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LARGE FIELDS SEE ALMS PITSTOP CHANGE

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Big fields at this weekend's American Le Mans Series round at the famous Mosport circuit in Canada have forced series organisers to make changes to pit stop procedures. The large grid of 30 cars will mean a realigned pitlane operation for the race. During yellow-flag caution periods the pit entrance will be closed immediately, as is standard practice. Once the Safety Car has the overall leader and field in tow, IMSA officials will open the pits with LMP and LMPC cars only allowed to pit on the first lap. On the next lap, all GT and GTC cars may pit. For subsequent laps, any car may come in to pit lane.

DTM-SUPERGT REGS MERGER FRAUGHT WITH RISKS

Friday, August 20, 2010

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DTM-SUPERGT REGS MERGER FRAUGHT WITH RISKS

Two of the world's top GT and Touring Car series look set to join under common rules for 2012. And the US based Grand-Am series may join them. Regulations for the popular Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) and the Japanese based Super GT series are set to merge opening up the possibility of an exchange of cars and drivers for the future. The new regulations were announced earlier this year and feature: - Common carbon monocoque with roll cage - A standard wheelbase of 2850 mm - Common front and rear overhang - Common front spoiler and rear diffuser - V8 engine of yet to be announced size - Limited number of engines during season - Introduction of "design line" where on one side all cars are common The main aim of the new regulations is a 51% cost reduction in costs, but it's the last item on the list that is concerning the purists most.

THE PROFITS OF CAPTAIN PENSKE

Friday, July 30, 2010

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Success on the racetrack is not the only source of good news for US racing legend Roger Penske. Penske’s US based Auto sales and dealer network, has reported an impressive $29.4 million second quarter operating profit. Penske Automotive Group Inc. is the United States’ second-largest dealer holding company, and it has seen a 16% rise in [...]

AUDI WIN RECORD BREAKING LE MANS

Monday, June 14, 2010

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If you keep your head when all around are losing theirs, you'll be the tallest person in the room. Audi kept their head and were rewarded with a remarkable 1, 2, 3 finish at the 2010 Le Mans 24 hour classic. The victorious Audi R15 TDI with Timo Bernhard (Germany), Romain Dumas (France) and Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) at the wheel, completed a total of 397 laps and setting a new distance record of 5,410 kilometres. Second place went to Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and local driver Benoît Treluyer. Their R15 TDI lost time in the pits when the front bodywork had to be changed twice after contact with the track barriers. In third place was the most experienced team in the Audi line up Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish. Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen lost time when he had to evade the GT2 BMW of Andy Priaulx and slid backwards against the track barrier of the Porsche corners. With fast lap times, Capello, Kristensen and McNish pushed back into the group of the front runners and in the end were rewarded with a podium result.

PEUGEOT STAY ON TOP AT LE MANS

Friday, June 11, 2010

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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.

NEW RULES FOR A CLEANER, GREENER LE MANS FUTURE

Thursday, June 10, 2010

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NEW RULES FOR A CLEANER, GREENER LE MANS FUTURE

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.

ZUHAI CONFIRMED AS ASIAN LE MANS VENUE

Thursday, June 10, 2010

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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.

PEUGEOT ON TOP ON DAY ONE AT LE MANS

Thursday, June 10, 2010

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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.

DTM: SPENGLER LEADS MERCEDES LOCKOUT

Monday, June 7, 2010

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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.

DTM CONFIRMS SHANGHAI FINALE FOR 2010

Saturday, June 5, 2010

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The final round of the 2010 DTM will be held on the streets of Shanghai. The race was confirmed today by the DTM promoters ITR at a media conference at the Euro Speedway at Lausitz. Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of the board for ITR said: "The contract is ready now, and we will be there on the 26-28 November this year. The move to China comes with the support of DTM manufacturers Audi and Mercedes who are both keen to use the race to promote their brands to the growing Chinese auto market. "We know what is happening in the Chinese market. The car market will be, in the near future, the number one in the world. said Mr Aufrecht. "That is the reason why we have built this platform for our manufacturers to showcase their products in this very important market."