ferrari win the manufacturer championship for the third year in a row, which would be a tremendous accomplishment in the 60th Anniversary of Ferrari North America."

The endurance classic presents a variety of challenges for the team, as outlined by team's engineer Joe La Joie.

"Petit is an endurance race so the racecar handling sometimes takes a backseat to other aspects," said La Joie. "We have four drivers and four hours of practice - if it stays green. Logistically, each driver needs enough time to be comfortable and meet on track requirements; there is equipment to bed, final race preparation, etc. Once we have checked off everything on our list we will be ready for the race. Then the race mantra is take care of the car and drive defensively until the last hour or so.

"The track challenges start in Turn 1, a quick right hand turn at 95 mph that leads into some iconic turns through rolling hills. Turn 2 starts at about 80 mph and 1.5 lateral g's on the crest of a hill. Then you must be able to accelerate downhill through Turns 3 & 4 until you climb out of the valley at over 110 mph and 1.8 lateral g's in the 'S'. It is easy to make this set of corners comfortable with downforce, but you must watch your top speed into T10. You have to be prepared to throw away a little of Turn 6. This makes the straight from Turn 5 a little longer and allows you to setup for Turn 7. This is the slowest corner on the track, 2nd gear, at 54 mph, and leads onto the longest straight. At the end is a big brake zone. Therefore, you must get through Turn 7 with excellent power down. The proper gearing and lower drag allow you to beat your competition to Turn 10.

"Absolute braking capacity and control are a must to complete the pass in the Turn 10 brake zone. There are a few significant bumps, hard braking, then a quick left-right combination. The change of direction must be quick and controlled. This allows the driver to exit well and accelerate up the hill. The hill crest at the bridge is fast enough to get airborne and sometimes requires the driver to lift the throttle. This can hurt the time through the fastest Turn on the circuit - Turn 12."

Petit Le Mans will be shown on Sunday, October 4 beginning with live streaming on IMSA.com at 11:00 AM ET, with coverage on FOX Sports 2 beginning at 3:00 PM ET. A rebroadcast will be shown on Sunday, October 5 at 8:00 AM ET on FOX. Qualifying will be streamed live on IMSA.com on Friday, October 3 at 4:20 PM ET.

Rob

1st October 2014, 20:21

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NEWS ALERT
PARIS - 01 October 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

HENRI PESCAROLO – GRAND MARSHAL FOR 6 HOURS OF FUJI

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One of endurance racing’s most esteemed figures, Henri Pescarolo, has been named as Grand Marshal for the 6 Hours of Fuji on Sunday, 12 October. Over a long career both as a driver and a team owner, the Frenchman achieved success in every formula of racing and rallying, from Formula 1 to endurance racing – the category in which he rose to supreme heights and perhaps became best known.

The six-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans also entered in seven editions of the Fuji endurance race during his illustrious career with varied results. His best results in the land of the Rising Sun came in 1983 and 1984 with two fourth places in the world endurance championship. The first was in a Porsche 956 owned by the famed Japanese collector, Yoshiho Matsuda, while in 1984 he co-drove a Joest Racing Porsche, and he went on to experience several more editions of the Oriental round up until 1989 when he finished fifth overall.

After beginning his career in rallying, Pescarolo went on to make 54 Formula 1 Grand Prix starts between 1970 and 1976, following numerous victories in Formula 3 and 2. But it was in endurance racing that the infamous green helmet became best known, especially at the 24 Hours of Le Mans at which Henri took three overall victories with Matra in 1972/3/4 and a further one with Porsche in 1984. He successfully competed against some of the biggest manufacturer names in the world, and took 22 victories in endurance racing during his career.

As Grand Marshal, he will wave off the start of the 6 Hours of Fuji, the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Toyota Racing will be aiming to not only feature its high technology hybrid action against Audi and Porsche in LMP1, but also take its third win of the season in a race which will also include the world’s most beautiful and high performing GTE cars from Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche.

Rob

1st October 2014, 20:33

'FUJI FEVER: TRACK FACTS'

First, some Fuji history!
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Fuji has held a 6 hour race in each of the three seasons of the World Endurance Championship. However, the legacy of endurance racing at Japan’s foremost circuit goes back much further.

It seems fitting that a track that is owned by the Toyota Motor Corporation should have such a rich history in the event. The Toyota 2000GT car is one of the most iconic low-volume production race cars and is today one of the most sought after collector cars. Among its noteworthy achievements was winning the first Fuji 1000 Kilometers on 9 July, 1967, thanks to the driving of Yoshio Otsubo and Shihomi Hosoya.

It began a three year string of Toyota victories. Indeed Toyota has more victories (eleven) in the 1000 kms/6 hour races than any other manufacturer. The 1968 and 1969 editions were won by another famed Toyota model, the Toyota 7, which was their foray into Group 7/Can-Am racing. Current Dome Cars boss, Hiroshi Fushida was on the winning squad both times. During the following decade he added two more overall victories and this tally of four remains the record for drivers.

There was a major sporting change in 1982 as the previous version of the World Endurance Championship arrived in Japan. The Fuji 1000 was part of that prominent international series each year through to 1988. Four of the rounds were won by Porsche 956s, with the Stuttgart based marque recording a total of ten overall victories, just shy of Toyota’s record.

The 1982-1988 period was also significant in that there were two 1000 kilometer races each year. The (first iteration) WEC round was held in the autumn while the spring race was a national event. In 1985 it became part of the newly established All-Japan Sports Prototype Championship.

In 1999 a race was billed as the’ Le Mans Fuji race’ and intended as a pilot for a planned Asian Le Mans series. It was won by the Nissan R391 of Satoshi Motoyama, Erik Comas, and Masami Kageyama. They and several of the class winners received invitations to Le Mans in 2000. The Japan Le Mans Challenge of 2006-2007 was won by Shinsuke Yamazaki and Hideki Noda in a Zytek.

Fuji Speedway continued its proud association with global endurance racing in 2012 when the inaugural season of the FIA WEC visited for the penultimate round of the season.
Did you know?

Toyota is the defending winner at Fuji, having taken both FIA WEC rounds held thus far. The driver lineups were identical in both 2012 and 2013. It leaves Kazuki Nakajima as the 17th Japanese driver to record at least two overall endurance victories at Fuji. In addition to (current Dome boss) Hiroshi Fushida with four, ahead of him is Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Fumiyasu Sato with three each. Meanwhile, Nicolas Lapierre and Alexander Wurz have joined an elite group of four other European drivers who have won the race twice each; Geoff Lees, Stefan Bellof, John Watson, and Jan Lammers.

Three European drivers racing at Fuji have been Super GT series champions and they all race for Audi Sport! Loïc Duval (2010), Benoit Tréluyer (2008), and Andre Lotterer (2006).

Fuji – Theatre of Speed
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The original configuration of the circuit was six kilometers in length and featured an extremely long straight which ended with a blind crest followed by a steep dip into a banked bowl. In 1974 Fuji was completely reconfigured and the banked section was eliminated, bringing the circuit length down to a just less than 4.5 kilometers. A series of chicanes were installed for the 1986 season and some other modifications took place before it was completely redesigned into its modern 4.563 kilometer length in 2005. It has retained one feature throughout—one of the longest front straights to be found in motorsport.

Track facts – Fuji Speedway

Location: Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka Prefecture
Time: GMY +9hours
Length: 4.563 km (2.835 mi)
Turns: 16
Outright Lap Record: 1m18.426s by Felipe Mass, F1 GP in 2008
Fastest FIA WEC lap (qualifying): 1m27.499s by Kazuki Nakajima, 2012
Fastest FIA WEC lap (race): 1m28.088s by Kazuki Nakajima, 2012
Stat Attack!

The inaugural 1000 Kilometers was held in 1967.
The 2014 event will mark the 41st running of a major endurance race at Fuji.
Fuji has one of the longest main straights in racing. 1.5kms!
2012 Race stats (note that the 2013 edition was held under safety car and half points awarded due to adverse weather conditions)

Margin of victory: 11.223s
On the winner's lap: 3 cars
Leaders: 3 (Wurz/ Lapierre/ Nakajima-181 laps, Lotterer/ Tréluyer/ Fässler-45 laps, Kristensen/ McNish-7 laps)
Race distance covered: 5721 laps (90.9%), 26105 km
Total distance covered: 9154 laps, 41770 kms

Rob

2nd October 2014, 21:17

POINTS MAKE PRIZES: LMP1 AND LMP2 TITLE STANDINGS AFTER FOUR ROUNDS.

With 104 points to play for in the remaining four FIA World Endurance Championship events, most of the points tables are wide open as the protagonists enter the crunch phase of four races in the next seven weeks.

In the World Endurance Drivers’ Championship table it is Anthony Davidson/Nicolas Lapierre and Sebastien Buemi who lead the way, but now, after the Circuit of the Americas race, with a much reduced points margin of just 11pts. Le Mans and COTA winners - Loïc Duval (2010), Benoit Tréluyer (2008), and André Lotterer are themselves 13 points ahead of stable mates Tom Kristensen and Lucas Di Grassi.

Alexander Wurz and Stephane Sarrazin are on 43pts and in a collective sixth position. Kazuki Nakajima cannot win the title this season after missing the last round at COTA. However, the #7 Toyota TS 040 Hybrid crew are sure to have a huge say in where the title rests in 2014. Should their own title charge not be enough, then taking points off the Audi Sport Team Joest entries will be high on the agenda.

In the World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship, Audi lead Toyota by 18pts (157pts to 139pts) in what looks like being an intensely close battle for supremacy. Porsche sit third on 82pts having scored points all the races so far in their debut season with the 919 Hybrid’s.

The LMP1 Private Teams Driver’s and Teams titles are already settled with the #12 Rebellion Racing trio of Matthias Beche/Nick Heidfeld and Nicolas Prost having scored a clean sweep of maximum points in all the races so far. With a 107pt advantage they and the Rebellion team have an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.

In LMP2 Sergey Zlobin’s consistency of one win (Le Mans), one 2nd place (COTA), one 3rd (Silverstone) and a 4th place (Spa) ensure he heads the table on 95pts. After the SMP Racing team moved their drivers around for Le Mans, with Mika Salo being drafted in alongside Zlobin, it means that the Russian heads the G-Drive squad of Julien Canal, Olivier Pla and Roman Rusinov by a healthy 27pts. G-Drive has bolstered its points tally with four consecutive pole positions this season.

Very much still eyeing a title push are COTA winners Richard Bradley and Matt Howson. The British pair is 32pts off Zlobin but have serious momentum heading to Fuji and Shanghai, both of which are circuits very familiar to KCMG and their drivers.

33pts cover the top three in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams. The #27 SMP Racing entry leads with 95pts from G-Drive on 68pts. KCMG are just six points behind the French team on 62pts with the Hong Kong entered team targeting a double title charge.

One thing is for sure. The mathematicians are likely to be working right up to the final laps at Interlagos on the final day of November!

Rob

3rd October 2014, 21:33

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2014 TUDOR UNITED SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
PETIT LE MANS, ROAD ATLANTA, GEORGIA (GTLM 11TH ROUND)

Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia no. 62: Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Pierre Kaffer (GER) Olivier Beretta (MCO)

PRACTICE NOTES FROM THE PADDOCK
Braselton, GA, October 3, 2014.
Practice patter…

The three practice sessions completed yesterday, including night practice, have been a great indication of just how close the GTLM competition is going to be in tomorrow’s Petit Le Mans, the final round of the 2014 TUDOR United Sportscar Championship.

At the checkered flag for the second, one-hour session, there was just 0.431 seconds separating all 11 cars in the class, and just 0.07 seconds between the top six. Risi Competizione’s No.62 Ferrari 458 Italia has consistently been in the mix, despite the drivers not having a chance to really set any competitive times.

Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer, the Houston-based, privately-owned team’s regular pairing have been joined this weekend by a four-time Petit Le Mans winner and 2013 Risi driver, Olivier Beretta, and the three have been working through a program of set up changes to find the best balance and performance for the Ferrari.

Giancarlo Fisichella (winner in GT in 2011): “It’s good to be back here because I like the circuit and the race itself. We are going in the right direction with the car balance – even in the night session it was good. We’ve had a few changes and there’s still some work to do but it’s not too bad. It’s going to be tough and very close for sure.”

Pierre Kaffer (GT winner in 2009 with Risi Competizione and 2011): “I feel very confident for the race. It was unfortunate that in the night practice, as we had put on a set of soft tires which should have given us a better lap time, we had a puncture. The medium tires we put on afterwards were old and so had less grip which was a shame but I’m happy with the lap times. I really like the car and the track and I think we did a good job together today. Now we have to decide in which direction we want to go to progress more.”

Olivier Beretta, GTS or GT1 winner in 1999, 2004/5/8: “The GTLM car is very different to the GT3 car I’ve been driving since Le Mans. The chassis and aero package is a little different and we have ABS too in that car – it’s still a Ferrari but difficult to compare them.

“After 5 laps here I was on the pace so I’m happy about that; I really like this Petit Le Mans race and Rick and the mechanics did a perfect job today with the preparation. It looks like the weather tomorrow will be a little colder than the last few days so that will be different for everybody but we’ve had good reliability and I’m confident about the race pace. We’re all working in the same direction on set up and want the same from the car so I think it looks good.”

Rainy day = Prep Day…

With the rain falling heavily over the Road Atlanta track this morning, Risi Competizione has elected not to participate in the fourth and final practice session. Instead, the team has begun its race preparation on the No.62 Ferrari. The decision not to run – likely to be echoed by many in the pit lane – is one of common sense as the forecast for tomorrow’s ten hour race is for dry weather. Everyone waits to see what the conditions will be like for this afternoon’s scheduled qualifying – the GTLM class is due to take to the track at 4:40pm. If the track is deemed to be too wet for safety, the grid will be set using current championship points positions. Risi is fourth in the GTLM points.

The next round of the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship will be the 10-hour Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta on Saturday, 4th October. The final race of the 2014 season will begin at 11:15 ET.

Rob

3rd October 2014, 21:34

DELTAWING LOOKS TO FINISH SEASON ON HIGH NOTE
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The inaugural season of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship has been one of growth for both IMSA and its competitors, perhaps highlighted best by the saga of the DeltaWing DWC13.

The DeltaWing was initially developed by Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) to be the possible future chassis of the IndyCar Series. The car was based off of a simple, yet radical formula: a significant reduction in horsepower and aero drag with a drastic increase in efficiency to create an alternative yet competitive racecar.

Eventually the DeltaWing transitioned from concept to reality as it began to enter events in sports car endurance racing with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The car pleased those who drove it, surprised competitors and sparked conversation everywhere it went.

The DeltaWing DWC13 is the current iteration of the experimental platform, and has shown continual growth throughout the TUDOR Championship season at the hands of drivers such as Andy Meyrick and Katherine Legge, as well as Gabby Chaves, who describes the characteristics of the car as a unique mix of both GT and open-wheeled setups.

“You have a little bit of aero and tunnels working for you,” Chaves said. “You have that streamlined body shape that you get the feeling of in an open-wheel car. To me it almost feels more like an open-wheel car than a GT car. It’s nothing like I’ve driven before, it has its own unique characteristic in handling, but it can still whip up some good lap times.“

Recently, DeltaWing Racing brought on former CGR team manager Tim Keene, whose previous work was primarily with closed-wheel prototypes, and has taken on quite the challenge as team manager for the DeltaWing platform.

“It’s just a totally different concept, so there’s really no comparison from one to the other,” he said.

Keene has been at the forefront of the chassis’ development since joining the team, adding a limited amount of aero to make the car more stable and competitive on track, with plans to convert the current, rather unorthodox pull rod/push rod rear end into something more conventional along with changes to the gearbox early next year.

The team has logged two top-10 finishes (ninth, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca; sixth, Road America) after a 16th place finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.

The DeltaWing has shown speed during initial TUDOR Championship practice sessions for the Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda at Road America, whose quickest laps were barely half a second off the pace at the hands of Meyrick, Legge and Chaves.

“All the drivers are really comfortable with the track, and we’ve spent a lot of time here,” said Keene. “I think we’re going to be more in the hunt than we’ve ever been before.”
- See more at: http://www.imsa.com/articles/deltawing-looks-finish-season-high-note#sthash.qj5TX2nq.dpuf

Rob

3rd October 2014, 21:36

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FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
6 Hours of Fuji – 10-12th October
OAK Racing Press Release – 10.03.2014 - Preview

A Morgan LM P2 in OAK Racing colours back in the FIA WEC!
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OAK Racing has entered a Morgan LM P2 powered by a Judd engine and shod with Dunlop tyres for the Fuji 6 Hours, the fifth round of the 2014 FIA WEC. It will have the number 35 and will be driven by Keiko Ihara, Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman. The Onroak Automotive chassis, which is continuing its brilliant career in the different endurance series in Europe, Asia and the United States, is back on the LM P2 grid in the world championship.

Last month in the second round of the Asian Le Mans Series OAK Racing Team Total and Keiko Ihara with David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung drove a Morgan-Judd LM P2 to victory on the Fuji circuit. After several outings together in 2013 the Le Mans-based team and the Japanese driver decided to join forces again this year in selected events. After the first victory in Asia they will meet up again for the Fuji 6 Hours and the Bahrain 6 Hours. Ihara is determined to shine at Fuji, her national circuit, and to finish on the podium in front of her home crowd.

OAK Racing has called in Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman, who have already raced successfully together in the United States, to share the car with her. The pairing has scored two pole positions and two second places at Watkins Glen with a Morgan-Nissan LM P2 and just recently in Austin with a Ligier JS P2-Honda.

On 4th October Brundle and Yacaman will tackle the 10-hour Petit Le Mans, the final round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, in the Ligier JS P2-Honda after which they will fly to Japan to drive the Morgan-Judd LM P2. The talented Brit is familiar with the Fuji circuit and the FIA WEC as he drove for OAK Racing throughout 2013 finishing second in the championship. Gustavo Yacaman, the revelation of the American season with the Sarthe team, will be having his first outing in the FIA WEC. The Colombian will have no problems adapting to this new environment very quickly.

With OAK Racing’s entry for the next three events, the Morgan LM P2 is back in the FIA WEC field after G-Drive Racing, faithful to Onroak Automotive, replaced its Morgan with the Ligier JS P2, the new closed sports prototype built by the Sarthe constructor. The open version in the hands of the strongly-fancied trio, Ihara-Brundle-Yacaman, will have every chance of shining on the Fuji circuit and repeating the success it enjoyed in the past.

Keiko Ihara: "I'm very happy to race the 6 Hours of Fuji in my home country again with my very strong team mates Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman. A month ago I won the 3 Hours of Fuji, second round of the Asian Le Mans Series with OAK Racing Team Total. So I'd like to aim for the topmost step of the podium again in this race. And I’m really looking forward to seeing Japanese motorsport fans."

Alex Brundle: “I am looking forward to returning to Fuji with great anticipation. After spending most of the year competing Stateside I am thrilled to rejoin the FIA WEC at this fantastic venue. The Morgan-Judd LM P2 package has proved strong in ELMS and Asian LMS, and although coming into any series mid-season is tough we will do our absolute best to ensure a good result.”

Gustavo Yacaman: “I am very excited about racing at Fuji. I want to thank Phillipe Dumas and Jacques Nicolet for the opportunity to compete in my first-ever FIA WEC event. I really look forward to have a problem free race, and with a little bit of luck, we can have Keiko on the podium at her home event. This is the goal. It will be nice to re-unite with my old Girlfriend the Morgan LM P2 chassis. I am extremely impressed with the performance of the new Ligier JS P2, but it is always a special feeling when your you are in a car with an open cockpit feeling 300kph winds on your helmet.”

Jacques Nicolet, President of Onroak Automotive: “The entry of a Morgan LM P2 by OAK Racing in the next three rounds of the FIA WEC helps us to beef up the presence of Onroak Automotive in the world championship alongside our new Ligier JS P2 in the G-Drive Racing colours. It’s an ideal showcase to demonstrate the potential and the speed of our two LM P2 sports prototypes in a field where the competition is very tough and the overall level very high.”

Rob

3rd October 2014, 21:39

BMW EXPECTED TO RETURN TO TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP WITH BMW Z4 GTE.
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Following its established tradition, BMW will officially announce its 2015 plans at its Sports Trophy Dinner in Munich, Germany on Dec. 6.

Short of an official announcement, though, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is expected to play a major role in the manufacturer’s plans, with the BMW Z4 expected to return to GT Le Mans (GTLM) class competition.

“The TUDOR Championship is a great platform to showcase our cars,” said Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director. “IMSA is a very good platform. We’re enjoying that relationship, knowing that this is the first year with the unified series. We knew it would be a handful to get all of them properly balanced, we respect that.

“I think we’ve seen at most of the races this year fan numbers that have exceeded those in the past. I think that shows that the platform is really great, and competition here is really great with tight fields, and the TV package is absolutely moving in the right direction. From BMW’s side, we’re happy to be here, and we just have to work together to have everything continuing to move forward for the future.”

Marquardt added that the next two years are especially important to BMW, which will celebrate the 40th anniversary of BMW North America in 2015, and the 40th year of BMW competition in the U.S.

“Only two weeks after BMW North America was founded, we competed in the (IMSA GT) Championship at Sebring, and we won the race,” Marquardt said. “BMW also competed at Daytona earlier that year (Peter Gregg won overall in a Brumos BMW), but BMW North America was not set up yet. So Sebring and BMW share a common history there. Then, 2016 will be the 100th anniversary of BMW as an overall brand, and it’s important for us to have a competitive package in this really important market. It’s a number one priority for us to work on having a successful and competitive package in these two crucial years.”

Bobby Rahal’s BMW Team RLL fielded two cars in GTLM this season, which are ranked fifth and sixth in the team standings entering Saturday’s season-ending Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta. The team has yet to win this season, with Bill Auberlen and Andy Priaulx scoring two seconds and three podiums in the No. 55, and Dirk Mueller and John Edwards also taking two seconds and two podiums in the No. 56.

“Obviously, being competitive on the race track is the key for us. In marketing, everything is fine, but at the end of the day, you need to have a competitive package. That’s what we need to work on. If you’re winning races or not, the basis has to be as level as possible, so anyone has a chance to succeed. But currently, we feel that is not the case for our package, and that’s what we need to work on.”

“We initially had some success early in the season, but that was really more down to smart strategy moves and smart race craft by our drivers. We knew that the Z4 would be struggling on some of the tracks – especially like Daytona – but over the course of the year, we felt that our packages were not moving as far ahead as some of the other packages.”

On the customer side, Turner Motorsport and driver Dane Cameron hold the team and driver lead entering the finale in GT Daytona (GTD), while BMW trails Porsche by one point in the manufacturer’s championship in that class. BMWs also have been competitive in both classes of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.

“We’ve had a pretty strong season in both GS and ST (of the Continental Tire Challenge), and Turner Motorsport has done a great job in the GTD class and are still challenging for the championship,” Marquardt said. “Clearly, we are open to discus with any interested customer in that respect.

- See more at: http://www.imsa.com/articles/bmw-expected-return-tudor-championship-bmw-z4-gte#sthash.3U9FIYRz.dpuf

Rob

3rd October 2014, 21:43

POINTS MAKE PRIZES: RACE TO THE LMGTE TITLES AT HALF WAY STAGE

PointsPoints make prizes – LMGTE PRO and LMGTE AM standings review

If the title battles in LMP1 are perfectly poised then the battle in the GT classes are just as competitive.
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The World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers points table sees Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander lead by 25pts. The Italian/Finnish alliance has had a stellar season in 2014 with two victories (Spa and Le Mans), a third place (COTA) and a 4th position (Silverstone). Added to this tally is a clean sweep of the ‘pole points’ as they have locked out the top position in class at each round.

A lone second in the points standings is Frederic Makowiecki on 81pts. The French ace is 18pts ahead of Marco Holzer who is on 63pts. Fellow Porsche racers – Richard Leitz and Patrick Pilet follow on 61 and 55pts respectively.

After their Circuit of the Americas success, Darren Turner and Stefan Mucke will be aiming to make a late charge for glory. The Aston Martin Racing duo took a fine win in Texas to score maximum points and is now aiming for more wins to put themselves within striking distance of the top positions.

The World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers is incredibly close with Ferrari just leading Porsche by a scant four points. With Aston Martin third on 120pts it is a genuine three-way fight for this prestigious title.

In the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE PRO Teams, #51 AF Corse enjoy a 19pts advantage over the #92 Porsche Team Manthey entry. With the #97 Aston Martin team just five points behind the Germans there is all to play for in this title scrap.

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Aston Martin Racing rule the roost in both the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE AM drivers and teams points tables.

David Heinemeier-Hansson and Kristian Poulsen continued their excellent season at Circuit of the Americas with another runners-up position, to add to the one they achieved at Spa. Those points, in addition to their two maximum hauls at Silverstone and Le Mans ensure they enjoy a well-earned 33pts advantage.

That advantage is over their team mates in the #98 Aston Martin Racing entry – Christoffer Nygaard and Paul Dalla Lana. The victors in Texas have registered two additional podium results and have a two point advantage over the third place trio of #61 AF Corse’s Luis Perez-Companc, Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi.

Rob

4th October 2014, 03:54

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News Release October 3, 2014
Tudor United SportsCar Championship, Round 11 of 11, Braselton, Georgia

Porsche 911 RSR Wins Petit Le Mans Pole Position at Road Atlanta

Braselton, Georgia. Nick Tandy drove the No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR to the team’s second GT Le Mans (GTLM) class pole position of 2014 at the 17th Annual Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda. The native of Great Britain led a contingent of three Porsche 911 RSRs entered for the season finale of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The No. 17 Team Falken Tire customer entry was third quickest in today’s 15-minute qualifying session at Road Atlanta followed by the No. 912 Porsche North America factory entry in fifth-place. The session set the grid for Saturday’s 10-hour endurance classic, which, in turn, will crown the inaugural champion of the series. Porsche is currently tied for the GTLM Manufacturer Championship.

Porsche 911 RSR
The 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta facility has long been a strong stage for the rear-engine sports car. The 911 RSR, the latest and most sophisticated version of the iconic racecar continued the tradition of performance today. All three of the Porsche 911 RSR entered qualified in the top-five including the pole-position winning effort by Nick Tandy in the No. 911 Porsche North America “works” entry. The Brits time of one-minute, 18.350 seconds was two-tenths of second quicker than the Ferrari of Risi Competizione. Tandy will pair with Patrick Pilet (France) and German Jörg Bergmeister in the ten-hour endurance race tomorrow. The green flag will start the clock ticking at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).

With two wins to-date, at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Porsche is currently tied in the lead for the GTLM Manufacturer Championship. The German marque shares the top spot with Dodge/SRT. Each has 308 points with 35 markers available in tomorrow’s race.

Local driver Bryan Sellers drove the only customer-owned Porsche 911 RSR racing in North America to third-place in the GTLM starting field. The Braselton, Georgia-resident was 0.357 seconds behind Tandy’s hot lap. Sellers is joined by Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Marco Holzer (Germany) in the defending GTLM, then known as GT class, winning entry of the 2013 Petit Le Mans.

Narrowly trailing the No. 17 was the second factory program car, the No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR of Michael Christensen (Denmark). Christensen, who will co-drive with Playa del Rey, California’s Patrick Long and New Zealand’s Earl Bamber. Bamber, the 2013 Porsche International Cup Scholarship winner, is making his GTLM class debut in tomorrow’s race.

Porsche 911 GT America
In the GT Daytona class, Porsche 911 GT America teams put their racecars in the second and third positions on the grid for tomorrow’s event. Jan Heylen (Tampa, Florida) qualified the No. 58 Snow Racing Porsche 911 GT America second and Kevin Estre turned the third fastest lap in the No. 73 Park Place Porsche 911 GT America.

In the battle for the class driver’s championship, Leh Keen (Atlanta) and Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Illinois) in the No. 22 Alex Job Racing Porsche are four points behind the leading BMW drivers, while Porsche leads BMW in the manufacturers race by a single point.

Owen Hayes, Director of Operations, Porsche Motorsport North America: “All kudos to the team, I am really proud of what they achieved today. It shows all the hard work we have been doing. I am delighted to have this really good start to the Atlanta race weekend. Now we are going to keep our heads down and look towards the bigger picture of winning the race tomorrow.”

Nick Tandy, No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “I was able to really push hard and pull out a time I wasn’t expecting. The car was fantastic for the two laps we aimed for. It is a great start to a weekend that means so much to me personally and to Porsche as a team and manufacturer.”

Michael Christensen, No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR: “The track was a bit green after the rain. The car was loose compared to the other sessions but it was still quite all right. I had to adapt a little to the conditions but we have good confidence in the car. We will not do much to the car for the race as it has been working well in each condition. We’ve had a good amount of practice and knowing what to expect a little bit from last year helps me to approach this as just a normal race.”

Jan Heylen, No. 58 Snow Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “We have had a fast car all week, and could have had the pole position but for a few minor problems. The car was a little loose as we misjudged the condition of the track and one of the Audis spun in front of me as I was on my fast lap. I lost a few tenths as a result. But we will be good for the race, and will contend for the win.”

Mario Farnbacher, No. 23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “I think the track was totally different compared to last night and yesterday, and that takes the balance out of the car. I expected a little better qualifying time, but sixth place is not a bad place to start. We have 10 hours to go tomorrow and lot can happen. I like our progress this week and I am looking forward to a good race tomorrow.”

Leh Keen, No. 22 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America: “We got a lot of rain today, so much so that we didn’t go out for practice this morning. In qualifying, the track changed and we made some changes to the car, so we may have to go back to what we had on Thursday. In relation to the cars that we are battling in the championship we are not too bad. We will get it right for the race tomorrow.”

All ten-hours of the 17th Annual Petit Le Mans can be seen on live streaming at IMSA.com at 11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. ET. Live television coverage is available on FOX Sports 2 beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT. FOX will broadcast a two-hour highlight show on Sunday, October 5. Check local listings for times.

Live timing and scoring can be found at www.IMSA.com, as can in-car camera footage of the No. 911 and live radio coverage. Additional live radio coverage can be found on the MRN family of stations and satellite radio.

GT Le Mans Qualifying Results
1. No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR, Nick Tandy (GB), 1:18.350
2. No. 62 Ferrari 458 Italia, Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy). 1:18.687
3. No. 17 Porsche 911 RSR, Bryan Sellers (USA), 1:18.707
4. No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R, Jonathan Bomarito (USA) 1:18.804
5. No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR, Michael Christensen (Denmark), 1:18.848
6. No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C7-R, Antonio Garcia (Spain), 1:18.979

GT Daytona Qualifying Results
1. No. 007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage, James Davison (Australia), 1:22.254
2. No. 58 Porsche 911 GT America, Jan Heylen (USA), 1:22.395
3. No. 73 Porsche 911 GT America, Kevin Estre (France), 1:22.471
4. No. 33 Dodge Viper SRT, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Monaco), 1:22.579
5. No. 94 BMW Z4, Dane Cameron (USA), 1:22.682
6. No. 23 Porsche 911 GT America, Mario Farnbacher (Germany), 1:22.776
7. No. 27 Porsche 911 GT America, Andrew Davis (USA), 1:23.121
8. No. 22 Porsche 911 GT America , Leh Keen (USA), 1:23.237
9. No. 44 Porsche 911 GT America, Andy Lally (USA), 1:23.251
11. No. 81 Porsche 911 GT America, Damien Faulkner (Ireland), 1:23.409
17. No. 19 Porsche 911 GT America, Daniel Lloyd (USA), 1:25.135

###

Nova

4th October 2014, 15:04

Thats the smallest number of 458's Ive seen in any GT race this year!!

Nova

4th October 2014, 15:39

I cant find this on any TV channel in US..Anyone have a clue if they r showing this?
Bumsville...

What a DRAG!!! Big race in the US, n not one stinken channel is showing it.
BUT, they have 2 golf channels...Where in the heck do I live?

Rob

4th October 2014, 17:17

Rob

6th October 2014, 21:59

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NICOLAS LAPIERRE TO MISS TOYOTA RACING HOMECOMING
Monday 6 October 2014

TOYOTA Racing will be without driver Nicolas Lapierre for the next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Six Hours of Fuji.

Due to personal reasons, a mutual decision has been reached for him to take a break from participating in the #8 TS040 HYBRID he shares with Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “Nicolas is taking a break due to his personal circumstances and the team will support him during this period. This was a decision we have taken together. Our driver line-up is close to completion for 2015 and beyond, and Nicolas remains a long-term member of our team.”

Nicolas will not be replaced in the #8, leaving Anthony and Sébastien to defend their lead in the drivers’ World Championship, which stands at 11 points after four of eight races in 2014.

In the #7 TS040 HYBRID, Kazuki Nakajima returns to his regular spot after missing the last race in Austin due to his Japanese racing programme. That reunites him with fellow two-time Fuji winner Alex Wurz, alongside Stéphane Sarrazin.

The first four races of the season saw the 1,000PS, four-wheel-drive TS040 HYBRID take two victories and start from pole position three times, whilst showing the performance to win at each event.

Going into the Fuji race, TOYOTA Racing is second in the Manufacturers’ World Championship, just 18 points behind Audi.

The team has won both its WEC races at Fuji, although last year’s victory came in monsoon conditions which saw the race red flagged after only a handful of laps behind the safety car.

Fuji is very much the home event for TOYOTA Racing, not just as its only race in Japan but also due to its location just 20km away from the Higashifuji Technical Centre where the TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing is developed.

A return to the top step of the podium is the target, especially after frustration in Austin last time out saw victory slip away for the #8 in chaotic scenes during a heavy rain shower. The #8 went on to finish third with the #7 sixth.

Action begins on Friday with two 90-minute practice sessions (11.00 & 15.30) while Saturday sees final practice (09.30-10.30) followed by qualifying (13.55-14.20). The six-hour race starts on Sunday at 11am local time.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “It is always a pleasure to race in front of our home supporters at Fuji. This year we head to Japan not only determined to keep up our winning record there, but also to deliver a fantastic show for the fans. The rain last year was such a disappointment because it denied everyone what would have been an exciting battle, but the fans showed real spirit despite everything. This year I hope the weather is kinder and we can give them something to cheer about. We are absolutely motivated to respond after our Austin disappointment and Fuji is the perfect place to do that.”

Alex Wurz (TS040 HYBRID #7): “Fuji is our home race so it’s very exciting and we like the track. We have our special secret weapon in Fuji; Kazuki Nakajima! The track should suit our car a lot with the four-wheel-drive hybrid system and advanced aerodynamics. I love Japan and the Japanese culture so I’m really looking forward to this trip. But the focus is 100% on racing and we know we have to push very hard to improve on the result we achieved in Austin. We are determined to do that.”

Stéphane Sarrazin (TS040 HYBRID #7): “Fuji is an amazing place and I enjoy it a lot. I like the atmosphere there and as a TOYOTA driver we feel huge support. When we see how many fans come to the track, and how passionate they are about endurance racing, it is really special. I like the track as well. Obviously it is one of the classic endurance tracks so there is a lot of history there and it is also quite a varied track; it is a mix of different types of corner. Our car was really fast last year so we hope it will be again.”

Kazuki Nakajima (TS040 HYBRID #7): “It’s great to be back in the TS040 HYBRID again after missing the Austin race. Even though I wasn’t with the team, I shared their frustration at what happened and I think we are all determined to make up for it in Japan. I know the Fuji track really well from my Super GT and Super Formula races and it’s one of my favourites. I’ve already won there this year in Super Formula, and of course in WEC the last two years, so I want to experience that winning feeling again this weekend. We have the car to do it.”

Anthony Davidson (TS040 HYBRID #8): “I always love going to Japan. I enjoy the country, the culture and of course, the people. I’m really looking forward to Fuji, especially as we are going there with a very competitive car. We had difficult weather last year and I felt so sorry for the fans, they are so enthusiastic and you really feel their support. They deserve to have a proper race this year. We should have won the race in Austin, so the memory of that disappointment will motivate us in Fuji where we want to win again on TOYOTA’s home turf.”

Sébastien Buemi (TS040 HYBRID #8): “I am really happy to come back to Fuji for our home race. We go to Japan leading the drivers’ World Championship which is a special thing; I don’t know if that has happened before for TOYOTA. Fuji is a fantastic circuit but more than that the atmosphere is simply great. I just hope the weather will be better than last year and we will have a proper race. We have a strong car and a strong team so we will be able to fight for the win, I am sure. After the disappointment in Austin, it’s important we get a top result.”

TOYOTA Racing at Fuji Speedway:
2012 #7: Qual. 1st; Race 1st.
2013 #7: Qual. 3rd; Race 1st. #8: Qual. 2nd; Race 27th.

About TOYOTA Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship:
TOYOTA first competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 1983, marking the start of a long period of participation in endurance racing. TOYOTA cars have raced in 16 Le Mans 24 Hours races, achieving a best result of second place on four occasions (1992, 1994, 1999 & 2013). TOYOTA entered the revived WEC in 2012, as TOYOTA Racing, with its first hybrid LMP1 car, the TS030 HYBRID, succeeded in 2014 by the TS040 HYBRID. They were designed and built by TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG), where the race team is based. TMG is the former home of TOYOTA's World Rally and Formula 1 works teams, and was responsible for design and operation of TOYOTA's TS020 Le Mans car in 1998-99. TMG now combines motorsport participation with work as a high-performance engineering services provider to third party companies, as well as the TOYOTA family.
www.toyotahybridracing.com / www.toyota-motorsport.com www.facebook.com/toyotamotorsport / @Toyota_Hybrid

Rob

6th October 2014, 22:01

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Onroak Automotive Press Release – 10.06.2014

FIA World Endurance Championship
Round 5/8 - 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan – 10-12th October - Preview
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Victory: the no. 1 aim for G-Drive Racing and its Ligier JS P2

After four rounds G-Drive Racing is currently lying second in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LM P2 Teams. The Russian outfit is more determined than ever to win the Fuji 6 Hours and the next three races. While circumstances prevented G-Drive Racing from winning in Austin last month, Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal demonstrated the potential of their new car, the no. 26 Ligier JS P2-Nissan-Dunlop.

After two wins on the bounce at Silverstone and Spa G-Drive Racing lost the leadership in the overall general classification in LM P2 to SMP Racing, which scored a large haul of points at Le Mans and Austin. However, the gap is only 27 points at the halfway stage of the season and the LM P2 title is still G-Drive Racing’s priority. With 25 points going to the winner and 1 on offer for pole things can change very quickly.
Since the America round last month the fourth of the eight in the world championship G-Drive Racing has run a new sport prototype. The team has remained faithful to Onroak Automotive and replaced the Morgan LM P2 with the brand-new Ligier JS P2, which made a strong impact setting pole and the fastest lap in the race in LM P2.

Since then Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal have all said that they have found their marks in the new car. The Japanese round on the fabulous Fuji circuit may be the theatre of another victory for G-Drive Racing and the first by the Ligier JS P2.

G-Drive Racing is determined to win at Fuji and also to score the maximum number of victories between now and the end of the season to clinch the FIA Endurance Trophy for LM P2 Teams con brio.

Roman Rusinov : "I'm looking forward to driving the Ligier JS P2 again. We've a great car with a lot of potential and this weekend we want to win. We'll do our utmost to clinch victory in the Fuji 6 Hours and get back in the lead in the overall classification. Our priority aim is the LM P2 title for G-Drive Racing. »

Olivier Pla: “After the race in Austin in which we showed the speed of the Ligier JS P2 although the final result was very disappointing, we’re arriving in Fuji with a single aim – victory! We have to clinch this win and take as many points as possible off our rivals in the title chase. We’ve got four races left so everything is still up for grabs. The Fuji layout has a sector with quick corners, another with slow ones and a very long straight. We have to find the right setup with a compromise between top speed and enough downforce in the corners.”

Julien Canal: “We’ve still got four races left; it’s the halfway mark of the season. We’re a few points behind in the championship, but we can still score good results and win the coming events. The team’s solid and motivated and the Ligier JS P2 is competitive. It’s up to us to do a good job and retake the lead in the championship. I raced on this circuit in GT the last two years; it’s quite technical so it’s up to me to adapt quickly.”

Philippe Dumas, Team Principal: “We’re tackling the fifth round with the same determination. Only if we score a string of victories can we win the title and it’s a position I like to be in. The Ligier JS P2-Nissan-Dunlop package proved to be a formidable one at Le Mans and Austin in terms of sheer performance. It’s up to us to do everything in our power to transform this into concrete results and score a victory with G-Drive Racing.”

Timetable – 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan:
Qualifying / LM P1 & LM P2 : Saturday 11th October, 13h55-14h20 (local time -7h in France)
Race : Sunday 12th October, 11h00-17h00 (local time)

FIA Endurance Trophy Teams LM P2 Provisionnal classification after round 4:
1- #27 – SMP Racing 95 pts
2- #26 – G-Drive Racing 68 pts
3- #47 – KCMG 62 pts
4- #37 – SMP Racing 15 pts

2014 FIA WEC Calendar – 4 remaining events:
11-12 October - Fuji 6 Hours
1-2 November - Shanghai 6 Hours
14-15 November - Bahrain 6 Hours
29-30 November - Sao Paulo 6 Hours

Rob

7th October 2014, 17:51

Chrysler axes Dodge Viper United SportsCar programme despite title.

By Gary Watkins Tuesday, October 7th 2014, 07:07 GMT
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SRT Dodge Viper, Petit Le Mans 2014

Chrysler has axed its Dodge Viper United SportsCar Championship campaign less than 48 hours after winning the GT Le Mans drivers' title.

The US car giant announced on Monday that it would discontinue its programme with the Riley Technologies-run SRT Motorsports squad in what was described as a "business decision" that would lead to a redirection of the Dodge's "focus and efforts on the brand's product line-up".

The announcement followed Canadian Kuno Wittmer sealing the USC GTLM drivers' title at Road Atlanta on Saturday with third place in class aboard the Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R he shared with Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

SRT also claimed the teams' title at the Petit Le Mans 10-hour race and finished second to Porsche in the GTLM manufacturers' standings.

Ralph Gilles, senior vice-president of product design at Chrysler, said that the marque was "very proud of the amazing achievements of our fantastic teams, drivers and partners".

The decision follows Chrysler's withdrawal from this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, which was understood to have been based entirely on financial considerations, and comes against a backdrop of pauses in production of the Viper to clear backlogs of unsold cars.

Chrysler returned to racing with the current-generation Viper under the SRT brand with a car developed to the GTE rules by Riley for a short campaign in the 2012 American Le Mans Series.

This was followed by a full programme in 2013 and a return to Le Mans, scene of trio of class victories for the first-generation Viper in 1998-2000.

The cars were rebranded as Dodges in the middle of this season's attack on the merged USC.

The Riley-run SRT team knew that its programme was not confirmed for next year, but was continuing to make preparations for the 2015 season through last weekend's USC finale.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116196

Rob

7th October 2014, 17:58

wow im really shocked at the news, to pull the plug right after winning the titles :-E

Rob

7th October 2014, 18:05

DEMPSEY RACING ROAD ATLANTA POST-RACE REPORT.

BRASELTON, Georgia (October 6, 2014) – Madison and Snow and Jan Heylen made their third visit to victory lane in the 2014 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Saturday at Petit Le Mans where the Dempsey Racing duo drove the No. 58 Porsche 911 GT America to a season-best second-place finish in the ultra-competitive GT-Daytona (GTD) class.

Snow and Heylen both led at various times in the 10-hour endurance race and crossed the finish line as the highest placing Porsche in the season-ending race.

“It was a good race,” Snow said. “Jan and I did it with just us two drivers. I did a single stint at the beginning, and then a double for the end before I handed it back over to Jan. We didn't quite have the pace at the end but we managed to get the car back on track and we ended up second, I’m happy with that.”

The No. 58 was also the top Porsche in qualifying after Heylen turned the second-fastest lap in Friday’s time trials. Snow was tabbed to start the race and stayed in the lead pack from the drop of the green flag, maintaining a solid pace tempered by patience that kept him clear of trouble throughout the race-opening run.

Heylen took over during a yellow around the race’s one-hour mark and the Belgian soon led for the first time as his opening series of stints pressed on. Despite a seemingly endless series of yellows, Heylen maintained his focus throughout the first half of the race, leading for a large portion, and handing the Porsche back to Snow past the halfway point.

Snow stepped up to lead the race and later joined Heylen and the team in dodging a wheel issue that could have ended any chance at victory with just over three hours to go. During a routine pit stop for fuel and tires, and the team encountered an issue with the right rear tire that needed a second stop to fix.

The team lost ground to the leaders for the first time in the race but, with Heylen back in the car for the race’s closing hours, all focus shifted to getting back to the front. Great pit-side strategy calls and stops and Heylen’s on-track pace combined to get the No. 58 back up to fourth with just minutes remaining in the race. A final yellow flag made for what amounted to a five-minute dash to the finish and Heylen made the most of it. He passed Andy Lally’s Porsche in traffic and then moved up to second when another Porsche crashed on the final race lap.

“I’m really happy for the team, this is definitely what we deserved, and some breaks finally went our way there at the end” Heylen said. “It’s nice to finish on the podium, especially for the last race of the year, it’s a great feeling and gives us a lot of momentum as we look to the future.”

The No. 58 team’s other podium finishes were thirds at Road America and the season-opening Rolex 24. The Daytona podium was earned with Wright Motorsports that later entered into a collaboration with Dempsey Racing that debuted at the Detroit Grand Prix in June.

That paired the No 58 up in a two-car team for the balance of the season with the No. 27 Porsche 911 GT America of team owner and driver Patrick Dempsey and his co-driver Andrew Davis. That duo came to Petit having earned a season-best third-place finish of their own two races prior at Virginia International Raceway.

With familiar team driver Joe Foster joining Dempsey and Davis at Petit – the same trio finished fourth together earlier this year in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen – prospects were high for a repeat podium for the No. 27 in the Road Atlanta finale. Davis qualified a solid seventh and ran in the lead pack throughout his race-opening stint before handing off to Foster. All was going to plan, and just as the race seemed to be settling down, Foster got caught up in a multi-car incident when a Prototype competitor took out another GTD car. Both spun and blocked the exit of Turn 1 just as Foster came on the scene. He made light contact with the Prototype but it was just enough to damage the No. 27’s radiator.

Foster made it back to the pits where the Dempsey Racing crew quickly changed the radiator. The third driver in the team’s rotation, Dempsey took the wheel but some apparent residual engine damage from the radiator being torn off proved too much for the Porsche. The No. 27 was retired and classified 18th in the final finishing order.

“Bitterly disappointed obviously,” Davis said. “The guys got us back out there quickly after the contact, but whatever happened out there caused the motor to expire on us. This is a crazy track and race so it doesn't surprise me. More and more cars have issues because the Prototypes take chances they shouldn't, which ruined our race and some others. I just hate this for Patrick - he never even had a chance to race - and Joe and myself and the crew guys. It’s just a really tough deal when it doesn't work out the way you want.”

Despite the disappointing and early end at Petit, Foster saw some positives in the 2014 season.

“Our season had moments of brilliance,” Foster said. “It was really great to see Patrick and Andrew on the podium at VIR. We really found our stride after Laguna, where we made some technical changes on the cars, and that showed at Watkins Glen too in the six-hour race where we contended for the win. We’ve had a very fast Porsche, we’ve been fast the last few races which is why I’m disappointed how the season ended, but that is just usual Prototype contact.”

Noteworthy

- The collaboration between Dempsey Racing and Wright Motorsports was one of the biggest success factors of the season. “The 58 had a good finish to the year and it was great to have those guys on the team with us,” Foster said. “Their first race was at Detroit and since then they’ve really helped us to grow. That was definitely one of the better parts of the season, getting Madison and Jan and Martin Snow as members of our team.”

- Despite the Petit disappointment, Davis is encouraged about the 2015 season. “We’ve made a tremendous amount of progress with the new GT America,” Davis said. “There’s rule changes on the horizon and I think next year the Porsches will be strong. More of the teams having been doing better which is the benefit of having Porsche as a partner with all of their expertise. These teams are all professional and we’ve brought our knowledge together to improve the new 911. It was really great to see the progress over the season.”

Dempsey Racing

Rob

7th October 2014, 18:06

JORDAN, RICKY TAYLOR BECOME FIRST AMERICANS TO WIN OVERALL IN 17TH PETIT LE MANS.

FITTIPALDI, BARBOSA TAKE TUDOR CHAMPIONSHIP, PATRÓN ENDURANCE CUP TITLES.

Sixteen years after winning the inaugural Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda, Wayne Taylor brought his boys and a long-time friend to victory lane in the 10-hour TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season finale at Road Atlanta.

Ricky and Jordan Taylor co-drove the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Konica Minolta Corvette DP with Max Angelelli to victory, holding off the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP by 11.062 seconds. They completed 400 laps – 1,016 miles – as the brothers became the first American-born drivers to win the event overall.

“It’s a great way to end the year,” Jordan Taylor said. “We’ve won the last race the last three seasons, and it’s a great trend we hope to continue. My dad won the first Petit Le Mans, so we’ve always heard about this race. He always talks highly about it, putting it up with Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, We’ve had the car to beat the last two races, so we’re definitely looking forward to next season.”

Action Express Racing finished second, with Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa joined by IndyCar star Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 5 Corvette DP.

While it was denied the race victory, Action Express piled up several accolades throughout the event. They clinched the TUDOR Championship team title with the waving of the green flag, and less than two hours later Fittipaldi and Barbosa drove the required distance to secure the drivers’ crown.

At the eight-hour mark, the team wrapped up the $100,000 Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup team championship by leading the second segment in the unique competition rewarding competitors in the four endurance races in the TUDOR Championship: the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida and Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

“This team was unbelievable since the end of last season,” Barbosa said. “We worked all winter for the big challenge of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. It was a big task for a small team, but we had a great year. We were the only team to compete every lap in all of the races. We had eight podiums in 11 races, three great victories, and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and Patrón Endurance Cup – what a great year for Action Express.”

Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Scott Dixon took third, one lap down in the No. 01 Telcel Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Ford EcoBoost/Riley, followed by the No. 0 DeltaWing DWC13 of Andy Meyrick, Katherine Legge and Gabby Chavez.

An accident involving Prototype Championship leader Sean Rayhall in the No. 25 8Star Motorsports ORECA FLM09 set up a seven-minute charge to the checkered flag. Jordan Taylor was up to the task, sprinting away from Barbosa to claim the team’s second victory of the season.

The No. 10 Corvette DP led nine times for 250 laps, with Action Express leading six times for 124 circuits. Ganassi Racing led three times for five laps and DeltaWing twice for 19 circuits. The event had 22 overall lead changes among seven cars.

FOX will present a two-hour network telecast on Sunday in conjunction with its NFL coverage. Check local listings for times.

- See more at: http://www.imsa.com/articles/jordan-ricky-taylor-become-first-americans-win-overall-17th-petit-le-mans#sthash.mvt5RZaj.dpuf

Rob

7th October 2014, 18:07

KROHN RACING ROAD ATLANTA POST-RACE REPORT.

(October 5, 2014) Braselton, Georgia...Krohn Racing returned to Road Atlanta this week hoping to repeat their 2011 class victory in the 17th Annual Petit Le Mans 10-hour IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship endurance race finale and instead finished ninth in the No. 57 Ferrari F458 in GTLM class.

Team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Andrea Bertolini started 10th in the highly competitive GTLM class on Saturday in a race that was burdened by 14 full course cautions. The Krohn team was fortunate to lead a smooth and uneventful race and did their part of staying out of trouble to bring the car home with no issues. Their only complaint was a persistent brake system issue they suffered since Thursday.

When the race went green at 11:13 a.m. EDT Krohn was the starting driver. He completed several stints throughout the day, clocking his career best lap time at the historic Road Atlanta track. The team rotated through two sets of driver stints for Jonsson and Bertolini. Krohn drove the final stint, his third, across the finish line to a spectacular fireworks show at 9:13 p.m. EDT.

Saturday's Petit Le Mans race concludes an eight-year run with the popular green-and-blue liveried Krohn Racing Ferraris (F458 and F430) as they move into a new Ligier LMP2 car for the 2015 season.

TRACY W. KROHN, Krohn Racing Team Owner/Driver, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTLM:
"It was actually a pretty good day for us. We had a few problems with the car but drove through them. It would have been better if we had a little more brake power, but we fought it. Really, the race was good for me. I believe I turned some pretty good lap times and had fun out there."

I don't think this is the last we'll see of the Ferrari. Maybe, but I rather doubt it. It's a really fun car to drive. I've enjoyed driving it, but now we're going to move on to the Ligier LMP2 for next year so we'll see what a step up in class brings us."

NIC JONSSON, Driver, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTLM:
"It's always fun to come to Road Atlanta and race at what was our home track for a very long time. Petit Le Mans is one of the biggest races of the year and to just to be able to compete here is an honor. This year we competed in the GTLM class as the only privateer and to finish in the top ten and have a clean run is good for the guys. They prepped a really good car for us even though we had a few minor issues during the race and battled a brake issue all day. Both Tracy and Andrea did a great job out there. It's been a good multi-year run with the Ferrari and we appreciate all their support. Now, for the next few years, we're going into LMP2 and really looking forward to it."

ANDREA BERTOLINI, Driver, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTLM:
"It was a shame regarding the brakes because, like I said before, the team did an amazing job. We had a really good car in terms of balance and the tires were really good, but it was like a nightmare out there on the braking. Everyone did an excellent job in trying to understand what we needed to do to fix the problem and the team did really great all weekend. It was truly a joy for me to be with Tracy, Nic and all the guys with Krohn Racing again."

HAYDEN BURVILL, Krohn Racing Engineer:
"Unfortunately we had a good set-up on the car, but had appalling brakes. So, it's hard to capitalize on a good car if it's not a complete car. We thought we cured the issue after practice and obviously had not. The drivers did good job of getting some decent lap times on a car with marginal brakes. Like I always say before these races, you have to stay out of trouble. While we were out of trouble we stayed in contention and within reach of the leaders, but as soon as we had troubles with the car we obviously put laps between us and the leaders."

GARY HOLLAND, Krohn Racing Team Manager:
"Ultimately, the finish is a little disappointing. We had a really good car through qualifying and the race and the strategy would have played out quite well had we not struggled with a brake problem that was difficult for the drivers to manage. Everyone did a very good job, despite the circumstances they were given. We're looking forward to a little break and getting a jump on the new season. We were hoping to compete better here at Petit Le Mans since it is such a prestigious event and it's one that the drivers really love. We absolutely thank Andrea Bertolini for his hard work and pace over the weekend and hope we work with him in the future."

Rob

7th October 2014, 21:34

AUDI GOES TO JAPAN WITH CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
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Audi looks at a good interim tally. In the FIA World Endurance Championship that has been held since 2012, the brand has now clinched 13 victories in 20 races. The most recent success at Austin (USA) marked the turnaround in the battle for the title and Audi, for the first time this season, took the lead in the manufacturers’ classification. The team is aiming to further extend this advantage in WEC round five at Fuji (Japan) on October 12.

The hunter has become the hunted. At the season’s midpoint, Audi turned the tables and now, after four of eight rounds, has an 18-point advantage over Toyota. And now the new leader of the standings is facing a major task at the beginning of the second half of the season, as WEC round five is a tough one. The circuit some 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo features combinations of highly opposite requirements for the aerodynamics of the race cars. Very slow sectors alternate with extremely fast ones on this circuit and the 1.4-kilometer section near the start and finish numbers among the longest straights in international motorsport. This is where engine power is the dominant factor.

Fuji remains an exceptional venue for Audi. Around the world, the brand with the four rings has been victorious at least once on eight of the nine tracks where WEC events have been held since 2012. The circuit near Mount Fuji has been the only blank spot on the WEC calendar to date. In the 2013 round in Japan, Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) were on the pole position. However, heavy rain, which is not uncommon in this mountain region, prevented a regular race. After 16 laps behind the safety car, the race director stopped the event and the entrants received only half the number of points. Disappointment was not only great among the teams and drivers but with the crowd as well. The Japanese fans are very fond of sports car racing, fill the grandstands at Fuji year after year, and impress the drivers with great expert knowledge, numerous self-made fan posters, and a big rush for autographs.

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This year now, Audi is set on complementing its success tally with a victory at Fuji. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer have most recently scored WEC wins twice in succession – in the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the turbulent round at Austin. Audi clinched the advantage in the manufacturers’ standings with clever tactical decisions and impeccable driving in Texas. At the same time, the brand’s best driver trio has narrowed the gap to the leading Toyota drivers to eleven points.

But the Lucas di Grassi/Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen (BR/F/DK) driver squad should not be underrated either. The number one Audi R18 e-tron quattro took second place three consecutive times in the past races. In the Far East, the trio is aiming to battle for the top spot just like their brand colleagues in car number two. Di Grassi and Kristensen are trailing their team-mates in the standings by only 13 points.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “An interesting constellation has emerged in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the season’s midpoint. Following a tactically clever race at Austin, we took the lead in the manufacturers’ classification and are now closer to our competitors in the drivers’ classification. At the most recent event in Texas, the fans again saw a very thrilling battle by the three brands Audi, Porsche and Toyota, like previously at Le Mans. We know how challenging the race will be at Fuji but are set on making up more ground in the World Championship. And we’d really love to finally win in Japan too.”

Chris Reinke (Head of LMP): “In Japan, we’ve still got something to make up for. Last year, there was a formal race result but factually no race because the drivers were only able to follow the safety car. This year, we’d like to experience a nice race without interruptions and are going to do everything within our means to repeat our performances at Le Mans and Austin in Japan. We’re hoping to be in contention for victory even though the track isn’t exactly ideal for our car.”

Ralf Jüttner (Team Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “We’re very much looking forward to Fuji. The Japanese fans have a tremendous capacity for enthusiasm and love endurance racing in the WEC. The track at Fuji is very special. A year ago, we were on pole there but the race literally became a washout. It’ll be exciting to compete against Toyota in their home race and to challenge them. We’re going to leave no stone unturned to win at Fuji for the first time.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Lucas di Grassi (30/BR), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Is experiencing his debut at Fuji this year
-Was the runner-up at Spa, Le Mans and Austin
“I’ll be driving at Fuji for the first time and am preparing for my debut in the simulator. I’m trying to build a wealth of experience this way without ever having been on this track before. That’s important because all of us can only do relatively few laps before the race, as there are three of us sharing a car in endurance racing. All of my team-mates have been there before, so I’m beginning with a small deficit. But I’m sure that with proper preparation I’ll be able to quickly achieve good lap times and hope that we’re going to score as many points as possible in the championship battle.”

Loïc Duval (32/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Together with his team-mates completed a one-two victory for Audi at Austin
-Has regularly been racing in Japan since 2006
“Some of us Audi drivers have a special relationship with Japan due to our careers – and I’m one of them. This year, we’re aiming to deliver a particularly good performance at Fuji after last year’s race was held only behind the safety car. Fuji is a unique track in a beautiful region in the foothills of Mount Fuji. We’re set on showing an equally beautiful result to our many fans. It would be great to win there.”

Tom Kristensen (47/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Spent his career in Japan from 1992 to 1995
-Is in third place of the standings together with his team-mate Lucas di Grassi
“I’m happy to be returning to a country that I owe a lot to. At the beginning of my career, I lived near Fuji and often raced on this track. This country played a decisive part in opening up the opportunity of a professional racing career for me. I’ve still got many friends there from the old days. Traveling to Japan with the world’s best automobile manufacturer today is a great feeling. I’ve competed at Fuji in the WEC twice before. The first track sector is very fast, the second one is still relatively fast, and the third one is narrow and slow.”

Marcel Fässler (38/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Won the last WEC race at Austin with André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer
“Two years ago, I drove in Japan for the first time and have very positive memories of my two WEC runs at Fuji. Japan is a beautiful country with fantastic fans that enthusiastically support us. As this is a kind of home round for my two team-mates, we’re aiming to battle for victory with particularly great determination. Driving in the mountains with Mount Fuji in the background is an unusual feeling. It almost reminds me a bit of the Swiss mountains. The track has a unique character with its many different types of corners.”

André Lotterer (32/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Won the Le Mans 24 Hours with his team-mates in June
-Was on the pole position in Japan last year
“The race is a very special one for me because I’ve been living in Japan for more than ten years and am active in racing there as well. I’m highly motivated to battle for Audi’s first victory in Japan in front of many fans. Benoît Tréluyer knows the track very well. I’ve frequently driven there before too and by now Marcel Fässler feels comfortable in Japan as well. The track is very demanding and the set-up isn’t easy to achieve. On the long straight, our car mustn’t lose too much speed due to downforce but we’ve still got to be fast in the turns.”

Benoît Tréluyer (37/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)
-Has spent twelve years of his career in Japan
-Is the runner-up in the standings together with his team-mates
“Fuji is the race track on which I’ve won most of the races in my life. I really like the circuit and would now also like to win there with Audi. A year ago, we were on pole but unfortunately there was no real race. Our Japanese fans are important to me and we’d like to show them a great performance this year. The battle with Toyota and Porsche is promising.”

From Audi Sport

Rob

8th October 2014, 21:01

TOP SPEED AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT FUJI FOR PORSCHE LMP1

08/10/2014 - 11h33
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For the fifth of its eight rounds the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) heads to Japan, where the race takes place at the foot of Mount Fuji on October 12. The traditional Fuji Speedway has been fundamentally modernised in the past decade and is famous for its long main straight. It stretches a good 1,500 metres and should allow the Porsche 919 Hybrids to reach top speeds of around 300 km/h. But as desirable as low drag might appear for this long straight, a high price would be paid for it on the remainder of the lap. The fast corners in the middle sector require high downforce, while the last sector is narrow and winding. The race car has to be an all-rounder. In year one especially of Porsche’s return this is not an easy task for the Porsche Team, which enters the most innovative and complex prototype in the WEC field, and in which every circuit means a journey of discovery into unknown territory.

Quotes before the race:

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “We are looking forward to the challenges Fuji provides. Recently in Austin we have been strong in qualifying by being second and third and thanks to the right tyre choice we were leading the race for 43 laps, but could not benefit in the end. With the number 20 car we lost a lap in the chaotic rainy conditions before the restart, and with the leading number 14 car we suffered with a technical problem. A tear in the pipe for the charge air cooling led to a loss of power. The analysis in Weissach has disclosed a manufacturing defect in the part we had bought.”

Drivers car number 14
Romain Dumas (36, France): ”After we have been so close to taking the first win for the Porsche 919 Hybrid in the States, I can’t wait to go and try again. I raced in Fuji a long time ago. This was in 2001 when I was doing the Japanese GT500 series, so it was obviously the old circuit. To learn the new track I will go to our simulator once I’m back from the Rallye Alsace. I am very much looking forward to racing in Japan again. Everything is so different to what we are used to.”

Neel Jani (30, Switzerland): ”I raced the Rebellion in Fuji in 2012 and I do remember well that this was the most difficult circuit for me with this car. Due to the low positioning of the driver’s seat, I could hardly see the apexes of the corners in sector three. Therefore, I’m very keen to learn how much this has changed since the rules now require that we sit higher. Fuji is a modern track with huge run-off areas and it has great scenery with the volcano. The long straight is significant. Following this, the circuit has a good flow, and for the tight corners in the final sector downforce is required. If we manage to find a good compromise for the aerodynamics, we should be competitive.”

Marc Lieb (34, Germany): ”I love racing in Japan, the enthusiasm of the fans creates a very special atmosphere. In Fuji I raced the Porsche GT3 RSR in 2012 and the 911 RSR in 2013. The circuit, with the view of Mount Fuji, is beautifully embedded into the landscape and offers a great variety of corners. It has its long straight and fast, but also slow, corners. Last year we started behind the safety car in the rain. Without ever having been green flagged, the race had to be cancelled. The weather can play a crucial role at this time of the year in Fuji.”

Drivers car number 20
Timo Bernhard (33, Germany): ”Although I haven’t been racing in Fuji yet, I was able to learn the track in 2006 when I was there for the introduction of the Porsche 911 Type 997 for the Japanese Carrera Cup. The circuit had just been renewed and I was an instructor for Porsche. We offered taxi rides and literally everyone wanted to go on a lap with me. It was a hell of a lot of fun to serve the long queue. I think the layout of the Fuji Speedway may suit us better than Austin did. In 2006 I only saw Fuji in the rain.”

Brendon Hartley (24, New Zealand): “It will be my first time in Fuji and also my first time in Japan. I am very much looking forward to it, as I have heard so many positive things about both the Fuji Speedway and the country. The result in Austin was slightly disappointing but, nevertheless, the car had a good pace when the track became cooler. So in terms of performance I’m quite confident for Fuji. I will learn the track on the simulator. We have just experienced in Austin that practice time can easily become limited due to weather conditions, so it is always good to be prepared as well as possible.”

Mark Webber (38, Australia): “I’m looking forward to going back to Fuji. As I have raced there twice in my Formula One career, I know it is a challenging circuit with a long straight, and in the last sector it’s quite difficult to get everything together. There are combined corners where the car’s balance is important and the technique on braking is quite tricky. In one race there I had food poisoning, which is not the best memory, but I always enjoyed driving at Fuji and I love Mount Fuji in the background, as it is such a nice setting. Japanese fans are passionate and very emotional and the sports car race in Fuji is a very famous one. I hear there are many Porsche fans in Japan and I look forward to seeing a lot of them cheering us on when we return.”

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Facts and figures:

- A lap on Fuji Speedway is 4.563 kilometres and with 16 turns – ten right handers and 6 left handers.

- On the 1,500 metre long straight the Porsche 919 Hybrids should reach a top speed of around 300 km/h.

- In accordance with the regulations, the Porsche 919 Hybrid can produce and use 3.11 mega joule of electrical energy per lap. At the same time fuel consumption is limited to 1.8 litres of fuel per lap. In normal race conditions (with no safety car being deployed) and with a restricted fuel load of 68.3 litres, the Porsche 919 Hybrid is expected to stop for refuelling after every 38 laps.

- According to simulations, the race distance covered during the six hours might be up to 248 laps (1,132 kilometres).

- Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707. It is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 metres and is regarded as a holy mountain.

- The circuit is located about 100 kilometres southwest of the capital of Tokyo on the Japanese main island of Honshu.

- In 2005 the circuit was rebuilt for safety reasons and became, once again, the venue for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in 2007 and 2008.

- The weather in the Japanese Alps can be very changeable in October. In 2013 heavy rain made it impossible to run the WEC race.

Porsche Motorsport

Rob

10th October 2014, 18:27

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PRESS RELEASE
Fuji Speedway, Japan - 10 October 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

2015 FIA WEC CALENDAR UNVEILED
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• Eight races on four continents. Same number of races as 2012 – 2014.

• 6 Hours of the Nürburgring is the new race on the calendar.

• Renovation work means race in São Paulo not included in 2015 but could be back in 2016

• Montreal is still under discussion for an entry in 2017.
The 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar was unveiled today at Fuji International Speedway by CEO Gerard Neveu, in the presence of Pierre Fillon, President of l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, President of the FIA Endurance Commission and Henri Pescarolo, Grand Marshal of the 6 Hours of Fuji. The 2015 schedule is a continuation of the previous three seasons, with eight races once again filling the line up of 6 Hour and 24 Hour events, including a new event at the Nürburgring in Germany at the end of August.

The 2015 season will start on the 27/28 March with The Prologue at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France for the official test and is the traditional first chance for the media and fans to see the new cars all in one place, including the new LMP1 manufacturer entry from Nissan alongside the hybrid prototypes from Audi, Porsche and Toyota.

As in the previous two years, the opening race of the year will be at Silverstone, where the teams will compete for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy at the season opener. The 2015 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will be the fourth time the Belgium round has taken place at the start of May for the customary last race before the ‘Big One’, the 24 Heures du Mans in June.

The 6 Hours of Nürburgring is the new race in 2015 and means that German teams Audi and Porsche will race at home for the first time in the history of the World Endurance Championship. The 6 Hours of São Paulo is not being held due to the pit building renovation work which will not be completed in time for the August race date.

The 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in September is the first of four races overseas, with the Lone Star Le Mans event being a joint race weekend with the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

It will be followed by races in Fuji, Shanghai and the finale in Bahrain at the end of November.

“This calendar represents continuity and stability,” said Gerard Neveu. “We are very excited about visiting the Nürburgring and holding the first FIA WEC race in Germany, which will be a good homecoming for Audi and Porsche. Nürburgring has a long history with endurance racing and this event will be a good opportunity to celebrate it with both a modern paddock with the FIA WEC, and a historic paddock with the 50th anniversary of the 1000 Kms of Nürburgring. With this new calendar we have reduced the summer break and it will provide around one race per month.”

“The eight race calendar means we are also building the tradition of 6-hour events in the countries we visit,” said Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO. “To maintain all of the races at the same time of the season for at least three years is a very positive move. The 2015 FIA WEC calendar will provide a great mix of entertainment and sporting action, with the highlight of the season coming in June with the 24 Heures du Mans, which remains the jewel in the endurance racing crown. We look forward to seeing you in 2015.”

2015 FIA World Endurance Championship Provisional Calendar**
27 / 28 March : Prologue Castellet
12 April : 6 Hours of Silverstone
02 May : 6 Hours of Spa
31 May : Tests Le Mans
13/14 June : 24h du Mans
30 August : 6 Hours of Nurburging
19 September : 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas ( Lone Star le Mans)
11 October : 6 Hours of Fuji
1 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai
21 November : 6 Hours of Bahrain

** Subject to clarification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

Rob

10th October 2014, 20:52

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HOME COMFORTS FOR TOYOTA RACING
Friday 10 October 2014

TOYOTA Racing made a solid start to its home event, the Six Hours of Fuji, with promising performances during practice for the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The #8 TS040 HYBRID of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi ended the day fourth quickest while the #7 of Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima was fifth following a productive day of set-up development.

TOYOTA Racing is in the middle of a tough fight for both World Championships, with the #8 crew leading the drivers’ standings by 11 points while the team is just 18 points behind Audi in the Manufacturers’.

So a significant haul, including the bonus point for pole position, is the target this weekend.

This morning’s first practice started in bright sunshine, a marked contrast to the last time LMP1 cars drove at Fuji 12 months ago when the race was cut short due to torrential rain.

With quite different track characteristics and temperatures at Fuji compared to the last race at Circuit of the Americas, the team faced a busy session as both cars evaluated mechanical, aerodynamic and powertrain set-ups.

Alex and Stéphane shared driving on the #7 with Kazuki, already a winner at Fuji in Super Formula this season, waiting for the second session to get his first taste of the TS040 HYBRID at this track.

Stéphane set the fastest lap for the #7 midway through his stint, earning fifth, while Anthony had that honour in the #8 as he took third.

Kazuki, who last drove the TS040 HYBRID at Le Mans, finally got on track again at the start of second practice. He and Anthony both completed a very long stint to analyse race performance and tyre behaviour.

The session finished with short stints for Alex, Stéphane and Sébastien as track conditions continued to evolve. Kazuki set the quickest lap in the #7, taking fifth, while Sébastien earned fourth for the #8.

Tomorrow sees final practice (9.30-10.30) followed by qualifying (13.55-14.20). The six-hour race starts on Sunday at 11am local time.

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima)
Free practice 1: 5th (1min 29.076secs), 26 laps
Free practice 2: 5th (1min 29.083secs), 48 laps

Alex Wurz: “I drove more laps this morning, which went quite well. It was the plan to give Kazuki more time in the car as he hasn’t driven since Le Mans, so he did the long run this afternoon. You are never finished here with set-up because it is such a complex circuit. The track conditions change throughout the day so that makes it difficult to analyse. We still have some homework to do overnight but I like that challenge. Now it’s about fine-tuning and looking forward to tomorrow.”

Stéphane Sarrazin: “There was very low grip on track this morning. I spent the session finding the right feeling and discovering the limits; it’s a learning process. Kazuki did the long run in the afternoon and the car improved throughout the day. I just did two laps at the end, only a short run. Today was about preparing for the race and I think we are making good progress.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “Our long run was pretty good; it looks okay compared to the competition and we seem strong in terms of tyre degradation. Still the circuit didn’t have a lot of grip so I hope we get more rubber down for qualifying and the race. We still need to find a bit more to fine-tune the balance but I think we have good potential here at Fuji. Let’s see how it goes for qualifying.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Free practice 1: 3rd (1min 28.981secs), 38 laps
Free practice 2: 4th (1min 28.587secs), 52 laps

Anthony Davidson: “It felt like a very productive two sessions today. The weather was kind to us and we worked on the car set-up throughout the day and had a good balance. I got a chance to understand this circuit a lot more because last year the mileage was limited. As always here the third sector is the most challenging and I think I can still find some performance there. It was nice to get into a rhythm and understand where we need to improve tomorrow.”

Sébastien Buemi: “It went well today. Anthony did quite a few laps this afternoon to see the evolution of the tyres. I jumped in at the end and this meant I could experience older and newer tyres which is helpful. The circuit improved a lot during the day, as normal here. We are still a bit slower than last year’s times but I expect it to come to us. We seemed quite strong over a long stint but it will be close as always. The car felt good so I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”

Rob

10th October 2014, 20:53

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NEWS ALERT
Fuji Speedway, Japan - 10 October 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

6 HOURS OF FUJI FREE PRACTICE 2: ASTON ON TOP IN GTE PRO AND AM

10/10/2014 - 10h23
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Aston Martin Racing this afternoon showed it meant business in preparation for the 6 Hours of Fuji by claiming the first three places in the GTE time sheets. At the end of the second 90-minute free practice session, the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage V8 of Mucke/Turner led the way with a best lap time of 1:39.884.

The British car from the LMGTE Pro category, with the yellow windscreen strip, headed the team’s two LMGTE Am entries – the No.98 of Canadian Paul Dalla Lana, Portuguese Pedro Lamy and Dane Christoffer Nygaard ahead of the all-Danish crewed No.95 Vantage V8.

Behind the Aston Martins were two further Am cars – showing the way to their fellow competitors in the senior Pro category – and this time it was two Porsches. The No.88 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR of Klaus Bachler-Khaled Al Qubaisi-Christian Ried was just two hundredths of a second ahead of the No.75 ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of the French trio – François Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Matthieu Vaxivière.

Second and third places in the LMGTE Pro class – behind the four Am cars – were taken by the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Bruni and Vilander and the No.92 Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSR of Makowiecki and Pilet. Just one second separated the top seven cars and tomorrow morning’s third free practice session is likely to be closer still as teams make their final preparations before qualifying in the afternoon.

Rob

10th October 2014, 20:57

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NEWS ALERT
Fuji Speedway, Japan - 10 October 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

6 HRS FUJI FREE PRACTICE 2: AUDI STILL ON TOP

10/10/2014 - 10h49
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The weather for the afternoon free practice session at Fuji Speedway was overcast but the air temperature was still hovering at 20 degrees Celsius. The two Audi R18s carried on where they left off in the earlier session, with the no1 Audi taking the top spot from the sister e-tron quattro. Toyota set the third and fourth fastest times, with the no8 TS040 finishing the day 1 second behind the lead Audi. The two Porsche 919s were fifth and sixth, with the no14 Porsche outpacing their teammates by 0.6 seconds.

In LMP1-L the no13 Rebellion R-One recovered from the earlier technical issue to finish the day as the fastest in the privateer class.

In LMP2 the no26 G-Drive Racing Ligier once again posted the fastest time towards the end of the 90 minute session, bumping the nr37 SMP Racing Oreca off the top spot by 0.2 . However Roman Rusinov was given a 3 grid place penalty for the race on Sunday for improving his lap time under yellow flags during the session (Stewards Decision no5)

Rob

11th October 2014, 12:17

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TOYOTA RACING ON POLE IN FUJI
Saturday 11 October 2014

TOYOTA Racing scored its third consecutive pole position thanks to an exciting climax to qualifying for the Six Hours of Fuji, earning a vital FIA World Endurance Championship point in the process.

Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, in the #8 TS040 HYBRID, grabbed pole by 0.043secs in the final moments of qualifying to extend their advantage in the Drivers’ World Championship to 12 points.

That point also brought the team to within 17 points of the Manufacturers’ Championship lead ahead of tomorrow’s race, the fifth of eight WEC races this season.

The #7 car has won this race for each of the last two seasons and will again be in the fight tomorrow. Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima, who share the car with Stéphane Sarrazin, earned fourth place in qualifying.

The WEC qualifying format requires two drivers from each car to set a minimum of two flying laps each. The grid is decided by the combined average of each driver’s fastest two laps.

Alex and Anthony both delayed their start of qualifying in order to find a clear track and that decision paid off as they battled for top position, with Anthony ultimately setting the fastest lap of the session on his first flying lap.

After the driver changes, qualifying was made more challenging for Kazuki and Sébastien when the red flags came out with seven minutes to go due a minor incident.

While rivals waited in the pits, both TS040 HYBRIDs stayed on track to improve position, entertaining a big crowd in the process. On his very last lap, Sébastien overturned the deficit to take TOYOTA Racing’s fourth pole from five races in 2014.

Earlier in the day, the team fine-tuned its qualifying and race set-ups during the final, one-hour practice session. A trouble free session saw Anthony set the fastest lap of the session, while Stéphane put the #7 in fourth.

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima)
Free practice 3: 4th (1min 27.980secs), 27 laps
Qualifying: 4th (1min 27.437secs average)

Alex Wurz: “I am happy for the #8 to get pole position like that. On our car we struggled with the front end throughout the weekend in the first sector and we couldn’t close the gap to the #8. It is a bit disappointing for us but never mind. I know the race is six hours long so we’ll see. I think the race could still be good for us.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “Firstly congratulations to the team. It is great to have the pole position, especially in such dramatic circumstances. We struggled a bit on the #7 car but I am sure we are strong in race trim and compared to the other manufacturers it is not too bad. It’s a six-hour race, so we keep pushing.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Free practice 3: 1st (1min 27.033secs), 28 laps
Qualifying: 1st (1min 26.886secs average)

Anthony Davidson: “That was an amazing qualifying session, getting pole position for our home race. You never know what’s going to happen in aggregate qualifying. I was confident we had the speed. My second flying lap should have been faster but there was mud on the track at turn 15 which cost a little time. Still I thought it was enough. It was but only just; we really had to work for it. Thanks to the team, including everyone at TOYOTA; without their support we wouldn’t be on pole today.”

Sébastien Buemi: “This is the best qualifying you can dream of because at the last minute we grabbed the pole by such a small margin. If you get pole like in Austin when it is by some distance it is great, but to fight so hard for it and succeed is just perfect. After Anthony’s first laps I thought it might be relatively comfortable for us but I was wrong. We struggled a bit to warm up the tyres so I had quite low grip for my first laps, then the red flag came and the tyres cooled as we waited in the pit lane. But they came up to temperature and just in time for my last flying lap.”

French and German translations of this press release will be available shortly on www.toyotahybridracing.com, where copyright-free photos are also available for editorial use.

Rob

11th October 2014, 16:15

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ASTON MARTIN LOCKS OUT THE FRONT ROW IN FUJI

Fuji, 11 October 2014 - Aston Martin Racing’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Six Hours of Fuji challenge got off to a flying start today (11 October) as its four identical V8 Vantage GTEs locked out the front row in the GTE Pro class and took pole and third in the GTE Am class in this afternoon’s qualifying session.

It was a maiden pole in the GTE Pro class for the #99 Craft-Bamboo Racing team – which only joined the WEC at the start of this year – thanks to laps from Fernando Rees (BR), who was also fastest in free practice three, and Alex MacDowall (GB), who was delighted at the result.

“It’s quite a shock,” explained the 23-year old. “It’s my first time here so I had a lot to learn in the practice sessions but it just seemed to come together for qualifying. It’s our first pole and Fernando did an amazing job. We’re looking forward to the race tomorrow.”

In the #97 sister-car, Darren Turner (GB) and Stefan Mücke (DE) were close behind and will start the race from second place on the grid of 13 GTE cars.

In the GTE Am class, the #98 NorthWest Vantage GTE of Pedro Lamy (PT) and Christoffer Nygaard (DN) clinched pole position after swapping places with the #95 Young Driver AMR car at the top of the table throughout the session.

Nygaard commented: “It’s great to be on pole! We won the Six Hours of Austin last month after qualifying in seventh, so to be starting from the front gives us every chance of winning again. Pedro did a great job, as usual. Let’s see what happens tomorrow!”

In the #95 Young Driver AMR Vantage GTE, David Heinemeier Hansson (DN) and Nikki Thiim (DN), who set the fastest GTE Am qualifying lap, were in second place until the final moments of the session when they were just pushed into third by a hundredth of a second.

“That was a great start to our race weekend here in Fuji for all of our cars,” commented Team Principal John Gaw. “The #99 team has done a fantastic job to take pole in the GTE Pro class. It’s incredibly tough to do and they should be really pleased – they now need to convert that into a strong result tomorrow.”

The Six Hours of Fuji starts at 11am on Sunday 12 October. For more information visit www.fiawec.com.

- ENDS -

Nova

11th October 2014, 18:33

GT Asia - bang Rizzo and Liu in Shanghai

Shanghai, October 11 - Very important victory for the Italian rider Davide Rizzo and Anthony Liu Xu of China who, at the wheel of the Ferrari 458 GT3 team BBT, have been imposed in the first of two rounds of the GT Asia Championship scheduled for this weekend to 'Shanghai International Circuit. The bishops of car number 37 will be imposed for six seconds ahead of the Bentley Absolute Racing, entrusted to the French Jean-Karl Vernay and Gille Vannelet, and Bamboo Craft AMR, led by British driver Richard Lyons and Hong Kong, Frank Yu.

Change at the top. In conjunction with the victory of Rizzo and Liu Xu arrived two of compensatory quipaggi who led the championship standings. The leader, Briton Robert "Bob" Bell and the Japanese Hiroshi Hamaguchi (McLaren Team Clearwater Racing), came only sixth as the first pursuers, Japan's Keita Sawa and the Malaysian Mok Weng Sun (Ferrari 458 well the team Clearwater Racing) arrived at the foot of the podium. All this has reshuffled the standings, with Rizzo and Liu Xu who now lead by 137 against 135 lengths of the other two crews. Tomorrow is scheduled for the second race in Shanghai, then at the end of the season will miss only the appointment of Macao.

Other podium. In the category GTM report from the podium of the Ferrari 458 of Taiwan Top Speed Racing Team headed by Ryo Fukuda Japanese and Taiwanese Craig Liu. The two have had to surrender only to the Audi Tiger Racing Team entrusted Australian Matthew Barry Solomon and the pilot of Hong Kong, Jacky Yeung.

Nova

11th October 2014, 20:13

Italian GT Championship - Ferrari double on the track at Imola

Imola, October 11 - Ferrari double on the Imola track in the first race of the penultimate round of the Italian GT Championship. A triumph was the 458 GT3 Easy Race team headed by Luigi Ferrara Marco Magli, and that they were great to take advantage of the circumstances. Behind them is placed the sister car of the team MP1 Racing Nicola Benucci, aided on this occasion by Alessandro Balzan. In third place went to the Audi Marco Mapelli and German Thomas Schöffler.

Ranking tightened. Today's results, in conjunction with the negative race of the Ferrari 458 Scuderia Baldini 27 Network Raffaele Gianmaria and Lorenzo Case, who finished only tenths resulted in a change at the top of the list. A command are now Mapelli and Schöffler with 96 points, two more than Benucci and five more than Gianmaria and Casé.

Redemption. Tomorrow there will be the second race and it is likely that the championship leader could once again change. After the Imola round of the championship is planning to double its final round at Mugello two weeks.

458 Italia

12th October 2014, 02:47

Can't find a place to watch the 6 hours of Fuji anywhere!

458 Italia

12th October 2014, 03:02

http://backvideo.ampi.tv/embed/hjly2q

COME ON AUDI AND FERRARI!

fratelliferrari

12th October 2014, 08:44

http://backvideo.ampi.tv/embed/hjly2q

COME ON AUDI AND FERRARI!

Thanks for the link mate!

fratelliferrari

12th October 2014, 09:09

:ferrarifl A 1-2 for AF Corse :clap

Rob

12th October 2014, 10:38

:ferrarifl A 1-2 for AF Corse :clap

Nuovo brillante risultato :thumb:clap

Set alarm to get up and watch it, but so tired from 2 hours of gym 5 nights a week, caught up with me. Now watching delayed coverage. Will post press releases and pictures up as soon as get them in my inbox.

Rob

12th October 2014, 10:49

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fratelliferrari

12th October 2014, 10:51

Nuovo brillante risultato :thumb:clap

Set alarm to get up and watch it, but so tired from 2 hours of gym 5 nights a week, caught up with me. Now watching delayed coverage. Will post press releases and pictures up as soon as get them in my inbox.

Thanks Rob, can't wait! Btw nice gesture from WEC with the board for Jules :thumb

Rob

12th October 2014, 12:37

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Nova

12th October 2014, 14:46

:ferrarifl A 1-2 for AF Corse :clap

1 8 LMP1 Anthony DAVIDSON, Sébastien BUEMI, Toyota TS 040 - Hybrid M 236 6:00'39.367 222 1'27.815 187.1
2 7 LMP1 Alexander WURZ, Stéphane SARRAZIN, Kazuki NAKAJIMA Toyota TS 040 - Hybrid M 236 6:01'04.994 25.627 25.627 210 1'27.887 186.9
3 20 LMP1 Timo BERNHARD, Mark WEBBER, Brendon HARTLEY Porsche 919 Hybrid M 235 6:01'53.875 1 Laps 1 Laps 12 1'27.759 187.2
4 14 LMP1 Romain DUMAS, Neel JANI, Marc LIEB Porsche 919 Hybrid M 234 6:01'19.485 2 Laps 1 Laps 191 1'28.533 185.5
5 1 LMP1 Lucas DI GRASSI, Loïc DUVAL, Tom KRISTENSEN Audi R18 e-tron quattro M 234 6:01'36.302 2 Laps 16.817 73 1'28.609 185.4
6 2 LMP1 Marcel FÄSSLER, André LOTTERER, Benoit TRÉLUYER Audi R18 e-tron quattro M 233 6:01'31.183 3 Laps 1 Laps 11 1'28.898 184.8
7 26 LMP2 Roman RUSINOV, Olivier PLA, Julien CANAL Ligier JS P2 - Nissan D 219 6:01'05.703 17 Laps 14 Laps 199 1'33.996 174.8
8 47 LMP2 Matthew HOWSON, Richard BRADLEY, Alexandre IMPERATORI Oreca 03R - Nissan D 219 6:01'11.137 17 Laps 5.434 22 1'34.231 174.3
9 35 LMP2 Keiko IHARA, Gustavo YACAMAN, Alex BRUNDLE Morgan - Judd D 216 6:01'47.663 20 Laps 3 Laps 7 1'34.645 173.6
10 27 LMP2 Sergey ZLOBIN, Nicolas MINASSIAN, Maurizio MEDIANI Oreca 03R - Nissan M 215 6:01'05.098 21 Laps 1 Laps 5 1'35.001 172.9
11 13 LMP1 Dominik KRAIHAMER, Andrea BELICCHI, Fabio LEIMER Rebellion R-One - Toyota M 215 6:01'28.985 21 Laps 23.887 7 1'32.080 178.4
12 37 LMP2 Kirill LADYGIN, Viktor SHAITAR, Anton LADYGIN Oreca 03R - Nissan M 212 6:02'08.311 24 Laps 3 Laps 10 1'34.863 173.2
13 51 LMGTE Pro Gianmaria BRUNI, Toni VILANDER, Ferrari F458 Italia M 208 6:01'30.795 28 Laps 4 Laps 72 1'40.711 163.1
14 71 LMGTE Pro Davide RIGON, James CALADO, Ferrari F458 Italia M 208 6:01'33.697 28 Laps 2.902 74 1'40.696 163.1
15 99 LMGTE Pro Alex MACDOWALL, Darryl O'YOUNG, Fernando REES Aston Martin Vantage V8 M 208 6:02'12.747 28 Laps 39.050 6 1'40.609 163.3
16 91 LMGTE Pro Jörg BERGMEISTER, Richard LIETZ, Porsche 911 RSR M 207 6:01'01.266 29 Laps 1 Laps 32 1'40.716 163.1
17 95 LMGTE Am Kristian POULSEN, David HEINEMEIER-HANSSON, Nicki THIIM Aston Martin Vantage V8 M 207 6:01'32.028 29 Laps 30.762 10 1

Rob

12th October 2014, 18:20

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FIA WEC, Fuji: Ferrari, Bruni-Vilander, AF Corse win and extend the leadership.

FUJI, October 12 – Double win for the AF Corse Ferrari 458’s Italia in the “6 Hour of Fuji”, round five of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, in their AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #51, took the chequered flag in first position of the GTE Pro category and increasing their lead in the Drivers Championship with 131 points, 50 ahead of Mokowiecki, the second in the standing.

At the end of the six-hour race, in second position among the GT cars the Ferrari 458 Italia #71 driven by Davide Rigon and James Calado. The duo’s perfomance was great with the first place alternately several times with the Ferrari 458 #51 during the race.

In the GTE Am category, excellent performance in the Japanese round for Steve Wyatt, Michele Rugolo and Andrea Bertolini in the Ferrari 458 Italia #81. Only a technical problem, in the last part of the race, took away the podium from the trio. Fifth pos ition for Bret Curtis, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Mike Skeen in the 458 Italia #61. Withdrawal due to technical problem of the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 #90 (managed by AF Corse).

Returning to the rankings of the championship, Ferrari is leading in the GTE Manufactures with 200 points (Porsche is second, 171). AF Corse is leader in the GTE Pro Team standing with 131 poinst (Aston Martin Racing has the second place with 95).

AF Corse Press Office

Rob

12th October 2014, 18:22

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Rob

12th October 2014, 18:28

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HOME HAT-TRICK FOR TOYOTA RACING AT FUJI
Sunday 12 October 2014

TOYOTA Racing maintained its unbeaten record on home ground with a dominant one-two victory in the Six Hours of Fuji, the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The team scored a third consecutive win in the event thanks to the #8 TS040 HYBRID of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, who extend their lead in the drivers’ World Championship.

A perfect day for the team saw the #7, winner in Fuji for the past two seasons, finish close behind in second, with Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima at the wheel.

Both cars finished one lap ahead of the opposition as TOYOTA regained the lead of the manufacturers’ World Championship. Its third win of the season puts the team eight points clear of Audi.

In the drivers’ standings, Anthony and Sébastien lead by 26 points over team-mate Nicolas Lapierre, who missed the Fuji race for personal reasons, with the third-placed crew of Audi #2 now trailing by 29 points.

Unlike last year, when heavy rain ruined the race, today’s event started in dry but cool weather, with air temperature just 14°C. But the action on track soon got hotter.

Starting from pole, Sébastien in the #8 initially slipped to third in the first corners before hitting back and, helped by the 1,000PS four-wheel-drive TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing, retaking the lead within the opening lap.

Kazuki was also involved in the battle and ultimately gained a position to move into third. Following an early pit stop for Porsche #20, the #7 took second and the two TS040 HYBRIDs ran together at the front, stretching their lead.

At the first pit stops, just before the hour mark, Stéphane took over the #7 while Anthony got in the #8, with both using their new tyres to pull clear of the chasing pack.

After a clean double stint, during which they had to fight through plenty of traffic, the pair was separated by just three seconds and had pulled out a gap of almost a lap on third place.

Sébastien returned to the cockpit of the #8 just before half distance while Alex took the wheel of the #7 to continue the TS040 HYBRID dominance.

With a one-lap advantage, the team and drivers adopted a cautious approach to tyre strategy and traffic with the target of ensuring maximum points from the weekend.

Anthony and Kazuki returned for further stints, with Stéphane taking over the #7 in the last hour as Anthony remained in the cockpit to take the chequered flag and a very popular one-two in front of 51,000 Japanese fans over the weekend.

Racing resumes for WEC next month with a hectic climax to the year, starting on 2 November with the Six Hours of Shanghai prior to the season-closing races in Bahrain and Sao Paulo.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “I am very proud of the team and drivers for this one-two finish in our home race. We have had some great days here at Fuji but this was even better than our previous victories. Many people have asked me if we feel extra pressure this weekend, as Fuji is our home race; actually we only feel extra support. So I would like to say a big thank you to all the fans, Fuji Speedway and our colleagues from TOYOTA who gave us such great encouragement all weekend. Our car was the most competitive this weekend and this is what we are pushing to achieve for the final three races of the season.”

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima)
Race: 2nd, 236 laps, 6 pit stops. Fastest lap: 1min 27.887secs

Alex Wurz: “It’s amazing to bring home a one-two in dominant form; we didn’t expect that. The track was very tricky but we did our homework well in terms of tyre choice and set-up. This gave us the chance today to get this result. A one-two like this makes everyone happy; the fans, our colleagues at TOYOTA and especially the team. Now we go to China full of confidence.”

Stéphane Sarrazin: “This is a brilliant result for TOYOTA and the whole team; it’s just amazing. The team did a great job and a one-two is the best possible result. Both cars were pushing each other and it was very close. I am really happy to be back on the podium. Our target coming here to Fuji was to take the lead in the manufacturers’ World Championship and we have achieved that. After frustration in Le Mans and Austin this is a big result for us. Now for the next one.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “Congratulations to the #8 crew. They did a very good job and together we have achieved a great result for the team which is fantastic for the manufacturers’ World Championship. It’s nice to show what we can do in front of our home supporters. My race went well, although it was actually my first race start in WEC and this was quite tricky, especially with the different fuel strategies. I got through the pack and our pace was strong. It’s been a very good day.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Race: 1st, 236 laps, 6 pit stops. Fastest lap: 1min 27.815secs

Anthony Davidson: “It was an absolutely perfect race and a perfect weekend for everyone at TOYOTA Racing. That was a great job by all the team; we had the strongest car, the right strategy and great pit stops. First and second in our home race; it doesn’t get better than that. For the team to win here three times in a row now is pretty special. It extends our lead in the drivers’ World Championship and regains the lead in the manufacturers’, so you couldn’t ask for any more as a team. So big thanks to all and especially to the guys from TOYOTA Motor Corporation who have given us such great support this week.”

Sébastien Buemi: “To leave Fuji with a one-two and the lead of both World Championships is a very special feeling. At the start it was clearly a bit difficult to warm up the tyres so I was in the middle of a big fight; the first lap was quite crazy. After that we took control. It was a great job from Anthony and the whole team. Honestly, we didn’t expect to be so far ahead but it is the result of a lot of hard work. We’ll enjoy this moment but quickly focus on the remaining races. Today’s result is a good sign for the rest of the season.”

Rob

12th October 2014, 18:36

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ASTON MARTIN WINS IN JAPAN

Fuji, 12 October 2014 - Aston Martin Racing has won the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Six Hours of Fuji with its #95 V8 Vantage GTE Am class car. The #98 sister-car finished close behind in second place and the #99 took third place in the GTE Pro class in a race that was action-packed from the start.

At 1100hrs local time, the green flag waved and the #99 and #97 Vantage GTEs started side-by-side on the front row, following a successful qualifying session on Saturday afternoon. However, a chaotic start damaged the #97 and it was forced to return to the pits for an eight-minute stop it could never recover from.

The #99 – piloted by Fernando Rees (BR), Alex MacDowall (GB) and Darryl O’Young (HK) – continued on and spent the next six hours in a wheel-to-wheel battle with the two AF Corse Ferraris. A clever pit strategy, consistently quick lap times and a reliable car all contributed to the #99 Craft-Bamboo Racing team taking its first WEC podium in only its fifth Championship race.

“When you start from the front of the GTE Pro class you are in the thick of it,” commented Rees. “You have to make sure that you don’t get caught up in any of the chaos and I did that well. I lost a place to Bruni but quickly recovered it and we led the race for a long time. To get our first podium as a new team in just our fifth race is fantastic. We have to stay focused now and try and do the same in Shanghai and beyond.”

Meanwhile, the pair of Aston Martin Racing GTE Am cars spent the race swapping places at the front of the class with the Danish trio of Kristian Poulsen, David Heinemeier Hansson and Nicki Thiim, at one point, leading the entire GTE field.

Despite challenges from Christoffer Nygaard (DN), Pedro Lamy (PT) and Paul Dalla Lana (CA) in the NorthWest-liveried #98, it was the #95 Young Driver AMR car that crossed the line first to take its third race win of the 2014 season and extend its lead at the top of the Championship.

“It’s great to be leading the Championship,” commented Heinemeier Hansson. “The Vantage GTE makes it easy for gentlemen drivers like Kristian and I to be mixing it up with the professional drivers. If a car is easy to drive, like the Aston Martin is, the difference between the Am and Pro is smaller and that’s what wins Pro-Am races.”

Despite setting the fastest GTE lap of the race, the #97 of Darren Turner (GB) and Stefan Mücke (DE) crossed the line in fifth place due to time in the pits early on in the race.

“I’m really pleased for the #95 team for extending its lead at the top of the Championship,” commented Team Principal John Gaw. “And, it’s good to see our two GTE Am cars so competitive at the front of every race.

“The #99 team has done a good job all weekend and it thoroughly deserves its first podium. Of course, it was disappointing for the #97 crew but the start of the race often takes victims and this time it was us.

“We always do well in Shanghai, we took our first WEC race win there in 2012 and then repeated it in 2013, so we must look forward and focus on keeping our strong record there.”

The FIA WEC Six Hours of Shanghai starts at 1100hrs local time on Sunday 2 November. For more information go to www.fiawec.com.

- ENDS

Rob

12th October 2014, 18:43

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Onroak Automotive Press Release – 10.12.2014

FIA World Endurance Championship
Round 5/8 – 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan - 12th October - Race

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First ever victory in Fuji for the Ligier JS P2 with G-Drive Racing
and podium finish for the Morgan LM P2 with OAK Racing

It was a brilliant race in Fuji for the G-Drive Racing team and a first ever victory for the Ligier JS P2. The #26 Ligier JS P2 Nissan-Dunlop, developed by Onroak Automotive and driven once more by the superb trio of Olivier Pla, Julien Canal and Roman Rusinov avenged their 4th place finish in Austin by coming away with a fantastic win here in Fuji for the 5th round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. This win also gives the team valuable points for the team championship, bringing them nearer to the current leaders.

Olivier Pla was the first of the trio in the #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan-Dunlop, having to start from 4th place in LM P2, due to a penalty incurred during Free Practice 2 which cost them 3 places on the grid, despite being the fastest car in qualifying. Olivier Pla got off to a great start and managed to jump to 2nd place by the end of the first lap. He then fought hard for 1st place with the #47 KCMG Oreca-Nissan. It was a close battle for 40 minutes before the #47 had a spin which allowed Olivier to take the lead. Once past the #47, Olivier Pla found an excellent rhythm and started to build a gap with the rest of the pack.
After 1 hour and 40 minutes, he handed the #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 over to Julien Canal with a lead of about 30 seconds. Julien carried on working on the gap and kept up the pace that Olivier had set in the first stints. His double stint went by uneventfully. By the time he handed over to Rusinov, he’d increased his lead up to 1 minute 15 seconds.

Roman Rusinov took the wheel with 2 hours 30 minutes to go. Their rivals in the #47 tried to close the gap with the Ligier JS P2 once more, but Rusinov managed to keep the pace. His stint was uncomplicated and Rusinov did a great job at delivering consistently fast laps and thus staying ahead of the competition and leading the LM P2 class.

For the last stint, Olivier Pla got back in the car to fight for the victory that was now in sight. Ten minutes into his stint, he had to head back to the pits to change the rear left tyre. Although it was a very quick and efficient stop, he came out 6 seconds behind the #47 KCMG Oreca-Nissan. Pla and Imperatori (in the #47) had a very close battle. With 22 minutes to go, Pla attempted a brilliant manoeuvre and managed to retake the lead. He held onto it until the end, bringing home a well deserved victory in Fuji for G-Drive Racing.

Joining the #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2-Nissan on the podium was Onroak Automotive’s other car racing here in Fuji: the #35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LM P2, also racing on Dunlop tyres and driven by Keiko Ihara, Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman. The trio had a very good race, as, having started from the back of the grid, they managed to quickly rejoin the LM P2 field, and, with their good consistent pace, brought the manufacturer’s second car to join its step-sister on the podium with a great third place.

Roman Rusinov : “It was a tricky race, even though we had a good performance, there were a lot of factors that didn’t make it easy, like the puncture before the end of the race and the ‘full course yellow’ where we lost 15 seconds. I think that everyone did a good job. We’re a good team and we will do our best to win with G-Drive Racing the next 3 rounds of the Championship. “

Olivier Pla: ”You think that it’s easy, but it never is. We had things under control until the last stint. Unfortunately, with the puncture, we didn’t take a risk and decided to return to the pits to change the rear left tyre. From there, I only had one option, which was to attack like never before and to push the car to its limits to catch up to the #47 again. Once I was back up to it, I tried to overtake it on turn 10, but I wasn’t close enough. Afterwards, we hit some traffic, and I managed to overtake on the outside of turn 5. Afterwards, I knew that I had the right car to widen the gap. Frankly, it’s a great victory and the first victory for the Ligier JS P2 which is very important for all the work done up til now. It’s just great.”

Julien Canal: “I’m really happy with this win. We had a big lead. The car was very consistent. I think we all did a great job. We got a puncture, but I think that every victory is merited and we had the stress of this win up right until the end. And now, I think that we’ll appreciate it even more and I hope we’ll do the same work until the end of the year, because I think that we deserve to win many other races. I’m very happy with my team mates too. We all did a great job. “

Philippe Dumas, Team Principal : « It had to be done, and we did it. I’m very happy with this first victory with the Ligier JS P2. Once more, we’ve shown the potential of the car and we’ve managed to achieve it. I’m very happy for the team, G-Drive Racing, Onroak Automotive, and for the guys too. It’s not been easy since the start of the weekend, with 2-3 misadventures. But that’s what sport is about and you should never give up. There’s still a long way to go but we’ve done some good work to catch up in the championship and we’ll have to keep on like this until the end. The three drivers did a very good job. I’m very happy with Julien (Canal), he’s really progressed. Roman (Rusinov) was very consistent and Olivier (Pla) was exceptional, as per usual. “

Jacques Nicolet, President Onroak Automotive: “It’s been an excellent weekend for Onroak Automotive, which started yesterday in Shanghai with the victory for a Morgan-Judd LM P2 in the Asian Le Mans Series, and that continued today in Fuji with the first victory for the Ligier JS P2 in the FIA WEC and another podium for the Morgan-Judd LM P2. This podium is accompanied by the joy of having allowed Keiko Ihara to be the first woman to climb on to the FIA WEC podium. It’s 18h30 in Japan and our weekend hasn’t finished yet as the 6 hours of Magny-Cours in the V de V, in which 7 Ligier JS 53 EVO are taking part, has only just begun!”

6 Hours of Fuji LM P2 classification:
1- #26 – G-Drive Racing – Ligier JS P2 Nissan
2- #47 – KCMG – Oreca Nissan
3- #35 – OAK Racing – Morgan-Judd LM P2
4- #27 – SMP Racing – Oreca Nissan
5- #37 – SMP Racing – Oreca Nissan

LM P2 Teams FIA Endurance Trophy classification after round 5:
1- #27 – SMP Racing 110 pts
2- #26 – G-Drive Racing 94 pts
3- #47 – KCMG 80 pts
4- #37 – SMP Racing 27pts

Rob

12th October 2014, 19:17

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Rob

12th October 2014, 19:19

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Rob

12th October 2014, 19:46

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Rob

12th October 2014, 19:49

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Rob

12th October 2014, 19:51

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Rob

12th October 2014, 21:05

James Calado @JamesCalado · 11h 11 hours ago
This result was for Jules. P1 and P2 #ForzaBianchi Maximum Ferrari points, great race

fratelliferrari

12th October 2014, 22:17

Thank you for all the photos and articles Rob :clap

Nova

13th October 2014, 01:38

Man Rob, such amazing pix. Them 458's look so fantastico!!!
We may be getting rumped in F1, but the 458's r upholding Ferrari honor all over the world.

Rob

13th October 2014, 17:47

World Endurance Championship set to use 'slow zones' again in 2014.

By Gary Watkins Monday, October 13th 2014, 11:19 GMT

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The 'slow zones' pioneered at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours are set to be used again in the World Endurance Championship before the end of the season.

Slow zones, sections of the track demarcated by marshals' posts in which the cars are limited to 80km/h (approximately 50mph), were adopted at Le Mans as a way of reducing the amount of time the race is run under the safety car.

The experiment was regarded as a success and now series co-organisers the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the FIA are looking to introduce the system at the six-hour WEC races.

ACO sporting manager Vincent Beaumesnil would not comment on the speculation that they could come in as early as next month's Shanghai WEC round.

"We don't want to rush, but it was always something we wanted to use at other races," he told AUTOSPORT.

"It has to be evaluated, but at the moment we don't have the tools to do it at a normal WEC race."

It is understood that, rather than running an automated system as at Le Mans, boards showing the words "NEXT SLOW" AND "SLOW' would be displayed by marshals on the instruction of the race director.

Boards were also used at Fuji last weekend to implement the full-course yellow under which the cars must slow to 80km/h for the full lap without the deployment of the safety car.

The system, which was trialed at the Silverstone WEC race in 2013, was written into the sporting regulations for this season, but it had yet to be used because the necessary computer software to monitor the cars had not been available.

It was tested in free practice on Friday in Japan and then used for real in the third practice session on Saturday and again during the race.

The introduction of full-course yellows and, most likely, slow zones is unconnected with Marussia driver Jules Bianchi's accident during the Japanese Grand Prix.

Plans for both had been discussed with the teams at the previous round of the WEC at Austin in September.

The WEC sporting rules have also been modified to prevent a repetition of the events of the Austin race, during which a number of cars lost a lap on their competitors because they were in the pits when a red flag was shown.

They lost time because cars in front of the overall leader in parc ferme on the start-finish line at the time of the stoppage were waved around to join the back of the crocodile and cars in the pits released only when the pack had left the grid behind the safety car.

Cars that stopped in the pits before the red flags came out will now be released from the pits and sent to the back of the pack before the previous procedure begins.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116340

rossopervincere

15th October 2014, 11:46

great Ferrari LMP1 study , looks like the real deal :

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/motorsport/ferrari-le-mans-studie-spanier-baut-italienisches-lmp1-auto-8812556.html

:clap:clap:clap

What a dream it would be , Le Mans........2015 entry list :

Ferrari nr. 27 : Alonso-Gene-De La Rosa
Ferrari nr. 28 : Fisichella-Bruni-Villander

Nova

16th October 2014, 20:22

Rob

16th October 2014, 20:37

Calculators at the Ready - Let Battle Commence!

The 4 Hours of Estoril on Sunday 19 October will be the stage for a dramatic encounter to decide who will be the 2014 European Le Mans Series champion, with no less than 10 drivers and 4 teams battling for the honours.

With a maximum of 26 points on offer (25 for the win and 1 point for pole position) and 23 points separating the protagonists, the teams will have their calculators at the ready on Sunday afternoon.

2013 Champions Signatech Alpine are the current championship leaders on 68 points, with a 10 point advantage over their nearest rival, JOTA Sport. To be guaranteed of lifting the 2014 ELMS title on Sunday, Nelson Panciatici, Oliver Webb and Paul-Loup Chatin need to finish first or second on Sunday afternoon.

If JOTA Sport drivers Filipe Albuquerque, Harry Tincknell and Simon Dolan take the win and Signatech Alpine finish third, the pole position point could be the deciding factor. If neither team takes the point for pole position then the two teams would be equal on 83 points, with JOTA being declared champions because they will have won twice in 2014 compared to one win for their rivals.

Newblood by Morand Racing, and drivers Christian Klien and Gary Hirsch, are currently on 50 points, 18 behind Signatech Alpine and 8 behind JOTA Sport. Pole position and victory would put Morand Racing on 76 points and to win the title Signatech Alpine would need to finish 6th overall or below. Even if JOTA finished 2nd, Morand Racing would take the title as they would have two wins to one.
Race Performance, and drivers Franck Mailleux and Michel Frey, are currently on 45 points, 23 behind Signatech Alpine, and have an outside chance at the title. A win and pole would give the Swiss team 71 points, meaning that Signatech Alpine need to finish 9th or below and JOTA need to finish 4th or below to give Race Performance the ELMS title. In this Scenario Newblood by Morand Racing wouldn't be able to score enough points, even by finishing second.
In essence all of the contenders need to be first to the chequered flag and then see where their rivals finish on the track. The fact that the permutations are so complicated proves what a great season 2014 has been for the LMP2 category in the European Le Mans Series.

The 4 Hours of Estoril will take place on Sunday 19 October in Portugal and is the final race of the 2014 European Le Mans Series. Track action begins on Saturday 18 October with two 90 minute Free Practice sessions. Qualifying will take place at 09:30 (local)/ 10:30 CET on Sunday morning, with the 4 hour race starting at 13:30 (local) / 14:30 CET.

Rob

16th October 2014, 20:37

The TDS Racing team wants to end on a high note!
Info Team

After its last victory in Blancpain Endurance Series and its title of European GT vice champion, the TDS Racing team is about to race the ultimate round of the European Le Mans Series at Estoril (Portugal).

Last straight in ELMS!
A bit earlier, the Thiriet by TDS Racing team will run the final (a new one!) of the European Le Mans Series in Portugal. For this last round, Ludovic Badey, Pierre Thiriet and Tristan Gommendy will once again drive the Ligier JS P2. Although their title hopes had been ended at Paul Ricard, the members of the Thiriet by TDS Racing team will not be there to have a walk-on part and hope to win another time this year after the victory in Silverstone. The Portuguese track of Estoril will bring some good memories back to the staff. Indeed, in 2011, for the last meeting organized by the ELMS on this circuit, the TDS Racing team won the LM P2 category and finished 3rd overall.

The whole team is looking forward to racing in Portugal, on October 19th. Please note that the race will be broadcasted live on Motors TV (12.30 pm, French time).

Rob

16th October 2014, 20:43

Championship points before the 4 Hours of Estoril

A http://i57.tinypic.com/mrct8h.jpgTrue International Championship

The provisional entry list for the final race of the 2014 European Le Mans Series season includes 37 cars from nine different countries, with around 100 drivers representing 18 diverse nationalities.

While France is the country best represented on the ELMS grid (10 cars and 30 drivers), the British are also flying the flag numerically in the European endurance racing series with 19 drivers and seven cars. After that, it's the Italians, who will enter six cars and 12 national drivers and the Russians, for the most part within the SMP Racing team, with five cars and 10 drivers. Finally Switzerland rounds things out as four Swiss cars and 4 drivers from the country will be on the starting grid at Estoril.

While Filipe Albuquerque has been the only local competitor to complete the full season, with the JOTA Sport team, for the Iberian round he will be joined by two other compatriots. Miguel Faisca is in the No.41 Greaves Motorsport LMP2 entry while the other, Filipe Barreiros, is with AF Corse in GTC (No.63). Belgium, Germany and Austria will be represented by teams, while Mexico, Poland, Belarus, the Netherlands, Estonia, Monaco, the USA, Finland and Denmark will have their flags flown at Estoril on the helmets or suits of talented drivers.

A final which will have everyone on the edge of their seats

The finale for the 2014 European Le Mans Series will certainly be as exciting as that of 2013. Indeed, as we go into the final race of the season all the championship titles are still open and up for grabs, and the drivers as well as the teams will be doing their utmost until the very last minutes of the final laps to secure the 2014 ELMS "Teams" and "Drivers" trophies.
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In the top category, four teams are still in contention for the title of European champion. Signatech Alpine is defending its 2013 title and is currently leading the LMP2 class with 68 points, 10 more than second-placed JOTA Sport (58 points). The Swiss NewBlood by Morand Racing has shown that it can also be a front-runner with its victory at Paul Ricard and its third place at Silverstone. It now has 50 points in the classifications and can still win the 2014 title if it claims its second win this season and the first two do not finish better than 7th and 3rd respectively. And that's not all, for a fourth car also has a shot at the title; Race Performance is currently in fourth place overall and, should its rivals fail, it is mathematically still able to claim the 2014 crown. With their 68 points, Signatech Alpine's drivers Nelson Panciatici (2013 LMP2 champion) and Paul- Loup Chatin (2013 LMPC Champion), as well as their teammate Oliver Webb, are well placed to pick up the "Drivers Trophy. However, the trio at the wheel of the No.38 JOTA Sport Zytek Z11 SN Nissan, Simon Dolan, Harry Tincknell and local star Filipe Albuquerque, would love to score a second victory this season to win the 2014 title in Portugal. A podium at Estoril on top of their 58 points would allow them to taste the [championship] victory champagne, providing Signatech Alpine finishes no higher than fourth. Gary Hirsch (2013 LMPC Champion) and Christian Klien, NewBlood by Morand Racing's loyal drivers, are now only 18 points behind the Alpine drivers and eight behind the JOTA Sport drivers; everything is therefore still possible for the Swiss and the Austrian drivers. The team's third driver, Pierre Ragues, having only participated in the last two rounds, totals 35 points cannot retain his 2013 "LMP2 Drivers" title. Points scorers at every race this season, the Race Performance duo of Franck Mailleux and Michel Frey are in fourth place in the Drivers' classification with 45 points. While it's more difficult for the drivers of the No.34 ORECA 03-Judd to claim the title, mathematically it is still possible.

Four teams are therefore still able to win the championship, while no fewer than ten drivers can lay claim to the crown.

If the content is fascinating in the LMP2 class, it is equally so in LMGTE. That the Italian Prancing Horse manufacturer will win the ELMS title is beyond doubt, but with which car?

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The No.55 AF Corse F458 leads the LMGTE standings with 81 points, 21 more than the No.72 SMP Racing entry (60pts). It will therefore be between these two competitors; the Italians having won three races, while the Russians have scored valuable points in each event with a win (Imola), second place (Silverstone) and three points for three pole positions..

In the LMGTE drivers' point table, it would be hard to imagine that defending champion Matt Griffin (his 2013 title won with Ram Racing) won't be doing everything in his power to repeat the performance in 2014. With his teammate Duncan Cameron, the duo currently hold 81 points but their third teammate, Michele Rugolo, did not take part in the Imola race and only has 75 points so can't claim the 2014 "Driver" title.
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At SMP Racing, Andrea Bertolini (2010 GT1 World Champion) would like to get back to title success, while Viktor Shaitar (2013 GTC champion) would love to claim the crown for the next class above last year's. Teamed with Sergey Zlobin (currently leading the FIA WEC LMP2 drivers' standings), the 60 points of the second-placed men could still exceed the 81 of the leaders if they win and the AF Corse drivers finish in 9th. And what about the GTC class, which still has three teams and eight drivers vying for the trophies awarded to both? At SMP Racing, hands will be rubbed with glee as the No.73 F458 Italia GT3 of the Russian team is leading the class with 79 points while the team's No.71 entry is third with 54. Both can still claim the Team Trophy, but the No.60 Ferrari of the Danish Formula Racing team has been very consistent throughout the season and is currently second, just 18.5 points behind its rival.

After setting two pole positions and taking three podiums finishes, its total is 60.5 points which means the Danish team is still in with a chance if it wins and the No.73 runs into trouble.

With one win and one pole position, No.71 SMP Racing F458 Italia GT3 could also shake things up and it's no less exciting for its drivers. Anton Ladygin, David Markozov and Monégasque Olivier Beretta (SMP Racing No.73) are at the head of the class with 79 points, followed by Johnny Laursen and Mikkel Mac on 60.5 points. Jan Magnussen, the third driver for the Danish team, wasn't present for the No.60's Imola victory so has 34.5 points and is 6th in the standings, unable to claim the title this year.

In third place in the drivers' classification are Aleksey Basov and Luca Persiani, with 54 points, the same as Kirill Ladygin who was ELMS GTC champion last year. With one win and one pole position, the 2013 champion could join his teammates in taking the 2014 crown ... The 4 Hours of Estoril thus promises battles from start to finish and, as nothing is yet decided, both teams and drivers are going to be working extra hard to achieve the best possible results.

Emotions will therefore be running high on 18 and 19th October in Portugal, venue for the 4 Hours of Estoril!

Rob

16th October 2014, 20:49

Yea it would be cool, a Ferrari LMP1, but Ferrari has been winning with the 458 AND the 430 for quite awhile now.
Its hybrid tech, so Ferrari would be way behind as far as the other lmp1 entrants. Even mighty Porsche has yet to
win this season. The cost of LMP1 is enormous, so I dont think Ferrari will do it. I read that Audi spent over a billion
dollars on their car and their cousin, the Porsche. Thtas F1 territory. The good thing is many people frusterated with
the F1 rules this year have turned to the WEC, n while F1 attendance is down, WEC is doing better than they have.
Im not going to COTA F1 this year, but my friend goes to the sports car races there..he loves em. So I may join
him for those.

Would love too see it happen, said many times. But will it EVER happen? i dont know. WEC, endurance racing is getting alot more popular. No politics, no silly overtaking tools, or tyres that play WAY to much on the racing. Action through out the field. I love it. Now, if Ferrari did a full factory backed assualt, what would programme would would pay the price? the 458s? or F1 programme? Both i reckon. Our GTs have been in fine form of late, and please dont touch them, let them carry on winning and kicking everyones behind.

Rob

16th October 2014, 21:03

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News Release October 16, 2014
No 86/14
FIA World Endurance Championship, LMP1 Technology

We traditionally think of a steering wheel being round, but today’s FIA WEC prototype drivers have a very different shape between their hands – more of a rectangle. The Porsche Team highlights the complexities of a modern steering wheel when it refers to the steering wheel in its Porsche 919 Hybrid as a multi-functional control centre!
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With 24 buttons and switches on the front, as well as six paddles on the reverse side, for the control of the most technologically sophisticated racing car built by Porsche to date, steering is the easiest of jobs required of the device. The buttons and switches on the steering wheel were carefully positioned after consultation with the drivers for the easiest and most effective operation at racing pace. The most frequently used buttons are positioned along the top outside edge, so they are easily reached with the thumb.

Why not round?

Cockpit ergonomics and the space required for driver changes dictate the shape; tall drivers such as Mark Webber or Brendon Hartley would otherwise have difficulties in accommodating their long legs quickly.

Do you know what speed you were doing, sir?

There is a large read-out panel in the centre which displays a multitude of information to the driver. This includes the speed, what gear is engaged, the engine management setting being used, and the charge status of the lithium ion battery, i.e. how much electrical energy is available to be called up to drive the front axle. The electric motor on the front axle supplements the turbo charged two litre, four cylinder combustion motor which drives the rear wheels.

Ups and downs

The control button at the top left is used to select the displayed information, while the drivers use the control button in the right grip handle to dim down the display brightness at night. The identical control button in the left grip handle is for the volume of the pit radio, and the fourth rotary-type control at the top right varies the interval timing of the windscreen wiper.

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Flash, flash!

The blue button at the top right, which is almost always in use, is the headlamp flasher, used by the fast prototypes to warn the slower vehicles in the WEC field before they are lapped. When pushed once, it causes the headlamps to flash three times. In daylight, the drivers keep their thumb on it almost permanently, as naturally the headlamp signal is more difficult to perceive at that time.

Power boost

The red button at the top left is also used a lot. It demands electrical power from the battery, the so-called "boost". The drivers can boost to pass but must be clever about rationing the power; the amount of energy per lap is specified. The yardstick is one lap in Le Mans, where six megajoules are available, and the amounts are converted accordingly for shorter circuits. The amount of energy a driver uses in the middle of a lap to get free of the traffic will not be available at the end on the straights.

TC, brake bias, the all-important drink and more!

A bit further inside on the right and left are the plus and minus switches to adjust the front and rear traction control and to distribute the brake balance between the front and rear axle. These (yellow, blue and pink) are not used quite as frequently.

The orange buttons further down operate the drinking system (on left) and put the transmission in neutral (on right). The red button at the bottom left is for the windscreen washer, the red one on the right side activates the cruise control to restrict the speed in the pit lane.

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Radio check, radio check

At the top centre, there are the green buttons for radio communication (on the left) as well as the OK button on the right. Drivers use the latter to confirm they have performed a setting change, which was requested from them via the pit radio. For these settings, they use the rotary switches, and usually only on the straights as they need to pull one hand off the steering wheel grip for this purpose.

Multi settings

The two rotary switches called 'Multi' correspond with one another. The left one is available for ABC settings, the right one is number-based. Programmes for engine management or fuel management are designated by combinations such as A2 or B3. Three other rotary switches are available to pre-select the brake balance, set the traction control for wet or dry conditions and the hybrid strategy.

To make the switches easier to recognise in the dark, their colours are fluorescent and respond to a black light lamp, which is situated above the driver's helmet.

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Paddle-shift

The steering wheel is made of carbon, the grip handles are covered in slip-resistant rubber. Thanks to the power steering system, drivers can steer the car without any difficulty, even with the relatively narrow grips. When reaching through the openings, their fingers touch six paddles on the reverse side of the steering wheel. The centre paddles are used for changing gears – pulling the right paddle is for upshifting, and pulling the left paddle is for downshifting. The lowermost paddles operate the clutch and their function is identical on either side. Depending on whether the driver just entered a right or left curve, he can decide which side is easier to operate. The paddle at the top left operates the boost; whether the drivers use this paddle or the button described on the front is purely a matter of preference. The drivers use the paddle at the top right to initiate manual energy recuperation. This feels like a slightly engaged hand brake and supplies the battery reservoir with electric energy gained from kinetic energy.

With so much to do inside the cockpit, as well as lapping at high speed and negotiating through the slower LMGTE classes, it is no wonder that the Porsche’s LMP drivers – and their competitors - are among the very best in the world.

Nova

17th October 2014, 02:09

Would love too see it happen, said many times. But will it EVER happen? i dont know. WEC, endurance racing is getting alot more popular. No politics, no silly overtaking tools, or tyres that play WAY to much on the racing. Action through out the field. I love it. Now, if Ferrari did a full factory backed assualt, what would programme would would pay the price? the 458s? or F1 programme? Both i reckon. Our GTs have been in fine form of late, and please dont touch them, let them carry on winning and kicking everyones behind.

I have to agree there..The 458's to me come from the lineage of the 206SP/330 P3/4 line of mighty racing
Ferrari's..Some of my favorites of all time, so I want them to continue. Great piece u put up on the championships battle.
When I was young I always followed Sports racing cars b4 I even got into F1, so I follow the WEC w/great interest.
Its so much better to follow when the Ferraris r in there battling. I gotta hand it to Fisi n the rest of the 458 drivers...theyre doing a killer job.

Rob

17th October 2014, 20:13

Brief history of Prototype and GT sportscar racing at Autodromo di Estoril.
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The first sports-prototype and GT endurance race at Estoril's circuit took place 42 years ago on the very day it opened in June 1972.

This kind of race was not a new phenomenon for Portugal as "Grand Touring and Sport Proto" cars were the main components of the national speed championship's principal category, itself begun in 1966. There had also been Grands Prix of Portugal in Lisbon and Porto using "Sport Proto endurance" cars and even the legendary circuit of Vila Real had organised endurance events in the 1950s, a championship very popular in Portugal at the time.

Estoril
At the Estoril circuit's opening, the entry list for its first endurance race was quite extensive but the majority of the foreign drivers didn't in the end accept the invitation to race. Only Briton Roger Heavens would face some of the best national drivers at the wheels of cars such as the Chevron B21, Lotus 62, Lola T280, Porsche 906, Porsche 911, Lotus 47, Alpine A110 plus Mini Cooper S prototype. Portuguese driver Carlos Gaspar would go on to be the winner of Estoril's first race driving the Lola T-280 DFV of Team Bip. Two races of the European GT Championship were organised for 1972 and 1973 but the race format of 50 minutes did not really reflect the traditional endurance races with pit stops and driver changes.

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The following year should have seen another race but the 1973 oil crisis and the Carnation Revolution military coup put an end to events at the Estoril circuit for several years...

It would take until 1977 before a real endurance race would be seen at the Estoril circuit, with the ACP Grand Prix counting towards the World Sports Prototypes Championship. The winner of the race – shortened to 2h30 – would be Italian Arturo Merzario (Alfa Romeo 33SC12) at the top of a fully Alfa Romeo podium. It's worth noting also the presence of the only Portuguese- entered car, the low-profile Ford-engined Bravo RR77 driven by Orlando Gonçalves and design engineered by Bravo Marinho.

But the ACP GP marked the beginning of a long drought for Portuguese fans of endurance racing as motorsport in the country would be mainly centred around the Rally of Portugal, which joined Formula 1 in 1984.

Le Mans-type enthusiasts would have to wait 23 years in order to attend another international sportscar race thanks to the FIA GT in 2000 at Estoril and the return of endurance racing and the Spirit of Le Mans would come in 2001 with the "Le Mans Endurance Series", created and organised by Patrick Peter.

The first 1000 Km of Estoril was met with enthusiasm, and attracted many foreign participants familiar with the discipline, as well as some Portuguese drivers. All indications pointed towards the race being the most promising event of the year but the round was in the end notable for the low number of entries. Nevertheless, this event will remain unique for the Portuguese who were treated to a real “Le Mans" type race with access to attractions hitherto unseen in Portugal: paddock access, contact with the drivers, autograph sessions, distribution of posters and the traditional Le Mans style start.

The 2001 race
The race was hotly contested between Audi and Courage in LMP. In practice Stefan Johansson, at the wheel of an Audi R8 wearing the colours of the famous international oil company – Gulf – took pole position. On the 192nd lap, the Courage C60 driven by Derichebourg hit the Audi and took it off track. Five laps later the Courage took the chequered flag before being disqualified.

In the end it was a GTS car, the Saleen S7R of Ray Mallock, which was declared victorious in the 1000 Km of Estoril. For the first time in the history of the ALMS/ELMS overall victory would go to a GT car.

A few days later, manager of the French team, Henri Pescarolo (Courage C60) filed a protest and saw it accepted; this French victory still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for some drivers .

Since 2005 sports prototypes and GTs have once again been permitted to compete together in national races. The Porsche 911 GT2s, 911 GT3s or even the Lister Storm of Briton Bobby Verdon-Roe, and prototypes such as the CVO-Honda , the Radical SR3 or even the small Portuguese Suzuki-engined Semog CM prototype have rubbed shoulders on Portuguese circuits.

2011

2011 saw the return of international sports prototypes and GT races with a 6-hour leg of the Le Mans Series (LMS). Henri Pescarolo's team tasted victory once more in Portugal, with the Pescarolo 01 Evo Judd; it would be the last for the legendary four-time winner of the24 Hours of Le Mans.

In GTE Pro, the Ferrari F458 of Walker and Bell crossed the finish in first place, practically neck and neck with the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Lieb and Lietz It was an exciting weekend, summed up by the Portuguese in a single, typically Portuguese word which is difficult to translate: Saudade. (*)

This nostalgia will be brought to the fore with the return of the European Le Mans Series and the Spirit of Le Mans this weekend on the occasion of the grand finale of the 2014 season: the 4 Hours of Estoril.

1.

(*) Dating from the time when Portuguese sailors went off to explore the world, the word Saudade describes a mix of feelings covering sadness, loss, distance and love.

Rob

17th October 2014, 20:21

I have to agree there..The 458's to me come from the lineage of the 206SP/330 P3/4 line of mighty racing
Ferrari's..Some of my favorites of all time, so I want them to continue. Great piece u put up on the championships battle.
When I was young I always followed Sports racing cars b4 I even got into F1, so I follow the WEC w/great interest.
Its so much better to follow when the Ferraris r in there battling. I gotta hand it to Fisi n the rest of the 458 drivers...theyre doing a killer job.

Fisi been doing an outstanding job past couple years. Well, towards end of last year not sure what happened for him to be replaced, but, in WEC #51 we have one of if nit the best pairing around, Gimmi and Toni.

I too, have loved sportscars for long long time. But, the past ten years i have got into it alot more. The racing is so much more, how to say, purer. No gimmicks. And past few years the races have become full out sprint races. With refuelling. The cars now are alot more fuel effecient.

Rob

18th October 2014, 21:00

Gravel Trap: Post race tech – Fuji WEC

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Fuji Speedway is one of the best circuits in the World to really understand how a car works. In 2014 at the WEC 6 Hours of Fuji it was also a good place to have a look over the current crop of Le Mans Prototypes competing in World’s premiere sportscar racing championship. So this blog post is really just a notebook of observations from along the pit lane.

Toyota
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Toyota ran its low drag nose at Fuji as it has for most of the season. Following the flexing bodywork controversy at Le Mans Toyota and others were told that solutions on display there would not be accepted at future races. Fuji’s long straight would be the perfect place to run such a wing, but as can be seen below the wing elements are firmly bolted in place (below).
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Porsche
Porsche introduced a major update to the 919 at the last round in Austin, but its performance has not lived up to expectations.
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At the front end of the car a new front splitter is fitted, with a subtle difference in shape to the version seen at Le Mans. Note also the blanking on the front air intake.
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Before the update was introduced post Le Mans every time a 919 stopped the engine cover would have to be removed and leaf blowers pointed directly at the turbocharger. Now a single leaf blower is clipped to the front left intake (oddly not the right also) and no blowers are directed at the turbo suggesting that the update is more than skin deep.
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The sidepod of the car has reverted to the version with three slats in the air extractor behind the number panel. This is the same as the design run at Silverstone and Spa but the version seen at Le Mans had a single slat.
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Forward of the air extractor in the area behind the front wheel a small turning vane has been added to the leading edge of the floor. The small cut out above existed there previously.
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At the extreme rear of the car the 919 sports a new tail, the area that caused so much controversy at Le Mans has been heavily reworked. Note the curvature of the underside of the rear deck. The removable central piece of bodywork that sat over the rear crash structure has been made much, much smaller, though the rear deck still has scope to flex at high speed.

Audi
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At Fuji Audi used its high downforce bodywork, as at Austin, complete with the centrally mounted exhaust exits. Noticeably the outer edge of the rear gurney is slightly different in Fuji Spec (below) compared to Austin (above). On both versions the gurney is slightly larger than the one seen at Spa.
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At Fuji a good look could be had at the front end of the R18 with the nose and ever present blankets removed. Note the front brake cooling layout (below)
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In general though the Audis struggled at Fuji, the long straight punishing the cars lack of straight-line speed in comparison with both Porsche and Toyota.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/blogs/gravel-trap-post-race-tech-fuji-wec/

Rob

18th October 2014, 21:29

@Tobes...

LE MANS 2015 - IT'S COMING... NISSAN GT-R LM NISMO

http://youtu.be/bCRw_Nq8L-I

Nova

19th October 2014, 04:00

Great detailed shots Rob.
WEC is so much better racing than what F1 has turned into.
The rules makers in F1 pants r a bit too tight.
TV in the US is hard to see the WEC though, what w/all the nascar n tudor stuff.
I have to look 4 it on the net.

Nova

20th October 2014, 13:50

European Le Mans Series: SMP Racing rules the roost for Ferrari

Maranello, 20th October 2014 –The 2014 European Le Mans Series came to a triumphant end for Ferrari and its customer teams. Taking the lion’s share of the honours was SMP Racing, which took the titles in both LMGTE and GTC.

In the first of those two categories, Andrea Bertolini, Viktor Shaitar and Sergey Zlobin made the most of the fact that Duncan Cameron and Griffin, teamed up with Michele Rugolo in the AF Corse car had a bad day, winning the race, to overturn the points standings and take the title. The same happened in the teams’ classification, with the Russian outfit getting ahead of the Italian one.

No surprises in GTC, where the SMP Racing trio of Olivier Beretta, Anton Ladygin and David Markozov managed the situation, winning the title that had always looked on the cards, thanks to a third place finish. The race was won by the BMW of Bas Leinders, Markus Palttala and Hanry Hassid.

These two crowns for the SMP team bring the total of Ferrari title wins in the European Le Mans Series to ten. The Russian team had already won the GTC title in 2013, while the LMGTE win had gone to Ram Racing. Prior to that, the other winning teams were Larbre Competition (2004), BMS Scuderia Italia (2005), Virgo Motorsport (2007 and 2008), AF Corse (2011) and JMW Motorsport (2012.)

Nova

20th October 2014, 13:57

Supercar Challenge:  Curbstone FMA Racing’s Ferrari wins GT title

Maranello, 20 October – This weekend, the Assen circuit staged the final round of the Supercar Challenge. In the GT category, the title went to the Curbstone FMA Racing team Ferrari, crewed by Belgian drivers Patrick Van Glabecke and Frederique Jonckheere. For the last two races, the duo did what they had to do, settling for a couple of fourth places to secure the title. Englishman Rob Wheldon won both races in the Raw Motorsports Radical.
Unfortunately, things did not go so well in the Super GT class for the Martino Rosso Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT2. The Dutch crew of Martin Lanting and Bob Herber came to Assen leading the series, but they were unable to hang on to it. In the first race, they could only manage sixth place, with victory going to their main title rivals, Roger Grouwels, Arjan Van der Zwaan and Robert De Graaf. The following day, Lanting and Herber managed to get to the third step of the podium, but their rivals took the title by coming home in fourth place.

Nova

20th October 2014, 14:06

Estoril in brief:
The LMGTE fight for title honours was just as intense as the LMP2 class. Taking the crown and overturning what seemed to be an impossible 21-point advantage were Andrea Bertolini, Viktor Shaitar and Sergey Zlobin in the #72 SMP Racing Ferrari 458 Italia.

Rob

20th October 2014, 19:30

had email from ESM Racing today, i will be getting their press releases now.

Thankyou Susan.

Rob

20th October 2014, 19:33

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Onroak Automotive Press Release – 10.20.2014

European Le Mans Series - ELMS
Round 5/5, 19th October 2014 – 4 Hours of Estoril
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Newblood by Morand Racing and their Morgan-Judd LM P2 second at Estoril

This weekend the Estoril circuit hosted the fifth and final round of the European Le Mans Series where the 2014 titles were decided. The 34 cars lined up in warm weather with occasional clouds, and the many spectators present at the Estoril 4 Hours enjoyed a very exciting hectic race whose outcome remained indecisive until the closing laps. Accidents and penalties added spice to this event in which the Newblood by Morand Racing team clinched second place with their Morgan–Judd LM P2, and finished in third place overall in the 2014 European Le Mans Series classification.

There were three Onroak Automotive cars at the start of the Estoril 4 Hours. Despite a disappointing qualifying session Swiss team Newblood by Morand Racing took second place in the no. 43 Morgan-Judd LM P2 after a race full of twists.
Pierre Ragues put in two excellent stints and brought the car up from fifth to third place before the no. 46 Ligier JS P2 got back in front. Gary Hirsch then took the wheel of the Morgan LM P2, but had to pit again quickly to fix his harness that had become undone. This cost the team precious time and maybe even victory as they lost more than 45 seconds and the car rejoined in fifth place.
Christian Klien then got down to fighting his way back up the time sheets taking advantage of a stop & go and a 3-minute penalty that hit the Alpine. Thanks to pit stops the no. 43 Morgan-Judd LM P2 took the lead temporarily. When the final stints began the car was in third place which became second after the no. 34 Race Performance Oreca-Judd went off. Thus the no. 43 Morgan-Judd LM P2 finished the race in second place behind Sébastien Loeb Racing and in front of Jota Sport.

Thiriet by TDS Racing, winner at Silverstone in the first race of the season with its Morgan-Nissan LM P2, had to retire this weekend. The team set the quickest time in the second free practice session followed by the second fastest in qualifying, before the session was interrupted by a red flag, thanks to Tristan Gommendy at the wheel of the no. 46 Ligier JS P2-Nissan just behind the Jota Sport Zytek-Nissan.

Pierre Thiriet did the first stint, but was unable to fight off the no. 35 Alpine-Nissan driven by Nelson Panciatici who soon got past and took the fight to the leader, the no. 38 Jota Sport Zytek-Nissan. The no. 46 Ligier JS P2 then fell back to fifth place in heavy traffic before Tristan Gommendy took over and made a great comeback, passed the Alpine and took temporarily the lead.

At the following pit stop a cloud of smoke escaped from the rear of the car, and Ludovic Badey who had just taken over had to come back in very quickly. An unexplained oil leak forced the team to throw in the towel after only less than two hours racing, a huge disappointment for Thiriet by TDS Racing and for Onroak Automotive as it had the potential. This was confirmed by the no. 46 Ligier JS P2’s third quickest time in the race.

Pegasus Racing finished its first season in the LM P2 category by scoring the points for eighth place. The team was ninth on the grid for the Estoril 4 Hours and was very satisfied with its no. 29 Morgan-Nissan LM P2 and the times set by the trio Schell-Leutwiler-Coleman who were not far behind the front-runners. This weekend the team had to cope with rapid tyre degradation. Julien Schell started on the qualifying rubber and had a good early stint matching the pace of the leaders and experienced drivers for several laps. After a single stint he handed over to Jonathan Coleman who was hoping to do two, but the second one was cut short by premature tyre wear. Niki Leutwiler then did a long double run and took the chequered flag without problems despite a spin at the end of the race.

Overall the team was very satisfied with its learning year whose highpoint was its participation in the whole of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which helped them get to grips with their new machine. Onroak Automotive and Pegasus Racing have already established close links as proved by the purchase of a second chassis for 2015.

The 2014 European Le Mans Series has been a particularly rich and exciting one. The five races have been won by five different teams and the title went to the Signatech Alpine-A450B-Nissan thanks to its consistency, in front of the Jota Sport Zytek-Nissan and the Newblood by Morand Racing Morgan-Judd LM P2. With two victories, a second and a third place with the Morgan LM P2, Onroak Automotive confirmed the potential of its open LM P2. The Ligier JS P2 arrived in the Thiriet by TDS Racing team during the season and was unable to score meaningful results this year in the European Le Mans Series. However, its maiden victory in the FIA WEC in the Fuji 6 hours and its top-3 finishes and pole position in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Tudor United SportsCar Championship confirm that this car will soon shine in the European series.

Benoît Morand, team manager and co-owner of Newblood by Morand Racing: “It’s a great end to the season. It was a difficult race and our weekend didn’t get off to a great start. It was our fault as we weren’t able to find the right compromise with the tyres. We still lack experience in tyre management and the mix between the hard and medium rubber. Finally we took the decision to start with four hard tyres as we did at Le Castellet and it’s a configuration that we master much better. Pierre Ragues did two fantastic stints and the team did a great job, in particular during tyre changes which helped us gain time. Gary Hirsch did the job, but unfortunately we had a problem with the harness which cost us forty-five seconds. Without this glitch I think we’d have won the race. Christian Klien was his usual self and he pushed as hard as we asked him to. The team’s fantastic and we’ve got a super car; we’re really very happy. We don’t yet know what we’re going to do, but we know we want to do it with Onroak Automotive and with Judd who’s also done a great job.
“This evening we really regret the twenty-five points we lost at Imola, but in life you have to look to the future. We’re third in the championship and second in this race. We’d like to thank our partners, Onroak Automotive, Judd and Dunlop.”

Jacques Nicolet, President Onroak Automotive: “The European Le Mans Series is a great championship with a very high level of competitiveness among all the teams. The races have all been very hotly contested and that only serves to underline the value of each one’s results.
“I’m very happy for Benoît Morand, his team and his partners Judd and Dunlop who rounded off the season with a fantastic second place and third overall in the final ELMS classification. With a victory in Le Castellet and increasing momentum throughout the year these results bode well for next season. During the prize-giving Benoît was awarded the title of the “Man of the Year” for his motivation and his perseverance in the face of the problems he encountered in the previous years; and it’s a well-deserved reward.
“We’re also very happy to have accompanied Pegasus Racing which, throughout the season, got its act together and improved progressively, and which is preparing for 2015 with a lot of enthusiasm and passion. It’s been a great year for this team and it’s very encouraging for the future.
“Finally, everybody’s very disappointed that Thiriet by TDS Racing has finished the year on a low note after a succession of glitches. But that’s racing and at least the team won the opening round at Silverstone with the Morgan LM P2, then set pole and scored a brilliant second place in the Le Mans 24 Hours on what was the Ligier JS P2’s maiden outing.”

4 HOURS OF ESTORIL – Top-3:

1- #24 – Sebastien Loeb Racing – Oreca 03R-Nissan
2- #43 – Newblood by Morand Racing – Morgan Judd LM P2 (+35,399)
3- #38 – Jota Sport – Zytek Z11SN-Nissan (+43,713)

EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES – Final Classification:

1- Signatech Alpine – Alpine A450b-Nissan - 78 pts (1 win)
2- Jota Sport – Zytek Z11SN-Nissan - 74 pts (1 win)
3- Newblood by Morand Racing – Morgan Judd LM P2 - 68 pts (1 win)
4- Sebastien Loeb Racing – Oreca 03R-Nissan - 57 pts (1 win)
5- Race Performance – Oreca 03-Judd - 57 pts
6- Greaves Motorsport – Zytek Z11SN-Nissan - 38 pts
7- Thiriet by TDS Racing – Morgan-Nissan LM P2 / Ligier JS P2 – Nissan - 35 pts (1 win)
8- Greaves Motorsport – Zytek Z11SN-Nissan - 30 pts
9- Murphy Prototypes – Oreca 03R-Nissan - 28 pt
10- Pegasus Racing – Morgan-Nissan LM P2 - 18 pts

AfterLife

20th October 2014, 19:54

had email from ESM Racing today, i will be getting their press releases now.

Thankyou Susan.

Congratulations! Is it really that important :-D
Just kidding, even without them, I am sure you will be able to find another way. Cheers Leeeeeenaaaaaaa:clap

Rob

20th October 2014, 20:01

Congratulations! Is it really that important :-D
Just kidding, even without them, I am sure you will be able to find another way. Cheers Leeeeeenaaaaaaa:clap

yeah, i knwo. As get team news from alot of sportscars teams and FIA, i like getting them instead of copy and paste from sportscar news sites. Plus as Susan at ESM said, contact them anytime, so may send few questions to the the team about entering WEC round at Shanghai.

AfterLife

20th October 2014, 20:04

yeah, i knwo. As get team news from alot of sportscars teams and FIA, i like getting them instead of copy and paste from sportscar news sites. Plus as Susan at ESM said, contact them anytime, so may send few questions to the the team about entering WEC round at Shanghai.

Just kidding to be honest to lighten the mood. Congratulations again :thumb
and about sending the question, why not? Ask them about hybrid power unit and why did Ferrari mess up with power unit in that scale? :-D

Rob

20th October 2014, 20:08

Signatech Alpine is 2014 ELMS Champion
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The final round of the 2014 European Le Mans Series, the 4 Hours of Estoril, has been won by the No.24 ORECA 03R of Sébastien Loeb Racing, Vincent Capillaire and endurance debutant Jimmy Eriksson giving the team its first win in the Championship and the series its fifth different winner from five races.
Christian Klien, Gary Hirsch and Pierre Ragues of NewBlood by Morand Racing will be on the second step of the podium, while local star Filipe Albuquerque and his teammates Simon Dolan and Harry Tincknell complete the podium.
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The LMP2 championship title wasn't to be decided until the very end of the race and it went to Signatech Alpine, but it wasn't all plain sailing… Following the retirement of Thiriet by TDS Racing, it looked as though the battle would be played out between Signatech Alpine and JOTA Sport, but they didn't count on Sébastien Loeb Racing spoiling their game; never mind the Stop & Go penalty awarded to Signatech Alpine for a pit lane rules infringement. Simon Dolan's brief off track excursion at the wheel of the No.38 Zytek played a part in the outcome, as did a great performance by the No.34 Race Performance ORECA and a second penalty for Signatech Alpine of three, long minutes for spinning the wheels while leaving the pit lane.

In short, the last two hours of the 4 Hours of Estoril offered various and numerous opportunities to each team to move up the order.

Dramatic end to 2014 ELMS Season in Portugal

· No72 SMP Racing Ferrari snatches LMGTE Driver and Team Title with Victory

· No73 SMP Racing Ferrari finishes third in GTC to secure the 2014 Driver and Team Titles

· BMW Sport Trophy Marc VDS win GTC Class on ELMS debut
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The 2014 European Le Mans Series finished in dramatic style with the LMGTE class titles being decided in the final hour of the race when Andrea Bertolini overtook the no85 Gulf Racing UK Aston Martin of Roald Goethe to lead in the no72 SMP Racing Ferrari. The 25 points for the victory were enough to overhaul the 21 points advantage that the no55 AF Corse Ferrari had at the start of the race.

The Italian team's race went from bad to worse after Duncan Cameron was hit by one of the GTC McLarens early in the race, which caused rear suspension failure and meant a lengthy stop to repair. However Michele Rugolo had to pit with another technical issue and after another lengthy stop the team managed to take the chequered flag 23 laps adrift and in 11th place.

Their only hope was that the SMP Ferrari couldn't finish on the top step of the podium but this was a forlorn hope as Bertolini cruised to the chequered flag to give himself, Viktor Shaitar and Sergey Zlobin the European crown. The second step of the podium was filled by the nr54 AF Corse Ferrari 458 of Marco Cioci, Michael Lyons and Pierguiseppe Perazzini one lap behind, with the no66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari of Daniel McKenzie, George Richardson and Daniel Zampieri taking the final podium position.
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The GTC class was also won in dramatic style with the no73 SMP Racing Ferrari of Olivier Beretta, David Markosov and Anton Ladygin, finished on the third step of the podium to claim the second GTC title for SMP Racing in two years and the second title of the day for the Russian team. The only championship rivals for the Russians was the all Danish team of Johnny Laursen, Mickel Mac and Jan Magnussen who finished one place ahead in second place despite an early spin for Laursen that cost the Dane a lot of time as the car was recovered from the gravel.

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The GTC win went to the BMW Sport Trophy Marc VDS team of Markus Paltalla, Henry Hassid and Bas Leinders on the Belgian team's ELMS debut. The battle for the lead was very intense in the mid part of the race with Paltalla getting the upper hand against the nr71 SMP Ferrari of Luca Persiani despite the Finn spinning off the track and rejoining. At the chequered flag Leinders took the victory 1 lap ahead of the no60 Formula Racing Ferrari.

The 2014 season is now finished and all of the titles have been decided. The 2015 season will begin in March with the Official Collective Test at the Circuit Paul Ricard on 22/23 March and round 1 will be at Silverstone in the UK on Saturday 11 April 2015.

Rob

20th October 2014, 20:09

Just kidding to be honest to lighten the mood. Congratulations again :thumb
and about sending the question, why not? Ask them about hybrid power unit and why did Ferrari mess up with power unit in that scale? :-D

i know my friend, no offence taken :thumb

Rob

20th October 2014, 21:27

STRAKKA RACING MOVING CLOSER TO RACE DEBUT
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Strakka Racing’s Team Principal Dan Walmsley was happy to confirm yesterday that the Strakka DOME Nissan S103 Coupe was shaken down in its revised form this week at the Anglesey Circuit before being dispatched to a multi-day test on mainland Europe.

More significantly, the team – together with DOME – has now commenced the final homologation process, signalling confidence that the initial technical issues for the car have now been resolved.
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The team has not changed its stated aim of competing in the 6 Hours of São Paulo in Brazil on 30th November.

Rob

25th October 2014, 11:00

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FIA WORD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
6 Hours of Shanghai – 1-2 November
OAK Racing Press release – 10.24.2014 – Preview

Ho-Pin Tung, David Cheng and Mark Patterson at the Shanghai 6 Hours
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The no. 35 Morgan-Judd LM P2, which finished third in LM P2 in Fuji driven by Keiko Ihara, Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman, has been entered for three rounds of the FIA WEC and next on the list is the Shanghai 6 Hours. For this race OAK Racing is again putting its trust in Ho-Pin Tung and David Cheng. This month they have already won the third round of the Asian Le Mans Series on the same circuit with the same car. The Chinese duo will share the sports prototype from the Onroak Automotive workshops with American, Mark Patterson, a very experienced gentleman driver.

On 11th October Ho-Pin Tung and David Cheng clinched victory with a Morgan-Judd LM P2 in the Shanghai 3 Hours giving themselves the drivers’ title and OAK Racing the teams’ crown in the Asian Le Mans Series. Boosted by this success the two Chinese drivers at the wheel of the no. 35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LM P2 will be back this weekend to take the fight to the best international aces. They both know the car inside out as they have already racked up several victories in it.

David Cheng, who took part in this race last year with OAK Racing, and Ho-Pin Tung are determined to shine in front of their home crowd and their partners. They will have in the Morgan-Judd LM P2 shod with Dunlop tyres a new team-mate in the person of Mark Patterson, making his debut with OAK Racing, who has accumulated a great deal of experience in single-seaters, GTs and sports prototypes, and who likes the challenge posed by the technical International Shanghai circuit very much.

Ho-Pin Tung: “After our victorious last race here in Shanghai in the Asian Le Mans Series I am looking forward to competing in the 6 Hours of Shanghai WEC race. It will be a tough battle for us. I am happy that I will be sharing the car with my long-time team-mate David Cheng again and would like to extend a warm welcome to Mark Patterson for what is our home race here in Shanghai.”

David Cheng: “I'm very excited to race again in Shanghai in the WEC. Having taken part in this race last year with OAK Racing and having recently scored a victory here winning my second Asian Le Mans Series title. I feel like we have a lot of momentum riding with Ho-Pin and myself as we race in front of our home crowd and partners Orsun and Total. Look forward to welcoming Mark Patterson who I've seen around the paddock in my American Le Mans series days. Our aim will be the podium.”

Mark Patterson: “I can’t wait to get back to this magnificent track, having last participated in the Formula BMW series there when China hosted its first ever-F-1 race. It’s a really wonderful track with ample technical areas to separate mice from men, plus solid passing opportunities. While I’ve driven prototypes for some time, this is my first race with the team, doubling the excitement of participating in this WEC event.”

Schedule - 6 Hours of Shanghai, China:
LM P1 & LM P2 Qualifying : Saturday 1st November, 1:55-2:20 pm (local time -6h in France)
Race: Sunday 2nd November, 11:00 am -5:00 pm (local time)

Rob

25th October 2014, 13:01

The WEC grid just lost two of its entries for Shanghai.
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There has been some modifications to the World Endurance entry list for their sixth round of 2014.

The No. 61 and No. 81 Ferrari 458s are no longer going to compete in the Six Hours of Shanghai. That leaves just five cars contesting that class with the only Ferrari being a AF Corse-backed car for 8Star.

The duo finished finished fifth in sixth in what was a seven-car GTE Am field at Fuji. No reason was given for the withdrawal.

Nova

25th October 2014, 14:14

I read this..what a drag..any race without Ferrari
is generally less interestint to me.

Rob

25th October 2014, 14:21

I read this..what a drag..any race without Ferrari
is generally less interestint to me.

i know, gutted, for the team. Have emailed my friend to ask why they have pulled them.

fratelliferrari

26th October 2014, 15:40

Sorry for going offtopic, but Rob really nice avatar :thumb

Rob

26th October 2014, 20:51

A SPOTLIGHT ON ESM - WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM
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The distinctive green and black colours of Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) will be making a welcome second appearance in the FIA WEC next week in the 6 Hours of Shanghai, following the Florida-based team’s debut in Austin in September.

With an all-star driver line up, two Tequila Patrón-sponsored Honda Performance Development ARX-03B prototypes will be competing in the LMP2 class and they are relishing the opportunity. Here’s a look at who the drivers are and the highlights of what they have achieved to date.

No.30 HPD ARX 0B-Honda: Scott Sharp/Ryan Dalziel/Ricardo Gonzalez:

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ESM’s owner/driver Scott Sharp is a former Trans-Am Champion, Indycar star and Daytona 24 Hours winner who competed successfully in the American Le Mans Series in the LMP1, LMP2 and GT classes, winning the LMP1 category with Brabham in 2009.

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Scotland’s Ryan Dalziel, now USA-based, is a former FIA WEC champion, winning the 2012 LMP2 title and GRAND-AM’s North American Endurance Championship titles. In addition, he raced to victory at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Starworks Motorsport HPD ARX-03b LMP2 machine.

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The 6 Hours of Shanghai will mark a return to the FIA WEC for reigning WEC LMP2 Champion and 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winner, Ricardo Gonzalez. The Mexican is a former ALMS LMPC championship winner and has this year competed in the European Le Mans Series for ART Grand Prix.

No.31 HPD ARX 0B-Honda: Ed Brown/Johannes van Overbeek/David Brabham

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Ed Brown is President and Chief Executive Officer of Patrón Spirits International and, although a relatively late recruit to the driving seat, the Colorado-born businessman has made a meteoric rise through the ranks. Paired with Johannes van Overbeek, Brown finished 2nd at the notoriously tricky Grand Prix of Long Beach in the ALMS last year, beating off far more experienced drivers.

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A former recipient of the Porsche Cup award for top non-factory Porsche driver, Californian Johannes van Overbeek has proved he can be successful in whatever he drives and supremely consistent. With ESM from the start, he and Sharp finished runners up in the 2012 ALMS GT championship, and he has also competed at Le Mans four times.

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David Brabham needs little introduction; F3 Champion, former F1 driver, ALMS champion, Peugeot LMP1 driver and Le Mans winner as well as coming from one of the best known racing families in the world, the British-based Australian is hugely experienced and will bring that knowledge plus his skill and meticulous attention to detail to ESM in Shanghai.

Rob

26th October 2014, 20:52

so happy to see ESM in WEC, just hope they can do whole season next year. They my second fav team.

Rob

26th October 2014, 20:52

Sorry for going offtopic, but Rob really nice avatar :thumb

:thumb

AfterLife

27th October 2014, 19:46

i know, gutted, for the team. Have emailed my friend to ask why they have pulled them.

Any result?

Rob

27th October 2014, 21:53

Any result?

not yet.

Rob

27th October 2014, 21:56

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ESM Patrón Set for Overseas FIA WEC Debut

Two-car, Honda-powered effort from lone American LMP2 team.

STUART, Fla., – October 27, 2014 – Six weeks after earning its first podium finish in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) with two Tequila Patrón-sponsored Honda Performance Development ARX-03b (HPD) prototypes, six world-class drivers and a crew of 30 set sail for China to add another item to the team’s history book: compete in the 6 Hours of Shanghai.

In February 2013, the Tequila Patrón-sponsored ESM entered two Le Mans style-prototype racing machines (LMP2) for the final season of what was the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), en route to a runner-up position in the championship standings.
Less than two years later, the Florida-based team made its debut in the FIA WEC during the September race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and earned a third-place finish. For 2014, ESM competed in the prototype class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the result of the ALMS and former Grand-Am Road Racing series. As the TUDOR Championship season drew to a close, ESM decided to embark on a journey into the FIA WEC and entered two cars in the November race.
The 3.4-mile (5.5-kilometer), 16-turn Shanghai International Circuit is located in Jiading, Shanghai, China. Developed to host the Formula 1 World Championship, the Shanghai International Circuit also hosts the MotoGP and the V8 Supercar championship races.

The No. 30 Tequila Patrón HPD driven by Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Ryan Dalziel made a stellar debut in Austin, Texas, in September. The trio started from the third position, battled the competition, the rain and a red flag. All three drivers led the LMP2 class during the six-hour event. Dalziel charged to the front twice and was logging laps nearly six seconds quicker than the leaders. In the end, the No. 30 team earned a third-place finish.

The Tequila Patrón-sponsored team showed its power and prowess with one entry at the September race. Now with double the racing machinery and drivers, ESM eyes the Orient and seeks another solid performance.

The line-up has changed for the No. 30 Tequila Patrón HPD team. Mexican racer Ricardo Gonzalez, the 2013 FIA WEC LMP2 champion, will co-drive with Sharp and Dalziel. Gonzalez has two previous starts at the Shanghai track. Last year, Gonzalez and co-drivers Bertrand Baguette and Martin Plowman qualified fourth and finished third in P2 driving an Oak Morgan-Nissan.

Dalziel is the 2012 FIA WEC LMP2 class champion. The Scotsman has three FIA WEC victories and seven podiums. In his FIA WEC championship season, Dalziel finished second at Shanghai.

ESM team owner and racer Sharp is making his Shanghai debut. Although Sharp is new to the FIA WEC, he holds several drivers championships including three consecutive Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) titles (1986-1998), two SCCA Trans-Am titles and one ALMS LMP1 Championship title that he earned with then co-driver David Brabham. Sharp is also the 1996 Indy Racing League co-champion.
New for the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Shanghai is the No. 31 Tequila Patrón HPD, co-driven by Brown, Johannes van Overbeek and Brabham. Formerly the No. 2 Tequila Patrón HPD in TUDOR Championship, the addition of the second LMP2 machine in the WEC strengthens ESM’s efforts. In 2014, Brown and van Overbeek earned their first pole position and win in the TUDOR Championship during the May race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Brown was part of the ESM team that raced to a third-place finish at COTA. The China event marks the FIA WEC debut of Oakland, California-native van Overbeek. Although a seasoned sports car racing veteran with four 24 Hours of Le Mans events under his belt, van Overbeek makes his first FIA WEC appearance in China. International competition has taken a liking to van Overbeek. While with ESM, the Californian celebrated his 100th ALMS start during the 2012 July race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. That same weekend van Overbeek made a bold final-lap pass which resulted in ESM’s first GT win.
Brabham teams with Brown and van Overbeek for the first time. Earlier this year, Brabham co-drove with Sharp and Dalziel in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and assisted in a third-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Brabham also co-drove in the then No. 01 machine during the 2013 ALMS endurance races at Daytona, Sebring and at the Petit Le Mans in Atlanta. The 6 Hours of Shanghai marks the second appearance for the Australian at Shanghai International Circuit. He finished fifth in 2012 in the LMP1 class.

Ride along with Extreme Speed Motorsports
Viewers will be able to watch qualifying and entire race from on-board cameras mounted to both of the ESM Tequila Patrón-sponsored HPDs via the FIA WEC second screen app or online at www.fiawec.com

The cameras are mounted to the race cars so viewers can watch the race from the drivers’ point of view. To ride along with Sharp, Dalziel and Gonzalez, select the No. 30 camera, or to ride along with Brown, van Overbeek and Brabham, select the No. 31 camera.

SCOTT SHARP
“To say that we are excited to take the entire ESM Patrón HPD team to Shanghai is an understatement! COTA whet the appetite a bit. To bring two cars and the full team and with the addition of Ricardo and David, this will be an experience and a great way to finish 2014.

“Naturally we are shooting for two podiums but more importantly is the experience for the entire team. Ed said it before, we wanted to challenge ourselves and this is definitely a challenge.

“We’re equally excited to expose our Tequila Patrón HPD prototype cars and the Patrón Spirits brand to the many avid Chinese fans. China is a critical market for the growth of Patrón in the future and we are excited to play a part in it.

“Although we’ll be far away from our family and friends for the race, we’re set to stay connected with magicJack. We’ll be juggling a big time difference, but ESM is family-orientated and although we’re away, we’ll stay connected thanks to magicJack.”

ED BROWN
“I’m so excited to be going to Shanghai to race in the WEC. I really look forward to driving with my teammate Johannes and honored to be driving with David. This is going to be such a great experience for the entire ESM Patrón team. Johannes and I will learn the track as fast as we can to ensure we’re up to speed on the circuit. We’ll leverage David’s knowledge of the track to help us get our heads wrapped around the circuit.

“This weekend will be challenging but I know both the No. 30 and 31 ESM engineers and crews are ready to tackle China and this race. We learned plenty at COTA, so we’ll just apply what we did there to China and it should be smooth sailing.

“One car was strong at COTA with a third-place run. Now with double the HPD machinery, drivers and crew, we’re twice as strong. This is a big weekend for ESM – we’re presenting our team, Tequila Patrón and the United States as the only American-based LMP2 team.”

RYAN DALZIEL
“One of the biggest challenges we face this weekend is going to be the travel and time adjustment. For majority of the team and crew, heading to China is a first, so going there to race just adds an extra element of difficulty. Once everyone is acclimated to the time difference, we will hit the ground running.

“Competing in WEC at COTA was great. It was the best sports car manufacturers in the world on one stage, and China holds a special place for me as it's where I won the 2012 WEC LMP2 title.

“After COTA we feel confident in going to Shanghai and having both cars compete for the win. We learned a lot at COTA both on- and off- track and I think goals are a double podium this weekend. We’re strong enough and have the right combination of drivers and machinery to get it done.

“The Shanghai circuit is great. It’s very low grip, so it’s tough to find mechanical grip in the very slow areas. There are a couple of high-speed sections that will show the potential of our Tequila Patrón HPD chassis.”

JOHANNES VAN OVERBEEK
“I never imagined I would be going to China to race a car, let alone a Tequila Patrón-sponsored Honda prototype. I’m very excited to be a part of it, racing with Ed and David and looking forward to a good outcome.

“Preparation for this race is absolutely key for me going to a new track. Luckily now with tools like GoPros and YouTube, it is pretty easy to see the track, the corners, elevation changes and get a since of what the grip level is at any track. My objective is to have the track completely memorized before I get there and then overlaying in my mind what the HPD is like to drive and layer that with what I’ve seen on the video. We’re lucky to have Ryan, David and Ricardo as teammates since they’ve all raced at the track.

“I’m not sure what to expect for this race. I have an open mind. We have all the right components in place – me, Ed, David, the engineers, the crew and the car. The only challenge I anticipate now is coming to grips with the track quickly so that we can make the appropriate changes to the car and improve it throughout the weekend.

“This is my first time co-driving with David. I’m looking forward to learning from him. He’s a reservoir of knowledge and experience. I’m really hoping to get another race win this year with Mr. Brown, too.”

DAVID BRABHAM
“One of the biggest challenges this weekend is that the track is unknown and so is the culture in China, so there will be lots for the team to learn.

“A new circuit is a great challenge to conquer and I am sure everything will be done to make sure we are well-prepared. Reliability will be key, so the team and the drivers who have not been there before will have to have lots of laps.

“ESM has assembled a good well-balanced car and that will be very important at China.”

RICARDO GONZALEZ
“Shanghai is a very challenging circuit because it has such unique corners, and you have to compromise quite a bit with car setup as well because of the huge straights. Turn 1 is a decreasing radius corner that is very challenging to get right, and then you have basically the opposite leading on to the back straight, so it's definitely not an easy track to master. I've raced there twice and last year I finished on the podium, so I have a good idea of what it takes to be successful there. I will do my best to share my experience with all my teammates at ESM Patrón so we can all get up to speed as quickly as possible.

“I’m very excited to be racing with Tequila Patrón, ESM, Scott and Ryan. We’ve all known each other for a long time but this will be the first time that we share a car. I think we have a very legitimate shot at taking the win and I will give it my best to make sure I have a successful run with the team.

“My own goals and expectations for this weekend are simple, I want to do the best job I can for Patrón, ESM, and my teammates Scott and Ryan. If we do that, I'm sure we'll come out of the weekend with a good result.”

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Rob

28th October 2014, 21:11

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NEWS ALERT
Shanghai, China - 28 October 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

DID YOU KNOW? FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE 6 HOURS OF SHANGHAI

28/10/2014 - 11h50
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Here are some interesting facts and figures from the 6 Hours of Shanghai

The track layout of the Shanghai International Circuit was inspired by the Chinese character Shang, the first character in the name of the city of Shanghai meaning 'above' or 'ascend'
Track length - 5.451km / 3.387miles - 16 turns
The number of laps completed by the winners in 2012 was 191 and in 2013 it was 190.
Aston Martin Racing have a 100% record at Shanghai having won their first FIA WEC race in 2012 when Darren Turner and Stefan Mucke took the win, a feat they repeated in 2013.
G-Drive Racing won the LMP2 class and 8 Star Motorsports won the LMGTE Class in 2013. Both teams are back to defend their Shanghai titles but G-Drive Racing are now using a Ligier-Nissan and none of the 2013 winning drivers will be driving the 8 Star Motorsports Ferrrari 458.
LAP RECORDS

LMP1 A. McNish Audi R18 e-tron quattro 1m47.442 182.6kph
LMP2 J. Martin Oreca 03 - Nissan 1m55.109 170.5kph
LMGTE Pro B. Senna Aston Martin Vantage V8 2m04.099 158.1kph
LMGTE Am P. Ruberti Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 2m04.682 157.4kph
RACE WINNERS

2012 - #7 Toyota Racing - A. WURZ / N. LAPIERRE - Toyota TS030 - Hybrid
2013 - #1 Audi Sport Team Joest - A. LOTTERER / B. TRÉLUYER / M. FÄSSLER - Audi R18 e-tron quattro

Rob

28th October 2014, 21:13

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CHINA NEXT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP-CHASING TOYOTA RACING
Tuesday 28 October 2014

TOYOTA Racing aims to extend its lead of the FIA World Endurance Championship this weekend in the Six Hours of Shanghai, the sixth of eight rounds this season.

The team heads to China on the back of a dominant one-two victory at Fuji, its third consecutive win on home soil, which saw TOYOTA establish an eight-point lead in the manufacturers’ World Championship.

Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, drivers of the #8 TS040 HYBRID, extended their lead in the drivers’ standings to 26 points with their third win of the season.

They will again race together alone in the #8. Nicolas Lapierre will again be absent.

Based on its experience in Fuji, the team considers it is the best option to continue with a two-driver line-up of Anthony and Sébastien in Shanghai and for the remaining races of the season.

The #7 crew of Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima will be looking to score that car’s third consecutive pole position in Shanghai, having been the class of the field in qualifying for the past two seasons.

Last year’s visit to Shanghai ended in frustration, despite that pole position. The #8 car looked to be on its way to victory before suspension damage forced its retirement, while the #7 had to make do with second due to a late puncture.

However, TOYOTA Racing does have a winner’s trophy from Shanghai on display at its Cologne base; Alex and Nicolas piloted the #7 to a comprehensive victory there in 2012, the team’s first season of WEC competition.

The 1,000PS, four-wheel-drive TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing, which uses 25% less fuel in 2014 whilst delivering more power, is expected to be well suited to the 16-turn, 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit.

Practice in Shanghai begins on Friday with two sessions of 90 minutes (10.45 and 15.30 local time), with a final one-hour practice on Saturday (9.30) prior to qualifying (13.55). The race starts on Sunday at 11.00.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “After our one-two finish in Japan we have maximum confidence going to Shanghai. But we have to be fully focused on this weekend’s race; we cannot ease off in our battle for the World Championship. In the past, our TS030 HYBRID showed impressive performance in Shanghai, so we hope to continue that with the TS040 HYBRID. We know we will face tough competition as always; Audi and Porsche will be looking to hit back after Fuji so it should be an exciting and unpredictable fight this weekend.”

Alex Wurz (TS040 HYBRID #7): “I am really looking forward to Shanghai simply because I have good memories of this track. The flow of the lay-out fits my driving style very well and I can find a nice rhythm, plus I have had some good results there; winning from pole position in 2012, and getting pole last year. I think the nature of the circuit should suit the TS040 HYBRID’s strengths so I am optimistic. Our one-two in Fuji was the perfect preparation so we are going full throttle for the last races of the season.”

Stéphane Sarrazin (TS040 HYBRID #7): “I am quite excited to drive in China again. I like the track, which has some fast corners and interesting elements. It was a good race for us last year until we had some misfortune; both cars were very strong and very fast. Alex in particular was flying there! We have shown good performance all season so we should be confident again this weekend. Our target is clearly to increase our lead in the World Championship with another strong team result. We’ll be pushing as hard as we can.”

Kazuki Nakajima (TS040 HYBRID #7): “It is exciting to be going back to Shanghai as it is the first time for me since 2009, and my first time to drive there in an LMP1 car. It is a tricky track which is not easy track to learn. It is hard on the tyres and can be difficult with traffic. We know we can be quick on this track so we aim to challenge for the win again, in what will be an important race for both World Championships. The end of the season is coming so it is important to score a lot of points.”

Anthony Davidson (TS040 HYBRID #8): “It’s great to be going to Shanghai in the lead of both World Championships; we will be giving our all to stay there until the end of the season. For me, Shanghai feels like unfinished business because we were controlling the race last year but had the technical issue. I am determined to make up for that and give the team another win in China. We’re all still buzzing from the Fuji result but we know we have three more races to go and we are determined to stay on top. It’s full attack from now until the chequered flag in Brazil.”

Sébastien Buemi (TS040 HYBRID #8): “I am happy to be going to China, where we had a good experience last year until the problem. The team was on pole position and leading the race; our car was clearly quick. So I have some good memories of Shanghai and I want to enjoy an even better weekend this year. I think the circuit will suit our TS040 HYBRID so I expect and hope to have a good race. It can’t get better than a one-two from pole position in Fuji but we have to maintain that momentum as we fight for the World Championships. This is our target in the final three races.”

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

About TOYOTA Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship:
TOYOTA first competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 1983, marking the start of a long period of participation in endurance racing. TOYOTA cars have raced in 16 Le Mans 24 Hours races, achieving a best result of second place on four occasions (1992, 1994, 1999 & 2013). TOYOTA entered the revived WEC in 2012, as TOYOTA Racing, with its first hybrid LMP1 car, the TS030 HYBRID, succeeded in 2014 by the TS040 HYBRID. They were designed and built by TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG), where the race team is based. TMG is the former home of TOYOTA's World Rally and Formula 1 works teams, and was responsible for design and operation of TOYOTA's TS020 Le Mans car in 1998-99. TMG now combines motorsport participation with work as a high-performance engineering services provider to third party companies, as well as the TOYOTA family.

Rob

29th October 2014, 21:18

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ASTON MARTIN RETURNS TO SHANGHAI LOOKING FOR REPEAT SUCCESS

Gaydon, 29 October 2014 - Aston Martin Racing will return to China next weekend (1 November) for the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with its four Gulf-liveried V8 Vantage GTEs and hopes to repeat its class-winning success of 2012 and 2013.

The team took its first WEC class win at the Shanghai International Circuit in the championship’s inaugural year in 2012. In 2013, it returned and repeated the victory and, although the GTE Pro competition is tougher than ever, Aston Martin Racing will be hoping to cross the line in first place once again.

Looking to take its third win in Shanghai in three years, is the #97 Vantage GTE Pro driven by Darren Turner (GB) and Stefan Mücke (DE).

Turner, who holds the GTE Pro Shanghai International Circuit lap record, commented: "We've always raced well in Shanghai so I'm looking forward to returning," commented Turner, who holds the lap record for GTE Pro cars. "It's not going to be easy, though. The last two WEC rounds have been really tough. This really is the top level of sportscar racing in the world and the competition is the highest I have ever known."

Also looking for a step on the podium is the #99 Craft-Bamboo Racing Vantage GTE Pro with drivers Darryl O’Young (HK), Alex MacDowall (GB) and Fernando Rees (BR). The team not only qualified on pole for the last round of the WEC in Fuji, but also crossed the line in third place to take the team’s first WEC podium.

“We’re looking forward to racing in China next weekend,” commented Hong Kong racing driver Darryl O’Young. “This is my home race and one of the home races for our team Craft-Bamboo Racing and sponsor Interush so it’s one of the most exciting WEC events in the calendar. We had a great race in Fuji a fortnight ago so we’re heading to Shanghai with confidence but also understand the challenge we face of getting to the top step of the podium.”

In the GTE Am class, the championship leaders, the #95 Young Driver AMR Vantage GTE, will hope to extend its lead at the top of the table with drivers David Heinemeier Hansson (DN), Kristian Poulsen (DN) and Richie Stanaway (NZ).

Also in the GTE Am class is the #98 Vantage GTE of Paul Dalla Lana (CA), Pedro Lamy (PT) and Christoffer Nygaard (DN) who are hoping to continue their podium run following a win in Austin and a second place in Fuji.

“All fours of our teams are doing a great job,” commented Aston Martin Racing Team Principal John Gaw. “To be taking pole positions, podiums and race wins in all four of ours Vantage GTEs shows that our cars are consistent and competitive. We look forward to Shanghai as we have good memories here we just need to focus on coming away with as many points as possible this weekend.”

The Six Hours of Shanghai starts at 11h00 local time on Sunday 2 November.

- ENDS -

Rob

30th October 2014, 22:19

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIGIER JS P2
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At first glance, the new LMP2 cars with closed cockpits appear to resemble the high technology LMP1 cars which race in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

To highlight some of the main differences, and to explain a little more about the Onroak Automotive-built Ligier JS P2, Philippe Dumas – Team Principal of G-Drive Racing and OAK Racing – talked to us today.

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Rob

31st October 2014, 21:34

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SHANGHAI, October 30th – To defend the currently leadership is the target for Ferrari, AF Corse,

Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander. On the eve of the “Shanghai 6 Hours” - sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (Wec), scheduled on Sunday, November 2 - Ferrari is leading the GTE Constructors’ championship with 200 points (Porsche in second place at 171); AF Corse is first among the GTE Pro Team with 131 points (Aston Martin Racing is second with95); Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #51, are leading the GTE Pro Drivers’ championship with 131 points (50 ahead Makowiecki).

Remaining in the GTE Pro category, the Ferrari 458 Italy #71 - driven by Davide Rigon and James Calado - want to confirm the positive performances culminated in the second place at Fuji (fifth round of the WEC).

In the GTE Am category, the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia #90 (managed by AF Corse) have a trio with the real talent to aim for high step of the podium: Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Cressoni. Cressoni make his debut in the W ec with an AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia. The AF Corse Ferrari 458’s Italia number 61 and 81 (both in GTE Am category) are out of the usual line up.

In the #61, after the trio in the first part of the season composed of Luis Perez Companc, Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi – with the great podium in the Le Mans 24 Hours – and the debut in Fuji for Curtis-Bleekemolen-Skeen, in the Chinese round will not race any squad. The problem of the visa in China complicates the “last minute deal”.

Considering the car number 81, this weekend Steve Wyatt will race in another championship, in Malaysia, where he fight for the title. He will come back in the FIA Wec for the last two rounds of the season with his teammates Michele Rugolo and Andrea Bertolini.

The “Shanghai 6 Hours” will start at 11 am (local time) on Sunday, November 2.

Rob

31st October 2014, 21:36

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Rob

31st October 2014, 21:44

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NEWS ALERT
Shanghai - 31 October 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

LMP: TORRENTIAL RAIN INTERRUPTS SECOND FREE PRACTICE IN SHANGHAI

31/10/2014 - 10h24
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While the session started off dry the rain soon started to fall and by the end of the first hour conditions had worsened to the point that most of the cars had retired to the pits and with 17 minutes remaining on the clock the session was red flagged.

Most of the cars had ventured out while the track was dry and the no8 Toyota of Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi was once again on top with a lap of 1m49.134, an improvement of 0.7 seconds over the best time set in the morning session. Alex Wurz was second quickest in the nr7 Toyota, his best lap of 1m49.806 an big improvement of 1.1 seconds over the first session. Audi Sport were 3rd and 4th again, with Porsche in 5th and 6th.
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The no12 Rebellion was once again the quickest of the LMP1-L runners in 7th overall but the no13 R-One didn’t set a time while the track was dry. The no9 Lotus CLM-AER was 13th overall.

The top two in the LMP2 class was a mirror image of the earlier session, with the no26 G-Drive Racing Ligier-Nissan with Roman Rusinov improving by nearly 0.7 seconds. The no30 Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD-Honda was second fastest with Ryan Dalziel, with the no31 ESM car in 3rd thanks to a 1m58.145 lap by Johannes Van Overbeek.

The third Free Practice session of the weekend will take place at 09:30 (local) / 02:30 (CET) tomorrow morning. Qualifying for the 6 Hours of Shanghai will begin at 13:20 (local) / 06:20 (CET) on Saturday afternoon.

Rob

1st November 2014, 15:30

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Shanghai, China – Nov. 1, 2014 – In its first overseas FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) qualifying session, Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) averaged the fifth and sixth quickest times in the LMP2 class. As a result, ESM will start fifth and sixth in Sunday’s 6 Hours of Shanghai race.

Per the FIA WEC rules, the two best lap times from each team’s qualifying drivers are averaged together in order to determine the starting position.

Johannes van Overbeek and David Brabham qualified the No. 31 Tequila Patrón Honda Performance Development ARX-03b in fifth. Van Overbeek’s best lap was 1:57.114. Brabham’s best lap was 1:56.587. Ed Brown is the third driver of the No. 30 Tequila Patrón HPD.

Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel qualified the No. 30 Tequila Patrón Honda Performance Development ARX-03b in sixth. Sharp’s best lap was 1:58.559. Dalziel’s best lap was 1:55.189. Ricardo Gonzalez co-drives with Sharp and Dalziel this weekend.

Rain plagued Friday’s two practice sessions. The first session would eventually dry with the No. 30 team of Sharp, Dalziel and Gonzalez posted the second quickest time of the session, less than one second behind the leader.

In the second practice, the No. 30 team was again second quickest, a mere fourth-tenths behind the leaders. The No. 31 team of Brown, van Overbeek and Brabham were third quickest in class.

The 6 Hours of Shanghai on October 31-November 2 is the sixth of eight races in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Green flag drops at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 2 (11 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 1).

The 6 Hours of Shanghai can be heard on Radio Le Mans. Timing and scoring is available on the FIA WEC website.

Ride along with Extreme Speed Motorsports
Viewers will be able to watch the entire race from on-board cameras mounted to both of the ESM Tequila Patrón-sponsored HPDs via the FIA WEC second screen app or online at www.fiawec.com

The cameras are mounted to the race cars so viewers can watch the race from the drivers’ point of view. To ride along with Sharp, Dalziel and Gonzalez, select the No. 30 camera, or to ride along with Brown, van Overbeek and Brabham, select the No. 31 camera.

ED BROWN

“We didn’t get a lot of laps because of the weather conditions. I’ve never seen a race won in qualifying and there’s a six hour race ahead of us. We need to stay clean, do our jobs and we’ll be in good shape for the race.

“I’m proud of the qualifying effort of Johannes and David. This is the first time Johannes and I have been here. The track is interesting and challenging. Then when you add that the mixture of weather – wet and dry. The conditions keep changing and we keep adapting.

“The Tequila Patrón ESM team has worked hard to get us here. We have a great engineering team, pit crew and driver lineup. We’ll be competitive for the race. Six hours is a long time and we’re looking forward to seeing both ESM Patrón Hondas on the podium Sunday evening.”

DAVID BRABHAM

“It was a challenging qualifying session. We haven’t had many laps here this weekend. I did about six or seven laps on Friday and no laps this morning. I haven’t driven since March and I have a bit of catching up to do. I left some on the table during my laps. The car balance isn’t where we’d like it. This is a tricky track and surface. We’re getting a lot of information and this will help us for the race.

“Our strategy is to have a clean race. We might not have the fastest car but we know if we have a clean, smart and keep a good, fast and consistent pace, the result should come to us.”

SCOTT SHARP

“It is an incredible experience to drive the Tequila Patrón Honda prototypes at Shanghai International Circuit. The track surface is very challenging which makes it difficult to adjust the Dunlop tires and setup. We’re continuing to learn and make the necessary adjustments now and throughout the race tomorrow.

“We have a strong ESM Patrón crew and they’ve put a lot of work into these cars just to get to China. We’re here to race, be competitive and we’re aiming for that podium.”

RYAN DALZIEL

“It looked dark at the start of qualifying. I thought it was going to be raining pretty hard by the end of the lap. Luckily the rain held off all day. We’re still learning and missed it a little bit in qualifying. That’s why we’re here and doing this – to learn and get the Tequila Patrón cars further up the grid. We’ve got some work to do. At Austin, we had the same feeling where we really don’t have the best qualifying car, but we have a good race car.

“We have some work to do tonight to get better for tomorrow and try to get both Patrón cars on the podium. We do exactly what we did after Austin qualifying. We’ll continue to work and make changes. We’re still learning about the combination of Dunlop tires on the Honda chassis. There are a lot of smart guys here at Patrón ESM, so I’m confident we’ll be fine tomorrow.”

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Rob

1st November 2014, 15:32

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DOUBLE POLE FOR ASTON MARTIN IN SHANGHAI

Shanghai, 1 November 2014 - Aston Martin Racing took pole position in both of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s (WEC) GT classes earlier today (Saturday 1 November), for the sixth round of the 2014 season, the Six Hours of Shanghai.

In the GTE Pro class, Stefan Mücke (DE) was first out on track in the #97 Gulf-liveried V8 Vantage GTE and the 32-year old took no time in recording two fast laps of the Shanghai International Circuit.

“We’ve been strong here for the last two years but it wasn’t easy out there today,” commented Mücke. “We had to work really hard for it. It’s our first pole of the year, so it’s very important to us and the whole team should be proud.”

Next it was the turn of Darren Turner (GB), who, in line with the WEC regulations, needed to record two flying laps to be averaged with his German team-mate’s. Never one to disappoint, Turner took over the wheel and did just enough to clinch the pole position.

“It was very close,” commented Turner. “The gap to the second placed Porsche is only a tenth. Stefan did a great job, as always, and I’m really happy for everyone here at Aston Martin Racing. We have a lot of guests here in China and it’s great to get a pole position for them.”

In the GTE Am class, it was Pedro Lamy (PT) and Christoffer Nygaard (DN) who took part in the session to put the #98 Vantage GTE on class pole for tomorrow’s six-hour race.

“This is the second pole position in a row for us and it’s great to be starting from the front,” commented Nygaard. “We are in second place in the championship behind our #95 sister car so we need to score as many points as we can this weekend in order to catch them.”

The WEC GTE Am championship-leading #95 Young Driver AMR Vantage GTE recorded the fastest lap of the GTE qualifying session with Richie Stanaway (NZ) behind the wheel. Team-mate David Heinemeier Hansson (DN) joined the young New Zealander and did an effective job to qualify the car in third place.

In the #99 Craft-Bamboo Racing Vantage GTE, it was Fernando Rees (BR) and Alex MacDowall (GB) who took part in the 20-minute qualifying. The team, which took pole position in Fuji three weeks ago, qualified in sixth place in the GTE Pro class in its INTERUSH-liveried machine.

“It’s good to be starting from the front of the grid in both classes,” commented Team Principal John Gaw. “Qualifying has been tough for us this year so we’re pleased to get another pole position and take that first one for the #97. Darren and Stefan have been winners here in the past and the track suits our car so, hopefully, with a lot of hard work, we can turn it into our third GTE Pro win here in three years in tomorrow’s race.”

The FIA WEC Six Hours of Shanghai starts at 1100hrs on Sunday 2 November. For further information go to www.fiawec.com.

- ENDS -

Rob

1st November 2014, 15:34

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NEAR MISS FOR TOYOTA RACING IN CHINA
Saturday 1 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing missed out on pole position for the Six Hours of Shanghai by the narrowest of margins in an incredibly tight qualifying session for the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The World Championship-leading #8 TS040 HYBRID of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi set exactly the same four-lap average as the Porsche #14, but starts second as pole position goes to the car which first set the time.

Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima, in the #7 car they share with Stéphane Sarrazin, will start from the second row of the grid in fourth place, having finished the session just 0.234secs away from pole.

Qualifying began with the threat of rain in the air, however despite a few drops, Alex, who has been on pole position in Shanghai for the last two seasons, and Anthony started on slick tyres as the track remained dry.

Both 1,000PS, four-wheel-drive TS040 HYBRID set consistently quick times from the beginning, gradually closing the gap on pole position, and that was to prove the story of the battle for top spot.

When Sébastien took over the #8 it lay third, while Kazuki replaced Alex in the fourth-placed #7. Kazuki completed three timed laps and saw out the final minutes of the session from the pit lane, still in fourth.

But with a point on offer for pole position, Sébastien set about improving the four-lap average - and grid position - for the #8, despite being hindered by the traffic around the 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit.

Qualifying requires two drivers from each car to set a minimum of two flying laps each. The grid is decided by the combined average of each driver’s fastest two laps and when the chequered flag fell, the #8 and #14 had exactly the same average.

That meant pole position was determined by whoever set the average time first, so #8 had to make do with second as Sébastien had improved his average on his final flying lap.

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima)
Free practice 3: 3rd (1min 48.859secs), 24 laps
Qualifying: 4th (1min 48.534secs average)

Alex Wurz: “We missed out by a few tenths and now we are fourth so let’s see what the race brings. Six hours is a long race and we expect to be part of a close fight at the front. The track was okay for qualifying despite a little rain just before the start and the car felt okay. We decided to do minimal timed laps each to save the tyres as our focus is on the race.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “It was a pretty good qualifying for us. I think we have made progress on our car in terms of set-up and I was happy with it. We could have gone a bit faster, so that’s a bit of a regret, but let’s do it tomorrow. I think we are competitive for the race and I am looking forward to having a good fight.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Free practice 3: 2nd (1min 48.417secs), 23 laps
Qualifying: 2nd (1min 48.300secs average)

Anthony Davidson: “It’s disappointing to miss out despite doing exactly the same lap time on average but they had a very impressive first lap. It wasn’t our best qualifying of the season but we will learn from it. For some reason I just didn’t have the speed on lap one and I struggled to find the grip so I did an extra lap to improve the average. If you look at it overall, it could have been better for us but well done to Porsche; they deserved it today. It should be a good fight tomorrow.”

Sébastien Buemi: “Of course I am disappointed to lose pole position by such a small margin. It was incredibly tight but Porsche did a good job so congratulations to them. We would have liked the bonus point for pole position but tomorrow is where the big points are awarded so we are fully focused on the race. I think we are in good shape.”

Rob

2nd November 2014, 11:07

another cracking WEC race, shame #51 crashed out even before a lap was completed. But Gimmi couldnt do anything about the accident.

The Architect

2nd November 2014, 16:21

Enjoyed the race and particularly the early Toyota charge through the pack. Good to see them continue to convert pace into points and turn the screw on the others, particularly Audi.

Rob

2nd November 2014, 19:45

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TOYOTA RACING DOMINATES IN CHINA
Sunday 2 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing took its second consecutive one-two victory, winning the Six Hours of Shanghai by more than a lap to extend its lead in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi took a dominant win in the #8 TS040 HYBRID, their fourth of the season, to stretch their lead in the drivers’ World Championship to 42 points.

The 1,000PS four-wheel-drive TS040 HYBRID, which dominated the last round in Fuji, was once again in a class of its own with Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima taking second place in the #7.

That gives TOYOTA a 29-point advantage in the manufacturers’ World Championship with two races remaining.

The race started in bright sunshine, with Sébastien and Alex retaining second and fourth positions respectively during the first corners before an accident at the rear of the field brought out the safety car.

While the pack circulated slowly behind the safety car, both cars pitted for new tyres and more fuel, therefore eliminating the need for a short refuelling stop late in the race when more time would be lost.

When racing resumed after 25 minutes, Alex was the leading TS040 HYBRID as Sébastien had pitted a second time to top up on fuel due to a temporary refuelling issue at his first stop.

Sébastien overtook Alex while both soon moved into the top six and began closing on the leaders.

Setting fastest laps on the way, Sébastien battled past the front runners and into the lead by the time he handed over to Anthony, who resumed ahead. Alex was close behind and made two decisive overtaking moves to move from fourth to second.

The two-hour mark passed with the TS040 HYBRIDs stretching their advantage and soon after, at the next round of stops, Stéphane took over the #7 from Alex while Anthony continued for another stint.

A smooth race continued and, as the 100-lap milestone approached, Sébastien returned to the wheel of the #8, by now holding a healthy advantage over the #7.

While Sébastien continued for a second stint in the #8, Stéphane handed the #7 to Kazuki with more smooth pit stops helping to maintain TOYOTA Racing’s control of the race.

By the time Sébastien swapped with Anthony for the final time, the #8 held a one-lap lead over all cars except the second-place #7. That left Anthony and Kazuki to bring the cars home for the team’s third one-two finish of the season.

The battle for the World Championship now moves into the final stages with just two races remaining, in Bahrain on 15 November and Sao Paulo on 30 November.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “This is the result we have all worked hard for, so thank you to everyone in the team; the pit crew, drivers and engineers who did a great job, particularly on tyre management. The car was quick straight out of the box here in Shanghai. We were disappointed to miss the pole position by such a tiny margin but the big job was the race today. It’s exactly the result we wanted for the World Championship and puts us in a strong position for the remaining races. Now we want to keep this momentum in Bahrain and Sao Paulo.”

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima)
Race: 2nd, 188 laps, 6 pit stops. Fastest lap: 1min 49.216secs

Alex Wurz: “That was a mega result for us. It doesn’t get better than a one-two for the team. After the opening laps I wasn’t sure we could manage that because we had a sensor issue on our car. We couldn’t use maximum power early in the race as one of the sensors wasn’t working properly. So we weren’t able to give the #8 guys a run for their money today. But still everyone did a good job to bring the #7 home in second place so I’m very happy.”

Stéphane Sarrazin: “It was a very good race for the team. A one-two is just amazing, as it was in Fuji. We scored big points for the Manufacturers’ World Championship today which was the big target. I didn’t take any crazy risks during my stint; I was careful in traffic and tried to keep a steady pace. The car worked well and I am happy with how the race went. The World Championship was the main focus for us and we achieved our target as a team.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “Congratulations to the team who did a great job today. A one-two finish means we get the maximum possible points today which is great for us in both World Championships. I’m really pleased. I couldn’t relax in my stint because the Porsche was quite close and it wasn’t certain we would finish second. So I pushed hard and I’m happy I could build a gap which made it a bit more comfortable towards the end of the race.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Race: 1st, 188 laps, 7 pit stops. Fastest lap: 1min 48.694secs

Anthony Davidson: “Today the whole team did a great job with the right strategy and solid pit stops; everyone kept calm and focused on getting the result. We showed we had the fastest car in Fuji and we’ve done that again here in Shanghai. We didn’t want to take too many risks, particularly in traffic so it was a relatively quiet race for me; Seb did all the spectacular work at the start. To get such a result at this stage of the season is huge for us and now we aim to continue like this in the final two races.”

Sébastien Buemi: “I’m really happy because this is a good step towards the championship. It makes the win even sweeter when it’s a one-two; it’s the best result we could imagine today. The team performed really well, as did Anthony. All in all it was a very good race and the car worked well from beginning to end. It’s our second one-two this season, after Fuji and Silverstone, so now I can’t wait for Bahrain. Hopefully we can keep going like this.”

Rob

2nd November 2014, 19:47

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Runner-up Finish for ESM Patrón at Shanghai.

Shanghai, China – Nov. 2, 2014 – Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) and Tequila Patrón earned its second consecutive FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) podium. On Sunday afternoon in China, the No. 30 Tequila Patrón Honda Performance Development ARX-03b (HPD) team of Scott Sharp, Ryan Dalziel and Ricardo Gonzalez finished second in the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Shanghai.

In its two FIA WEC races, ESM earned two podium finishes. In September, Sharp, Dalziel and Ed Brown finished third at the FIA WEC race at Austin, Texas’ Circuit of The Americas. The FIA WEC 6 Hours of Shanghai marked ESM’s final race in the HPD ARX-03b prototypes. In May, ESM purchased two HPD ARX-04b coupe prototypes to be used in 2015.

It was an adventurous trip for the Florida-based team. The weekend opened with rain during the first two practice sessions. Saturday’s final practice and qualifying were dry but the shortest segments of the weekend. The first time the team had at-length on-track action was during today’s race which also proved to be challenging. The track lacked grip and throughout the six-hour event, the preferred racing line became very narrow.

The No. 30 team qualified in the sixth spot. In the opening minutes of the race, Dalziel leap-frogged from sixth to second before a full course caution for contact between an LMP2 and GTE car. The full-course caution period lasted 21 minutes.

The No. 30 team drivers ran approximately two hour stints and never fell below fourth place in class. Gonzalez dropped to third in his stint but remained strong. Sharp had some bodywork come loose during his two-hour stint. He pitted earlier than scheduled to make the necessary repairs. Sharp reached second before the final driver change to Dalziel with 40 minutes remaining on the race clock.

While running second, Dalziel needed fuel to complete the race. With 20 minutes remaining, the Scotsman pitted and the fast-working No. 30 team serviced the Tequila Patrón-sponsored Honda. It would be the seventh stop for the team. Despite the late-race fuel splash, the ESM team got Dalziel back on track without losing second place.

The No. 31 Tequila Patrón Honda Performance Development ARX-03b started from the fifth position. David Brabham gained a spot and ran his two-hour stint in fourth position. Struggling with the same low-grip track issues, Brabham ran a strong and consistent stint before the No. 31 team cycled through the driver lineup.

Johannes van Overbeek ran a two-hour stint, pitting once for fuel and minor adjustments. He maintained a fourth-place effort before the scheduled driver change to Brown.

Brown, in his second FIA WEC race, ran a competitive stint before the final driver change to Brabham. In the closing 45 minutes, Brabham posted some of the quickest laps of the No. 31 team’s race. At the end of the six-hour race, the No. 31 Tequila Patrón HPD finished fifth.

On Friday evening, Tequila Patrón and ESM recognized Brabham and his 30-year motorsports career during a special reception. Brown, president and CEO of Patrón Spirits International, presented Brabham with a one-of-a-kind personalized bottle of Gran Patrón Platinum.

SCOTT SHARP
“It was a great day for the ESM Patrón team! After a pretty wet Friday, which severely limited our dry running, we left the track feeling behind the other P2 cars. But race day was a great rebound! The Honda prototypes had very good pace, all six drivers drove very well, and the team had good stops and strategy. Our goal was at least one podium finish and we nailed it! What a great way to end the season!

“I think racing FIA WEC in China was everything we hoped it to be. We wanted to come and learn. We were thrown so many curveballs this weekend. Fortunately, Ryan and Ricardo had driven here before, but as a team, we’ve never been to China, so everything was brand new for Ed, Johannes and me. We chased the setup with the car, tires and track. We learned so much both on- and off-track, including the logistics just to get us here.

All in all, this was a positive weekend and a great day for the team. We had great pit stops and Ricardo and Ryan both drove as hard as they could. It was a great finish for us.”

ED BROWN
“What a great experience for the team to be able to race in Shanghai. It was a tough week for track time because of the weather but both cars did awesome!

“I’m so proud of the entire Tequila Patrón team, especially the No. 30 drivers and crew finishing second.

“It is always an honor to drive with my teammate Johannes and I’m glad we experienced racing in China together. Plus, it was an honor driving with David for the first time in my career. Huge thanks to David for his help this weekend.”

RYAN DALZIEL
“What a way to continue our FIA WEC campaign this year - a third place in COTA and second place here. We had a great result for Tequila Patrón and ESM here in Shanghai! We definitely worked hard for that second place and we deserved it. This is probably the last race for the HPD ARX-03b at this level so I'm happy we could get Honda a nice podium before we retire her.

“The entire Patrón ESM team was flawless. We were forced to pit Scott early to fix loose bodywork, and that turned our race into a seven-stop race, one more than the others. But we managed to hammer down and get a big enough gap to make our stop and retain second place.

“We had a lot of guests from Patrón. I’m glad we could reward them with a podium and a sendoff for the old HPD; she’s been good to us over the years. Glad we could send the HPD off with a good result.”

JOHANNES VAN OVERBEEK
“My two stints were very challenging. The track was greasy and had low grip, which made it tough to do two laps that were the same. Ed did a fantastic job during his stint, as did David in his two stints.

“We had a tough pit stop which really cost us. Congratulations to Scott, Ryan and Ricardo on their second-place run. In all, racing in China was a great experience.”

DAVID BRABHAM
“I have to thank ESM and Tequila Patrón for helping to clear cobwebs out after seven months out of the seat! It was great to race with the team again. We had a solid result considering it was the first time for ESM to race in China. It was tricky out there with a low-grip track, but we can be happy with second- and fifth-place finishes.”

RICARDO GONZALEZ
“I’m very happy with this result; everybody at ESM Patrón team did a great job. I couldn’t think of a better way to make my debut with the team. The whole weekend I just focused on doing my job and helping them achieve the best possible result.

“It wasn’t an easy weekend, we barely got any laps during practice because of the rain, and in the race we struggled with grip quite a bit. All the drivers did a great job and so did the team during the pit stops. We raced clean, didn’t make any mistakes and managed to achieve our goal - a podium finish. I really want to thank ESM, Tequila Patrón, Scott Sharp and Ed Brown for giving me this opportunity. It was a great experience!"
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Rob

2nd November 2014, 19:52

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ASTON MARTIN WINS IN SHANGHAI AND SECURES TWO WORLD TITLES

Shanghai, 2 November 2014 - Aston Martin Racing has won the GTE Am class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Six Hours of Shanghai in its #98 V8 Vantage GTE. With the #95 sister-car finishing in second place, it has also ensured that one of its two GTE Am entries will take the 2014 GTE Am Teams Trophy and one or more of its drivers will take the GTE Am Drivers Trophy.

Although it was the #98 NorthWest car that crossed the line in first place at the Shanghai International Circuit, the pair of Aston Martin Vantage GTEs once again proved how evenly matched they are by closely but safely battling for the lead throughout the six-hour race.

The NorthWest-sponsored team of Christoffer Nygaard (DN), Pedro Lamy (PT) and Paul Dalla Lana (CA) qualified on pole and, other than trading places with their #95 team-mates, they led the race to the chequered flag.

”That was a great race,” commented Nygaard. “We qualified on pole for the second event in a row and were in the lead for most of the race. Paul and Pedro both did a great job today and we’re looking forward to going to Bahrain and hopefully closing the championship lead on the #95 car.”

Despite leading the class at one point, the #95 Vantage GTE – driven by Richie Stanaway (NZ), Kristian Poulsen (DN) and David Heinemeier Hansson – had to settle for second place and, although the #98 has closed the gap on the championship lead, it is the #95 Young Driver AMR car that goes into the penultimate round of the 2014 at the top of the championship standings.

With just two races remaining, today’s result puts all other teams out of the running for the 2014 GTE Am Teams Trophy, leaving it a two-way battle between the Aston Martins.

“It’s great to be leading the championship but the #98 team are giving us a good battle,” commented Heinemeier Hansson, who is currently leading the GTE Am Drivers Trophy, alongside Poulsen. “Either way, an Aston Martin and an Aston Martin Racing works driver has won the GTE Am championship, which is fantastic for the team, but we are going to do whatever we can to make sure it is us!”

In the GTE Pro class, the #99 Craft-Bamboo Vantage GTE had a clean and solid race and finished in fourth place but luck was not on the side of the #97 Vantage GTE which, despite qualifying on pole and leading the race from the green flag, was forced to retire with an engine issue in the fifth hour of the race.

“To have clinched the GTE Am Teams and Drivers Trophies with two rounds remaining is great news,” commented Team Principal John Gaw. “It’s a two-horse-race to the end now and, although the #95 is in the lead, the #98 is hot on its heels.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing that the #97 GTE Pro car had to retire. It qualified on pole and led for the whole race and we are confident that without the issue we would have taken our third race-win here in three years. Still, we head to Bahrain in a couple of weeks with the same focus and determination and as positive as ever.”

The FIA WEC continues with the penultimate round in Bahrain on the 15/16 November.

- ENDS -

Rob

2nd November 2014, 19:53

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Onroak Automotive Press Release – 02.11.2014

FIA Word Endurance Championship
Manche 6/8 – 6 Hours of Shanghai, China – 1-2 November – Race

Shining victory in Shanghai for the G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2

G-Drive Racing has come away with another win in LM P2 class at the 6 Hours of Shanghai, the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The terrific trio of Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal, driving the #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan-Dunlop, have given developer Onroak Automotive a second victory in a row for the Ligier JS P2, the fourth of the season for the team. Following up their win in Fuji, the trio are back in top form, leading from start to finish and delivering a flawless performance.

Despite the heavy fog which lingered over much of the free practice sessions, nothing got in the way of the team scoring their fifth LM P2 pole position of the season, with Olivier Pla setting the fastest lap in the LM P2 class, and was the only one to set a time below 1’54. His two best laps, along with Roman Rusinov’s two fastest times, were more than enough to give them pole.

With the sun finally shining in Shanghai, the 6-hour race got underway on Sunday morning. An incident in the opening lap took out the #47 KCMG Oreca-Nissan LM P2, one of G-Drive Racing’s main rivals, and brought out the safety car for about 20 minutes. Once that was sorted, the race got underway.
Olivier Pla was first to drive the #26 Ligier JS P2-Nissan. He had a very consistent double stint, holding onto the lead position and widening the gap over the rest of the field. By the end of his stint in the car, he had almost a minute’s lead over his closest rivals in LM P2. He also set the fastest lap of the race for the LM P2 category with a time of 1’55.900.

After almost two hours of racing, Olivier Pla handed over to Julien Canal. Canal continued the work that Olivier Pla had begun and worked on increasing the lead over the LM P2 field. His stint was consistent without any incidents, a good show from the silver driver. When it was time to hand over to Roman Rusinov, he was leading by more than a lap ahead of the #27 SMP.

Roman Rusinov was third in the car and, like his teammates before him, carried on driving at the head of the pack, working on the gap and enjoying the reliability and consistency of the Ligier JS P2-Nissan. He maintained the lead throughout his stint, and by the time he handed over to Olivier Pla for the final push, the #26 G-Drive Racing car was leading by two laps!

Olivier Pla took the wheel for the final stint and brought the Ligier JS P2-Nissan in its G-Drive Racing colours home to take the top step on the podium once more, winning more valuable points for G-Drive Racing in the team championship standings, reducing the gap to current leaders SMP to 8 points with two races left to contest.

The other Onroak Automotive car, the #35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LM P2, struggled a bit this weekend, with brake balance issues disturbing the second half of the race. David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung, driving alongside fast gentlemen driver Mark Patterson in front of their home crowd, sadly could not repeat the Fuji 6 Hours success of the car #35, nor their own victory here in Shanghai a few weeks ago in the Asian Le Mans Series. All the experience and the work brought by the team and the drivers were sadly not enough to find the way to the podium.

Roman Rusinov: « It was a difficult race. We saw in Japan that even with a 50 second lead, it doesn’t guarantee a win, so here we were pushing like mad for the whole stint. We took a lot of risks. The hardest was to manage the tyres. I think that we took good care of them, at the same time, the car was very competitive. It’s very good for G-Drive Racing, our fourth victory, our fifth pole this year. We were fastest in free practice, took pole and won the race! »

Olivier Pla: « A perfect race from start to finish, since the beginning of the weekend even. I think that we couldn’t have done better. The car was very good and consistent over the whole of my stint. Our advantage was that our tyres degrade slower than the others. We have to continue like this, the championship is far from won. We have to stay humble and work hard and we’ll take another look at the last race. »

Julien Canal: « A perfect race! It’s a very complicated and very physically demanding circuit. It was a bit hard for me, physically, with the large curves, and very technical corners. I think it’s been the most technical one of the year. The car was consistent from the start to the end of my two stints. I think that everyone has done a good job, we didn’t make a single mistake. It’s our fourth victory of the year, and I think we deserved it. I hope that we’re going to continue on this path! »

Philippe Dumas, Team Principal: « I’m not going to tell you again that the team has worked well, that the drivers drove well, and that the car was magnificent. But it’s the truth! The car is perfect, the team is perfect, the drivers are perfect! On to the next episode! Even with the pole position we’re only gaining 8 points on our nearest rivals. We’re gaining points for the championship little by little and we’ll have to fight until the end. »

6 Hours of Shanghai, LM P2 Classification:
1- #26 Ligier JSP2-Nissan / G-Drive Racing
2- #30 HPD-Honda / Extreme Speed Motorsports
3- #27 Oreca Nissan / SMP Racing
4- #37 Oreca Nissan / SMP Racing
5- #31 HPD-Honda / Extreme Speed Motorsports
6- #35 Morgan-Judd LM P2 / OAK Racing Community

LM P2 Teams FIA Endurance Trophy, after round 6:
1- #27 – SMP Racing – 128 pts
2- #26 – G-Drive Racing – 120 pts
3- #47 – KCMG – 80 pts
4- #37 – SMP Racing – 42 pts

fratelliferrari

3rd November 2014, 18:27

another cracking WEC race, shame #51 crashed out even before a lap was completed. But Gimmi couldnt do anything about the accident.

Couldn't follow it this weekend but very sad to hear this Rob :-s

fratelliferrari

3rd November 2014, 18:28

We are only 11 points ahead of Porsche Manthey! I really hope we will win the title :pray

Rob

3rd November 2014, 20:53

TITLE CONTENDERS READY FOR BAHRAIN BONANZA!

The bright, warm sunshine of the Middle East will welcome the FIA World Endurance Championship in just two weeks’ time for the seventh and penultimate stop in the 2014 Championship. The race promises to be a scintillating one with championship battles across the classes getting tighter and tighter!

Toyota Racing’s Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi took their fourth victory of the season in China and moved ever closer to their first World Endurance Championship crown. There is much to gain and all to lose for the pairing at the next round, and the title will surely be on everyone’s mind within the Japanese team.

The 27 cars which are due to take the start of the 6 Hours of Bahrain will be providing just as much action as was seen in China, but some of the LMP2 and LMGTE Pro categories will certainly be hoping for less drama. The first lap accident involving the current GT Drivers’ Championship leader, Gianmaria Bruni, and LMP2 contender KCMG, put to an end the Italian’s hopes of wrapping up the title chase in China. There will be much at stake for AF Corse with both Bruni and his team mate Toni Vilander aiming to fight back in Bahrain.

In the LMP2 category G-Drive Racing has also four victories this year and consecutive wins at Fuji and Shanghai has given it new momentum towards the title. The Russian entered team has closed the gap consistently to SMP Racing’s Sergey Zlobin and the competition in this class is sure to be intense. Also competitive, but within the same team, will be the battle for LMGTE Am honours as both the manufacturer’s entries in this category could still win the championship.

The superb 5.412 km (3.363 mile) Sakhir circuit in the Kingdom of Bahrain is the venue for the race which begins mid-afternoon and runs into the night, providing an added challenge for the teams and drivers. This will be the third race of the season to be run during the hours of darkness, following the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Lone Star Grand Prix in Texas.

Rob

3rd November 2014, 20:56

We are only 11 points ahead of Porsche Manthey! I really hope we will win the title :pray

The KCMG car just lost all power, and came to stop right on corner exit, Gimmi was going round the outside, totallly unsighted and, whack. Right in the back, of the KCMG car. :-(

fratelliferrari

3rd November 2014, 22:01

The KCMG car just lost all power, and came to stop right on corner exit, Gimmi was going round the outside, totallly unsighted and, whack. Right in the back, of the KCMG car. :-(

Really sad to hear about that! Hopefully Ginna and Tony have more luck in Bahrain! Really looking forward to it!

Nand0Nand0

4th November 2014, 02:49

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

Rob

4th November 2014, 16:52

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

have not heard they were planning to move to petrol.

Nand0Nand0

5th November 2014, 08:51

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

Rob

6th November 2014, 21:00

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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.

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Rob

6th November 2014, 21:04

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

6th November 2014, 21:10

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

Double victory for Porsche 911 RSR in China.
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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

6th November 2014, 21:33

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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

7th November 2014, 12:11

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

BAHRAINI BATTLES AVAILABLE TO GLOBAL TV AUDIENCE

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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

7th November 2014, 15:38

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

7th November 2014, 17:35

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

8th November 2014, 09:17

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 :pray Sadly we have to wait for another week to see how we recover from Shanghai :-s

Rob

8th November 2014, 20:43

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

8th November 2014, 20:47

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

8th November 2014, 20:54

New challenge for Graff LM P2 team
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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!
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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

11th November 2014, 17:39

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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

11th November 2014, 17:41

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

11th November 2014, 17:45

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

AF CORSE AND KCMG - AN UPDATE FOLLOWING 6H SHANGHAI
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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

11th November 2014, 21:05

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

fratelliferrari

13th November 2014, 10:04

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

Rob

13th November 2014, 17:39

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.:roll

Rob

13th November 2014, 20:08

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

KEEPING TRACK OF THE TITLES IN BAHRAIN - GT POINTS PERMUTATIONS
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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.
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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.
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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

13th November 2014, 20:09

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

:ferrarifl:ferrarifl

Rob

13th November 2014, 20:11

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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

13th November 2014, 20:39

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

13/11/2014 - 19h18
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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.
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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

13th November 2014, 21:37

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

:ferrarifl:ferrarifl

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

Nova

14th November 2014, 04:49

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

14th November 2014, 05:04

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 :thumb

Rob

14th November 2014, 05:04

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

14th November 2014, 06:44

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

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

fratelliferrari

14th November 2014, 06:53

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

14th November 2014, 15:52

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

will ask around for you.:thumb

Rob

14th November 2014, 16:00

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ASTON MARTIN TAKES CLEAN SWEEP IN LMGTE QUALIFYING IN BAHRAIN

14/11/2014 - 16h33
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Aston Martin Racing today claimed pole position in both the LMGTE Pro and Am classes for tomorrow’s 6 Hours of Bahrain, the seventh round of the 8-race FIA World Endurance Championship.

Darren Turner and Stefan Mucke in the No.97 Vantage V8 claimed their second pole of the season in the Pro category with a 4-lap average lap time of 1:58.805, while the No.95 ‘Dane Train’ of Kristian Poulsen, David Heinemeier Hansson and Nicki Thiim remarkably, for a three-time race winner, claimed its first pole of 2014 in a time of 1:59.589.

The British-German duo in the No.97 didn’t have it all their own way, however. They were pushed to the final seconds of the 25-minute qualifying session by the GT championship-leading No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander. The Italian set the fastest GTE lap of the weekend so far (1:58.122), but a minor error on the Finn’s final lap meant that the average of the two best laps of the two drivers put them 0.27s behind pole.

Third in the class was the sister AF Corse car, the No.71 of Davide Rigon and James Calado, which recorded an average lap time of 1:59.226, followed by the No.99 Aston Martin of MacDowall and Rees. Despite going quicker than at any time over the weekend so far, the two Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSRs appeared to struggle in qualifying and they finished in fifth and sixth in class, a less than favourable result for Championship contender Frédéric Makowiecki in the No.92. The Frenchman badly needs a win in Bahrain tomorrow to keep alive his title hopes.

Less than a second separated the top eight cars across the two classes, and the two Aston Martin Racing entries were once again a class act in LMGTE Am. Nicki Thiim set the pace for the No.95 Vantage V8 with two quick laps which put him firmly among the fastest cars in the session, and this was then ably backed up by Kristian Poulsen. The Danes led an Aston Martin Racing 1-2 as Pedro Lamy and Christoffer Nygaard qualified less than two tenths of a second behind their team mates.

A fast-lapping Alessandro Pier Guidi and American Jeff Segal did a great combined job to put the No.61 AF Corse Ferrari 458 in third place, but their Am team mates in the No.81 – Andrea Bertolini and Michele Rugolo fared less well. A brake problem on the Ferrari meant that newly crowned ELMS LMGTE Champion Bertolini only completed two laps in qualifying and Rugolo did not drive at all. The team elected to sit out the session to fix the problem and save the tyres for tomorrow’s race.

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The qualifying session today was run under the fully floodlit Bahrain International Circuit, as the majority of the race will be tomorrow. The green flag for the 6 Hours of Bahrain will be given at 15h00 local (13h00 CET) and live timing can be found via FIA WEC or on the FIAWEC App.

Qualifying Facts

17:30:22 In GTE Am #95 Aston on pole (first of 2014) from #98 Aston and #61 Ferrari
17:27:51 Aston #97 on pole (2nd of 2014) from #51 Ferrari and #71 Ferrari
17:26:49 Chequered Flag
17:25:54 1:59.589 fastest 4 lap average for #95 Aston in GTE Am
17:25:01 1:59.075 4 lap average for #51 Ferrari
17:23:48 1:58.805 4 lap average for #97 Aston
17:21:45 Ferrari #81 into pits with problem - engine cover off
17:20:55 Ferrari #71 moves into 2nd place after 4 laps
17:19:43 Aston #95 fastest GTE Am with 4 lap average
17:18:47 1:58.900 fastest 4 lap average for #97 Aston
17:17:48 Aston #97 now has 1:58.730 fastest 3 lap average
17:16:48 All cars have set a 2 lap average - second drivers now out on circuit
17:16:01 1:58.286 now fastest 2 lap average for #51 Ferrari
17:1 5:02 Ferrarri #51 moves up to 2nd on 2 lap average
17:13:27 1:58.814 3rd fastest 2 lap average for #71 Ferrari
17:11:28 1:58.634 fastest 2 lap average for #95 Aston in GTE Am
17:10:24 All GTE Cars now out on circuit
17:09:02 1:58.471 for #97 Aston 2 lap average
17:06:24 1:59.721 for Aston #99
17:04:24 Green flag Aston #99 first out

Rob

14th November 2014, 16:37

Bahrain WEC: Audi makes changes after chassis damage.

By Gary Watkins Friday, November 14th 2014, 13:35 GMT
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Audi, Bahrain WEC 2014

Audi is changing the mountings to the underfloors of its pair of R18 e-tron quattros in a bid to solve the problem that prompted three changes of monocoque this week.

The R18s were found to have damaged tubs after their arrival in Bahrain from China for this weekend's Sakhir World Endurance Championship round.

Both cars took part in the two free practice sessions on Thursday after full rebuilds, but the #1 car was diagnosed with the same problem after the second, evening session and did not take part in Friday morning's practice period.

Audi Sport Team Joest technical director Ralf Juttner explained that the squad had "optimised" the mountings in a bid to solve the problem.

"We have optimised the way we mount the floors, but it is too complicated to go into detail," he said.

The #2 car came through Friday morning practice without a problem in this configuration.

The damage sustained to the monocoques is believed to have resulted from the R18s running over relatively flat kerbs that strike the centre of the car.

Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said: "It seems that at flat circuits where we take the kerbs between the wheels that the car touches where it doesn't normally touch."

The #2 car, shared by championship challengers Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler, was rebuilt around the spare monocoque carried by the team.

The #1 Audi, driven by Tom Kristensen, Loic Duval and Lucas di Grassi, was built up around a tub that arrived at the Bahrain International Circuit at 3am on Thursday morning.

A second spare arrived at the track on Thursday afternoon and it is around this chassis that the #1 car is being rebuilt for a second time.

Audi opted not to undertake a second all-night shift, which means that the #1 car missed practice three and will also not take to the track during qualifying on Friday afternoon.

Rob

14th November 2014, 16:46

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TOYOTA RACING’S FRONT ROW RUN CONTINUES
Friday 14 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing extended its run of front-row starts in the FIA World Endurance Championship with a strong performance in qualifying for the Six Hours of Bahrain, the penultimate round of the 2014 season.

The team had started each of the previous nine WEC races, covering the end of the 2013 season and all races this year, from the front row of the grid and that run stretched to 10 under lights in Bahrain this evening.

World Championship leaders Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, who can secure the title this weekend with a good result, took second position in the #8 TS040 HYBRID, just 0.265secs off pole position.

Alex Wurz and Mike Conway, in the #7 they share with Stéphane Sarrazin, start from the second row in fourth to give TOYOTA a strong platform as it looks to defend a 29-point lead in the manufacturers’ World Championship.

The WEC qualifying format requires two drivers from each car to set a minimum of two flying laps each. The grid is decided by the combined average of each driver’s fastest two laps.

Under floodlights and using the TS040 HYBRID’s high-powered LED headlights, Alex and Anthony hit the track immediately when the 25-minute session began.

Both completed two flying laps before handing over to Mike and Sébastien respectively. At that stage the #7 was classified fourth with the #8 in second.

Mike, who also took qualifying duty on his previous race weekend for the team in Austin, completed four timed laps and held third place until the final moments when the #7 was pushed back to fourth by only 0.069secs.

Sébastien clocked three timed laps but also opted to finish the session in the pits in order to minimise tyre wear, with all cars required to start the race on the same set of tyres as used in qualifying. The race starts at 15.00 local time on Saturday.

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway)
Free practice 3: 2nd (1min 44.710secs), 26 laps
Qualifying: 4th (1min 44.260secs average)

Alex Wurz: “It didn’t go exactly to plan on our car in qualifying. I didn’t feel great with the car and that meant I didn’t get the best of out it. That’s life and I won’t dwell on it. Now we have a six-hour race to do tomorrow and we’ll fight for a better result.”

Mike Conway: “Qualifying was all right. My first lap was good and I pushed for a second lap straight away but the tyres dropped off. So I cooled them down and went for another, which felt really good at the start but I lost time in the last sector. I went a little bit quicker but it was not quite what we wanted. It would have been tough to beat Porsche. Tomorrow is another story and we’ll be pushing as hard as possible.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Free practice 3: 5th (1min 46.226secs), 21 laps
Qualifying: 2nd (1min 43.410secs average)

Anthony Davidson: “As a driver I prefer to get the pole position and the bonus point, but it was a better result than we expected. When we saw the speed of the Porsches in qualifying trim I didn’t expect to beat either of them to be honest. So I am really happy to have done that and I’m looking forward to the race. Tomorrow will be a completely different day in terms of tyre wear and management so I’m looking forward to it.”

Sébastien Buemi: “Overall I’m really happy with the performance. I know we are used to fighting for pole position and today we were two tenths on average slower but Porsche did a great job, we have to say. But we are there, we are competitive. So I am looking forward to the race because I am sure we have a good pace to fight hard. Our target is to have a good clean race until the end, then we see what happens.”

French and German translations of this press release will be available shortly on www.toyotahybridracing.com, where copyright-free photos are also available for editorial use.

fratelliferrari

14th November 2014, 17:32

Not a bad result for our cars I think :thumb

Rob

14th November 2014, 19:49

Not a bad result for our cars I think :thumb

Its not bad start. just got finish ahead of the #92

The Architect

14th November 2014, 20:39

Front row, not bad. I wouldn't actually mind another safety car and early stop, just so I can see them charging through the field again like last time.

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 11:41

Anyone with a link please :pray

AfterLife

15th November 2014, 11:52

Anyone with a link please :pray

shhhhhh..... don't tell the others
http://live.drakulastream.eu/static/popups/25411205913200.html

Rob

15th November 2014, 12:05

Fernando is there watching race.

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 12:14

shhhhhh..... don't tell the others
http://live.drakulastream.eu/static/popups/25411205913200.html

Many many thanks Afterlife!

AfterLife

15th November 2014, 12:20

Many many thanks Afterlife!

You are welcome.

AfterLife

15th November 2014, 12:20

That orange Ferrari 458 is doing great job.

AfterLife

15th November 2014, 12:23

Fernando is there watching race.

:dance

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 12:33

Fernando is there watching race.

:thumb

Rob

15th November 2014, 14:07

fantastic overtake form Gimmi, amazing. 3rd to 1st

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 14:15

fantastic overtake form Gimmi, amazing. 3rd to 1st

So great to see this! I really have to work for my MasterThesis but I can't concentrate because Iam constantly looking at WEC :-D

Rob

15th November 2014, 14:29

So great to see this! I really have to work for my MasterThesis but I can't concentrate because Iam constantly looking at WEC :-D

good luck with that mate.

WEC is just brilliant.

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 14:35

good luck with that mate.

WEC is just brilliant.

Thank you will try to see as much as possible :-G

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 14:41

What a great battle between Bruni and the AM!

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 15:52

Good to see the Vettel thread is closed Rob! I hope you aren't mad at me but I have difficulty with a fanboy that suddenly comes along :lol Now let's get back to AF Corse!

Rob

15th November 2014, 16:37

Good to see the Vettel thread is closed Rob! I hope you aren't mad at me but I have difficulty with a fanboy that suddenly comes along :lol Now let's get back to AF Corse!

not at all, it gets silly somethimes, he not even confirmed. 99.9% he coming to us, but wait till then if want to open threads like that. :roll

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 16:58

Will be very nervous last hour...What do you expect Rob?

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 17:56

Soo close..Come on AF Corse :pray

Rob

15th November 2014, 18:58

Will be very nervous last hour...What do you expect Rob?

that last hour was nerve racking. Best race of the year. F1 watch and learn.

#51 wins and Gimmi and Toni WEC driver champs. Got wait till Brazil for us to wrap up teams and manufacture titles.

:champ:champ:champ:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:f errarifl:ferrarifl:ferrarifl

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 19:29

that last hour was nerve racking. Best race of the year. F1 watch and learn.

#51 wins and Gimmi and Toni WEC driver champs. Got wait till Brazil for us to wrap up teams and manufacture titles.

:champ:champ:champ:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:f errarifl:ferrarifl:ferrarifl

:champ:ferrarifl Grande Grande Grande! What a fantastic race! Hopefully we will win the other titles next week too!

Rob

15th November 2014, 19:47

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fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 19:52

:clap

http://i59.tinypic.com/28guwpd.jpg

:-D

fratelliferrari

15th November 2014, 19:59

Rob I had a question. What is the reason AF Corse with #51? Did they choose themselves or did the FIA that for them?

Rob

15th November 2014, 20:11

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http://i57.tinypic.com/3011uo7.jpg
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Rob

15th November 2014, 20:18

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http://i62.tinypic.com/2ztk9e0.jpg

Rob

15th November 2014, 20:23

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Rob

15th November 2014, 20:26

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Rob

15th November 2014, 20:28

Rob I had a question. What is the reason AF Corse with #51? Did they choose themselves or did the FIA that for them?

maybe wrong, trying to rattle my brains here, i think the LMPs can choose low numbers, say 1-50 and GTE 50-99, i think :-??

Rob

15th November 2014, 20:39

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Rob

16th November 2014, 13:06

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FIA WEC: titles for Bruni, Vilander and AF Corse with the Ferrari 458 Italia.

SAKIR, November 15th – Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #51, are champions in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). AF Corse, consecutively for the third year, take the GTE Pro Team’s crown. The extraordinary outcome is at the end of the “6 Hour of Bahrain”, penultimate round in the WEC. Thanks the new title, Bruni gain an historic hat-trick: from the very beginning of the Wec, Gimmi is always on top in the GT category. Toni Vilander wins the important title for the first time in his carre er. The Amato Ferrari-run squad pretty much owns this trophy having won the teams’ title since WEC came into being. Record after record.

THE RACE - Gimmi Bruni’s #51 AF Corse Ferrari, second on the grid, got the jump on the #97 Aston Martin at the start. During the race, due to the pit stop, the position alternated however the Italian-Finnish duo ran ever for the highest step of the podium. After three hours of racing, now Vilander at the wheel, the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia continued to hold the lead in the GTE Pro category thanks the great skills of both drivers and the perfect strategy at the wall. The facts went ahead in this way up to the end with the first place and th e titles more and more real. Davide Rigon and James Calado, in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 #71, raced with a very good pace and took the third place under the chequered flag gaining a new podium. The result adds points in the Manufactures GT Championship: Ferrari still has to take the constructors’ crown.

GTE AM CATEGORY – The success came too in the GTE Am category. Steve Wyatt, Michele Rugolo and Andrea Bertolini, in their AF Corse Ferrari 458 #81, took the “silver medal” at the end of an hard-fought race. Fifth place for Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Cressoni in the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia #90 (managed by AF Corse). Alexander Talkanitsa, Jeff Segal and Alessandro Pier Guidi finished the race in sixth position in the AF Corse Ferrari #61. The last round of the FIA WEC 2014 will be in Brasil with the “6 Hours of Sao Paulo”, November 30th.

AF Corse Press Office - Riccardo Delfanti

:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:champ:cha mp

Rob

16th November 2014, 13:15

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TOYOTA RACING TAKES DRIVERS’ TITLE AND VICTORY
Saturday 15 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing won the Six Hours of Bahrain for its fifth victory of the FIA World Endurance Championship season as Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi secured the drivers’ title with a race to spare.

The #7 TS040 HYBRID of Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Mike Conway won its first race of the season with a fine performance, earning TOYOTA Racing’s fifth victory of the 2014 season.

Anthony and Sébastien finished 11th after losing time due to a technical issue but nevertheless become the 2014 drivers’ World Champions, holding an unassailable lead in the standings with only one race remaining.

That marks TOYOTA’s first drivers’ World Championship crown since Didier Auriol won the World Rally Championship in 1994.

Today’s result also strengthens TOYOTA’s hold on the manufacturers’ World Championship, extending the lead over Audi to 40 points with a maximum of 44 points available in the final race, in Sao Paulo on 30 November.

There was drama throughout the race, starting on the opening lap when Alex and Sébastien swapped positions with their rivals having started from fourth and second respectively.

Despite losing ground at the first turn, the TS040 HYBRIDs soon asserted themselves and within seven laps the #8 had taken the lead thanks to some decisive driving from Sébastien, while Alex was in similar fighting mood as he moved into third.

A brief full course yellow after 30 minutes gave both cars the chance to pit early for new tyres and more fuel. With the rest of the field circulating slowly, time lost in the pits was minimised and Sébastien resumed in third with Alex fourth.

Both soon moved up a place and, close to the one-hour mark, took over at the head of the field, running one-two and setting similarly competitive lap times to pull clear.

After 90 minutes both cars pitted on the same lap, with just nine seconds separating them. Mike took the wheel of the #7 while Sébastien handed over to Anthony, who resumed in the lead.

That did not last however, with the #8 needing an unscheduled pit stop to change the alternator. That elevated Mike in the #7 to the lead, while Anthony resumed 30 minutes later in 26th, 17 laps behind.

A further short stop to confirm the new alternator was functioning correctly soon followed before Anthony continued with a mission to finish the race and wrap up the drivers’ World Championship.

The target for the #7 was different and Mike continued to stretch the lead, which stood at close to a minute when Stéphane took over soon after half distance.

Sébastien returned to the wheel of the #8 and made steady progress, setting the fastest lap of the race early in his second stint as Stéphane safely guided the #7 into the final hour before handing over to Alex.

The #8 was rapidly rising up the order and lay 13th with 50 minutes remaining when Anthony took the wheel for his final stint.

Both cars ran almost nose to tail during the final minutes, with Alex leading them over the line to win in the #7 by 50.460secs, as Anthony took the flag to make it a double celebration for TOYOTA Racing.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “Congratulations to Anthony and Sébastien on becoming World Champions. They deserve the title, which is not just for the drivers themselves, but recognises a fantastic effort by the whole team. This is a really big prize, particularly because this year was the start of a new era of fuel efficiency. They are the first champions under these new regulations and we are very proud that the TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing proved its performance by powering them to this title. Thank you to everyone who has been involved; all at TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, our colleagues in Motor Sport Division and the Hybrid Department of TOYOTA Motor Corporation in Japan plus our friends from ORECA and all our partners. Also I would like to pay tribute to our fans, who have been so supportive since the start of our project. Of course, big congratulations as well to Alex, Stéphane and Mike for their victory today. After a few races where various factors have hindered the #7, they were very quick and consistent today on a track which is one of the toughest on tyres. They did a great job.”

TS040 HYBRID #7 (Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway)
Race: 1st, 195 laps, 6 pit stops. Fastest lap: 1min 46.377secs

Alex Wurz: “I’m very happy for my team-mates on becoming World Champions. They have been mega all season. We work very hard together as drivers and there is a great atmosphere between us. Now they are the World Champions so they should enjoy it. We won the race so I am very happy with that. I must say thanks to Stéphane who pushed us in the right direction on set-up earlier in the weekend. We had a strong car and it was a good team effort.”

Stéphane Sarrazin: “Congratulations to Anthony and Sébastien. They have had an amazing season and they deserve this moment. I’m really pleased with our race and it’s fantastic to win again, especially here in Bahrain where I won in the #8 last season. In my stint I had to save a bit of fuel to avoid needing a splash later in the race. I worked hard to manage the situation and did a good stint; it all worked out well. Alex and Mike both did a great job, in fact the whole team has performed really well this week and all season.”

Mike Conway: “Well done to Anthony and Sébastien on sealing the World Championship. They have had an extremely strong season. Today was a great result for us in #7. Stéphane and Alex did some awesome stints and I am pleased with my performance. It’s great to pay back the faith and support the team has shown me. To win my first WEC race, in only my second race with TOYOTA, is a great result and a great day. I will cherish this moment for a long time.”

TS040 HYBRID #8 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi)
Race: 11th, 177 laps, 7 pit stops. Fastest lap: 1min 45.989secs

Anthony Davidson: “It’s been an amazing year. For me personally this is the biggest achievement in my career by a long way so it is a big day. I have never been a World Champion before so this means a lot and it still hasn’t really sunk in yet. The team did an amazing job and have given us the fastest car. It wasn’t exactly the way we wanted to win the title but I’m not complaining. Big thanks to the mechanics today for getting the car out on track again, not only the #8 guys but also the crew from #7 who helped out. This championship has been a real team effort and I’m so grateful to everyone who has made it happen. It’s a great day but there is still one more job to do in Brazil; win the manufacturers’ World Championship.”

Sébastien Buemi: “I am really pleased; it’s a great feeling to win the World Championship. It’s not the way we wanted to get it but we are really happy. To win a championship when you are competing against Porsche and Audi is a fantastic achievement. We had the car to win the race but I’m happy #7 won. Thanks to the team because to win a championship you need a great car and that’s what they gave us. Even if it is the drivers’ World Championship, it is really a title for the team because without everyone here at the track, back at Cologne and in Higashifuji, Anthony and I would not be here today. If we can make sure we win the manufacturers’ championship in Brazil it will be a fantastic year.”

Rob

16th November 2014, 13:18

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ASTON MARTIN WINS IN BAHRAIN AND CLINCHES TWO WORLD TITLES

Bahrain, 15 November 2014 - Aston Martin Racing has won the GTE Am class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Six Hours of Bahrain and, in doing so, has scooped the Endurance Trophy for GTE Am Teams and the Endurance Trophy for GTE Am Drivers at the penultimate round of the 2014 championship.

The #95 Young Driver AMR Vantage GTE has clinched the GTE Am championship-title with one round of the eight-race series still remaining and Aston Martin Racing works drivers David Heinemeier Hansson (DN) and Kristian Poulsen (DN) will take the drivers trophy in the GTE Am class.

The Danish car has had a consistently strong season, finishing on the podium in every race and taking the class win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the centrepiece of the WEC calendar.

In the Six Hours of Bahrain earlier today (15 November) it was no different. Heinemeier Hansson and Poulsen were joined by fellow Dane Nicki Thiim and started the six-hour race from the front of the grid, a position the team held until the chequered flag.

“All we had to do was finish ahead of the #98 Aston Martin to clinch the title, but winning is a bonus,” Heinemeier Hansson commented. “The car has been so good all season and so easy to drive.

"In this race we had to watch the tyres, and we knew that from the start, but we set-up very well and it has been an smooth run to the finish.”

Poulsen added: “It means a lot to the whole team. To win Le Mans and take the championship-title in the same year is so fantastic. We couldn’t ask for more.”

It was almost victory for the #97 Vantage GTE in a battle that went to the chequered flag. Starting from the front of the grid, thanks to a great qualifying performance, Darren Turner (GB) was immediately caught up in a duel with the championship-leading #51 Ferrari that lasted for most of the race.

Together, Turner and team-mate Stefan Mücke (DE) put in lap-after-lap of heroic driving, which resulted in the #97 reeling in the class-leading Ferrari in a nail-biting final 30 minutes and they crossed the line just 1.8 seconds apart with the Aston Martin in second place.

“It was a titanic battle throughout the six hours," commented Turner. "It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. We had an aggressive strategy, which is what we had to do with the additional pitstop that we knew we had to take.

“I’m so pleased for the #95 crew. They’ve had a season-long battle with #98, which has been great to watch on-track and inside the garage.”

In the GTE Am class, the #98 Vantage GTE of Christoffer Nygaard (DN), Pedro Lamy (PT) and Paul Dalla Lana (CA) crossed the line in third place, the team’s sixth podium of the season so far.

Christoffer Nygaard commented: “Firstly, I have to say congratulations to the #95 Young Driver Vantage GTE team. If we didn’t win the championship, I would always want it to be them. We’ve been on the podium in all of the championship’s six-hour races this year, which is something to be very proud of.”

The #99 Vantage GTE finished in sixth place in the GTE class with regular drivers Alex MacDowall (GB) and Fernando Rees (BR) and new driver to the team Abdulaziz Al Faisal (SA), who put in a solid performance all weekend.

“The #95 team really deserves these wins,” commented John Gaw. They have been quick and reliable all year. David and Kristian have both had a fantastic season and have been incredibly focused, professional and consistent at every round.

“In the GTE Pro class, we had a different strategy with the #97 than our competitors to optimise the tyres and fuel-load. We had to take an extra pit stop, so to finish just 1.8 seconds off the class-winner is impressive. Another lap and we could have been challenging for the win but instead they’ll have to take their battle to the final round in Brazil.”

The final race of the 2014 World Endurance Championship takes place on 30 November at the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

- ENDS -

Rob

16th November 2014, 13:22

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Onroak Automotive Press Release – 15.11.2014

FIA World Endurance Championship
Round 7/8 – 6 Hours of Bahrain – 13-15 November – Race
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Challenging race for the G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2

After their brilliant victories in Shanghai and Fuji, Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal finished 4th at the 6 Hours of Bahrain, the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The trio, driving the #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2-Nissan, developed by Onroak Automotive, and shod with Dunlop tyres, had a couple of issues in the race. Although they were one of the most powerful and quickest cars of the LM P2 class, because of the time lost in the pits for repairs, they narrowly lost out on a podium finish. This result gives them enough points to take the lead in the team championship

After going fastest in Free Practice 1 and 2, qualifying went very well once more for the team, claiming their 6th pole of the year out of 7 events, and the 4th consecutive pole for the Ligier JS P2-Nissan. It was the first outing for the Ligier JS P2 on the Bahrain International Circuit, and it showed early on that it was a car you could count on.

Despite its performance, the race got off to a tough start for the #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2-Nissan. Starting on pole, they came into contact with the #37 SMP Racing Oreca-Nissan in the first lap, which damaged the rear right wishbone, which forced them to return to the pits for repairs. Almost 6 minutes later, after a very quick turnaround by the team to replace the piece, Olivier Pla managed to rejoin the race, 3 laps down on his rivals. Olivier pushed as best he could to catch up to the pack, setting the fastest laps in LM P2.

After Pla’s double stint, Julien Canal took over for the middle stint as in previous races. Canal did a very good job as the sun was setting, keeping the car consistent and working on closing the gap with the rest of the field, namely the #37 SMP Racing that was ahead of him. Canal managed to overtake the GT traffic and brought the car back up to the LM P2 field. By the end of his double stint, they were now only half a minute behind their closest rivals.

Roman Rusinov took the wheel for the #26 Ligier JS P2-Nissan’s third double stint. It started off well, as Roman closed in on the cars ahead. The gap was down to 15 seconds when he unfortunately had to return to the pits with a problem with the left wishbone. The team worked hard again to fix the problem, losing as little time as possible. He rejoined with only a 3 lap gap on his nearest LM P2 rivals.

Olivier Pla went in for the final stint. With one hour to go, the likelihood of winning a lap or two over their rivals seemed very slim, but that didn’t stop him from trying. Pla was once more the fastest LMP2 on track. With 15 minutes remaining, the #27 SMP Racing car that was running in 2nd place started to smoke, and headed to the pits to retire. This allowed Pla to finish the race in 4th place in LM P2, and gave them the lead in the team points.

The other Onroak Automotive car entered this weekend, the #35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LM P2, driven by David Cheng, Keiko Ihara and Mark Patterson, had a good consistent race and finished on the podium in 3rd.

Olivier Pla: « It just goes to show that it’s never truly over. It’s in these extremely difficult moments that you realise you have a good team. I’ll be giving it my all right up until the chequered flag in Sao Paulo to be able to give this title to my beloved team. »

Julien Canal: « For me, it was a race with two very regular stints. I was congratulated by Jacques and by the whole team. I think that those were my best two stints of the year. I was very consistent, the car as well. It was a good performance. The lap times were very good. Sadly, there was an issue on one of the pieces of the car after the first contact and it broke a couple of times. So, it’s up to us now to find a solution to win the championship.»

Roman Rusinov : « Yesterday we did a really good job, and today, Olivier got hit at the start by an SMP car. I think that’s what caused the damage to the two wishbones, first the right one, then the left. We really saw that the SMP car hit hard. Yesterday we did a really good job, and today, Olivier got hit at the start by an SMP car. I think that’s what caused the damage to the two wishbones, first the right one, then the left. We really saw that the SMP car hit hard. In the end, we did well, and these points are good for the championship. Too bad for SMP.”

Philippe Dumas, Team principal: "It’s our first issue with the Ligier, a technical problem due to the first contact. In the end, we were very lucky. It shows that you can always have hope. The team was very good with the changes we needed to make and on the weekend as a whole. But that’s racing, and it’s never over. It was a tough weekend for us, but it’s ended on quite a good note for the championship."

6 Hours of Bahrain, LM P2 Classification:
1- #47 – KCMG / Oreca 03R-Nissan
2- #37 - SMP Racing / Oreca 03R-Nissan
3- #35 - OAK Racing / Morgan-Judd LM P2
4- #26 - G-Drive Racing / Ligier JS P2-Nissan
5- #27 - SMP Racing / Oreca 03R-Nissan

LM P2 Teams FIA Endurance Trophy, classification after round 7:
1- #26 – G-Drive Racing – 136 pts
2- #27 – SMP Racing – 128 pts
3- #47 – KCMG – 105 pts
4- #37 – SMP Racing – 60 pts

Rob

16th November 2014, 13:27

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FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
6 Hours of Bahrain – 13-15 November
OAK Racing Press Release – 15.10.2014 – Race
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LM P2 Podium finish for OAK Racing in Bahrain!

For their third participation in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, the OAK Racing team found themselves on the third step of the LM P2 podium again at the 6 Hours of Bahrain. Keiko Ihara was joined this time by David Cheng and Mark Patterson to drive the #35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LMP2, shod with Dunlop tyres. After a success in Fuji and a slight disappointment in Shanghai, the team felt optimistic this weekend for a good result.

Qualifying 5th in LM P2, David Cheng took the first stint of the race in the #35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LM P2. By keeping out of danger, Cheng got up to 3rd place by the end of the 1st hour. He managed to keep up with the pack and was only one lap down from the leaders by the end of his double stint.

Mark Patterson was second behind the wheel. The talented gentlemen driver did a good job driving as the sun went down over the track. For his first time in Bahrain, he showed a good command of the car and circuit and managed to keep the pace.
When Keiko Ihara took over in the 4th hour, they were still running third, two laps down on the LM P2 leaders, but with the #37 SMP Racing Oreca-Nissan closing in quickly. Keiko had to fight hard to defend their chance at a podium. Keiko showed her skill in defending against Ladygin, but lost 3rd place. She regained and held onto it once more after the #37 pitted, but once Keiko Ihara stopped to refuel, she rejoined in 4th place. The #37 pitted again, and Keiko once more fought and defended to keep hold of 3rd, but having to hand over to David Cheng for the last stint, they fell to 4th again.

David Cheng took over the #35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LMP2 for the last hour’s stint. He was nearly two minutes away from the #37 SMP Racing Oreca-Nissan, but tried to close the gap. With half an hour to go, the #37 pitted for the final time. When they rejoined, the gap was down to 50 seconds, a tough challenge for the end of the race. But, 15 minutes before the flag would drop, the #27 SMP Racing Oreca started to smoke, and headed to the pits, allowing the #35 Morgan-Judd LMP2 to move up into 3rd place and giving OAK Racing another podium finish.

The other Onroak Automotive car, the #26 Ligier JS P2-Nissan, driven by Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal, and entered by G-Drive Racing, had an unlucky weekend. Despite qualifying on pole, they suffered from two broken wishbones, caused by a collision in the first lap of the race. Although they managed to repair the car, they lost time with the repairs in the pits and finished fourth.

Keiko Ihara: "II’m so happy, because I won the Asian series with David back in August, and was on the podium in WEC Fuji, and this is my third time this year to finish on the podium. First, I’d like to say thank you especially to Jacques Nicolet because it’s very difficult to get a chance for a female driver sometimes, but he understood my passion to race and he gave me a chance. I also want to thank the OAK Racing staff, who are very professional and who gave us a very good strategy to finish the race. I’m so happy."

David Cheng: "Fantastic day here for the OAK Racing team. We just got off the podium in third place, I couldn’t be happier. Today was really, really tough. I took the beginning of the race and did a double stint, while it was quite hot out, which was quite difficult. With the heat, the tyres degraded pretty fast, so I had to manage that. I came in third after my two stints, and handed over to Mark, who then passed it to Keiko, and they did a really good job in keeping the car where it was. I think we were fighting back and forth for fourth place at one point. At the end of the day, the whole team pulled through; we made fast pit stops, and brought the Morgan LM P2 home in a podium spot. It was cool. It was my first time to lead a team, and to end up on the podium is really fantastic."

Mark Patterson: We set out with the only non professional line-up, so we just had to finish, strategically. We concentrated, and everyone drove nicely and the racing gods came our way. We ended up on the podium: what a wonderful outcome! And most important, for Keiko, that’s two podiums in a row. It’s fantastic.

Jacques Nicolet: « After a difficult weekend, I’m really quite satisfied with this result, as much for our OAK Racing team as for the crew of gentlemen and gentlewoman drivers, who really deserved this podium. It was a clean race without any mistakes, very consistent, quick, well managed, and with a superb result . »

LM P2 Classification - 6 Hours of Bahrain:
1- #47 – KCMG / Oreca 03R-Nissan
2- #37 - SMP Racing / Oreca 03R-Nissan
3- #35 - OAK Racing / Morgan-Judd LM P2
4- #26 - G-Drive Racing / Ligier JS P2-Nissan
5- #27 - SMP Racing / Oreca 03R-Nissan

AfterLife

16th November 2014, 16:49

I want to know the name of the orange Ferrari 458 driver that held back the Porcshes from overtaking in first part of the race? Any idea?

fratelliferrari

16th November 2014, 17:13

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:clap

Rob

16th November 2014, 17:26

I want to know the name of the orange Ferrari 458 driver that held back the Porcshes from overtaking in first part of the race? Any idea?

that would of been #61. Either....

Driver 1 : Alexander TALKANITSA

Driver 2 : Alessandro PIER GUIDI

Driver 3 : Jeffrey SEGAL

Rob

16th November 2014, 17:30

AF CORSE FERRARI'S BRUNI AND VILANDER CELEBRATE

15/11/2014 - 22h20
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The basic statistics for the 2014 World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers show that Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander have won four of the first seven races, giving them enough of a points advantage to claim the championship title with one race in hand. It is Bruni’s second consecutive GT World Championship title, the first for Vilander, and AF Corse’s third consecutive LMGTE Pro Teams title.

But, behind every statistic there is a story and in this case it shows that it has not all been plain sailing for the Italian team and its drivers. The Italian and Finnish drivers’ year started with a fourth place finish at the rain-shortened Silverstone race and, with Porsche taking a strong 1-2 in the LMGTE Pro class, the Ferrari pair were concerned about the potential balance of performance between competitors for the year ahead.

Spa-Francorchamps put paid to those worries, however, as the No.51 AF Corse entry gave a dominant display of driving to secure victory ahead of Porsche and the sister No.71 car. The points claimed by the new pairing of James Calado and Davide Rigon at Spa would turn out to be vital for the Teams Championship, as have been the three further podium finishes the British-Italian duo has claimed so far this year.

As with so many championships in years gone by, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a turning point in Bruni and Vilander’s favour. Joined by Giancarlo Fisichella, the three drivers were the class of the field and the double points gained for the classic French race gave them a strong advantage going into the second half of the season.

Third place at COTA in Austin was a disappointment, with Aston Martin firmly in control of that event, but AF Corse bounced back strongly for the cool, but thankfully dry, race conditions at Fuji in Japan. The win there was their third of the year and the title was beckoning.

It all went horribly wrong in Shanghai when a first lap incident with an LMP car put Bruni out of the race on the spot and left the Piacenze-based team with a huge amount of work to do to repair the badly damaged car before the penultimate round of the championship in Bahrain. The Middle Eastern race has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Italians in the past and 2014 was no different. Vilander claimed his third consecutive victory in the darkness of the desert – but this time under the floodlights – and Bruni his second…enough to wrap up the title before the final round of the year in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Gimmi Bruni, No.51 AF Corse Ferrari: "Today has been a really exciting day; for the second consecutive year I am a World Champion. I am very happy to share this great success with my team mate Toni Vilander. I want to thank Ferrari, Michelotto and all the guys at AF Corse for the extraordinary job they did to completely rebuild the car after my accident in Shanghai."

AntonelloColetta, Head of Corse Clienti:"Today was another great day for Ferrari. We won the race and both cars were on the podium; Bruni and Vilander first, Calado and Rigon third. I want to congratulate Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander here in Bahrain who, with one race in hand, have been crowned FIA World Endurance Champions in the LMGTE Pro category. Also, Amato Ferrari and all the guys on his Piacenza team who have won for the third year in a row the World title reserved for Teams. Now we go to Brazil to try to bring home the ultimate title, the GT Manufacturers, which for Ferrari is the most important."

Amato Ferrari, Team Principal AF Corse: "It was a great weekend. It started in a difficult way after the accident in Shanghai but, thanks to the commitment and excellent work of the whole team we were able to bounce back very well. The strategy in today's race was perfect and, with two cars on the podium, we have won - with a race in hand - two world titles for the third consecutive time. I want to congratulate Gimmi and Toni for their great achievements and thank Ferrari and Antonello Coletta, Ferrari’s Sporting Director, for their important support. We are now focused on the next race in Brazil where we want to take home the most important title: the GT Constructors' Championship.”

Toni Vilander – No.51 AF Corse Ferrari: “I pushed very hard in the beginning of my stint today. The car was very good on new tyres. The team were updating me on the gap all the time and I tried to manage the traffic and also let the LMP1 cars through but it was close, too close at the end (to the #97 Aston Martin). It shows how strong the (LMGTE Pro) class is when the gap is just over a second after six hours of racing. This is my third victory here in a row and it is super nice for the team to have this title because the last two weeks have been ‘hell’ since the accident in Shanghai. We have had lots of victories and poles in 2014 so it has been a very successful year.”

AfterLife

16th November 2014, 18:48

that would of been #61. Either....

Driver 1 : Alexander TALKANITSA

Driver 2 : Alessandro PIER GUIDI

Driver 3 : Jeffrey SEGAL

After searching i found it, The orange Ferrari 458 is 8 STAR MOTORSPORTS team from LM GTE AM category.

Car Number 90 with three drivers:
Frankie MONTECALVO (USA)
Gianluca RODA (ITA)
Paolo RUBERTI (ITA)

Now which one was the first one? :Hmm

AfterLife

16th November 2014, 19:08

After searching i found it, The orange Ferrari 458 is 8 STAR MOTORSPORTS team from LM GTE AM category.

Car Number 90 with three drivers:
Frankie MONTECALVO (USA)
Gianluca RODA (ITA)
Paolo RUBERTI (ITA)

Now which one was the first one? :Hmm

Edit:
After watching the race again The driver was Alessandro Pier Guidi.

How is that possible? Alessandro Pier Guidi is not driving for 8 STAR MOTORSPORTS under the car number of 61. Even He is not in wec entry list!

Rob

16th November 2014, 19:29

Edit:
After watching the race again The driver was Alessandro Pier Guidi.

How is that possible? Alessandro Pier Guidi is not driving for 8 STAR MOTORSPORTS under the car number of 61. Even He is not in wec entry list!

it changed names before the race, cannt remeber why, used to be #81 car

Rob

16th November 2014, 20:25

ALL EYES ON THE FIA WEC FOR SEASON FINALE IN SAO PAULO

16/11/2014 - 09h57
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As the floodlights were being extinguished around the track in Bahrain, and the newly-crowned World Champions were departing to celebrate with their families, friends and teams, attention was already being turned towards the FIA World Endurance Championship season finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Four World Championship titles have yet to be decided, including the all-important LMP and GT Manufacturers and, on Sunday 30th November, 26 cars will take to the Interlagos track. The intense competition in the LMP2 category will also come to a definitive conclusion, but to whom will the class crown be awarded?

LMP1 teams pushing to the end

While the pressure is off the shoulders of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi in the No.8 Toyota TS040 Hybrid, the newly crowned Driver Champions will be determined to round off the season on a high with a sixth victory for the Japanese team and the all-important World Endurance Manufacturers Championship title. There are 44 points available in Brazil but Toyota has a 40-point advantage over its nearest rival, Audi, so a solid finish for its two entries is technically all that is required. Kazuki Nakajima returns to the Bahrain-winning No.7 alongside Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin.

Porsche had its best race of the season so far in Bahrain, and the pace and performance of its technologically sophisticated 919 Hybrid has made its rivals sit up and take notice. The Porsche’s superior straight line speed and the team’s increasing knowledge and experience in top line sportscar racing will undoubtedly offer the reward of a victory in the near future. The driver line ups in the No.14 (Dumas-Jani-Lieb) and No.20 (Bernhard-Webber-Hartley) remain unchanged.

Audi Sport Team Joest had one of its most challenging races in the FIA WEC in the Middle East, and will be anxious to put those memories behind them and also finish the season on a better note. For his home race, Lucas di Grassi will put his local knowledge to good use and he and his team mates, Loïc Duval and Tom Kristensen, plus the Le Mans-winning crew of the No.2 entry (Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer) will be pushing as hard as ever to give Audi a positive end to its 2014 season.

The No.13 Rebellion R-One Toyota (Kraihamer-Belicchi-Leimer) has enjoyed two victories in the last two races, but the LMP1-L Champions (Prost-Heidfeld-Beche) will be hoping to end their season on as high a note as it started. The Lotus team’s No.9 CLM P1/01 AER had an extremely troubled race in Bahrain and Pierre Kaffer and young Austrian driver Lucas Auer will be praying for increased reliability for the final round.

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LMP2 title fight goes down to the wire

Late-race dramas for the No.27 SMP Racing ORECA 03 Nissan (Zlobin-Minassian-Mediani) meant that G-Drive Racing’s trio of Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal came away from Bahrain with a Championship lead of eight points over Russian Sergey Zlobin. The Ligier JS P2 had a far from easy 7th round with two long stops to repair collision damage, so they will be looking for a far smoother finale in Brazil.

SMP Racing’s disappointment in the outcome for the No.27 was balanced by a solid performance from its No.37 entry of Kirill Ladygin-Victor Shaitar-Anton Ladygin who finished second under the lights in the desert. The Russians were, however, comprehensively outclassed by the KCMG line up of Matt Howson-Richard Bradley-Alexandre Imperatori who won their second race of the season in the No.47 ORECA 03R Nissan.

There will be only four entries in the LMP2 class for the season finale as Strakka Racing has suffered further set-backs in the technical development of the DOME-designed S103, due to homologation issues, and has been forced to delay its debut to 2015. Its absence, while regrettable, won’t detract from the intense battle that is sure to take place between the remaining competitors in this class for the two remaining titles to be decided: the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams and Drivers.
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GT Manufacturers title to be confirmed in Brazil

With all the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships in the LMGTE Pro and Am categories now settled, there remains just one important trophy to be claimed. Ferrari currently has 25 points in hand over Porsche in the World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers classification, and theoretically all five of the Ferrari 458 Italias across the two classes would have to run into significant trouble for Porsche to be able clinch the big prize.

While unlikely, the level of competition across the GTE categories will be as fierce as ever. All three manufacturers took their turn at the head of the Pro class in Bahrain and at the chequered flag there was just 1.8 seconds between the race and Drivers Championship-winning AF Corse Ferrari of Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander and the Aston Martin Vantage of Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke. The superior fuel economy of the Ferrari versus the speed and better tyre wear of the Aston Martin versus the traction and performance in unsettled weather conditions of the Porsche…the fight for victory will be as exciting as ever, especially if São Paulo delivers wet weather conditions!
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Darryl O’Young returns to the No.99 Aston Martin Vantage in the Pro class alongside the second Brazilian in the race, Fernando Rees, and Alex MacDowall and the trio will be determined to bounce back from a race in Bahrain hampered by an ECU issue.

Aston Martin Racing celebrated two World Championship titles in Bahrain and the No.95 Danish crew is aiming to finish its season on the best note possible with another victory. There are no other changes to the line ups in the LMGTE Am class and it is, once again, the best supported category with seven entries.

The 6 Hours of Sao Paulo takes place on Sunday 30th November, with practice beginning on Friday 28th and qualifying on Saturday 29th November. No matter whether titles have been decided or not, the action will be non-stop in Brazil and every competitor will be determined to close the season with as many points as possible. Don’t miss a minute of the action!

AfterLife

16th November 2014, 20:31

it changed names before the race, cannt remeber why, used to be #81 car

WEC is like a jungle, Why am i looking for code there? :giveup

Rob

17th November 2014, 17:16

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Q+A WITH TOYOTA RACING’S DRIVERS’ WORLD CHAMPIONS
Monday 17 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing drivers Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, in the #8 TS040 HYBRID, secured the drivers’ World Championship at the Six Hours of Bahrain, the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. Here they share their thoughts on that achievement and their championship-winning season, which includes four wins from the seven races so far.

Q+A with Anthony Davidson

Anthony Davidson, world champion; how does it feel?
It hasn’t hit home yet. I always consider myself to be a top sportscar driver and now I have the World Championship to show for it. It is incredible; the biggest thing I have won in my career by a long way and the first championship I have won since 1995 in karting. I have never been a World Champion before. It feels fantastic. It has been an amazing year and now we have one more job to do in Brazil; we are going to push to win the manufacturers’ World Championship for the team.

The competition in WEC is very strong, does that make this championship even more significant to you?
To be a World Champion in anything is special, let alone against the serious competition we face in Audi and Porsche. Everyone knows their credentials and the history they have in sportscar racing. For us to be standing here having won the World Championship is phenomenal. It is testament to our team, who have built the best and fastest car this year.

Tell us about the race in Bahrain…
We should have won the race. I wanted to win but it wasn’t meant to be. When we had the problem I wasn’t stressed or upset. It was just one of those things. I trusted the team and the mechanics to repair the car and send us back out. It was one problem we haven’t had all year and that put us out of contention but we still showed our speed.

What were your expectations at the start of the season?
Before we even turned a wheel this year I expected we would be more competitive compared to Audi due to the new regulations but not necessarily stronger than them. So it was a pleasant surprise to find out we were in fact the fastest car after the first few races. I did not know what to expect from Porsche but we knew they would get stronger as the season went on.

Did you expect to be fighting for the World Championship at that stage?
No. You hope but you never expect to be fighting for the championship. Our main focus before thinking about the championship was Le Mans, which is the biggest race of the year.

What has been the biggest challenge for you this season?
The biggest challenge has probably been leading a championship, something which I have not done for many years, since my karting days. I have won big races like the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Formula Ford Festival and other single-day events but winning a championship is a different challenge because you have to be consistently at the front.

After Le Mans, what were your thoughts during the long summer break?
Directly when we got the #8 back on track after the accident, my focus switched. Since that moment my total focus has been on the championship. After this opportunity was taken away I knew what we had to do and we’ve been focused on winning the World Championship since.

It was five months between your Spa victory and the Fuji one-two. How sweet did it feel to be back on the top step?
After a few months away, not just from driving but also from being on the top step of the podium, it was great to have this one-two in front of our home crowd and our colleagues from TOYOTA. It was the first time I felt dominance from the team. Fuji was a pinnacle where we showed the real speed of the car and the precision of everyone in the team. That was a really good race weekend.

How has the team developed over the season?
We have come a long way since the Prologue. During this test I remember worrying that we didn’t have the car to fight for the championship. But the team found a lot of performance. Even after Silverstone the performance kept coming and that’s been impressive. We really understood the regulations and the car more every time we have been on track. The level of performance we have now is testament to our understanding of the car.

Q+A with Sébastien Buemi

Sébastien Buemi, world champion; how does it feel?
This was one of the best days of my career. No-one can take away a World Championship; it is with you forever. So it feels really great and it is difficult to realise what we have achieved at the moment. It is a fantastic achievement because to win a world championship is always very difficult. You need a really strong car for the whole season and I want to thank the team for giving us this. This is really special for us.

The competition in WEC is very strong, does that make this championship even more significant to you?
It is great to win this title when you look at the competition we have had from Audi and Porsche. It is a significant title and it means a lot to win it; for sure it is not easy. Now we want to win the manufacturers’ title in Brazil to complete the season. I think we will again have a good car.

Tell us about the race in Bahrain…
I think we had the car to win because we were one-two before our alternator problem. After this, we were nervous because you never know what can happen. We were only watching the #2 Audi, our championship rivals. It always looked fine but you can never be sure. You become worried that there can be retirements and maybe they would get the points they needed to keep the fight open. We did our job and got the car to the flag, even though there was very little we could do in terms of scoring points.

What were your expectations at the start of the season?
I would say we had expectations and objectives. My objective was really to win Le Mans and the World Championship but expectations always depend on where you stand and what is possible. If you are two seconds off the pace it’s difficult to think you will win! Clearly after we saw how competitive the TS040 HYBRID was, the expectations started to match the objectives. We realised we had the car to do it.

Did you expect to be fighting for the World Championship at that stage?
We thought we could be at the front but it was hard at that stage to think we would win the World Championship.

What has been the biggest challenge for you this season?
I think the biggest challenge is always to try to achieve the maximum with the package you have. When you have such a good car you have pressure to achieve the best results. Clearly we were really disappointed with Le Mans because we did not achieve what we should have with the car we had. Now the team has won five races out of the seven we had so far, so that looks quite good. The difficult thing is always to make sure you get the most out of the car, more than anything else.

After Le Mans, what were your thoughts during the long summer break?
To be honest, it was a difficult period. You prepare yourself all the year for Le Mans and when you don’t achieve your target, it is very difficult. After Le Mans and even during the race after the early accident, I thought directly about the World Championship. I thought if we cannot win Le Mans, we need to win the World Championship.

It was five months between your Spa victory and the Fuji one-two. How sweet did it feel to be back on the top step?
First of all, it was very sweet because it was in Fuji. Finishing first and second in front of the home crowd is fantastic and to win as a team for the third year in a row is really special. I wanted to make sure we would win because in Austin we had the quickest car and we were leading the race, then the rain came. We had the quickest car but we didn’t win. Fuji reassured us that we can do the job.

How has the team developed over the season?
This is the first year that we ran the whole championship with two cars, targeting both Le Mans and the World Championship. It makes a big difference; you feel much more prepared. We tuned ourselves a little bit everywhere. I don’t think we changed massively but we improved.

Rob

18th November 2014, 18:12

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Tequila Patrón ESM Submits Entries Compete in 2015 FIA WEC season

Two-car team seeks run full season run in FIA WEC.

STUART, Fla. – Nov. 18, 2014 – Following two podium finishes in its first two FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) races, Tequila Patrón ESM found itself in a fierce battle with some of the best prototype teams and racers in the world. Those fights will continue in 2015 as the Florida-based team has submitted entries to compete against the world’s best LMP2 teams as full-season participants in the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Tequila Patrón ESM will field two Honda Performance Development (HPD) ARX-04b coupe prototypes in 2015 with continued sponsorship from Tequila Patrón. The 2015 FIA WEC schedule includes two test sessions and eight races spanning the globe including Tequila Patrón ESM’s debut in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and the six-hour races at circuits in England, Belgium, Germany, Japan, China, Bahrain and the United States round in Austin, Texas. In 2014, Tequila Patrón ESM competed in WEC rounds at Austin and Shanghai, China.

“Tequila Patrón is thrilled to introduce its brand to consumers all over the world and on the WEC stage. That’s the major reason we’ve moved in this direction as a team,” said Ed Brown, president and CEO of The Patrón Spirits Company and ESM driver. “This is an excellent business decision for Tequila Patrón ESM. The WEC has open arms to help us execute the best we can in each market.”

Brown, team owner Scott Sharp, Ryan Dalziel and Johannes van Overbeek return as primary drivers of the prototypes. Additional co-drivers will be announced at a later time.

“Shanghai proved to be an incredible experience for Tequila Patrón ESM,” said Sharp. “In addition to Shanghai being the team's first voyage overseas, it provided a great opportunity to expose the Tequila Patrón brand to a new and growing market. As Patrón pushes into the global marketplace, there is a huge opportunity for our program to play a key role – both on- and off-track – In building Patron's brand awareness and exposure. We are very impressed with the WEC and its positioning. Most of the WEC races line up very well with Patron's key target markets. Tequila Patrón ESM is thrilled for the opportunity to contend for the 2015 WEC LMP2 Championship and work closely with the WEC, Gerard Neveu and his staff to enhance awareness of the championship in the North American market.”

Tequila Patrón ESM entered its first FIA WEC race in September during the 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas where Sharp, Brown and Dalziel earned a third-place finish. Then the team entered both black and green Honda Performance Development ARX-03b prototypes in the 6 Hours of Shanghai. Sharp, Dalziel and Ricardo Gonzalez earned runner-up honors in China while Brown, van Overbeek and David Brabham finished fifth.

“We are delighted that one of the top sportscar teams in the United States, Tequila Patrón ESM, has chosen to join the FIA WEC family as a full participant in 2015,” said Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship. “The Tequila Patrón-backed American team raced in the WEC twice this season – in Texas and China – and quickly demonstrated its speed and competitiveness to the rest of the field by scoring two podium finishes. The announcement to race with us in 2015 is a huge boost to the LMP2 grid, and the WEC as a whole, and it is a big honour to welcome Ed Brown, Scott Sharp and all of the Tequila Patrón ESM team to the FIA World Endurance Championship.”

Founded in 2010, Tequila Patrón ESM enters its sixth sportscar racing season at start of 2015.

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fratelliferrari

19th November 2014, 11:00

Just found out it's another week before the 6hrs of Sao Paulo! Sadly I have got an exam next day :-s

Nova

19th November 2014, 13:50

AF Corse 3rd year. Go guys, Go Ferrari...Congrats.:ferrarifl:ferrarifl:champ:ferr arifl:ferrarifl

Rob

19th November 2014, 19:45

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NEWS ALERT
Paris - 19 November 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum

FINAL RACE FOR TOM KRISTENSEN IN BRAZIL

19/11/2014 - 14h27
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One of the really big names in sports is retiring: Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen will contest his last race as a professional race driver in São Paulo (Brazil) at the end of November. The 47-year-old Dane will be retained by the brand with the four rings as a representative and partner of Audi Sport.

“Naturally, the retirement of a remarkable personality like Tom Kristensen is a great loss for Audi Sport Team Joest and the entire endurance racing scene,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We can understand his decision to quit at the pinnacle of his career. He’s the last member of the generation that Audi began with in prototype racing. Tom has been competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as the reigning World Champion this year and shown that he’s still one of the world’s fastest and best sports car drivers. We’ll miss him as a driver but he’s going to continue to support us with his wealth of experience and his personality. We’re happy that Tom Kristensen has been and will continue to be an ‘Audian’ with his heart and soul.”

“I’ve had the privilege of driving for the best team and the world’s coolest automobile manufacturer for 15 years,” emphasizes Tom Kristensen. “I’ve had great team-mates and worked together with fantastic people. With Audi, I’ve been able to win many titles and numerous races as well as experiencing some unforgettable, emotional moments. My string of victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours would not have been possible without Audi. Leaving this team as a driver is hard for me. But the day had to come at one time or another. I can only thank Audi and the entire staff for the great time I’ve had and look forward to my new tasks for the brand and the team of Audi Sport.”

“We heard the news today that Tom Kristensen will retire from professional motorsport after the 6 Hours of São Paulo, and as it is his personal decision, we have to respect this announcement.” said FIAWEC CEO Gerard Neveu. “Tom represents the very best about our sport. Always the consummate professional both behind the wheel and in the paddock, but he equally makes time for the fans and the media. To win the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an achievement in any driver’s career, but to win the greatest race in the world nine times is legendary. Last year he became world champion with Loic Duval and Allan McNish and it is very fitting that the Audi will display the no1 for Tom’s last race in Brazil. Everyone at the FIA World Endurance Championship would like to wish Tom the very best of luck for the future. We sincerely want to have him with us at the centre of the Endurance family for many years to come because Tom is the absolute reference point in our world. More than a Champion, he is a fantastic person; we just love him and need him to be part of the endurance racing world in the future.”

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Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich got the Dane to join Audi at the end of 1999. Together with Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro, Tom Kristensen, in the 12-hour race at Sebring (USA) in March of 2000, achieved Audi’s first victory in a sports car race, plus the brand’s first victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in June of 2000. In the Audi R8, the trio Biela/Pirro/Kristensen was the first driver team in history to win the world’s most famous endurance race three times in succession.

With Bentley and two Audi customer teams, Kristensen, from 2003 to 2005, celebrated three more triumphs at Le Mans, marking six consecutive wins – the iconic endurance race had never before seen such a string of victories. In 2008 and 2013, the Dane took two more victories, in the new Audi R10 TDI and the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. With a track record of nine victories in total, Tom Kristensen is the most successful Le Mans driver of all time. Seven of these wins he celebrated with Audi.

In 2002, Kristensen won the American Le Mans Series in the Audi R8. And in the DTM the Dane showed his class as well. With nine pole positions, four race victories and 18 podium places, he was one of the most successful and best drivers of the Audi A4 DTM from 2004 to 2009. However, the DTM, at the beginning of 2007, was also the series in which he had the most severe accident in his career that kept him from racing for several weeks.

Kristensen owed his ability to make a quick comeback to his outstanding fitness back then. The Dane is still a role model in this respect and will increasingly support Audi Sport in this area in the future.

His last race as a professional race driver will be the finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in Brazil on November 30. Tom Kristensen will be tackling it in the car bearing the number that fits him best: car number ‘1.’

Rob

19th November 2014, 19:54

Was wanting him get a 10th win before he retired. But, what a career. Will miss him alot. Amazing driver and a true legend in the sport.

Rob

19th November 2014, 19:58

Mike Conway to replace Kazuki Nakajima at Toyota for WEC finale
By Gary Watkins

Wednesday, November 19th 2014, 13:27 GMT

Mike Conway will make his third race start for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship at the Brazilian finale in place of Kazuki Nakajima.

The Briton will again drive the #7 TS040 HYBRID, in which he took victory last weekend in Bahrain together with Alex Wurz and Stephane Sarrazin, at Interlagos on November 30 because Nakajima has been unable to secure the necessary visa to travel to Brazil.

A spokesman for the Toyota Motorsport GmbH team said: "Kazuki is not able to race due to delays in the visa application procedure which are out of the team's control."

Conway previously subbed for Nakajima at Austin, which took place on a weekend sandwiched between two Super Formula events in Japan, as well as in Bahrain when the Japanese driver was on Super GT duty.

A third appearance for Toyota for test and reserve driver Conway is likely to be a precursor to a full-race deal for next season.

Toyota is refusing to discuss its driver line-up before the deals with all six drivers are set in stone, but it looks increasingly certain that Conway will replace Nicolas Lapierre, who was dropped from the #8 car ahead of the Fuji WEC round last month.

Toyota has taken up its option on Lapierre's services for next season, but it is understood that the deal is for testing only and that the Japanese manufacturer would not stand in the Frenchman's way if he wants to take up the race deal believed to be on offer from LMP1 newcomer Nissan.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116832

Rob

20th November 2014, 16:23

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News Release.

The successful partnership with the US race driver and actor continues in 2015

Patrick Dempsey contests World Endurance Championship with Porsche

Atlanta. Patrick Dempsey will tackle the 2015 motorsport season at the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR in the Sports Car World Endurance Championship WEC, including the world famous Le Mans 24-hour race. The American actor and race driver, who thrills fans all over the world in his role as “McDreamy” in the medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy”, has been following his passion for racing since 2013 as a member of the Porsche motorsport family. With the expanded race program, the successful alliance between Porsche and Patrick Dempsey will continue.

“I’m already looking forward to 2015, and I’m proud to be able to contest the entire WEC as well as Le Mans with a Porsche,” said Patrick Dempsey at the launch of the program on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Motor Show. “Porsche’s experience in long distance racing is invaluable. Porsche was winning sports car races before I was even born. As a childhood fan of Porsche, I grew up with their successes at Le Mans, Daytona, and the Targa Florio. There are moments when I simply cannot believe that I am now a member of this great team.”

Patrick Dempsey will compete in the races of the Sports Car World Endurance Championship WEC with the Porsche customer team Dempsey Proton Racing in the GTE-Am class. One of his teammates will be the experienced Porsche works driver Patrick Long (USA), whom he also trains with away from the race tracks. Both men are residents of California. In addition to the WEC races, guest appearances in Porsche’s brand trophy series such as the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup as support to the Formula One races are also planned.
During his first season with Porsche, Patrick Dempsey scored fourth place in the GTE-Am class at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2013 with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. In addition, he moved up two podium placings in the American Le Mans Series, taking home second from Laguna Seca and third from Austin. The highlights of the 2014 season included fifth place at Le Mans in a Porsche 911 RSR as well as a podium spot at the new Tudor United SportsCar Championship round at the Virginia International Raceway, where he finished third driving a Porsche 911 GT America.

“We look forward to an exciting 2015 season with Patrick Dempsey and to the continuation of our successful partnership,” said Bernhard Maier, Porsche AG Board Member for Sales and Marketing, at the Los Angeles Motor Show. “Before he drove his first race with Porsche the world knew him primarily as an actor. Over the last two years we’ve come to know him as a passionate race driver who embodies the professionalism and amiability that makes the Porsche motorsport family what it is. Now we are full of anticipation for more successes together.”

“Customer sport enjoys a high priority at Porsche,” affirms Porsche Head of Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser. “For this reason we’re pleased to support Patrick Dempsey and the Dempsey Proton Racing team by providing one of our most successful and experienced works driver. Patrick Long and Patrick Dempsey have already contested several races together and they complement each other perfectly.”

Rob

20th November 2014, 16:34

great news for Patrick joining the WEC, getting stronger and stronger, attracting bigger and bigger names.

Rob

21st November 2014, 21:13

Nissan LMP1 contender makes debut with Michael Krumm
By Gary Watkins Friday, November 21st 2014, 17:13 GMT

Nissan's all-new LMP1 World Endurance Championship contender ran for the first time this week with Michael Krumm behind the wheel, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO undertook its first test at the manufacturer's US test track in Arizona, approximately 50 miles from Phoenix.

The car was driven by long-time Nissan driver Krumm, AUTOSPORT has learned, during what is believed to be a multi-day test at the facility.

No confirmation of the test was available from Nissan, which is only saying that the LMP1 remains on schedule and that further details of the programme will be announced in the new year.

Nissan had said in September that the P1 was due to undertake its maiden run in the first week of November.

The Japanese manufacturer, which will next year be mounting its first bid for outright honours at the Le Mans 24 Hours since 1999, has its first test at a racing circuit scheduled for Sebring in the second week of December.

The official launch of the car pencilled in ahead of that test will not take place and is now understood to be scheduled for February.

Technical details of the LMP1 and the driver line-up for its two-car WEC campaign and an additional entry at Le Mans will be announced at this stage.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116882

Rob

22nd November 2014, 08:28

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FIA WEC: Fittipaldi will drive an AF Corse Ferrari.

Two-time Formula 1 world champion and 500 Indy winner Emerson Fittipaldi will drive an AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia for the “6 Hours of Sao Paulo”, final round in the FIA World Endurance Championship (Wec) 2014. The Brasilian driver will share the Ferrari #61, GTE Am category, with Jeff Segal and Alessandro Pier Guidi.

In Bahrain, round seven out of eight, AF Corse has won the GTE Pro Team world championship, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander have taken the crown of the GT Drivers. The GT Manufactures titles is still to appoint: Ferrari is first with 261 (Porsc he second, 236).

THE OTHER AF CORSE FERRARI 458s – In addition to the 458 # 51 with the world champions Bruni and Vilander, in GTE Pro will race as usual Davide Rigon and James Calado in the Ferrari 458 Italia #71.

In the GTE Am category, the Ferrari #81 with Steve Wyatt, Michele Rugolo and Andrea Bertolini will join the #61 with Fittipaldi. In the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 #90 (managed by AF Corse) will race Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Cressoni.

The start of the race will be at 1 PM (local time).

AF Corse Press Office - Riccardo Delfanti

fratelliferrari

22nd November 2014, 14:12

Rob

22nd November 2014, 20:15

Well that's great! Really looking forward to the race :thumb

Going be another great race, and finale to amazing season. Next year looks better, Nissan, Patrick Dempsey possible Jenson Button.

You got test the following day?

fratelliferrari

22nd November 2014, 20:39

Going be another great race, and finale to amazing season. Next year looks better, Nissan, Patrick Dempsey possible Jenson Button.

You got test the following day?

Yes I have Rob! Insurance Law :-) Hopefully I will be able to something of the action!

Rob

25th November 2014, 18:59

Porsche Confirm Third 919 Hybrid For 2015 Le Mans

After quite a battle with the bean counters Porsche has this evening confirmed that they will enter a third 2015 spec 919 Hybrid for next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and the now traditional 6 Hours of Spa curtain raiser.

Porsche have already confirmed that all six of their current factory LMP1 drivers will return for the full 2015 FIA WEC with no final decisions yet made over the trio for the third car.

Porsche have tested most of their current GT factory drivers in the 2014 919 Hybrid with Messrs Makowiecki, Tandy and Christensen apparently impressing most. Porsche are also understood to have made an offer to 2014 Force India F1 man Nico Hulkenberg, though this depends on his ‘day job’ agreeing to a couple of weekends off!

Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Board, Research and Development, Porsche AG, said: “In 2014 we have been competitive immediately with the most complex and innovative race car Porsche has built so far. To date we have achieved five podium places, three pole positions and two record laps, in Shanghai and Bahrain. These are outstanding results. But this programme doesn’t just produce success on race tracks, but also on the engineering side. The target is the highest performance with maximised efficiency in ever growing dimensions. This is why we will take on the challenge with three Porsche 919 Hybrids in 2015.”

Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board Porsche AG: “Our decision to compete with a Porsche works team in the WEC’s LMP1 category proved to be the right one. This is what we feel at every race. The highly demanding motorsport programme contributes directly to the development of future sports cars for the road. For the development and testing of future hybrid systems, you can’t ask for any harder test bench than the World Endurance Championship and especially the Le Mans 24-Hours. The same goes for the newly established Porsche LMP1 crew. More than 230 people had to grow together quickly to form a strong team. The human factor is not only crucial for the men at the steering wheel, but for the entire project – and this reflects very much the Porsche philosophy.”

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2014/11/24/porsche-confirm-third-919-hybrid-for-2015-le-mans.html

Rob

25th November 2014, 20:51

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TOYOTA RACING TARGETS TITLE IN BRAZIL
Tuesday 25 November 2014

TOYOTA Racing heads to Brazil this weekend on the verge of securing the FIA World Endurance Championship title in the season-ending Six Hours of Sao Paulo at Interlagos.

Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, driving the #8 TS040 HYBRID, already won the drivers’ World Championship at the penultimate race in Bahrain just over a week ago and the team stands on the brink of an historic triumph.

TOYOTA, seeking to become the first Japanese winners of the World Endurance Championship in any of its guises since its inception in 1953, leads the manufacturers’ World Championship by 40 points with a maximum of 44 available in Brazil.

Kazuki Nakajima was scheduled to return to the cockpit of the #7 TS040 HYBRID, having missed the Bahrain round due to his Super GT commitments. However, due to difficulties to obtain the correct working visa, which are out of TOYOTA Racing’s control, Kazuki is unable to participate in Sao Paulo.

In his absence, Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin will again be partnered by Mike Conway. The trio won the Bahrain race together in the #7, making it three consecutive race wins for the team and five out of seven races this season.

Interlagos has already been the scene of celebrations for TOYOTA Racing in the recent past. The #7 took the team’s maiden pole position and victory there in 2012, in just its third race. However, chances of a repeat last year were dashed early in the race when the #8 was hit by an LMP2 car and forced to retire.

Action at Interlagos begins on Friday with the first official practice sessions (13.00-14.30 and 17.30-19.00) while Saturday sees final practice (10.00-11.00) and qualifying (15.20-15.45). The six-hour race starts on Sunday at 13.00.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “Our task in Brazil is clear; we want to win the manufacturers’ World Championship. We are in a very strong position in the standings but until the chequered flag falls in Brazil, we cannot take anything for granted. Interlagos is a track which has suited us well in the past and I have particularly happy memories of winning our first race there two years ago. I hope we can enjoy some more celebrations on Sunday night but before we think about that, we will be giving everything, as usual, to perform strongly again in the race.”

Alex Wurz (TS040 HYBRID #7): “Sao Paulo is a very cool track as it’s a bit old school. Obviously there is a lot of history there and the Brazilian fans always create a special atmosphere. Like many drivers, I love this track. This year specifically it will be very interesting because the track has been resurfaced. We saw in Formula 1 that the grip level has increased so there are very different factors to consider for the tyres compared to last year. It will be interesting to see who reacts fastest and smartest to these changes.”

Stéphane Sarrazin (TS040 HYBRID #7): “I’m looking forward to racing in Brazil again. The TS040 HYBRID has been really competitive at every track this year so I am confident we will again have a good package this weekend. It was great for us in the #7 to win the last race in Bahrain, and of course for Anthony and Sébastien to win the drivers’ World Championship. We enjoyed that moment but now we get back to business. Our focus is on winning the manufacturers’ title for TOYOTA; that would be an amazing way to end the season.”

Mike Conway (TS040 HYBRID #7): “I’m happy to be back in the #7 car again; I didn’t expect to be racing in Brazil so it was a nice surprise although obviously it’s disappointing for Kazuki, especially considering the circumstances. But for me it’s a great chance to get more miles in the car and to work again with the team. I was pleased with my weekend in Bahrain, particularly winning the race. So I am heading to Brazil in a very positive mood and I’m determined to do my bit again for the team in their World Championship challenge.”

Anthony Davidson (TS040 HYBRID #8): “After the tension of Bahrain and finally the joy at winning the drivers’ World Championship, things should be a little more relaxed for Sébastien and me in Brazil. That doesn’t mean we will be taking it easy; far from it. I’d love to finish the season with a win as that would be the perfect end to an incredible year. But the priority is first and foremost winning the manufacturers’ World Championship for the team. We have had the fastest car this season so I am confident we will be strong.”

Sébastien Buemi (TS040 HYBRID #8): “I’ve enjoyed the last few days after Bahrain and eventually I am starting to get used to being called a World Champion. It’s a great feeling but the season will not be complete until we have won the manufacturers’ title for the team. That’s the final piece of the jigsaw for us in 2014 and it’s clearly our target this weekend. We have shown good speed at Interlagos in the past two years and it seems to suit our hybrid system. It will be interesting to see how the new track surface affects things but I’m sure we’ll be fighting at the front.”

TOYOTA Racing at Interlagos:
2012 #7: Qual. 1st; Race 1st.
2013 #8: Qual. 3rd; Race DNF (accident).

About TOYOTA Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship:
TOYOTA first competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 1983, marking the start of a long period of participation in endurance racing. Since 1985, TOYOTA cars have raced in 16 Le Mans 24 Hours races, achieving a best result of second place on four occasions (1992, 1994, 1999 and 2013). TOYOTA entered the revived WEC in 2012, as TOYOTA Racing, with its first hybrid LMP1 car, the TS030 HYBRID, which won five of the 14 races it entered over two seasons. It was succeeded in 2014 by the 1,000PS, four-wheel-drive TS040 HYBRID, which won its debut race. They were designed and built by TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG), where the race team is based. TMG is the former home of TOYOTA's World Rally and Formula 1 works teams, and was responsible for design and operation of TOYOTA's TS020 Le Mans car in 1998-99. TMG now combines motorsport participation with work as a high-performance engineering services provider to third party companies, as well as the TOYOTA family.

Rob

25th November 2014, 20:59

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PORSCHE TEAM’S BATTERIES FULLY CHARGED FOR THE FINALE.

"Ignition on, hybrid on” - on November 30 at 13:00 local time it will be the final call for the 2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid. That day the first Le Mans prototype since Porsche’s return to the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship will start the eighth and final round in São Paulo, Brazil.

Once again the challenge is a six-hour race, and to find the best possible compromise of performance, efficiency and reliability for the most technically advanced hybrid car on the grid will be crucial. Along with the power from the two-litre, turbo four cylinder engine, the Porsche recuperates brake energy from the front axle and generates electrical power from the exhaust energy. The latter of the systems makes it the only LMP1 car that regains energy not only when braking, but also when accelerating. The driver trios of Romain Dumas (France), Neel Jani (Switzerland) and Marc Lieb (Germany) as well as Timo Bernhard (Germany), Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) and Mark Webber (Australia) will have to go flat out for another six hours, every lap at sprint race pace.

Quotes before the race:

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “For Porsche a successful LMP1 debut season comes to an end in São Paulo. We can be proud of having achieved three pole positions and five podium finishes with such a complex race car in such strong competition. Even more important for the future: The way we improved race by race shows that we’ve got the structures right. This goes for the technical concept, as well as for the driver line-up and the operational side with a team growing so well together. We have learnt from every situation and tried our utmost to reduce the competition’s advantage in terms of experience. In case a small opportunity would open up to climb on the next and final step of the podium in Brazil, we want to be ready to take it.”

Drivers car number 14
Romain Dumas (36, France): “For our team and the Porsche 919 Hybrid São Paulo is unknown territory. This is another big challenge for the finale on a circuit that all drivers love. For sure the set-up work in free practice will be difficult. I think it is good for the championship that we race on such a famous Formula One circuit. Interlagos has seen a lot of rain chaos in the past. If it stays dry it is comfortable for the spectators. But I think our team could rather benefit from rain.”

Neel Jani (30, Switzerland): “I have driven Formula One and LMP1 race cars in São Paulo, and it will be interesting to see whether the new tarmac now has more or less grip than before. I think this track should suit us. Due to its altitude at 800 metres above sea level, our turbo engine has an advantage over the normally aspirated engines, as they lose a bit of power because of the lower air density. For us the most difficult part will be the winding middle sector. If we get that right a good result should be possible.”

Marc Lieb (34, Germany): “I am very much looking forward to race in São Paulo again. The track is really cool – one of the beautiful old-school circuits with a unique character and a great atmosphere. Also I always found it had a nice flow. In recent years we have been there in August when it was rather chilly. But once I took part in the 1000-mile race in November and I remember it was very hot. The old track surface was quite abrasive for the tyres and I can’t wait to learn about the new tarmac. But anyway, for our car everything is new in Interlagos.”

Drivers car number 20
Timo Bernhard (33, Germany): “It will be my first time in São Paulo and I’m looking forward to getting there, and also because the Brazilians are such big motorsport fans. I have heard lots of positive things about this historic circuit. We have proven several times this year that we know how to cope with tracks that are new to us. Interlagos belongs to the some 30 per cent of circuits where you drive anti-clockwise. The fast left-handers will have an impact on the body, especially on the neck, and we will do extra training beforehand.”

Brendon Hartley (25, New Zealand): “I have never been to Brazil, but I have driven the circuit many times on the simulator and watched it on TV. I think it is a track everyone knows from Formula One on TV. I’m quite excited about going there and racing at such a famous venue, and I have the feeling the track should be quite good for our car, our hybrid systems and technology. So far we have been improving at every race and, therefore, this last event must offer the best chances for a good result. I’m optimistic.”

Mark Webber (38, Australia): “I always enjoyed driving there in Formula One. With the Grand Prix wins in 2009 and 2011, I have some very special memories of the place. The atmosphere is electric with the fans being very close to the track, different to modern circuits where the grandstands are farther away. At 4.3 kilometres it means it is a small circuit and the WEC is a huge grid. It is a little bit of a shame they resurfaced the track, because the bumps were a special challenge that is taken away now. I think the 919 will like the track and, hopefully, we can push for our best result of the year there.“

Porsche Motorsport

Rob

26th November 2014, 22:25

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NEWS ALERT
São Paulo - 26 November 2014
Hello Mr Robert Allum,

FIA WEC SEASON FINALE IN SAO PAULO SET TO BE TELEVISED WORLDWIDE

The 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship will come to an exciting conclusion as the chequered flag flies for the 6 Hours of São Paulo. The World Manufacturers, GT Manufacturers and LMP2 titles will be awarded and fond farewells made to several key figures from endurance racing including Audi Sport’s Tom Kristensen.

The historic Autódromo José Carlos Pace will see 26 cars taking the start of the eighth and final round on Sunday 30th November, and a TV distribution package has been arranged which will allow viewers worldwide the opportunity to follow through to the end one of the most exciting FIA WEC seasons so far. Toyota Racing is poised to win the World Endurance Championship Manufacturers’ title, and the battle for honours in GTE is still as close between Ferrari and Porsche. With uncertain weather conditions and a new track surface at Interlagos, the racing is sure to be as exciting as it is unpredictable. The green flag for the start will be waved at 13h00 local (-2 hours GMT).

Host broadcaster Sport TV/TV Globo in Brazil will be broadcasting the 6-hour race live to the country’s 37.5 million viewers and there are some big Brazilian names in the race including Lucas di Grassi and Emerson Fittipaldi which will undoubtedly increase viewership hugely. Fox LATAM and Fox Sports 1 in the USA will both show a 52’ highlights package to a potential audience of over 100 million viewers – the 43 countries covered by Fox LATAM benefiting from three broadcasts to be aired over 6th and 7th December.

European audiences will have enjoyed seeing Toyota Racing’s Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi capturing the World Drivers’ Championship title in Bahrain, plus AF Corse’s Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander taking the GT Drivers crown. The all-important manufacturers championships will be settled this weekend, and Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Inter will both show part of the race LIVE, with a 30 minute highlights show on 2nd December.

Motors TV will show LIVE and direct the whole race to its 25 million viewers, and the digital Player Eurosport channel will broadcast the race live plus show a delayed highlights show. 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.

Fox Sports Australia will show the race live in the early hours of the morning plus a 3-hour repeat show to be broadcast three times later in the day, covering the exploits of Mark Webber among others. J Sports in Japan will be keen to see if Toyota Racing can wrap up a superb season with another title and will show three hours of the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo LIVE, repeating this show three times the 52’ highlights show no fewer than four times in the weeks following the race.

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 addition, Eurosport Asia/Pacific channel will air part of the São Paulo race LIVE to its 7.8 million potential viewers in its 13 territories, plus delayed highlights on 2nd December.

Following a superb 6 Hours of Bahrain, both on and off track, BeIn Sports will continue to support the growth of the FIA WEC in the region and show the Brazilian round live plus a 52’ show at a later date.

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

27th November 2014, 01:15

Thanks for the update Rob. Big one coming up!!

Rob

27th November 2014, 20:09

PORSCHE SIGN NICO HULKENBERG FOR 2015 SPA AND LE MANS ROUNDS.
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The first driver for the third Porsche 919 Hybrid to be entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2015 has been signed: Nico Hülkenberg will join the Porsche Team.

The 27-year-old German will be the first active Formula One driver since 2009 to take the start of the famous endurance event. Before entering the race at the Sarthe on June 13/14, Nico will race the second generation of the innovative Le Mans Prototype on May 2 in the six-hour race at Spa.

Nico Hülkenberg: “Porsche and Le Mans – this combination probably attracts every race driver. I’ve been a Porsche fan for a long time and have been watching their return to the LMP1 class closely. The desire grew to drive that car at Le Mans. I am very pleased the 2015 Formula One calendar allows for it and I’m grateful to my Sahara Force India Formula One Team’s generosity to let me go for it. Now it’s up to me to work hard to satisfy both commitments.”

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “We are very much looking forward to taking Nico on board. We’ve got complete faith in his driving skills and for sure he will fit well in our works team. The ability to integrate is of extreme importance in endurance racing. For a Formula One driver it is an unusual situation to accept that his own results are the sum of three drivers’ performance.”

Andreas Seidl, Team Principal: “Having caught the interest of another world class driver like Nico is validation for the job the entire Porsche LMP1 crew had done in our first WEC season. Now we will prepare Nico for his new challenges such as dealing with the traffic of the slower GT cars and racing into the Le Mans night. We have got a road map in place which should enable him to exploit his driving abilities at his Le Mans debut. We’re looking forward to working with Nico and we want to thank the Sahara Force India F1 Team and team principal Vijay Mallya for loaning him to us.”
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Rob

27th November 2014, 20:11

lets hope this allows/opens the doors, contracts for other F1 drivers to race at Le-Mans.

Great news for Hulk.

Rob

27th November 2014, 20:21

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ELMS Regulations Evolve for 2015 Season

With the arrival of the new LMP3 category in the European Le Mans Series next year, the regulations with regards to driver crew categorisations, minimum and maximum driving times, pitstop times and refuelling rigs have been clarified.

It has also been confirmed that the winning drivers of the LMP3 category in 2015 will also receive an LMP2 test session with a Nissan Junior Team and the winning LMP3 team will receive an automatic entry into the LMP2 category at the 2016 24 Heures du Mans, providing there are more than three full season entries received in this category for the ELMS next season.

Driver Crews

A crew of 3 drivers must be made of as following:

- one Platinum and two Bronze drivers,

- one Gold, one Bronze, and one Silver or a second Bronze

- three Bronze or Silver drivers.

A crew of 2 drivers must be made of as following:

- one Platinum and one Bronze driver,

- one Gold and one Silver or Bronze

- two Bronze or Silver drivers.

Pit Stop Times

Pit Stops for the cars running in the LMP3 category during the race:

Minimum pit stop time (pit entry loop – pit exit loop) for the refueling and/or driver change only: 1 minute 30 seconds**

Minimum pit stop time (pit entry loop – pit exit loop) for any other operation: 2 minutes 30 seconds.**

** Value will be confirmed after having completed LMP3 refueling test
Refueling Towers

Any competitor entering 2 cars in the LMP3 category or entering 1 car in the LMP2 category as well as 1 car in the LMP3 category, must use only one refueling tower.

Driving Time

For the driver line up made of 2 drivers:

- Maximum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 1H40 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 2H20 minutes

If there is no Gold or Platinum driver in the driver line up:

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 1h40 minutes

For the driver line up made of 3 drivers:

- Maximum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 1h40 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 40 minutes

Changes to Driving Times in LMP2 and GTC

In addition there have been some changes made to the minimum and maximum driving times in LMP2 and GTC categories, all other driving times are unchanged from 2014.

For the LMP2 category

For the driver line up made of 3 drivers:

If the crew is composed by 2 Platinum or Gold drivers :

- Maximum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 1h30 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 40 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 1h30 minutes

If the crew is composed by 1 Platinum or Gold driver :

- Maximum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 1h40 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 40 minutes

If there is no Gold or Platinum driver in the driver line up:

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 40 minutes

For the driver line up made of 2 drivers:

- Maximum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 1H40 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze or Silver driver: 2H20 minutes

For the GTC category only :

The maximum duration of a stint remains at 50 minutes

For the driver line up made of 2 drivers:

- Minimum driving time for a driver: 1h30 minutes

For the driver line up made of 3 drivers including one Gold or Platinum:

- Maximum driving time for a Gold or Platinum driver : 1h15 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Silver driver: 45 minutes

- Minimum driving time for a Bronze driver: 1h30 minutes

For the driver line up made of 3 drivers without any Gold or Platinum driver:

- Minimum driving time for Bronze drivers combined (one or more Bronze drivers in the same line up) : 1h30 minutes.

The remaining driving times in the category remained unchanged from the 2014 regulations in 2015

Tyre Manufacturer

In LMGTE and GTC a single tyre manufacturer will be announced before the end of 2014.

Invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The prize of an automatic invitation to the 2016 24 Heures du Mans is also confirmed with five entries for the European Le Mans Series competitors -

- The 1st LMP2 competitor is invited to the 2016 24 Heures du Mans.

- The 1st and the 2nd GTE competitors are invited to the 2016 24 Heures du Mans.

- The 1st GTC competitor is invited to the 2016 24 Heures du Mans (in the GTE Am category).

- The 1st LMP3 competitor is invited to the 2016 24 Heures du Mans (in the LMP2 category). This is subject to there being more than three cars entered for the full season and each round of the 2015 European Le Mans Series.
Entries for 2015

Teams wishing to enter the 2015 European Le Mans Series can download the entry form on the ELMS website (www.europeanlemansseries.com) from 20 December, the official opening date for the entries in the Series. All entries must be received by the 27 January with the 2015 grid being unveiled in February.

ENDS