SCOOP: Corvette Racing Preparing FIA WEC Entry for COTA

Corvette Racing will please it's American fans for the FIA World Endurance Championship race in the United States at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, bringing one car, specifically, for that event, while also maintaining their two-car squad in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship which races on the same weekend at COTA in September.  This is fabulous news!

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/exclusive-corvette-racing-preparing-fia-wec-entry-for-cota/

sports car racing news flash

Some stories being followed on the sports car racing circuit from several categories.

Ullrich: "Audi is Not Interested in GTE"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/ullrich-audi-is-not-interested-in-gte/

Wow!  A 32-hour endurance race at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.  Wild!

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Maxi Endurance 32 Plans Materializing
http://sportscar365.com/gt/maxi-endurance-32-plans-materializing/

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Callaway Resumes Development of Corvette C7 GT3
http://sportscar365.com/gt/callaway-resumes-development-of-corvette-c7-gt3/

Aston Martin, Corvette Hit with BoP Adjustments
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aston-martin-corvette-hit-with-bop-adjustments/

Mahy Undergoes Successful Surgery
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/mahy-undergoes-successful-surgery/

Post-Le Mans LMP1 EoT Changes Confirmed
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/post-le-mans-lmp1-eot-changes-confirmed/

The Problem With P: Rubber Match

North American Sportscar and their blog writer, Ben Wedge, discuss, tire trouble, insofar as having equal tires for the equipment, in the Tudor Championship.

http://nasportscar.com/the-problem-with-p-rubber-match/

Ben's Analysis - Indianapolis

Analysis on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway round of the Tudor Championship from one of the other sports car racing blogs I follow... North American Sportscar.

http://nasportscar.com/bens-analysis-indianapolis/

Brickyard Grand Prix race broadcast

Here is the race broadcast on Fox Sports 1 of the Brickyard Grand Prix.  Enjoy this race, everyone.  It was another good one to be sure.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-indianapolis-motor-speedway-broadcast

Winner & highlights of the Brickyard Grand Prix

It's time to add auto racing's most famous track... the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to the inaugural Tudor United Sports Car Championship.  50 cars are slated to take the start in this race.  48 cars to be precise.

The skies are cloudy, and rain was in the area.  But, not anymore.  Every driver wants to win at Indy.  But, there are only four races to go in the season.  We are seeing a points battle for the championship between Wayne Taylor Racing and Action Express Racing.  But, don't count out Spirit of Daytona, or Oak Racing, either.  They are still very much in the hunt for the inaugural Tudor United Sports Car Championship crown.

Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel for Patron Racing, are on pole.  But, they have yet to win this season.  Could they break through and win at The Brickyard?  The championship battle is as close as ever, with only a 26 point spread between the top five in the Prototype division.  Chip Ganassi Racing has a new and different lineup for this race at Indianapolis.  Memo Rojas injured his back in that big wreck last time out at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in the warmup.  So, for Indy, Scott Pruett will be teamed with Ganassi development driver, Sage Karam.  Chip Ganassi has many wins at Indianapolis in the Indy 500 and in the Brickyard 400.  Ganassi wants his first win here, in sports car competition.

Leading the points in Prototype Challenge is still the #54 Core Autosport car driven by Jon Bennett and Colin Braun.  But, they've had a litany of issues leading up to the race here at Indianapolis.  They stayed out on track after the reconnaissance lap, and will have to start shotgun on the field because of that error.  Watch out for Starworks in Prototype Challenge.  These guys have two overall wins in sports cars at Indy.  So, they'll be there to pounce, should Core Autosport run into problems.

There's a close battle in GT Le Mans points coming into Indianapolis with a mere 19 point spread between Corvette, BMW, and SRT Viper.  A further point separates these three from the second factory Viper.  The sister cars for Corvette and BMW, respectively, as well as both factory Porsche's, aren't far away either.  Here at Indianapolis, Corvette Racing wants to snatch their fifth straight GT LM win this year.  To keep the playing field level, the Corvette's are carrying success weight, here at Indy.

Porsche, BMW, and Ferrari, are all given rules breaks to gain speed.  Giancarlo Fisichella has pole in GT LM for Ferrari.  Fisichella has experience at Indianapolis, running eight times in the United States Grand Prix when Formula One cars ran at "The Brickyard" for a number of years.  In GT Daytona, things should be interesting.  This weekend, Dane Cameron will team with Paul Dalla Lana, because, his regular co-driver, Markus Palttala, ran at the 24 Hours of Spa for the Blancpain Endurance Series, a race you will see and read highlights of, here on Endurance... the sports car racing blog, soon.

We have four classes, 48 cars, and the shortest lap distance of the whole season.  We're ready for the Brickyard Grand Prix.  Let's turn 'em loose!  It's time to go sports car racing at Indy.  Go!  Scott Sharp takes the race lead with Gustavo Yacaman second.  The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Prototype got right to the wall!  Sage Karam slides inside, locking the brakes, going for the lead!  He slides around both ESM Honda's.  Now, will that spot stick?

Oh boy!  Yacaman gets spun around by the #5 Action Express Corvette!  Turn one at Indy is calamity corner!  Yacaman is on the grass, trying to get on the racing line as drivers definitely played dodge 'em cars into turn one.  Argy bargy everywhere!  Yacaman has to settle down, as he must now work his way through GT traffic.  Christian Fittipaldi to the outside of Scott Sharp, for the lead!  The #5 car has damage to the grille leading to the radiator.

Fittipaldi finished second in his debut at Indianapolis.  That was to Jacques Villeneuve in the 1995 Indianapolis 500.  Fittipaldi shares this car with Joao Barbosa of course.  There's damage to the tow hook on the car where it would connect to a tow truck after an incident.  But, the rest of the car looks fine.  Karam could have gotten hip checked in that incident.  Yours truly was right, and agree with Fox Sports' sports car analyst and former driver Dorsey Schroeder about that assessment.

Fellow analyst and former driver, Calvin Fish, has a different idea.  It could have been Karam saw Fittipaldi coming, and jinked to the right to get out of the way.  The marshals still have to suss out what Christian Fittipaldi did wrong in hitting the #42 car, the Oak Morgan Nissan.  Stewards will have to take the argy bargy into account before assessing blame to anyone.  Giancarlo Fisichella leads GT LM in the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia.  He finished on the podium in the United States Grand Prix at Indy for Formula One, back in 2006.

At that time, he was team mate to Fernando Alonso in a factory Renault.  Fisichella has experience here.  But, keep in mind, the road course has been reconfigured from it's old F1 setup, to suit not only the sports cars, but also, the MotoGP motorcycles who will race at Indy in a few weeks.  Check those results on my motorcycle racing blog, entitled 2 Wheelin', when the time comes.  John Edwards, right behind, is in the second of the factory BMW RLL Z4 GTE's, and before this race, he also ran in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, that took place on Friday, too.

It should be noted, you will see the broadcast of that event, when yours truly is able to post the link.  Stay tuned.  Fisichella is being balked by a Prototype Challenge machine, and Edwards is now all over the back of that Ferrari like a rash.  Ferrari needs some good luck and a win at Indy would be great relief for the Risi team who has had a torrid time in Tudor Championship competition this year.  Now, back to BMW.  Andy Priaulx, in his first drive at IMS, is hounding team mate John Edwards, trying to push BMW to the front in class.

The BMW will be held up by the Prototype Challenge car if he can't get by, allowing Fisichella to whistle off into the distance.  The reconfigured part of the Indy road course mean they no longer fly in the opposite direction through turn one on the oval.  Instead, they snake their way through a series of three corners, before heading out onto the front straight.  Looking at the key stories of this race, they will be to watch the restarts, because the P2 cars could get swamped easily by the Daytona Prototype spec machines.  Prestige vs. championship.  Do you go for a win at "The Brickyard"?  Or, do you settle down, and think championship, with the season coming to an end soon?

Watch out for drivers who are really quick, but not regulars in sports cars.  Names come to mind like Sage Karam and Jack Hawksworth.  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is tough on tires.  So, watch out for lots of rolled up rubber, or, "clag" as it's affectionately known to racing drivers.  The infield road course has been resurfaced, making for better grip, but also, for more tire wear.  Ten drivers in this field have also run at the Indianapolis 500 before.  Scott Sharp should be hitting the mark now where the P2 spec car shows speed with warm tires.

It takes longer for the P2 spec cars to warm the tires compared to the heavier Daytona Prototype spec cars.  Michael Valiante driving the #90 Corvette Prototype, and Sage Karam in the #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost, have each been given a furled black flag by the race stewards.  Charles Putman in the #46 GT Daytona Audi R8 LMS will also serve a stop and hold penalty for contact with a fellow GT Daytona competitor.  John Edwards in the #56 BMW Z4 GTE has taken over the lead from Giancarlo Fisichella in GT LM.

Fisichella had a skid in turn one, got in hot, and locked the brakes going across the grass.  He braked way too late and paid the price for it.  The factory BMW's are in the pound seats at the moment, because normally, they get swamped on the starts in GT LM.  But now, they can run their consistent lap times, with their competitors from the other factories giving chase.  Car #25 leads Prototype Challenge at the moment.  This is the Oreca Chevrolet with Luis Diaz and Sean Rayhall sharing the driving chores.

Paul Dalla Lana leads GT Daytona in the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4.  We haven't seen him race in IMSA because he is also doing a full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Aston Martin and their factory squad of course.  They've run three races.  The last of which, was the 24 Hours of Le Mans that you read about, here.  So, Dalla Lana has not been in a race car in a month or so.  Dalla Lana is benefitting from racing in Europe as far as experience and driving skill.

Second in class is the #555 Ferrari 458 Italia in the hands of Bill Sweedler at the moment.  Uh oh.  The #31 Whelen, Marsh Racing Corvette Prototype is in the box with nose damage.  Eric Curran is sharing with Burt Frisselle this weekend.  Boris Said is still recovering from his big wreck last time out at Mosport (Canadian Tire Motorsports Park), and what led to that practice wreck, was a steering failure.  Jordan Taylor is not running where he wants to in the #10 WTR Velocity Racing Corvette Prototype.  The diffuser that adds downforce to the back of the car, is the area of concern at the moment.

The diffuser is loose as one of the stays broke.  We are under our first full course yellow in the Brickyard Grand Prix.  The #91 factory Dodge Viper is missing a door.  OK.  Yours truly had to go to this extreme.  But, the ol' snake, got it's doors blown off.  Dominik Farnbacher at the wheel, is getting some free air conditioning, but, no help in the aerodynamic department.  New livery on the #91 Viper, while the #93 retains the iconic red and white paint scheme.  We return to green flag racing, with Christian Fittipaldi in P1, But, Sage Karam is hounding him for the overall lead.

Scott Sharp is slow to gain speed in the #1 Honda prototype.  Sharp has sunk from second to fifth, and the "Yac attack", Gustavo Yacaman, is on his gearbox.  Oh wow!  For the second straight race, a Corvette gets spun off the road right in the middle of traffic!  It is car #3 of Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.  There's more wrecking behind.  There's a GT Daytona Porsche, (the #81 Tully's Coffee car), and a Prototype Challenge racer, in this mess.

Matt Bell is at the wheel of #81, filling in for Ben Barker, who is running the Porsche Super Cup in Europe, in support of the F1 race in Hungary.  Chris Miller is the Prototype Challenge driver, as we see a bent left rear wheel on the #81 Porsche.  Miller loses a hunk of fender off his machine.  Gustavo Yacaman has made his way past Scott Sharp.  The Corvette got turned around by the #73 Park Place Porsche in the hands of Patrick Lindsey and Patrick Long.  We have come out of one yellow flag, going straight into our second one.

The GT LM class is in a real stack up here.  Edwards gets boxed in, and Fisichella tries to move inside of Magnussen.  The #73 Porsche hops the curb, turning the Corvette around.  Dominik Farnbacher has more problems with the #91 SRT Viper.  Not only is the right side door missing, but also, there's damage now to the left front corner.  Joao Barbosa continues to lead Sage Karam.  48 cars on a 2.4 mile track is a lot.  Roughly, 20 cars per mile!

We watch a replay of the Viper's shunt.  He hits the left front corner of the car.  This is a one-off white livery for sponsor, T.I. Automotive.  Dominik Farnbacher brings the car to the pit lane.  Honda is looking for their third consecutive win at Indy, this season, having already won the two Indycar races (the road course event, and the Indianapolis 500).  Boris Said misses this race, but also misses the next round of action at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

There have also been (as mentioned on this blog), performance adjustments for the Prototype, GT LM, and GT Daytona Balance of Performance.  The SRT crew thrashes to redo the bodywork on the Viper.  Aerodynamically, this will hurt the car, and also, the front brake ducting is missing.  It will have braking issues, and aerodynamic drag to contend with.  We're back to racing, with another restart here at Indianapolis.

Fittipaldi, Taylor, Karam, Valiante, and Yacaman, are the top five.  Sage Karam goes inside Christian Fittipaldi into turn one.  Tight quarters, and it looks like Fittipaldi will hold on.  Michael Valiante wants to pounce.  Yacaman locks up and is sliding into turn four.  The #31 Whelen Corvette Prototype is in the garage now.  Back in Gasoline Alley, their race could be run.  Bad news for the Viper squad.  They will be penalized for working on their damaged car in a closed pit lane, with a stop and hold penalty.

Stop me if you've heard this.  We are under yellow at Indy, again.  This is our third full course caution, as Paul Dalla Lana makes contact with another car, and is beached in the gravel trap.  Nelson Canache Jr. in one of the Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS cars, also spins.  Ed Brown is currently wheeling the sister #2 Patron  Racing Honda Prototype.  Just about all the prototypes make pit stops and ESM does driver changes, tires, and fuel on their cars.  Sage Karam pits the #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost for fuel and tires, but stays in the car.

Jordan and Ricky Taylor pit, with damage to the #10 Konica Minolta Corvette Prototype.  The diffuser on the #10 car is still loose.  Also, the #5 Action Express Corvette pitted for fuel, tires, and a driver change.  Cosmetically, it's not pretty.  But, aerodynamically, the repairs are just fine.  The Prototype Challenge are allowed to pit next, and then, it will be the turn of the GT Le Mans and GT Daytona machinery.  Keep in mind, the rules are that in the amateur classes (Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona), drivers have to do a minimum of an hour drive time to score points.

Now we see GT Le Mans cars arriving for service.  The #911 factory Porsche pits, with Nick Tandy staying in the car, and his co-driver assisting.  The Risi Ferrari was first out, but the #55 BMW Z4 GTE chops across his nose exiting pit lane.  John Edwards in the sister BMW has nose damage, but comes out ahead of the #93 Viper, followed by the sister factory Porsche and the second of the yellow factory Corvette C-7-R's.  This is Andy Priaulx's first time at Indy.  He is a three-time touring car champion in Europe and also has endurance racing experience.

His fellow BMW driver, Joey Hand, had to do the same thing when he went to DTM a number of years ago.  The yellow remains out for track repairs as safety crews are fixing a curb.  Concrete crumbled, so, that got under a curb plate, and will need to be cleaned, hammered, and welded.  Watch out for our famous tire clag.  These things can become huge!  They can house themselves in the fenders of the cars and do some damage.  They may look like a T Rex tooth, or a jalapeno pepper.  But, they're a royal pain.  Taste it to see if it's any good.

Blech!  That's more than pencil eraser.  I just got tire, in my mouth!  Gross!  Water!  Water!  Zero nutrition.  All clag.  The odd situation with repairing the curbs, continues, here at "The Brickyard".  The #63 GT Daytona class Ferrari 458 Italia is in pit lane.  So is the #45 Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS.  Spencer Pumpelly takes over for Nelson Canache Jr.  We are now just past the one hour mark, and the Pro Am drivers, have gotten their chance to score points in this race.  The track verge has been fixed, and we're going back to racing.

We're turning them loose, again.  There's two GT Daytona cars ahead of the pack.  The #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 and one of the Audi R8 LMS's.  Joao Barbosa gets a good restart.  But, he'll have to clear these two lapped production based cars, first.  Spencer Pumpelly goes side by side with Paul Dalla Lana and shuts the door on the #5 machine.  Ooh.  This is close.  Here comes Gustavo Yacaman on Sage Karam.  Cold tires, and GT drivers who won't give way.  The lapped Audi is the sister car, #35, in the hands of Dion von Moltke.

Now, back at the sharp end.  Yacaman is trying hard, using different lines to try and pass the #5 machine.  Ryan Dalziel runs fourth behind Sage Karam at the moment.  The Honda motor has had the air restrictor opened since the last race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  Imagine running, or working on a treadmill, breathing through a straw.  That's what it's like for the engines with the restrictors on them.  The opening up of the air inlets, gives the car more power and speed off the corners and down the straightaways.

It seems that the longer the green flag runs are, the more it will play into the hands of the P2 machines.  Weight, fuel flow, fuel tank size etc. also equalize the cars.  Cars running behind the leader have to be concerned with aero wash, because the wind buffeting off the other cars causes the cars behind to lose downforce which equals grip in the infield section here at Indianapolis.  We look back to the GT Daytona battle, and see Christopher Haase leading in the #48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS.  Haase shares the car with Bryce Miller of course.

It's hard to hear in the pit lane because of the engine noise that ricochets and reverberates off the massive grandstands at Indy and it's hard for anyone, including pit reporters, to hear themselves think down there.  Ryan Dalziel is reporting an engine misfire on his Honda prototype.  The battle in GT Daytona is heating up.  Christopher Haase in the Audi has Mario Farnbacher's Porsche right on his back door, and in third, it's the rapid Alessandro Balzan in the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia.  Haase defends his line.  A couple of the Prototype Challenge machines want to spoil this party.

Jack Hawksworth (an Indycar rookie), is driving the #08 RSR Racing Prototype Challenge car.  Nick Tandy leads GT LM in the factory Porsche over Jonathan Bomarito in the second SRT Viper, Giancarlo Fisichella in the Risi Ferrari 458 Italia, Patrick Long in the sister factory Porsche, and John Edwards in the first of the BMW Team RLL BMW Z4's.  At this stage of the event, the sun is becoming a major issue.  It's at a level where it's right in the driver's eyes.  Fisichella is sharing his #62 Ferrari with regular co-driver, Pierre Kaffer.

Bruno Junquiera is leading Prototype Challenge.  He was close to a Formula One career, and didn't get there.  But, he has been polesitter for the Indy 500 before.  Second in class is the #05 CORE Autosport machine in the hands of Colin Braun who has taken over from car owner, Jon Bennett.  The Risi Ferrari is off the road yet again.  It's easy to miss the braking marker with the sun in your eyes.  Jack Hawksworth is next in class.  He had a severe wreck before the Indycar race at Pocono leaving him with a myocardial contusion (a bruised heart).  He came back to racing last weekend, at the Indycar event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Alex Tagliani typically drives the RSR Prototype Challenge car.  But he is on a one race ban following a practice wreck at Watkins Glen.  Paul Gentilozzi, who owns the team, has won many road racing championships as a team owner and as a driver in IMSA and the former SCCA Trans Am Series.  Fourth in class is the #38 PC car of Canadian driver David Ostella.  His co-driver James French did the opening stint and ran very well.

Joao Barbosa continues to lead as we reach halfway in this race.  Karam and Yacaman still run second and third.  Ryan Dalziel is suffering from a misfire on his Honda powerplant, but is just 4/10ths behind Yacaman.  Someone, either locked the brakes, or blew a motor.  It seems to have been the former.  Scott Sharp believes the misfire for the ESM machine is in the traction control system.  Ryan Dalziel was using the traction control on low speed corners as you're supposed to.  But, something went wrong.  They've cycled the settings, but haven't cleared up the issue.

We are seeing once again, a battle between two top Prototype teams.  It's a renewal of the rivalry between Oak Racing and Spirit of Daytona.  They've been at it hammer and tongs earlier in the year.  Particularly at Watkins Glen in the Six Hours there a month ago.  The #91 SRT Viper spins in turn one.  The driver got in hot after being blinded by the sun.  With Balance of Performance adjustments, you have to reprogram your traction control and essentially rebuild your whole car as a team or a constructor.  Everything you change, changes something else.  So, you might have to run the engine and chassis on the dynomometer again, or, reprogram the ECU (Engine Control Unit).

There's no time for track testing, because usually, the notices come within a week of a race happening, or being about to happen.  Marc Goossens is now at the wheel of the Viper.  If he loses it, you know there's an issue, because Goossens has loads of experience, and is a real wheel man.  Oh no!  More synchronized spinning!  Two Prototype Challenge machines go around in turn one.  Right in front of the leaders, too!  Sage Karam passes Joao Barbosa in that confusion.  The #56 BMW gets into the back of the #5 Action Express Corvette Prototype.

The Prototypes, with more downforce, are more effective with braking than are the GT cars, and they expect the driver to brake at the same rate, which cannot happen due to physics and weight.  Sage Karam caught Joao Barbosa by surprise.  Gunnar Jeannette in car #52 was one car that got turned around.  The problems escalate for the #62 Ferrari 458 Italia.  The track is slick, and Risi Competizione crew chief, Beakie Sims is saying that everyone is fighting for grip out there.

The Ferrari now has a bigger air restrictor, but also has a bigger rear wing, taking downforce away from the car.  John Edwards and Tommy Milner battle for position.  BMW vs. Corvette in GT LM.  This track at Indianapoilis, is a huge unknown for everyone, because sports cars only race here, once a year.  One year at this race, it rained.  Also, this is a new configuration for the road course section of the track.  With the track being slipperier now, it plays into the hands of the Porsche because it will have more traction with the rear engined configuration.

A flatspot on a tire creates friction when the tire skids and stops rotating.  To avoid it, adjust the brake balance, and brake smoothly into the braking zone.  Tires have to have compounds and constructions to reduce that friction.  The #55 BMW almost spins trying to go down the inside of a Corvette in the braking zone for turn one.  Meanwhile, the #1 Patron Racing HPD prototype is pitting.  Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel are doing four fresh Continental tires and a load of fuel, looking for their first win of the year, after their sister car won at Laguna Seca back in May.

This should be their last stop with less than an hour to go in the race.  The #42 Oak Racing Morgan Nissan also pits.  There's an issue with fueling the car for Gustavo Yacaman and Ho-Pin Tung.  They seem to have a vent issue.  Bubbles were not seen in the fuel vent to tell the fueler to pull the hose out of the fuel vent opening.  This is frustrating because it cost the team at least five seconds on pit lane.  The mechanic on the other side of the car, came over and smacked the vent man on the helmet saying, "you fool!  Didn't you see the fuel vent needed to be off?!"

Sage Karam has been giving the #01 Ganassi Riley Ford a great run all day.  Karam pits.  Don't make a mistake.  Follow the pit lane speed limit.  60 kilometers an hour, or 37 miles an hour.  The service time is included along with a 47 second delta time to enter and exit the pits.  The #5 Corvette Prototype takes over the lead of the race.  Sage Karam pits and Scott Pruett takes over.  The radiator was blown out, with a lot of debris in it.  The #56 BMW is in pit lane with Dirk Mueller taking over from John Edwards to bring the car home.

Surgical tubing, like rubber bands is used to yank the seat belts out of the way when they are released, to  make the driver change go smoother.  The GT LM class leading #911 Porsche has a problem.  Nick Tandy will take the car to the paddock in Gasoline Alley.  The car will have to be retired with engine woes.  The #93 SRT Viper pits.  No driver change.  Just fuel and tires.  The #3 Corvette pits and so does the race leading #5 Action Express Corvette Prototype.  45 minutes is the fuel window for Prototypes.  There are 52 minutes left in this race.  So, unless we see a late caution, a splash and dash could be in order.

Four tires and fuel for this car.  No driver change.  Joao Barbosa is in the car.  Jordan Taylor in the #10 car takes over the overall lead.  Jonathan Bomarito leads GT Le Mans in the #93 SRT Viper.  Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler lead GT Daytona in their #555 Ferrari 458 Italia.  Bell had a big crash that led to injury in the Indianapolis 500.  But, he is back, and could win at Indy, in a sports car today, in class.  Second in class is the #007TRG Aston Martin Vantage driven by James Davison.

James Davison, like Townsend Bell, is a driver (one of five in this event), who ran the Indy 500 back in May.  Davison is Australian, and lives in Indianapolis because he wanted to race at the Indy 500, but now has a solid home in sports car racing.  The #555 machine, pits.  If Bell and Sweedler hold on for a class win, it will do them well in the points over their close rivals from the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche camp who have had a fraught race at Indy and have not been seen much in the race today.

But, this team also has a small problem, getting the air hose for the air impact wrench hung up under the front splitter and wheel well of the car.  Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen want their fifth class victory in a row in GT LM.  They likely won't get number five in a row here at Indy.  But they've put in a good race.  Bruno Junquiera still leads Prototype Challenge over his team mate at RSR, Jack Hawksworth.  Colin Braun, David Ostella, and Sean Rayhall complete the top five in class.

One thing that race drivers and team owners are, is superstitious.  It's rampant in the sport.  There are lots of goofy things.  But, we're serious here at Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.  So, yours truly, cannot mention some of those things.  Sorry, chaps.  Hawksworth wants to chase down Bruno Junquiera.  For the last half hour of this race, you would think anyone would go to soft compound tires.  GT LM teams have leeway because of the tire battle.  But, the spec Continental tires for the other three classes, only have certain compounds and constructions that are suited to the speedway here at Indy.

Just over a half an hour to go in the race now.  If there isn't a yellow flag, the fuel strategy could be a problem for the race leaders.  Ganassi and ESM both want to save fuel.  Scott Pruett is not effective at saving fuel with his driving style.  Ryan Dalziel is coming.  But, he spun a while ago, and has to play catch up.  Dalziel had a very close shave with his spin, getting really close to Scott Pruett.  A lot of these guys are praying for a late yellow to make it on fuel.  Bruno Junquiera continues to lead Prototype Challenge.

Hawksworth is closing the gap, though, as he's 2.5 seconds behind.  The #93 Viper continues leading GT Le Mans with Jonathan Bomarito at the controls.  Pierre Kaffer is second, 15 seconds behind.  Ferrari also leads GT Daytona with the #63 Scuderia Corse machine shared by Alessandro Balzan of Italy, and Jeff Westphal of the United States.  Pierre Kaffer has gotten his seat stuck, and can't reach the pedals.  It's a bit like if yours truly was set up to drive a race car.  I digress, my height is six feet.  But, if someone shorter than me got in a car, they've have to adjust the pedals and the seat.

Plus, if you loosen your belts to accomodate the seat travel, you're uncomfortable.  Kaffer runs wide.  The gap in GT LM is growing.  As the race comes to an end, we have to think about fuel strategy.  Joao Barbosa leads Scott Pruett, with Richard Westbrook and Ryan Dalziel following.  The #01 and the #90 are fuzzy on fuel.  Wayne Taylor is trying to strategize.  But, the trouble is the busted diffuser.  Ryan Dalziel is chasing Richard Westbrook and it's another DP vs. P2 configuration battle.

20 minutes to go.  Westbrook was the slowest of the top ten cars.  He is saving fuel.  Ryan Dalziel is trying to make his way by.  This team did fuel saving strategy to win the Six Hours of the Glen last month.  Westbrook has been amazing in Daytona Prototypes after he's been a GT racer as well.  These two cars share completely different roots from the American Le Mans Series and the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.  Track position and fuel will hurt Dalziel's chances.

Westbrook locks up.  He wanted to use the Mazda prototype as a pick;.  But, Dalziel is having none of it, passing, no matter what.  Crew chief Troy Flis wants a yellow.  They're a couple laps short. Maybe Joao Barbosa is good on fuel.  The #7 Prototype Challenge car is off the road.  The car was bouncing up and down through the infield.  But, no harm, no foul.  John Martin at the controls, of that Starworks Prototype Challenge entry.  Starworks won both races here in 2012 and 2013.  But, RSR has it all their own way in Prototype Challenge right now.

Jack Hawksworth wants by Bruno Junquiera.  These two drivers stopped within a lap of one another.  Therefore, their situations are similar as far as getting to the end of this race.  Ryan Dalziel makes a splash and dash pit stop.  He was out of fuel.  Barbosa might have enough fuel to get to the end with hitting the box.  Ho Pin Tung runs fifth overall.  He'll need a splash, too, having a lot of single seater experience, and in sports cars.  The #42 car will pit.  Also, one wonders how much fuel the #01 car has.  Scott Pruett is trying to save fuel.  He's 7.2 seconds behind the #5 car.

The #60 Mike Shank Racing Riley Ford EcoBoost has had a better race, but, not the best.  Ozz Negri explains that there's a small window for setting it up well.  It's tough for Negri, but also for his Pro-Am team mate, John Pew.  The best battle on track is that of the two RSR Prototype Challenge machines.  The #42 takes a splash and a dash and now, the #01 car will do likewise.  Ricky Taylor is sixth, and with the pit lane delta and so many cars coming in, the #10 car could gain some places.

Action Express is still wondering how we'll they'll do.  Joao Barbosa has been told he'll be fine.  If his competitors pit, he can coast to the corners.  Now, Richard Westbrook is called to the pits for fuel.  Three laps runs to four minutes.  So, Barbosa might need a splash and dash.  The #01 and the #90 pit.  Now, if this is the case, Babrosa will undoubtedly, (not, might), need the splash and dash.  How much time has Ricky Taylor been losing?  The #46 Fall Line Audi R8 LMS runs wide.

Action Express engineer Ian Watt says to Barbosa he should be OK.  We don't know the fuel numbers.  Jonathan Bomarito leads by eleven seconds over Pierre Kaffer in GT LM.  Kaffer has three seconds on Patrick Long in the second Porsche factory car.  The #60 MSR Riley Ford EcoBoost (which had one more lap in hand compared to their fellow Ford V6 powered team at Ganassi), pits.  Now, the leaders are going through a debris field, a Prototype Challenge battle, and a GT Daytona battle!  Yikes!

Less than six minutes to run.  It's now or never.  Oh!  Heart stopping moment in the braking zone with Westbrook squeezing by a Prototype Challenge car, and a GT Daytona Ferrari, at the same time!  Paul Gentilozzi must be telling his drivers, "don't hit each other", as Westbrook runs wide on the dirt.  Jordan Taylor has leapfrogged Negri and Dalziel.  But, he's behind Pruett and Westbrook.  Johannes van Overbeek could be in trouble with fuel, running second in the #2 ESM HPD prototype.  Ryan Dalziel is right behind Taylor, who still has diffuser damage.

Johannes van Overbeek's Honda motor is sputtering.  He needs to pit for fuel.  Alessandro Balzan leads GT Daytona ahead of the #48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS of Christopher Haase.  The #2 machine pits.  Hawksworth has now moved ahead of Bruno Junquiera.  Even though there's just about a minute of racing lft, Barbosa needs to back off the pace to save fuel.  Ooh.  A fracas with GT Daytona traffic.  Townsend Bell was in a pickle, trying to hold off Jeroen Bleekemolen for a win in GT Daytona.  Barbosa will have to do one more lap.

White flag this time by.  Hit reserve fuel for a precautionary measure.  RSR switch spots.  Rocketsports will see Jack Hawksworth perhaps win at Indy after leading 31 laps in the Indy 500.  All sorts of contretemps today.  But, Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi win Indianapolis!  In

Overall/Prototype: #5 Barbosa/Fittipaldi     Chevrolet Corvette Prototype
         
           Prototype
           Challenge: #08 Hawksworth/Cumming    Oreca FLM 09 Chevrolet

          GT Le Mans: #93 Bomarito/Wittmer  SRT Viper GTS-R-

          GT Daytona: #63 Balzan/Westphal    Ferrari 458 Italia

It's first-time wins for GT Le Mans and Prototype Challenge with the driver teams of Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer, as well as Jack Hawksworth and Chris Cumming.  But, it's the second win for both our Prototype class winners and in GT Daytona  The next race, as the season is now in it's stretch run to the end, is at another legendary venue.  It's Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, coming up in a mere two weeks.


 

   

2013 Spa 24 Hours

In preparation for the 24 Hours of Spa this weekend, for the Blancpain Endurance Series, here's video of the 2013 event.  Check this out.

Ben's Analysis - Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

Before we head to Indianapolis, on Friday, for the Brickyard Grand Prix (a race that will be covered here, this weekend), let's take one more look at the previous Tudor Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  Here is Ben Wedge's analysis from his blog North American Sportscar.

http://nasportscar.com/bens-analysis-canadian-tire-motorsports-park/

feature stories going into the Brickyard Grand Prix tomorrow

Some features on IMSA.com before the Tudor Championship's Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway tomorrow.  As far as a race report, yours truly will get around to it when there's time to do so, later this weekend.  So, it won't be immediate.  But, there will be posts, as always, of the race report, and the race broadcast.

Competitive GTLM Class Debuts at Indianapolis
http://www.imsa.com/articles/competitive-gtlm-class-debuts-indianapolis

Dalziel Tops Indy Practice in Honda Powered Prototype... Patrick Long Saves Best For Last, leads GT LM in Porsche 911 RSR
http://www.imsa.com/articles/dalziel-tops-opening-indy-practice-honda-powered-prototype

New Track Configuration Levels Indy Playing Field
http://www.imsa.com/articles/new-track-configuration-levels-indy-playing-field

sports car racing news update

Sportscar365 has some of the latest news from the world of endurance racing, including an updated version of the entry list for the 24 Hours of Spa this weekend.

61 Cars on Updated Spa 24 Entry List
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/61-cars-on-updated-spa-24-entry-list/

Burt Frisselle to Sub for Said at Indy
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/burt-frisselle-to-sub-for-said-at-indy/

Monte (ACO): "We're Starting From A Clean Sheet of Paper with LMP3"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/monte-aco-were-starting-from-a-clean-sheet-of-paper-with-lmp3/

Gasoline LMP1's Get Refueling Restrictor Break
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gasoline-lmp1s-receive-refueling-restrictor-boost/

Meyrick: "We've Got a Bullseye on our Back Now"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/meyrick-weve-got-a-bullseye-on-our-back-now/

Fillon: "We're Putting Everything in Place To Attract More Manufacturers"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fillon-were-putting-everything-in-place-to-attract-more-manufacturers/

Hawksworth: "I'll Just Jump In And Go"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/hawksworth-ill-just-jump-in-and-go/

Karam to Fill In For Rojas at IMS
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/karam-to-fill-in-for-rojas-at-ims/

Teams Set To Tackle Revised Track Layout At IMS
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/teams-set-to-tackle-revised-track-layout-at-ims/

Tung: "Indy is Going To Be A Different Story For Us"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/tung-indianapolis-is-going-to-be-a-completely-different-story-for-us/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

Here is the video of the most recent race for the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge from Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly known as Mosport), in Bowmanville, Ontario Canada, in their usual role as support race for the Tudor Championship.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-canadian-tire-motorsport-park-race-broadcast

Why Ford Should Race The Mustang at Le Mans

Road & Track magazine writer, Alex Nunez makes a fabulous case for why Ford should come back to Le Mans with a factory backed Mustang GTE program.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/voices/columnists/4-reasons-the-ford-mustang-should-race-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans?src=soc_fcbks

Signatech Alpine Wins Four Hours of Red Bull Ring

Signatech Alpine becomes the fourth different team to win in as many races in the European Le Mans Series, taking victory at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.  Here are the reports from both qualifying, and the race.

Tincknell, Jota Sport on Pole Position in Austria
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/tincknell-jota-sport-on-pole-position-in-austria/

...and

Signatech Alpine Wins Four Hours of Red Bull Ring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/signatech-alpine-wins-four-hours-of-red-bull-ring/

Reports from each race at the 2014 Le Mans Classic

Have been wanting to post this for a while since the race happened last weekend.  But, here are the race reports from each division (divided by era) from the biennial Le Mans Classic, a 24 Hour vintage race at Circuit de la Sarthe, where the great cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans' past, come out to race every few years.  Cars that competed this year, were postwar machines ranging in a 30 year span of the race's history, between 1949 and 1979.

1949-1956 race report
http://www.sportscardigest.com/le-mans-classic-2014-1949-to-1956-race-report-photos/

1957-1961 race report
http://www.sportscardigest.com/le-mans-classic-2014-1957-to-1961-race-report-photos/

1962-1965 race report
http://www.sportscardigest.com/le-mans-classic-2014-1962-to-1965-race-report-photos/

1966-1971 race report
http://www.sportscardigest.com/le-mans-classic-2014-1966-to-1971-race-report-photos/

1972-1979 race report
http://www.sportscardigest.com/le-mans-classic-2014-1972-to-1979-race-report-photos/

Check it all out, and enjoy reading about, and looking at the fabulous machines that pounded around La Sarthe in the glory days of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

New Car, New Challenge for Defending Brickyard Winner Dalziel

Defending Brickyard Grand Prix champion, Ryan Dalziel, has a new team, a new car, and is in a new series.  But, that won't stop him in any way, from going for a second straight win in the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this coming Friday.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/new-car-new-challenge-defending-brickyard-winner-dalziel

ACO Launches LMP3 Class for 2015

Details of the new LMP3 class set for a launch next year, in 2015, have been announced.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/aco-launches-lm-p3-class-for-2015/

sports car racing news update

Here, once again, is some of the latest news from the world of endurance and GT sports car racing.  Sportscar365 is the source.

Thomas (Asian LMS): "We're Confident We'll Get Good Growth"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/thomas-asian-lms-were-very-confident-well-get-good-growth-in-fuji/

HTP Motorsport Confirms Third Car For Spa 24 Hours
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/htp-motorsport-confirms-third-car-for-spa-24-hours/

HTP Motorsport Reshuffles Driver Lineup For Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/htp-motorsport-reshuffles-driver-lineup-for-spa-24/

Comtec Racing and Virtuosi Racing Plan Joint Nissan GT3 Program
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/comtec-racing-and-virtuosi-racing-plan-joint-nissan-gt3-program/

HPD Gets Power Increase, BoP Changes For GTLM, GTD Cars
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-issues-bop-adjustments-for-indy/

Dempsey Targeting 2015 WEC Program, Return to TUSC
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dempsey-targeting-2015-wec-program-return-to-tusc/

Spa 24 Hours Entry List Update
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/spa-24-hours-entry-list-updates/

Basseng Completes I.S.R. Racing Lineup for Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/basseng-completes-i-s-r-racing-lineup-for-spa-24/

Ford Exploring Factory GTE Program, Prototype Options
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-exploring-factory-gte-program-prototype-options/

Driver Lineup Changes Ahead of Four Hours Red Bull Ring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/driver-lineup-changes-ahead-of-four-hours-red-bull-ring/

Mobil 1 Sports Car Grand Prix race broadcast

You've seen the race report.  Now, re-live the highlights of the Mobil 1 Sports Car Grand Prix.  Here's the broadcast.  Enjoy.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-canadian-tire-motorsport-park-broadcast

Winner & highlights of the Mobil 1 Sports Car Grand Prix presented by Hawk Performance

Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly known as Mosport Park, or simply, Mosport), is the venue for the Mobil 1 Sports Car Grand Prix for the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

We are well into the second half of the season.  All three classes will gather.  It's game on in Ontario.  Let's go sports car racing, blokes.  We are an hour north of Toronto, and the track at Mosport (now called Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  The track has been around since 1961.  It is said of Canadian tourism that it's "friendly, familiar, foreign, and near."  The #90 Visit Florida Racing Corvette prototype is in the points lead.  But, on this track, it's high speed.  It's an old school, super fast track.  Because of it's speed, there has been a casualty even before the race starts.  A top contender is already out of action.

Memo Rojas was coming out of turn two on the formation lap, hitting a puddle and clouting the tire wall.  The car and the team suffered two huge wrecks in the most recent round of the championship, the Six Hours of Watkins Glen, too.  So, they are way behind the eight ball at this point.  There was heavy weather in the morning, with rain.  But then, temperatures began to get really hot.  There are three points separating Velocity/Wayne Taylor Racing from Action Express Racing at the top of the points table.

OAK Racing with their Morgan Nissan prototype is fourth in points, and they've become the only team to win two poles in Tudor Championship competition so far this season.  Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas (the only two time race winners this year), are fifth in points.  Three of four classes will be in action.  Prototype, GT Le Mans, and GT Daytona.  Prototype Challenge machines are not entered for this event.  As we look at the GT Le Mans class points, there is a mere 20 point spread between the top six drivers who represent four of five manufacturers in the category, (Chevrolet, BMW, SRT Viper, and Porsche).

Kuno Wittmer has pole for SRT Viper in GT Le Mans.  There is a 21 point spread between the top seven contenders in GT Daytona as well.  Mosport is a high speed course measuring 2.5 miles around with ten corners.  Lots of elevation change.  But, there are also plenty of places where a driver could get it wrong and pitch their car off the road.  Again, on pole it's OAK Racing and the #42 Morgan Nissan shared this weekend by Gustavo Yacaman and Frenchman Olivier Pla.  37 cars are set to take the green flag.

As the race gets underway, the #01 Pruett/Rojas Riley Ford EcoBoost will not take the green flag with the rest of the field.  Michael Valiante is trying to pass Scott Sharp already going downhill and uphill through turn one.  For most of the A.M., this track was soaked, and there are puddles still on the course.  Christian Fittipaldi wants around Scott Sharp ASAP.  He's looking to make a move into turn three with Ricky Taylor looking on in the #10 car.  Headed into Moss corner, this right hand bend is the hardest braking zone on the track.

The cars run 52 miles per hour into Moss.  The back straightaway is high speed in comparison.  Slow down in the corner, and floor it on the straight.  Keep in mind, the closed cockpit prototypes (formerly called Daytona Prototypes in the old Grand Am Rolex Series), have more top speed than the P2 spec cars.  Fittipaldi sweeps to the inside of Sharp into turn eight, a very fast sweeper.  No lifting off the gas here.  Fittipaldi is aggressively trying to pass Sharp!  He needs to use the outside line!  Can he do it?  No dice.  He can't get there.

Now Ricky Taylor wants a piece of this and tries to move on Fittipaldi!  You can't go three wide into turn one.  He defends, and forces Taylor to back off.  Fittipaldi's Corvette has some damage on the right rear corner.  Are these blokes being cautious on a wet track?  No way, sunshine.  You can bet dollars to donuts they're going to play dodge 'em cars.  Meanwhile, in GT LM, hometown hero Kuno Wittmer (a Canadian), is leading in class in the red and white SRT Viper over his rival from Corvette, Jan Magnussen, the Danish star.

Wittmer says he has an advantage because he's logged many laps on the track at CTMP.  This is a hard track to learn because all the corners are blind, and really fast.  Wittmer gets sideways, dirt tracking the Viper, and almost losing it!  Transition through turns nine and ten onto the straight, and Magnussen is right behind Wittmer now, as it's clearly the battle of the American muscle cars in GT LM.  That slide for Wittmer, very easily could have ended in tears.  The #3 Corvette wants it's fourth win of 2014 in the hands of Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.

Christian Fittipaldi has been given a furled black flag, which is a warning for him to behave with his driving, or suffer a penalty for bad sportsmanship.  The cars fly up the Mario Andretti straightaway.  But, the "straightaway" is anything but straight, with a pronounced curve in it.  This is an undulating, uphill section of the track where a driver must proceed with caution.  Before the hill was shaved, drivers would be able to do wheelies over the hill.  SRT Viper production has resumed after a hiatus, which means good things for the racing program.

Leading GT Daytona currently, it's the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GTE.  Markus Palttala at the controls.  He and his team won at the Six Hours of the Glen, our most recent Tudor Championship race, that was featured in a major blog entry on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.  If you haven't read about it, go to the latter part of the June archives, and check it out.  Turner Motorsports has won two races, but, for the Balance of Performance, they have 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of weight, added to the car.  BMW, Viper, and Porsche lead GT Daytona.

The top 15 GT Daytona cars qualified within a second of each other!  Talk about competition just in one class!  In GTD, there are Pro-Am drivers.  These guys don't make their living driving race cars.  They have other day jobs, and race on the weekends at each of the Tudor Championship events.  The Pro Am driver starts the race, and then, the truly seasoned professional driver on the team, is the closer.  There is no lack of talent with any of the Pro Am drivers, though.  They know what they're doing.

The cars plunge from turn two, downhill to turn three, and that's the spot on the track where Memo Rojas crashed in the morning warmup, and has subsequently made the Ganassi Riley Ford a non-starter in this event.  Gustavo Yacaman of Colombia is working through GT Daytona traffic at the controls of the #42 Oak Racing Motrgan Nissan.  Traffic management is a big deal, because there's a 30-40 mile per hour speed differential between between a Prototype and a GT Daytona production based car.

Some teams have spotters at the corner stations to make sure the driver's know slower traffic is up ahead.  The good thing about this race at Mosport is the lack of Prototype Challenge entries, because there'd be another ten to a dozen cars out there, really clogging up the speedway.  Gustavo Yacaman had a great qualifying effort and did so just ahead of Ryan Dalziel driving the #1 HPD prototype for Extreme Speed Motorsports, with Honda power.  Yacaman is sharing with Olivier Pla here at Mosport.

Ben Keating in the #33 ViperExchange.com SRT Viper has passed the Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GTE #94 for the class lead in GT Daytona.  Finn Markus Palttala is at the controls in the BMW.  Mario Farnbacher in the #23 Porsch 911 GT America moves around the BMW.  The BMW has more drag with it's body design and it's not as aerodynamically efficient by any means.  The Viper seems to be well suited for the layout of Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  The BMW has a handling advantage over the Viper and the Porsche.

But, Mario Farnbacher is applying the blowtorch to Ben Keating right now in a fight for the class lead in GT Daytona.  The Viper has the edge on the straights over the Porsche, but Keating gets loose under braking into the corner.  The Viper should be the car with the most oomph on the straightaways compared to the BMW and the Porsche.  Meanwhile, in GT Le Mans, Kuno Wittmer continues to lead over Jan Magnussen.  But, there's a GT Daytona class Audi R8 LMS splitting the two of them.

Kuno Wittmer's mom and dad, Patrick and Lynn, are watching their son race.  This is his home track, and he's logged a boatload of laps here.  Ricky Taylor is once again, off the road, not able to turn his Corvette Prototype.  It's the wet grass in turn three that caught Taylor out.  The radiator inlet on the front of the car is all clogged up with grass now.  He's into pit lane immediately.  Box, box, box, as they say in Formula One.  Ricky Taylor had to correct a twitch, and that put him into the gray area off line, and off the road.  There's also a dent on the left front of the car from that earlier fracas with Christian Fittipaldi.

With the pit stop, and the pit lane speed limit in effect for a good 27 seconds, Taylor has lost 50 seconds worth of ground, and will have to dig to make it back up.  This is another race track that has a rich history in sports car racing.  Sylvain Tremblay is putting the #70 Mazda SkyActiv Diesel powered prototype through it's paces.  He builds the cars as well as racing them.  Tremblay is one of five Canadian drivers in his home race along with Kuno Wittmer, Michael Valiante, Chris Green, and Mark Thomas.

Green and Thomas share a Porsche entered in the GT Daytona class.  Welcome home, guys.  Analyze segments on the track, put all the corners together, and get within a certain amount of time.  That's how you make a good lap.  There might have been some argy bargy between the #912 factory Porsche 911 RSR and the #45 Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS.  Again, these two are in different classes.  The factory Porsche is a GT Le Mans spec car, while the Audi is a GT Daytona machine.  Was there contact?  The #5 Action Express Corvette prototype pits, nearly fifteen minutes into the event.

Christian Fittipaldi has a flat left rear tire.  There was bodywork hung up underneath the tire, and the wheel arch.  This is a long stop for the #5 team.  The wheel is dented, causing the tire to delaminate.  Gustavo Yacaman leads in class and in the overall by 10.7 seconds over Michael Valiante.  Kuno Wittmer continues to lead GT LM over Jan Magnussen.  Right now it's Viper, Corvette, Corvette, Viper, BMW.  It's Kuno Wittmer, Jan Magnussen, Tommy Milner, Dominik Farnbacher, and Dirk Muller.  The Prototype drivers are frustrated with the factory Porsche GT LM drivers, who have their own battle, and think it's more important than letting the Prototypes through, and giving them the right of way.

Tires don't fail necessarily, because the tire carcass gets cut and the tire loses air.  The speeds around Canadian Tire Motorsports Park are absolutely amazing.  All the corners on this track, with the exception of one, run downhill.  So, you don't want to go off the road whatsoever.  Once you're off, it's game over.  Moss corner, was named after Sir Stirling Moss, who, after racing at Mosport, suggested that particular corner be divided in two so fans could see the cars better, and see more action.

Scott Sharp is running well, and has a good record at Mosport.  He won three times in the old SCCA Trans Am series, and three times in prototype sports car competition.  ESM has experience racing her from the American Le Mans Series.  With the merger, many Grand Am tams are racing at Mosport for the first time.  The ALMS teams have a notebook to draw from for car setups to be fast on this course.  This is the reverse of what we saw last time out at Watkins Glen where the Grand Am teams had experience, and the American Le Mans Series teams, did not.

This track is bumpy, and there's high downforce and high spring rates.  So, there's no decent balance on this speedway.  Corvette has an astonishing record at Mosport.  They've won ten of the last fourteen races they've run at this track.  Wow!  Scott Pruett, Scott Sharp, and Jan Magnussen, are the most successful drivers entered in this race at Mosport, when it comes to wins at the track.  Pruett has an SCCA Endurance win, and four Trans Am victories.  Sharp won three American Le Mans Series events in class, and has two Trans Am wins.  Jan Magnussen, has won five times in class, in the old American Le Mans Series, here at CTMP.

Boris Said had a huge practice crash before this race even began.  The car suffered a massive impact with the turn one wall.  But, it's unclear as to what broke on the car to send it smashing into the barrier with such force.  Boris Said was trying to get his entry correct into turn one, dropping his left side tires into the dirt.  This pulls the car across the road, on the downhill, and ker-runch!  Straight into the tire wall.  Said broke a rib in that crash and didn't start the race.

The #5 Action Express Corvette decided to support Sonny Whelen, and put Whelen sticker decals onto their car for this race.  You can lose time to other competitors on this track easily, if you catch traffic in the wrong spot.  It's likely game over for the #70 Speedsource Mazda SkyActiv Diesel prototype, as Sylvain Tremblay steps out of the driving seat.  There could be a bad oil pump belt on the car.  Whoops!  We've got bigger problems with a Corvette off the road and into the tire bundles.

Ah.  It's just a spin for the #4 machine.  He points it in the right direction and keeps on truckin'.  Tommy Milner at the controls.  Oliver Gavin mentioned that the handling wasn't up to snuff with that car.  Oops.  More calamity corner action as the #555 Ferrari 458 Italia for Level 5 Racing is off the road.  Bill Sweedler at the wheel, is the championship leader in GT Daytona right now.  Could the Corvette and the Ferrari have had a coming together?  In replay, we see a squeeze between the Corvette, the Ferrari, and the #48 Paul Miller Racing GT Daytona Audi R8 LMS.

The #4 car had the toe in, (the angle of the rear wheels), off, and the team felt it was negatively affecting their performance.  Bill Sweedler is back on the road, but traveling very slowly.  Sweedler has a flatspotted tire.  Sweedler (being a Pro Am driver), has to do a minimum of an hour of driving in the car, to score points in this race.  Corvette Racing has had an incredible streak of wins here at CTMP.  Their first came in 2001.  They have won ten times in class at this track in 2001, '02, '03, '04, '05 (five straight), '07, '08, '09 (another hat trick of wins), 2011, and last year in 2013.

It is a two horse race in GT LM between Viper and Corvette.  Michael Valiante pitted the #90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette Prototype, and stayed in the car.  He makes moves in traffic, but on cold tires.  That's risky.  Gustavo Yacaman brings the #42 Oak Racing Morgan Nissan to pit lane.  Four tires and fuel are added to the car.  Yacaman will stay in the car, and let Olivier Pla take the car to the checkered flag.  The #1 ESM machine also hits pit lane.

They have a different strategy, and will let Ryan Dalziel take over from Scott Sharp.  Four tires go on the car, too.  Track position is a big deal for ESM because last year, they were here in the ALMS, but on Michelin tires as opposed to the Continental tires for the Tudor Championship.  Keep the tires under the yellow line on pit exit.  Michael Valiante takes over the class lead in Prototype, and in the overall.  Bill Sweedler will serve a penalty for the contact earlier with Tommy Milner in the factory Corvette in GT LM.  It's a stop and hold penalty + 45 seconds.

There was also contact between the #63 Scuderia Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in GT Daytona and the sister ESM prototype.  Because of damage, car #63 has gone to the garage to be worked on.  The #63 Ferrari has damage and a flat tire after being hit from the rear by the sister ESM #2 prototype.  There's bodywork and suspension damage to the #63 as Bill Sweedler serves his penalty.  With the penalty, Sweedler will go a lap down and fall to the tail end of the GT Daytona category.

Look out, folks!  We've got a big wreck.  Now, let's see what transpired here.  Our GT LM leader, the #93 Viper goes for a wild ride downhill through turn three, on the grass, taking out one of the Tudor billboards and scooping up dirt.  The track is a mess down there with all the dirt strewn about.  Kuno Wittmer brings the polesitting car in GT LM to pit lane.  There's damage to the front of the car, and lots of debris, too.  They do the normal service, putting Jonathan Bomarito into the car, and now, they'll address the damage.

John Edwards in the #56 BMW Z4 from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, was coming up to speed, and Kuno Wittmer didn't see him, going off the road in the process.  The Tudor sign prevented debris from entering the air intakes on the Viper, as one of the Corvette's is in.  Antonio Garcia will take over the car from Jan Magnussen.  This is a routine stop for new tires and fuel, as well as the driver change.  There is also a left rear suspension adjustment taking place.  The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari is in pit lane now, too, for scheduled service.

One of the Corvette crewmen almost got injured on the pit stop, changing angle on the back of the car.  They loosened the car up, and made it so it will turn better in the corners.  It's an adjustment you don't see often, because it's not easy to do under race conditions.  It's a rake change.  They know what the car will do, and thus, can make the change with no worries.  Ben Keating continues to lead GT Daytona in the #33 SRT Viper, as Markus Palttala heads for the pit lane in the BMW.  Dane Cameron will take over in the cockpit as that team looks for it's second class victory in a row.

Uh oh!  Ben Keating runs wide in turn two!  Dane Cameron is now in the #94.  Also, look at the #58 Porsche 911 GT America in the hands of Madison Snow.  He started at the back of the grid in class and now, has moved up.  The team was sent to the back of the grid after doing too many laps in the morning warmup.  After pit stops, the marshals have handed out penalties.  The #45 Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS of Spencer Pumpelly, and the aforementioned #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4, both get penalties.  They are stop and hold penalties for loose equipment in the pit lane.

Michael Christensen has taken over the #912 factory Porsche 911 RSR from the only American Porsche factory driver, Patrick Long.  Bill Auberlen in the #55 BMW Z4 GTE is hounding Michael Christensen's Porsche at the moment.  We've seen these two teams play dodge 'em cars this year already.  Porsche won the endurance classics at Daytona and Sebring.  But, since then, things have gone pear shaped for the boys from Stuttgart.  In replay we watch Spencer Pumpelly's pit stop for the #45 GTD Audi, looking for the equipment that went awry.

Ah.  A tire rolls away from the car into the open pit lane.  The car must have been in gear, with the rear wheels turning, and then, the mechanic can't get the wheel off the stud.  We have an update on the #01 Ganassi Racing Riley Ford EcoBoost which was absent from the start of this race.  The car will come out and do 20 minutes for Memo Rojas to drive, and 20 minutes for Scott Pruett.  It's got to be gut wrenching to get in the car and do only the minimum of driving.  This is still important, being round seven for the Prototypes, with only five left this season.

If they can do more than 23 laps, they'll pass the parked #70 Mazda prototype, moving them to tenth spot in class, and so they can get some points.  Dane Cameron continues to chase down Mario Farnbacher for the lead in GT Daytona.  The #94 team has to serve a penalty that is under review by the stewards.  The #45 team had their tire get loose in pit lane, which is why the penalty was assessed.  The sister Mazda prototype #07 is still running, and has been running as high as sixth overall.

The Mazda has the highest specific output per liter of displacement of any diesel engine built in the world today, and yes, it eclipses even that of the Audi R18 eTron Quattro that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  It should be noted that two of the Canadian drivers (Chris Green and Mark Thomas), are racing with the #18 Muehlner Motorsports America team in a GT Daytona class Porsche.  The #94 BMW is still running.  But, let's look at a video that explains their penalty.

It's difficult to see, but, the loose pit equipment for this car, was a wheel nut.  Frenchman Kevin Estre has taken over the lead in GT Daytona in the #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America.  Estre passed Mario Farnbacher for the lead in class.  The GT LM cars are mixing it up with the GTD cars.  The factory Porsche still leads in class with the BMW Z4 factory machine right on his gearbox.   It's Richard Lietz in the Porsche vs. John Edwards in the BMW.  Moss Corner is tough, because if you overdrive the car, you lose exit speed onto the straight.  It's an impossible corner to get right.

Folks, we're halfway home already.  Gustavo Yacaman continues to lead in the #42 Morgan Nissan.  P2 cars have great cornering speed, but lose out to the Daytona Prototype spec machines on the straightaways. Oak Racing is a French company, and more of their cars will be in the Tudor Championship before the end of the season, and into 2015 as well.  Cameron passes Farnbacher for second in GT Daytona.  Cameron pushed Farnbacher, and Farnbacher had the car unsettled by a bump in one of the corners.  Both ESM Honda prototypes have made pit stops.

Gustavo Yacaman has to be careful to not go too far over the blend line between the pits and the track.  The #90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette Prototype is into pit lane and Richard Westbrook will take over for Michael Valiante who sort of falls out of the car on the driver change.  Gustavo Yacaman will also pit momentarily.  There's a slight problem with the driver change on this stop.  The #42 car pits, and we'll see how their pit stop shakes out.  The driver change is easier with the open cockpit prototype.  It's a routine stop and Olivier Pla is back out on track as Richard Westbrook is running Harry Flatters to catch up.

The #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost pits.  Scott Pruett takes over from Memo Rojas to run his 20 minute stint.  The #2 Patron HPD prototype of Johannes van Overbeek comes out onto the track after being stopped in the pits for quite a while.  Oh boy!  The #2 is going back to the paddock area.  They could be done for the day without a doubt, folks.  Pruett and Rojas could get to eighth in class in Prototype.  But, there won't be enough time for them to make up their deficit, which is 45 laps.

Ryan Dalziel is trying his best to pass Jordan Taylor as Olivier Pla is seven seconds up the road.  Richard Westbrook has lost 30 seconds.  Just over an hour to go in this race.  Turner Motorsports team owner Will Turner says a wheel not may or may not have been outside the box is.  But the pit official had no idea where the pit box was.  There have been some bad calls by IMSA lately, unfortunately.  Dane Cameron is back to the top five in class. But, some cars running behind him have already pitted for a final fuel stop.  The #58 Porsche of Jan Heylen pits.  Heylen shares with Madison Snow.

Also, the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- of Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin pits in GT LM.  Kevin Estre has made his last pit stop, too.  As soon as you get into the fuel window, come in.  If there's a yellow, the pits are closed.  You name a form of motorsport, it's been here since the track opened in 1961.  Formula One, Can Am, Trans Am, Formula 5000, stock cars, and Indycars, to name a few.  Now, the #1 sister ESM prototype is also retiring from this race, just as their #2 car did as well.  A broken exhaust is the culprit for the #1 car.

The #17 Falken Tires Porsche 911 RSR pits from third with Wolf Henzler at the wheel.  Bryan Sellers has already driven his stint.  The #1 car makes no power without the turbocharger, and that's the problem with the car.  No turbo, no power.  The exhaust system drives the turbocharger.  Jordan Taylor is second, eleven seconds behind Olivier Pla.  Pla could have hit debris on the outside of turn eight.  There could be tire clag out there.  Pla passes the GT Daytona class leader, Kevin Estre.  Pla will not run the full season in TUSCC with Oak Racing.  He will race at Road America, and at Petit Le Mans.

Both BMW Team RLL BMW Z4's were just in pit lane.  Pla has been running laps in the 1:11-1:12 bracket.  Dane Cameron made another pit stop for fuel according to a strategy call from Turner Motorsports.  He is currently sixth in class in GT Daytona, trying to find a way around the #81 Porsche 911 GT America in the hands of Damien Faulkner.  Another penalty has been handed out to the #58 Porsche for a loose part in pit lane, and that car runs third in class.  The plot thickens here at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

Jordan Taylor brings the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette prototype in for service.  We're now into the last 45 minutes of this race.  Everyone needs to stop, because if a yellow comes out, it'll be a bear.  Corvette Racing is looking for their fourth straight win this season.  Ron Fellows is here this weekend, a former racing driver for Corvette and in Trans Am.  He is now a partner in the ownership/management of Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  The lead car is pitting for what should be it's final stop.

This is a smooth, accurate, flowing pit stop for the team.  Olivier Pla is on a 150 mile per hour Sunday cruise.  Be careful on cold tires.  The #5 Action Express/Whelen Corvette pits with aerodynamic damage.  But, it's doing well as the team pits.  No safety car periods in this race yet.  The aero and speed are key at this track, because there are three spots where you're running at least 150 miles per hour.  Some cars have problems with understeer, where the car will push to the outside of the corner as the driver is putting input into the steering, but the car isn't doing anything.

We watch Jeroen Bleekemolen in the #33 Dodge Viper.  He's running 2/10ths quicker than the class leader with a 1:20 flat as his best lap so far.  He's nine seconds behind, however.  To this point, the leader has run 104 laps, 256 miles.  Ian James has taken over the #23 Porsche from Mario Farnbacher, and Damien Faulkner is still giving chase.  Richard Westbrook has caught Jordan Taylor and wants by.  Shades of Belle Isle back in June, chaps.  This doesn't have to end in tears.  Westbrook is charging, having cut nine seconds out of Olivier Pla's lead.

Oh man!  We have ourselves a real humdinger here, folks.  Contact between Taylor and Westbrook.  Westbrook makes contact with one of the GT Daytona production cars.  Westbrook is coming in a hurry.  Pour on the steam, sunshine, in the case of Jordan Taylor.  In threading the needle with the #58 GT Daytona Porsche, the Porsche has it's mirror taken off.  The #90 car may have a punctured tire.  This is Richard Westbrook's first race at CTMP.  He loves the track.  But he needs to know the tire pressure so that it doesn't go down in the middle of a ding dong scrap with another competitor.

Antonio Garcia leads GT LM in the #3 Corvette C-7-R going for his fourth straight win with co-driver Jan Magnussen.  Jonathan Bomarito in the #93 Viper runs second.  John Edwards is slightly behind Marc Goossens in the sister Viper for third, while Nicky Tandy in fifth, is hounding Edwards, in the factory Porsche.  Oliver Gavin in the #4 Corvette is sixth.  Wolf Henzler and Andy Priaulx are coming fast, too.  Priaulx is in the #55 BMW.

Richard Westbrook has cleared Jordan Taylor.  Wolf Henzler wants by Oliver Gavin.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. is fifth and has had a quiet race.  But, he and team mate John Pew will have a top five for their #60 Riley Ford EcoBoost.  Twenty minutes to go.  Even though Ganassi and Shank are rivals on track, they are trying to share data about the Ford EcoBoost V6 motors, because they are the only two teams to be running them.  Keep the data together, because it comes on the cars from so many places, that it's very easy to get confused.

In the morning, the track was absolutely under water.  But, then a wind started blowing, and, dried the track out really quickly.  Damien Faulkner passes Ian James for fourth in class in GT Daytona.  Ian James wiggles trying to get around his Alex Job Racing team mate, Leh Keen in the sister Alex Job Porsche.  The #5 Action Express Corvette Prototype still has a loose bodywork panel.  Andy Priaulx and Wolf Henzler continue to race hammer and tongs.  Wolf Henzler says that his team is running a different and better tire this weekend as compared to the one run at Watkins Glen.

He'll keep pressuring Andy Priaulx.  The GT LM cars are faster than the GTD cars.  Olivier Pla has thirteen seconds in hand over Richard Westbrook.  Pla's lead is now eight seconds with Westbrook closing in, hard.  Pla gets balked by a slower Porsche and here comes Westbrook.  Wesbtrook is pushing really hard.  He has the rhythm, and can see Pla now.  He smells blood.  Time is on the side of Olivier Pla now.  The GT Daytona cars are sometimes faster than the GT Le Mans machines.  They match the speed but they have less brake and less tire.

White flag lap this time by.  We'll actually do one more lap, folks.  Westbrook is almost eleven seconds behind Pla due to traffic.  Park Place Motorsports leads GT Daytona with Kevin Estre at the controls.  Estre will have to outrun the #33 Viper of Bleekemolen.  Estre fights to the end with the GT LM cars.  He wants to hold position for sure.  Estre nearly runs into the back of the Ferrari of Townsend Bell!  Oh!  He gets bumped.  Bleekemolen takes the lead after Estre tapped one of the factory GT LM Porsches and now he has a tire gone down.

Bleekemolen will beat Estre.  Oak Racing wins!

Overall/Prototype: #42 Pla/Yacaman                  Morgan Nissan
            GT Le Mans: #3 Garcia/Magnussen       Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-
            GT Daytona: #33 Bleekemolen/Keating  SRT Viper GTS-R-

That's a wrap from CTMP.  The next Tudor Championship race is the Brickyard Grand Prix from the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  That race, takes place in merely, a week's time from now, folks.  It's going to be a good one!

sports car racing news update

News from the world of sports car racing, for this Tuesday.  Here are some headlines worth keeping an eye on.

Murphy Prototypes Withdraws From Red Bull Ring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/murphy-prototypes-withdraws-from-red-bull-ring/

Sebastien Loeb Racing to miss Red Bull Ring; Entry List Update
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/sebastien-loeb-racing-to-miss-red-bull-ring-entry-list-update/

Plowman Returns To BAR1 For Indy
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/plowman-returns-to-bar1-for-indy/

Leinders: "We Want To Strengthen Our Relationship With BMW"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/leinders-we-want-to-strengthen-our-relationship-with-bmw/

Black Falcon Reveals Three-Car Spa 24H Assault
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/black-falcon-reveals-three-car-spa-24h-assault/

Bermes (Lotus): "We've Made Progress With Development Program"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bermes-lotus-lmp-weve-made-progress-with-the-development-program/

McLaren team boss confirms Van Giz for Spa

Shane van Gisbergen has been confirmed as one of the drivers in the Von Ryan Racing McLaren for the 24 Hours of Spa for the Blancpain Endurance Series, according to team boss Dave Ryan.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/07/15/mclaren-team-boss-confirms-van-giz-spa/

Marsh to Regroup, Rebuild for Indy after CTMP crash

After their big wreck with Boris Said at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Marsh Racing refocuses and will rebuild their car for the next Tudor Championship race at Indianapolis.  A full race report of the event at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, will come soon.  Stay tuned, fans.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/marsh-to-regroup-rebuild-for-indy-after-ctmp-crash/

news going into the Tudor Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

Lots of things happening headed into the Tudor Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park tomorrow.

Wittmer: "To Get A Win Here Would Be A Dream Come True"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/wittmer-to-get-a-win-here-would-be-a-dream-come-true/

Deltawing Withdraws from CTMP After Fire
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/deltawing-withdraws-from-ctmp-after-fire/

Dalziel Quickest in Practice 3 At CTMP
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/dalziel-quickest-in-practice-3-at-ctmp/

Vipers Sweep GTLM, GTD Poles at CTMP
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/viper-sweeps-gtlm-gtd-poles-at-ctmp/

Yacaman Grabs CTMP Pole in Thriller
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/yacaman-grabs-ctmp-pole-in-thriller/

CTMP Saturday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ctmp-saturday-notebook/

Boris Said escapes serious injury in sports car crash at CTMP

Boris Said has suffered injuries in a practice accident before the Tudor United Sports Car Racing championship at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.  He suffered a broken rib, and his #31 Whelen Chevrolet Corvette Prototype, has been withdrawn from the race.  He was slated to share the car with co-driver, Eric Curran.

http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/boris-said-escapes-serious-injury-in-sports-car-crash-at-ctmp-071114

Ram Racing Withdraws From FIA WEC

Sad news.  Ram Racing run by team principal David Shufflebottom, has withdrawn from the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Sadly, many of their top drivers, including Johnny Mowlem, Alvaro Parente, and Matt Griffin, though they have drives in other sports car divisions, are no longer secure in the FIA World Endurance Championship, which is the biggest series of them all.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ram-racing-withdraws-from-fia-wec/

Andrea Piccini Joins Craig Lowndes at AF Corse For Spa 24

AF Corse will have a solid driver lineup for the Spa 24 Hours for the Blancpain Endurance Series happening at the end of this month.  Multiple Australian V8 Supercars champion Craig Lowndes will be joined by Italian GT racing ace, (and 2012 Spa 24 Hours winner), Andrea Piccini of Italy, as well as two of their countrymen in fellow Aussie Steve Wyatt, and fellow Italian, Michele Rugolo.  These guys could be a force to contend with in the race.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/andrea-piccini-joins-craig-lowndes-at-af-corse-for-spa-24/

sports car racing news update

Sportscar365 has more of the latest news.  The links are, right here. 

VIDEO: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Preview
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-canadian-tire-motorsport-park-preview/

ProSpeed Set to Run Porsche 911 RSR at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/prospeed-set-to-run-porsche-911-rsr-at-cota/

Van Gisbergen Set to Join Von Ryan McLaren For Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/van-gisbergen-set-to-join-von-ryan-mclaren-for-spa-24/

Reiter: "We Have A Future In America"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/reiter-we-have-a-future-in-america/

Defending Champs Maranello Submit First Entry For 2015 Bathurst 12 Hours
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bathurst-12h/defending-champs-maranello-submit-first-entry-for-2015-bathurst-12h/

*This is a related story.  But, it's an old one... from June.
Bathurst 12 Hour Regulations Tweaked for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bathurst-12h/big-prize-on-offer-for-2015-bathurst-12-hour/

Inside the DeltaWing's latest developments
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/inside-the-deltawings-recent-developments/

Eurasis Confirms Oreca-Nissan Lineup for LMP2
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/eurasia-confirms-oreca-nissan-lineup-for-lmp2/

Clarke Named New SCCA Pro Racing President
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/clarke-named-new-scca-pro-racing-president/

Lotus P1/01 Continues Test Program at Monteblanco
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lotus-p101-continues-test-program/

Le Mans cars from 1923-79 Race Out Onto Circuit Again

Great story about the biennial Le Mans Classic, where cars from the first five and a half decades of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, come back to the circuit to be able to strut their stuff again.

http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/cars/le-mans-cars-from-1923-1979-race-out-on-circuit-again/

Yours truly always says this about vintage sports car racing.  Don't abandon the treasures of the past.  Restore them, and race them.  That's just what this race is doing.

Can Am at 2014 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

These cars have run at vintage races before.  But, this year, one of the features of the annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, will be the awesome, thunderous Can Am cars.  These guys are a real part of sports car racing history.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/can-featured-2014-rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion/

...and

A Can Am photo gallery.  The series ran originally between 1966 and 1974.  Then, it was revived for another decade in the late '70s through the '80s, from 1977 to 1987.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo_canam.html

NGT Motorsports Withdraws from GTD

Sad news.  Effective immediately, NGT Motorsports has withdrawn their #30 Porsche from GT Daytona competition in the Tudor Championship.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ngt-motorsport-withdraws-from-gtd/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Watkins Glen

Here's a link to the race broadcast of the latest round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, (the Continental Tire 150 At The Glen), from Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York.

http://www.imsa.com/video/continental-tire-150-glen-broadcast

The Problem With P: Power To The People

Another blog entry from North American Sportscar, about the imbalance in performance between the Daytona Prototypes and P2 cars in the Prototype ranks of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship, from the North American Sportscar blog.

http://nasportscar.com/the-problem-with-p-power-to-the-people/

Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen race broadcast part 2

Part 2 of the broadcast of the Six Hours of Watkins Glen.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-watkins-glen-race-broadcast-part-2?invalidate-cache=1404683688

Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen race broadcast Part 1

Part one of last Sunday's (June 30th), Sahlen's Six Hours of Watkins Glen.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2014-watkins-glen-race-broadcast-part-1?invalidate-cache=1404683688

The Camaro that shocked Le Mans

Team owner Billy Hagan brought a Chevrolet Camaro to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1982 and shocked everybody by finishing well.  Not only that, but, there have been many, many American muscle cars that have raced at Le Mans, including of course, the Corvette's and Viper's that have run over the years.  Here are two stories.

Muscle on Mulsanne: The Camaro That Shocked Le Mans

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news/racing/muscle-on-mulsanne-camaro-that-shocked-le-mans?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1459_69628946

...and

5 American Muscle Icons That Raced at Le Mans

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/car-culture/muscle-on-mulsanne-best-of-the-rest#slide-1

sports car racing news flash

The latest stories from Sportscar365.

Mid-Season Q&A with Scott Atherton
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/qa-with-imsa-coo-scott-atherton/

Bleekemolen Tops First Blancpain Practice at Zandvoort
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/bleekemolen-tops-first-blancpain-zandvoort-practice/

WRT Audi Quickest in Second Practice at Zandvoort
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/wrt-audi-quickest-in-second-zanvoort-practice/

Tagliani Suspended for Watkins Glen Practice Accident
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/tagliani-suspended-for-watkins-glen-practice-accident/

Injury Rules Avenatti Out of GB Autosport Porsche, Barker To Sub
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/avenatti-forced-out-of-gb-autosport-porsche-barker-to-sub/

Ford DP Given Restrictor Break, Weight Added to BMW Z4 GT3
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ford-dp-given-restrictor-break-bmw-z4-gt3-handed-weight-penalty-for-ctmp/

24H Le Mans Drivers' Clubhouse Opens
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/24h-le-mans-drivers-club-clubhouse-opens/

Plowman: "We Were Able To Showcase What We Could Do Again"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/plowman-we-were-able-to-showcase-what-we-could-do-again/

Bleekemolen Flies to Qualifying Race Pole
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/bleekemolen-flies-to-qualifying-race-pole/

Blancpain Endurance Series Round 3: Paul Ricard

The Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Le Castellet, France, played host to round three of the Blancpain Endurance Series for 2014.  Chalk up a second straight win for M-Sport Bentley and the #7 Contiental GT3 in the hands of the British trio of Steven Kane, Guy Smith, and Andy Meyrick.  The Pro Am class was won by the #12 TDS Racing BMW Z4 GT of Henry Hassid of France, and Dutchman Nicky Catsburg (a very experienced GT driver, especially in Blancpain competition).

For the third successive race, (a sweep of the season so far), it was the #458 Ferrari 458 Italia from GT Corse by Rinaldi, winning in the Gentleman Trophy.  Alexander Matschull, Pierre Ehret, and Frank Schmickler, were the winning drivers.  So, the overall and class winners from the Paul Ricard round of the Blancpain Endurance Series, are:

Overall/Pro:      #7 Kane/Smith/Meyrick               Bentley Continental GT
            Pro Am: #12 Hassid/Catsburg                  BMW Z4 GT
            Gentleman
            Trophy: #458 Mattschull/Ehret/Schmickler Ferrari 458 Italia

Here is the short highlights video of the race.

There could also be a full race broadcast video from this event.  Stay tuned.  But, also, make sure you are ready.  At the end of this month, it's the crown jewel for the Blancpain Endurance Series.  The 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, from the mighty Spa Francorchamps circuit, in Belgium.  Yours truly, will have video, and, a full race report.
           

Spa 24 test day news

Some news and notes from the test day for the 24 Hours of Spa coming up for the Blancpain Endurance Series, at the end of this month.

TDS Racing Quickest in Spa 24 Test
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/tds-racing-quickest-in-spa-24-test/

...and

Spa 24 Test Day Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/spa-24-test-day-notebook/

Ben's Analysis - Watkins Glen

You have read my take, and my race report on the Six Hours of Watkins Glen.  Here is another take, from another sports car racing blog.  This is one I follow called North American Sportscar. 

http://nasportscar.com/bens-analysis-walkins-glen/

sports car racing news update

Another full update of news in sports car racing, including, 60 cars entered for the 24 Hours of Spa.  Here are all the latest stories.

Pickett Sells Muscle Milk Brand
http://sportscar365.com/industry/pickett-sells-muscle-milk-brand/

Elkins: "It's Very Difficult to Judge BoP Between Two Cars on One Lap"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/elkins-its-very-difficult-to-judge-the-balance-between-the-two-cars-on-one-lap/

Dutch InMotion Team Aims For Garage 56 Entry In 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/dutch-inmotion-team-aims-for-le-mans-garage-56-entry-in-2017/

60 Confirmed Entries for Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/60-confirmed-entries-for-spa-24/

Luhr Replaces Leinders at Marc VDS for Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/luhr-replaces-leinders-at-marc-vds-for-spa-24/

2015 TUSC Schedule Nearing Completion
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/2015-tusc-schedule-nearing-completion/

sports car racing news update

More of the latest news from the world of sports car racing.

Though they've run prototypes for many years now, it appears that Starworks, could adapt a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 for the GT Daytona class in the Tudor Championship, and run it.  Here's the story.

Starworks Considering Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 Entry For GTD
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/starworks-considering-mercedes-sls-amg-gt3-entry-for-gtd/

Richard Westbrook and Markus Palttala have both successfully run THREE endurance sports car races within a month.

54 Hours of June Ends on High Note for Westbrook, Palttala
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/54-hours-of-june-ends-on-high-note-for-westbrook-palttala/

TDS Racing has confirmed it's driver lineups for the 24 Hours of Spa.

TDS Racing Finalizes Spa 24 Lineups
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/tds-racing-finalizes-spa-24-lineups/

Marco Bonanomi joints Pro GT by Almeras and their Porsche 911 GT3 for the Spa 24 Hours.  He will share the car with regular drivers Eric Dermont and Franck Perera, as well as Lucas Lasserre.

Bonanomi Joins Pro GT by Almeras for Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/bonanomi-joins-pro-gt-by-almeras-for-spa-24/

Fehan: "We're Learning About The Corvette C7.R Every Time on Track"
 http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/fehan-were-still-learning-about-the-corvette-c7-r-every-time-on-the-track/