Le Mans Test Day: Porsche beats 2014 pole time and rivals

Porsche is on top for the test day at Le Mans. Watch out, for Stuttgart, in the 24 Hours. It will be a battle between Audi, Porsche, Toyota, and Nissan. But, it will be the two Volkswagen group heavyweights, who might have a say in who wins the race, two weeks from now.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/le-mans-test-day-porsche-beats-2014-pole-time-and-rivals

Between now, and the race, also look for a full report of round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship, from Spa Francorchamps, back in May.  Yours truly has not been able to get around to writing about that race, yet.  But, something is coming.  Trust me.  Stay tuned.

Le Mans Test Day: Porsche tops morning session

Porsche is fastest in the morning session at the Le Mans test.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/le-mans-test-day-porsche-tops-morning-session

They have also beaten the lap record.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/porsche-beats-le-mans-test-day-lap-record/?v=11&s=1

More to come, as the test day goes on.  There will be another update, later.  Stay tuned.

Blancpain Endurance Series round 2: Silverstone

Von Ryan Racing, and McLaren won the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at the Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England last weekend, with the #58 McLaren 650S GT3 of Rob Bell, of England, France's Kevin Estre, and New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen, taking the overall win. 

In the Pro Am category, it was Aston Martin and the #32 Leonard Motorsport Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 shared by British drivers Stuart Hall, Michael Meadows, and Paul Wilson, winning.  In the Am division, Boutsen Ginion won with their BMW Z4 GT3 in the hands of a duo team, of Luxembourg's Olivier Grotz, and Saudi Arabia's Karim Ojjeh.

Overall/Pro: #58 Bell/Estre/van Gisbergen     McLaren 650S GT3
             Pro Am: #32 Hall/Meadows/Wilson  Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3
             Am: #15 Grotz/Ojjeh                         BMW Z4 GT3

Round three of the championship, happens, in another three weeks, the 1,000 Kilometers of Paul Ricard at the Le Castellet circuit in Le Castellet, France.  This year, that race has been moved forward by at least two weeks into mid June, instead of running a date the first weekend in July, and will be the halfway mark of the 2015 championship.

Fittipaldi leads Corvette DP 1-2-3 sweep in qualifying at Detroit

Christian Fittipaldi is on pole in Detroit, Michigan, at the Belle Isle street course, for tomorrow's Tudor Championship race.  Yours truly, will have a race report.  But, it will be delayed, somewhat, probably until Sunday or Monday.  Stay tuned, for that, and more sports car racing action.  Some more stories, are in the pipeline.  I promise.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/tudor-detroit-corvette-leads-qualifying-052915?adbsc=social_20150530_46695156&adbid=10153363618796052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051

Faces Behind Ford's EcoBoost campaign

Ford heads into their home race as the Tudor Championship tackles the streets of The Motor City in Detroit, Michigan this weekend.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/faces-behind-ford-s-ecoboost-campaign-052915?adbsc=social_20150529_46653646&adbid=10153362231756052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051

Le Mans Test Thursday Notebook

Notes from the opening (unloading) day, for the test session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans from John Dagys and Laurent Mercier, for Sportscar365.

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

SpeedSource Scales Back to Single Mazda Prototype for Detroit

For this weekend's Tudor Championship race at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, SpeedSource Mazda, will run only one car, instead of running both of their SkyActiv diesel prototypes.  The entry for this weekend's event will be car #07 in the hands of Joel Miller and Tom Long, while the #70 machine normally driven by Jonathan Bomarito and Tristan Nunez, stays at the team's shop.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/speedsource-scales-back-to-single-mazda-prototype-for-detroit/

Stirling Moss selling vintage Porsche race car at auction

Sir Stirling Moss, will sell his person 1961 Porsche RS61 race car, at auction.  Here are the details.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/cars-porsche-racecar-stirling-moss-052815?adbsc=social_20150528_46614286&adbid=10153359988391052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051

More Le Mans news

Some of these headlines from motorsport.com, are over a week old.  But, they are still relevant, to Le Mans, coming up, soon, especially, the test day, this weekend.

Finishing Le Mans a realistic aim for Nissan - Mardenborough

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/finishing-le-mans-a-realistic-aim-for-nissan-mardenborough/?v=11&s=1

OAK Racing Prepares for the Test Day!
http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/oak-racing-prepares-for-the-test-day/?v=11&s=1

Duval has no fears on Le Mans return
http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/duval-has-no-fears-on-le-mans-return/?v=11&s=1

Onroak Automotive at the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/onroak-automotive-at-the-2015-le-mans-24-hours/?v=11&s=1

Nissan to run retro Group C livery at Le Mans
http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/nissan-to-run-retro-group-c-livery-at-le-mans/?v=11&s=1

Bird aiming to fly in LMP2 battle at Le Mans
http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/bird-aiming-to-fly-in-lmp2-battle-at-le-mans/?v=11&s=1

Cox (Nissan): "Our Goal is to Get Three Cars Through the End of Day"

With the test session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans looming, (this weekend), here are the thoughts of program director, Darren Cox.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/cox-nissan-its-been-a-huge-amount-of-work/

Max Chilton drives the R90CK Pole Car

Current Nissan FIA WEC factory driver Max Chilton, (who will be on the team when the new Nissan GT-R LM debuts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a couple of weeks), had the chance to drive one of Nissan's legendary Le Mans racers at the famed Goodwood circuit in England recently.  The 1990 R90CK Group C racer, that took pole for that year's Le Mans 24 Hour race in the hands of Formula One and sports veteran, and Chilton's fellow Brit, Mark Blundell.

Lamborghini Sets Huracan GT3 Testing, Customer Delivery Plan

Lamborghini has announced full plans to test, and deliver the new Huracan GT3 race car, to customer teams, later in the year, while still focusing on their current one-car team involvement in the Blancpain Endurance Series with Grasser Motorsports.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/lamborghini-sets-huracan-gt3-testing-customer-delivery-plan/

AAI Launches 24H Le Mans Program in Taiwan

AAI Motorsports, from Taiwan, has announced their program for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a few weeks, and they received two automatic invitations into the race, due to their participation in the Asian Le Mans Series last year.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/aai-motorsports-launches-24h-le-mans-program-in-taiwan/

Bentley Targeting Launch of Global Single Make Series

Porsche, and Ferrari have done this.  Now, Bentley, wants to run a global, single make championship, for their Continental GT3 race car.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/bentley-targeting-launch-of-international-single-make-series/

Pirelli World Challenge Round 3: Barber Motorsports Park

Check out the link to the race coverage for Pirelli World Challenge from Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

http://www.world-challengetv.com/#/races/1267

There has also been a race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  Stay tuned for a link to that event, when it is available.

Further Details Emerge on Possible Bentley Prototype Program

Bentley Motorsport Director Brian Gush, explains and clarifies the company's intentions to get back into prototype sports car racing after racing, and winning, in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the early 2000s, winning overall at Le Mans in 2003.

Gush, and Bentley CEO, Wolfgang Durheimer, have both given some information on what a Bentley program in the Tudor Championship, could look like.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/further-details-emerge-on-bentley-prototype-evaluation/

IMSA Regulars and Guest Drivers Take Their Talents to the Indianapolis 500

If you watch tomorrow's Indianapolis 500 (yours truly, will be tuning in), be on the lookout for many drivers, who in addition to being IndyCar regulars, have also featured prominently in races for the Tudor Championship.  Look for a race report from Indianapolis, on my general car racing blog, which is:

https://chicaneman.wordpress.com

Go HERE, for the IMSA published story, on the drivers from the Tudor Championship, racing at "The Brickyard".

http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-regulars-and-guest-drivers-take-their-talents-indianapolis-500

more sports car racing news

More news from the sports car racing world, and specifically, the Tudor Championship, and Blancpain Endurance Series.

BMW Pursuing GTLM Homologation of M6 GT3
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/bmw-pursuing-gtlm-homologation-of-m6-gt3/

GTLM Class Poised for Growth in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/dagys-gtlm-class-poised-for-significant-growth-in-2016/

25 Cars on Detroit Entry List
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/25-cars-on-detroit-entry-list/

61 Entries for Blancpain Endurance at Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/61-entries-for-blancpain-endurance-at-silverstone/

Decision Over Lamborghini Monza Appeal Postponed
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/decision-over-lambo-monza-appeal-postponed/

...And some older news.

Freedom's Fifth Straight Monterey Win Ticks Emotional Boxes
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/freedoms-fifth-straight-monterey-win-ticks-emotional-boxes/

Thiriet by TDS Racing Takes 4H Imola Win
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/thiriet-by-tds-racing-takes-4h-imola-win/

Jota Sport, Lanan Racing Given Post-Race Penalties
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/jota-sport-lanan-racing-handed-post-race-penalties/

Le Mans news

News headlines continue to roll in leading up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Still have to blog the Six Hours of Spa, from earlier in May.  No worries, fans.  Yours truly, hopes to do that, soon.

Makowiecki Poised for Porsche LMP1 Reserve Driver Status

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/makowiecki-poised-for-porsche-919-hybrid-reserve-driver-status/

KCMG Anticipating 24H Le Mans Entry with Reserve Car
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/kcmg-anticipating-24h-le-mans-entry-with-reserve-car/

Kobayashi Tests Toyota at Spa, Ready in Reserve
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kobayashi-tests-toyota-at-spa-ready-in-reserve/

Rast: "The Ultimate Goal is to do a Full Season in LMP1"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rast-the-ultimate-goal-is-to-do-a-full-season-in-lmp1/

GP2 Poised to Join FIA WEC Round In Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gp2-poised-to-join-fia-wec-bahrain-round/

Strakka Switches To Dunlop Tires for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-switches-to-dunlop-tires-for-remainder-of-season/

Additional Rain Lights for Prototypes in Wake of Nakajima Crash
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/additional-rain-lights-implemented-for-prototypes/

Revised Rebellion R-One AER Completes Rollout
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/revised-rebellion-r-one-aer-completes-rollout/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Laguna Seca

The race broadcast of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge event from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-mazda-raceway-laguna-seca-race-broadcast

Round four of the Continental Tire Sports Car Championship, will be the Continental Tire 150 on the long course at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York, at the end of June.

Le Mans Spotter's Guide

A preview of the Spotter's Guide, from Andy Blackmore Designs, for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Dig it.

http://www.spotterguides.com/portfolio/15lm/

MARC Focus V8 joins Phillip Island GT Field

After CAMS (Commission for Australian Motorsport), approved the car, a MARC Ford Focus V8 will join the Australian GT field at their upcoming race at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/05/20/marc-focus-v8-joins-phillip-island-gt-field/

Tudor Championship news stories

Notable news from the Tudor Championship.  News from other sports car racing disciplines, will be covered, in another post.

EXCLUSIVE: Bentley Evaluating Prototype Option for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/exclusive-bentley-evaluating-prototype-options-for-2017/

DeltaWing to Forego Detroit, Focus On Further Testing
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/deltawing-to-forego-detroit-focus-on-further-testing/

Walther (Porsche): "We Have Quite a lot of U.S. Interest in GT3 Car"

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/walther-porsche-na-well-hopefully-have-a-good-number-of-cars-in-daytona/

IMSA Closing In on Test, Determining Potential Viability for LMP3
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-closing-on-test-determining-potential-viability-for-lmp3/

Audi Confirms 2015 Program for New R8 LMS, Customer Delivery Schedule
http://sportscar365.com/gt/audi-confirms-2015-program-for-new-r8-lms-customer-delivery-schedule/

2017 Prototype Class Structure Still to be Determined
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/2017-prototype-class-structure-still-to-be-determined/

2016 Nurburgring 24 Date Confirmed

The date for the 2016 edition of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, has been confirmed.  It will be run May 26th-28th, 2016, the same weekend, as the Indianapolis 500, and a week later, than the just completed, 2015 event.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/2016-nurburgring-24-date-confirmed/

Winner of the Nurburgring 24 Hours

Audi takes their third win, and second straight triumph in the Nurburgring 24 Hours!  But, a new team, (for this race) is at the top, in the 45th edition.  Veteran Audi GT3 team Belgian Audi Club Team WRT (which has won the Spa 24 Hours before), emerges victorious in the 2015 Nurburgring 24 Hours, with their #28 Audi R8 LMS Ultra, shared by the driving team of Christopher Mies, Edward Sandstrom, Laurens Vanthoor, and Nico Mueller. 

This marks the first win in the race for the newly redesigned Audi R8 LMS Ultra.  Here is the full story on how the race went, via two different sources.  GT Spirit, and The Checkered Flag. 

http://www.gtspirit.com/2015/05/17/audi-wins-24-hours-of-nurburgring-for-second-year-in-a-row/

...and

http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2015/05/2015-nurburgring-24-hours-hour-24-update/

We'll see you next year, for the 2016 edition of the Nurburgring 24 Hours... the 46th renewal of this great GT endurance race on the infamous Nordschleife. 

Porsche & BMW car development

Stories on the unveilings of the 2016 BMW M6 GT3, and Porsche 911 GT3 R.

2016 BMW M6 GT3 Makes Public Debut
http://sportscar365.com/gt/2016-bmw-m6-gt3-makes-public-debut/

...and

2016 Porsche 911 GT3 R Unveiled
http://sportscar365.com/gt/2016-porsche-911-gt3-r-unveiled/

Throwback Thursday: Amos Johnson's No. 71 Team Highball Mazda RX-7

A profile of yet another famous IMSA race car, from the glory days of the sport.  Amos Johnson and the #71 Highball Racing GTU class Mazda RX-7.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/throwback-thursday-amos-johnsons-no-71-team-highball-mazda-rx-7

more Nurburgring 24 Hour news

More news leading up to the Nurburgring 24 Hours, will will take the green flag, later this Saturday morning (European time).

Black Falcon Mercedes Goes Quickest of Weekend in Qualifying 2
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/black-falcon-mercedes-goes-quickest-of-weekend-in-qualifying-2/

Bentley Boys Upbeat on Chances in Nurburgring 24 Debut
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/bentley-boys-upbeat-on-chances-in-nurburgring-24-debut/

Farfus Puts Marc VDS BMW on Nurburgring 24 Pole
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/farfus-puts-marc-vds-bmw-on-nurburgring-24-pole/

Nurburgring Weekend Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/nurburgring-weekend-notebook/

Nurburgring 24 Hours news

This weekend is the annual 24 Hours of the Nurburgring for GT3 cars.  Here are some of the headlines being followed before the race.  There will be a brief article, announcing the race winner, after the 24 hours have been completed, this coming Sunday.

GT3 Ban Lifted at Nurburgring, New Safety Measures Announced
http://sportscar365.com/gt/gt3-ban-lifted-at-nurburgring-new-safety-measures-announced/

New Cars, Revised Rules Highlight Buildup to Nurburgring 24
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/new-cars-revised-rules-highlight-nurburgring-24/

Kaffer: "I've Grown Up at the Track, and My Dream is to Win this race"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/kaffer-ive-grown-up-at-the-track-and-my-dream-is-to-win-this-race/

BMW Team Schubert Tops Free Practice at Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/bmw-team-schubert-tops-free-practice-at-nurburgring/

Audi Sport Team Phoenix Quickest in Qualifying 1
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/audi-sport-team-phoenix-quickest-in-qualifying-1/

Falken Tire Set to Withdraw from IMSA at End of Year

With other motorsports commitments, Falken Tire plans to withdraw it's backing, and it's Porsche mounted GT Le Mans team, from the Tudor United Sports Car Championship, at the end of this year.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/falken-tire-set-to-withdraw-from-imsa-at-end-of-year/

New Cars, Revised Rules Highlight Buildup To Nurburgring 24

The Nurburgring 24 Hours is this weekend.  There will be GT3 cars entered, despite the recent accident, a few months ago, involving Jann Mardenborough's Nissan GT-R.  The car count for this year's race, is down, from past years.  But, the entry list should still be impressive.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/new-cars-revised-rules-highlight-nurburgring-24/

Blancpain Sprint Series round 1: Nogaro

Here are both races for the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series opening round at Nogaro in France, over Easter weekend.  In the qualifying race, it was the #3 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS of Monagasque drivers Stephane Ortelli and Stephane Richelmi, winning.  In the championship race, it was the #77 BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil BMW Z4 GT of Maxime Martin and Dirk Muller, takeing the honors.

Qualifying race: #3 Ortelli/Richelmi     Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS
Championship race: #77 Martin/Muller  BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil BMW Z4 GT

Round two was at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, England.  Highlights of that race, will follow, soon.

Porsche Opens New $100 Million Experience Center and Headquarters in Atlanta

Details on the new Porsche Cars North America Experience Center and Headquarters, that has just opened in Atlanta, Georgia.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/porsche-opens-new-100-million-experience-center-and-headquarters-atlanta

sports car racing news update

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

Gulf 12H Organizer Announces New Endurance Race in Istanbul
http://sportscar365.com/gt/new-endurance-race-in-istanbul-announced/

New Porsche 911 GT-3-R Set for Daytona 2016 Debut
http://sportscar365.com/gt/new-porsche-911-gt3-r-set-for-daytona-2016-debut/

Influx of International Entries for GT Asia season
http://sportscar365.com/gt/gtasia/influx-of-international-entries-for-2015-gt-asia-season/

Porsche Penalized GTD Points Over Technical Infraction at Monterey

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/porsche-penalized-gtd-manufacturer-points-over-technical-infraction/

SMP Evaluating Additional End of Year Races for BR01 Prototype
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/smp-evaluating-additional-end-of-year-races-for-br01/

Nissan Shifts 24H Le Mans Lineup: Shulzhitsky in for Gene
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-shifts-24h-le-mans-lineup-shulzhitskiy-in-for-gene/

Pegasus Confirms 24H Le Mans Lineup, Shanghai Plans

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/pegasus-team-total-confirms-24h-le-mans-lineup-shanghai-plans/

Aston Martin Racing Unlikely to Continue in NAEC
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/aston-martin-racing-unlikely-to-continue-in-naec/

Reinke (Audi): "We're Confident for Le Mans and Ready for Competition"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/reinke-audi-were-confident-for-le-mans-and-ready-for-the-competition/

Audi to Formula One Talks Intensify
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/f1-is-an-option-for-audi-chairman-rupert-stadler/

Pirelli World Challenge round 3: Long Beach

Highlights/playback of round three of the Pirelli World Challenge GT division, from Long Beach, California.

http://www.world-challengetv.com/#/races/1246

Round four from Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, also happened recently.  Those highlights, will come your way, soon.

Miller Motorsports Park to Close

Racing, and sports car racing fans, in Utah, will be disappointed, as it has been announced, Miller Motorsports Park, will close, later this year, on Halloween Day, 2015.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/miller-motorsports-park-to-close/

Carrera Cup contenders reveal Pro-AM co-drivers

It is not often that the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup is covered on this blog.  But, the field for the upcoming event at Philip Island in Victoria, Australia, shows that there are some interesting pairings, for both of the scheduled races.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/05/05/carrera-cup-contenders-reveal-pro-am-co-drivers/

Throwback Thursday: Jim Downing's Kudzu Mazda DLY-10

A retrospective on the great IMSA racer, Jim Downing, who ran Mazda or Mazda powered cars, for his entire career.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/throw-back-thursday-jim-downings-kudzu-mazda-dly-10

sports car racing news update

More news from the world of sports car racing.

IMSA News & Notes 5-6
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-news-notes-5-6/

New Porsche 911 GT-3-R Set for Daytona 2016 Debut
http://sportscar365.com/gt/new-porsche-911-gt3-r-set-for-daytona-2016-debut/

2017 LMP2 Spec Engine Open to Team-Specific Branding
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/no-manufacturer-branding-on-2017-lmp2-spec-engine/

Turvey Completes Jota Lineup for 24H Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/turvey-completes-jota-lineup-for-24h-le-mans/

Barbosa to make 24H Le Mans Return in Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2 Judd
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/barbosa-completes-krohn-lineup-for-24h-le-mans/

30 Entries for 4H Imola
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/30-entries-for-4h-imola/

Triple Eight BMW Joins Blancpain Sprint at Brands Hatch
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/triple-eight-bmw-joins-blancpain-sprint-at-brand-hatch/

Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered By Mazda Race Broadcast

The race broadcast of the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered By Mazda, from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-continental-tire-monterey-grand-prix-powered-mazda-race-broadcast

TUDOR: Lamborghini evaluating potential 2015 debut with Huracan GT3

It looks like the new Lamborghini Huracan (the star of the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza, that was posted on this blog some time ago), could come stateside sooner than we think.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/lamborghini-huracan-gt3-tudor-championship-debut-050515?adbid=10153301374621052&adbpl=fb&adbpr=36796456051&adbsc=social_20150505_45223856&short_code=2xl3z

IMSA Series Planning LMP3, GT3 tests

IMSA is set to test LMP3 and GT3 cars.  By doing so, they could set up the future of the Pro/Am class structure, within the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/05/05/imsa-series-planning-lmp3-gt3-tests.html

Toyo Tyres testing for TUSCC?

Could Toyo Tires be contemplating joining the Tudor Championship in the GT Le Mans class?  Keep in mind, GTLM is the only class in the series, that allows an open tire manufacturer battle, while the other three classes are on Continental spec tires.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/05/03/toyo-tyres-testing-for-tusc.html

Do We Really Need to Start This Again?

NASportscar.com writer Matt Kistler says we do not need another GT3 based championship, because we already have Pirelli World Challenge.  IMSA wants to start a GT3 based category in 2016 of course, to replace and revamp the current GT Daytona rules.  So, there's a big debate.  Should they?  Or, shouldn't they?

http://nasportscar.com/do-we-really-need-to-start-this-again/

Throwback Thursday IMSA Laguna Seca, 1987

Racer magazine's Marshall Pruett reminisces about the 1987 IMSA race at Laguna Seca Raceway... 28 years ago.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/116155-throwback-thursday-imsa-laguna-seca-1987#!Marshall_Pruett_IMSA_Laguna_1987_4

Winner & highlights of the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered By Mazda

All four classes are about to share the track at legendary Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Who will finish first when the clock runs out?  Find out, now.  We are on the Monterey peninsula for the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix presented by Mazda.  This track is very demanding.  Strategy will be hard to pin down, because if you go off, you're in deep in sand.  Action Express had a bad race at Long Beach while VisitFlorida Racing finished third.  Ganassi Racing came third.  Ricky and Jordan Taylor won Long Beach.

PR1 Matthiasen Motorsports won both enduros at Daytona and Sebring.  Build and maintain momentum.  The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette have qualified on pole.  They did that, and won at Long Beach, last time out.  BMW won GT Le Mans at Long Beach with Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner at the wheel.  Risi Competizione was second.  In GT Daytona, Riley Motorsports won Dayton while Alex Job Racing won at Sebring.  BMW locks out the front row in GT LM.  Dirk Werner and Lucas Luhr, are the starting drivers in each car.  Corvette continues to struggle with a water temperature issue, and an engine change.

Pete Lovely won the first race in a Ferrari 250 roadster, at Laguna Seca, back in 1957.  Indycars and sports cars have raced here, ever since.  The wind will blow dust onto the track.  Watch out for that.  Look at turn two, and uphill through turns five and six, into The Corkscrew.  Then, make a dash for the last corner, and fly down the straight.  We're ready to race!  Go!  We're underway.  Pruett looks to get the initial jump.  Contact between the #10 and #01!  Scott Pruett goes off the road.

Don't put wheels off the road.  There's sand everywhere.  Michael Christensen is doing double duty, running in both factory GT LM Porsche's because the other factory drivers, are at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, where there was a great FIA World Endurance Championship event yesterday.  Look for highlights of that race, soon.  Marc Miller leads GT Daytona with the #93 SRT Viper.  Ben Keating in the sister car goes off the road.  The suspension is busted on the right front through turn five.  He dropped into the dust.  There's a drop off behind the curbs.

The #33 is in the lane.  New tires and a new nose will go on the car.  They are 65 pounds heavier since their last event at Sebring back in March, because of the Balance of Performance.  Michael Valiante leads being chased by Jordan Taylor, Christian Fittipaldi, and Scott Pruett.  There's debris from the Ben Keating shunt.  Be careful.  Scott Pruett says the car is understeering.  It could be aero push.  The balance of the car is a constant fight.  The Riley lacks in downforce compared to the Ligier P2 machine, and the Corvette Prototype's.

The Corkscrew is a 60 foot drop (450 linear feet).  The elevator drops, fast.  In Prototype Challenge, with all identical Oreca Chevrolet's, Chris Cumming took pole, and he is leading series points leader Mike Guasch.  Chris Cumming has been the qualifying driver for his team in the sessions.  At Laguna Seca, you can gauge how well you do as a driver through the lap.  In GT Daytona, it's Viper, Aston Martin, and Porsche.  The #93 Viper leads and the #33 is still in the pits.  Marc Miller was nominated to race at Le Mans.  Marc Miller and Jeff Mosing are the drivers.  Miller will race at Le Mans.  You will see Le Mans, next month on Fox Sports, and read about it, here, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

Falken Tire Porsche is running well.  But, the Falken Tires are a harder compound tire, and they need warmer temperatures.  So, car #17 is having to play catchup.  Bryan Sellers is being hounded by Antonio Garcia in the first factory Corvette C-7-R-.  BMW still leads.  Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner share the #25, with soft Michelin tires.  Their team mates in car #24 have hard tires.  Team owner, Bobby Rahal, won four straight Indycar races at this speedway, from 1984 to 1987.  Drivers and fans alike, love Laguna Seca Raceway.

Patrick Lindsey qualified really well in GT Daytona.  He's right with the leaders (the Viper and the Aston Martin).  Porsche has a new front splitter.  Park Place Racing and Magnus Racing were the only teams who could test it.  It is a full carbon front end piece on the Porsche.  Alex Job Racing needs more time with it. No change in the top three in GT Daytona.  Marc Miller in the Viper, Christina Nielsen in the Aston Martin, and Patrick Lindsey, in the Porsche.  Michael Valiante continues to lead this race.

Everyone was scratching their heads, as the #10 Corvette Prototype found something to be quick.  But, Valiante has just run his fastest lap in the 1:20 range.  The #10 car had contact with the #01 and maybe lost a dive plane in the fracas.  The Corvette chassis are different.  The bodywork is the same.  But the chassis are different.  Coyote, Dallara, and Riley.  Michael Valiante almost went to pit lane, and now, Taylor wants the lead and gets it!  This is multi-class racing at it's finest.  Jordan Taylor has clear road, and he'll have to book it.

More contact amongst the GT LM runners.  Race Director Beaux Barfield said that it will be crowded.  Don't have Prototypes lean on GT cars, but, at the same time, with the GT cars, don't hold anyone up.  Ricky Taylor seemed to be suiting up to get in the car.  It's still early.  The Mazda prototypes are getting better.  #70 is still running.  But, it might be game over for car #07.  They are more on the pace.  P2 machinery has done well here at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  We are under the first full course yellow, as Todd Slusher spins his Prototype Challenge car.  Slusher is a regular in the Continental Tire Prototype Lights championship.

The #3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia has some damage on the right front corner.  Break out the Bear Bond.  Garcia nudged one of the prototypes.  Prototype leaders hit pit lane.  Jordan Taylor is in.  Tires and fuel.  No driver change.  Car #90 pits and Michael Valiante hands the car to Richard Westbrook.  Katherine Legge will be in the Deltawing.  No tires, but, an adjustment for the rear aero flaps.  There was only a short fuel load fill, so, no driver changes, yet.

The #01 car pitted.  But they lost track position, having to do bodywork repairs.  Scott Pruett shares the car with Joey Hand.  Nine California based drivers are in this race.  Joey Hand has taken over the #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost.  GT LM in the lane.  John Edwards takes over from Lucas Luhr.  GTD cars are also in.  Both Corvette's are in.  New Michelin tires, but no driver changes.  We have an errant tire on pit lane.  Will there be a penalty?

Mazda currently leads overall.  Now, with Corvete, #3 hits a tire coming from the sister #4 car.  There is no penalty.  We're back to green now.  Lots of Prototype Challenge cars around,and Oswaldo Negri Jr. is off the road.  In all this shemozzle, the rhythm is upset, and the GT Daytona Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS is beached in the gravel trap.  Aye yaye yaye!  Another full-course yellow.  But, this will be a short one.

Jordan Taylor, Dane Cameron, and Christian Fittipaldi are now 1-2-3.  Meanwhile, it's game over for DeltaWing, with an exhaust problem, and a cracked header.  DeltaWing is headed for the house, today.  Richard Westbrook is slicing through the field.  Wow!  Westbrook slides past Joao Barbosa!  Barbosa doesn't give way.  The argy bargy between Dane Cameron and the MSR Ligier, is under review from the stewards.  Problems for the #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost.  He's perhaps lost fifth gear.  Game over for Ganassi.  This will be a disaster for them in the points.

Jordan Taylor currently has the fastest lap in this race.  Barbosa and Westbrook are on the button from the get go.  The #01 team has broken a gear, definitely.  Meanwhile, Giancarlo Fisichella has his hands full with Wolf Henzler, and Dirk Werner.  Werner and Henzler trade paint down the front straight.  Henzler runs wide into turn one, and oh!  Patrick Pilet is off the road.  Risi Competizione has an updated aerodynamics kit for their Ferrari 458 Italia.  They are bottoming out on the downhill sections of the track, and are running over the mandated ride height by 20 millimeters (almost an inch).

Henzler tries to diamond the corner in the Andretti hairpin.  John Edwards in the sister BMW is leading GT Le Mans, by ten seconds.  Jorg Bergmeister in the #912 Porsche, slammed one of the inside curbs.  If you look at the curbing, behind the rumble strips, there's extra curbing, which are much higher, and if you get on one, you are going for a major ride.  Ke-thunk!  Taylor, Westbrook, and Barbosa, remain 1-2-3.  James French (co-driving with Mike Hedlund), leads Prototype Challenge.  Leh Keen takes over the #22 Porsche 911 GT America from Cooper MacNeil.

But, AJR is having some issues, coming to grips with the new front splitter for the Porsche 911 GT America.  Mike Guasch will give way to Tom Kimber-Smith in the #52 Prototype Challenge car.  The #63 Scuderia Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in GT Daytona is also pitting.  Townsend Bell takes over from Bill Sweedler.  Richard Westbrook takes Joao Barbosa by surprise, and slides past, down through The Corkscrew.

#44 is in the lane, with Andy Lally now at the controls of the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America in GT Daytona.  Guy Cosmo takes over from Patrick Byrne.  Dirk Werner and Wolf Henzler's contact, from earlier, is being investigated, by the stewards.  John Edwards has stretched his lead in GT LM to seventeen and a half seconds.  Wow!  Westbrook and Taylor both have the pace, and unfortunately, Action Express, has fallen off just a shade.  Because Laguna Seca has such high grip, there are demands on the car, and the driver.  The uphill corner dynamics are easier to understand than the downhill.

There's a gap between first and second in GT Le Mans.  BMW vs. Ferrari.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. has passed a few cars.  Negri says this Ligier JS P2 has much better braking than the Riley Daytona Prototype the team has campaigned in the past.  Ooh!  Negri Jr. and Barbosa, touch!  Don't scrap your dive planes, to upset the balance.  We have an hour and twenty minutes remaining in this race.  We're halfway home, and Jordan Taylor leads at halfway.

Mazda is doing very well at their home track.  They want to be up front, and they're getting there.  They went 26 laps further on fuel than their competition!  Wow!  Mazda is testing their technology in the public eye, going for it.  So is the DeltaWing.  John Edwards switched from soft to medium compound Michelin tires, after Lucas Luhr told the team what was going on, when he finished his stint.  Dirk Werner is still at the wheel of the sister car #25.

One charm of this speedway is how scenic it is, and, the sight lines are fabulous.  It was built in 1957, within 60 days.  Christina Nielsen continues her stint in the #007 TRG Aston Martin V12 Vantage.  The team's final pit stop, will put Nielsen's team mate James Davison, into the car.  Derek DeBoer and Brandon Davis are the other drivers for the team.  Michelin Tires are used in many disciplines of motorsport.  Their chairman, Francois Michelin, just passed away.  Rest In Peace, Francois Michelin.

One of the Audi's just pitted.  So has the #90 VisitFlorida Racing Corvette Prototype.  Jordan Taylor now pits and will hand over to his brother Ricky.  Ricky Taylor will need to get up to full song.  Taylor is held up by another car.  Ooh!  The Viper went off the road for a second.  That's Jeff Mosing in the second GTD ViperExchange.com machine.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. now has the lead in the #60 Ligier Honda.  Negri Jr. is now in the lane. 

Negri Jr. passes Joao Barbosa, before making his stop.  Keep an eye on Negri and MSR.  IN GT Le Mans, the #24 BMW Z4 GTE pits.  John Edwards is back in the car.  He has been running with the VLN Series at the Nurburgring.  Next weekend, on Mother's Day weekend, it's the Nurburgring 24 Hours.  Stay tuned, for a brief summary, of that race.  Ferrari and Porsche also pit.  Michael Christensen has jumped into the sister car.  Bill Auberlen will climb into the #25 BMW.  These boys had a great race last time out at Long Beach.

Michael Christensen will finish the race in the sister #911 Porsche 911 GT-3-R-.  Michael started in #912.  Jorg Bergmeister is in the #912.  Ricky Taylor is threading through GT LM traffic.  We now have less than an hour to go in this race.  Richard Westbrook runs six seconds behind Ricky Taylor.  There's a sure traffic jam between GTD, GTLM, and Prototype.  When we get to fifteen minutes to go, people will be doing splash and dash fuel stops.  Look out for a yellow, to go for track position. 

Bruno Junquiera has a slight off.  Junquiera is trying to catch Prototype Challenge leader Colin Braun.  You can catch a yellow in the next 17 minutes, because it will be a full course yellow.  But, in the last half hour, there will just be short yellows.  Everyone will have to try saving fuel in the last minutes of this one.  Action Express Racing could bring one car in, hope for a short yellow, and leapfrog some of their competition.  Split strategies tend to work really well.  You could be on the podium, and get a chance to win.

Don't hit the outside of the uphill turn five.  Down through The Corkscrew, and Rainey curve.  Touch the brakes for turn ten.  Park Place Racing in the #73 Porsche 911 GT America is needing to pit, and now, Core Autosport pits.  Colin Braun remains at the wheel.  Bruno Junquiera is the new leader in Prototype Challenge.  Junquiera knows this track from racing in the Indycar Series.  Ricky Taylor, pits, and #90 takes the lead.  No tires.  Just fuel.  This race is very intense right now.

Richard Westbrook wants his team to make a decision, and that decision is, not to pit.  They have to pit soon, before the 30 minute mark.  He's got two laps in order to execute that stop.  What traffic will Ricky Taylor hit?  Oswaldo Negri Jr. is gaining on Westbrook.  Now, the DeltaWing is back on track.  Fuel is a big deal.  MSR is hoping for a yellow.  So is Park Place in GT Daytona.  He needs to save fuel.  Remember, last year's race.  #60 has the Ligier Honda in the lane, for fuel only.

The fueler has to know when to stop, and another crewman whacks him with a stick.  One lash.  It's not, "why did you hit me?!"  It's, "dude, do your job, and do your job right!"  Richard Westbrook makes a really quick splash and dash pit stop.  They rolled the dice.  Thankfully, there was no yellow, and they are in the lead of this motor race.  Action Express also pits.  We have two drivers, who were team mates, years ago.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. sets fast lap at 1:19.3.

Wow.  Ricky Taylor slices by the GTD class SRT Viper.  Westbrook goes past a couple GTLM contenders.  The #90 team is looking for their first win since the Six Hours of Watkins Glen, last June.  Less than 25 minutes to go in this race.  Momentum seems to be with the Wayne Taylor Racing team, and possibly with the #90 squad.  Performance Tech Racing in Prototype Challenge is third in class.  In GT Le Mans, John Edwards leads in the #24 BMW, ahead of team mate Bill Auberlen in the #25.

Let's also look at the GT Daytona battle.  Will Spencer Pumpelly hang on for the next 22 minutes?  He can't be snagged again, can he?  Recall, last year, Pumpelly lost this race, in the old two-race format, when his Audi R8 LMS GTD car for his old team, Flying Lizard, ran out of fuel just at the end of the motor race.  Bruno Junquiera has a good cushion in Prototype Challenge.  Save fuel?  Or, gap the second place car?  Richard Westbrook pulls a Kimi Raikkonen and says to his crew, "don't tell me anything else.  I just need to drive the car."

Only thirteen minutes remain now in this race.  Ricky Taylor has to stay composed.  The lap times go back and forth between Taylor and Westbrook.  Chris Cumming, Bruno Junquiera, and RSR, are well on their way to a win in Prototype Challenge.  We look forward to the next race on the schedule.  Details, after this race, ends.  Joao Barbosa and Dane Cameron run together.  These are both Action Express cars, who have not been running exactly on pace with the leaders.

We are eight minutes away from the finish of the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered By Mazda.  Bob Garretson, is here.  He is a World Sports Car champion, who won the 1981 Rolex 24 at Daytona in a Porsche 935, sharing with Bobby Rahal and Brian Redman.  Garretson is now, 81 years old.
 
Cars #22 and #97 went off the road.  Markus Palttala in the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GT and the #22 Weathertech Porsche.  Michael Christensen is now in the #911 Porsche 911 RSR.  Spencer Pumpelly leads GT Daytona in the #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America, leading over the Paul Miller Racing Audi of Christopher Haase.  Less than three minutes left in this race.  Ricky Taylor goes deep into the corner.  Pardon, actually, it's Westbrook.  Westbrook has traffic on the uphill.

Westbrook goes around the outside in the Rainey curve, passing the #45 Audi, which now has a tire going down.  Taylor runs wide into the marbles.  White flag next time by.  Oops.  That's the #48 Audi of Christopher Haase.  Did Westbrook get bumped?  Or, did he go into the gray on the outside of the road?  Here we go.  Coming to the white flag.  One lap to go.  Two and a quarter miles from victory.  Can Westbrook hold on?  He's going deep!  Oh!  He's blocked by the Aston Martin, and so is Ricky Taylor!

These boys are on the limit.  Taylor is making The Corkscrew a one turn corner, making it a one corner.  Richard Westbrook holds on for victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, while John Edwards makes it two in a row, and a 1-2 for BMW in GTLM.  Bruno Junquiera wins Prototype Challenge.  In GT Daytona, Spencer Pumpelly wins in the #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche.

Overall/Prototype: #90 Westbrook/Valiante     Chevrolet Corvette DP

             Prototype
             Challenge: #11 Junquiera/Cumming   Oreca FLM 09 Chevrolet

             GT Le Mans: #24 Edwards/Luhr         BMW Z4 GTE     

             GT Daytona: #73 Pumpelly/Lindsey    Porsche 911 GT America

The next race is at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, coming up in less than four weeks time. 

Ford's Pruett and Hand: The California connection

Scott Pruett and Joey Hand, are more than just team mates at Chip Ganassi Racing in the Tudor Championship.  Find out why, HERE:

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/ford-s-pruett-and-hand-the-california-connection-050115

Spa 6 Hours race broadcast & Silverstone 6 Hours race broadcast

Yours truly has commitments to his real job outside of blogging, today, and cannot blog the full race report of the Spa 6 Hours, until a later date, when the race is show on video highlights.  So, in the meantime, enjoy the full coverage of the first FIA World Endurance Championship race of 2015, the Silverstone 6 Hours.  Spa report and update, coming in the not too distant future.

F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg set to make FIA WEC debut with Porsche

Tomorrow in the Spa 6 Hours, Formula One's Nico Hulkenberg, debuts in a sports car, with Porsche.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/f1-driver-hulkenberg-set-to-make-fia-wec-debut-with-porsche-six-hours-of-spa-050115

Vasselon (Toyota): "This Kind of Accident Shouldn't Have Happened"

After his practice crash, Kazuki Nakajima has been injured, and Toyota, says that he will likely miss the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as tomorrow's Spa 6 Hours, because of the severity of the impact.
This, according to Toyota, Gazoo Racing Technical Director, Pascal Vasselon.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/vasselon-toyota-this-kind-of-accident-shouldnt-have-happened/