Conscious Mark Webber taken away by stretcher following accident

Good news.  After this massive wreck we've just seen in the Six Hours of Sao Paulo, Mark Webber is conscious, and will be OK.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/conscious-mark-webber-taken-away-by-stretcher-following-accident

A big wreck at the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo

Yours truly will have highlights of this race later, folks.  But right now, our attention is turned to a monstrous accident that involves the #20 factory Porsche 919 of Mark Webber, and an LM GTE Ferrari 458, piloted by Italian Matteo Cressoni.  It appears both drivers are OK.  But, this is a nasty one.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/video/main-gallery/wec-6-hours-of-sao-paulo-2014-huge-crash-of-mark-webber-and-matteo-cressoni

1970 Trans-Am Year In Review

We have seen the history of the SCCA Trans Am championship, for the first three decades of what the sport was.  But, let's take a look now, at what may have been the series' greatest season, in a review of the 1970 Trans Am season.

Six Hours of Bahrain Part 5

Part five of the FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Bahrain.

The #7 Toyota TS040 Hybrid of Alexander Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin, and Mike Conway, won the race, finishing ahead of both factory Porsche 919's and two of the Audi's.  LMP2 was won by the #47 Oreca 03R Nissan from KCMG in the hands of Matthew Howson, Richard Bradley, and Alexandre Imperatori.  In LM GTE Pro it was another win for the duo of Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, as the Italian and the Finn, took victory for AF Corse in their Ferrari 458 Italia, while in LM GTE Am, the #95 Aston Martin V8 Vantage of Kristian Poulsen, David Heinemeier-Hanson, and Nicki Thiim, won again.

Overall/LMP1: #7 Wurz/Sarrazin/Conway     Toyota TS040 Hybrid

             LMP2: #47 Howson/Bradley/Imperatori     Oreca 03R Nissan

            LM GTE Pro: #51 Bruni/Vilander                Ferrari 458 Italia

           LM GTE Am: #95 Poulsen/Thiim/Heinemeier-Hanson     Aston Martin V8 Vantage

One race is left in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.  It is this weekend, (tomorrow).  The Six Hours of Sao Paulo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the Interlagos circuit, also known as the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.  Yours truly, will have a full recap of that race.  Stay tuned, for coverage of the season finale, coming soon.

Six Hours of Bahrain Part 4

Part four of the Six Hours of Bahrain.

Six Hours of Bahrain Part 3

Part three of the Six Hours of Bahrain.

Six Hours of Bahrain Part 2

Part two of the Six Hours of Bahrain.

Six Hours of Bahrain Part 1

Part one of the FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Bahrain, the penultimate race in the 2014 season.

Hulkenberg joins third Porsche LMP1 entry for Le Mans 2015

Current Force India Formula One driver, Nico Hulkenberg of Germany, will continue in F1 next year, but, he will also join Porsche AG at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans to race in a third factory Porsche 919 Hybrid.  Here are the details.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/hulkenberg-joins-third-porsche-lmp1-entry-for-le-mans-2015

Entry List So Far - TUSC Prototype Class

A revision and update to the possible entry list for the Prototype class in 2015 Tudor Championship competition, via North American Sportscar.

http://nasportscar.com/entry-list-so-far-tusc-prototype-class/

Where does the KTM/Reiter XBow Project Fit In North America?

Reiter Engineering and KTM, will develop a version of the X Bow, for endurance sports car racing in North America, Europe, and Asia.  The question remains, though... what type of worldwide GT competition, will the car fit into?  That's because it is a niche automobile, for sure.

http://nasportscar.com/where-does-the-ktmreiter-xbow-project-fit-in-north-america/

Will we see LMP1 in IMSA Again?

The blog North American Sportscar asks a logical question.  That is, will we see LMP1 in IMSA competition again?  Their main blogger, Matt Kistler, has the answer.

http://nasportscar.com/will-we-see-lmp1-in-imsa-again/

IMSA: V8 Supercar champions Whincup, Lowndes interested in Rolex 24 rides

Could we see Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes follow Shane van Gisbergen's lead, and try to line up drives for the Rolex 24 in January?  It's possible.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/111242-imsa-v8-supercar-champions-whincup-lowndes-interested-in-rolex-24-rides

Van Gisbergen set for Daytona 24 Return

Shane Van Gisbergen will return to race in the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he made his debut, last year, and once again, he will compete with Alex Job Racing in a GT Daytona class Porsche 911 GT America.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/11/25/van-gisbergen-set-daytona-return/

Porsche confirms third car for Le Mans

Porsche AG will run a third 919 Hybrid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next June, and also, at the race that precedes the summer 24 hour classic, the Spa 1,000 Kilometers at Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, in May.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/porsche-confirms-third-car-for-le-mans

Dalziel: "2015 is Different Because WEC is the Priority"

Ryan Dalziel will compete full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, with Extreme Speed Motorsports.  Here's his take on how 2015 will be different, in comparison to racing with Starworks in the championship in 2012, when he ran part-time in Europe, and part-time in North America, splitting his time between racing in the two continents.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dalziel-2015-is-different-because-wec-is-the-priority/

sports car racing news update

The latest off season news from the world of sports car racing, via Sportscar365.

Law Rejoins Flying Lizard Under New Management Role
http://sportscar365.com/industry/law-rejoins-flying-lizard-under-management-role/

Riley Moving Forward with Viper GTD Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/riley-moving-forward-with-viper-gtd-program/

Conway Drafted into Toyota for Brazil
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/conway-drafted-into-toyota-for-brazil/

Fittipaldi Confirmed in AF Corse Ferrari for Brazil
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fittipaldi-confirmed-in-af-corse-ferrari-for-sao-paulo/

Dempsey, Long Set for FIA WEC Campaign in 2015
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dempsey-long-set-for-fia-wec-campaign-in-2015/

Catone (BR Engineering): "The BR01 is the First Real New LMP2 Car"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/catone-br-engineering-the-br01-is-the-first-real-new-lmp2-car/

Walmsley (Strakka): "We're Confident with Development Status of Car"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/walmsley-strakka-were-confident-with-development-status-of-car/

Thiriet by TDS Puts Ligier JS P2 Nissan Up for Sale
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/tds-puts-ligier-js-p2-nissan-up-for-sale/

Motionsport returns to Bathurst 12H with Aston Martin
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bathurst-12h/motionsport-returns-to-bathurst-12h-with-aston-martin/

Bathurst 12 Hour Adds Brabham, Bentley, Flying B Racing
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bathurst-12h/bathurst-12-hours-adds-brabham-bentley-flying-b-racing/

BimmerWorld Confirms Two-Car BMW 328S Effort for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/bimmerworld-confirms-two-car-bmw-328s-effort-for-2015/

Kelly Moss Expands Into PWC, Set For Three-Car GT3 Cup Entry in 2015
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/kelly-moss-expands-into-pwc-set-for-three-car-gt-cup-entry-in-2015/

Ex-Factory Dodge Viper GTS-Rs Possible for ELMS in 2015
http://sportscar365.com/gt/dodge-viper-gts-rs-possible-for-elms-in-2015/

Bomarito turns first laps in Mazda Prototype

After racing for the now defunct SRT Viper team for the past couple of years, Jonathan Bomarito returns "home", so to speak, and reunites with Mazda, and their SkyActiv D, diesel prototype race car.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/bomarito-turns-first-laps-mazda-prototype?invalidate-cache

Mr. Le Mans Tom Kristensen retires from racing

The nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  The man, who amazingly, broke the long-held record of six wins at Le Mans, set by Jacky Ickx, and achieved so much of his success, as an Audi factory driver... Mr. Le Mans... Tom Kristensen, retires from sports car racing.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/mr-le-mans-tom-kristensen-retires-from-racing

IMSA: ESM Adds NAEC rounds to busy 2015 schedule

Extreme Speed Motorsports will not only contest the full FIA World Endurance Championship calendar in 2015.  But, contrary to what many have thought, they will at least run the four rounds of the North American Endurance Cup, for the Tudor Championship, instead of a full-season effort in that series, as well.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/tudor-united-sports-car-championship/item/111035-imsa-esm-adds-naec-rounds-to-busy-2015-schedule

Dempsey going full-time in WEC, ends TUSC program

Patrick Dempsey is ending his involvement in North American sports car racing, and fully shifting focus to the FIA World Endurance Championship, teaming with Proton Competition.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/dempsey-going-full-time-in-wec-ends-tusc-program

History of the Trans Am Series

The SCCA Trans Am Series, started out as an endurance racing type championship, but then, evolved into a flat out sprint racing series.  So, it is loosely based on endurance sports car racing, albeit not too much.  However, the great history of the sport, (since it has recently been revitalized... reference the two race broadcasts from modern Trans Am just posted), is still there.  Let's take a look, via a great documentary, at the first three decades of the sport, between it's inception in 1966 and the peak of it's popularity, in the mid 1990's.

Trans Am: Mid Ohio

Here is the second televised Trans Am race, as the series is brought back to life after a long hiatus.  This is the race, from Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.  Click the link, to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_SYu5QVuj8#t=145

Trans Am: Road America

Not necessarily endurance racing.  But, flat out, sprint racing.  The first of two televised races, for the revitalized Trans Am Series in 2014.  This one is from the legendary, fast, and sweeping, Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

more news

More late breaking sports car racing headlines to highlight, via Sportscar365.

Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2 Judd Breaks Cover
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/krohn-racing-ligier-js-p2-judd-breaks-cover/

New Porsche 911 GT3 R Set for Race Debut in First Half of 2015
http://sportscar365.com/gt/new-porsche-911-gt3-r-set-for-race-debut-in-first-half-of-2015/

Nissan Rolls Out LMP1 Car for Testing in Arizona
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-rolls-out-lmp1-car-for-testing-in-arizona/

ESM Confirms Full Season FIA WEC Program For 2015
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/esm-confirms-full-season-fia-wec-program-in-2015/

Sharp: "Everyone is Excited About the Opportunity to Go Do FIA WEC"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/sharp-everyone-is-excited-about-the-opportunity-to-go-do-fia-wec/

I.S.R. Racing Confirms Blancpain GT Series Entry for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/i-s-r-racing-confirms-blancpain-gt-series-entry-for-2015/

Announcement on Kristensen's future set for Wednesday
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/announcement-on-kristensens-future-set-for-wednesday/

sports car racing news update

More news from the whole sports car racing spectrum.  Check out some of these stories.  There are some heavy hitters this week.

Flying Lizard confirms Daytona Plans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/flying-lizard-confirms-daytona-plans/

OAK Facing Uncertain Future in TUSC
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/oak-facing-uncertain-future-in-tusc/

GTD Also Set to Switch Back to 2014 Driver Ratings Regulations
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/gtd-also-set-to-switch-back-to-2014-driver-ratings-regulations/

Gidley Continues to Improve After Further Surgeries
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/memo-gidley-continues-to-improve-after-further-surgeries/

Floury (ORECA): "Goal is to Make Oreca 05 Adaptable to 2017 Regs"
http://sportscar365.com/industry/floury-oreca-the-goal-is-to-make-the-oreca-05-adaptable-to-2017-regulations/

Davidson: "It's the Biggest Thing I've Won in My Career by a Long Way"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/davidson-its-the-biggest-thing-ive-won-in-my-career-by-a-long-way/

LMP2 Title Fight to Go Down to Wire Following Points Swing in Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/g-drive-retakes-lmp2-championship-lead-following-points-swing-in-bahrain/

SRO to create Specialized GT3 BoP for Super GT
http://sportscar365.com/gt/super-gt/sro-to-create-specialized-gt3-bop-for-super-gt/

IMSA - IMSA: DTM in America project continues to make progress

Could a version of Germany's DTM, or Japan's Super GT series hit American shores in the future?  It's a possibility.  Not now.  But, sometime soon.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/110781-imsa-dtm-in-america-project-continues-to-make-progress

Six Hours of Shanghai Part 3

Part three of the FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Shanghai at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China.  Winning the race, it was the #8 Toyota TS040 Hybrid of Sebastien Bumei and Anthony Davidson, followed home on the podium by the sister car #7 of Alexander Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin, and Kazuki Nakajima.  Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, and Marc Lieb, brought the first of the factory Porsche's home in third spot.

In LMP2, chalk up another win for G Drive as the #26 Ligier JS P2 Nissan coupe, of Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla, and Julien Canal, wins.  LM GTE Pro honors went the way of the Porsche factory team over Aston Martin, and their #92 Porsche 911 RSR, shared by Frenchmen Frederic Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet.  They finished just ahead of their sister car.  LM GTE Am honors went to the #98 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin V8 Vantage of Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, and Christoffer Nygaard.

So, here are the overall and class winners from Shanghai.

Overall/LMP1:    #8 Buemi/Davidson     Toyota TS040 Hybrid

             LMP2:   #26 Rusinov/Pla/Canal  Ligier JS P2 Nissan

            LM GTE Pro: #92 Makowiecki/Pilet     Porsche 911 RSR

           LM GTE Am: #98 Dalla Lana/Lamy/Nygaard     Aston Martin V8 Vantage

This weekend, in fact, tomorrow, marks the penultimate race in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.  It's the Six Hours of Bahrain at the Sakhir Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.  Stay tuned, for video highlights, and race results, when they come.

Six Hours of Shanghai Part 2

Part two of the FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Shanghai.

Six Hours of Shanghai Part 1

Part one of the FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Shanghai at Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China.

Team Falken Tire Pleased With First Test On Daytona's High Banks

After missing the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona because their Porsche 911 RSR was still being prepped at the factory, Team Falken Tire, had to wait, to debut the car, at the 12 Hours of Sebring.  But, in 2015, they will be at Daytona, ready to race.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/team-falken-tire-pleased-first-test-daytonas-high-banks

Come race with us: Mark Webber encourages Button to come to FIA WEC

Porsche factory driver, wants his fellow Formula One refugee, Jenson Button (whose F1 career ends after the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend), to come and race sports cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/come-play-with-us-mark-webber-encourages-button-to-come-to-fia-wec-111214?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:speed

IMSA Plans to Set PC Ratings Back to 2014 Regulations

Another change has been made to the driver ratings system in the Prototype Challenge category by IMSA.  Here are the details.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-plans-to-set-pc-ratings-back-to-2014-regulations/

sports car racing news update

The latest news from the world of sports car racing, and there are some potentially surprising stories developing.

Porsche confirms 2015 LMP1 Driver Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-confirms-2015-driver-lineup/

Latif Tests Signatech Alpine at Motorland Aragon
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/latif-tests-signatech-alpine-at-motorland-aragon/

Reduced Race Lengths for TUSC Events in 2015
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/reduced-race-lengths-for-events-in-2015/

No Driver Ratings for CTSC in 2015
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/no-driver-ratings-for-ctsc-in-2015/

FIA Reveals First 2015 Global Driver Ratings List
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fia-reveals-first-2015-driver-rankings-list/

IMSA Driver Pairing Regulations Adjusted
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-driver-pairing-regulations-adjusted/

RSR Confirms PC Lineup, Closing In on FIA WEC LMP2 Effort for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rsr-confirms-pc-program-closing-in-on-fia-wec-lmp2-effort-for-2015/

North American DTM, could it fit with Trans Am?

Could the DTM formula, fit into sports car racing?  North American Sportscar has some observations on that idea.

http://nasportscar.com/north-american-dtm-could-it-fit-with-trans-am/

IMSA: DP manufacturer Coyote eyeing P2

Coyote, could consider building a P2 class chassis for the Tudor Championship.  Here's that news.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/110695-imsa-dp-manufacturer-coyote-eyeing-p2?showall&limitstart

Prototype, GTD Car Counts in Question as 2015 Approaches

The number of teams participating in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship in 2015, could be down considerably from what it was this past season, considering that many of the teams have moved to other racing series, or, may shut down operations altogether.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/prototype-gtd-car-counts-in-question-as-2015-approaches-2/

IMSA: Shank buys a Ligier... sets Le Mans target

Longtime Daytona Prototype chassis campaigner, Mike Shank, will use his current Riley Ford EcoBoost Daytona Prototype machine for the 2015 Rolex 24, opening the second season of the Tudor Championship.  But, after that, the team will switch to a Ligier chassis.  Here are the details.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/110592-imsa-shank-buys-ligier-sets-le-mans-target

Entry Lists so far, TUSC P and GTLM classes

More entry list updates as far as the 2015 Tudor Championship.  Here are the links to North American Sportscar and their roundups of who will be entered in each class next year, as of now.  Keep in mind, these can, and will, change.

http://nasportscar.com/entry-list-so-far-tusc-p-class-2/

...and

http://nasportscar.com/entry-list-so-far-tusc-gtlm-class/

2015 Blancpain Sprint Series Schedule Released

There are still races from the most recent season of Blancpain Sprint Series competition to highlight.  But, the series has released it's 2015 schedule.  Look for more race highlights, in 2015.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/2015-blancpain-sprint-series-schedule-released/

AIM's GTLM Plans Fall Through, Exploring GTD Options for 2015

AIM Autosport was hopeful of running their Ferrari 458 Italia in the GT Le Mans category in IMSA Tudor Championship competition next year.  But, instead, they find themselves, returning to the GT Daytona class for the second consecutive season.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/aims-gtlm-plans-fall-though-exploring-gtd-options-for-2015/

sports car racing news update

The latest news from the world of sports car racing, via Sportscar365.

Bomarito Returns to Mazda for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/bomarito-returns-to-mazda-for-2015/

Toyota Confirms No Lapierre for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-confirms-just-davidson-buemi-for-remainder-of-season/

Hill (ESM): "If We're Going To Do It Next Year We Want To Be Prepared"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hill-esm-if-were-going-to-do-it-next-year-we-want-to-be-prepared/

All-New Porsche 919 Hybrid Under Development for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/all-new-porsche-919-hybrid-under-development-for-2015/

Craft-Bamboo Confirms Two-Car Entry For Bathurst 12 Hour
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bathurst-12h/craft-bamboo-confirms-two-car-entry-for-bathurst-12-hour/

Porsche GT3 Cup USA Champions Earn Supercup Entries for USGP
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/porsche-gt3-cup-challenge-usa-champions-earn-supercup-entries-at-usgp/

IMSA Teams Receive Awards from CTF
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/imsa-teams-receive-awards-from-ctf/

Paul Miller Racing NAEC Program for 2015
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/paul-miller-racing-confirms-naec-program-for-2015/

Detroit In, VIR Out, for PC Teams In 2015
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/detroit-in-vir-out-for-pc-teams/

IMSA: PC race joins Detroit event for 2015

Prototype Challenge cars will race for the first time at the Raceway at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, next year, along with the Prototype and GT Daytona classes in the Tudor Championship event there, next year.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/110425-imsa-pc-race-joins-detroit-event-for-2015