A Brief History of the Greatest Race Part 1

The blog North American Sportscar has some features about the long, storied history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  This is the first one.  Links to others, will be shared, if they appear.

http://nasportscar.com/a-brief-history-of-the-greatest-race-part-1/

Le Mans Test Thursday Notebook

Testing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans is underway, and here are the details from opening day, (Thursday).

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/le-mans-thursday-notebook/

Full Week of 'Motor City Madness' on tap for IMSA

The race is on Saturday, and it's already been a wild week for IMSA in Detroit.  Here's that story.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/full-week-%E2%80%98motor-city-madness%E2%80%99-tap-imsa

Yours truly will have a report on the race, in some form, soon after it happens.  Stay tuned.

Blancpain Endurance Series round 2: Silverstone

M Sport Bentley broke through to win the second race of the Blancpain Endurance Series season.  They've triumphed in their home race at the Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England!

The #7 Bentley Continental GT won the Pro class and overall with drivers Steven Kane, Guy Smith, and Andy Meyrick.  In the Pro Am division, it was the #80 Nissan  GT Academy team Nissan GT-R GT3 driven by Florian Strauss of Germany, American driver Nick McMillan, and Alex Buncombe of England, winning in class.  Finally, the Gentleman Trophy division was won by the #458 GT Corse by Rinaldi, for that team's second win of the season, but with 2/3rds of it's driver lineup including Alexander Mattschull, and Frank Schmickler.

Once again, the winners are:

Overall/Pro: #7 Kane/Smith/Meyrick                           Bentley Continental GT
            Pro Am: #80 Strauss/McMillen/Buncombe      Nissan GT-R- GT3
            Gentleman
            Trophy: #458 Mattschull/Schmickler                Ferrari 458 Italia

Check out the video highlights from this race.

 Round three of the Blancpain Endurance Series, (which marks the halfway point in the 2014 season), will be at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Le Castellet, France.  That race is slated to take place at the end of June, on June 29th.  So, it will happen in just over a month's time.  

Strakka Withdraws, Krohn Gains Late Entry for Le Mans

Breaking news from Le Mans.  Strakka Racing has withdrawn their Dome prototype racer, paving the way for Krohn Racing to get into Le Mans.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/strakka-withdraws-krohn-gains-late-entry-for-le-mans/

McNish, Alonso Named Grand Marshal, Starter for LM24

Allan McNish is Grand Marshal, and Formula One's Fernando Alonso, will wave the Trois Couleurs flag to start the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/mcnish-alonso-named-grand-marshal-starter-for-lm24/

Blancpain Sprint Series round 2: Brands Hatch (feature race)

Here is the feature race from round two of the Blancpain Sprint Series at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, England.

Round three of the championship, will be the Zandvoort Masters at Circuit Park Zandvoort in the sand dunes of Zandvoort, Holland.  That race is slated to take place in the first weekend in July, which is Independence Day weekend here in the United States.  Stay tuned, for the highlights, coming your way, after the race weekend concludes.

Blancpain Sprint Series round 2: Brands Hatch (qualifying race)

Check out the qualifying race from round two of the Blancpain Sprint Series at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, England.  The event was run a couple of weekends ago.  Highlights of the feature race will be posted, too.

Graff Racing Eyeing Move to LMP2 with Ligier

Graff Racing, (a team that has not run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in almost two decades), will return to the great race, next year.  Here are the details.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/graff-racing-eyeing-move-to-lmp2-with-ligier/

The Sound of Group C Racing (Part 2)

More Group C thunder, from Spa, in 2014.  Dig it!  These cars are absolutely phenomenal wonders of speed, and engineering. 

The Sound of Group C racing (Part 1)

Feel the thunder of the great Group C prototype sports cars from an appearance at Circuit de Spa Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium, in 2013.

SportsCars: Nissan Announces Factory LMP1 Program For 2015

Nissan is coming back to sports car racing's big leagues, next year, with a factory effort to be run in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/sports-cars/sportscars-nissan-announces-factory-lmp1-program-for-2015/?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:speed

Hear the most successful Ferrari of all time roar again

Check this out.

"Hear the most successful Ferrari of all time roar again"
https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/hear-the-most-successful-ferrari-of-all-time-roar-again-190401349.html

Nissan ZEOD RC crash test - slow motion video

The Nissan ZEOD RC undergoes mandatory crash testing before it makes it's racing debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in three weeks.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/nissan-zeod-rc-crash-test-slow-motion-video/

Frankie Montecalvo replaces Enzo Potolicchio for 8Star Motorsports

Another article, in French, from Endurance Info.  But, there has been a driver change in the #81 8Star Motorsports LM GTE Am Ferrari 458 Italia, with Frankie Montecalvo, taking the place of Enzo Potolicchio.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/frankie-montecalvo-remplace-enzo-potolicchio-chez-8star-motorsports/

Strakka-Dome S103 tests at Spa with Toyota Racing

Another article from Endurance Info (in French), about Strakka Racing, testing at the Spa Francorchamps circuit, alongside Toyota Racing.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/la-strakka-dome-s103-se-teste-a-spa-avec-le-toyota-racing/

Complete driver list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Here is a link to the 168 drivers who will race in all 56 cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  The source is Endurance-Info.com, printed in French.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/la-liste-complete-des-168-pilotes-presents-aux-24-heures-du-mans/

sports car racing news stories

More stories from the world of sports car racing, via Sportscar365.

TDS Takes Delivery of Ligier, Livery Revealed
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/tds-takes-delivery-of-ligier-livery-revealed/

24 Hours of Paul Ricard Announced
http://sportscar365.com/gt/24-hours-of-paul-ricard-announced/

Starworks Targeting Road America Return for Honda DP
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/starworks-targeting-road-america-return-for-honda-dp/

Gimple to Make Subaru Debut with C360R at Lime Rock
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/gimple-to-make-subaru-debut-with-c360e-at-lime-rock/

Three Tudor Championship Regulars Set For Indy 500

This Sunday in the Indianapolis 500, keep an eye out for three sports car racing regulars from the Tudor Championship.  Alex Tagliani, Townsend Bell, and James Davison.  Tagliani and Bell have run at Indianapolis before.  Davison, is a rookie this year.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/three-tudor-championship-regulars-set-indy-500

Keene Set for DeltaWing Team Manager Role

Former Chip Ganassi Racing team manager, Tim  Keene, has been tabbed for that position with the DeltaWing team.  Ganassi replaces former team manager, David Price, who is also a veteran of motorsports team management.  Here are the details.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/keene-set-for-deltawing-team-manager-role/

IMSA Statement on the passing of Sir Jack Brabham

Here is what IMSA had to say about the passing of a racing legend... Sir Jack Brabham... Formula One world champion.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-statement-passing-sir-jack-brabham

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing shuts down

Sad news.  One of yours truly's favorite teams, has closed down it's shop... forever.  Goodbye Muscle Milk Pickett Racing.

http://www.motorsport.com/#!/tusc/news/muscle-milk-pickett-racing-shuts-down/

Jota Sport Wins Imola Thriller

Simon Dolan, Harry Tincknell, and Filipe Albuquerque (Audi factory driver), win the European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Imola.  Sportscar365 has the scoop.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/jota-sport-wins-imola-thriller/

Consistency Paying Off For BMW

BMW has found a lot of success in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship lately.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/consistency-paying-bmw

Action Express Racing Wins Visual Studio 'Team To Win' Award for Long Beach Effort; Nominations Following Monterey Announced

Congratulations, Action Express Racing.  Well done.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/action-express-racing-wins-visual-studio-%E2%80%98team-win%E2%80%99-award-long-beach-effort-nominations

IMSA Co-Founder Headed to Hall of Fame

A story about the co-founder of the International Motorsports Association (IMSA), which has been the main sports car racing sanctioning body in North America since the 1970s... John Bishop.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-co-founder-headed-hall-fame

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Laguna Seca

Here's the race broadcast for the third round of the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, for production based racing cars, from Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.  Click the link, and check it out.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-race-broadcast-mazda-raceway-laguna-seca?invalidate-cache=1399311129

sports car racing news

Here is the latest news (your daily briefing), from the world of sports car racing, including the announcement that European driver, Tor Graves, will retire from the sport.

OAK Team Asia Lineup Finalized
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/oak-team-asia-lineup-finalized/

Here's a commentary from Jan Magnussen, about his busy racing schedule.

Magnussen: A Busy Month of May
http://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/magnussen-the-busy-month-of-may/

Archie Hamilton Joins Ram Racing at Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/archie-hamilton-joins-ram-racing-at-le-mans/

Strakka Dome Continues Test Program
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-dome-continues-test-program/

Tor Graves Announces Retirement
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tor-graves-announces-retirement/

VIDEO: FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa Recap

Never fear, fans.  Yours truly was trying to find a video of the 6 Hours of Spa that would work.  Well, here it is.  This is the short recap of the race from Sportscar 365.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-fia-wec-six-hours-of-spa-recap/

24 Hours of Le Mans news roundup: 16-year-old in field

16-year-old racing driver Matt McMurry is just one of the many stories in this news roundup of activity for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is just a month away.  You can catch ALL the action on Fox Sports on television, AND, in the printed word, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/24-hours-of-le-mans-news-roundup-051414

sports car racing news update

On this Wednesday, another update on the news from the world of GT and prototype sports car racing, worldwide.

Local Teams Bolster Silverstone Blancpain Endurance Grid
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/local-teams-bolster-silverstone-blancpain-endurance-grid/

Federico Leo Completes Ram's Lineup for Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/leo-completes-rams/

Long Rejoins Dempsey Racing-Proton for Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/long-rejoins-dempsey-for-le-mans/

Nova Race Joins Forces with JRM for Nissan Program
http://sportscar365.com/gt/nova-race-joins-forces-with-jrm-nissan/

Larbre, Sebastien Loeb Audi Withdraw from Imola
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/larbre-sebastien-loeb-audi-withdraws-from-imola/

Mardenborough, Shulzhitsky Complete OAK Lineup For Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/mardenborough-shulzhitskiy-complete-oak-lineup-for-le-mans/

Close Quarters: Tight Championship Battles Shaping Up

After four races so far this season, the points battles in each class in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship, are definitely being hotly contested.  Here's the story about how things stand, currently.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/close-quarters-tight-championship-battles-shaping

sports car racing news update

More headlines via Sportscar365 to keep a sharp eye on, especially in terms of European sports car racing.

OAK Racing Team Asia Le Mans Program Launched
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/oak-racing-team-asia-le-mans-program-launched/

Lotus T129 Still on Track for Le Mans Debut
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lotus-t129-on-track-for-le-mans-debut/

Signatech Alpine Switches to Dunlop for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/signatech-alpine-switches-to-dunlop-for-remainder-of-season/

Farnbacher, Reiter Join Blancpain Sprint Field For Brands Hatch
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/farnbacher-reiter-join-blancpain-sprint-field-for-brands-hatch/

63 Entries for 24 Hours of Spa

Just short of the record entry of 66 cars for last year's event, it looks like this year's fourth round of the Blancpain Endurance Series, (the 24 Hours of Spa), should have an epic entry, including a third Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Ultra slated to be driven by the Audi factory trio of drivers that includes Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer, and Marcel Fassler.  Here's the whole story via Sportscar 365.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/63-cars-on-provisional-entry-list-spa-24/

sports car racing news update

Another dose of sports car racing news you can use.

The Asian Le Mans Series is becoming what promoters and organizers hoped for it to be, in only it's first season.

Thomas: "We're Hitting Our Key Goals in the Asian LMS This Year"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/thomas-were-hitting-our-key-goals-this-year/

***

Landmann Joins GRT for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/landmann-joins-grt-for-remainder-of-season/

35 Entries for GT Asia Season
http://sportscar365.com/gt/35-entries-for-gt-asia-season/

Kapadia Retained by Murphy for Imola
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/kapadia-retained-by-murphy-for-imola

***

Plus, fabulous news for endurance sports car racing fans in Canada, as the FIA World Endurance Championship, could race at Le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, next year.

Report: FIA WEC Considering Montreal Round for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/report-fia-wec-considering-montreal-round-for-2015/

Asian LMS to Race in Thailand

After an adjustment to the schedule, the Asian Le Mans Series will now have a new race on it's schedule later this year, in Thailand.  Here are the details.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/asian-lms-to-race-in-thailand/

Dumas: "There is a Real Desire and Commitment to Do Well"

An interview with Porsche factory driver Romain Dumas about what it's like to drive the new Porsche 919 hybrid prototype, and just to be a Porsche factory race pilot.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dumas-there-is-a-real-desire-and-commitment-to-do-well/

2014 Laguna Seca P/GT LM race broadcast

Yours truly almost forgot about this.  But, here's the link for the broadcast of the Prototype and GT LM race from Laguna Seca for the Tudor Championship, last weekend.  Enjoy.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-mazda-raceway-pgtlm-race-broadcast

sports car racing news

Your daily news briefing from the world of sports car racing, including a plan by IMSA, to run their race weekends more efficiently, so drivers can have more time on the racetrack. 

VIDEO: Next-Gen Audi R8 Testing
http://sportscar365.com/gt/video-next-gen-audi-r8-testing/

39 Entries for Imola
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/39-entries-for-four-hours-of-imola/

Racing Engineering Poised for LMP2 Program
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/racing-engineering-eyeing-lmp2-program/

IMSA Working to Reduce Weekend Schedules, Increase Track Time
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-looking-to-reduce-weekend-schedules-increase-track-time/

Ingraham: "We Have the Full Faith in JMW's Abilities"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/ingraham-we-have-the-full-faith-in-jmws-abilities/

Dempsey Targeting Post-Le Mans FIA WEC Races
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dempsey-targeting-post-le-mans-fia-wec-races/

IMSA Open to Selective Split Races in Future
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-open-to-future-selective-split-race-events/

SRT Absorbed into Dodge Brand; Viper Program Continues
http://sportscar365.com/industry/srt-absorbed-into-dodge-brand-viper-program-continues/

Porsche 919 Hybrid finishes fourth in Spa

Porsche has had a couple solid finishes in the opening two races of the FIA World Endurance Championship, both at Silverstone, and Spa.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/04/porsche-919-hybrid-finishes-fourth-in-spa/

FIA World Endurance Championship round 2: Spa Francorchamps Part 3

Part three of the Spa Six Hours for the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Toyota wins their second race in a row, with the same driving team in the #8 car that won at Silverstone, including Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson, and Nicolas Lapierre.  In LMP1-L, Rebellion Racing takes their second win of the year.  LMP2 honors went the way of G-Drive Racing and their #26 Morgan Nissan shared by Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla, and Julien Canal.

Ferrari and AF Corse, sweep both the LM GTE divisions, (Pro, and Am).  Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander win Pro in the team's #51 Ferrari 458 Italia, while in Am, the sister car, wins the class, in the hands of Argentinian Luis Perez Companc, and Italians Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi.  So, here are the class winners.

Overall/LMP1-H:  #8 Buemi/Davidson/Lapierre     Toyota TS040
            LMP1-L:  #12 Beche/Heidfeld/Prost          Lola B-12/60 Toyota
            LMP2:      #26 Rusinov/Pla/Canal              Morgan Nissan
            LM GTE
            Pro:          #51 Fisichella/Vilander               Ferrari 458 Italia
           LM GTE
           Am:           #61 Perez Companc/Cioci/Venturi    Ferrari 458 Italia

Check out the videos of the race, and be ready for the next event.  It's the big one.  The granddaddy of them all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe, in Le Mans, France.  Yours truly, will have a full race report with all the highlights, coming your way, when the race happens in mid June.  That race, will also settle the championship standings, very likely, before a long break, and then, resume for the final five races of the season.

 

 

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FIA World Endurance Championship round 2: Spa Francorchamps Part 2

Part 2 of the Six Hours of Spa Francorchamps.

FIA World Endurance Championship round 2: Spa Francorchamps Part 1

Part one of round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Six Hours of Spa from the legendary Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, in Belgium.

2014 Laguna Seca PC/GTD race broadcast

Folks, here's the link to the Fox Sports 1 broadcast of the Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona race from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, yesterday.  The Prototype and GT LM race, will be posted soon, and when it is, the link, will be here.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-laguna-seca-pcgtd-race-broadcast?invalidate-cache=1399337410

Monterey GT LM Podium Adjusted Post-Race

The GT LM class podium was adjusted after yesterday's race after the fracas between Nick Tandy in the factory Porsche and Bill Auberlen in the BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE.  The #911 car was demoted to ninth in class, and the BMW eventually was second behind the Corvette, with third in class, going to the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/monterey-gtlm-podium-adjusted-post-race/

Winner & highlights of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship Continental Tire Grand Prix Powered by Mazda (Prototype/GT LM race)

We are ready to roll for the second race of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship doubleheader at Laguna Seca Raceway.  The big boys and the big toys, have come out to play.  It's time for the Prototype and GT Le Mans race.  Judging from the wicked action we saw in the Pro/Am race for Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona, this one should be just as if not more exciting, chaps.  Hang onto your hats.  This is going to be good.

The breeze has come up.  The temperatures are dropping.  You want (as a driver), to be in the best car with the best teams.  Can a new team win in Prototype?  Will there be a Ganassi or Action Express repeat?  What about GT LM?  Will it be Porsche, Corvette, or BMW?  We're twelve minutes away from the green flag.  The ongoing mission is to equalize the cars.  The first three races have been won by the former Daytona Prototype cars.  But, former LMP2 cars have taken three of the top five spots on the grid.

The challenge is, this is a sprint race.  How will the first lap go?  Not all of these Prototype teams employ professional drivers.  The amateur guys have skill, but they don't quite have experience enough.  Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek in the #2 Patron Racing HPD prototype, has pole for this race.  Keep you guard up.  This is the first pole for P2 spec cars in the Tudor Championship.  Don't freak out under pressure.  That's Johannes van Overbeek's advice to his team mate, Ed Brown. 

Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas start seventh, looking for three wins in a row.  The warmup was a little tough for Ganassi.  But, they look to move forward from their seventh starting spot on the grid.  We're ready, and the command to fire the engines, is coming.  Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia have pole in GT LM.  Garcia put the #3 Corvette C.7.R. on pole, and Magnussen will take over the car later on in the race.  Nick Tandy is fastest in the North American factory Porsche 911 RSR.  14 drivers are within nine points in GT LM points.

Laguna Seca is a handling track.  Look out for BMW and the factory Z4 GTE from Rahal Letterman Lanigan BMW.  Stay out of the sandbox at the side of the track.  Track position will be big.  Very unlikely we'll see yellow flags.  But the track narrows in a hurry.  Weave the car side to side to scrub off the sand.  Generate tire temperature, too.  The track and ambient conditions are cooler.  Ed Brown has pole, and he'll have to do his best.

Here we go.  At the start, the #90 Corvette of Michael Valiante leads but Gustavo Yacaman flies to second in the #42 OAK Morgan Nissan.  One of the Corvette's runs wide and the #912 Porsche 911 RSR spins.  Michael Christensen at the controls.  The cars plunge nine or ten stories through The Corkscrew.  Ricky Taylor is chasing Memo Rojas as Gustavo Yacaman brakes deep on the outside, wanting to pass Michael Valiante.  The Daytona Prototype spec cars have lost some restrictor space. 

Christian Fittipaldi splits the two ESM HPD ARX prototypes!  The heavier Daytona Prototype spec cars are just getting heat inside their tires.  The P2 cars are 300 pounds lighter.  Richard Westbrook qualified the #90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet Corvette prototype.  They like the smoother circuits.  Gustavo Yacaman wants it in the Corkscrew.  He can't get there.  Race clean.  Here he comes.  He wants the lead.  These two had a dust up last time out at Long Beach.  He'll defend in turn two.

This will hurt Yacaman's lap times.  But, he wants to push.  Stay cool.  If a P2 car controls the pace, they can win.  There's history at stake if a P2 wins in the Tudor Championship for the first time.  GT LM is heating up with Jan Magnussen in the Corvette, the BMW Z4 GTE of John Edwardss, and the factory GT LM Porsche 911.  Ricky Taylor and Memo Rojas are both moving up.  The Ford V6 and Chevrolet V8 motors, have been dialed back by IMSA and the marshals.

The gap closes between Michael Valiante and Gustavo Yacaman.  Christian Fittipaldi and Scott Sharp are also right there.  These guys are going for it, not giving an inch.  Yacaman attacked through the Corkscrew, and Valiante said, "no way, sunshine."  The next lap, was the same.  Yacaman slipped for a fraction of a second.  Christian Fittipaldi can smell blood.  He is a shark, searching for it's prey.  Yacaman wants the outside.  Can't do it.  Two into one won't go here.  The three behind are content to watch.  However, Fittipaldi wants to draft by.

Yacaman has to defend.  IMSA seems to be finding the sweet spot with equalizing the Daytona Prototype and P2 cars.  No one is giving up track position.  Memo Rojas joins the party.  He too, wants in, in the Ganassi Racing Riley Ford EcoBoost.  Richard Westbrook says his team will have to stay clean, and says, "I don't want to watch the race."  Gustavo Yacaman would drive away if he got the lead.  Magnussen, Edwards, Lietz and others, are starting to push.  Corvette, BMW, Porsche, Corvette, Porsche, Viper.  This will give us long, green flag runs.

The teams and drivers have not had a lot of track time.  It's been a really compact race weekend at Laguna Seca for all these teams.  Gustavo Yacaman may be losing pace.  Alex Brundle says the aerodynamics are a bit in question, as there was a small bit of contact.  The team is going with it's Plan A at the moment.  Yacaman got dust on his tires.  The small aero dive plane on the splitter, is bent.  OAK and HPD battle.  Nissan vs. Honda.  We are 21 minutes in.  Ed Brown pits, and Johannes van Overbeek takes over the #2 car.

They are not taking tires.  van Overbeek will do a 45 minute stint.  Two stop strategies for the Prototype teams.  The P2 cars have more trouble getting tire temperature, because they are lighter weight.  The #07 Mazda prototype is seventh while the sister car is 13th.  This is a home race for Mazda.  Speedsource is running well at their home track.  The loads on the drivtrain are huge for the Mazda through the SkyActiv four cylinder diesel motor.

The leaders run in the 1:21 range, while Mazda is coming forward, just a second off, running 1:22s.   Jan Magnussen begins to gap John Edwards somewhat.  No pressure on Corvette or Jan Magnussen.  Patrick Long shares with Michael Christensen in the #912 car.  He says they are consistently the fastest GT LM car in this opening stint.  Whoa!  The Porsche did spin.  Afterwards, no worries.  Andy Priaulx is putting the sister #55 RLL BMW through it's paces.  But, the #56 sister car pits.  Dirk Muller takes over for John Edwards.

There may have been a flatspotted tire, or, just a change in strategy.  There will be an advantage for BMW if there is a yellow and they need to pit.  The #93 SRT Viper was thought to have been running well.  Kuno Wittmer sharing with Jonathan Bomarito of course.  Viper is still finding the sweet spot.  The sister car #91 could have tire trouble.  Either, the tire has pickup on it, or it's deflating.  He locks the brakes, and is right between the Prototype leaders.  Wittmer is told to stay out.

John Edwards did flatspot a tire.  Alex Brundle takes over from Gustavo Yacaman in a scheduled stop for OAK Racing.  Alex Brundle, reminds a lot of us of his dad Martin Brundle, a veteran of Formula One, and sports cars.  Ricky Taylor pits the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette prototype, handing the car over to his brother Jordan.  This team won here last year in Grand Am with Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli.  Can the GT LM cars run this race on one pit stop?  Oh!  Mi chael Valiante pits the #90 car.  There's bodywork damage on the right rear of the car.

Richard Westbrook takes over.  Climb the hill to the Corkscrew, and plunge down the hill out of the corner.  Scott Sharp pits the #1 ESM prototype.  Ryan Dalziel will take over the car as the tires are changed.  Fuel is also added.  Sticker tires all around.  Alex Brundle attackd Richard Westbrook.  Westbrook pushes, and slices through on Brundle into the Corkscrew.  Give one driver room, and give up the corrner when it's lost.  That's respectful racing in a sports car, or any kind of race car.

The #07 Mazda of Joel Miller runs off the road, and might have tub or chassis damage.  Maybe it's got a holed radiator.  Ooh.  Damage to the #42.  They need a nose change.  They have a spare nose and are in a gap in the pit wall so they can get the parts replaced.  Bruindle and Westbrook wanted to go inside.  It was going on behind Miller's Mazda, and, crunch!  The Mazda was an innocent bystander.  The Oak machine is going behind the wall.

The Mazda must hav a busted radiator.  There's damage to the Action Express Corvette.  Game over for car #07.  The Daytona Prototype cars are far more durable than the P2 machines.  The GT LM battle is red hot.  Corvvete vs. Porsche vs. BMW.  Andy Priaulx is on a steep learning curve with learning Laguna Seca.  Joao Barbosa has a part rubbing on the Corvette prototype.  Dirk Mueller is at the controls of the #56 sister BMW Z4 GTE.  Now, the #31 Whelen Corvette prototype with Boris Said at the wheel, has the race lead.  But, he is one of two cars yet to pit.

The #42 car is back in action.  The wishbone on th right side, was repaired.  More specifically, the right hand corner of the car.  Andy Priaulx pitted the second BMW Z4 GTE.  Corvette, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, are the top four in GT LM.  Pierre Kaffer in the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia, came from caboose on the field.  Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari.  Pierre Kaffer shares with former Formula One driver, and race winner, Giancarlo Fisichella. 

The tire contact on the track, and the involvement of the suspension system = mechanical grip.  Pierre Kaffer moved aside and let the prototype go by.  Richard Lietz didn't quite let that happen.  The GT LM guys are pushing their cars hard.  Alex Brundle will get a stop and hold penalty, and the #90 car will also get a stop and hold.  Not good.  These penalties will push those cars back down the order.  Ryan Dalziel battles Jordan Taylor for the lead.  Taylor holds him off.

Dalziel can't quite get the power down.  The contact between the #90 and #42 cars (a hip check), remains under review by IMSA stewards.  The Tudor Championship is raising it's game to make the calls in the series.  Former drivers will assist the stewards, just like Formula One.  They need people who can read the races and read the incidents, the language of the race cars etcf.  Antonio Garcia pits and there's an odd angle for one of the Porsche's in the pit.  The Corvette was released and almost collided with the #912 factory Porsche.

Here's the #911 sister car.  Nick Tandy takes over from Richard Lietz.  #911 has had the advantage.  Tandy does up his seatbelts without a crewman's help.  Odd, because technically, a driver cannot see well enough, with his helmet on, to cinch up the safety belts.  Less than 55 minutes to go now.  Lots of pit action for tires and fuel, or just fuel.  Ryan Dalziel has pulled the #1 HPD prototype off course.  No full course yellow.  Dalziel broke going uphill from the Corkscrew.  There's a local yellow that means no passing.  he's way off on driver's left. 

Dalziel's gearbox, packed up.  That's a shame.  Everyone thought Patron Racing could win.  Johannes van Overbeek still leads, and could win.  But, he'll have to pit.  van Overbeek leads Taylor, Barbosa, Westbrook, Oswaldo Negri Jr., and Scott Pruett.  It's Honda vs. Corvette vs Riley EcoBoost Ford.  The #93 SRT Viper had issues with the left front tire during their pit stop.  Jonathan Bomarito is driving the #93 car.  The #2 HPD prototype is in the pits from P1.  Johannes van Overbeek gets new tires and a new drink bottle.  He'll take the car to the checkers.

van Overbeek might have to stretch the fuel mileage a bit.  Jordan Taylor takes over the lead.  Can Wayne Taylor Racing make it two in a row at Laguna Seca?  In GT LM it is now BMW, BMW, Ferrari, Corvette.  Giancarlo Fisichella battles Antonio Garcia.  Or rather, Fisichella has the spot, and Garcia, wants it.  The plot thickens.  Remember back to the PC/GTD race earlier.  Fuel mileage is huge.  Just ask Spencer Pumpelly, who's tank ran dry in his Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS just before the checkered flag. 

Jordan Taylor continues to lead.  The Taylor brothers get along well.  Max Angelelli will race in both remaining races for the North American Endurance Championship at Watkins Glen and the Petit Le Mans.  BMW runs 1-2 in GT LM.  This might change.  The #56 car has to stop one more time.  Risi Competizione runs third in GT LM.  Pierre Kaffer wanted a new set of tires for the race, because there needed to be an advantage for the team.  Kaffer is glad to be running with Risi Competizione again.

No worries on fuel for the Risi Ferrari.  Risi needs a break.  They have had two huge crashes in the first two races of the year.  The #17 Falken Tire Porsche is running well.  They are the only privateeer team run with support from Porsche North America.  Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers are running well.  Of course, they did not have the new car in time for the Rolex 24.  So, they skipped that race.  Scott Pruett continues to get the job done.  He makes wine, and like vintage wine, he gets better.  He's raced everything, and won almost everything.

Pruett ran very successfully in IMSA and Trans Am with Jack Roush.  Ooh.  There's argy bargy between Porsche and Corvette in GT LM.  Scott Pruett is 8.7 seconds behind the leaders.  He wants another race win.  Pruett's style is that he jabs the throttle.  It comes from go karts.  In sports cars, you want to be more deliberate, rolling gently into and out of the throttle to accelerate and decelerate, to be more efficent, and save fuel.  DP style cars are getting better fuel mileage because of the smaller air restrictor.  It's like trying to breathe through a straw.

Nick Tandy, after contact, has an off center steering wheel in his factory Porsche.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. is running well.  Gear selection has been the Achilles heel for MSR this weekend, though their Ford EcoBoost V6 motor is running fine.  The gearshift is electronically activated, and can lead to a lot of odd circumstances.  Just over a half hour to run in this race.  The drivers are being cautious, and the officiating is getting better.  This is also the first natural terrain road course race of the year.  Daytona is a combination of an oval and a road course.  Sebring, is an airfield road circuit.  Long Beach, is a street course. 

Bill Auberlen pits his BMW for four tires and fuel.  Tire degradation in the search for grip is a big deal.  Auberlen came in first in class, but he's dropped down the order.  The Ferrari and Risi Competizione is now leading in class.  27 minutes to go.  The #4 Corvette C.7.R. is off and on.  Oliver Gavin runs wide on the uphill to the Corkscrew, with too much speed.  There's debris on the road.  Look at the big picture.  14 drivers are covered by nine points in GT LM.  Ooh.  The Deltawing is slow.  We have not seen a whole lot of Andy Meyrick and Katherine Legge today.

Garcia wants by Fischella in GT LM.  Joao Barbosa is coming.  Now, ther'e's really close moments with the Deltawing.  It's slowing and nearly parked at the apex of the corner.  The car might have a flat left rear tire.  Just over 20 minutes remain in this race.  Approaching 20 minutes remaining in this race.  Jordan Taylor still leads Johannes van Overbeek.  The Corvette's and Ford EcoBoost motors get air restrictor adjustments.  This gives a ten horsepower advantage, which is more like 30.

There's a variety of tracks in this championship as Risi loses grip being passed by the Action Express prototype, and the Corvette goes by.  Crew chief Dan Binks is ecstatic.  Johannes van Overbeek has caught Jordan Taylor.  The P2 car is quicker in the high speed corners on the second half of the lap.  The Deltawing has headed for the pits.  The car had a transmission failure.  There's been a lead change.  Johannes van Overbeek takes the lead.

Jordan Taylor either had a puncture, or had to clean his tires.  He could have picked up debris, and either way, he ran wide, sweeping the car back and forth.  There was just pickup on the tires, all the sand.  That's what is happening with Jordan Taylor.  We have less than 15 minutes to go.  Can Ed Brown and company win?  We spoke of him being in a pressure cooker scenario, being on pole as an amateur driver.  The Mazda diesel has enormous torque and has sequential turbos on it, in a four cylinder motor.  Bill Auberlen is booking it, and he's 9/10ths of a second quicker than the GT LM leader.

Huge lockup for the Porsche.  It's Patrick Long and Jonathan Bomarito.  Two California boys, having a blast racing, in factory race cars.  Bill Auberlen is pushing Dirk Muller.  If Muller will let him by, up the front straight is a good spot, and into turn one.  Yup.  Move over.  Auberlen is through.  Giancarlo Fisichella is now in front of Bill Auberlen.  Dirk Muller will be penalized for contact with the #4 Corvette.  Ah.  He spun the Corvette.  He pushed out and touchd the left rear of the #4 Corvette.

Auberlen tries passing Fisichella on the inside.  Five minutes left in this contest.  Ooh.  The Ferrari gets twitchy.  Car #01 needed a splash and dash.  They did not get a yellow.  Fisichella defends and runs wide.  Auberlen forces the issue.  Fisichella can't make it work.  Don't play dodge 'em cars, boys.  Auberlen moves ahead.  Nick Tandy is Auberlen's next target.  Bomarito trails Patrick Long, still.  Less than three minutes to run in this race.

Nick Tandy, and oh!  Tandy bangs Auberlen on the front straight!  He hasn't lost any ground.  The #911 car is second in GT LM, passing Giancarlo Fisichella in turn nine.  A tough corner.  There may be a penalty.  The #3 Corvette has a four second lead as we approach the final lap.  Bill Auberlen is right on the Porsche coming to the front straight.  Auberlen got pushed onto the astro turf.  One lap left.  Where's the overall leader?  Auberlen might have another go at Tandy.  He tries at the top of the hill.  Into the Corkscrew.  This will be the day when the P2 car wins!

Extreme Speed Motorsports and their Honda, win!  One corner to go in GT LM.  Tandy defends.  Auberlen rubs and gets through!  Corvette wins.  Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen win two in a row in GT LM.  The pass between Auberlen and Tandy is under review because there was contact.

Overall/Prototype: #2 van Overbeek/Brown   HPD ARX03b
            GT LM:    #3 Magnussen/Garcia        Chevrolet Corvette C.7.R.

This was another caution free race for the Tudor Championship.  The next TUSCC race is on the Raceway at Belle Isle, revisiting a street course, in Detroit, Michigan, coming up at the end of this month, in four weeks.  The Prototype class, and the GT Daytona class, will be featured.  No GT LM at the next race.  It should be a good one. 

Winner & highlights of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship Continental Tire Grand Prix Powered by Mazda (Prototype Challenge & GT Daytona race)

We are on the Monterey Peninsula, and will have a doubleheader to look forward to.  The Northern California coast is known for gorgeous beaches, wine, and, of course, Laguna Seca Raceway.  We are set for a doubleheader today.  A new chapter begins, now.  First up, it's the Prototype and GT Le Mans race.  Nearly 60 cars entered.  So, promoters put together a doubleheader.  Each race will be two hours long. The first one is Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona.

Watch out in Prototype Challenge for the #54 CORE Autosport machine.  RSR shows a lot of speed, too.  Bruno Junquiera has pole for this race as he did at Sebring International Raceway.  The PC cars will have two pit stops, while the GT Daytona machines, have just one scheduled.  Watch out for AIM Autosport in the #555 Ferrari 458 Italia, but they are deep in the field.  The #45 Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS has pole, with Spencer Pumpelly at the wheel, sharing with Nelson Canache Jr.

These cars have not raced in seven weeks.  Patrick Dempsey tested a Porsche in Europe, but lost his mother Amanda, to cancer.  Dempsey looks forward to a good result.  Dempsey has a cancer center in Maine.  Ben Keating, of course, caught fire at Sebring with the SRT Viper GT3.  The car was melted down completely.  But, it's rebuilt.  The driveshaft broke, severing a fuel line.  But, much of the car was salvageable.  However, the #33 Viper has a new car, with the burned out car, rebuilt into a backup car.

Cooper MacNeil starts the #22 Weathertech Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America.  MacNeil had final exams for college, and then, he flew from Colorado to Laguna Seca to quickly practice the car this morning.  As for this track, it's south of San Francisco.  A 2.238 mile track, with sand all over it.  Play nice, stay cool, and focus forward.  An overall win is possible for a Prototype Challenge car.  The PC cars come down in their own groups.

Duncan Ende starts.  Here we go!  Green flag!  Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona.  Ende locks the brakes, and Luis Diaz is second now.  Did a tire get flatspotted?  Jon Bennett and Colin Braun drop to fifth.  Braun is at the wheel for the start.  Cold tires.  Watch the sand.  Nelson Canache leads GT Daytona with Cooper MacNeil moving up already.  These guys have two hours to get the job done.  Charlie Putman in the #46 Fall Line Audi R8 LMS makes a pass.  Nelson Canache is running well, and Stefan Johansson is second.

Patrick Dempsey is off the road now.  He's stuck in the gravel, and we have a full course yellow.  What will pit strategy be?  Dempsey loses it in the Corkscrew, and spins the car.  Ian James and Mario Farnbacher in the sister AJR Porsche, had engine problems just before the race started.  The car is hot, and the engine was changed very quickly.  The bad part... that engine, is HOT!  We're back to green.  Luis Diaz wants by the leader as Chris Cumming clashes with another competitor.  Watch the #8 PC car.  It is in the classic Martini & Rossi livery.

John Montecalvo wants by Mirko Shultheis.  CORE Autosport had an alternator issue, and missed the whole second practice session.  Look at the big picture for the championship.  These Prototype Challenge cars are all identical.  Find out what will break.  There were only two one hour practice sessions.  Nelson Canache tries holding off Stefan Johansson, a former Formula One driver, and sports car veteran.  Kyle Marcelli is Johansson's team mate.

Markus Palttala and Dane Cameron are running well.  They are performing well.  Patrick Dempsey is back on course.  But, Nelson Canache and Stefan Johansson, have their own battle at the front of the GT Daytona field.  Nelson Canache and Stefan Johansson continue their battle.  Mario Farnbacher passes Cooper MacNeil.  That had to be team orders.  Mario Farnbacher is a quick driver.  Kyle Marcelli is running well with the Ferrari, and right now of course, Johansson is in the car.

Marcelli likes driving the Ferrari.  Being linked with a manufacturer, is very important.  Johansson's pace has dropped, and now, Bryce Miller is pressuring him in the #48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS.  The Ferrari is a well balanced car.  Porsche and Audi tend not to handle as well on the rear tires.  Duncan Ende has been passed for the Prototype Challenge lead, by Luis Diaz.  Diaz has been trying to set him up for a pass, and was finally successful.

Nelson Canache might have better handling in the Audi.  Bryce Miller spun and lost time, giving an advantage to Stefan Johansson.  Ben Keating, will get a stop and hold penalty for avoidable contact with the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GTE.  He has servrd his penalty.  Riley Technologies built the #33 Viper, and fortunately, they had a large amount of spares.  The Viper spins again, and he may have a steering issue.  The #48 Audi and #94 BMW battle.  Dust everywhere.

Laguna Seca is becoming a skating rink.  No grass here.  It's all sand offline.  Don't overstep the boundaries on this Laguna Seca course.  Dropping wheels, will cause a driver to lose grip.  Watch the pit exit.  Don't put more than two wheels on the white separation stripe.  Elevation changes also make things real difficult.  You're looking at the sky.  It's fun, but tricky.  The RSR cars are 1-2.  Do 40 minutes to get points.  All four classes practice together, so, it's hard to strategize for one of these split class races. 

We are 32 minutes into this race.  Eliminate yellow flag time to get to the 40 minute minimum drive time.  You cannot see over the dip in the Corkscrew.  It's a completely blind corner, that drops ten stories.  We have our second full course yellow in this race.  Charlie Putman is off the road, and now, Jon Bennett has a problem.  He wanted to do a driver change, but was told by the team... "no, stay in the car!"  Bennett ran into Mirco Shultis. 

That stop was confusing to Colin Braun.  H was just shy of the maximum allotted drive time.  The Audi spins with hlp from another PC car.  But, he smoked the clutch trying to go up the hill, in too high of a gear.  It could be game over for the Fall Line Motorsports Audi.  Porsche and BMW were unrestricted, but are now cut back.  Ferrari and Aston Martin had some adjustments for equating the Balance of Performance.  The GTD class leader is in.  Spencer Pumpelly takes over the Flying Lizard Audi.

Alex Job Racing leapfrogs the Audi.  The drivers, and the car, are good for points.  Don't have a hired gun who runs 95% of the race.  Jack Gerber and Eddie Cheever III. run a Ferrari, (the #51 AF Corse Ferrari).  These two are not having a good race, because the door is busted, and needs bear bond.  Green flag!  Bruno Junquiera lights up the rear tires.  Someon runs wide into the clag.  Alex Tagliani gets passed by Shawn Rayhall. 

Sean is no relation to Bobby Rahal.  The name is spelled differently.  But, there are other good drivers.  Watch for Alex Tagliani and Gunnar Jeannette, too.  Renger van der Zande is also doing well.  Ben Keating is replaced by Jeroen Bleekemolen in the #33 SRT Viper.  They are off sequence.  Bleekemolen is a good driver.  The #08 PC car of Alex Tagliani, and the #63 Ferrari of Alessandro Balzan, will head for the sin bin, for speeding in pit lane.

The #18 Porsche of David Calvert-Jones runs in the GT Daytona lead for Muehlner Motorsports America.  Ooh.  A spin for a PC car.  Jeroen Bleekemolen is 20th in class, 27th overall.  Alex Tagliani spun in the Andretti hairpin.  Sean Rayhall and David Calvert-Jones, are the class leaders so far.  Dane Cameron is up to third in GT Daytona, passing Ian James.  Christopher Haase also tries to pass. and actually gets around James.  We are almost an hour into this race.  One hour to go. 

Gunnar Jeanette is chased by David Ostella.  The #8 car with the Martini livery, is beautiful.  Shawn Rayhall is running very well at this point.  The #8 car has loose bodywork after contact with another car.  Rayhall leads PC with Spencer Pumpelly leading GT Daytona.  The #007 Aston Martin Vantage is running well with James Davison and Al Carter.  Al Carter has run three different cars this weekend.  Leh Keen and Dane Cameron race together in a battle as Cameron slides it down, but goes to pit lane.

This is a strategy call, topping the car up with fuel, sharing the car with Markus Palttala.  Sean Rayhall is the halfway leader in this race.  The #18 Porsche is in the pits.  Matt Bell takes over the car.  Sean Rayhall leads Bruno Junquiera by seven seconds.  These are spec cars.  Bruno Junquiera is running well and so is the #8 machine.  The #64 Ferrari tops off with fuel.  Kyle Marcelli is in the car now.  No tires.  Just fuel.  The #08 RSR Prototype Challenge car of Alex Tagliani, pits for the final time.

Stefan Johansson has been around a long time.  Townsend Bell is now in the #555 Revo AIM Autosport Ferrari.  Dane Cameron takes the spot away.  Less than an hour to go in this first of two races at Laguna Seca.  Christopher Haase in the #48 Audi is quick, and has Kyle Marcelli behind hi,.  Haase has fresh tires.  Marcelli, does not.  Andrew Davis has taken over from Patrick Dempsey in the #27 Porsche, which continues to have brake issues.

Sean Rayhall has pitted and made a clean stop.  47 minutes left in this race.  By the way, coming up in just oiver a month, is the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.  You will get all the highlights, of the whole race, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.  Stay tuned.  That race, will be loads of fun!  Yours truly, guarantees it.  The #52 Prototype Challenge car pits with Frankie Montecalvo and Gunnar Jeannette at the wheel.  Jeannette is in the car.

Doug Bielefeld was supposed to compete in PC in this race, but, he had a big wreck, and damaged the car's tub.  So, it was game over, even before the race began.  The #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America is running well with Patrick Lindsey and Kevin Estre.  They are sponsored by Children's Tumor Foundation.  Kuba Giermaziak is giving the #30 Momo NGT Porsche a good run, but they are down in 16th in class.  Henrique Cisneros is the second driver.

This car also had a big crash last time out at Sebring.  Correction, they are seventh in class.  Leh Keen is running well, but has a slide through Rainey curve.  Henrique Cisneros says the Porsche is different, and better, with a paddle shift transmission as opposed to a sequential gearbox, and a bigger motor.  36 minutes to go in this first race.  Sean Rayhall is now fourth overall.  Fuel is going to be close.  The strategic plans of the teams are all different.

Townsend Bell has a moment, and did not know the Prototype Challenge cars were coming, sliding to the outside.  No audio, but the spotter was saying, "three wide!  Three wide!  Three wide!"  Rayhall runs a 1:21.5 while Bruno Junquiera runs a 1:21.6.  Colin Braun has fastest lap at 1:21.2.  A half hour remains in this race.  Ooh!  The #38 PC car of David Ostella spins and hits the wall.  He dropped a wheel and broke the left rear suspension.  Ostella is clearly frustrated.  He crunches the concrete bridge abutment, missing the tire wall.

Ostella grts spun a second time, by a GT Daytona car!  Ugh!  This could be a full course yellow.  Jan Heylen in the #58 GT Daytona Porsche tried to pass another car, but did it in a dangerous place.  If you need fuel, come now.  Don't let the pit lane close.  Two tires for Duncan Ende and Bruno Junquiera.  Sean Rayhall goes by.  It takes longer, because in pit lane, you are allowed just two wheel guns.  They changed the right side tires only.  Race control has decreed there's no yellow.

David Ostella has gotten the car fully off the racing line.  Just over 20 minutes to go in this first race.  Sean Rayhall still runs second, with Renger van der Zande ahead.  Will van der Zande need a splash and dash for fuel?  More traffic.  Be careful.  Eddie Cheever III. is now driving the #51 Ferrari.  His dad, Eddie Cheever Jr. has won the Indy 500, run in sports cars, and, in Formula One.  Eddie Cheever Jr. was a BMW Junior driver, along with drivers like David Hobbs, many years ago.

Renger van der Zande is running well.  Sean Rayhall is coming fast, though.  van der Zande does not want a yellow.  But, both Alex Job Porsche's are going to come up short on fuel, without a yellow, and will need a splash and dash.  Spencer Pumpelly still leads GT Daytona over Leh Keen.  Fuel mileage might just be a factor in the last 15 minutes of this race.  BMW and Audi battle through the braking zone.  The #58 Porsche is in the pits.  Jan Heylen and Madison Snow, share the car.

Team manager Martin Snow is calling the shots.  Rayhall is balked, trying to go inside Dane Cameron, and around he goes!  No room.  There didn't appear to be contact.  The #8 car is just fine, and good to go on fuel.  The Starworks team with Peter Baron as team manager, they could win, and with the Martini livery on the car, and body damage.  Both AJR Porsche's will have to do the splash and dash.  The #45 Audi is risking it on fuel.  They'll leave Spencer Pumpelly out.  But, Dion von Moltke in the sister car #35 will get a splash, according to team strategist, Thomas Blom.

Pumpelly has a six second lead.  Ian James, Dane Cameron, and Christopher Haase, will battle for third in class.  Cameron runs inside and takes the position away as Ian James needs fuel.  He was planning to pit.  So, Leh Keen will also need a splash and dash.  Fuel only for the #23.  This will be a great battle to the finish.  Leh Keen needs to pit.  Two laps is the most you can run with dwindling fuel in the tank.  Dane Cameron is now second in class in GT Daytona.  A splash and dash for Leh Keen.  Haase and von Moltke in the Audi's appear to be ready to pounce.

Pumpelly has a big lead.  Four minutes or so to go.  Renger van der Zande is on cruise control.  He's got a buffer over Sean Rayhall.  Starworks told their man to conserve tires and fuel.  So, he'll win this one.  A couple laps left to run.  Fuel is the deal.  There's sand all over.  No white flag yet.  Two more laps now.  Cameron will get more time.  Make the call early.  But, for Dane Cameron, that hasn't worked.  He slid down through the Corkscrew.

We expect the white flag this time by.  One more lap, and Starworks will win this.  Renger van der Zande crosses the finish line at 136 miles an hour.  Save fuel on the last lap.  That's what Audi and Flying Lizard are telling their man.  Don't let the fuel slosh around in the tank.  Renger van der Zande, Starwoirks, and Martini, win!

Overall/PC: #8 van der Zande/Schultis     Oreca FLM 09 Chevrolet

Oh no!  The Audi is out of fuel!  He had an eleven second lead.  Here comes Cameron!  No!  Can the Audi catch the BMW?  Dane Cameron wins for BMW!

GT Daytona: #94 Cameron/Dalla Lana     BMW Z4 GTE

Whoa.  What a race!  Stay tuned for the Prototype/GT Le Mans race, a little later on.   

Spa 1,000 kilometers preview

Stories leading into today's second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Spa 1,000 Kilometers at Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, in Spa Francorchamps, Belgium.

Toyota Racing on the front row in Spa
http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/02/toyota-racing-on-the-front-row-in-spa/

Two 911 RSR lockout second grid row
http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/02/two-911-rsr-lock-out-second-grid-row/

Double top for Ferrari in GTE qualifying at Spa
http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/03/double-top-for-ferrari-in-gte-qualifying-at-spa/

REBELLION Racing set for enduro test at the 6 Hours of Spa
http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/03/rebellion-racing-set-for-enduro-test-at-the-6-hours-of-spa/

Audi with solid starting base at Spa
http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/03/audi-with-solid-starting-base-at-spa/

First pole position for the Porsche 919 Hybrid
http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/05/03/first-pole-position-for-the-porsche-919-hybrid/

Stay tuned for the video highlights of the Spa 1,000 kilometers, sometime next week.

Audi Confirms Next-Gen R8 GT in Development

Audi is hard at work on their next generation Audi R8, which will comply with new common GT racing regulations, being discussed as yours truly writes this post.  What will become of GT based sports car racing?  We'll see.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/audi-confirms-next-gen-r8-gt-in-development/

Ricky Taylor Lands LMP2 Ride with Larbre Competition

Ricky Taylor will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, again, with Larbre Competition.  Except, this time, he will race an LMP2 Morgan Judd, after racing in a GT spec Corvette, last year, with the same team.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/ricky-taylor-lands-lmp2-ride-with-larbre/

Starworks Adds Martini Livery to No. 8 PC Car in Monterey

43 years after it first appeared in a sports car race, the legendary Martini livery (as it has in Formula One with Williams), comes back to sports car racing, with the Starworks team and their Prototype Challenge entry, for this weekend's Tudor United Sports Car Championship event at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/starworks-adds-martini-livery-to-no-8-pc-car-in-monterey/

Hayden: "I'm Proud of the Guys for Getting Two Cars Here"

The new Rebellion R-One has been unveiled in Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, ahead of this weekends 6 Hours of Spa... round two of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, and team manager Bart Hayden, is one happy camper.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hayden-im-proud-of-the-guys-for-getting-two-cars-here/

Webber: "I learned A Lot in My First FIA WEC Race"

Mark Webber said he learned a ton in his first race in the FIA World Endurance Championship, and looks forward to this weekend's action in the second round at Spa Francorchamps in the Ardennes forest, in Belgium.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/webber-i-learned-a-lot-in-my-first-fia-wec-race/