Peugeot continued their domination of the timing sheets with a lock out of positions one to four for the starting grid at Le Mans. The Wednesday time of local hero Sebastien Bourdais was quick enough to keep pole position from team mate Alexander Wurz who was the quickest of the drivers in the second 908. Third place will see the combination of Frank Montagny, Stephane Sarrazin and long time In Pit Lane favourite Nicolas Minassian start alongside the semi-works ORECA Peugeot of Panis, Lapierre and Duval. Audi closed the gap slightly to the French marque but will have to rely on reliability and their famous strategy to have any chance of regaining the Le Man crown.
Continue reading...10. June 2010
Cleaner, Greener, More Quiet. Welcome to motorsport in the 21st century. The Automobile Club de la Ouest (ACO) have unveiled the regulations for the 2011 Le Mans 24 hour race and associated series. According to the ACO the new rules have been drawn up in the context of sustainable development and respect for the environment. The ACO and the motor industry have concentrated on two aspects that are crucially important from their point of view: • An endurance race like the Le Mans 24 Hours must enable entrants to test new technologies. • The focus of the Le Mans 24 Hours must be aimed even more strongly towards both the reduction of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The most noticeable change will be new rules to both control and encourage energy recovery systems. Under the new rules the recovery and release of energy will be restricted to two wheels only (front or rear axle). Energy from the system may be stored using either electrical or mechanical systems. This will no doubt please Porsche whose flywheel based William F1 designed system has already been tested and proven in last months Nurburgring 24 hour race.
Continue reading...10. June 2010
The ACO have confirmed that the Zhuhai circuit in China will be the venue for the third round of the new Le Mans Intercontinental Cup. The series which has already attracted entries from both Peugeot and Audi will start with the Silverstone1000 kms race in September before moving on to the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on the first weekend of October. The Zuhai race wil be held over the weekend of November 5-7. The 4.3 km circuit is situated in the Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China and is accessible to Hong Kong by a 70 minute Ferry ride. This should make the event popular with Australian motorsport fans who can base themselves in HongKong as well as with the growing band of race enthusiasts already living in the region. It'll be a busy month for motorsport in the region with the Macau Grand Prix on Nov 21 and the final round of the DTM in Shanghai a week later.
Continue reading...10. June 2010
The first Australian-specification Ferrari 458 Italia has arrived in Australia, with the 325 kmh super car making its debut in Brisbane this week (10 June 2010) after being flown direct from Italy to Australia. “Australian deliveries have started a little earlier than planned because the interest in this remarkable car has been so great that the car has been air freighted to Australia,” explains Kevin Wall, General Manager for Ferrari in Australia and New Zealand. “Even before it was announced we have had Australian clients expressing interest in the 458 Italia and, once its specification was announced, revealing it to be, even by Ferrari standards, a technical tour de force, interest has climbed dramatically and shows no sign of slowing.” Launched in the same year as the legendary car maker celebrates 60 years in Formula One and has competed in its 800th Grand Prix, the Ferrari 458 Italia uses a remarkable amount of Formula One technology in every aspect of its design. This enables it to be the fastest production Ferrari the company has produced and, to place this position in perspective, the launch version of the 458 Italia is faster in all areas than the ultimate, race track orientated, version of the car it replaces.
Continue reading...10. June 2010
Peugeot dominated the time sheets after the first day of on-track action at Le Mans. The three works cars led by Sebastian Bourdais and the semi-works ORECA car set the fastest four times in qualifying with the first Audi R15+ the Bernhard/Dumas/Rockenfeller car back in fifth place. Despite efforts by race organisers the ACO to level the playing field, diesel cars dominated with the first seven positions. Aston Martin led home the unofficial "petrol" division with the car of Mucke/Fernandez/Primat on top of the team's second car with the team of Turner/Hancock/Barazi. A surprise in P2 with the Staker HPD ARX of Watts/Kane/Leventis coming out on top of the Highcroft team HPD led by last years outright winner David Brabham.
Continue reading...7. June 2010
Red Bull Racing has announced that Mark Webber’s contract has been extended, meaning the Australian will continue to drive for the team in 2011. With Sebastian Vettel already contracted to the team for next year, this announcement confirms Red Bull Racing’s 2011 driver line-up. In a media release from the team Webber said that it was an easy decision to remain with Red Bull Racing. "We began talking very early this year and were in a position to sign by the Barcelona Grand Prix." he said. "The decision to extend for a further year was a mutual one; it’s widely know that I’m not interested in hanging around in Formula One just for the sake of it and at this stage of my career, I’m happy to take one year at a time... I have a fantastic relationship with the whole team and the factory at Milton Keynes feels like home. It’s been incredible to be part of the team as it’s moved forward from a mid-field competitor to one that is challenging for the Championship. I hope we experience more success together in the future and achieve our ultimate goal of winning the World Championship.”
Continue reading...7. June 2010
The Confederation of Australian Motorsport has opened nominations for the 2011 CAMS Rising Star Program. Once again, Australia’s brightest young stars will be able to nominate themselves to be considered for the 2011 Program. Those selected to participate in the Program will compete in either state or national level Formula Ford. The self nomination approach has been chosen to encourage young talented drivers to be proactive in their pursuit of a national or international motor racing career. Graduates of the CAMS Rising Star Program include Scott Pye, John Martin, Ashley Walsh and Daniel Erickson. Scott Pye is currently competing in the British Formula Ford Championship as part of the AMSF International Rising Star Program. The CAMS Rising Star Program aims to identify and fast-track the development of young Australian drivers from the junior ranks to national and international competition through clearly defined and supported pathways.
Continue reading...7. June 2010
Canadian Bruno Spengler scored his first DTM race win of the season to lead home a Mercedes 1, 2, 3, at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz. Scotsman Paul Di Resta led for most of the race, but lost the lead after problems with the left rear wheel change during the second pit stop. “Winning here really is an incredibly good feeling." said Spengler after the race. "I have given my girlfriend a nice birthday present today. But it is even more beautiful because we have three Mercedes-Benz drivers on the podium today." The win was the first for Spengler since the Norisring back in 2007. Briton Jamie Green completed the 1-2-3 for Mercedes-Benz which made him the best-placed driver of a 2008-spec car. German Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller, who was also racing a 2008-spec car finished fourth to be the first Audi home.
Continue reading...7. June 2010
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix) has become the first ever driver to win back to back in the Masters of Formula 3 race at Zandvoort. Alexander Sims (ART Grand Prix) and Marco Wittmann (Signature) were second and third in the race, the unofficial World Championship for the class. A slight drizzle set in just before the start of the race but apart from Roberto Merhi (Mücke Motorsport), all drivers on the first couple of grid rows opted for slick tyres. After the start, which took place behind the safety car for safety reasons, the Spanish driver had the upper hand and soon took the lead. However, as the track dried out, he no longer had a chance. Alexander Sims and Valtteri Bottas overtook him. But the new leader Sims wasn’t able to hold on to his first place for a long time either and Bottas went past. In the remaining laps, the Finn drove a safe victory home.
Continue reading...6. June 2010
While the Drag Racing fans of Melbourne continue to agitate for a Championship level Drag Strip to serve Australia’s sporting capital. The Victorian State Government is providing $50,000 to look at the viability of developing Mildura and Swan Hill as elite centres for motor sport. The Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development, Jaala Pulford, [...]
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11. June 2010