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AUDI TOP LE MANS TEST
Audi completed its preparations for the most important endurance race of the year with a test in France that was largely held in rain. Two weeks before the Le Mans 24 Hours, Audi Sport Team Joest set up the long-tail version of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro for the high-speed track on the eight-hour test day. On a mostly wet Sunday at La Sarthe, the team of the eleven-time Le Mans winner concentrated on testing various aerodynamic set-up versions of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. In addition, the engineers experimented with different tire pressures in order to analyze the performance of the rain tires on a single lap and across longer distances. When showers set in, the team decided to end the morning’s practice session early. The track conditions were too inconsistent, as Loïc Duval came to find out too in an off-track excursion in the Tertre Rouge corner toward the end of the first half of the day. His car, designated as number 2, remained structurally undamaged in the incident and was ready to resume the test after the lunch break. Despite inclement weather there were as many spectators at the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours test day as in 2012 when it was sunny. A crowd of around 23 000 had a taste of what they will experience at the Le Mans 24 Hours in two weeks time. It shows just how much people are looking forward to the 90th anniversary event.
Continue reading...BRIGHT START TO THE GREATEST RACE
Sunday, June 9, 2013
The cars are soon on the famous Le Mans circuit for the first time in 2013 as the test day gets under way for the World's greatest motor race. For almost a year people everywhere have been waiting for this moment! The test day kicks off a hectic fortnight, which will climax on 23rd June with the huge crowd of supporters flocking to the track under the podium to crown the winner of this year's Le Mans 24 hour classic. Between now and then laughter and tears will follow each other in rapid succession! Thousands of stories, whether of great or little import, will be written between the centre of Le Mans and the Mulsanne corner at the southern extremity of the circuit. From this day, memories will be made, dreams will come true and the 56 garages will be a theatre of great joy and huge disappointments. There is always something at stake at the test day. It is THE day that plunges teams into a state of doubt or panic or, on the contrary, gives them the impetus and the confidence to reach for the heights. In short, it sets the tone. This year there are many questions: will Audi or Toyota come out on top psychologically speaking in LM P1? Which of the 24 LM P2s prototypes will find the best setup as they are all potential category winners? Will the new Vipers, back in GTE Pro after a 10-year absence, be able to match the pace of the Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes and Aston Martins? For Austrlaian V8 Supercar Star Jason Bright, today is the fulfilment of a career long dream. For as long as I have known Jason he has always had a burning desire to race at this, the world's greatest race...
Continue reading...ORECA to build new LMP1 for Rebellion Racing
Saturday, June 8, 2013
ORECA’s Technology department has been chosen by leading privateer LMP1 team REBELLION to design, build and develop the new REBELLION R-One which will race in the LMP1 class, the top category in endurance. This new car, entered by the Swiss team REBELLION Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Championship, will benefit from ORECA’s know-how and expertise. The two outfits will work hand in hand to work on the exciting project. « ORECA and REBELLION Racing share in the desire for captivating challenge » "Everyone at ORECA is very happy with this partnership with REBELLION Racing " said Hugues de Chaunac, President of the ORECA Group. « They are a team who have proven their ability in running an LM P1 program and who are ambitious. Along with our partnership with TOYOTA Motorsport Gmbh regarding their Le Mans program, this project to design the REBELLION’s car fits perfectly with our developing constructor activities and we are motivated by the idea of doing so with a professional outfit. We share in the desire for a captivating challenge. » "The new Regulations for 2014 provide a great opportunity for Privateer LMP1 entrants to challenge for overall race wins” said Bart Hayden, REBELLION Racing Team Manager.
Continue reading...RECORD BREAKING DEBUT GT WIN FOR LE BROCQ
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Erebus Motorsport continued their domination of the Australian GT Championship at Phillip Island with 20-year old Jack Le Brocq destroying the opposition to win race one. Starting from pole position, the reigning national Formula Ford champion held a narrow early lead over veteran John Bowe, before charging away from the field as the fuel load lightened, [...]
Continue reading...FORD’S AUSSIE PULLOUT: HEAR THE FULL MEDIA CONFERENCE
Friday, May 24, 2013
In case you missed it, here is the full audio of the Ford Australia media conference announcing the company’s decision to end manufacturing in Australia. ford-press-23rd-may-2013ford-press-23rd-may-2013
Continue reading...THE FALCON IS DEAD! FORD TO END AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING
Thursday, May 23, 2013
NO DECISION ON MOTORSPORT FUTURE, YET! Ford Australia have announced their decision to withdraw from manufacturing in Australia with both Geelong and Broadmeadows plants to close in October 2016. Rumours of the withdrawal have been rife within the local car industry for several years now, with most talk centring around the future of the iconic Ford Falcon. The move comes after years of declining sales for the Falcon and the failure of other nameplates to capture the market. Bob Graziano, president and CEO of Ford Australia, told the media that the company had lost $144 mil. Last year alone making a loss of $600 mil. Over the past five years. Mr Graziano confirmed that the Falcon nameplate would cease when production of the car ends in 2016. He sais the the decision to end local production followed a comprehensive review process of the companies operations in Australia. In it's media staement Ford said: "Given the changing dynamics of the auto industry, a number of business scenarios were reviewed during the past year to determine next steps for Ford’s Australian business....
Continue reading...IT’S OFFICIAL HONDA/McLAREN BACK IN BUSINESS
Thursday, May 16, 2013
It's official. Honda will return to Formula One with McLaren for the 2015 season. After months of speculation the official announcement will see the Japanese manufacturer back at the top level of motorsport after it quit the sport in 2008. Honda President and CEO Takanobu Ito, said that Honda was delighted to be back in F1. “Honda has a long history of advancing our technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world’s most prestigious automobile racing series. The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our participation in F1." he said. Mr Ito thanked both the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone for their support, indicating that the new engine regulations for F1 were a major influence in the companies decision to return.
Continue reading...WIN TICKETS TO SENSATIONAL SANDOWN MAY 18 - 19
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
To win tickets to the second round of the Victorian Circuit Racing Championships at Sandown Raceway on May 18 - 19 just go to the In Pit Lane Competition page and answer the very simple question. HINT: She was a recent guest on In Pit Lane. The In Pit Lane Competition Page
Continue reading...THE SPA 6 HOURS LIVE
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The 2013 Spa 6 hours is the final hit out before the big one, the Le Mans 24 hours in June. Audi are on pole are are Toyota foxing? And who will come out on top in the fiercely competitive GT category? Aston Martin? Ferrari?, Porsche? Corvette? Watch here LIVE this Saturday night and find out. FIA WEC [...]
Continue reading...AUDI ON POLE IN SPA SHOOTOUT
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Audi has dominated qualifying for round 2 of the FIA World Endurance Championship at the famous Spa-Francochamp circuit. Marcel Fässler (CH), Benoît Tréluyer (F) and André Lotterer (D) are on pole with a four lap average of 1m 59.961s. The number 1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro were the only driver squad to break the two-minute mark. An impressive performance by Lucas di Grassi (BR), Marc Gené (E) and Oliver Jarvis (GB), they share the number 3 car which has been aerodynamically optimized for the upcoming run at Le Mans. But even on the track in the Ardennes that is less suitable for this body version, they qualified for the front row with a time of 2m 00.236, missing the best time by only 0.274s. di Grassi even set the fastest time of the day at 1m 58.934s. Third place is shared by the series leaders Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB). They are contesting the race together with Loïc Duval (F). As Audi’s best immediate rival, the number 7 Toyota in position four missed the best time by 0.986s. It was a frustrating day for Toyota as its two TS030 HYBRIDs qualified fourth and fifth for the race.
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Monday, June 10, 2013
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