FIA GT1 & EUROPEAN GT3 LIVE FROM NOGARO

It’s the opening round of the FIA GT1 and European GT3 championships. Watch the action LIVE from Nogaro in France.

TALBOT’S NEW TRANS-AM

A welcome addition to the local Sports Sedan ranks is a new Trans-Am Corvette for Melbourne driver Chas Talbot. Built by US chassis builder Howe engineering, the car was originally built for a group of enthusiasts in the US, who ran into financial problems. Talbot purchased the car, which has never raced, from them and it now sits in his outer Melbourne workshop. Talbot says the Trans-Am machine has several practical advantages over a traditional Aussie style Sports Sedan. "The car is easier to work on, simpler suspension, the bodywork comes off easily, that's the main reason for the Corvette." he said. Safety is also an issue with Talbot convinced that the car will offer better protection than his previous Commodore. "The safety on the Trans-Am car is much greater because the diameter of the tubing is much bigger, there's much more room between the driver and the bars on the inside... if you hit something, the more space between you and the bars the better your chance of survival."

LE MANS: THE GREATEST RACE

AUDI WINS LE MANS SURVIVOR SERIES

The sole surviving Audi of André Lotterer, Marcel Fassler and local driver Benoit Treluyer withstood the three pronged Peugeot attack to win a classic Le Mans 24 hours. Starting from pole the #2 Audi R18 became the team's sole surviving car after huge accidents claimed his team mates Alan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller. McNish crashed early in the race after contact with a slower Ferrari GTE-Am car which sent the R18 crashing into the Armco at high speed. Photographers, Marshals and Spectators were showered with carbon fibre as the Audi disintegrated. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt but it was far more good luck than anything else that a massive tragedy didn't occur. Mike Rockenfeller survived the weekends biggest crash after another tangle with a GTE-Am Ferrari. Rockenfeller clipped the Ferrari at the fastest part of the Mulsane straight send the car into the Armco at close to 300 Km/h. Once again the incredible strength of the cars survival cell did it's job and Rockenfeller was able to get out of his car under his own steam. With both Audi's out it was left to the #2 car to hold off all three Peugeots over the reminder of the race. Despite constant challenges, and some at times dubious tactics, the team held on, due in no small part to some brilliant driving especially by Treluyer and Lotterer.

FIA GT FROM SILVERSTONE

GT1 Championship Race from Silverstone Watch Again by GT1

THE MOTORSPORT WORLD DESCENDS ON FLORIDA FOR PRI SHOW

It's the World's biggest dedicated motorsport trade show, and every year tens of thousands of people from all over the World descend on it's Florida base to see an Aladdin's cave of racing and performance related product. It's the PRI Show. Held every December by the trade magazine "Performance Racing Industry" (PRI) the show attracts the biggest players in US and International motorsport for three days of networking, seminars and other events showcasing the diverse range of products and services for the industry. One regular visitor to the show is Australian Motorsport Legend Murray Carter. A little over one month short of his 80th birthday Carter has just debuted a brand new Corvette at Phillip Island and this years PRI show will be a chance to check out new products, and ideas to assist in the car's further development. "I go every year if I can." Murray told me at Phillip Island. "It's marvellous" he said.

A NEW ERA IN WORLD SPORTSCAR RACING

A new and exciting era in World Endurance Sports Car and GT Racing as Silverstone plays host to the Autosport 1000km, the first round of the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Jean-Claude Plassart, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, said that It is indeed a new chapter for endurance racing. Based on very best and strongest established traditional events in each of our series 'LE MANS' in the world (LMS in Europe, ALMS in North America and Asian LMS in Asia). Le Mans heavyweights Audi and Peugeot will compete for the title, along with Aston Martin at Silverstone and China. In GT2, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Jaguar will all be taking part in an official capacity.

AUSSIE ICONS BACK IN PIT LANE

Classic Car Specialists Brooklands Classic Cars and iconic Australian Sports and Racing Car manufacturer Elfin have joined forces to bring C31's popular live motorsport tonight show In Pit Lane back to Melbourne's TV screens. The new series of In Pit Lane will commence 9.30pm Tuesday night September 7th, live from the studios of RMITV in the heart of Grand Prix City, Melbourne. Special guest will be popular V8 Supercar star Jason Bright driver of the Trading Post Commodore for Brad Jones Racing. Paul Sabine of Brooklands Classic Cars said that the sponsorship of In Pit Lane was a great choice for the company. “In Pit Lane has developed to be an icon in Australian motor sport and Brooklands Classic Cars are delighted to assist in fostering IPL’s ongoing success." he said. Mr Sabine said that Brooklands had been catering to car enthusiasts and owners of interesting and sporting cars for many years and clients could rely on that experience when searching for that special car. "The sort of hard core enthusiast and classic car lover that buys our cars and uses our services are the very same people who regularly tune into In Pit Lane." he said. In Pit Lane host Brett Ramsey said he was delighted to be able to continue with the show which is now in it's 15th straight year of production. The show finished it's last season in May and looked set to disappear forever due to a lack of sponsorship. Now thanks to Brooklands Classic Cars and Elfin, the show returns for a new 13 week series to cover a busy three months of local and international motorsport.

PEUGEOT STAY ON TOP AT LE MANS

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.

PEUGEOT ON TOP ON DAY ONE AT LE MANS

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.