WEC Boss Neveu: "IMSA is Working Very Hard to Provide a Good Series"

FIA World Endurance Championship boss Gerard Neveu says IMSA is doing well with the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship.  However, it seems that fans, have other ideas, especially related to what has been deemed very poor, very questionable officiating of the first two races.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-boss-neveu-imsa-is-working-very-hard-to-provide-a-good-series/

Enge Takes Reiter Lambo to Thrilling Win in St. Pete

Tomas Enge drove his Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Gallardo to the win in the Pirelli World Challenge season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.  Here's the story.  A full race report, will come, soon.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/enge-takes-reiter-lambo-to-thrilling-win-in-st-pete/

FIA World Endurance Championship "The Prologue" test at Paul Ricard

Here are some stories via Sportscar365 about the test at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France, prepping for the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship season, known as, "The Prologue".

Also, a full update about it from the official website for the A.C.O.

http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/a-look-back-on-last-week-endurance-racing-news_2_2_1746_14598.html

Round 1 Canceled Due to Weather at St. Pete

Round one of the Pirelli World Challenge, has been canceled due to bad weather on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.  There will just be one race, on Sunday, (tomorrow).  Here are the details.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/st-pete-race-1-canceled-due-to-weather/

M-Sport Bentley Confirms Continental GT3 driver lineups

Bentley has confirmed driver lineups for their two-car team in the Blancpain Endurance Series this season, with the Continental GT racer.  Drivers include sports car veterans Guy Smith, Steven Kane, Andy Meyrick, Duncan Tappy, and Antoine Leclerc.  Rounding out the lineup is Formula One refugee Jerome D'Ambrosio.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-dome-absent-from-prologue-test/

Strakka-Dome Absent from Prologue Test

The Strakka Racing Dome prototype will not be a part of the opening test for the FIA World Endurance Championship at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track this weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-dome-absent-from-prologue-test/

FIA World Endurance Championship News

News and notes about the FIA World Endurance Championship, from Sportscar365.

Paul Ricard Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/paul-ricard-thursday-notebook/

PHOTOS: Toyota TS040 Hybrid Launch
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/photos-toyota-ts040-hybrid-launch/

Vasselon: Toyota Is Better Equipped than Previous Two Years
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/vasselon-toyota-is-better-equipped-than-previous-two-years/

Fassler Quickest In Opening Test Session
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fassler-quickest-in-opening-test-session/

FIA WEC Considering Winter Calendar
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fia-wec-considering-winter-calendar/

Malucelli, Kearby Penalized For Incidents at Twelve Hours of Sebring

Both Matteo Malucelli, and Gaston Kearby, have been penalized for their roles in accidents at the 12 Hours of Sebring, by IMSA.  Here's the short detail.  Both these guys will be benched for one race, and be on probation for an additional event.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/malucelli-kearby-penalized-incidents-twelve-hours-sebring

Turner Motorsports heads to Pirelli World Challenge

Turner Motorsports has shifted it's focus a little bit and will commit to the Pirelli World Challenge championship, while still possibly having one car in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.  But that remains to be seen.

http://www.motorsport.com/scca-pwc/news/turner-motorsports-heads-to-pirelli-world-challenge/

2014 Audi R18 eTron Quattro

Audi has released the images of the livery for the 2014 R18 eTron Quattro, and Motorsport.com, has a gallery of them.  Check them out, HERE:

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/photos/main-gallery/?sz=2&r=7901&y=2014&s=5&p=2

Pickett Racing to skip Long Beach and Laguna Seca Rounds

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will skip the next two rounds of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship at Long Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, to catch up on testing, and make their return to the series in late May/early June when the series reaches it's race on the street course at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan.

http://www.motorsport.com/tusc/news/pickett-racing-to-skip-long-beach-and-laguna-seca-rounds/

Kearby Apologizes after Sebring PC accident

After causing a huge crash last weekend at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Gaston Kearby, has apologized for the incident.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/kearby-apologizes-after-sebring-pc-crash/

SRT Vipers Withdraw From Le Mans

Sad news.  Viper will not be competing at Le Mans this year.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/srt-vipers-set-for-withdrawl-from-le-mans/

sports car racing news stories

More stories from the world of sports car racing.  Rowe Mercedes driver Richard Goransson of Sweden, had a huge crash in testing at the Nurburgring, but thankfully, he'll be OK.  The Nurburgring VLN GT endurance series begins it's season next weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/video-heavy-crash-for-rowe-mercedes-at-nurburgring/

Here's more news.

DeltaWing Set for Limited Season Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/deltawing-set-for-limited-season-program/

AF Corse Finalizes ELMS Lineups
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/af-corse-finalizes-elms-lineups/

41 Entries For Four Hours of Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/41-entries-for-four-hours-of-silverstone/

GP2 Champ Fabio Leimer Set For Rebellion Drive
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fabio-leimer-set-for-rebellion-drive/

Matsuda Confirmed at KCMG for Silverstone, COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/matsuda-confirmed-at-kcmg-for-silverstone-cota/

Taggart Steps Up To PWC GT With Porsche 911 GT3R
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/taggart-steps-up-to-pwc-gt-with-porsche-911-gt3-r/

Derek Bell Named Grand Marshal For Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/derek-bell-named-grand-marshal-for-silverstone/

Strakka-Dome Completes Successful Shakedown
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-dome-completes-successful-shakedown/

IMSA Performance Eyeing Potential Move to LMP2
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/imsa-performance-eyeing-potential-move-to-lmp2/

Patron Endurance Cup Standings Tight After Sebring

Here's a story on the North American Endurance Cup points standings in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship after Sebring, published this past Friday.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/patron-endurance-cup-standings-tight-after-sebring

Teams Reflect, Rebuild after Sebring Crash Fest

Nearly half the Prototype Challenge field crashed out of the 12 Hours of Sebring last weekend.  Teams are now regrouping and rebuilding after this race/dodge 'em cars derby.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/teams-reflect-rebuild-after-sebring-crash-fest/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Sebring

Watch the broadcast of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race from Sebring International Raceway, here.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-sebring-international-raceway-full-race

more sports car news

More news and notes from the world of sports car racing, including Ford's support for global prototype regulations, GTE Pro based cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship readying for an aerodynamic test, and more.

Brandela completes NewBlood by Morand Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/elms/brandela-completes-newblood-by-morand-lineup/

23 Entries For Long Beach
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/23-entries-for-long-beach/

Black Falcon Confirms Blancpain Program, Lineup For Nurburgring 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/black-falcon-confirms-blancpain-program-lineup-for-nurburgring-24/

Ford Supports Global Prototype Regs, Not Ruling Out Return to LM24
http://sportscar365.com/wec/ford-supports-global-prototype-regs-not-ruling-out-return-to-le-mans/

...and

GTE-Pro Cars Set For Le Mans BoP Aero Test
http://sportscar365.com/wec/lemans/gte-pro-cars-set-for-le-mans-bop-test/

Audi & Ligier news

Audi has abandoned a plan to use an exhaust based energy recovery system for it's new prototype and will use one energy system as opposed to two.

Audi Abandons ERS-H System
http://sportscar365.com/wec/audi-abandons-ers-h-system/

Meanwhile, Ligier has successfully tested their new car, and Alex Brundle, likes it.

Brundle Impressed with new Ligier JS P2
http://sportscar365.com/wec/brundle-impressed-with-new-ligier-js-p2/

2014 Blancpain Endurance Series preview

Here is a preview of the teams, drivers, and cars scenario, for the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series season, from Wikipedia, and the official Blancpain Endurance Series webpage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Blancpain_Endurance_Series_season

...and

http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/endurance/

Also, when you go to the Blancpain Series webpage, be sure to check out the sister championships that are the Blancpain GT Series and the Blancpain Sprint Series.

In memoriam: Luca Moro

Rest In Peace, European sports car competitor, Luca Moro.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/luca-moro-passes-away/

12 Hours of Sebring race broadcast

Here is the full race broadcast from the 12 Hours of Sebring, in three parts.  Click on the links, and enjoy.  Yours truly certainly will.

Part 1
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-sebring-race-part-1

Part 2
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-sebring-race-part-2

Part 3
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-sebring-race-part-3

Dagys: A Mixed Start to the New Sports Car Era

Sportscar365.com writer, John Dagys, analyzes the ups and downs of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship, in this article.  Yours truly has feelings about it, too.  But, a fresh perspective is necessary, so, check this out.

http://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/dagys-a-mixed-start-to-the-new-sports-car-era/

Audi presentation next week

News about Audi presenting it's new Le Mans Prototype race car, next week.

Audi presents new R18 e-tron Quattro at Le Mans

http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/audi-presents-new-r18-e-tron-quattro-at-le-mans_2_2_1746_14397.html

IMSA Admits Incorrect Calls at Sebring

Some of the IMSA officials have some 'splainin' to do about incorrect calls made during the race.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-admits-incorrect-calls-at-sebring/

This story is going to continue to simmer in the coming days, and there might be more reports on it.  Just reporting here, folks.  Not taking sides, although, yours truly does admit that the marshals do have to get their house in order. 

Ganassi Wins Twelve Hours of Sebring

The stories on Ganassi's Sebring win, and on Porsche's double GT class wins.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ganassi-wins-twelve-hours-of-sebring/

...and

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/porsche-takes-double-sebring-gt-wins/

Winner & highlights of the 62nd Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring

Here are the highlights of the 62nd running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, yesterday.

This is the revival of one of the great races in sports cars.  This is a historic venue.  Juan Fangio, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, and Phil Hill, have raced here.  Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, and Corvette, have been some of the winners.  This is the first time for the Tudor United Sports Car Championship, at Sebring.  They'll fight through the heat of the day, and the dark of night.

Who will be champion of this race?  It's going to be awesome, fans.  Stand by.  On New Year's Eve in 1950, Sebring hosted it's first race, and it used to be called Hendricks Field.  This is also round two of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.  Sebring is a living racing museum.  This track has remained unchanged for so many years.  You have a love/hate relationship with Sebring as a driver.  It's an all day sucker.  You have to be patient as a driver.  The evening hours, are where things come alive.  This is the toughest endurance race.  The bumps are so severe, they make drivers sore, and they can knock the wind out of you.

On pole, is the #5 Action Express Corvette prototype, who won the Rolex 24.  Sebastien Bourdais, set the pole time.  It's tough to compare the two races.  There's no rest.  Bumps everywhere.  The Oak Racing Morgan Nissan is going to be competitive.  Alex Brundle, will share with Olivier Pla and Gustavo Yacaman.  We've got 66 cars in this race.  Since 2000, there have been just over 40 cars that have started.  It's going to be hot, slick, and wild.  Let's go.

The command to fire engines has been given.  We're ready to race, at Sebring.  The cars are on track.  In GT Le Mans, it's again going to  be a battle between Corvette, BMW, Viper, and Porsche.  The winner at the Rolex 24 was Porsche.  Porsche has not won at Sebring in GT since 2008.  Michael Christensen put the #912 factory Porsche 911 RSR on pole, sharing with Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister.  Dane Cameron in the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4, is on pole in GT Daytona.  But, they'll start from pit lane.

Cameron shares with Paul Dalla Lana.  The cars come down the Ulmann straight, named after Alec Ulmann who had the idea to start this race and created it.  Here we go.

At the start, Joao Barbosa leads and Ricky Taylor tries to pass Olivier Pla.  Now the track narrows.  The Daytona Prototypes are heavier.  The tires will come in quicker, than the lighter P2 cars, coming to the hairpin for the first time.  Keep it clean.  Tire pressure and temperature has to increase.  They are braking for turn ten.  Two Ganassi cars race at Sebring, like Daytona.  Ganassi had a tough time at Daytona with their new Ford V6 motors.  The cars run through Le Mans corner, and onto the back straight.  The pavement is over 70 years old.

Lap one, done and dusted.  Joao Barbosa leads, after winning Daytona seven weeks ago.  Turn one is totally blind, and it's fast.  The #10 Corvette DP had electrical issues.  But, they seem to be cleared up.  The p2 cars are more durable, because the DP cars have not run here at Sebring before, whereas the P2's have.  Parts will brak at Sebring where they don't break anywhere else.  It's Michael Christensen in the Porsche vs. Oliver Gavin in the Corvette, for GT LM honors.

Gavin shares with Robin Liddell and Tommy Milner.  Teams come here and test, because it's so tough.  Porsche and Audi, were at Sebring, testing for the FIA World Endurance Championship, weeks ago.  Nick Tandy in the first factory Porsche, battles the factory BMW Z4 for third in class.  The #94 GT Daytona BMW Z4 of Dane Cameron is back in pit lane.  He's called into the penalty box, six minutes into this race.  The factory car is shared by Dirk Muller, Dirk Werner, and John Edwards.

A battle is on between Ganassi and Extreme Speed Motorsports.  In the two ESM cars, it's the same team of drivers that ran at Daytona, with David Brabham, Ryan Dalziel, and Scott Sharp, in car #1... while in #2, it's Ed Brown, Simon Pagenaud, and Johannes van Overbeek.  Joao Barbosa continues to lead this race.  The town and the track, are right in the middle of the state of Florida.  3.74 miles.  17 turns.  The original configuration was five miles, and very wide, using the actual old runways.

 Planes would fly in and out of the track during the race.  Watch out for the bumps.  Watch out for traffic.  The unknown is how the cars stack up.  The Daytona Prototype cars are running here for the first time.  We watch the #009 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of TRG AMR driven by Brandon Davis, Kris Wilson, and Max Riddle.  Check that, it's the #007 team car of David Block, James Davison and other drivers.  Not sure of the whole lineup.

Ben Keating is racing the #33 GT Daytona SRT Viper, with Ben Keating at the controls.  Keating shares with Sebastian and Jeroen Bleekemolen.  Bruno Junquiera and Tom Kimber-Smith battle each other for the class lead in Prototype Challenge.  Here's a dilemma.  Prototypes are catching GT cars already.  Ricky Taylor and Olivier Pla, as well as Scott Sharp, are in traffic, in this first hour of the race.  David Cheng spins the #8 Prototype Challenge car.  He got tapped by the #31 Marsh Racing Corvette DP.

Cheng shares with Renger van der Zande and Martin Fuentes.  There is a local yellow on that corner.  The #31 Whelen Corvette DP has Guy Cosmo, Eric Curran, and Boris Said on the driver's strength.  Because of this spin, there's a full course yellow, and pit stops are coming.  An hour was spent under yellow, as Ben Keating's Viprr caught fire.  Keating tired reaching in to shut off the electronics to the fuel pump.  This fed the fire.  Keating got out, unhurt.

This was indeed a fuel fire.  The Deltawing of Andy Meyrick now leads overall.  He shares with Gabby Chaves and Katherine Legge.  The cars run back through the hairpin.  Andy Meyrick is flying right now.  No catching the Deltawing right now, even though it's setup won't work for Sebring because it's flat, and not as fdast.  Lucas Luhr is now third, behind Joao Barbosa.  The Deltawing is a lov it or hate it design.  But, there are fans who love it.  The #60 Need For Speed Michael Shank Racing car is running well.  Scott Pruett is coming up through the order.

It is his first race at Sebring in over 25 years.  The Corvtte is pushing it's way through the GT Daytona cars.  The #3 is coming from behind, with Ryan Briscoe, Antonio Garcia, and Jan Magnussen, sharing.  The #81 GT Daytona Porsche has a big off.  The road was taken away froim him,. and he spins into a sign.  This is the #81 GB Autosport Porsche 911 GT America of Bob Faieta, Damien Faulkner, and Patrick Huisman.  The #44 Magnus Racing Flex Box Porsche 911 RSR of John Potter is also off.  He got nudged into the dirt, in a big way, by a GT Daytona BMW.

Now, an hour and a half in, the #22 Alex Job Racing Porsche blows a tire and can get to the pit quickly, as it was done in turn 17.  No contact marks.  Not sure how the incident happened.  Cooper MacNeil is at the controls, sharing with Leh Keen.  Tire strategy is a big deal here, because of the new rules, for the tire compounds, and the fact that tires and fuel are done at the sam time.  Lucas Luhr gets into the Muscle Milk Oreca Nissan on their pit stop.  Luhr shares with Klaus Graf and Jann Mardenborough.

We're coming to the end of the second hour of twelve.  Half these teams have not raced here at Sebring for over 15 years.  Action Express and Wayne Taylor Racing both pit.  Two Corvette prototypes.  The fuel mileage and tire data is starting to get cleared up.  Fuel numbers will be skewed.  Driver changes are taking place as Joao Barbosa takes over the #5 from Sebastien Bourdais.  There was no change in the #10.  Ricky Taylor is still in the car.

One of the Prototype Challenge cars has spun in turn 17.  The #31 Whelen Corvette DP pits.  They are having issues with bodywork and tape to hold it together.  The front end dive planes are damaged.  The #38 Prototype Challenge car has tire trouble on it's stop.  The #02 Riley Ford for Ganassi also pits, with Scott Dixon at the controls.  Klaus Graf was ahead of the #10 car, and Max Angelelli has taken over the #10 machine now that the second hour is coming to a close.

The #8 car went unsighted and didn't see the Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GTE.  David Cheng, in the #8 Prototype Challenge car, is having a fraught race.  Now, we're under yellow.  63 cars started this race.  The #3 Corvette had their own problems.  Five or six cars have gone off the road.  One of the factory GT Porsche's went off the road.  Klaus Graf had to srve a penalty.  The #62 Ferrari 458 Italia spun, and there was a big crash, too, for the #56 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE.  Matteo Malucelli, fortunately did not have a big wreck, like he did at Daytona.

Sebastien Bourdais continues to lead sharing with Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa.  Corvette leads GT LM.  The Rum Bum Porsche of Jan Heylen, Matt Plumb, Hugh Plumb, and Nick Longhi, is running well.  Sebastien Bourdais, and Indycar rookie Sage Karam, are battling for the race lead, three hours and 49 minutes in.  Points will be awarded for the NAEC in eleven minutes, at the 1/3rd mark, or four hours.  The Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS spins.  Nort sure which one.  Ooh!  A Porsche is in the way.

The sixth yellow happened with David Ostella rips the front end off his Prototype Challenge car, and fellow Prototype Challenge driver Frankie Montecalvo plows into him!  Fortunately,l this was not as bad as the savage crash at the Rolex 24 between the Risi Ferrari and the Gainsco Corvette.  Gidley is in rehab at a facility in California, and is out of the hospital.  He was interviewed on the Fox Sports broadcast, by Bob Varsha, lead race commentator, and color commentators Calvin Fish and Dorsey Schroeder, saying, he's feeling OK.

At four hours, the #02 car has the lead in DP, the #52 in Prototype Challenge, the #91 SRT Viper in GT LM, and the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4, all lead their classes, and would earn bonus points for the North American Endurance Cup, in round two of that championship, with two more left, at Watkins Glen International Raceway in the Six Hours of the Glen in late June, and, the Petit Le Mans, at Road Atlanta, in mid October, to finish off the season.

Later on, Simon Pagenaud takes the lead.  Alex Tagliani in the #08 Prototype Challenge car gets clouted!  Big wreck!  This is six hours into the race.  ESM and the Ganassi Riley Ford thread the needle around a GT Daytona Audi R8 LMS.  Pagenaud leads.  James Gue leads Prototype Challenge for CORE Autosport.  AIM Autosport leads GT Daytona.  Not sure who is leading GT LM right now.  We are coming to halfway in this race, six hours.

James Gue shares with Jon Bennett.  Corvette Racing nhad a transmissionj issue at the Rolex 24, and the #3 car had a crash here, too.  But they got it fixed and are running strongly now.  The #555 Ferrari 458 Italia has Jeff Segal at this point.  They have energy absorbing foam in the car for comfort and safety.  It's not required by IMSA.  But, it should be.  The #42 Oak Racing prototype is running well, and in GT LM, Falken Tire Racing is fourth in class.

Kuno Wittmer in one of the SRT Viper's is running well, and BMW is running decently in both GT LM and GT Daytona.  But the #94 GT Daytona BMW, has damage.  The track is getting really dirty offline.  More to come, folks.  Hang in there.  After their monstrous wreck at Daytona, Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing, and their Corvette prototype, will not compete in the rest of the Tudor United Sports Car Racing season, this year.  Will they be back?  Time will tell.

We look for a gorgeous sunset.  Now, let's fast forward to the eight hour mark.  Three hours and 42 minutes to go.  Christian Fittipaldi leads Prototype.  James Gue leads Prototype Challenge over David Heinemeier Hanson.  Oliver Gavin in the #4 Corvette leads GT LM and Paul Dalla Lana leads GT Daytona in the #94 BMW.  Now, Johannes van Overbeek has spun off the road, after Bryce Miller, in the #48 Audi R8 LMS, spins, and collects the prototype.  There's no way, with the sun, that Bryce Miller, would have seen the prototype coming, or going.

The blazing sun, is, boom!, right in your face.  Before you know it, it'll be dark.  Christian Fittipaldi pits.  Joao Barbosa takes over from Christian Fittipaldi.  Fuel and tires are added to the car, and the windscreen and grille, are cleaned.  Fittipaldi has just run a triple stint.  Fittipaldi says the advantage that the Daytona Prototypes had over P2 cars at Daytona, has vanished, at Sebring.  The P2 cars are strong in the late afternoon twilight.  When darkness comes, the Daytona Prototypes will come to the fore.
A left front tire is coming off the #009 GT Daytona Aston Martin, and it loses the brake rotor, too.  He's got no brakes, no tire, and no steering.

This is our ninth full course yellow, with three and a half hours left in the race now.  Last year, in the final American Le Mans Series sanctioned 12 Hours, there were just four yellows.  It'll get more dramatic, as the  night draws nearer.  The sunset at Sebring, is gorgeous.  No wonder, turn 17 at Sebring, is called Sunset Bend.  Three hours and ten minutes left.  The #3 Corvette C-7-R- is having fuel pump issues.  The second segment of the North American Endurance Cup, is wrapped, in this race.

The #3 Corvette is still in pit lane.  The #911 factory Porsche is held for one minute, twenty seconds.  Patrick Pilet will fall down from ninth, where he lies, currently.  Scott Pruett is a second a half off of the ESM HPD prototype.  Ganassi and Scott Pruett, are running to a pace at the moment.  Many naysayers at Daytona, were upset about the performance disparity between the Daytona Prototype and P2 machines.  But, things seem to be working well.  Jorg Bergmeister in the sister factory GT Porsche, battles with Kuno Wittmer in the SRT Viper.

It has been real cold at Sebring at night, around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  Jeff Segal leads GT Daytona in the Level 5 Ferrari 458 Italia, the sister car to the one that won GT Daytona at the Rolex 24.  Markus Palttala is second in GT Daytona.  He ran with Maxime Martin in the Blancpain Endurance Series, last year.  Scott Pruett tries making a move on Gustavo Yacaman.  Pruett leads Brabham, leads Sage Karam.  Night is coming.  Three hours to go at Sebring.

James Gue passes David Heinemeier Hanson in the Proptotype Challenge class.  James Gue, Jon Bennett, and Colin Braun, are running flawlessly.  Renger van der Zande is third in class.  Kuno Wittmer closes on Jorg Bergmeister.  This is the battrle, at sunset, for GT LM honors.  Bergmeister's dad had a car dealership.  Bergmeister, wanted to go karting.  Who did Bergmeister's dad call?  Michael Schumacher.  We continue to pray for recovery for Michael, as you've no doubt heard if youy've followed the racing press lately.

David Brabham, Scott Pruett, and Sage Karam are battling, and so is the Oak Racing prototype.  Bruno Junquiera will finish out the race for RSR Racing.  It will be a battle between Junquiera, and Colin Braun.  The #01 car still leads.  But Scott Pruett is fighting a loose race car.  He likes driving a loose car.  Dion von Moltke is giving a good ride to the #35 Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS.  Charles Espenlaub in the #46 Fall Line Audi R8 LMS is ahead.

The #55 BMW Z4 is fighting back.  The BMW RLL car has had pit lane speed limiter issues in the electronics, with Andy Priaulx at the controls, while Nic Jonsson is fnding off his spot in the Krohn Racing Ferrari 458 Italia.  Joao Barbosa is threading his way through these GT cars, and David Brabham is committed to trying to catch him, flying into the orange glow of twilight here at Sebring.  Just four tams have won th 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the same year.  Can Action Express become the fifth one?

Brabham goes to the inside in the esses, and makes the pass!  Wow!  Brabham releases the brakes and goes by.  Sage Karam and Gustavo Yacaman have a good battle going, too, nine hours into this thing.  The sun gets lower in the sky, with it's orange hue matching the colors of the fruit in the citrus groves that surround this great race track, and line the city of Sebring, Florida.  David Brabham continues leading Joao Barbosa.  Action Express wants to make it  back-to-back after winning at Daytona back in January.

We now have two hours and 45 minutes left.  David Brabham has to win this race, because he wants an overall, as his brothers Gary and Geoff, have both won here.  His father, Sir Jack Brabham ran in Formula One at Sebring in 1959 for the U.S. Grand Prix.  Brabham was passed for the win by Bruce McLaren who became the youngest F1 champ in history, at that time.  Kuno Wittmer passes one of the factory Porsche's after Jorg Bergmeister misses the hairpin.

The GT LM class is a war of tire brands, while everyone else runs spec Continetal tires.  There will be a full moon tonight at Sebring.  Eek!  It's going to be a wild finish, tonight.  The sun has set.  Or, it's nearly set.  The P2 cars double stint their tires.  Meanwhile, Sage Karam passes Joao Barbosa, putting the #02 Riley Ford EcoBoost in second place in the overall.  That's a V6 turbo motor, of course.  Scott Dixon will finish out the race in the #02 machine.

Darkness will beckon quickly.  Now, it's go time!  It's dark.  38 minutes left.  We've come off another yellow.  Ryan Dalziel leads Prototype.  Bruno Junquiera leads PC but needs pit stop.  Kuno Wittmer and company leads GT LM.  Porsche leads GT Daytona.  Ryan Dalziel takes four tires and fuel.  The #5 car gets fuel and new tires, too.  The pits are crowded.  Headlights on, on every car.  Ryan Dalziel has been passed  by the Oak Racing #42 car.

We're going to be in for a shootout, now, folks.  The green flag will wave, and we'll have a half an hour of racing, to decide the 62nd running of one of the world's great endurance sports car races... and the second round of the North American Endurance Cup.  We've now come to just under 25 minutes left in the Sebring 12 Hours.  It's going to be epic, everyone.  Let's go racing, blokes.  Olivier Pla, beat Sebastien Bourdais, off of pit lane.

This is going to be a hum dinger of a battle.  It'll be Scotland vs. France... much like European soccer matches.  Watch out for Pla.  It's two Scotsmen vs three Frenchmen, and then, New Zealander Scott Dixon.  A truly international field, ready to slug it out to the finish at Sebring.  Go!  Who's tires will warm up?  Bourdais is inside Pla, and DFalziel is pushing, too.  Bourdais splits Pla, and Pla is going to scrap like no tomorrow.  Bourdais is playing the GT classes in traffic, and he's going after Ryan Dalziel and Memo Rojas, who leads.

Less than 20 minutes remain now.  Through the Le Mans corner, and onto the back straight, (the Ulmann straight).  Ganassi pitted earlier.  They don't need a splash and dash, and they get track position, because pit lane is closed.  No cars remain between Marino Franchitti, and Ryan Dalziel.  It's the battle of the Scotsmen for the win here at Sebring.  Jorg Bergmeister and the whole factory Porsche squad have gone to softer tires, which they can do, per the regulations in the GT LM class.  Jonathan Bomarito and Joey Hand, keep chase.  In GT Daytona, Andy Lally is ahead in the #44 Flex Box Porsche 911 GT America for Magnus Racing.

Marino Franchitti still leads.  Fifteen minutes remain, as the Ford V6 whistles through the darkness.  Dalziel and Bourdais still battle.  But, Bourdais is not as quick as the Honda open cockpit prototype.  Franchitti and Dalziel run identical times at 1:53.6.  Catching is one thing.  Passing, another.  Dalziel locks the brakes.  Watch for the bump at the end of the straightaway.  The parity between the cars, and the Balance of Performance, seem to be working.

Franchitti runs 1:53.3 while Dalziel and Bourdais runs 1:53.6.  Ganassi has been a second down all day, but now, theya re right on it.  The Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, has now become the 12 Minutes of Sebring.  The finish, is coming.  Marino Franchitti still leads.  Ryan Dalziel is putting on the pressure running fast lap at 1:52.6, down by only 5.5 seconds.  It's going to be one of, if not the closest finish in Sebring history.  Jorg Bergmeister leads in GT LM.  Colin Braun leads Prototype Challenge.  Andy Lally leads GT Daytona.  Less than ten minutes remain.

Porsche has played this one well.  Bergmeister is 6/10ths quicker than his next competitor in GT LM.  The Porsche factory is running on pace for sure.  Jonathan Bomarito and Joey Hand are second and third in class.  It's Porsche vs. BMW vs. SRT Viper.  Ryan Dalziel is a second quicker than Marino Franchitti.  Bruno Junquiera wants to reel in Colin Braun for the Prototype Challenge win.  Braun gets loose, losing time on the straight.  Dalziel is 3.6 seconds behind Franchitti.

Jonathan Bomarito is eating time out of Jorg Bergmeister's lead.  But the Porsche has the advantage over the Viper, still.  Andy Lally leads Townsend Bell in GT Daytona, as we're coming to the white flag lap.  What a win this will be for everyone involved with the Ford EcoBoost engine project.  This is Ganassi's first time competing at Sebring.  His team could win on debut, at this track.  Franchitti has raced here on numerous occasions before.

Just under two minutes... 17 corners left in this race.  Ryan Dalziel will give everything.  But he might not be close enough.  The WeatherTech GT Daytona Porsche slides out of the way, with Leh Keen driving.  The team is giving Franchitti the split times between he and Dalziel on this last lap.  The name Franchitti is synonymous with success at Ganassi Racing.  Dario Franchitti, has handed the torch to his younger brother.  Ganassi wins Sebring!

CORE Autosport, is now two for two, in both PC and GT Le Mans, winning, the 36 Hours of Florida.  Ganassi has won their first race at Sebring as a Prototype team.  In GT Daytona, it's a win for Magnus Racing and Flex Box with their #44 Porsche 911 GT America, shared  by Andy Lally, John Potter, and Marco Seefried.   

Overall/Prototype: #01 Pruett/Rojas/Franchitti    Riley Ford EcoBoost

Prototype Challenge: #54 Braun/Bennett/Gue     Oreca FLM 09 Chevrolet

GT Le Mans: #912 Long/Christensen/Bergmeister  Porsche 911 RSR

GT Daytona: #44 Lally/Potter/Seefried                   Porsche 911 GT America

291 laps completed... 1,076.7 miles.  Ford wins their first race at Sebring since 1967, when Bruce McLaren and Mario Andretti took a Ford GT 40 Mk. IV to victory for the factory squad from Ford Motor Company, 47 years ago.  The next race, will be a sprint event.  It will be on the streets of Long Beach, California.  The race will be for just two classes, (Prototype, and GT LM).  The race is coming up, in a little less than a month.  

We'll see you, for the sprint races, coming up, fans.  It's been a great 12 Hours of Sebring.  So long, everyone.

 

Sebring qualifying reports

Here are the qualifying reports for Prototype and GT from Sebring.  Should be an awesome race tomorrow!  Looking forward to writing the highlights into a race report for everyone, come Sunday.

Prototype recap
http://www.imsa.com/articles/prototype-pole-belongs-corvette-dp-bourdais

GT LM recap
http://www.imsa.com/articles/porsche-911-rsr-gtlm-pole-sebring

PC recap
http://www.imsa.com/articles/junqueira-earns-top-spot-pc-qualifying

GTD recap
http://www.imsa.com/articles/cameron-drives-bmw-z4-gtd-class-pole

Nicolet Pleased with Ligier JS P2 Rollout

The famous name Ligier returns to racing, after success in Formula One.  This time, with a Le Mans Prototype racer, that had a successful test recently at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit.  Team boss Jacques Nicolet saw the test happen, and is satisfied with the results.

http://sportscar365.com/wec/nicolet-pleased-with-ligier-js-p2-rollout/

more sports car racing news

The latest news from the world of sports car racing, headed into the 12 Hours of Sebring, this weekend.

Dixon Leads Sebring First Practice
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/dixon-leads-sebring-first-practice/

Haase Set for Paul Miller Full Season Seat
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/haase-set-for-paul-miller-full-season-seat/

Malucelli Back Up To Speed after Accident
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/malucelli-back-up-to-speed-after-accident/

Wilson on Top in Second Practice at Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/wilson-on-top-in-sebring-second-practice/

36 Entries for Paul Ricard Official Test Session
http://sportscar365.com/elms/36-entries-for-paul-ricard-official-test-session/

IndyCar stars topping the charts in Sebring

Drivers from the IndyCar series doing one-offs, or, who have Indycar experience, and have moved to sports cars, are running very, very well in practice at Sebring.

http://www.motorsport.com/tusc/news/indycar-stars-topping-the-charts-in-sebring/

Brad Frisselle Recalls Career-Defining Sebring Victory

Great interview with 1977 Sebring 12 Hours winner, Brad Frisselle, whose sons Burt and Brian, will compete in Saturday's event, with Action Express Racing, in each of their two Corvette prototypes.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/brad-frisselle-recalls-career-defining-sebring-victory

Hugh Plumb Completes Rum Bum's Sebring Lineup

Hugh Plumb will be the fourth driver in the Rum Bum Racing Porsche 911 GT America in GT Daytona for the 12 Hours of Sebring.  He joins his brother Matt, along with Jan Heylen, and Madison Snow.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/hugh-plumb-completes-rum-bums-sebring-lineup/

Matt McMurry Named Dyson Development Driver

Dyson Racing has not confirmed a full racing program for 2014.  But, they do have Matt McMurry as a junior development driver.  Here's the story.

http://sportscar365.com/elms/matt-mcmurry-named-dyson-development-driver/

Cosmo Joins Marsh Racing for Sebring

Guy Cosmo is likely to race at Sebring this weekend with Marsh Racing, since their regular driver, Max Papis, has a scheduling conflict.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/cosmo-joins-marsh-racing-for-sebring/

BAR1 Motorsports announces prototype lineup for Sebring

BAR1 Motorsports has announced the driving squads for their two-car team in Prototype Challenge competition at the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Here are the details.

http://www.motorsport.com/tusc/news/bar1-motorsports-announces-prototype-lineup-for-sebring/

Millennium Withdraws from Sebring, Down to 65 Entries

Millennium Motorsports will not take part in the 12 Hours of Sebring this weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/millennium-withdraws-from-sebring-down-to-65-entries/

Full schedule for Aston Martin works driver Stefan Mucke in 2014

The title of the article explains it.  Stefan Mucke will be back with Aston Martin this year for the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and races in the GT3 class in Europe.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/full-schedule-for-aston-martin-works-driver-stefan-m-cke-in-2014/

Magnus Racing, Flex-Box, Continue Partnership Through 2014 Season

Magnus Racing will continue with their long-time sponsor, Flex-Box, throughout this season.  Here are the details.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/stefan-johansson-joins-scuderia-corsa-lineup-sebring

Stefan Johansson Joins Scuderia Corsa Lineup at Sebring

Formula One and sports car veteran, Stefan Johansson, will race with Scuderia Corsa at the 12 Hours of Sebring this weekend.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/stefan-johansson-joins-scuderia-corsa-lineup-sebring

Final Pre-Sebring BoP Adjustments Announced

These are the Balance of Performance adjustments that will go into effect for the 12 Hours of Sebring next weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/final-pre-sebring-bop-adjustments-announced/

latest sports car racing news

Sportscar365 has some noteworthy articles.  Check them out.

Risi Returns to Action, Bruni Completes Lineup for Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/risi-returns-to-action-bruni-completes-lineup-for-sebring/

JDC Miller Sebring Driver Lineup Confirmed
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/jdc-miller-sebring-driver-lineup-confirmed/

Rayhall Returns to 8Star, Completes Sebring Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/rayhall-returns-to-8star-completes-sebring-lineup/

Thiim Named Audi GT Factory Driver
http://sportscar365.com/gt/thiim-named-audi-gt-factory-driver/

Creamer, Eversley Join MRN Radio Team for Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/creamer-eversley-join-mrn-radio-broadcast-team/

Matteo Beretta Joins Autorlando Sport
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/matteo-beretta-joins-autorlando-sport/

...and

Boutsen Ginion, Insight Racing Finalize Driver Lineups
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/boutsen-ginion-insight-racing-finalize-driver-lineups/

Sebring Urban Legends: Fact or Fiction?

Some crazy facts about the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Some are, amazingly, true.  Others, are WAY off the mark, and total fabrications or urban legends.  Check these out.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/sebring-urban-legends-fact-or-fiction

Will No. 5 Corvette DP Complete Daytona-Sebring Double?

Can the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP win the 36 Hours of Florida, winning both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring?  It's happened before, but not for many years.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/will-no-5-corvette-dp-complete-daytona-sebring-double

FIA WEC appoint North American representative

Andrew Craig, has been appointed as a representative for the FIA World Endurance Championship here in North America.

http://www.endurance-info.com/en/fia-wec-appoint-north-american-representative/

Audi, Porsche FIA WEC Teams Test at Sebring

Though Sebring is no longer a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, as a race, Porsche and Audi, took the chance to test at the legendary airfield circuit nonetheless.

http://sportscar365.com/wec/audi-porsche-fia-wec-teams-test-at-sebring/

Action Express Racing adds Fogarty To Sebring Driver Lineup

Jon Fogarty will co-drive with Burt and Brian Frisselle in the #9 Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette prototype at the 12 Hours of Sebring next weekend.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/action-express-racing-adds-fogarty-sebring-driver-line

more news stories

Motorsport.com has some stories of interest from the sports car world.  The biggest of which is that the FIA and the ACO have homologated the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro.

FIA and ACO homologate the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro
http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/fia-and-aco-homologate-the-audi-r18-e-tron-quattro-446973/

GT Academy winner Reip joins Ordonez in Nissan ZEOD RC driver lineup
http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/gt-academy-winner-reip-joins-ordonez-in-nissan-zeod-rc-driver-line-up/

...And

8Star Motorsports to field familiar faces in LMGTE Am
http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/8star-motorsports-to-field-familiar-faces-in-lmgte-am/

*Hint.  The familiar faces for 8Star in LM GTE Am competition, drove from Proton Racing in their Porsche, last year.  

It's here!

What's, it?  What is, here?  The new Porsche Le Mans racing livery on the 919, and the 911 GT car.  Ladies and gentleman... presenting the livery for the Porsche 919!  Click the link for the pictures and all the details.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/photos/main-gallery/?sz=2&r=7855&s=2&p=1

Could this be the new Porsche 919 Hybrid livery?

A preview of what the Porsche 919 could look like in racing livery.  The official launch, is tomorrow.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/could-this-be-the-new-porsche-919-hybrid-livery/

Chaves joins Legge and Meyrick for the endurance classic at Sebring

Once again, Gabby Chaves will be the third driver in the DeltaWing along with Katherine Legge and Andy Meyrick, for the 12 Hours of Sebring in less than two weeks.

http://www.motorsport.com/tusc/news/chaves-joins-legge-and-meyrick-for-the-endurance-classic-at-sebring/

In memoriam: Emilio Di Guida

Up and coming sports car racer and gentleman driver, Emilio Di Guida, has passed away at age 50, from an apparent heart attack.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/emilio-di-guida-passes-away/

Rest In Peace, Emilio Di Guida.

more sports car racing news

The news wires for sports car racing, are buzzing once again.  Sportscar365 has several stories worth looking into.

Reip confirmed as Second Nissan ZEOD RC Driver
http://sportscar365.com/wec/lemans/reip-confirmed-as-second-nissan-zeod-rc-driver/

BMW Confirms Nurburgring 24 Driver Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/bmw-confirms-nurburgring-24-driver-lineups/

Aston Martin Ramps Up Factory GT3 Program
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/aston-martin-ramps-up-factory-gt3-program/

Kraihamer Joins Rebellion for 2014 LMP1 Program
http://sportscar365.com/wec/kraihamer-joins-rebellion-racing/

Calado, Bird, Test AF Corse Ferrari for Possible WEC Drive
http://sportscar365.com/wec/calado-bird-test-af-corse-ferrari/

1993 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 2

Here is part two of the 1993 Rolex 24 at Daytona... the morning hours of the race.

1993 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 1

Another classic sports car race.  This is the 1993 Rolex 24 at Daytona, which marked the final race in IMSA for the earth shaking, awesome, GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) cars in the series, before the World Sports Cars came in, in 1994.  Dig it.  Part one of the race, is here.  Part two, is coming up in another post.

AMR Withdraws, 66 Entries Now Expected for Sebring

Aston Martin will not race at Sebring with their factory cars led by team manager John Gaw.  Therefore, 66 cars will start the 12 Hours in a couple weeks.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/amr-withdraws-66-entries-now-expected-for-sebring/