Toyota's Nakajima suffers fractured vertebra in accident

After a practice crash, Kazuki Nakajima will not start the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Spa, on Saturday.  He suffered a fractured vertebra in the incident.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/fia-wec-toyota-crash-injury-update-spa-practice-043015?adbid=10153292619141052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051&adbsc=social_20150430_44957556&short_code=2wlhh

ViperExchange.com/Riley Livery Unveiled for 24H Le Mans

Riley Motorsports and ViperExchange.com, have revealed the livery for their entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, very shortly, after being confirmed as an official race entry, by the ACO.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/viperexchange-comriley-motorsports-lm24-livery-revealed/

Tudor Championship updates

Some major stories headed into this weekend's Tudor United Sports Car Championship action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, on the Monterey peninsula in Monterey, California.  The biggest story, is the withdrawal of the Wright Motorsports team Porsche from the GT Daytona class over Balance of Performance issues.

Wright Set to Withdraw from Monterey Over BoP Concerns
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/wright-motorsports-set-to-withdraw-from-monterey/

Cosmo, Byrne Join Flying Lizard for Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/cosmo-byrne-join-flying-lizard-for-monterey/

...and

Tremblay: "We Put Our Best Stuff Out for This Event"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/tremblay-we-put-our-best-stuff-out-for-this-event/

Corey Lewis Joins Strategic Wealth Racing

Corey Lewis, will be the new co-driver in the #36 Strategic Wealth Racing Street Tuner class Porsche Cayman in the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and his first race, will be this weekend, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/corey-lewis-joins-strategic-wealth-racing/

FIA World Endurance Championship news

More FIA World Endurance Championship news, headed into the 6 Hours of Spa.

Fox Sports 1, 2 to Carry Full Live Coverage of 6H Spa
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fox-sports-1-2-to-carry-full-live-coverage-of-6h-spa/

Vieira: "Kairos Does Not Just Make Up the Numbers in Endurance"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/vieira-kairos-does-not-just-make-up-the-numbers-in-endurance-racing/

Patron ESM Completes Shakedown of Ligier JS P2 Hondas
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/patron-esm-completes-shakedown-of-ligier-js-p2-hondas/

Team SARD-Morand Confirms SIngle-Car LMP2 Entry for 6H Spa
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/team-sard-morand-confirms-single-car-lmp2-entry-for-6h-spa/

The International GT Open to launch a new category: the GT Open Cup

Blancpain Endurance Series may already be doing this, and, could it extend to Pirelli World Challenge here in the United States?  If it works for the GT Open championship, it just might come to our shores in the PWC.

http://www.endurance-info.com/en/the-international-gt-open-to-launch-a-new-category-the-gt-open-cup/

Tudor Championship headlines

Lots of news from the sports car racing world.  But, breaking it into pieces over the next few days.  Here are some noteworthy Tudor Championship related stories, via Sportscar365.

Doonan (Mazda): "We Want to Plan to the 2017 LMP2 Regulations"
http://sportscar365.com/industry/doonan-mazda-we-want-to-plan-to-the-2017-lmp2-regulations/

IMSA Releases Pre-Monterey GTD BoP Adjustments
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-releases-pre-monterey-gtd-bop/

Mosing, Miller Team Up in Second Riley Viper for Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/mosing-miller-team-up-in-second-riley-viper-for-monterey/

Chevrolet Launches 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R edition
http://sportscar365.com/autos/chevrolet-launches-2016-corvette-z06-c7-r-edition/

Pirelli World Challenge Round 2, St. Petersburg: Race 2

Race two of Pirelli World Challenge at the St. Petersburg street course in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Pirelli World Challenge GT Round 2: St. Petersburg - Race 1

Race one action of Pirelli World Challenge GT at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, on the street course.  Race two, to follow.

Audi LMP1 car skips chicane at Monza in high speed, low downforce test for Le Mans: video

Follow the link provided, to a video of the Audi R18 eTron Quattro, testing, at Monza, for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Some people believe the car is too quiet, compared to it's rival machines from Porsche, and Toyota.  But... this is still fun to watch.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sport/audi-lmp1-car-skips-chicane-at-monza-in-high-speed-low-downforce-test-for-le-mans-video/story-e6frf3z3-1227318429035

Sportscar Retrospective: Best liveries of GTP and Group C

NASportscar.com, takes a look at some of the coolest liveries of the IMSA GTP and Group C era.

http://nasportscar.com/sportscar-retrospective-best-liveries-of-gtp-and-group-c/

more sports car racing news

More news from the world of sports car racing, in several categories.

Chevy Building New Corvette C7.R GTE Car for 2016
http://sportscar365.com/industry/chevy-building-new-corvette-c7-r-for-2016/

Christensen set for double duty in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/christensen-set-for-double-duty-in-monterey/

HPD Prepping for 2017 LMP2 Constructor Bid
http://sportscar365.com/industry/hpd-prepping-for-2017-lmp2-constructor-bid/

Kox Parts Ways with Reiter Engineering
http://sportscar365.com/gt/kox-parts-ways-with-reiter-engineering/

Gavin Returns to GT Masters in Reiter Camaro with Enge
http://sportscar365.com/gt/gavin-returns-to-gt-masters-in-camaro-with-enge/

Slusher, Falb Set for TUSC debuts with BAR1 in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/slusher-falb-set-for-tusc-debut-with-bar1-in-monterey/

SARD-Morand Parts Ways with Kairos Technologies, Race to 24
 http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/sard-morand-parts-ways-with-kairos-technologies-race-to-24/

Pre-Monterey CTSC BoP Changes Released
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/ctsc-bop-changes-released-prior-to-monterey/

MX-5 Champion Hixon Completes Mitchum Lamborghini ST Lineup

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/mx-5-champion-hixon-completes-mitchum-lamborghini-st-lineup/

SMP Racing BR01 Completes 24-Hour Endurance Test
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/smp-racing-br01-completes-24-hour-endurance-test/

LMP1 Teams Complete Endurance Tests at Paul Ricard, Monza
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lmp1-teams-continue-endurance-testing-at-paul-ricard-monza/

Howson (KCMG): "We'll Take the Fight to G-Drive"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/howson-kcmg-well-take-the-fight-to-g-drive/

Driving a priceless four-rotor Mazda RX-7 race car

From Road & Track magazine.  "Mazda's Jeremy Barnes, PR guy and amateur racer, drives the iconic IMSA car."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a5268/racing-race-cars-mazda-four-rotor-imsa-rx7/

Ben's Analysis: 2015 Long Beach

NASportscar.com's Ben Wedge, breaks down and analyzes the Tudor Championship race from Long Beach, which had many similarities, to last year's event there.

http://nasportscar.com/bens-analysis-2015-long-beach/

Race-Winning Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Excluded from Monza

After all the joy of seeing Lamborghini win the opening Blancpain Endurance Series race of 2015, at Monza, in Italy... the team and car, have been excluded from the results, and stripped of their race victory, for failing post-race technical inspection.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/race-winning-lamborghini-huracan-gt3-excluded-from-monza/

Patron Showcase Race Broadcast

The race broadcast on Fox Sports 1 of the Tudor Championship Patron Showcase at Long Beach.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-patron-showcase-race-broadcast

Winner & highlights of the Tequila Patron Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach

Long Beach, California, is the scene for the Tequila Patron Sports Car Showcase, for the first sprint race of the season.  This race is only 100 minutes.  Prototype and GT Le Mans, will be the classes in competition.  We only have one pit stop planned.  It's a small field, but very competitive.  Action Express Racing is the team to beat.  The Spirit of Daytona and Whelen Corvette's are up there.  Ganassi Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing, are still in the fight.  WTR is on pole for this event.  Jordan Taylor has pole, with his brother Ricky.  Watch out for Scott Pruett and Joey Hand, too.

In GT Le Mans, Corvette has won back-to-back races, for the opening two endurance events.  Risi Competizione is the top Ferrari and the top Porsche is the Falken Tire machine.  BMW has swept the front row for GT Le Mans.  Bill Auberlen has his first ever Tudor Championship pole.  The top three Prototypes and the top seven GT LM cars, broke the track record.  It's breezy outside, but hot, in the closed cockpit cars of the Prototype and GT Le Mans cars.

Here we go!  We are green in Prototype.  The GTLM class is next.  Michael Valiante takes a spot away from one of the other contenders.  John Edwards gets wheel spin and Ferrari goes to the fore, past the two BMW's.  Oh man.  The #4 Corvette C-7-R- spins, with Oliver Gavin at the wheel.  Richard Lietz may have a cut tire.  We are on Pine Street, onto Seaside Way, and into turn nine.  Giancarlo Fisichella is leading this race.  Fisichella wants a race here.  #912 has a flat right front tire.  From the camera, he hits the wall, and the Corvette spins.  Oliver Gavin squeezed the Porsche.

There's an emergency entrance to piot lane.  He's going to take the hairpin.  It's a racing incident.  Jordan Taylor leads Scott Pruett, Michael Valiante, and Christian Fittipaldi.  Eric Currant and Dane Cameron, follow in the #31 Whelen Corvette Prototype.  #912 is in the pits.  No damage.  But, check the suspension.  Jorg Bergmeister takes over the car.  With understeer in a race car, it's hard to be balanced.  Don't burn off your tires.  There are four really bumpy spots on this track.

We review the wreck between the factory Porsche and the Corvette.  Giancarlo Fisichella hit the wall in turn nine in qualifying, with five minutes before the session.  The team scrambled, and put the repairs on the car.  They replaced the rear bumper, which was attached with Bear Bond, because of broken mounts.  He slammed the wall, hard!  Fisichella qualified third, and has flown by the two BMW Z4's.

This track is magic.  The hairpin, through Shoreline Drive, is a great section.  Turns one and nine are great overtaking spots.  The #4 Corvette exits the pits.  Tommy Milner was not ready to get in the car to replace Oliver Gavin.  The Deltawing has hit pit road, with a gearbox problem.  Memo Rojas is having issues, and is told to turn the wheel back and forth.  This was the first street race for the Deltawing.  Katherine Legge, driving, won the Formula Atlantic event in 2005.  Memo Rojas is also in the car, who won this race, for Ganassi, last year.

Bill Auberlen has become the 14th different polesitter in GT Le Mans.  Ferrari and BMW have gapped the fourth place car in class.  Auberlen may be on low tire pressures.  If Lucas Luhr can win this race, he will be five for five at Long Beach, despite not racing here last year.  The DeltaWing returns to the track after it's problems.  Ricky Taylor continues to lead Scott Pruett in the Prototype class.

We watch GT Le Mans, and the scrum betwen Ferrari and BMW.  The BMW is ten kilograms lighter than it was at the 12 Hours of Sebring, three weeks ago.  Bill Auberlen owns a 1300 horsepower boat, that goes 190 miles an hour.  The #912 car exits the pit lane.  Pruett vs. Taylor at the front.  It is not easy for the GT Le Mans cars to quite keep up with the Prototypes, as they lose a shade of speed.  Ricky Taylor and Giancarlo Fisichella, lead their respective classes right now.

It is eerie between the #3 and #4 Corvette's with the differences in luck.  #3 has had MUCH more luck, than car #4.  Joey Hand is another driver, who has won here, and so has Scott Pruett.  Street courses have unique characteristics, and drivers know they can run well.  Viper has accepted an invite to go to Le Mans.  Viper's will race in GTE Am at Le Mans.  Patrick Pilet is pushing Oliver Gavin.  Pruett has set his fastest lap.  Ricky Taylor has overall fastest lap right now.

Oswaldo Negri Jr. has taken over the #60 Mike Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda, after John Pew may have made contact with something.  The Mazda diesel prototype pits.  Tires, fuel, and a driver change.  It's a solid minute before you get off of pit lane.  Meanwhile, we return to the BMW and Ferrari fight in GT Le Mans.  BMW wants their first victory in the Tudor Championship, but Ferrari's 458 Italia has good speed, too.  One Ferrari vs. two BMW's.  A year ago, this race went green, flag to flag.

The #911 Porsche pits.  If the Ferrari comes to pit lane, get a clean, hot lap.  If they don't come, we'll come, according to BMW management.  Patrick Pilet hands the #911 Porsche 911 RSR to Fred Makowiecki.  The #17 Falken Tire Porsche switches drivers, too.  Bryan Sellers, takes over from Wolf Henzler.  The Ferrari stays out.  Bill Auberlen dives for the pit lane.  No full fuel.  Just a driver change.  John Edwards will pursue the Ferrari.  Dirk Werner takes over the #25 car.  This pit stop is going to be a determining factor.

Be careful, and obey the 60 kilometer per hour speed limit.  Eedwards tries hitting the pits, and Fisichella wanted to stay in front, and also pit.  These two are in the lane.  What can Werner do on cold tires on the out lap?  Pierre Kaffer takes over the #62 car.  Ferrari beats the #24 BMW out of the pits.  Lucas Luhr at the wheel of the #24.  #24 had a bad stop, with an issue on the left front tire.  The #3 Corvette now pits.  Jan Magnussen comes in.  Antonio Garcia will take over the car.  Four new Michelin tires on the Corvette C-7-R.  They make up time, with an excellent pit stop.

They might grab a place away from BMW.  We're almost halfway through this race, already.  Wow.  Fast and frantic at Long Beach.  But, it's also, party time.  Ricky Taylor is in the lead.  We are 50 minutes into this race.  Tires and fuel for the car, and a driver change.  Jordan Taylor takes over.  This is the first of only two short, 100 minute street races.  The other one is at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, next month.  Michael Valiante pits in the #90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette prototype.  Scott Pruett leads, and leads at halfway.

Richard Westbrook is now at the controls.  The #5 Corvette also pits.  Here comes the leader.  These boys could be in great shape if they exrcute the pit stop.  Joey Hand will take over from Scott Pruett.  They took the fuel down to the wire, as Pruett hit the reserve tank before pitting.  Things are OK, except for the car stalling, briefly.  Joey Hand is on cold tires, and might grab the race lead.  Pruett has to get up to speed.  The #31 Whelen Corvette pits.  Eric Curran will hand the car over to Dane Cameron.

The #60 Ligier Honda passes.  Jordan Taylor crunches the wall off of turn eight onto the back straight.  Jordan Taylor makes a late dive down the inside of Joey Hand.  Oh wow.  Just under 45 minutes to go.  These 100 minute races, are frantic, and we'll see another, as mentioned, in Detroit.  In GT Le Mans, it's Antonio Garcia, chasing Lucas Luhr.  Corvette vs. BMW.  Risi Competizione had a pit stop two seconds faster, than any other teams and cars, in class.

Bill Auberlen wants to see a full course yellow flag.  Typically, with a short fuel fill, the driver change takes more time.  There was a problem with the fueling on a recent pit stop.  Mazda has done well today, and look forward to their home race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California, on the Monterey Peninsula.  Dane Cameron is the fastest man on track, running a 1:15.6.  Christian Fittipaldi has handed the #5 Mustang Sampling Corvette Prototype, to team mate, Joao Barbosa.

The tire pressures and contact patches, are a big deal here at Long Beach, as we've seen.  Christian Fittipaldi says that Action Express has to capitalize on as many points as they can.  Both of the Action Express cars are running nose-to-tail at the moment.  We have only 24 minutes remaining in this race now.  Joey Hand runs fastest lap for the Ganassi car at 1:16 flat.  The #10 team could get a lot of points after the end of this race.

The top three all run in the 1:16.3 bracket.  We've been green flag-to-flag in this race so far, just like last year.  Jordan Taylor is running a tenth quicker than Joey Hand, still in the 1:16 bracket.  Pierre Kaffer driving the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia, continues to lead GT Le Mans, with Dirk Werner in second place.  Werner has more pace, but he's five seconds behind Kaffer.  Ferrari seems to have had a better race than BMW, today.  Luhr's four-race win streak at Long Beach, will come to an end.

With the Riley, it is more affected by aerodynamics, with the large dive planes on the front of the car.  The Corvette has smaller dive planes.  The 5.0 liter normally aspirated Chevrolet V8 accelerates better, than the turbocharged 3.7 liter Ford V6 EcoBoost motor.  Jordan Taylor runs in the 1:15.9 range now, and Joey Hand ran a 1:16.2.  We are approaching 12 minutes left.  Dirk Werner is now pushing Pierre Kaffer.  He is right on top of Kaffer.  Kaffer's handling is going away!  Here comes Werner.  Have patience.  Giancarlo Fisichella is nervous.  Side by side, and Kaffer locks the brakes up!  Oh my!  BMW is back in front in GT Le Mans!

So, BMW will lead GT Le Mans, with about ten minutes to go in this street fight.  Lucas Luhr has no brakes left in the #24 RLL BMW Z4.  Joao Barbosa whacked the wall, and Dane Cameron got around him.  Jordan Taylor has the edge over Joey Hand.  Werner leads Kaffer, Garcia, and Makowiecki, in the Porsche, is fourth in class.  Joey Hand is trying desperately, with four minutes left, to run down Jordan Taylor.  It's crunch time in the championship, even after only two races.

The championship begins for real, with these sprint races.  Antonio Garcia is fending off Frederic Makowiecki for the final podium place in GT Le Mans.  Garcia is going for it, getting on the curb.  The #4 Corvette is not in this battle.  We have just a minute and a half remaining in this event.  We're into the final 60 seconds.  We expect the white flag, from turn six, onto Pine Avenue.  The Prototype leader clears the Corvette.

White flag.  It's the final lap.  Ooh!  Joey Hand runs wide!  The GT LM cars have great mechanical grip in one part of the track.  Jordan Taylor is clear to take a win in this race.  Bring it home.  Jordan and Ricky Taylor put their Konica Minolta Corvette Prototype on pole, and win at Long Beach!  In GT Le Mans, the race belongs to BMW and the #25 BMW RLL BMW Z4 GTE of Bill  Auberlen and Dirk Werner!  Bill Auberlen, now has won, at his favorite track!

Overall/Prototype: #10 Taylor/Taylor     Chevrolet Corvette Prototype
             GT Le Mans: #25 Auberlen/Werner    BMW Z4 GTE

So, Long Beach is in the books.  The Tudor Championship, will stay in California, for the next race, and head for another legendary speed palace.  Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on the Monterey Peninsula, in two weeks.

Ford EcoBoost's advances

How Ford has done so well with it's EcoBoost V6 engine, mounted in the rear of the Ganassi Racing Riley chassis in the Tudor Championship.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/ford-ecoboost-s-advances-041815?adbid=10153260815176052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051&adbsc=social_20150418_44220886&short_code=2tt00

Scott Pruett drives race cars -- and makes wines

A profile of sports car racing champion, Scott Pruett, by the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-scott-pruett-vineyard-wines-20150416-story.html

Prototype, GTLM Classes Headline Return To Long Beach

A preview, of tomorrow's Tudor Championship race, featuring the Prototype, and GT Le Mans classes, from IMSA's official website.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/prototypes-gtlm-classes-headline-return-long-beach

sports car racing news update

Some major developments in the realm of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with entry withdrawals, and additions of reserve cars... plus, other news.

Tincknell Completes Jota Sport Lineup for 6H Spa
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tincknell-completes-jota-sport-lineup-for-6h-spa/

Nissan Continues GT-R LM NISMO Testing in Kentucky
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-continues-gt-r-lm-nismo-testing-in-kentucky/

SARD-Morand Withdraws Entry, Riley Viper Confirmed for 24H Le Mans

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/sard-morand-withdraws-one-entry-riley-viper-confirmed-for-24h-le-mans/

34 Cars on 6H Spa Entry List
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/34-cars-on-6h-spa-entry-list/

65 Cars for 24H Le Mans Test Day
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/65-cars-for-24h-le-mans-test-day/

Marc Miller Completes Riley Dodge Viper Lineup for 24H Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/marc-miller-completes-rileyti-auto-lineup-for-24h-le-mans/

The most incredible and remarkable race battle: Audi vs. Porsche

This is why the FIA World Endurance Championship is so much fun to watch!  Audi vs. Porsche at Silverstone, last weekend.  Yours truly got very excited, watching this one on TV, and blogging it.

IMSA Confirms Multiple Engine Manufacturers, Bodywork for 2017

2017 P2 regulations, are coming together.  Sportscar365 has the details on the Tudor Championship's interpretation of the new global regulations, for the category, which is blended into their prototype division, with existing Daytona Prototype based cars, from the old Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-confirms-multiple-engine-manufacturers-bodywork-for-2017-lmp2/

Trans Am Series: Sebring

Click the link, and check out the opening race of the 2015 Trans Am Series, from Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida.

http://nasportscar.com/watch-trans-am-from-sebring/

FIA WEC: Audi battles Toyota, Porsche - wins Silverstone thriller

A summary, of the opening race of 2015 for the FIA World Endurance Championship, that was also highlighted on this blog... the 6 Hours of Silverstone.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/fia-wec-audi-battles-toyota-porsche-wins-silverstone-thriller-041215?adbsc=social_20150412_43687566&adbid=10153245321741052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051

Blancpain Endurance Series round 1: Monza

Round one of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series, from the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy.  The 3 Hours of Monza. Winning the race overall and in Pro, was the #19 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 (the first win for that car, in it's maiden event), driven by Fabio Babini, Jeroen Mul, and Andrew Palmer.  In Pro Am, it was the #333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 458 Italia, winning, in the hands of former Porsche racer Norbert Siedler, and Russia's Rinat Salikhov.

In the newly renamed Am class, it was Kessel Racing in their #111 Ferrari 458 Italia, winning the class, driven by Dr. Stephen Earle of the United States, (a veteran Ferrari driver in historic and GT racing), Aussie Liam Talbot, and Italy's Marco Zanuttini.

Overall/Pro: #19 Babini/Mul/Palmer     Lamborghini Huracan GT3
    
             Pro-Am: #333 Siedler/Salikhov  Ferrari 458 Italia
   
            Am: #111 Earle/Talbot/Zanuttini  Ferrari 458 Italia

Round two of the Blancpain Endurance Series, will be the 3 Hours of Silverstone at the Silverstone Circuit, in Silverstone, England, set to be run the third weekend in May. 

FIA World Endurance Championship: Six Hours of Silverstone, Hour 6 (the finish)

The #91 Porsche 911 RSR pits, and so do their rivals, the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.  Porsche beats Ferrari.  We have Porsche now leading in class, with the Manthey factory team.  The Porsche is going to be chasing down the Ferrari which has to pit yet.  It will be Michael Christensen against Gianmaria Bruni, as we're inside the last hour.  Marcel Fassler has a 9/10ths of a second lead over Neel Jani, with Sebastien Buemi third, in the Toyota.  Sam Bird battles with Pepe Derani for G Drive in LMP2.  Francois Perodo pits the Ferrari, with Victor Shaytar in a similar car, giving chase, in LM GTE Am.

Perrodo is out, and Rui Aguas, is in.  Audi and Porsche side by side in Luffield, through the twisty corners.  Marcel Fassler goes by Neel Jani.  Jani, is bested by the Audi, for now.  Will the advantage be enough to stop the 919 Hybrid?  Here comes the Porsche.  No dice for Jani!  This is amazing.  It's battery vs. diesel, and hybrid vs. petrol.  It's like the playbook in an NFL football game.  Sebastien Buemi is closing up.  He's doing 1:44's, while these other two blokes are doing 1:45 and 1:46 times as Marcel Fassler slides across the astro turf.

Neel Jani is in for the last stop of his race.  Fassler has gone through to the lead of this motor race.  Sebastien Buemi will take second.  He has to pit again and so does Stephane Sarrazin.  Oliver Jarvis is also in contention.  This is a long stop for much fuel for the Porsche.  Ooh.  Tires came out too late.  Was that one tire?  Yes.  Left front only.  Oh boy!  Toyota and Audi need stops.  But, for the Audi, it should be a splash and a dash.  The top three and four cars, have either Austrian or Swiss drivers, as ByKolles presses Control Alt. Delete, and it's game over for their car, between Farm and Village.

That car used to be the Lotus T128, but it has a new tub.  Meanwhile, Audi leads Toyota by 34 seconds.  When will Audi take their final pit stop?  It will be a quickie.  Kudos to Nissan.  They are getting ready for Le Mans.  They have a show car, here at Silverstone.  They are also racing in the Blancpain Endurance Series... a race you will find out about, on this blog.

Marcel Fassler clips the curb at Copse, and keeps pushing.  They will need the quick pit stop mentioned a bit earlier.  We're into the last half hour of this race.  Marcel Fassler is still leading as the two G Drive cars battle for LMP2.  Pepe Derani gets back on the lead lap.  The race leader under investigation, by the stewards, for something.  But, Marcel Fassler, continues to lead this race.  ESM could be on the podium in LMP2.

In the next five minutes, Audi, and Toyota, will need to pit.  #1 and #7 both need a splash.  Game on.  Mind the gap.  20 minutes to go.  Box, box, box.  Box, for a splash.  Buemi is in.  P2 leader, Felipe Derani is in pit lane.  No tires.  Fuel only.  A longer fill for Toyota.  Audi will have an advantage.  This is going to be close.  Oh my!  Stop and go penalty for the #7!  Come down the lane, twice.  That's too much.  The Porsche did the same thing, trying to get around the Aston Martin.  It was pulled, because he wasn't balked by the Aston.

Porsche engineers are telling Neel Jani about this penalty for Audi.  20 seconds in the lane, is lost time.  Audi will fight it.  But, get in and out quickly, to make up time.  Marcel Fassler has to pit.  He's seeing through the red haze.  Here comes the Audi.  Stop and go.  Fuel now, and then, the pit stop.  What drama in the last stages.  They'll actually still have to serve the penalty.  Say what?  Less then fifteen minutes to go in this race.

Audi just served the penalty.  Porsche runs wide.  Did Audi dodge a bullet?  Can they hang on for the win?  Marcel Fassler completes another lap.  195 laps done.  714 miles.  We're well past 1,000 kilometers.  Can Alex Wurz play a part here?  Pedro Lamy is doing well in LM GTE Am for Aston Martin, while Gianmaria Bruni leads LM GTE Pro.  Nine minutes to go.  The ELMS race yesterday, went down to contact, in a pass for the race lead.

Porsche is looking for two wins in two races, after winning the finale last year.  We have wheel to wheel racing.  Efficient technology, doesn't have to be tedious and boring.  Marcel Fassler leads by eight seconds.  1:43.4, 1:43.1, 1:43 flat.  1:44.3.  Buemi is closing up.  This race ain't over until the fat lady sings.  The FIA/ACO script writer, is demanding a raise, and is on the phone, now!  This is wild.

Tequila Patron ESM is running very well, before they get their new Ligier chassis for the next race.  Buemi is reeling in the Porsche.  New distance record for the Silverstone 6 Hours.  198 laps.  We're expecting 200+ laps.  Four and a half minutes to go.  198 laps, 725 miles.  It's a grandstand finish here, fans.  Three minutes to go.  Race Director Eduardo Freitas has done very, very well, making the calls on this race, with the virtual safety car.

Two laps to go.  Audi, Porsche, and Toyota, will be on the podium.  But, in what order?  One lap left.  Fassler has six seconds and can't afford to be held up.  He's pulling time out on Buemi.  Sam Bird will lead G Drive to a 1-2 in LMP2.  Ferrari and Aston Martin will secure LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am.  Is Fassler OK?  Will he get this done?  He's got three more corners at Silverstone, and, the #2 Audi R18 eTron Quattro of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer, and Benoit Treluyer.  They have their ninth win as a team.

Pedro Lamy, Matthias Lauda, and Paul Dalla Lana win LM GTE Am.  G Drive's Ligier Nissan's are 1-2 in LMP2 while LM GTE Pro is won by AF Corse and car #51 with Toni Vilander, and Gianmaria Bruni.

Overall/LMP1: #7 Fassler/Lotterer/Treluyer      Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 eTron Quattro

             LMP2: #26 Rusinov/Canal/Bird            G Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan

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

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

Round two, is the Six Hours of Spa Francorchamps, at the legendary, Spa Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes Forest, in Belgium, in three weeks.
   

FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Silverstone: Hour 5

We're into the last two hours of this race, everyone. Time flies when you're having fun.  The #95 Danish Aston Martin is in the pits.  Nicky Thiim is running very well.  Andre Lotterer still leads.  These blokes at Audi are running in the 1:42 range.  Toyota is in the lane with car #1.  Kazuki Nakajima stays in the car.  Tires are out.  But, they won't be needed.  Fuel only.  Here comes the #7 Audi.  A one minute stop for Toyota.  Tires are ready for car #7.  But, will they triple stint the tires?  No tire warming blankets are allowed in endurance racing, like they are in F1.  You can have an oven, that warms up the tires, behind your garage for the team.

Andre Lotterer is back on track now.  The Nakajima Toyota is off strategy as far as the tires, in comparison, with the Porsche's.  Strategy, fuel mileage, and tire usage, begin to converge now.  Marc Lieb is 30 seconds ahead of Nakajima.  Where is Andre Lotterer?  Porsche's GT squad, pits.  Michael Christensen brings the #91 in, and out.  Oh boy.  Oliver Jarvis hits Kristian Poulsen's Corvette C-7-R- and Poulsen, crashes.  Can fuel be stretched through two more pit stops?  We'll find out.

Nick Leventis also runs off the road in the Strakka Racing Dome.  This car (the Dome S103), is making it's race debut.  Leventis spun, on his own accord.  Maybe, there was a punctured tire.  One more lap until Marc Lieb pits the Porsche.  Fuel tactics come into play, and Porsche was masterful at it back in the old Group C days, 30 years ago.  Porsche, in the lane, now.  Nakajima takes the Toyota back to second.  Oh boy.  Oliver Jarvis takes the Audi off the road.  He spun off, and maybe, Ed Brown in the #31 ESM car, made a move.  Nope.  He hit the big curb on the inside of The Loop.

Jarvis says to the team, "I spun because the car jumped".  Nakajima remains second, lapping in the 1:43.2 range.  Neel Jani is also in contention, in the Porsche.  Now, we look at tire strategy.  If you used a new set in qualifying, you have to go back, and use that set, during the race. Problems persist for Larbre Competition and their Corvette.  Oliver Jarvis is in the pits, having service done on the Audi R18 eTron Quattro.  #8 might have a suspension problem.

Andre Lotterer is 34 seconds ahead of Kazuki Nakajima.  Richard Lietz is chasing the Ferrari's in LM GTE Pro.  Gianmaria Bruni is now ahead of James Calado.  We will soon have an hour and a half left in this race.  Patrick Dempsey gets passed by Francesco Castellaci, but not for position.  Porsche vs. Aston Martin.  This is his first time at Silverstone.  Andre Lotterer is still racing well, with a 1:41.4 lap time, despite the suspension troubles.

It is darker towards Stowe corner, named after Stowe school.  Lotterer is consistently the fastest driver on track at 1:42.4.  Audi, G Drive, AF Corse, and Aston Martin, lead their classes.  Neel Jani is pushing, and is at 1:44.  But, Andre Lotterer is going for it at a 1:43 flat.  We still have a good hour and 20 minutes of this race left to run.  It will come down to pit stops in the end of this race.  Neel Jani is pushing very hard.  KCMG has moved up to sixth overall, with Richard Bradley at the controls.

Toyota is taking over Dome.  But, they are also changing the name on the cars.  High level motorsport will be used as part of the global R&D for the company.  The calculators are smoking inm pit lane, looking at fuel mileage before the end of this one.  Audi has a 36 second lead.  An hour and ten minutes now remain.  Andre Lotterer has been amazing.  Stephane Sarrazin is running in the 1:43's while other Toyota drivers are in the 1:44 bracket.

Pit stop time for G Drive.  Sam Bird will take the car to the finish.  Ryan Dalziel has a loose seat in the lead ESM car.  Andre Lotterer has run a hero triple stint as Kazuki Nakajima is about to come in.  Nakajima pits.  Now, Porsche has a fuel advantage, within this last hour.  Neel Jani might get second.  Can he go another 15 minutes?  No.  That's going to be a bugaboo for Porsche.  Audi is in with Lotterer.  164 laps, 600 miles, complete.  Lotterer gets new tires.

We're going to be less than an hour from the finish. 

FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 4

Andre Lotterer has taken the lead from Anthony Davidson.  Audi, Toyota, Porsche, in the top three.  #2 is struggling.  #8 is still a lap down.  G Drive runs 1-2 in LMP2.  Ferrari leads both GTE Pro and GTE Am.  Nissan will have 1200 horsepower, and front wheel drive, when they debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.  Toyota has a 3.7 liter V8 with gasoline and a super capacitor.  Porsche has eight maga joules with the 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder, and Audi, with the flywheel and the 3.7 liter twin turbo V6.

The #92 car pits from LM GTE Pro P1.  Patrick Pilet brings the car in and Fred Makowiecki will get back in the car.  We've got three hours to go.  The Porsche has problems.  The new Nissan GT-R LM Nismo is here on display at Silverstone.  Andre Lotterer leads Anthony Davidson by 8.2 seconds.  The leaders run in the 1:43 bracket.  The LM GTE Pro Porsche factory car, has a damper issue, on the suspension system.  Audi, G Drive, and AF Corse lead this race.  AF Corse holds down both LM GTE Pro and Am.

This is a time certain race.  We have two hours and 46 minutes to go (the distance of a common Tudor Championship race).  Romain Dumas is now second as Anthony Davidson pits, and hands the Toyota TS040 over to a team mate.  Kazuki Nakajima is in the Toyota, now.  Nakajima can do this whole season.  He's a real star in Japan, who tried Formula One.  But, he's at home in sports cars.  Andre Lotterer pits the #7 Audi.  Lotterer will stay in the car.  Stefano Domenicali is now working for Audi, after being at Ferrari in F1, for many years.

Andre Lotterer is now second, with Romain Dumas leading.  109 laps completed.  398.94 miles.  Dimas has to stay out for one more lap.  We're on lap 111.  So, Dumas, has not stopped.  Maybe they know they can't keep pace with Audi and Toyota.  In LM GTE Pro, it's still AF Corse, with Toni Vilander in P1.  Romain Dumas leads LMP1, with G Drive leading LMP2, and again, the aforementjoned AF Corse Ferrari's, leading both LM GTE classes.

Porsche is stretching their fuel.  We'll see how effective that is.  Mike Conway is carving his way through GT traffic.  Ooh!  A big wiggle for Marc Lieb, running over the astro turf!  The upgrade in power is amazing, and it's a quantum leap.  But, the battery pack is smaller and lighter, for the Toyota.  Audi have also increased their flywheel unit by 100% and including the design of the magnets.

Use less power, but save fuel.  This is a golden era of sports car racing.  No gimmicks, either.  The drivers are at the top of their game, too.  They multitask behind the wheel.  Mike Conway passes Marc Lieb, who is on a different strategy, trying to save fuel.  Oh.  Audi #8 in the garage.  Loic Duval out.  Into the car comes Oliver Jarvis, for his first stint.  There's been a wreck, slightly.  The left hand headlight was partially out.

Mike Conway passes.  The reason why drivers do not run multiple types of racing, like they used to, is, they are scared to be beaten by another driver they've not heard of.  Stephane Sarrazin for Toyota, did some rallying last year, and that happened, to him.  The weather begins to change, and the skies are graying, while the wind picks up.  Now, the #8 Audi is cming back onto the track.  Oliver Jarvis is a new full season Audi endurance driver.

It is getting dark.  Stephen Trummer has the Kolles car back on the road.  The #36 Alpine is well out, but, if you remember, Paul Loup Chatin, had a wheel break.  #31 for ESM had it's problems.  But, the sister car, (#30), with Scott Sharp at the controls, could get their third consecutive WEC podium.  AF Corse's Ferrari's are 1-2 in GTE Am.  Porsche and Aston Martin, in hot pursuit.  Kazuki Nakajima is trying to chase down Andre Lotterer.  Oliver Jarvis is back on the track, lapping in the 1:43 range.

The Audi has been fixed, for the time being.  Lotterer is still in the lead as car #35 goes wide.  It's the Oak Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan, with Jacques Nicolet, Jean-Marc Merlin, and Erik Maris.  The ByKolles CLM AER is the only privateer car here.  Rebellion Racing, is taking a couple races off, to rebuild their cars, to accommodate the new engines, since they will no longer use their Toyota V8s from last year.

The #47 KCMG car has Richard Bradley at the controls, and is back in the fray.  The dark clouds have blown over, and there will be no rain at Silverstone.  The weather is lightening around Silverstone now.  The CLM ByKolles car, has had a pit lane penalty.  #35 is pitting, and Jacques Nicolet will get in.  The #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is pitting.  Matthias Lauda will take over from Paul Dalla Lana.

Andre Lotterer has looked after his tires, and now, he's gaining over Kazuki Nakajima.  It's been nip and tuck for the last couple laps.  Marc Lieb, is also coming.  In pit lane, it takes a minute and 25 seconds, for fuel and tires, and maybe just over a minute, for fuel.  Half of the circuit is in one county and half in the other, between Northamptonshire and Puddinghamshire.  Grab a coffee, and get ready for the sprint to the finish.  We're going to be into the last two hours of this one, chaps.

FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Silverstone: Hour 3

We are still on the lead battle.  The Audi is ahead of the Porsche.  Watch the #18 Porsche.  Use the traffic as a pick, and blast down the inside.  Porsche re-takes the lead.  Audi has not been officially scored as the leader yet.  Two hours of tooth and nail, wheel to wheel racing, only in the FIA WEC, folks.  Get your money's worth!  Romain Rusinov leads LMP2 ahead of Ricardo Gonzalez.  Porsche tries again, on the dirty side.  Audi tries into Brooklands for the over under.  No chance?  He tries.,  He tries.  The Posche comes back again!  Audi cannot lead a lap!

Into Maggots/becketts, the Pporsche still has the advantage.  This is bonkers!  The Porsche gets held up by the Astron Martin FGT car.  Watch out so you don't run out of power.  This is amazing, and clean racing.  Absolutely unreal!  Eight mega joules is good for the Porsche, and four, is good for the Audi.  Andre Lotterer watches this, just as intently as we do, as fans.  In replay, we see the Audi try, but can't do it.  Porsche lead, but only just.  Audi is coming.  Toyota is close behind.  The G Drive Ligier's lead LMP2.  Porsche, Ferrari, Aston, race for LM GTE Pro.  Christian Ried, leads LM GTE Am.

Fassler chases Jani.  One of the Aston Martin's is losing fluid.  Audi is trying for the lead, still.  On the outside, and Audi, takes the lead.  The four rings, lead the Stuttgart Shield.  The gap is closing.  Nissan says their GT-R LM will need to be rocket ship fast.  They run a 3.0 liter V6 with twin turbos driving the front wheels.  Nissan will debut at Le Mans.  Can't wait.  Loic Duval is coming back into the picture.  He's five laps down.  But, if he gains one back, could he start going for it?  Neel, it's a different Audi.  Say what?  Anthony Davidson is now third, and he's closing, too.

This is going to be incredible, folks.  LMP3 is another category that is coming to the fore, and will begin racing, next year.  I want more.  There's not enough of this race left.  Enjoy it.  Savor it.  Eat it up!  Duval is blocked by the #72 Ferrari.  Oops.  The HPD spins.  Neel Jani still leads, but Lopic Duval races around the outside to get a position.  This is not a lead battle, though.  Duval tries getting a lap back.

ESM is third in LMP2, while Patrick Dempsey and Patrick Long, are seventh, in LM GTE Am.  Lena Gade tells her driver, that the telemetry is dropping in and out on Marcel Fassler's car.  Anthony Davidson pits.  New tires, or no new tires?  Toyota, in.  No tires out.  Will they take two tires?  No tires at all.  This stop, could make a difference.  He's double stinting the Michelins with just over three and a half hours to go.

Audi, is in the lane.  Fassler pits from second.  Green flag stops well underway.  This is the #7.  Oh boy.  The #2 Toyota of Mike Conway brushes with the #50 Corvette C-7-R- of Gianluca Roda.  Working lap 81.  Neel Jani leads over Mike Conway.  81 laps.  296 miles.  Leader in the pits, now working 82 laps.  Romain Dumas is going to take over the lead Porsche 919.  The #47 KCMG car goes to the garage. Nick Tandy, Richard Bradley, and Matthew Howson, continue to have problems. Andre Lotterer races the fastest first sector time, pursuing, the Porsche.

The race has a really good rhythm right now.  But, as mentioned earlier, the #17 Porsche is out.  So, they have two bullets in the gun, at the moment.  Toyota's are back at the front.  Mike Conway is being told to push.  Dig into the faster drawer, and see what's there.  Andre Lotterer runs a 1:42.8.  Holy cow!  Lotterer passes, or tries to.  Conway defends, and Audi passes.  Mike Conway likely doesn't have all of his 1,000+ horsepower.

The #2 Toyota is not running as well as it could be.  He's losing pace.  Can the Audi do anything with Anthony Davidson?  Mike Conway went off the road in Abbey.  Problems for Larbre Corvette.  Gianluca Roda will serve a one minute pit penalty.  It's a stop, and a one minute hold.  The #4 ByKolles prototype comes from the garage, back on the track.  That's the CLM.  It's had a problem of some sort.  Not sure what.

Second and third in LM GTE Pro are two AF Corse Ferrari's.  Gianmaria Bruni ahead of James Calado.  Calado is of Italian heritage, but is a Brit.  Patrick Pilet leads the LM GTE Pro class in the factory #92 Porsche.  Roald Goethe leads LM GTE Am in the #96 Aston Martin.  Goethe sharing with Stuart Hall and Francesco Castellaci.  Ooh!  Davidson pits, but h has a piece of debris under the nose.

Toyota, in the lane.  No new nose for the car.  Down and away.  The car has 400+ horsepower from the super capacitor.  It is more efficient, and allows the team to bump start the car, without having to stress the starter motor on exit from the pits.  Who will lift the RAC trophy at the end of this race?  We'll find out afterwards.  We've got half of this race left to go.  Davidson still leads over Andre Lotterer.  Four major automakers in one series, with four different ways of racing with hybrid power.

Andre Lotterer is closing up on his competition.  Anthony Davidson still leads.  Two former FIA WEC world champions, battle.  In the LMS race, LMP3 cars made their worldwide debut.  Loic Duval, meanwhile, is trying the Toyota.  He can';t get there, and now, he's let his team mate by.  Game on again, between two Audi's and a Toyota.  Toyota, Audi, Audi.  Audi has not led a lap in this race yet.  The power between these cars, are similar.

Leader has to go around the long way.  Andre Lotterer wants by.  He can't get there.  96 laps in.  Davidson gets swamped by one Audi.  Will he get swamped by another into Brooklands and Luffield?  Davidson has to defend over Duval.  This is not a pass for position.  Davidson doesn't want this, though.  Loic Duval needs to get by Andre Lotterer and unlap himself, in case we get a safety car.  Audi leads this race, for the first time.

Pit stops coming up in 12 laps, or 24 minutes.  Romain Dumas is closing on Anthony Davidson.  Porsche is still in the fight.  These boys have some Ferrari GT cars to pass.  Where is Romain Dumas?  Dumas is coming. 

FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Silverstone: Hour 2

Mark Webber still leads Marc Lieb and Sebastien Buemi.  The Audi's are racing in the 1:40 bracket, and are a second quicker than the leading factory Porsche's.  The cool part about FIA WEC, is the battle between the factory teams in Prototype, and in LM GTE on the Pro and Am sides of the classes.  Sam Bird leads LMP2 for G Drive right now.  The #88 Porsche also ran in the four hour European Le Mans Series race, yesterday.  A race, you will a short report on, on this blog, soon.

These blokes are flying, at around 270 kilometers an hour.  But, we've got another full course yellow, for a busted barrier.  #72 is in the pits.  270 clicks is 168 miles an hour.  The cars in the WEC have a new system, to slow the cars.  They call it a marshal in the cockpit, and it's made by Magnetti Marelli.  Paul Loup Chatin was OK, after crashing the Alpine.  In 20 seconds, we're back to green.  The virtual safety car, seems to be working.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  Go.  We're green at Silverstone.  The Audi takes advantage, and Benoit Treluyer makes a pass on the Toyota.  But, the Toyota TS040 is still going for it.

Pass for position.  Lucas di Grassi is now up to fourth.  Benoit Treluyer is quickest.  Has the Toyota recharged?  It's super capacitor, gets beaten, by Audi's flywheel system.  Treluyer is now closing on Marc Lieb, in the Porsche.  Audi is coming, and fast.  The capacitor was not full on the Toyota.  The diesel turbo of the Audi, has more power, than the Toyota.  Nick Tandy loses a spot to Ryan Dalziel in the first ESM car.  1:44s for the Porsche's, and 1:42s for the Porsche's.  It's a see saw battle, and the Audi's are in the pound seats at the moment.

Audi engineer Lena Gade says, "OK, Ben.  Watch out for Lucas."  No team orders.  Just don't take each other out.  Mark Webber still leads this race.  Alexey Basov and Gianluca Roda, battle each other in LM GTE Am.  Meanwhile, #51 pits and Gianmaria Bruni is relieved by Toni Vilander.  Davide Rigon leads LM GTE Pro at this point.  Don't let the sunshine fool you.  It's chilly at Silverstone.  So, the tire techs are scrambling.

Ooh!  A wiggle from Paul Dalla Lana, and Marc Lieb almost gets chopped!  That's a quick part of the track between Abbey and Village.  Sebastien Buemi is fifth overall.  The team manager for the #91 Porsche of Michael Christensen in GTE Pro, is called to the stewards office.  Now, pit stop time for Porsche prototype #17.  We have a lead change.  Marc Lieb in the #18 leads.  But the dolly's are out.  The leader is in the garage.  Mark Webber, has a problem.  The brakes are hot.  Mark Webber gets out.  The car needs to be serviced.

New driver.  Ooh.  Lieb gets sideways.  Now, between Vale and Stowe, the Audi's are flying.  The Porsche doesn't like the traffic, as Treluyer passes di Grassi.  They do some off roading.  di Grassi is off the road, and his tires, are trashed!  Treluyer goes way off, and so does the team car.  How did he think he'd get around Abbey flat out?  Not a chance!  Treluyer had no hope in a million years of making that turn!

#17 remains in the garage as Brendon Hartley will take over as soon as the servicing is done.  Marc Lieb runs a 1:47.  It's slower than Audi, and the Porsche's are not as good in traffic as the Audi's are.  Huge work on the rear drive line of the car.  The hybrid cars are All-Wheel Drive.  They have a turbocharger system.  Loic Duval will change over and get into the #8 Audi.  The GTE cars are in the way.  Pardon me.  Coming through.

Drama for Porsche.  Audi is booking it, to catch up with the boys from Weissach.  It's the battle of the Germans.  Weissach vs. Ingolstadt.  Audi #8 has hit the garage.  Was there contact between the Audi team cars?  #8 is now back in the race, running fifth.  Loic Duval is not happy about this.  Just amazing.  Sebastien Buemi is now third in the #1 Toyota.  Porsche, Audi, Toyota.  Alex Wurz in the #2 is on a different strategy.

Marc Lieb is leading.  But, Audi is coming.  Onto the National straight towards Brooklands, Luffield, and Woodcote.  This is incredible.  Through Copse, Maggots, and Becketts.  These cars have tons of grip.  Amazing.  The Audi is the quickest of the top three makes in this series.  Treluyer can take the lead now.  Through Aintree, onto te Wellington straight.  This is a huge battle.  #1 pits.  Anthony Davidson takes over, and has been third in the overall.  Porsche, Audi, Toyota.

Benoit Treluyer slices around the Porsche, into the lead, at Becketts!  But, the Porsche comes back!  This is incredible!  The Porsche leads, and now, Audi is in the lane.  Alex Wurz is now up to second.  Marc Lieb pits, and now, Neel Jani, takes over the Porsche.  The #17 car is still in the garage, and has lost nine laps.  Neel Jani is at the controls, as mentioned.  He is one of many Swiss sports car drivers.  KCMG is in the box.  They have a water pressure issue on the #47 car.

Danny Watts and Strakka, move up.  Aston Martin and Porsche still battle in LM GTE Pro.  Porsche and Audi still battle.  Porsche has the straightaway speed, while Audi, has the downforce in the corners.  Danny Watts continues to run well in the Strakka LMP2 car.  Trying to sort out who is where in LMP2 at the moment.  Some people need four stops to the end of this race.  Others need five or six, as far as pit strategy.  Neel Jani fends off the challenge from Marcel Fassler.

Alexander Wurz is still in the #2 Toyota, and did not do a driver or tire change.  Track position.  Christoffer Nygaard is still ahead of Michael Christensen.  Crhsitensen wants to pass.  No dice.  They came into Vale, and there was no chance.  Pardon me.  That's through Luffield and Woodcote.  The Audi comes to second.  Porsche passes Audi!  Push the Super Mario button!  Through Village and into The Loop, is where that happened.  Now, Audi does well in Becketts and Chapel.

This racing is monstrous.  The straightline speed from the Porsche is bonkers, and the Audi's grip, is also off the charts.  Spa Francorchamps is next.  That's going to be just as good.  Neel Jani continues to hold off the Audi.  It's batteries vs. flywheel.  Audi through Copse, wants it, and can't get it.  Marcel Fassler is trying the Porsche.  He got too close.  Some aero understeer.  In the meantime, the lead battle in GTE Pro is hot.  Davide Rigon vs. Fred Makowiecki.

Davide Rigon is headed for the lane.  Strakka pits.  Danny Watts out.  New driver in.  Jonny Kane takes over.  Working lap 62.  Audi goes down the inside into The Loop.  Porsche passes.  Can Marcel Fasssler stick with the Porsche down the Wellington straight?  No.  Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich is on the horn to the Audi brass, saying, "guys, we need MORE power!"  Toyota still leads this race overall.  This is incredible racing.  Fans, turn on your television's and watch this!

#2 Toyota, pits.  But, the #17 Porsche is out.  Game over.  Audi goes for it, and is all over the sister #18 Porsche. Great pit stop for the #2 Toyota.  Neel Jani leads in the second Porsche.  Rear right brakes have a problem, though. 

FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Silverstone: Hour 1

Round one of the FIA World Endurance Championship, is now.  We are in the midlands of England, at the legendary Silverstone circuit.  Porsche has pole for this race, with the #17 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard, and Brendon Hartley, starting from P1.  Six hours ahead of us, blokes.  Let's go racing.  We will see all the races, on Fox Sports, this year.  Who will lift the Tourist Trophy?

In qualifying, the Larbre Competition Corvette got pipped by Aston Martin in LM GTE Am, while the other Aston's, got pole in LM GTE Pro.  G Drive Nissan has pole for LMP2.  In LMP1, Porsche has pole, as Brendon Hartley and Mark Webber, along with Timo Bernhard, take the pole.  The cars roll off on their formation lap.  There's tension everywhere.  Here we go.  It's down to Porsche.  The safety car pulls of.  Take a deep breath.  Get ready.  Go!  Mark Webber leads the way, and we're on it.  Toyota and Porsche for the lead.  Here comes the Audi.  Four wide!  Wow.  Porsche holds on to first and second.

Lucas di Grassi challenges Sebastien Buemi and one of the Porsche's.  Strakka and G Drive tap each other.  Oh!  The Strakka Ligier had a spin.  Romain Dumas holds second.  Mark Webber is also going well.  They fly down Hangar straight as Mark Webber is breaking away from the pack.  Aston Martin leads Porsche in LM GTE Pro.  Awful start for Benoit Treluyer in one of the Audi's.  Ooh.  Into Vale, there was a change in position.  Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Toyota, Toyota.

Sebastien Buemi, leads Alexander Wurz.  The Porsche's are already pulling away.  Paolo Ruberti leads in the new Larbre Competition Corvette C-7-R- in LM GTE Am.  Darren Turner takes second and Nicky Thiim leads in LM GTE Por.  Both are Aston Martin drivers.  Benoit Treluyer sets fast lap and beats Allan McNish's old record.  1:41.7 is the best lap time.  Sebastien Buemi passes.  Audi tries to pass Porschee.  Lucas di Grassi gets the pass done through Village and into The Loop.

Nick Tandy is leading LMP2 over the G Drive cars.  But, the #4 ByKolles prototype is in the garage.  Mark Webber has 1.4 seconds in the lead.  Buemi and Di Grassi are next.  In GTE Pro, there's a scrum between Aston Martin and the two Porsche's.  SMP Racing's Ferrari has been flagged by the stewards.  Porsche takes the early lead.  But, there's a long way to go yet.  Treluyer tries to pass Jacques Nicolet's private Ligier Nissan.

Nick Tandy fends off the challenge of Luis Philippe Derani.  Nick Tandy will race the Porsche prototype at round two at Spa Francorchamps, and also, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, round three.  The cars run down to Abbey and are now into Copse on the far side of the circuit.  Alex Wurz has to lift.  These boys and girls can really drive.  Pepe Derani passes into Brooklands.  Whoa!  Tandy says, "I'm not done with you yet, sunshine."  Through Woodcote, there's still a battle.

Derani makes a copybook pass.  In the meantime, Alexander Wurz has got Lucas Di Grassi all over him like a rash.  No dice into turn one.  Whoops.  That was Copse and through Becketts.  Wow.  They brake late through Maggots/Becketts.  These cars are flying.  It's amazing to watch.  Can the Porsche's manage their tires and their batteries?  We'll see.  Benoit Treluyer cannot get any data from the crew.  They've got a second system for data at Audi, though.  So, no worries.

The leader passes Patrick Dempsey's Porsche.  It is the #77 shared by Patrick Dempsey, Patrick Long, and Marco Seefried.  Through The Loop and Aintree, and now, onto the Wellington straight.  The Audi drivers are told to watch what the Toyota's are up to.  Amazing speed through these corners.  It's fun to watch where these cars are stronger at certain spots on the track, while Jon Fogarty in the #31 ESM HPD roadster, gets swallowed up.

Car #7 had a slow start and he couldn't get away.  Treluyer is in the #7 sharing with Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer.  The chase is on.  #7 sets fast lap, and a new track record.  Porsche remains 1-2.  Ferrari leads LM GTE Pro.  But, are they playing a fuel saving game?  Alex Wurz drops off the third place battle, just barely.  Comparing these sports cars with Formula One, the WEC prototypes, are quicker than some of the slower Formula One cars.  So, they are ahead of the back four of a Grand Prix, but in a car that is twice as heavy, and has 1,000+ horsepower.

We watch the LM GTE Am battle, too.  Mark Webber leads by 4.5 seconds over Romain Dumas.  Sam Bird leads P2 ahead of Pepe Derani.  Both drive for G Drive.  Aston Martin leads GTE Pro and in GTE Am, it's the Porsche #88 of Klaus Bachler, for Abu  Dhabi Proton Racing, sharing with Khaled al-Qubaisi, and Christian Ried.  Jacques Nicolet has been having throttle problems in the #35 Oak Racing Ligier Nissan. 

Porsche and Aston Martin are pushing, as Romain Dumas also passes.  Recall, the North American Porsche team took each other out of the Tudor Championship opener, the Roles 24.  Mark Webber is six seconds clear of Romain Dumas.  But, everyone else, is pushing, and going at it, hammer and tongs.  We watch Patrick Pilet chasing Richie Stanaway.  Richie Stanaway runs a 2:04.9.  He's holding up some of the quicker LM GTE cars.  The racing at the front is still competitive.

We are now under yellow as a P2 car lost a wheel.  Paul Loup-Chatain has wrecked the Signatech Nissan, smashing the wall.  Pit stop time.  You need to get to pit lane, now.  #1 Toyota, has been in.  G Drive leading P2, has also pitted.  The race director, will count down on the radio, to the drivers, before the restart.  Both AF Corse Ferrari's (#51, and #71), pit.  The entire LMP2 field also comes in. 

Sam Bird leads in the #26 G Drive Ligier, in LMP2.  Both Porsche's pit.  The Porsche's are in.  We're still under yellow.  Track clear.  We're counting down to the green flag.  The Audi's are going to be in, too.  Porsche takes a new set of tires.  12:45.  30 seconds to a green flag.  Webber is down and away.  15 seconds to green.  Listen to Edoardo Freitas count down.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  We're back to racing.  Now, the #2 Toyota, and one of the Audi's pit.  #2 is still on the jacks.  You cannot change the tires until the fuel is in.

Only two rattle guns are allowed to change tires.  Marc Lieb takes over from Romain Dumas in the #18 Porsche.  The tires could have gone further.  At Le Mans, we see double and triple tire stints, as Paul Dalla Lana, spins, in the #98 LM GTE Am Aston Martin, missing his braking point.  The ByKolles AER car is coming through the picture.  In this event, you can't drive through the pits, without stopping, if you have a penalty. 

We're going to see some very quick laps now.  Set purple sector times.  Fastest of all.  New fast lap.  1:40.836 by Benoit Treluyer.  Lucas di Grassi runs a 1:40.875.  The two Audi's are fourth and fifth.  Webber leads Lieb.  No safety car under yellows.  The controlled speed, is 60 kilometers per hour, or 37 miles per hour.  We watch some slow motion replays.  Those are fun to see.  The Larbre Competition Corvette is running well in GTE. 

Danny Watts is doing his best, in the Strakka Racing Dome at the moment.  We cotninue to watch the GTE battle, intently.  Aston Mmartin, in the lane.  Stuart Hall pits the #99 car in LM GTE Pro.  Nicky Thiim is doing well.  Darren Turner passes Gianluca Roda.  Both factory GT Porsches are in the lane, going shorter on fuel than the Aston Martin's.  Porsche #91 pits.  The tires are being changed.  Nicky Thiim is still piloting the #95 Aston Martin.

 

New Chapter: Patrick Dempsey excited for FIA WEC debut

Patrick Dempsey starts his career as an FIA World Endurance Championship driver, tomorrow, in the 6 Hours of Silverstone.  Look for the race report, and individual reports on all six hours, beginning, tomorrow morning.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/patrick-dempsey-excited-for-fia-wec-debut-041115?adbsc=social_20150411_43658956&adbid=10153242457821052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051

Webber Porsche Claims Silverstone WEC Pole

Mark Webber, sharing his #17 Porsche 919 Hybrid with Brendon Hartley will start from pole for the Six Hours of Silverstone, tomorrow.  Stay tuned, for the full race report, and highlights, from each of the six hours.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/04/11/webber-porsche-claims-silverstone-wec-pole/

2015 FIA WEC season launches in London ahead of first race

Tomorrow, is the 6 Hours of Silverstone... the first race of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship.  Stay tuned, for hourly reports, from all six hours here, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/02/2015-fia-wec-season-launches-in-london-ahead-of-first-race/

Also, here's the official race entry list.

http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-silverstone/official-entry-list.html

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Sebring

Round two of the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, at Sebring International Raceway.  The Microsoft Visual Studio 150. 

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-microsoft-visual-studio-race-broadcast

The next CTSCC race is at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, coming up three weeks from now.

more sports car racing news

More sports car racing news you can use via Sportscar365.

IMSA News & Notes
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-news-notes-4-8/

17 Cars on Long Beach Entry List
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/17-on-long-beach-entry-list/

Team SARD-Morand Withdraws from 6H Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/team-sard-morand-withdraws-from-silverstone/

Van Overbeek Ruled Out of 6H, Silverstone, Brabham to Sub
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/van-overbeek-ruled-out-for-6h-silverstone/

IMSA Releases Pre-Long Beach, Monterey, GTLM BoP Adjustments
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-releases-pre-long-beach-monterey-gtlm-bop-adjustments/

Bird: "LMP2 is a Natural Progression for Me"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bird-lmp2-is-a-natural-progression-for-me/

Webber: "I learned a lot the first year"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/webber-i-learned-a-lot-the-first-year/

Silverstone Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-thursday-notebook-3/

The new Mercedes AMG GT3 testing at the Nurburgring

A video of the new Mercedes AMG GT3 testing at the Nurburgring, after the ban on GT3 spec cars, was lifted.

FIA WEC Adopts Le Mans Style Starting Procedure

All in fun, and tradition, the FIA World Endurance Championship is set to adopt a traditional Le Mans style starting procedure.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fia-wec-adopts-le-mans-style-starting-procedure/

IMSA Places Pla on Probation after Sebring Practice Incident

Krohn Racing's Olivier Pla is on probation for the rest of the 2015 Tudor Championship season after his practice incident at Sebring International Raceway.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-places-pla-on-probation-after-sebring-practice-incident/

2016 Porsche 991 GT-3-R testing on track

A video of the new 2016 Porsche 991 GT-3-R testing, at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, in Monza, Italy, via Motorsport.com.  Click the link, to watch, and enjoy.

http://www.motorsport.com/gt/video/main-gallery/2016-porsche-991-gt3-r-testing-at-monza

Nordschleife's GT3 ban lifted

The ban on GT3 spec sports cars at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, after Jann Mardenborough's horrendous accident, has been lifted.  There will be strict speed limits, at three sections of the track, however.  Funny, though.  A speed limit, on a race track, doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

http://www.motorsport.com/vln/news/nordschleife-s-gt3-ban-lifted

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Round 2: Sebring

The second race of the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge was the Microsoft Visual Studio 150 at Sebring International Raceway, in support of the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Check it out.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-microsoft-visual-studio-race-broadcast

CTSCC teams and drivers, will return to action, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey California, in May.

Algarve pulls out of ELMS season-opener, removed from Le Mans reserves list

Algarve is having issues with their new race car, won't race at the season opening European Le Mans Series event, and is no longer on the reserves list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  SMP Racing, is also, having their own conundrums to deal with right now.

http://www.motorsport.com/elms/news/algarve-pulls-out-of-elms-season-opener-removed-from-le-mans-reserves-list

FIA, ACO Targeting Release of 2017 LMP2 Proposal Next Month

Next month, we will see the official release, of the proposed 2017 LMP2 regulations by the FIA and the ACO.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/fia-aco-targeting-release-of-2017-lmp2-proposal-next-month/

New KTM X-Bow GT4 Coupe Breaks Cover

Introducing the new, KTM X-Bow GT4 Coupe.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/04/03/new-ktm-x-bow-gt4-coupe-breaks-cover.html

Jarvis: LMP1 speeds will rocket this season

Audi factory driver, Oliver Jarvis, says the speeds of the LMP1 cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship, will be even faster, this year.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/jarvis-lmp1-speeds-will-rocket-this-season

DeltaWing set for street racing debut

How will the DeltaWing fair in it's first race on a street circuit?  We won't find out, for a couple weeks, when the Tudor Championship hits the streets of Long Beach, California, in a couple weeks.  But, to preview things, here is an interview, with drivers Katherine Legge, and Memo Rojas.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/deltawing-set-street-racing-debut

Davidson: Third Toyota entry at Le Mans makes no sense

Toyota, is the only top automaker entering a car at Le Mans, with two cars on the team, as opposed to three.  Anthony Davidson believes this is the right move.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/davidson-third-toyota-entry-at-le-mans-makes-no-sense

2020 Vision: Q&A with IMSA President Scott Atherton

An interview, with IMSA President, Scott Atherton

http://www.imsa.com/articles/2020-vision-qa-imsa-president-scott-atherton

Nordschleife tragedy: Why Nurburgring 24 magic must live on

Motorsport.com Editor-in-Chief Charles Bradley, writes about the magic of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, and how that magic, could end, if GT3 spec production sports cars, like Nissan GT-R driven by Jann Mardenborough in the fatal accident last weekend that killed a fan, cannot race at "The Green Hell".

http://www.motorsport.com/vln/news/nordschleife-tragedy-why-nurburgring-24-magic-must-live-on

Is Porsche really the new LMP1 top dog?

Porsche was fastest at the prologue test at Paul Ricard for the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Is that, a sign of things to come?

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/is-porsche-really-the-new-lmp1-top-dog

FIA WEC Inks Landmark Live TV Deal with Fox Sports

No, this is not an April Fool's joke.  The FIA World Endurance Championship, will have their races, broadcast in North America on Fox Sports.  More details, to come.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fia-wec-inks-landmark-live-tv-deal-with-fox-sports/