Before returning to news updates from around the world of sports car racing, here is another race report, from Sportscar365's John Dagys, on the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring, yesterday.
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-dominates-6h-nurburgring/
Monday, August 31, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
6 Hours of The Nurburgring: Hour 6 (the finish)
Benoit Treluyer is still trying to hold off Neel Jani. Use the lapped Gibson chassis, as a pick, and it works. Lucas di Grassi is running faster than either Treluyer or Jani. The CLM is now ahead of the Porsche, and here comes di Grassi as they fly through the Schumacher esses. Oh wow! Benoit Treluyer is pushing hard. Treluyer is fighting for his life right now. Lucas di Grassi is still looking for a way by. The Audi's in race trim, are close to the Porsche's. Here's the second Audi. Neel Jani takes a great line through the Veedol chicane. Down the inside, he tries to pass, and goes too deep. Treluyer is hanging on, and here comes di Grassi! This is a three way fight.
Knock, knock. Look behind you. di Grassi makes a pass on the Porsche. Audi has better tires it seems. Audi has to battle between themselves. One hour to go now. The Audi's seem to be ganging up on the Porsche's and beginning to pass them. It's going to be stunning! We had a brief slow zone, and it's been removed. Moments ago, Lucas di Grassi went by Benoit Treluyer. Treluyer is higher in the championship. No fight. Lucas di Grassi has better pace. Richard Bradley leads Julien Canal in LMP2.
Brendon Hartley is a lap up on the rest of the blokes battling for position. Benoit Treluyer makes a late decision to pit! This will be super close! Fuel, tires, and a driver change, for the Audi. Andre Lotterer will take car #7 to the finish of this race. The Rebellion chassis picks up some gravel. This is a battle between Stuttgart and Ingolstadt. The main objective for Audi, is to not let the Porsche pass. Porsche wants to go for two in a row, after winning Le Mans. After this race, the European section of the season, will be over, and the flyaway races will begin.
Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Audi, Toyota, Toyota. Marc Lieb is 2.3 seconds ahead of both Audi's. There are some lap times, that seem to indicate there are some concerns that the sister Porsche's and Audi's may fall back from the leaders. Uh oh. The #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage stalls, just out of the pits. Matthias Lauda at the controls. Rui Aguas wants to take the spot away. Viktor Shaitar is up the road. In the Audi camp, right this minute, the quicker driver, has to take the lead, to try and nab the Porsche.
Marc Lieb runs a 1:39.1. Andre Lotterer is close, and Lucas di Grassi is right behind. Nick Tandy has the lead in LMP2, still, for KCMG. 45 minutes to go now. The countdown continues to the end of this motor race. Aha. The Audi move, is planned, and #8 has passed #7. Lucas di Grassi got on the phone and said, "can I make my move?" The team says, "go for it!" Just over a half an hour to go. Mark Webber continues lapping in the 1:39 range. Marc Lieb is the same way, even though he is two laps down.
Mark Webber lowers the fast lap to 1:38.5. If things stand as they are, Porsche will earn their first overall 1-2 in a six hour race in FIA WEC competition. They won, in Brazil, at Interlagos, last fall. Now, there's a touch, between the second place Porsche, and one of the LMP2 cars. Marc Lieb, taps Nelson Panciatici. What will that little "love tap" do to the handling of the Porsche? We'll see. It's been quite the race.
It's been a tough day, and a long season, for Toyota. Mark Webber runs fastest in the final sector. The gap is closing between Lucas di Grassi and Marc Lieb, with less than a half an hour remaining. This race is coming alive in it's last stages. Patrick Pilet will get a drive through penalty! It's not a stop and hold for the #92 Porsche. They are 38 seconds behind. It's been a long while since Fred Makowiecki and Davide Rigon had their little fracas.
We've got 20 minutes to go. Ten seconds cover second, third, and fourth spots. SMP Racing is running well as we come to the finish, and we cannot forget the #47 KCMG car. Richard Lietz and Michael Christensen lead the LM GTE Pro class in the #91 Porsche 911 RSR. Traffic involved, as the #8 Audi is trying to catch the sister #18 Porsche. Lucas di Grassi is trying his best. It's game on again. #17 is dominating. #18 has clawed it's way back. Audi is still going for it. Fifteen minutes remain in the Nurburgring 6 Hours.
Mark Webber is flying, at over 115 miles an hour average speed. The checkered flag beckons in Deutschland. We have eleven minutes now remaining. There's no grip, and Mark Webber had to save the car from spinning! He was almost off the road! There could have been contact with the #8 Audi and the Alpine #36. Marco Seefried is also booking it over Rui Aguas in LM GTE Am. Porsche, Porsche, Audi, for the overall win.
Audi will not be happy, with fourth spot. Only six minutes to go. Porsche is going stand atop the mountain, here at the Nurburgring. Could Andre Lotterer catch Lucas di Grassi? The engineer at Porsche tells Mark Webber there is a vibration on the left front tire. That's odd, because, usually, the driver tells the engineer. Audi seems to have ceded first and second, to Porsche. It's manufacturer's prize first, but the drivers have to get credit. Two laps to go now.
By the look of things, it will be a factory Porsche 1-2 in two classes. LMP1, and LM GTE Pro. Porsche factory drivers lead three of four classes. Nick Tandy is being a brilliant driver, but, for KCMG. KCMG could bring a second car into LMP2. That would be interesting. Anyhow, it's the final lap for Porsche and Mark Webber. Porsche will now win two in a row. Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, and Timo Bernhard, win the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring!
Overall/LMP1: #17 Webber/Hartley/Bernhard Porsche 919 Hybrid
LMP2: #47 Tandy/Howson/Bradley Oreca 05 - Nissan
LM GTE Pro: #91 Lietz/Christensen Porsche 911 RSR
LM GTE Am: #72 Shaitar/Bertolini/Basov Ferrari 458 Italia
Next up for the FIA World Endurance Championship is in the United States, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in about three weeks.
Knock, knock. Look behind you. di Grassi makes a pass on the Porsche. Audi has better tires it seems. Audi has to battle between themselves. One hour to go now. The Audi's seem to be ganging up on the Porsche's and beginning to pass them. It's going to be stunning! We had a brief slow zone, and it's been removed. Moments ago, Lucas di Grassi went by Benoit Treluyer. Treluyer is higher in the championship. No fight. Lucas di Grassi has better pace. Richard Bradley leads Julien Canal in LMP2.
Brendon Hartley is a lap up on the rest of the blokes battling for position. Benoit Treluyer makes a late decision to pit! This will be super close! Fuel, tires, and a driver change, for the Audi. Andre Lotterer will take car #7 to the finish of this race. The Rebellion chassis picks up some gravel. This is a battle between Stuttgart and Ingolstadt. The main objective for Audi, is to not let the Porsche pass. Porsche wants to go for two in a row, after winning Le Mans. After this race, the European section of the season, will be over, and the flyaway races will begin.
Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Audi, Toyota, Toyota. Marc Lieb is 2.3 seconds ahead of both Audi's. There are some lap times, that seem to indicate there are some concerns that the sister Porsche's and Audi's may fall back from the leaders. Uh oh. The #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage stalls, just out of the pits. Matthias Lauda at the controls. Rui Aguas wants to take the spot away. Viktor Shaitar is up the road. In the Audi camp, right this minute, the quicker driver, has to take the lead, to try and nab the Porsche.
Marc Lieb runs a 1:39.1. Andre Lotterer is close, and Lucas di Grassi is right behind. Nick Tandy has the lead in LMP2, still, for KCMG. 45 minutes to go now. The countdown continues to the end of this motor race. Aha. The Audi move, is planned, and #8 has passed #7. Lucas di Grassi got on the phone and said, "can I make my move?" The team says, "go for it!" Just over a half an hour to go. Mark Webber continues lapping in the 1:39 range. Marc Lieb is the same way, even though he is two laps down.
Mark Webber lowers the fast lap to 1:38.5. If things stand as they are, Porsche will earn their first overall 1-2 in a six hour race in FIA WEC competition. They won, in Brazil, at Interlagos, last fall. Now, there's a touch, between the second place Porsche, and one of the LMP2 cars. Marc Lieb, taps Nelson Panciatici. What will that little "love tap" do to the handling of the Porsche? We'll see. It's been quite the race.
It's been a tough day, and a long season, for Toyota. Mark Webber runs fastest in the final sector. The gap is closing between Lucas di Grassi and Marc Lieb, with less than a half an hour remaining. This race is coming alive in it's last stages. Patrick Pilet will get a drive through penalty! It's not a stop and hold for the #92 Porsche. They are 38 seconds behind. It's been a long while since Fred Makowiecki and Davide Rigon had their little fracas.
We've got 20 minutes to go. Ten seconds cover second, third, and fourth spots. SMP Racing is running well as we come to the finish, and we cannot forget the #47 KCMG car. Richard Lietz and Michael Christensen lead the LM GTE Pro class in the #91 Porsche 911 RSR. Traffic involved, as the #8 Audi is trying to catch the sister #18 Porsche. Lucas di Grassi is trying his best. It's game on again. #17 is dominating. #18 has clawed it's way back. Audi is still going for it. Fifteen minutes remain in the Nurburgring 6 Hours.
Mark Webber is flying, at over 115 miles an hour average speed. The checkered flag beckons in Deutschland. We have eleven minutes now remaining. There's no grip, and Mark Webber had to save the car from spinning! He was almost off the road! There could have been contact with the #8 Audi and the Alpine #36. Marco Seefried is also booking it over Rui Aguas in LM GTE Am. Porsche, Porsche, Audi, for the overall win.
Audi will not be happy, with fourth spot. Only six minutes to go. Porsche is going stand atop the mountain, here at the Nurburgring. Could Andre Lotterer catch Lucas di Grassi? The engineer at Porsche tells Mark Webber there is a vibration on the left front tire. That's odd, because, usually, the driver tells the engineer. Audi seems to have ceded first and second, to Porsche. It's manufacturer's prize first, but the drivers have to get credit. Two laps to go now.
By the look of things, it will be a factory Porsche 1-2 in two classes. LMP1, and LM GTE Pro. Porsche factory drivers lead three of four classes. Nick Tandy is being a brilliant driver, but, for KCMG. KCMG could bring a second car into LMP2. That would be interesting. Anyhow, it's the final lap for Porsche and Mark Webber. Porsche will now win two in a row. Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, and Timo Bernhard, win the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring!
Overall/LMP1: #17 Webber/Hartley/Bernhard Porsche 919 Hybrid
LMP2: #47 Tandy/Howson/Bradley Oreca 05 - Nissan
LM GTE Pro: #91 Lietz/Christensen Porsche 911 RSR
LM GTE Am: #72 Shaitar/Bertolini/Basov Ferrari 458 Italia
Next up for the FIA World Endurance Championship is in the United States, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in about three weeks.
6 Hours of The Nurburgring: Hour 5
Moments ago, Julien Canal passed his team mate, when #28 driven by Ricardo Gonzalez, almost got tangled up with the Larbre Competition Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- in the hands of Kristian Poulsen. Patrick Dempsey is back at the wheel of car #77 as Nick Leventis serves a penalty. David Heinemeier-Hanson is seventh in LMP2, 13th overall. Neel Jani is still running well, as he is taking time out of Oliver Jarvis. The gap is at 4.3 seconds. Both are catching Benoit Treluyer. Could Porsche get a 1-2? Could they win a second race in a row? We'll see. 62,000 people have been here today, for the race, at the Nurburgring.
Oliver Jarvis almost runs off the road. Hans Joachim Stuck, is the Grand Marshal for the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring... a true legend in German motorsport. The Signatech LMP2 car pits. We have a safety car, for all the debris on the road. There are not even two lanes for cars to race on, as you are racing on marbles. Audi is proffering a driver change at the moment. The sweeper is out on track, and Mark Webber makes a pit stop. We now have one hour and 43 minutes left to run. Will these blokes need a splash and dash at the end of the race. This is a full course yellow. We also see the #77 LM GTE Pro Dempsey Racing Porsche getting the door replaced.
Porsche is now in the lane. Driver change for Audi, too. This is our fifth rotation of pit stops for LMP1 cars. Two more will be necessary, even though, we are into the fourth hour. We have four hours and twenty minutes, elapsed, so far. Strakka Racing is in the garage, to replace bodywork in the garage, under yellow. That's a smart move on their part. We now have an hour and 37 minutes left in this race. We are back to green flag racing. Nick Leventis goes through the gravel on the green flag.
Jon Fogarty has the controls of the #31 ESM Ligier Honda. Oof. Another speeding penalty for the Strakka Racing Gibson. The difference in times for penalties, correlates to how far a driver has gone over the speed limit in the pit lane. Brendon Hartley runs a 1:33.3, and Oliver Jarvis runs a 1:33.7. Neel Jani seems to be the main star driver for Porsche in this race. Jani was a very quick prospect. The Larbre Corvette pits and is back on course.
Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni, have had a bad day today, and are in danger of losing their championship lead. They are 30th in the overall, and eight laps down to the class leader. They came in, leading both LM GTE Pro, and LM GTE Am. Lucas di Grassi is taking chunks out of Brendon Hartley's lead, for Porsche, with an hour and a half remaining. SARD Morand's team boss is summoned to race control for some reason. The major issue for Ferrari, is the manufacturer points and the manufacturer's cup.
There's an interesting dice between Porsche and Aston Martin. Lucas di Grassi is beginning to catch Neel Jani. There's a Ferrari vs. Aston Martin battle for 21st and 22nd overall. Paul Dalla Lana vs. Andrea Bertolini. Brendon Hartley is laying down laps in the 1:40 range, with a lap lead over Benoit Treluyer in the #7 Audi. Hartley is driving on a similar pace to how Mark Webber was going for it earlier on. Ryan Dalziel puts his fastest lap of the race. Richard Bradley is finishing the race for KCMG in their #47 machine.
The gaps between the top four are very, very close. The top four are all running in the 1:40 range. The second Audi is moving up on the KCMG car. Neel Jani is chasing Benoit Treluyer. Lucas di Grassi is coming. Lessthan 70 minutes to go. Get ready, for the final hour, and the last blog post, of this race, as we are going to make the run, to the finish.
Oliver Jarvis almost runs off the road. Hans Joachim Stuck, is the Grand Marshal for the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring... a true legend in German motorsport. The Signatech LMP2 car pits. We have a safety car, for all the debris on the road. There are not even two lanes for cars to race on, as you are racing on marbles. Audi is proffering a driver change at the moment. The sweeper is out on track, and Mark Webber makes a pit stop. We now have one hour and 43 minutes left to run. Will these blokes need a splash and dash at the end of the race. This is a full course yellow. We also see the #77 LM GTE Pro Dempsey Racing Porsche getting the door replaced.
Porsche is now in the lane. Driver change for Audi, too. This is our fifth rotation of pit stops for LMP1 cars. Two more will be necessary, even though, we are into the fourth hour. We have four hours and twenty minutes, elapsed, so far. Strakka Racing is in the garage, to replace bodywork in the garage, under yellow. That's a smart move on their part. We now have an hour and 37 minutes left in this race. We are back to green flag racing. Nick Leventis goes through the gravel on the green flag.
Jon Fogarty has the controls of the #31 ESM Ligier Honda. Oof. Another speeding penalty for the Strakka Racing Gibson. The difference in times for penalties, correlates to how far a driver has gone over the speed limit in the pit lane. Brendon Hartley runs a 1:33.3, and Oliver Jarvis runs a 1:33.7. Neel Jani seems to be the main star driver for Porsche in this race. Jani was a very quick prospect. The Larbre Corvette pits and is back on course.
Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni, have had a bad day today, and are in danger of losing their championship lead. They are 30th in the overall, and eight laps down to the class leader. They came in, leading both LM GTE Pro, and LM GTE Am. Lucas di Grassi is taking chunks out of Brendon Hartley's lead, for Porsche, with an hour and a half remaining. SARD Morand's team boss is summoned to race control for some reason. The major issue for Ferrari, is the manufacturer points and the manufacturer's cup.
There's an interesting dice between Porsche and Aston Martin. Lucas di Grassi is beginning to catch Neel Jani. There's a Ferrari vs. Aston Martin battle for 21st and 22nd overall. Paul Dalla Lana vs. Andrea Bertolini. Brendon Hartley is laying down laps in the 1:40 range, with a lap lead over Benoit Treluyer in the #7 Audi. Hartley is driving on a similar pace to how Mark Webber was going for it earlier on. Ryan Dalziel puts his fastest lap of the race. Richard Bradley is finishing the race for KCMG in their #47 machine.
The gaps between the top four are very, very close. The top four are all running in the 1:40 range. The second Audi is moving up on the KCMG car. Neel Jani is chasing Benoit Treluyer. Lucas di Grassi is coming. Lessthan 70 minutes to go. Get ready, for the final hour, and the last blog post, of this race, as we are going to make the run, to the finish.
6 Hours of the Nurburgring: Hour 4
Rigon forces the Porsche into a defensive move, and then, the Porsche goes wide, and Rigon gets put out on the curb, and Davide Rigon could have closed the door. That was like a short track stock car race! The two G-Drive LMP2 cars are battling. In GTE Pro, four different drivers, are dealing with argy bargy at the moment. Timo Bernhard leads Andre Lotterer by 54 seconds. Car #71 is back in pit lane, with the team repairing the wheel rub on the left rear. Davide Rigon is coming under attack from the #99 Aston Martin V8 Vantage with Fernando Rees at the controls.
Also, there's a scrum in LMP2. It's Alpine Nissan, vs. Gibson. Paul Loup Chatin vs. Danny Watts. Gianluca Roda drops a wheel in the Larbre Competition Corvette C-7-R- but continues to race. That car, was busy, during the FIA WEC break, doing two Tudor Championship races. It was a stand-in for one of the factory cars, that had to be repaired, after crashing in practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This is a big race because Porsche and Audi are both German makes. Toyota also has a base in Germany. Uh oh. What is happening to the #18 Porsche? It seems OK. Aston Martin is in the lane with cars #95 and #98. Pedro Lamy takes over from Matthias Lauda in car #98. Matt Howson is trying to fend off the challenge from the #26. KCMG vs. G-Drive. These boys are the championship leaders in LMP2, but, in opposite positions in the points table, vs. the racetrack.
There's not much difference between LMP1 and LMP2 cars in terms of lap time. If you have the opportunity, the next race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is something you should see in person, or on TV. Matt Howson gives up the lead to Gustavo Yacaman, as he pits. Richard Bradley will do his stint, and then, Nick Tandy will take a single stop, to finish the race off. Richard Bradley is now in the seat. New Dunlop tires have been fitted to the car. LMP2 cars run on Dunlop tires, and Michelin's are for the rest of the field in the other classes.
When a full course yellow is called, a "virtual safety car" comes out. No green flag to restart. They restart the race wherever the cars are on the road. One of the ESM Ligier Honda's went off and back on. David Heinemeier-Hanson has a nearly identical off, to Ed Brown, in the sister car. Car #77 is in need of a new door. Gustavo Yacaman pits and hands the car to Romain Rusinov. It is not an issue with the door at Dempsey. It's the window. There has to be some strategy adjustments. Signatech Alpine pits. Paul Loup Chatin is taking over the car.
Archie Hamilton is running for the first time with the SARD-Morand Morgan entry in LMP2. Danny Watts takes over the LMP2 lead in the Gibson chassis with Nissan power. Pit stop time for the #17 Porsche. The car will continue to lead this motor race. The #7 car is pitting now, too. #8 does likewise. #18 goes to second in the overall, for the moment. There are a minimum of two pit stops remaining in this race. Nick Leventis in the Strakka machine, has been caught for speeding in the pit lane and the gendarmes will give him a drive through penalty.
Sebastien Buemi is trying to pass Matthias Beche. It's factory Toyota #8 vs. Rebellion #12. Porsche 1-2, Audi 3-4, Toyota 5-6. Privateer LMP1 cars could come soon. That's because, the FIA WEC might outlaw the LMP2 division, in the not too distant future. There's a problem for the #96 Aston Martin V8 Vantage in LM GTE Am, piloted by Francesco Castellaci. Toyota, Porsche, and Audi, have re-upped for the next few years. Audi for one more year. Two more for Toyota. Three more, for Porsche.
The #1 Toyota, and both Porsche's have pitted. We watch another LMP2 battle with Nick Leventis and Vincent Capillaire. Ooh. There was a touch, as someone touched the back of the Gibson chassis, passing the #97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, in the hands of Stefan Mucke. The #12 Rebellion has gotten around both of the aforementioned LMP2 cars. With CLM and one of the Rebellion's out, the main Rebellion might lead the gasoline powered LMP1 racer's contingent, (i.e., the cars, that are not the hybrid spaceship lightning bolts).
These factory cars, are beyond the level of a privateer squad.
Also, there's a scrum in LMP2. It's Alpine Nissan, vs. Gibson. Paul Loup Chatin vs. Danny Watts. Gianluca Roda drops a wheel in the Larbre Competition Corvette C-7-R- but continues to race. That car, was busy, during the FIA WEC break, doing two Tudor Championship races. It was a stand-in for one of the factory cars, that had to be repaired, after crashing in practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This is a big race because Porsche and Audi are both German makes. Toyota also has a base in Germany. Uh oh. What is happening to the #18 Porsche? It seems OK. Aston Martin is in the lane with cars #95 and #98. Pedro Lamy takes over from Matthias Lauda in car #98. Matt Howson is trying to fend off the challenge from the #26. KCMG vs. G-Drive. These boys are the championship leaders in LMP2, but, in opposite positions in the points table, vs. the racetrack.
There's not much difference between LMP1 and LMP2 cars in terms of lap time. If you have the opportunity, the next race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is something you should see in person, or on TV. Matt Howson gives up the lead to Gustavo Yacaman, as he pits. Richard Bradley will do his stint, and then, Nick Tandy will take a single stop, to finish the race off. Richard Bradley is now in the seat. New Dunlop tires have been fitted to the car. LMP2 cars run on Dunlop tires, and Michelin's are for the rest of the field in the other classes.
When a full course yellow is called, a "virtual safety car" comes out. No green flag to restart. They restart the race wherever the cars are on the road. One of the ESM Ligier Honda's went off and back on. David Heinemeier-Hanson has a nearly identical off, to Ed Brown, in the sister car. Car #77 is in need of a new door. Gustavo Yacaman pits and hands the car to Romain Rusinov. It is not an issue with the door at Dempsey. It's the window. There has to be some strategy adjustments. Signatech Alpine pits. Paul Loup Chatin is taking over the car.
Archie Hamilton is running for the first time with the SARD-Morand Morgan entry in LMP2. Danny Watts takes over the LMP2 lead in the Gibson chassis with Nissan power. Pit stop time for the #17 Porsche. The car will continue to lead this motor race. The #7 car is pitting now, too. #8 does likewise. #18 goes to second in the overall, for the moment. There are a minimum of two pit stops remaining in this race. Nick Leventis in the Strakka machine, has been caught for speeding in the pit lane and the gendarmes will give him a drive through penalty.
Sebastien Buemi is trying to pass Matthias Beche. It's factory Toyota #8 vs. Rebellion #12. Porsche 1-2, Audi 3-4, Toyota 5-6. Privateer LMP1 cars could come soon. That's because, the FIA WEC might outlaw the LMP2 division, in the not too distant future. There's a problem for the #96 Aston Martin V8 Vantage in LM GTE Am, piloted by Francesco Castellaci. Toyota, Porsche, and Audi, have re-upped for the next few years. Audi for one more year. Two more for Toyota. Three more, for Porsche.
The #1 Toyota, and both Porsche's have pitted. We watch another LMP2 battle with Nick Leventis and Vincent Capillaire. Ooh. There was a touch, as someone touched the back of the Gibson chassis, passing the #97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, in the hands of Stefan Mucke. The #12 Rebellion has gotten around both of the aforementioned LMP2 cars. With CLM and one of the Rebellion's out, the main Rebellion might lead the gasoline powered LMP1 racer's contingent, (i.e., the cars, that are not the hybrid spaceship lightning bolts).
These factory cars, are beyond the level of a privateer squad.
6 Hours of the Nurburgring: Hour 3
The order at the front, has not really changed. Right now, G-Drive is leading LMP2. We are now under our second full course yellow, and we've had one slow zone. The corners are being swept, for debris, which is mostly gravel, and grass. Pit stop time for the GT class machines. Scott Sharp pits, and so does most of the LM GTE Pro field. We are now back to racing, three hours, and eight minutes, elapsed in this race, so far.
Lucas di Grassi has not pitted yet. He missed the opportunity to make a pit stop. The gap between the two leading Porsche's is 6.7 seconds. As mentioned, Toyota, is developing a new race car, with a new engine. More details will be divulged on that, next week, in the sports car racing news update. For now, we have a race to keep enjoying, fans. We now have three hours and 46 minutes to go. The top six cars are all LMP1 hybrid racers from Porsche, Audi, and Toyota. Romain Rusinov leading LMP2 is seventh. Michael Christensen leads LM GTE Pro in 16th overall for Porsche. In LM GTE Am, it's the #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage of Matthias Lauda.
Porsche is having an issue with the electronics for their calculation on fuel. Second time for Porsche being penalized. It's a 30 second stop/go penalty for the #18 Porsche due to excessive fuel consumption. Rui Aguas was stopped briefly in LM GTE Am in a Ferrari. He went off, then, rejoined, and stopped again. We watch a battle in LM GTE Am, between Christian Ried, and Andrea Bertolini. Brendon Hartley leads Romain Dumas, at the moment. Ooh. One of the ESM cars has spun.
Stop and go penalty for the #18 Porsche, again, for excessive energy consumption. Too much energy goes through the car, between the petrol motor, and the ERS (Energy Recovery System). There are many battles in the GT classes. It looks like Frederic Makowiecki is catching James Calado. They drop downhill, through a kink, and to the Dunlop hairpin. Romain Dumas tried twice to get into th wrong pit! Porsche is having real issues. The wheels might be falling off the wagon here.
He has to serve a penalty. Where is the Toyota? Toyota is coming out of the final corner. Anthony Davidson is at the wheel of the #1 Toyota. James Calado and Frederic Makowiecki continue their scrap. ESM pits their LMP2 Ligier Honda. Matt Howson is in the #47 and Romain Rusinov is in the #26. This scrap is still taking place. The #4 ByKolles CLM AER is still on the road, in the hands of Brit Simon Trummer. We are two hours, 31 minutes, into this race now.
The #7 and #8 Audi's were trying to weave their way through GT traffic. Andre Lotterer is feverishly trying to catch up to Brendon Hartley in the Porsche. Keep in mind that Lotterer, Marcel Fassler, and, Benoit Treluyer, won't lose points, because their rival drivers, are racing in other classes, in this race. Romain Rusinov pits one of the G-Drive cars. Brendon Hartley pits from the race lead. Hartley out. Timo Bernhard, in. One of the Audi's pits. Now, with respect to fuel, we don't know what parameter the Porsche #18 was in breach of.
KCMG and Matt Howson make a pit stop. They are quicker than their rivals. Lucas di Grassi has taken the race lead. #18 and #8 are side-by-side. But, these cars, are not on the same lap. Lucas di Grassi pits, giving the lead back to the #17 Porsche of Timo Bernhard. James Calado continues wheeling Ferrari #71. Timo Bernhard is really pushing. James Calado continues to defend from Frederic Makowiecki. We have a full course yellow. The #88 Porsche 911 RSR has spun in the Schumacher esses.
Khaled al-Qubaisi, Christian Ried, and Earl Bamber, share that car. Pierre Kaffer has stopped his CLM, and Christian Ried, ran into him! That wreck could have been a lot worse! The whole wing is on the track. We will go under full-course yellow. Amazing. Trouble for the #71 Ferrari. He was hit up the back by another car. At the yellow, the Ferrari was hit by the Porsche GT car! The rear bumper, has been hit. Things are getting a little sloppy here at the Nurburgring, as we are approaching the end of the third hour of racing. So, we are almost halfway home, fans.
Pit lane action is happening, including the #18 Porsche and the Dempsey Proton car with Marco Seefried at the wheel. Patrick Long, who started the car, will take over. We remember, the late, great racing driver, Eric Thompson, who ran at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951. Rest In Peace, Eric Thompson. We are about set to go racing again, and start the second half of this event. We are ten seconds away. Green! The track, is back to green.
The Porsche has position on the smoking Ferrari through the Veedol chicane. Davide Rigon tries to pass the Porsche. Rigon is behind now. Porsche is making a massive move, and here comes Rigon! There's a touch! Wow. Flash the lights. Rigon is in no mood to give up the spot.
Lucas di Grassi has not pitted yet. He missed the opportunity to make a pit stop. The gap between the two leading Porsche's is 6.7 seconds. As mentioned, Toyota, is developing a new race car, with a new engine. More details will be divulged on that, next week, in the sports car racing news update. For now, we have a race to keep enjoying, fans. We now have three hours and 46 minutes to go. The top six cars are all LMP1 hybrid racers from Porsche, Audi, and Toyota. Romain Rusinov leading LMP2 is seventh. Michael Christensen leads LM GTE Pro in 16th overall for Porsche. In LM GTE Am, it's the #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage of Matthias Lauda.
Porsche is having an issue with the electronics for their calculation on fuel. Second time for Porsche being penalized. It's a 30 second stop/go penalty for the #18 Porsche due to excessive fuel consumption. Rui Aguas was stopped briefly in LM GTE Am in a Ferrari. He went off, then, rejoined, and stopped again. We watch a battle in LM GTE Am, between Christian Ried, and Andrea Bertolini. Brendon Hartley leads Romain Dumas, at the moment. Ooh. One of the ESM cars has spun.
Stop and go penalty for the #18 Porsche, again, for excessive energy consumption. Too much energy goes through the car, between the petrol motor, and the ERS (Energy Recovery System). There are many battles in the GT classes. It looks like Frederic Makowiecki is catching James Calado. They drop downhill, through a kink, and to the Dunlop hairpin. Romain Dumas tried twice to get into th wrong pit! Porsche is having real issues. The wheels might be falling off the wagon here.
He has to serve a penalty. Where is the Toyota? Toyota is coming out of the final corner. Anthony Davidson is at the wheel of the #1 Toyota. James Calado and Frederic Makowiecki continue their scrap. ESM pits their LMP2 Ligier Honda. Matt Howson is in the #47 and Romain Rusinov is in the #26. This scrap is still taking place. The #4 ByKolles CLM AER is still on the road, in the hands of Brit Simon Trummer. We are two hours, 31 minutes, into this race now.
The #7 and #8 Audi's were trying to weave their way through GT traffic. Andre Lotterer is feverishly trying to catch up to Brendon Hartley in the Porsche. Keep in mind that Lotterer, Marcel Fassler, and, Benoit Treluyer, won't lose points, because their rival drivers, are racing in other classes, in this race. Romain Rusinov pits one of the G-Drive cars. Brendon Hartley pits from the race lead. Hartley out. Timo Bernhard, in. One of the Audi's pits. Now, with respect to fuel, we don't know what parameter the Porsche #18 was in breach of.
KCMG and Matt Howson make a pit stop. They are quicker than their rivals. Lucas di Grassi has taken the race lead. #18 and #8 are side-by-side. But, these cars, are not on the same lap. Lucas di Grassi pits, giving the lead back to the #17 Porsche of Timo Bernhard. James Calado continues wheeling Ferrari #71. Timo Bernhard is really pushing. James Calado continues to defend from Frederic Makowiecki. We have a full course yellow. The #88 Porsche 911 RSR has spun in the Schumacher esses.
Khaled al-Qubaisi, Christian Ried, and Earl Bamber, share that car. Pierre Kaffer has stopped his CLM, and Christian Ried, ran into him! That wreck could have been a lot worse! The whole wing is on the track. We will go under full-course yellow. Amazing. Trouble for the #71 Ferrari. He was hit up the back by another car. At the yellow, the Ferrari was hit by the Porsche GT car! The rear bumper, has been hit. Things are getting a little sloppy here at the Nurburgring, as we are approaching the end of the third hour of racing. So, we are almost halfway home, fans.
Pit lane action is happening, including the #18 Porsche and the Dempsey Proton car with Marco Seefried at the wheel. Patrick Long, who started the car, will take over. We remember, the late, great racing driver, Eric Thompson, who ran at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951. Rest In Peace, Eric Thompson. We are about set to go racing again, and start the second half of this event. We are ten seconds away. Green! The track, is back to green.
The Porsche has position on the smoking Ferrari through the Veedol chicane. Davide Rigon tries to pass the Porsche. Rigon is behind now. Porsche is making a massive move, and here comes Rigon! There's a touch! Wow. Flash the lights. Rigon is in no mood to give up the spot.
6 Hours of the Nurburgring: Hour 2
The Rebellion will be recovered, in a slow zone, in zone number one. We are prepping for GT pit stops. The #91 and #92 LM GTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR's pit, and now, Aston Martin, takes over the class lead. Viktor Shaitar pits, and we look for James Calado to do likewise. Andrea Bertolini and Alexsey Basov, share the #72 SMP Ferrari 458 Italia, with Shaitar. Ooh. Jonny Kane slides off into the gravel trap on th final corner. He's behind Nelson Panciatici, Ryan Dalziel, and Oliver Webb. We're an hour and six minutes into this race, with Marc Lieb leading Marcel Fassler and Loic Duval. Porsche, Audi, Audi.
Anthony Davidson goes off the road and will get a warning for that. The battle heats up between Porsche and Audi. The Porsche tries to follow, and is using an LMP2 car as a pick. Audi's have the legs through the twisty bits, and Porsche has the oomph on the straights. More traffic ahead. Mark Webber follows Loic Duval. Webber has enough in hand over one of the Audi's. The #77 Proton Dempsey Porsche pits. Patrick Long hands over to team owner, Patrick Dempsey.
Pedro Lamy pits the Aston Martin, too. Both Rebellion LMP1 cars, are out. Game over for that team. We missed the start of this race. But, Neel Jani, took off, hitting the afterburner button, and he was into the lead. Audi was trying to keep themselves honest. But, Porsche has had the upper hand, thus far. Problems early on for the #97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, too. Earl Bamber in one of the LM GTE Pro Porsche's also got spun by an Aston Martin. We saw the AF Corse Ferrari have problems, too.
Dempsey Proton and Patrick Long, led LM GTE Am. We go back to live pictures if you are watching on Fox Sports. Marc Lieb still leads this race. Lieb is in traffic. Mark Webber is running faster. Porsche factory drivers lead every class right now, including Nick Tandy. Patrick Dempsey is third in class right now. Marc Lieb has taken over car #18 from Neel Jani. Audi has been having temperature trouble/cooling issues. Audi's have been trying to pull out of line, because of the general cooling issues on their big diesel V6 engines.
It's a scorcher at the Nurburgring. Earl Bamber leads LM GTE Am. He is racing for Abu Dhabi Proton. Bamber will race in the VLN here at the Nurburgring, with a Porsche Cayman GT4, too. Whoops. Nick Tandy has spun in the #47 KCMG LMP2 car. But, he is back on track. Earl Bamber is slated to pit the Porsche 911 RSR soon. But, the Rebellion team is continuing to have a dreadful race, despite the cars having new livery.
Mark Webber is leading Francois Perrodo in one of the Ferrari's. We are nearly an hour and a half into this race. Audi 1-2. Porsche 3-4. Toyota 5-6. Marc Lieb and Mark Webber lead, running 1-2. Audi's drivers lead the championship. The points are really shuffled, and it looks like Audi will have the driver championship leader after this race. A complicated day, to be sure. Richard Lietz leads Davide Rigon, and Patrick Pilet, in LM GTE Pro. Porsche, Ferrari, Porsche.
Roald Goethe in the #96 Aston Martin gets the black and white flag, for exceeding track limits. This could result in a penalty. These guys are involved in battles for real spots, but, the lead cars also have to thread their way through. Loic Duval and Marcel Fassler, in the Audi's are racing nose to tail. We've had one full course yellow, and a brief slow zone. Some of these blokes are fast enough on track, they could race each other with supermarket trolleys and it would be fun. What's a supermarket trolley? A shopping cart.
Marcel Fassler passes Alex Wurz in one of the Toyota's. Toyota has had a learning year this year. It's not been one to forget. But, they just aren't in the same league as Porsche or Audi. Drama for the leader. A tech infringement for the #18 Porsche, an hour and a half into this race. There had to be a pit stop issue, or, something at the start of the race. Too many people over the pit lane line? Maybe. Yours truly, is scratching an itch, for more than one reason. What have the Porsche team been penalized for?
There's action for Porsche, and in the Audi pits. Francois Perrodo was squeezed by the #30 ESM Ligier Honda of Scott Sharp. Brendon Hartley will take over the #17 Porsche, when Mark Webber comes in. Marc Lieb gets a five second stop and go penalty. The penalty is for excessive fuel consumption, according to race director, Edoardo Freitas. That's the first time yours truly can remember such a penalty being applied. He's in the pits, now. This has to be done separately. Mark Webber is going to take over the race lead.
It will be close! Webber is going to take it. No? No. They will fight for position. They touch! Lieb hip checks Webber off the road! Ouch! If you touch, according to the Porsche bosses, you are in big, big trouble. They run through the Mercedes Arena section, and Marc Lieb may not have seen Webber. He's not there. He's not there. Oops. He's there. Ke-thunk. The leader has two pit stops, if you are following the timing and scoring.
The fuel is measured on a three lap basis, and the teams havee a new fuel measurement unit. The top three in LM GTE Am are covered only by 15 seconds. Brendon Hartley has taken over the #17 Porsche 919 from Mark Webber. Andre Lotterer has taken over the #7 Audi R18 eTron Quattro. The #47 and #36 LMP2 cars have pitted. KCMG still leads in LMP2. Jonny Kane pits the Strakka Racing LMP2 car. Danny Watts will take over the car. The #26 G Drive Ligier JS P2 takes over the lead, with Roman Rusinov at the controls. The #8 Audi also pits.
It's going to be a battle between Audi and Porsche. The early infringements of the race, are being meted out. It's the car that gets the penalty, and not necessarily, the driver in it. Brendon Hartley chases Marc Lieb. Alexander Wurz in the Toyota is being scored second. But that isn't true. ESM pits their Ligier Honda. Marc Lieb could lose second spot to Andre Lotterer. He won't lose second. But, the Audi will be close. We have over four hours left to race. Romain Rusinov leads LMP2, but is being caught by the #47 car, now in the hands of Matt Howson.
Gustavo Yacaman is also closing in the #28 Ligier. Lucas di Grassi is also trying to find a way past Marc Lieb. Lucas di Grassi is the fastest bloke in the top four spots. di Grassi is at the wheel of Audi #8. Ooh. All four wheels off for Marc Lieb! Romain Dumas takes over the car. But, Lib had a close call with the Larbre Competition Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- driven by Gianluca Roda. Now, Brendon Hartley has taken over the race lead. Nico Prost is at the wheel of the #12 Rebellion. But the team has been having a really fraught race.
Danny Watts is trying to pass Scott Sharp for sixth in LMP2. There is an engine battle and a chassis battle here. Honda vs. Nissan, and Ligier vs. Gibson. Danny Watts is still chasing, Scott Sharp. When we get to the end of this lap, Watts will look to maintain the pressure.
Anthony Davidson goes off the road and will get a warning for that. The battle heats up between Porsche and Audi. The Porsche tries to follow, and is using an LMP2 car as a pick. Audi's have the legs through the twisty bits, and Porsche has the oomph on the straights. More traffic ahead. Mark Webber follows Loic Duval. Webber has enough in hand over one of the Audi's. The #77 Proton Dempsey Porsche pits. Patrick Long hands over to team owner, Patrick Dempsey.
Pedro Lamy pits the Aston Martin, too. Both Rebellion LMP1 cars, are out. Game over for that team. We missed the start of this race. But, Neel Jani, took off, hitting the afterburner button, and he was into the lead. Audi was trying to keep themselves honest. But, Porsche has had the upper hand, thus far. Problems early on for the #97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, too. Earl Bamber in one of the LM GTE Pro Porsche's also got spun by an Aston Martin. We saw the AF Corse Ferrari have problems, too.
Dempsey Proton and Patrick Long, led LM GTE Am. We go back to live pictures if you are watching on Fox Sports. Marc Lieb still leads this race. Lieb is in traffic. Mark Webber is running faster. Porsche factory drivers lead every class right now, including Nick Tandy. Patrick Dempsey is third in class right now. Marc Lieb has taken over car #18 from Neel Jani. Audi has been having temperature trouble/cooling issues. Audi's have been trying to pull out of line, because of the general cooling issues on their big diesel V6 engines.
It's a scorcher at the Nurburgring. Earl Bamber leads LM GTE Am. He is racing for Abu Dhabi Proton. Bamber will race in the VLN here at the Nurburgring, with a Porsche Cayman GT4, too. Whoops. Nick Tandy has spun in the #47 KCMG LMP2 car. But, he is back on track. Earl Bamber is slated to pit the Porsche 911 RSR soon. But, the Rebellion team is continuing to have a dreadful race, despite the cars having new livery.
Mark Webber is leading Francois Perrodo in one of the Ferrari's. We are nearly an hour and a half into this race. Audi 1-2. Porsche 3-4. Toyota 5-6. Marc Lieb and Mark Webber lead, running 1-2. Audi's drivers lead the championship. The points are really shuffled, and it looks like Audi will have the driver championship leader after this race. A complicated day, to be sure. Richard Lietz leads Davide Rigon, and Patrick Pilet, in LM GTE Pro. Porsche, Ferrari, Porsche.
Roald Goethe in the #96 Aston Martin gets the black and white flag, for exceeding track limits. This could result in a penalty. These guys are involved in battles for real spots, but, the lead cars also have to thread their way through. Loic Duval and Marcel Fassler, in the Audi's are racing nose to tail. We've had one full course yellow, and a brief slow zone. Some of these blokes are fast enough on track, they could race each other with supermarket trolleys and it would be fun. What's a supermarket trolley? A shopping cart.
Marcel Fassler passes Alex Wurz in one of the Toyota's. Toyota has had a learning year this year. It's not been one to forget. But, they just aren't in the same league as Porsche or Audi. Drama for the leader. A tech infringement for the #18 Porsche, an hour and a half into this race. There had to be a pit stop issue, or, something at the start of the race. Too many people over the pit lane line? Maybe. Yours truly, is scratching an itch, for more than one reason. What have the Porsche team been penalized for?
There's action for Porsche, and in the Audi pits. Francois Perrodo was squeezed by the #30 ESM Ligier Honda of Scott Sharp. Brendon Hartley will take over the #17 Porsche, when Mark Webber comes in. Marc Lieb gets a five second stop and go penalty. The penalty is for excessive fuel consumption, according to race director, Edoardo Freitas. That's the first time yours truly can remember such a penalty being applied. He's in the pits, now. This has to be done separately. Mark Webber is going to take over the race lead.
It will be close! Webber is going to take it. No? No. They will fight for position. They touch! Lieb hip checks Webber off the road! Ouch! If you touch, according to the Porsche bosses, you are in big, big trouble. They run through the Mercedes Arena section, and Marc Lieb may not have seen Webber. He's not there. He's not there. Oops. He's there. Ke-thunk. The leader has two pit stops, if you are following the timing and scoring.
The fuel is measured on a three lap basis, and the teams havee a new fuel measurement unit. The top three in LM GTE Am are covered only by 15 seconds. Brendon Hartley has taken over the #17 Porsche 919 from Mark Webber. Andre Lotterer has taken over the #7 Audi R18 eTron Quattro. The #47 and #36 LMP2 cars have pitted. KCMG still leads in LMP2. Jonny Kane pits the Strakka Racing LMP2 car. Danny Watts will take over the car. The #26 G Drive Ligier JS P2 takes over the lead, with Roman Rusinov at the controls. The #8 Audi also pits.
It's going to be a battle between Audi and Porsche. The early infringements of the race, are being meted out. It's the car that gets the penalty, and not necessarily, the driver in it. Brendon Hartley chases Marc Lieb. Alexander Wurz in the Toyota is being scored second. But that isn't true. ESM pits their Ligier Honda. Marc Lieb could lose second spot to Andre Lotterer. He won't lose second. But, the Audi will be close. We have over four hours left to race. Romain Rusinov leads LMP2, but is being caught by the #47 car, now in the hands of Matt Howson.
Gustavo Yacaman is also closing in the #28 Ligier. Lucas di Grassi is also trying to find a way past Marc Lieb. Lucas di Grassi is the fastest bloke in the top four spots. di Grassi is at the wheel of Audi #8. Ooh. All four wheels off for Marc Lieb! Romain Dumas takes over the car. But, Lib had a close call with the Larbre Competition Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- driven by Gianluca Roda. Now, Brendon Hartley has taken over the race lead. Nico Prost is at the wheel of the #12 Rebellion. But the team has been having a really fraught race.
Danny Watts is trying to pass Scott Sharp for sixth in LMP2. There is an engine battle and a chassis battle here. Honda vs. Nissan, and Ligier vs. Gibson. Danny Watts is still chasing, Scott Sharp. When we get to the end of this lap, Watts will look to maintain the pressure.
6 Hours of the Nurburgring: Hour 1
After the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the summer break, the FIA World Endurance Championship, returns to action, today, at the legendary Nurburgring in the Eiffel mountains in Nurburg, Germany.
This is the first visit for the WEC to the Nurburgring. We are live for the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring, starting, now.
This is round four of the series. Porsche, takes pole. In LM GTE Am, Viktor Shaitar and Alexey Basov scored pole in LM GTE Am. Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni, have LM GTE Pro pole position. Nick Tandy and Matt Howson are on pole in LMP2. In LMP1, Porsche, sweeps the front row. Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb, have pole. We are setting up, for a great race. Yours truly, has not had the chance to blog the Spa 6 Hours from back in May, yet. That will happen, soon. Stay tuned.
It is a beautiful day at the Nurburgring. We missed the start of the race. Right now, the start is under investigation. Drive through penalty for the #92 Porsche 911 RSR. Neel Jani leads in the first sector in the #18 Porsche, over Timo Bernhard. The Porsche's are running at the top of the table, so far. Porsche leads over Audi and Toyota at this time. Patrick Long passes Stefan Mucke. The Aston Martin is having issues, and gets passed by the LM GTE Am Porsche of Patrick Long. We're working the sixth lap of this six hour race.
Oops. We have a spin. But, we are also watching Sam Bird and Nick Tandy in the LMP2 class, running in the 1:47 range. Timo Bernhard takes some time off of Loic Duval in the Audi R18 eTron Quattro. The spinning Porsche was for Proton Competition. Fred Makowiecki has had a drive through penalty, too. We watch Marcel Fassler trying to catch Loic Duval. Porsche, 1-2. Audi, 3-4. Toyota, 5-6. In LMP2, it's a four way battle between Nick Tandy, Sam Bird, Luis Felipe Derani, and Nelson Panciatici.
Neel Jani is ahead by four seconds over Timo Bernhard. Audi vs. Porsche. Oops. We have a slow Ferrari. This is one of the AF Corse entries. This is at marshal position 23, the Dunlop hairpin. Gianmaria Bruni has an issue with the #51 Ferrari 458 Italia. Drama early at the Nurburgring. We are now under full course yellow. We have a virtual safety car. We've run for 15 minutes. Dramatic moments early on. The leader in LMP1L, from Rebellion Racing, did not take the start. Nick Heidfeld, was supposed to be at the controls.
The #71 Ferrari in LM GTE Pro, pits. We are back to green flag racing. Neel Jani sails into the lead. The battle for second intensifies. One second between the #17 Porsche, #8 Audi, and #7 Audi. Is Porsche letting Neel Jani light the afterburners? It could be. It's cat and mouse for second, third, and fouth, at the moment. Stefan Mucke and Aston Martin are going to pit soon. Marco Sorensen in the sister #95 car, has also been off. The marshals are able to look at each car, and what each driver is doing, so they don't take advantage of getting a position.
James Calado in the #71 Ferrari, has pulled off the road. Is it game over for Calado and company? We'll see. AF Corse has had both LM GTE Pro machines have issues! The leaders are coming to turns three and four. Timo Bernhard leads. It's not Calado. #51 was towed away and it's game over. Wait. #51 is in trouble again. Yikes. Gianmaria Bruni is still driving that car. Meanwhile, it's a battle between Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, and Marcel Fassler. We're nearly a half hour into this race. Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Audi, Toyota, Toyota. With the Rebellion's issues in the gasoline Prototype class, the CLM of Pierre Kaffer, is at the top of the table, at the moment.
Nick Tandy, Sam Bird, and Luis Felipe Derani, are top three in LMP2. Nick Tandy leads. He is racing in LMP2 for KCMG in this race, and not, for the Porsche factory squad. Patience will be key at this race, on the challenging 3 and 3/4 mile layout of the new Nurburgring, that has been around for at least 30 years. We are a half hour into this race, so far. This is the halfway mark of the race. Loic Duval and Timo Bernhard are still trying to pass the Porsche. The Porsche's were rocket quick, earlier in the season.
But, now, at the Nurburgring, the car is different. Same for the Audi R18 eTron Quattro. These cars, are different, from what they were at Spa or Le Mans. Again, Spa will be covered, even though it has already occurred. Meanwhile, Loic Duval is being challenged by Marcel Fassler. Porsche is concerned about brake temperatures. Are they having issues with the hybrid harvesting system? The Porsche still leads. It's a hot one at the Nurburgring today. It is in the 30s on the Celsius scale, meaning, the 90s on the Fahrenheit scale.
The issue for the Ferrari LM GTE car, was electronic. The #51 car is in damage limitation mode now. The #17 team has gone to plan B. They will do a different pit strategy. It is mandated that you have English radio translation that is not scrambled, so that the teams can communicate with the driver, and the fans at home, can hear it. Damaged splitter for the #18 Porsche in second in the overall. Pit stop time for the LMP1 hybrid cars, soon.
Neel Jani leads overall. Nick Tandy leads P2. Michael Christensen leads LM GTE Pro, and Patrick Long, leads LM GTE Am. The race goes on, and there was a power outage for a bit. Now, pit stop time. Porsche and Audi pit at the same time. Neel Jani, and Marcel Fassler. There's some crash damage on one of the cars. Now, they change tires. Will Porsche change the nose? Mark Webber will take over the car. The new nose is on. Mark Webber, is back in the motor race, ahead of Audi #7 of Loic Duval.
Toyota's (both of them) stayed on the track. Marcel Fassler continues driving the #7. There was no driver change. Did #17 have a dive plane failure on the front wing? The gap now is 37 seconds. 45 minutes have elapsed, of this six hour race. Neel Jani has lead since lights out for the start. Side-bu-side in LM GTE Am. Pedro Lamy vs. Viktor Shaitar. Lamy's Aston Martin V8 Vantage covered the inside over Viktor Shaitar's Ferrari 458 Italia.
In LMP2 we watch a battle for fourth between Nelson Panciaticci and Jonny Kane. Pedro Lamy is running in the 1:59 bracket. We watch the two G Drive P2 cars, pit together. Routine pit stops, for both, with no driver changes. The big story is still the issue with the #17 Porsche. The left front brake had been overheating. The #4 CLM is also in the lane. Pierre Kaffer is still at the wheel. Nelson Panciatici, Jonny Kane, and Oliver Webb, are all pitting. Loic Duval is told to stay out. Panciatici pits the Alpine Nissan. Now, it will be close in LMP2. There are a couple cars that beat Panciatici off pit lane.
Meanwhile, we see Loic Duval in the pits. This is a scheduled stop. Duval will stay in the car, and have a new drink put in the car. You have the bottle of fluid (electrolyte drink) in the reservoir in the car, and then, push a button, to take a drink. The #8 Audi is back on track. Mark Webber moves ahead of Loic Duval. P2 leader is in. Nick Tandy will stay in the car. He will keep the lead in LMP2 after a routine pit stop. The Toyota slices it's way through an awesome battle in LM GTE Pro. The #18 Porsche 919 Hybrid pits, as the #13 Rebellion continues to have a problem. Porsche pits car #18, with Marc Lieb now at the wheel.
Audi is double stinting drivers and tires. Porsche is doing single driver stints, it looks like. Marc Lieb is back on track. Toyota pits. They've had a hard season, and are already at work on their car for the 2016 season. We see the #12 Rebellion has pulled off the road. Both Toyota's have pitted. Next year, Toyota may use a turbo four cylinder, or a V6, abandoning their current V8 motor. Anthony Davidson is now in Toyota #1, and Mike Conway in car #2.
This is the first visit for the WEC to the Nurburgring. We are live for the 6 Hours of the Nurburgring, starting, now.
This is round four of the series. Porsche, takes pole. In LM GTE Am, Viktor Shaitar and Alexey Basov scored pole in LM GTE Am. Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni, have LM GTE Pro pole position. Nick Tandy and Matt Howson are on pole in LMP2. In LMP1, Porsche, sweeps the front row. Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb, have pole. We are setting up, for a great race. Yours truly, has not had the chance to blog the Spa 6 Hours from back in May, yet. That will happen, soon. Stay tuned.
It is a beautiful day at the Nurburgring. We missed the start of the race. Right now, the start is under investigation. Drive through penalty for the #92 Porsche 911 RSR. Neel Jani leads in the first sector in the #18 Porsche, over Timo Bernhard. The Porsche's are running at the top of the table, so far. Porsche leads over Audi and Toyota at this time. Patrick Long passes Stefan Mucke. The Aston Martin is having issues, and gets passed by the LM GTE Am Porsche of Patrick Long. We're working the sixth lap of this six hour race.
Oops. We have a spin. But, we are also watching Sam Bird and Nick Tandy in the LMP2 class, running in the 1:47 range. Timo Bernhard takes some time off of Loic Duval in the Audi R18 eTron Quattro. The spinning Porsche was for Proton Competition. Fred Makowiecki has had a drive through penalty, too. We watch Marcel Fassler trying to catch Loic Duval. Porsche, 1-2. Audi, 3-4. Toyota, 5-6. In LMP2, it's a four way battle between Nick Tandy, Sam Bird, Luis Felipe Derani, and Nelson Panciatici.
Neel Jani is ahead by four seconds over Timo Bernhard. Audi vs. Porsche. Oops. We have a slow Ferrari. This is one of the AF Corse entries. This is at marshal position 23, the Dunlop hairpin. Gianmaria Bruni has an issue with the #51 Ferrari 458 Italia. Drama early at the Nurburgring. We are now under full course yellow. We have a virtual safety car. We've run for 15 minutes. Dramatic moments early on. The leader in LMP1L, from Rebellion Racing, did not take the start. Nick Heidfeld, was supposed to be at the controls.
The #71 Ferrari in LM GTE Pro, pits. We are back to green flag racing. Neel Jani sails into the lead. The battle for second intensifies. One second between the #17 Porsche, #8 Audi, and #7 Audi. Is Porsche letting Neel Jani light the afterburners? It could be. It's cat and mouse for second, third, and fouth, at the moment. Stefan Mucke and Aston Martin are going to pit soon. Marco Sorensen in the sister #95 car, has also been off. The marshals are able to look at each car, and what each driver is doing, so they don't take advantage of getting a position.
James Calado in the #71 Ferrari, has pulled off the road. Is it game over for Calado and company? We'll see. AF Corse has had both LM GTE Pro machines have issues! The leaders are coming to turns three and four. Timo Bernhard leads. It's not Calado. #51 was towed away and it's game over. Wait. #51 is in trouble again. Yikes. Gianmaria Bruni is still driving that car. Meanwhile, it's a battle between Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, and Marcel Fassler. We're nearly a half hour into this race. Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Audi, Toyota, Toyota. With the Rebellion's issues in the gasoline Prototype class, the CLM of Pierre Kaffer, is at the top of the table, at the moment.
Nick Tandy, Sam Bird, and Luis Felipe Derani, are top three in LMP2. Nick Tandy leads. He is racing in LMP2 for KCMG in this race, and not, for the Porsche factory squad. Patience will be key at this race, on the challenging 3 and 3/4 mile layout of the new Nurburgring, that has been around for at least 30 years. We are a half hour into this race, so far. This is the halfway mark of the race. Loic Duval and Timo Bernhard are still trying to pass the Porsche. The Porsche's were rocket quick, earlier in the season.
But, now, at the Nurburgring, the car is different. Same for the Audi R18 eTron Quattro. These cars, are different, from what they were at Spa or Le Mans. Again, Spa will be covered, even though it has already occurred. Meanwhile, Loic Duval is being challenged by Marcel Fassler. Porsche is concerned about brake temperatures. Are they having issues with the hybrid harvesting system? The Porsche still leads. It's a hot one at the Nurburgring today. It is in the 30s on the Celsius scale, meaning, the 90s on the Fahrenheit scale.
The issue for the Ferrari LM GTE car, was electronic. The #51 car is in damage limitation mode now. The #17 team has gone to plan B. They will do a different pit strategy. It is mandated that you have English radio translation that is not scrambled, so that the teams can communicate with the driver, and the fans at home, can hear it. Damaged splitter for the #18 Porsche in second in the overall. Pit stop time for the LMP1 hybrid cars, soon.
Neel Jani leads overall. Nick Tandy leads P2. Michael Christensen leads LM GTE Pro, and Patrick Long, leads LM GTE Am. The race goes on, and there was a power outage for a bit. Now, pit stop time. Porsche and Audi pit at the same time. Neel Jani, and Marcel Fassler. There's some crash damage on one of the cars. Now, they change tires. Will Porsche change the nose? Mark Webber will take over the car. The new nose is on. Mark Webber, is back in the motor race, ahead of Audi #7 of Loic Duval.
Toyota's (both of them) stayed on the track. Marcel Fassler continues driving the #7. There was no driver change. Did #17 have a dive plane failure on the front wing? The gap now is 37 seconds. 45 minutes have elapsed, of this six hour race. Neel Jani has lead since lights out for the start. Side-bu-side in LM GTE Am. Pedro Lamy vs. Viktor Shaitar. Lamy's Aston Martin V8 Vantage covered the inside over Viktor Shaitar's Ferrari 458 Italia.
In LMP2 we watch a battle for fourth between Nelson Panciaticci and Jonny Kane. Pedro Lamy is running in the 1:59 bracket. We watch the two G Drive P2 cars, pit together. Routine pit stops, for both, with no driver changes. The big story is still the issue with the #17 Porsche. The left front brake had been overheating. The #4 CLM is also in the lane. Pierre Kaffer is still at the wheel. Nelson Panciatici, Jonny Kane, and Oliver Webb, are all pitting. Loic Duval is told to stay out. Panciatici pits the Alpine Nissan. Now, it will be close in LMP2. There are a couple cars that beat Panciatici off pit lane.
Meanwhile, we see Loic Duval in the pits. This is a scheduled stop. Duval will stay in the car, and have a new drink put in the car. You have the bottle of fluid (electrolyte drink) in the reservoir in the car, and then, push a button, to take a drink. The #8 Audi is back on track. Mark Webber moves ahead of Loic Duval. P2 leader is in. Nick Tandy will stay in the car. He will keep the lead in LMP2 after a routine pit stop. The Toyota slices it's way through an awesome battle in LM GTE Pro. The #18 Porsche 919 Hybrid pits, as the #13 Rebellion continues to have a problem. Porsche pits car #18, with Marc Lieb now at the wheel.
Audi is double stinting drivers and tires. Porsche is doing single driver stints, it looks like. Marc Lieb is back on track. Toyota pits. They've had a hard season, and are already at work on their car for the 2016 season. We see the #12 Rebellion has pulled off the road. Both Toyota's have pitted. Next year, Toyota may use a turbo four cylinder, or a V6, abandoning their current V8 motor. Anthony Davidson is now in Toyota #1, and Mike Conway in car #2.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
FIA WEC: Nurburgring, Friday Paddock Notes, 2016 Calendar, Factory Team Commitment
No official announcement on next year's FIA World Endurance Championship calendar. But, it should be announced soon, with no real changes. Plus, many factory teams already involved in the sport, are set to continue with their efforts, for at least the next two seasons.
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/08/28/fia-wec-nurburgring-friday-paddock-notes-2016-calendar-factory-team-commitment-more.html
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/08/28/fia-wec-nurburgring-friday-paddock-notes-2016-calendar-factory-team-commitment-more.html
IMSA: Ford GT tests at Sebring as Ganassi readies for delivery
Ford's new GT race car, continued testing, this week, at the legendary, and torturous, Sebring International Raceway, under the auspices of the car's designers, builders, and principal team... Multimatic, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Roush Yates Engines.
http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/120812-imsa-ford-gt-tests-at-sebring-as-ganassi-readies-for-delivery
http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/120812-imsa-ford-gt-tests-at-sebring-as-ganassi-readies-for-delivery
Friday, August 28, 2015
more sports car racing news
A brief update on the news of sports car racing.
Ekris Motorsport Completes First BMW M4 GT4 Test
http://sportscar365.com/industry/ekris-motorsport-completes-first-bmw-m4-gt4-test/
Behind The Title: Gerard Neveu
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/behind-the-title-gerard-neveu/
Makowiecki: "We're Ready for a Comeback After a Difficult Season"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/makowiecki-were-ready-for-a-comeback-after-a-difficult-season/
Audi Quickest in FP1 at Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-fastest-in-practice-1-at-nurburgring/
Fogarty: "I Feel Like This is the Start of the Season"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fogarty-i-feel-like-this-is-the-start-of-the-season/
Ekris Motorsport Completes First BMW M4 GT4 Test
http://sportscar365.com/industry/ekris-motorsport-completes-first-bmw-m4-gt4-test/
Behind The Title: Gerard Neveu
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/behind-the-title-gerard-neveu/
Makowiecki: "We're Ready for a Comeback After a Difficult Season"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/makowiecki-were-ready-for-a-comeback-after-a-difficult-season/
Audi Quickest in FP1 at Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-fastest-in-practice-1-at-nurburgring/
Fogarty: "I Feel Like This is the Start of the Season"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fogarty-i-feel-like-this-is-the-start-of-the-season/
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Throwback Thursday: Legend A.J. Foyt's Solid Sports Car Racing Credentials
A.J. Foyt, is indeed a four-time Indianapolis 500 champion, a legend of open wheel racing, and, also, NASCAR, winning the 1972 Daytona 500. But, he has also had a great sports car racing career. Check out this retrospective, including wins for Foyt in BOTH 24 hour classics at Daytona, and Le Mans. Foyt won Le Mans with Dan Gurney in a Ford GT40 in 1967, and won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, in 1983, in a Porsche 935 with car owner, Preston Henn, Claude Ballot-Lena, and, a furious, Bob Wollek.
Wollek said of Foyt, (to paraphrase), "We are a few laps down now, and Mr. A.J. Foyt is driving, who has no idea of any way how to drive this race car! I am very upset, that Mr. Foyt is at the wheel!" But, the late, great, Wollek, may have changed his mind, after the team, went on, to win the race. Foyt and Wollek also paired up to win the Rolex 24 again, in 1985.
http://www.imsa.com/articles/throwback-thursday-legend-aj-foyts-solid-sports-car-racing-credentials
Wollek said of Foyt, (to paraphrase), "We are a few laps down now, and Mr. A.J. Foyt is driving, who has no idea of any way how to drive this race car! I am very upset, that Mr. Foyt is at the wheel!" But, the late, great, Wollek, may have changed his mind, after the team, went on, to win the race. Foyt and Wollek also paired up to win the Rolex 24 again, in 1985.
http://www.imsa.com/articles/throwback-thursday-legend-aj-foyts-solid-sports-car-racing-credentials
IMSA drivers remember Justin Wilson
We pause, once again, to pay tribute, to Justin Wilson. May he Rest In Peace.
http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-drivers-remember-justin-wilson
http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-drivers-remember-justin-wilson
news from the Tudor Championship & FIA World Endurance Championship
Tudor Championship news stories, as well as headlines headed into this weekend's action for the FIA World Endurance Championship, at the Nurburgring in the Eiffel Mountains of Germany.
Job: "I've always been an advocate of long-term stability"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/job-ive-always-been-an-advocate-of-long-term-stability/
IMSA News & Notes 8-26
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/imsa-news-notes-8-26/
Reported this story yesterday. But, it bears repeating.
Black Swan Confirms Porsche 911 GT3-R,IMSA Return in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/black-swan-confirms-porsche-911-gt3-r-and-imsa-return-in-2016/
Tandy:"When You're Riding a Wave of Success, You Want To Keep Going"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tandy-when-youre-riding-a-wave-of-success-you-want-to-keep-going/
Porsche Confirms LMP1 Program Through 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-confirms-lmp1-program-through-2018/
Kaffer: "We've Been Developing and Making the CLM Reliable"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kaffer-the-biggest-aim-is-to-fight-for-lmp1-l-victory/
Nurburgring Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nurburgring-thursday-notebook/
Job: "I've always been an advocate of long-term stability"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/job-ive-always-been-an-advocate-of-long-term-stability/
IMSA News & Notes 8-26
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/imsa-news-notes-8-26/
Reported this story yesterday. But, it bears repeating.
Black Swan Confirms Porsche 911 GT3-R,IMSA Return in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/black-swan-confirms-porsche-911-gt3-r-and-imsa-return-in-2016/
Tandy:"When You're Riding a Wave of Success, You Want To Keep Going"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tandy-when-youre-riding-a-wave-of-success-you-want-to-keep-going/
Porsche Confirms LMP1 Program Through 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-confirms-lmp1-program-through-2018/
Kaffer: "We've Been Developing and Making the CLM Reliable"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kaffer-the-biggest-aim-is-to-fight-for-lmp1-l-victory/
Nurburgring Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nurburgring-thursday-notebook/
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Tim Pappas & Black Swan Racing Look To IMSA in 2016 With New GT3 Porsche & Nicky Catsburg
Black Swan Racing and team owner Tim Pappas, have made IMSA aware they'd like to compete in the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, next season.
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/08/26/tim-pappas-and-black-swan-racing-look-to-imsa-in-2016-with-new-gt3-porsche-and-nicky-catsburg.html
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/08/26/tim-pappas-and-black-swan-racing-look-to-imsa-in-2016-with-new-gt3-porsche-and-nicky-catsburg.html
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Oak Tree Grand Prix race broadcast
The race broadcast of the GT only Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway, that was blogged, on Sunday. Check it out.
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-oak-tree-grand-prix-vir-race-broadcast
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-oak-tree-grand-prix-vir-race-broadcast
Monday, August 24, 2015
IMSA Statement on the passing of Justin Wilson
We remember Justin Wilson, IndyCar driver, who also competed in IMSA, and won for Michael Shank Racing in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona, sharing with John Pew, A.J. Allmendinger, and Oswaldo Negri. Rest In Peace, Justin Wilson.
http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-statement-passing-justin-wilson
...and
http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Justin-Wilson-GB.html
http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-statement-passing-justin-wilson
...and
http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Justin-Wilson-GB.html
In Memoriam: Guy Ligier
Rest In Peace, French racing driver, and car constructor, Guy Ligier. Ligier was a driver, team owner, and constructor. He was a Formula One team owner, but also ran successful teams in sports cars. He ran the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times as a driver, with a best finish of seventh overall, driving a Porsche 904 for private entrant Auguste Veillet. The car carried #34, and Ligier shared the car with fellow Frenchman, Robert Buchet.
Ligier drove Ford GT40's, Ferrari's and cars of his own design. His last listed race start, (though he never drove the car), was in his own Ligier JS2 with power supplied by a 3.0 liter Maserati normally aspirated V6 motor. The car finished eighth overall in the 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans, with fellow Frenchmen Jacques Laffite, and Alain Serpaggi, driving.
http://sportscar365.com/industry/guy-ligier-passes-away-at-85/
...and
http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Guy-Ligier-F.html
Ligier drove Ford GT40's, Ferrari's and cars of his own design. His last listed race start, (though he never drove the car), was in his own Ligier JS2 with power supplied by a 3.0 liter Maserati normally aspirated V6 motor. The car finished eighth overall in the 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans, with fellow Frenchmen Jacques Laffite, and Alain Serpaggi, driving.
http://sportscar365.com/industry/guy-ligier-passes-away-at-85/
...and
http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Guy-Ligier-F.html
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Winner & highlights of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship Oak Tree Grand Prix Powered by Porsche at Virginia International Raceway
The Tudor United Sports Car Championship, races the Oak Tree Grand Prix, at another legendary racing circuit, first opened in the 1950s, today. Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Virginia. Today's event, showcases, the GT classes, for production-based sports cars. GT Le Mans, and GT Daytona.
Three races remain in the season. Championships are on the line. In GTLM, 15 points cover four makes. GT Daytona has just as close of a battle going on. The weather is very hot today. It was at this speedway in 1971 that IMSA ran it's first GT class race, with Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg, winning the race in a Porsche, over Dave Hinze in a Corvette, driving solo. It's a Porsche/Corvette battle renewal. Ferrari won last year. They have not won since then.
In GT Daytona, none of the top four cars, they have not won a race. Christina Nielsen had a wreck in qualifying. On pole, Dion von Moltke and Christopher Haase. We are minutes away from the start of the Oak Tree Grand Prix, Powered by Porsche. This course has 28 corners on it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_International_Raceway
The esses are very complex. Even the front straight, has a kink in it. The track was built in 1957, and lay dormant for a while, before reopening in 1998. Here we go. Porsche sweeps the front row in GTLM. We're racing at VIR! Nick Tandy and Jorg Bergmesier are in the two Porsche's, and Lucas Luhr in the BMW looks to the outside. Bryan Sellers passes Oliver Gavin, too. Pierre Kaffer is now up to second. They fly upill through the esses, at top speed.
Bergmeister slides inside the Ferrarti! Shades of Road America, two weeks ago. Kaffer flies back into the lead, into the technical part of the course, exiting turn 17 to th front straight, out of Hog Pen. The s curves area is called The Snake. The scenery here speaks for itself. The GT Daytona cars also started. Dion von Moltke in the Audi leads Bill Sweedler in the Ferrari. The GTD cars are in the last corners called "The Roller Coaster".
Ian James starts the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America. They had their balance on the car right. But, some damage, has affected that. Just before the start, Christina Nielsen could not find her drink bottle. Drivers will need that, to stay hydrated. These guys and gals have to do a minimum drive time of 50 minutes. On the strategy, TRG AMR will be running a bit conservative on their pace. The last race of the year, is ten hours. So, that could be a problem, later in the fall, at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
Bill Sweedler passes Patrick Lindsey in GT Daytona. Ooh. One of the GTD Audi's is off into Oak Tree corner. Ray Mason at the controls. Oak Tree corner, does not have the oak tree in it anymore. Even though this is a fast, flowing track, sometimes, you have to play dodge 'em cars. Oliver Gavin went the long way around Bill Auberlen and Auberlen was forced wide. Once a driver goes to the left, don't react. Be proactive, and stick to your own line.
Bill Sweedler is running well in the Ferrari. Team mate Townsend Bell, looks on. There have been adjustments on the Balance of Performance. The Viper's and Aston Martin's have been given more weight, and had their engine performance reduced slightly. Nick Tandy leads in the factory Porsche. Sweedler is catching the Audi of Dion von Moltke. Bill Sweedler has momentum. He'll keep going. Once you get a confidence level, if you feel the car is underneath you, the lap time will be there. The semi professional driver, needs the confidence, and the coaching, from a pro driver.
Tire temperature, track temperature, and ambient temperature, are all a big deal. The outside edge, center, and inside edge, all have different temperatures. The track was resurfaced at VIR last year. It's so critical, because the track temperature is so critical. It's a 43 degree split between ambient and track temps. Bill Auberlen wants by Oliver Gavin. Gavin is having none of it. The BMW Z4 GT is faster than the Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-.
Auberlen sets up the Corvette, but Oliver Gavin, slammed the door. BMW Team RLL has Lucas Luhr in their sister Z4 GT #24. John Edwards is team mate to Bill Auberlen, of course. Tire degradation has not been seen yet. The team is playing things by ear, with their Michelin tires. Some teams used different compounds and the different tires (short stint and long stint tires), and the strategy had to change. The asymmetric tires, change things. The harder tire is more durable, but gives up lap time.
One car makes a pit stop. We watch the Audi vs. Ferrari battle in GT Daytona. Don't get too hasty. The #33 SRT Viper pitted with a flatspotted right front tire, with Ben Keating at the controls. That will put these boys at Viper, off the pace. Does Bill Sweedler have the lead over von Moltke? Yes! Sweedler locked the brake, and the Audi almost pounced, but not quite. The top four cars in GT Daytona have yet to win a race. Keep this in mind.
Right now, the significant battle is Corvette vs. BMW. Bill Auberlen wants by Jan Magnussen. Auberlen can brake later than the Corvette can. The BMW is quicker in the corners, and handles well. However, the Z4 just does not have the straightaway speed compared to the Corvette. Auberlen was indeed tagged by one of the yellow Corvette's. The Corvette just stretches ahead. Magnussen is flashing the lights telling a GT Daytona car, saying, "don't hold me up!"
The #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America, might have a radiator or water issue. The temperature is getting hot. Bill Auberlen spins. That was not necessary. He was trying to get after the Corvette, and he got it wrong, getting too deep into the corner. You lose braking distance into the corner, and Auberlen, spins the car. Auberlen lost two spots, also one to Bryan Sellers in the #17 Falken Tires Porsche 911 RSR. We're 37 minutes into this race.
Patrick Lindsey takes the #73 Porsche to the garage. Could it be game over? #24 is in pit lane. BMW Team RLL knew they'd need to pit car #24 earlier. The team will have to go for a three stop race. Auberlen and company, will do two stops, running the fuel tank dry. 40 minutes in. Precisely two hours to go. Nick Tandy leads Pierre Kaffer, Jorg Bergmeister, Jan Magnussen, and Oliver Gavin. Pierre Kaffer continues chasing Jorg Bergmeister.
The #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America, spun off. There's a brow in the esses where the cars get light. He may have had a cut left front tire. The car didn't turn, and spun. Yup. The tire issue created the problem. He lost pressure in the tire, on the floor, and it sent him spinning. Jorge Bergmeister, and others, pit. Risi Competizione makes a great pit stop. The Corvette and the Porsche also pit.
Tommy Milner takes over the #4. He is a Virginian by birth. Corvette does not have the balance or speed right now. An hour and fifty minutes now remain. Dion von Moltke won't take any risks. Bill Sweedler continues to run really well, too. These blokes are right on top of each other, and they hit pit lane, now. Tires and fuel for Townsend Bell's Ferrari. Christopher Haase takes over the Audi. In the Porsche pits, Patrick Pilet takes over from Nick Tasndy. The driver change has to be faster than fuel and tires.
The #3 Corvette pits. Antonio Garcia takes over for Jan Magnussen. At BMW, Dirk Werner takes over from Bill Auberlen. Christina Nielsen pits the #007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Kuno Wittmer takes over from Christinia Nielsen. We are coming up on an hour into this race, and, it's been green all the way. Townsend Bell went ahead of Chrisopher Haase. Haase is chasing. Don't burn your tires up right now. Viper is in the lane. Jeroen Bleekemolen takes over from Ben Keating, in seventh in GT Daytona. The scrum between Dion von Moltke and Bill Sweedler, continues.
Yesterday, in qualifying, Nick Tandy slowed down, and Markus Palttala rammed him, causing damage to both cars. Now, Townsend Bell is being hounded by Christopher Haase. Will the Ferrari come on strong towards the end of this run? We'll see. Giancarlo Fisichella goes inside Townsend Bell, and then, Christopher Haase, tried his best, to get by. Almsot identical to the action seen with the team mates, earlier in this race.
The Viper's won the two enduro races in a second car, that was not meant to do the whole season. Then, of course, TI Automotive won GTD last time out, at Road America. Markus Palttala sets fastest lap in GTD at 1:48.4 in the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GT. Palttala won the 24 Hours of Spa of course. Team boss Don Salama, went to Iceland. Cooper MacNeil says that the WeatherTech Porsche team has struggled with the heat, and on their setup.
More problems for Andy Lally and the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche. He's got a left front tire going down. He is taking the short course to get back to the pit lane. Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy lead at halfway into this race, and have dominated so far. The track is very slippery into turn eleven, the one before the Oak Tree turn. Risi Competizione team boss, Dave "Beaky" Sims, started in the 1960s in Formula One, with people like the late, great, Jim Clark.
Back in the old days, you didn't have data. The driver had to give information to the team. We continue watching Dirk Werner flying after the Corvette's. Patrick Pilet leads. Track temperature spreads, again, are very extreme this weekend, between track and ambient temperature. Turner Motorsports is trying to a pit time strategy, with their master strategist Don "The Ice Man" Salama. Save fuel now, as if you have less fuel to need a tank of gas, you will need to stretch the margin.
Something has gone wrong with Antonio Garcia and the #3 Corvette. Did he lose power. Recycle the ECU. He's back underway. He is behind Dirk Werner in the BMW, and thankfully, he didn't get rear-ended. Garcia locks the brakes into turns fourteen and fiften, going through the Roller Coaster. Corvette doesn't have the sharp edge, due to the Balance of Performance. We watch Earl Bamber try to pass Giancarlo Fisichella in the Ferrari in GTLM, passing the GTD Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Final pit stops are coming soon.
Giancarlo Fisichella is doing well with car control, trying to keep the Ferrari from going sideways. In the lane, it's the #97 BMW Z4 GT, for four tires and fuel. The #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America also just pitted. We havwe only an hour left in this race. Fuel saving will be critical. Right now, Fisichella is holding up Earl Bamber in the sister factory Porsche. Townsend Bell now pits the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia, clearning grass from the radiators. You have to protect. Stretch your fuel, if there is no yellow flag.
The #48 Audi is in the pits, and so is the #4 Corvette, and the #25 BMW. This is a busy pit lane, and we've had zero full course yellows in this race. Ferrari goes by the Audi. Kuno Wittmer leads in the Aston Martin in GTD. #4 is pushing. Tommy Milner is trying Dirk Werner, and pushing hard. The #33 Viper and the #912 Porsche both pit. No issues for the #912 even though they had to duck around the Viper. 37 miles an hour is the pit lane sped limit. #007 is in the lane, from the lead. Everything has to be spot on.
Kuno Wittmer is back on track, and can he get out in front of Christopher Haase? No. Haase's ahead. #911 pits from the lead. Four tires, fuel, and a driver change. Nick Tandy is back in the car. #62 for Risi Competizione pits, too. Scrubbed tire on the left rear and three stickers, and Pierre Kaffer is back at the controls. Kaffer has been stronger today, than Giancarlo Fisichella, who won for Risi here last year. The #17 Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR pits. Temperature for the Falken tires have not been as good as they'd hoped.
Bryan Sellers is back in the car, replacing Wolf Henzler, for the finish. Werner and Milner battle. These two blokes are right together. Antonio Garcia pits from third. Scrubbed, one stint tires, are going on the car. All four are scrubbed. No driver change. Fuel added. Garcia is back in the fight. The single stint tires are better for mid and rear engine cars like the Ferrari and the Porsche, compared to the heavier, front engine machines like the Corvette and the BMW.
Falken Tire Racing and Derrick Walker, are running well. They won't be back next year of course. Meanwhile, Tommy Milner runs wide, and spins through turn three, catching the back side ofthe curb, and spinning. An incident between the #62 Ferrari and the #912 Porsche, is under review, by the stewards. Bamber tries to play dodge 'em cars, and force the issue. No action taken by Beaux Barfield and the race stewards for that move.
We're past halfway now. Beaux Barfield has very much had a "have at it boys and girls" attitude, about the racing, unless there is a real flagrant offense of shoving someone off the road. The #24 BMW Z4 GT is now on it's third stop, with John Edwards at the controls. We see some damage on Pierre Kaffer's Ferrari after the fracas with Earl Bamber in the sister Porsche. We now have less than 40 minutes left in this contest. Ooh! What happened there? The #25 BMW has had a smal;l problem. The car has a loose rear bumper, for Dirk Werner.
The bumper is now gone. The #4 Corvette slices around Jeroen Bleekemolen in the #33 Viper, and the #3 car gets chopped. There's grass in the radiator on the BMW. He's been off the road somewhere. Dirk Werner had to be off in the grass. Verner hit th brakes, trying to get the grass off the radiator grid, to cool the car. Let the air turbulence clean the grille, just like in NASCAR. Will the engine temps go down? We have 35 minutes left in this contest, folks.
Just over a half hour to go in this race. Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg won the first IMSA GT race here in 1971, driving a Porsche 914/6. The bumper cover from the BMW will remain on the track, unfortunately. John Edwards is faster than Dirk Werner. Will RLL slow Edwards down? Porsche runs 1-2 in the overall now. Oh boy. The #48 Audi is off the course. He spun off the road. He got in deep, and unweighted the car, spinning. He's got grass in the radiator.
Haase is shown fourth in class. He has dropped to fourth. Christina Nielsen may extend her GTD points lead. Nick Tandy continues to lead, while Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler may get their first win of the year. We have one car out, and have not had any yellow flags. Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber are 1-2 right now. Pierre Kaffer and the Ferrari have been running very, very well, too. Kaffer is putting in a valiant drive, running a 1:42.60. John Edwards in the #24 BMW Z4 GT is fourth overall, and #25 is fifth overall, and in GT Le Mans.
Townsend Bell leads GT Daytona in the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia. Kuno Wittmer is doing his best to preserve his co-driver Christina Nielsen's GTD points lead. Third is Mario Farnbacher with Ian James co-driving, in the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America. Both cars are back for AJR next year. In fourth, it's the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GT in the hands of Markus Palttala. Turner Motorsports will race the new BMW M6 GT3 next year, and may run two cars in the enduros. Lots of manufacturer rumors because of the GT3 rules.
There will be some cool new cars out there next year. Twenty minutes left in this race. Tandy is flying away, 27 seconds ahead of team mate Earl Bamber. Townsend Bell might have a small issue. He touches the curb, and goes off the road, but stays in it. He felt a false neutral in the transmission. He has drive and traction, and caught a neutral between gears, having no power, for a second. The starting drivers in the GTD class, are getting better and better. They are Pro/Am drivers. But they can get more time to get comfortable.
We see the #48 Audi and the #22 Porsche. Leh Keen is looking for a way by Christopher Haase, to pass. Close move between Corvette and Ferrari. Five minutes remaining here at Virginia International Raceway. The gap has decreased between Bamber and Kaffer. But, Nick Tandy, seems to be on the money, and he could be the winner, in mere minutes. Nick Tandy is a cool customer, but he gets the job done in the race car. You have to push the limits, and can't afford to give up a hundredth of a second.
Be quick, give good feedback, and don't bang up the race car. Risi Competizione has won this race for the last two years. They won't win today, but they've still had a good one. One minute remaining, as we come to the white flag, here at VIR. These blokes are up for their second straight win. A splash and dash for Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette, cutting it too lean, and having to pit. We've got two very exciting races, coming up. Details coming, after announcing the winner.
Half a lap to go, and the fuel light is on, on Tandy's Porsche. He'll make it. Will Earl Bamber make it? Can the Ferrari pass? #911 wins it! Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet, win! Here we go, and a couple of fcorners to go between Bamber and Kaffer. Bamber gets second. Kaffer, third. In GT Daytona, Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler, for Scuderia Corsa, will win GT Daytona. Sweedler and Bell get their first win of the year!
Overall/GT Le Mans: #911 Tandy/Pilet Porsche 911 RSR
GT Daytona: #63 Sweedler/Bell Ferrari 458 Italia
Only two Tudor Championship races remain in the season, for all classes. The penultimate event, is the Lone Star Le Mans, at Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas, in conjunction, with the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of COTA, coming up in three weeks on Saturday, September 19th.
Three races remain in the season. Championships are on the line. In GTLM, 15 points cover four makes. GT Daytona has just as close of a battle going on. The weather is very hot today. It was at this speedway in 1971 that IMSA ran it's first GT class race, with Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg, winning the race in a Porsche, over Dave Hinze in a Corvette, driving solo. It's a Porsche/Corvette battle renewal. Ferrari won last year. They have not won since then.
In GT Daytona, none of the top four cars, they have not won a race. Christina Nielsen had a wreck in qualifying. On pole, Dion von Moltke and Christopher Haase. We are minutes away from the start of the Oak Tree Grand Prix, Powered by Porsche. This course has 28 corners on it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_International_Raceway
The esses are very complex. Even the front straight, has a kink in it. The track was built in 1957, and lay dormant for a while, before reopening in 1998. Here we go. Porsche sweeps the front row in GTLM. We're racing at VIR! Nick Tandy and Jorg Bergmesier are in the two Porsche's, and Lucas Luhr in the BMW looks to the outside. Bryan Sellers passes Oliver Gavin, too. Pierre Kaffer is now up to second. They fly upill through the esses, at top speed.
Bergmeister slides inside the Ferrarti! Shades of Road America, two weeks ago. Kaffer flies back into the lead, into the technical part of the course, exiting turn 17 to th front straight, out of Hog Pen. The s curves area is called The Snake. The scenery here speaks for itself. The GT Daytona cars also started. Dion von Moltke in the Audi leads Bill Sweedler in the Ferrari. The GTD cars are in the last corners called "The Roller Coaster".
Ian James starts the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America. They had their balance on the car right. But, some damage, has affected that. Just before the start, Christina Nielsen could not find her drink bottle. Drivers will need that, to stay hydrated. These guys and gals have to do a minimum drive time of 50 minutes. On the strategy, TRG AMR will be running a bit conservative on their pace. The last race of the year, is ten hours. So, that could be a problem, later in the fall, at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
Bill Sweedler passes Patrick Lindsey in GT Daytona. Ooh. One of the GTD Audi's is off into Oak Tree corner. Ray Mason at the controls. Oak Tree corner, does not have the oak tree in it anymore. Even though this is a fast, flowing track, sometimes, you have to play dodge 'em cars. Oliver Gavin went the long way around Bill Auberlen and Auberlen was forced wide. Once a driver goes to the left, don't react. Be proactive, and stick to your own line.
Bill Sweedler is running well in the Ferrari. Team mate Townsend Bell, looks on. There have been adjustments on the Balance of Performance. The Viper's and Aston Martin's have been given more weight, and had their engine performance reduced slightly. Nick Tandy leads in the factory Porsche. Sweedler is catching the Audi of Dion von Moltke. Bill Sweedler has momentum. He'll keep going. Once you get a confidence level, if you feel the car is underneath you, the lap time will be there. The semi professional driver, needs the confidence, and the coaching, from a pro driver.
Tire temperature, track temperature, and ambient temperature, are all a big deal. The outside edge, center, and inside edge, all have different temperatures. The track was resurfaced at VIR last year. It's so critical, because the track temperature is so critical. It's a 43 degree split between ambient and track temps. Bill Auberlen wants by Oliver Gavin. Gavin is having none of it. The BMW Z4 GT is faster than the Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-.
Auberlen sets up the Corvette, but Oliver Gavin, slammed the door. BMW Team RLL has Lucas Luhr in their sister Z4 GT #24. John Edwards is team mate to Bill Auberlen, of course. Tire degradation has not been seen yet. The team is playing things by ear, with their Michelin tires. Some teams used different compounds and the different tires (short stint and long stint tires), and the strategy had to change. The asymmetric tires, change things. The harder tire is more durable, but gives up lap time.
One car makes a pit stop. We watch the Audi vs. Ferrari battle in GT Daytona. Don't get too hasty. The #33 SRT Viper pitted with a flatspotted right front tire, with Ben Keating at the controls. That will put these boys at Viper, off the pace. Does Bill Sweedler have the lead over von Moltke? Yes! Sweedler locked the brake, and the Audi almost pounced, but not quite. The top four cars in GT Daytona have yet to win a race. Keep this in mind.
Right now, the significant battle is Corvette vs. BMW. Bill Auberlen wants by Jan Magnussen. Auberlen can brake later than the Corvette can. The BMW is quicker in the corners, and handles well. However, the Z4 just does not have the straightaway speed compared to the Corvette. Auberlen was indeed tagged by one of the yellow Corvette's. The Corvette just stretches ahead. Magnussen is flashing the lights telling a GT Daytona car, saying, "don't hold me up!"
The #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America, might have a radiator or water issue. The temperature is getting hot. Bill Auberlen spins. That was not necessary. He was trying to get after the Corvette, and he got it wrong, getting too deep into the corner. You lose braking distance into the corner, and Auberlen, spins the car. Auberlen lost two spots, also one to Bryan Sellers in the #17 Falken Tires Porsche 911 RSR. We're 37 minutes into this race.
Patrick Lindsey takes the #73 Porsche to the garage. Could it be game over? #24 is in pit lane. BMW Team RLL knew they'd need to pit car #24 earlier. The team will have to go for a three stop race. Auberlen and company, will do two stops, running the fuel tank dry. 40 minutes in. Precisely two hours to go. Nick Tandy leads Pierre Kaffer, Jorg Bergmeister, Jan Magnussen, and Oliver Gavin. Pierre Kaffer continues chasing Jorg Bergmeister.
The #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America, spun off. There's a brow in the esses where the cars get light. He may have had a cut left front tire. The car didn't turn, and spun. Yup. The tire issue created the problem. He lost pressure in the tire, on the floor, and it sent him spinning. Jorge Bergmeister, and others, pit. Risi Competizione makes a great pit stop. The Corvette and the Porsche also pit.
Tommy Milner takes over the #4. He is a Virginian by birth. Corvette does not have the balance or speed right now. An hour and fifty minutes now remain. Dion von Moltke won't take any risks. Bill Sweedler continues to run really well, too. These blokes are right on top of each other, and they hit pit lane, now. Tires and fuel for Townsend Bell's Ferrari. Christopher Haase takes over the Audi. In the Porsche pits, Patrick Pilet takes over from Nick Tasndy. The driver change has to be faster than fuel and tires.
The #3 Corvette pits. Antonio Garcia takes over for Jan Magnussen. At BMW, Dirk Werner takes over from Bill Auberlen. Christina Nielsen pits the #007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Kuno Wittmer takes over from Christinia Nielsen. We are coming up on an hour into this race, and, it's been green all the way. Townsend Bell went ahead of Chrisopher Haase. Haase is chasing. Don't burn your tires up right now. Viper is in the lane. Jeroen Bleekemolen takes over from Ben Keating, in seventh in GT Daytona. The scrum between Dion von Moltke and Bill Sweedler, continues.
Yesterday, in qualifying, Nick Tandy slowed down, and Markus Palttala rammed him, causing damage to both cars. Now, Townsend Bell is being hounded by Christopher Haase. Will the Ferrari come on strong towards the end of this run? We'll see. Giancarlo Fisichella goes inside Townsend Bell, and then, Christopher Haase, tried his best, to get by. Almsot identical to the action seen with the team mates, earlier in this race.
The Viper's won the two enduro races in a second car, that was not meant to do the whole season. Then, of course, TI Automotive won GTD last time out, at Road America. Markus Palttala sets fastest lap in GTD at 1:48.4 in the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GT. Palttala won the 24 Hours of Spa of course. Team boss Don Salama, went to Iceland. Cooper MacNeil says that the WeatherTech Porsche team has struggled with the heat, and on their setup.
More problems for Andy Lally and the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche. He's got a left front tire going down. He is taking the short course to get back to the pit lane. Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy lead at halfway into this race, and have dominated so far. The track is very slippery into turn eleven, the one before the Oak Tree turn. Risi Competizione team boss, Dave "Beaky" Sims, started in the 1960s in Formula One, with people like the late, great, Jim Clark.
Back in the old days, you didn't have data. The driver had to give information to the team. We continue watching Dirk Werner flying after the Corvette's. Patrick Pilet leads. Track temperature spreads, again, are very extreme this weekend, between track and ambient temperature. Turner Motorsports is trying to a pit time strategy, with their master strategist Don "The Ice Man" Salama. Save fuel now, as if you have less fuel to need a tank of gas, you will need to stretch the margin.
Something has gone wrong with Antonio Garcia and the #3 Corvette. Did he lose power. Recycle the ECU. He's back underway. He is behind Dirk Werner in the BMW, and thankfully, he didn't get rear-ended. Garcia locks the brakes into turns fourteen and fiften, going through the Roller Coaster. Corvette doesn't have the sharp edge, due to the Balance of Performance. We watch Earl Bamber try to pass Giancarlo Fisichella in the Ferrari in GTLM, passing the GTD Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Final pit stops are coming soon.
Giancarlo Fisichella is doing well with car control, trying to keep the Ferrari from going sideways. In the lane, it's the #97 BMW Z4 GT, for four tires and fuel. The #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America also just pitted. We havwe only an hour left in this race. Fuel saving will be critical. Right now, Fisichella is holding up Earl Bamber in the sister factory Porsche. Townsend Bell now pits the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia, clearning grass from the radiators. You have to protect. Stretch your fuel, if there is no yellow flag.
The #48 Audi is in the pits, and so is the #4 Corvette, and the #25 BMW. This is a busy pit lane, and we've had zero full course yellows in this race. Ferrari goes by the Audi. Kuno Wittmer leads in the Aston Martin in GTD. #4 is pushing. Tommy Milner is trying Dirk Werner, and pushing hard. The #33 Viper and the #912 Porsche both pit. No issues for the #912 even though they had to duck around the Viper. 37 miles an hour is the pit lane sped limit. #007 is in the lane, from the lead. Everything has to be spot on.
Kuno Wittmer is back on track, and can he get out in front of Christopher Haase? No. Haase's ahead. #911 pits from the lead. Four tires, fuel, and a driver change. Nick Tandy is back in the car. #62 for Risi Competizione pits, too. Scrubbed tire on the left rear and three stickers, and Pierre Kaffer is back at the controls. Kaffer has been stronger today, than Giancarlo Fisichella, who won for Risi here last year. The #17 Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR pits. Temperature for the Falken tires have not been as good as they'd hoped.
Bryan Sellers is back in the car, replacing Wolf Henzler, for the finish. Werner and Milner battle. These two blokes are right together. Antonio Garcia pits from third. Scrubbed, one stint tires, are going on the car. All four are scrubbed. No driver change. Fuel added. Garcia is back in the fight. The single stint tires are better for mid and rear engine cars like the Ferrari and the Porsche, compared to the heavier, front engine machines like the Corvette and the BMW.
Falken Tire Racing and Derrick Walker, are running well. They won't be back next year of course. Meanwhile, Tommy Milner runs wide, and spins through turn three, catching the back side ofthe curb, and spinning. An incident between the #62 Ferrari and the #912 Porsche, is under review, by the stewards. Bamber tries to play dodge 'em cars, and force the issue. No action taken by Beaux Barfield and the race stewards for that move.
We're past halfway now. Beaux Barfield has very much had a "have at it boys and girls" attitude, about the racing, unless there is a real flagrant offense of shoving someone off the road. The #24 BMW Z4 GT is now on it's third stop, with John Edwards at the controls. We see some damage on Pierre Kaffer's Ferrari after the fracas with Earl Bamber in the sister Porsche. We now have less than 40 minutes left in this contest. Ooh! What happened there? The #25 BMW has had a smal;l problem. The car has a loose rear bumper, for Dirk Werner.
The bumper is now gone. The #4 Corvette slices around Jeroen Bleekemolen in the #33 Viper, and the #3 car gets chopped. There's grass in the radiator on the BMW. He's been off the road somewhere. Dirk Werner had to be off in the grass. Verner hit th brakes, trying to get the grass off the radiator grid, to cool the car. Let the air turbulence clean the grille, just like in NASCAR. Will the engine temps go down? We have 35 minutes left in this contest, folks.
Just over a half hour to go in this race. Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg won the first IMSA GT race here in 1971, driving a Porsche 914/6. The bumper cover from the BMW will remain on the track, unfortunately. John Edwards is faster than Dirk Werner. Will RLL slow Edwards down? Porsche runs 1-2 in the overall now. Oh boy. The #48 Audi is off the course. He spun off the road. He got in deep, and unweighted the car, spinning. He's got grass in the radiator.
Haase is shown fourth in class. He has dropped to fourth. Christina Nielsen may extend her GTD points lead. Nick Tandy continues to lead, while Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler may get their first win of the year. We have one car out, and have not had any yellow flags. Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber are 1-2 right now. Pierre Kaffer and the Ferrari have been running very, very well, too. Kaffer is putting in a valiant drive, running a 1:42.60. John Edwards in the #24 BMW Z4 GT is fourth overall, and #25 is fifth overall, and in GT Le Mans.
Townsend Bell leads GT Daytona in the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia. Kuno Wittmer is doing his best to preserve his co-driver Christina Nielsen's GTD points lead. Third is Mario Farnbacher with Ian James co-driving, in the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America. Both cars are back for AJR next year. In fourth, it's the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 GT in the hands of Markus Palttala. Turner Motorsports will race the new BMW M6 GT3 next year, and may run two cars in the enduros. Lots of manufacturer rumors because of the GT3 rules.
There will be some cool new cars out there next year. Twenty minutes left in this race. Tandy is flying away, 27 seconds ahead of team mate Earl Bamber. Townsend Bell might have a small issue. He touches the curb, and goes off the road, but stays in it. He felt a false neutral in the transmission. He has drive and traction, and caught a neutral between gears, having no power, for a second. The starting drivers in the GTD class, are getting better and better. They are Pro/Am drivers. But they can get more time to get comfortable.
We see the #48 Audi and the #22 Porsche. Leh Keen is looking for a way by Christopher Haase, to pass. Close move between Corvette and Ferrari. Five minutes remaining here at Virginia International Raceway. The gap has decreased between Bamber and Kaffer. But, Nick Tandy, seems to be on the money, and he could be the winner, in mere minutes. Nick Tandy is a cool customer, but he gets the job done in the race car. You have to push the limits, and can't afford to give up a hundredth of a second.
Be quick, give good feedback, and don't bang up the race car. Risi Competizione has won this race for the last two years. They won't win today, but they've still had a good one. One minute remaining, as we come to the white flag, here at VIR. These blokes are up for their second straight win. A splash and dash for Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette, cutting it too lean, and having to pit. We've got two very exciting races, coming up. Details coming, after announcing the winner.
Half a lap to go, and the fuel light is on, on Tandy's Porsche. He'll make it. Will Earl Bamber make it? Can the Ferrari pass? #911 wins it! Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet, win! Here we go, and a couple of fcorners to go between Bamber and Kaffer. Bamber gets second. Kaffer, third. In GT Daytona, Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler, for Scuderia Corsa, will win GT Daytona. Sweedler and Bell get their first win of the year!
Overall/GT Le Mans: #911 Tandy/Pilet Porsche 911 RSR
GT Daytona: #63 Sweedler/Bell Ferrari 458 Italia
Only two Tudor Championship races remain in the season, for all classes. The penultimate event, is the Lone Star Le Mans, at Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas, in conjunction, with the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of COTA, coming up in three weeks on Saturday, September 19th.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
more sports car racing news
More news from all areas of sports car racing, leading into the Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway, for the Tudor Championship, tomorrow.
VIDEO: MLS Players' Road America Road Trip
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-mls-players-road-america-road-trip/
Multimatic Scrambles to Replace Crashed Car with Older Ford at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/no-15-ford-withdrawn-from-ctsc-race-after-accident-in-practice-at-vir/
Zacharias Quickest in CTSC Practice at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/zacharias-quickest-in-ctsc-practice-at-vir/
Kaffer Tops Friday Practice at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/kaffer-tops-friday-practice-at-vir/
New 2016-Spec Corvette C7.R Completing Build
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/new-2016-spec-corvette-c7-r-completing-build/
VIR Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/vir-friday-notebook-2/
Jaeger, Mosing Set Track Records for CTSC Poles at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/jaeger-mosing-set-track-records-for-ctsc-poles-at-vir/
Riley-Multimatic Receives First Orders for 2017 LMP2 Car
http://sportscar365.com/industry/riley-multimatic-receives-first-orders-for-2017-lmp2-car/
Strakka Gibson 015S Livery Revealed
http://sportscar365.com/industry/riley-multimatic-receives-first-orders-for-2017-lmp2-car/
Hamilton Joins Team SARD-Morand for 6H Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hamilton-joins-team-sard-morand-for-6h-nurburgring/
FIA Appeal Court Overturns Grasser Lamborghini Exclusion
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/fia-appeal-court-overturns-grasser-racing-lamborghini-exclusion/
VIDEO: MLS Players' Road America Road Trip
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-mls-players-road-america-road-trip/
Multimatic Scrambles to Replace Crashed Car with Older Ford at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/no-15-ford-withdrawn-from-ctsc-race-after-accident-in-practice-at-vir/
Zacharias Quickest in CTSC Practice at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/zacharias-quickest-in-ctsc-practice-at-vir/
Kaffer Tops Friday Practice at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/kaffer-tops-friday-practice-at-vir/
New 2016-Spec Corvette C7.R Completing Build
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/new-2016-spec-corvette-c7-r-completing-build/
VIR Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/vir-friday-notebook-2/
Jaeger, Mosing Set Track Records for CTSC Poles at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/jaeger-mosing-set-track-records-for-ctsc-poles-at-vir/
Riley-Multimatic Receives First Orders for 2017 LMP2 Car
http://sportscar365.com/industry/riley-multimatic-receives-first-orders-for-2017-lmp2-car/
Strakka Gibson 015S Livery Revealed
http://sportscar365.com/industry/riley-multimatic-receives-first-orders-for-2017-lmp2-car/
Hamilton Joins Team SARD-Morand for 6H Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hamilton-joins-team-sard-morand-for-6h-nurburgring/
FIA Appeal Court Overturns Grasser Lamborghini Exclusion
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/fia-appeal-court-overturns-grasser-racing-lamborghini-exclusion/
Friday, August 21, 2015
No Wildcard Entries Expected for 6H COTA
Yours truly still has to catch up, and blog the race report from the Spa 6 Hours back in May. We also look forward to the upcoming 6 Hours of the Nurburgring, at the legendary German circuit in the Eiffel Mountains, next weekend. But, for the race, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in September, there will be no U.S. based "wildcard" entries, for the race, which has 31 cars expected to enter, all of which, are FIA WEC regulars.
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/31-entries-for-6h-cota/
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/31-entries-for-6h-cota/
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Road America
The race broadcast for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-continental-tire-road-race-showcase-race-broadcast
The next event for CTSCC is this weekend, along with their brethren in the Tudor Championship at Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia.
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-continental-tire-road-race-showcase-race-broadcast
The next event for CTSCC is this weekend, along with their brethren in the Tudor Championship at Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
In Memoriam: Mark Donohue
Bonus post. We remember, the late, great, sports car and Indycar racing legend, Mark Donohue.
http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2015/08/mark-donohue-dies-from-crash-injuries.html?spref=fb
http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2015/08/mark-donohue-dies-from-crash-injuries.html?spref=fb
more sports car racing news
News updates keep coming, from the world of sports car racing. Here's the latest.
24 Cars Set for Lamborghini ST Triple-Header at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/24-cars-set-for-lamborghini-st-triple-header-at-vir/
GMG Returns to Lambroghini ST Starting at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/gmg-returns-to-lamborghini-st-starting-at-vir/
2016 FIA WEC Schedule to be Released at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2016-fia-wec-schedule-to-be-released-at-cota/
Racers Edge Motorsports Seeks to Field SIN R1 GT4 in PWC GTS in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/racers-edge-motorsports-to-field-sin-r1-gt4-in-pwc-gts-in-2016/
Bamber to Sub for Bachler at 6H Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bamber-to-sub-for-bachler-at-6h-nurburgring/
Larbre Corvette C7.R Returns to Europe; Set for 6H Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/larbre-corvette-c7-r-returns-to-europe-set-for-6h-nurburgring/
Chinese Firm Purchases Miller Motorsports Park; Plans Expansion
http://sportscar365.com/industry/mitime-group-purchases-miller-motorsports-park/
24 Cars Set for Lamborghini ST Triple-Header at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/24-cars-set-for-lamborghini-st-triple-header-at-vir/
GMG Returns to Lambroghini ST Starting at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/gmg-returns-to-lamborghini-st-starting-at-vir/
2016 FIA WEC Schedule to be Released at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2016-fia-wec-schedule-to-be-released-at-cota/
Racers Edge Motorsports Seeks to Field SIN R1 GT4 in PWC GTS in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/racers-edge-motorsports-to-field-sin-r1-gt4-in-pwc-gts-in-2016/
Bamber to Sub for Bachler at 6H Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bamber-to-sub-for-bachler-at-6h-nurburgring/
Larbre Corvette C7.R Returns to Europe; Set for 6H Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/larbre-corvette-c7-r-returns-to-europe-set-for-6h-nurburgring/
Chinese Firm Purchases Miller Motorsports Park; Plans Expansion
http://sportscar365.com/industry/mitime-group-purchases-miller-motorsports-park/
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
BMW & Porsche testing at the Nurburgring (video)
Spectators watch, and record on video, flying laps (though slow ones, because of a wet track), at the Nurburgring of the new 2016 BMW M6 GT3 and the 2016 Porsche 911 (991) GT-3-R.
New safety measures at Nordschleife trouble spots
The Nurburgring is set to revise areas of the track, that have been put under strict speed limit zones, after a spectator was killed, back in March, when Jann Mardenborough, driving a Nissan GT-R GT3 car, had a massive crash.
http://www.motorsport.com/vln/news/new-safety-measures-at-nordschleife-trouble-spots
http://www.motorsport.com/vln/news/new-safety-measures-at-nordschleife-trouble-spots
The Way It Is/Remembering the great Mark Donohue
Writer Gordon Kirby talks about the legacy of the late, great sports car and open wheel driver (Indycar and Formula One), Mark Donohue.
http://www.gordonkirby.com/categories/columns/theway/2015/the_way_it_is_no496.html
http://www.gordonkirby.com/categories/columns/theway/2015/the_way_it_is_no496.html
Monday, August 17, 2015
more sports car racing news
A few more headlines have popped up today, (Monday), from the world of sports car racing, via Sportscar365, worth looking into.
2015/2016 Asian LMS Grid Taking Shape
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/20152016-asian-lms-grid-taking-shape/
BMW, Porsche Testing GT3 Cars at Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bmw-porsche-testing-gt3-cars-at-nurburgring/
Dusseldorp: "I know the Title is Going to Be Very Difficult"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/dusseldorp-i-know-the-championship-is-going-to-be-very-difficult/
One more headline. Rest In Peace, former IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge team owner, David Stone.
David Stone Passes Away
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/david-stone-passes-away/
2015/2016 Asian LMS Grid Taking Shape
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/20152016-asian-lms-grid-taking-shape/
BMW, Porsche Testing GT3 Cars at Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/gt/bmw-porsche-testing-gt3-cars-at-nurburgring/
Dusseldorp: "I know the Title is Going to Be Very Difficult"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/dusseldorp-i-know-the-championship-is-going-to-be-very-difficult/
One more headline. Rest In Peace, former IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge team owner, David Stone.
David Stone Passes Away
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/david-stone-passes-away/
Sunday, August 16, 2015
sports car racing news update
More news from the world of sports car racing, right here, right now, via Sportscar365.
Report: Vettel to Test Ferrari 488 GTB?
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/report-vettel-to-test-ferrari-488-gtb/
Johnson Helping Develop Ford's NASCAR Stars on Road Courses
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/johnson-helping-develop-fords-nascar-stars-on-road-courses/
Aston Martin, Viper GTD Cars Slowed in Latest Round of BoP Adjustments
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/aston-martin-viper-slowed-in-latest-round-of-gtd-bop-adjustments/
Shop Tour: Inside Michael Shank Racing
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/shop-tour-inside-michael-shank-racing/
Cattaneo, Trinkler Overachieving as Underdogs in CTSC ST season
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/cattaneo-trinkler-overachieving-as-underdogs-in-ctsc-st-season/
Nexus Infinity Announces Asian LMS GT Effort
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/nexus-infinity-announces-asian-lms-gt-effort/
VIDEO: Corvette Racing's Road to Winning 24H Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-corvette-racings-road-to-winning-2015-24h-le-mans/
Report: Vettel to Test Ferrari 488 GTB?
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/report-vettel-to-test-ferrari-488-gtb/
Johnson Helping Develop Ford's NASCAR Stars on Road Courses
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/johnson-helping-develop-fords-nascar-stars-on-road-courses/
Aston Martin, Viper GTD Cars Slowed in Latest Round of BoP Adjustments
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/aston-martin-viper-slowed-in-latest-round-of-gtd-bop-adjustments/
Shop Tour: Inside Michael Shank Racing
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/shop-tour-inside-michael-shank-racing/
Cattaneo, Trinkler Overachieving as Underdogs in CTSC ST season
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/cattaneo-trinkler-overachieving-as-underdogs-in-ctsc-st-season/
Nexus Infinity Announces Asian LMS GT Effort
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/nexus-infinity-announces-asian-lms-gt-effort/
VIDEO: Corvette Racing's Road to Winning 24H Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-corvette-racings-road-to-winning-2015-24h-le-mans/
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Throwback Thursday: VIR Hosted The First IMSA GT race
As mentioned, the next race on the Tudor Championship schedule, will be at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. The track's history with IMSA, is legendary, even though the speedway was dormant for a number of years and came back to life a few years ago. Back in 1971, VIR hosted the first IMSA GT sanctioned race.
http://www.imsa.com/articles/throwback-thursday-vir-hosted-first-imsa-gt-race
http://www.imsa.com/articles/throwback-thursday-vir-hosted-first-imsa-gt-race
Friday, August 14, 2015
Continental Tire Road Race Showcase Race Broadcast
The race broadcast, of the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, from Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-continental-tire-road-race-showcase-broadcast
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2015-continental-tire-road-race-showcase-broadcast
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Winner & highlights of the Tudor Championship Continental Tire Road Race Showcase powered by Mazda @ Road America
Back in the 1950's, it was a golden age for sports car racing, and also, the creation, of some of America's most fantastic road racing circuits. Names like Sebring International Raceway, Lime Rock Park, Virginia International Raceway, and Watkins Glen International Raceway, come to mind. But, today, the Tudor Championship, races the most majestic course, of them all, to come from this era. Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It is nestled in a region of the state of Wisconsin called the Kettle Moraine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettle_Moraine
A moraine is defined as, accumulated glacial debris. A mass of earth and rock debris carried by an advancing glacier and left at its front and side edges as it retreats.
There's a good geography lesson, race fans. Road America combines fast straightaways, and treacherous, off speed corners. All four divisions of the Tudor Championship, will race today, in round nine of the 2015 season, as we near the end of the series' second season. Prototype, Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans, and GT Daytona, will all race today. The championships are VERY close! A total of 17 points separates first and second in the standings, in the four divisions, combined! Who will emerge the big cheese in The Dairy State? Stay tuned, and find out, as the story of the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase is told... next!
Sports cars have been headliners at Road America for six decades. Lots of news has come out of the Tudor Championship. Michael Valiante and Richard Westbrook lead the Prototype points, over Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi, with Dane Cameron and Eric Curran in third place. Barbosa and Fittipaldi, are not only the defending IMSA champs, but, they are also, defending champions, of this very race at Road America... the Road Race Showcase. Jordan and Ricky, the Taylor brothers, are also in contention for the title.
They need more wins to stay in the title fight. Prototype Challenge sees a mere three points, separating Colin Braun and Jon Bennett (for CORE Autosport), from PR1/Mathiasen Motorsport and their drivers, Mike Guasch, and Tom Kimber-Smith. Four races remain for both GT classes. This is the time to build a lead and/or gain back lost points. Corvette and BMW continue to slug it out in GT Le Mans. Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, are competing directly with Dirk Werner and Bill Auberlen, for the title. The points leaders, are separated, by only two.
Porsche has won the last two GT Le Mans events, after their big win overall at Le Mans. Falken Tire won Watkins Glen, and Porsche Motorsport North America, won at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. The defending champs at Road America, looking to repeat, are the squad of the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia. In GT Daytona, it's just as competitive. Christopher Haase and Dion von Moltke, lead the points, for Audi, and Paul Miller Racing. Christina Nielsen for Aston Martin, is five points out of the lead, in second place. Recall PMR crashed their Audi, at Lime Rock Park, last time, after getting tangled with a Prototype Challenge racer.
Look out for the WeatherTech Porsche of Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen, as well as the Scuderia Corse Ferrari of Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell. We still see a struggle for Ganassi Racing, who has been so dominant is season's past. They have no wins this year, and are 20 points behind the Prototype class points leaders. However, Joey Hand set a phenomenal lap in qualifying, and puts the #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost, on pole. Road America is a fast track, with sweeping corners, and loads of elevation change. That's the good point. The not so good point is, it's tough to pass on this track, despite it being such a speed palace.
Road America, was built, in 1955, over a span of only four months. Fourteen corners in a four mile loop, where a driver averages 44 gear changes a lap. The elevation change is 170 feet and the top speed is at least 175 miles an hour. As the cars come through Canada Corner, there used to be a bridge there, (the Billy Mitchell Bridge). But, the bridge, was taken out. Temperatures are warmer for the race than were seen on Friday and Saturday, during practice and qualifying sessions. Here we go. We are ready for a start, for the Prototype machines!
Joey Hand and Christian Fittipaldi lead the field to green. Up the hill, and it's go time at Road America! Chicago Fire soccer goalie Sean Johnson, waves the green flag. Joey Hand starts well, but Michael Valiante already is scrapping, diving inside Ricky Taylor, immediately! Fittipaldi has sunk to fourth place, already! The DeltaWing is already mixing it up early on, with Memo Rojas and Katherine Legge sharing the driving chores. We turn our attention back to the hill, to watch the GT cars start, in GT Le Mans and GT Daytona.
Earl Bamber takes the lead from the GTLM pole. Patrick Lindsey set pole time in GTD. Bamber grabbed pole in the wet, after seeing the track only a couple of times. John Edwards in the factory BMW Z4 GT is hounding him, right from the get go. Edwards is pushing, challenging Bamber on the outside, downhill! That's really tough to do at this sweeping, hilly, amazing circuit. Watch out for braking downhill into the next corner, with cold brakes and cold tires. This is going to be hairy! We have the lone Falken Tire Porsche. Everyone else in GTLM is on Michelin's. However, BMW are using a totally different compound, than the rest of the field in the category.
Edwards is booking it already. The sister factory Porsche had issues during qualifying, and is trying to carefully but potently scythe it's way through the field, being caught up with several GT Daytona class cars. They run through turn six, a left hand corner, into a section of track called "hurry downs". Onward through turn seven, and then, they reach The Carousel. We watch as Giancarlo Fisichella is trying his best to catch, and pass, Antonio Garcia. It's Corvette C-7-R vs. Ferrari 458 Italia. Fisichella and co-driver Pierre Kaffer are at least two and a half seconds faster with their lap times, than they were in qualifying, going back to last year. They are defending champions of the Road Race Showcase.
Bamber is flying! He's moving away from the rest of the GT Le Mans field as we speak! Car #911 had an engine misfire. The team had to change the motor, after using the engine mapping software in the car's computer, didn't work. The Corvette Antonio Garcia is racing, is the same car that had a heavy wreck at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before the race even got underway, and had to miss two Tudor Championship events as well. But, today, it's back in the hunt. Tight racing in GTLM! Garcia wants by Edwards. Edwards says, "no way, sunshine." Now, Fisichella also wants to get a run on the bright yellow Corvette.
Edwards locks up the brakes! He runs wide, opening the door for Garcia! Garcia will inherit second place in class. The #60 Mike Shank Racing Ligier Honda, has served a penalty. MSR discovered a fuel leak in the car, this morning, prior to the morning warmup. Ozz Negri Jr. smelled fuel as he was towed out to run hot laps. They had to skip the warmup, and start from pit lane. We watch Wolf Henzler beginning to move up. The fuel cell on the #60 car, collapsed upon itself, bolting pieces of aluminum, to fix it. Will it hold through the end of the race? Not too sure.
Giancarlo Fisichella has passed the Corvette of Garcia, for second in GT Le Mans. The Porsche passes the BMW. Michelin has come up with a single stint tire, which has more grip, and less tire life, than a normal tire. It is a "gumball" tire, if you will. It has less grip and tire life than a standard endurance tire. Why? It is for pit strategy. But, will the tires hold up in the heat at Road America? We'll find out. You get data from testing or racing. There was a test session the Tuesday before the race. Patrick Lindsey currently leads GT Daytona from pole position.
Christina Nielsen in the Aston Martin and Ben Keating in the SRT Viper, are giving chase, to the Porsche driven by Lindsey. Ben Keating wants inside Christina Nielsen to make a pass, in this, a big, heavy race car. Nielsen tries shutting the door. Keating continues to fight. He won't surrender. He makes a pass stick into turn three. There is concern with drive time for Pro/Am classes like Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona. GT Daytona usually requires a 60 minute drive time per driver, to get points.
Because of discussing fuel mileage with the team manager's, now, IMSA has limited that drive time, for scoring points, to 50 minutes. If this did not happen, the Pro/Am drivers would have to do a second stint, under green flag conditions. In the Prototype Challenge class for identically prepped French Oreca built chassis' with Chevrolet small block V8 motors, and we watch James French, leading Chris Cumming. Car #38 leads car #11. Rain is in the forecast at Road America. Will it come? How heavily will it fall? Those questions, must be answered, but only if such a story, is told. We'll see.
Joey Hand leads this race at the moment, with the Ford twin turbo V6 motor in the Riley chassis. The cars make their way down through Canada Corner, the twelfth of fourteen turns on this track, and back uphill, to end another lap. Dion von Moltke and Christopher Haase, continue to lead the GT Daytona championship, despite their huge wreck last time out at Lime Rock Park. We watch the Audi, chasing the #63 Ferrari driven by Bill Sweedler, teaming with Townsend Bell. We now resume, the GTLM scrap. Corvette vs. Falken Porsche vs. BMW.
The GTLM class will get stronger. Ford, rolled out their new GT racer, and other makes, could be joining the party, in the years to come. Ganassi won their first pole (for this race), since Long Beach, in 2014. Right now, Joey Hand is being eaten up, by other Prototypes. He has run lap times in the 1:59 bracket. Michael Valiante is right on top of him. Car #01 may need to change tires, as the handling is suspect, just slightly. The crew flew into action, checking tire pressures. Hand has had understeer and traction issues. Although, Ganassi did test the car, earlier on, at Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia, which hosts the Petit Le Mans, season finale, later in the year.
Michael Valiante wants to make an inside move, now. Valiante takes the lead after Hand makes the one move you are allowed, to let his rival by. Hand falls to third, behind Valiante, and Ricky Taylor. Hand's lap times, have slowed, by two seconds. They went from 1:59 to 2:01, in short order. Ooh! Some contact, somewhere, coming up on lapped traffic. The #90 and #10 touched going into the braking zone for turn eight. Taylor went around the outside, and Valiante comes back, to re-pass. No harm, no foul, for the #10 car.
Ooh! We've had a wreck. The #97 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GT has suffered a big shunt, at one of the fastest parts of this track. Michael Marsal of New York, was the listed driver, at the time of the crash. There was contact with a Prototype Challenge car. It's game over for car #97. This is very disappointing, especially since Marsal and Dane Cameron, won at the previous race, at Lime Rock Park. Michael Marsal is OK. But, his team mate, Markus Palttala, won't even get to race. Sorry for being hasty about it being game over for the car. The team will have a look and see if it is fixable, once it gets towed back on the flatbed truck.
We watch the championship contending #52 Prototype Challenge entry circulating, with Mike Guasch at the controls. Guasch's car is reported to have made contact, with the Will Turner entered BMW driven by Marsal. Both these cars won in class at Lime Rock. Last year, on this same part of the course, recall a big accident with James Davison being hit by a Mazda prototype, damaging the car, hugely, in a practice session.
There are no small wrecks at Road America. It is time, now, under full course yellow, for Prototypes, to pit. Can the #01 car get fixed? Joey Hand has been sinking like a stone, due to a power problem. The team is doing routine service on the car, and might be able to diagnose the problem, under this full course yellow. Car #90 is also, in the lane, as are the #10, #31, and #5 Corvette Prototype's. #10 beats #90 out of pit lane. Strategy call for the VisitFlorida.com Racing squad, with a driver change. Richard Westbrook, takes over, from Michael Valiante. Car #10 goes to the race lead under this yellow.
Joey Hand is now back on track. Turbo boost, was the issue, for the Riley Ford EcoBoost, from Ganassi Racing. Now, the GT cars pit. Giancarlo Fisichella pits the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari. The factory #911 Porsche is also pitting. Ditto for the sister car, #912. #912 has a faster stop. Nick Tandy takes over from Earl Bamber. Great stops for the #17 Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR and the #62 Ferrari. Corvette and BMW had problems getting away from pit lane. Michelin is making this new single stint tire, as in the Tudor Championship (unlike the old American Le Mans Series, or, the FIA World Endurance Championship), you are allowed to change tires and fuel the car, at the same time.
Whereas, in the old days, in North America, and still, in Europe and other places around the world, in sports car racing, you have to add fuel, and then, after doing so, change tires, and service the car. Car #01 is back on the road. They had to work on a hose from the turbo or the waste gate. It was a clamp, or a small piece. For the #25 BMW, it was caught on an air hose either for a tire air hammer, or, the air jack to lift the car so the crew can work on it. Our GT Daytona leader, leads us back to the green flag, on the restart.
Going uphill, some drivers cannot see the green flag. So, they have to hear over the radio from their spotters, "green, green, green", before they can accelerate. Ooh! Dane Cameron makes a move and runs wide in the #31 Whelen Corvette Prototype, as the #90 car, is sent spinning! This might be big, as Westbrook and Valiante are only seven points clear in the championship from their nearest rivals. It's ironic, as Westbrook's engineer is Dane Cameron's dad, Ricky Cameron. Richard Westbrook claimed his was punted, and so, he's not a happy camper at all.
In multi class racing, you as a driver have to be aware of the performance capabilities oof the other cars around you. This is critical. Car #31 has not been damaged. Christian Fittipaldi is quickly gaining on Ricky Taylor. Taylor defends and passes Fittipaldi, while he cuts to the inside for the turn six braking zone. In 1999, Christian Fittipaldi won his first Champ Car race here. The Indycar Series will also return to Road America, next year. The DeltaWing was reported smoking, earlier. But, the car is fourth in class, with Memo Rojas at the wheel. Fourth in Prototype, fifth in the overall.
Oh wow! More slice and dice from Fittipaldi! Ricky Taylor tries to defend the line, runs wide, and gets in the gray dust on the outside of the track! Dane Cameron is now on the tails of both of these boys! A three way fight ensues for the lead! Remember now, the #5 and #31 are team mates at Action Express Racing. Cameron, has a run! He is alongside Fittipaldi! These blokes are squeezing each other down the back straightaway. These boys are playing dodge 'em cars! No pit maneuvers between Cameron and Fittipaldi.
This is great racing. But, team boss Gary Nelson must be nervous, watching this! Cameron gets on the radio, saying, "Gary, I'm not OK with that", meaning, Christian Fittipaldi's defensive driving. Ricky Taylor says, "cheerio, boys. I'm getting away!" Action Express will be back with both of their cars, next year. It is time to make your move, with races running out in the 2015 Tudor Championship season. Whoa. We have a spin. Mirco Schultis loops the #8 Prototype Challenge car, with team manager for Starworks, Peter Baron, on the radio, saying, "turn it around! Turn it around! Let's go!"
Schultis came into contact with one of the factory Corvette GTLM cars, (the #3). Correction. Jan Magnussen is now in the #3. Schultis says, "the car isn't running." Baron replies, "turn off all the power, and restart. Come on!" Baron gives another suggestion. "Roll down the hill." This might give him enough momentum for the motor to turn over. He tells Schultis, "go man, go! Come on!" Meanwhile, in the pit, is the #63 Ferrari for Scuderia Corse in GT Daytona. Bill Sweedler hands the car over to Townsend Bell.
They are pitting as a strategy call. They are good to go for minimum drive time. Chris Cumming leads Prototype Challenge, making a pass on James French. The braking zones for some of these turns, are bumpy. So, it is easy to lock up a front wheel unintentionally. The #07 Mazda Skyactiv Diesel prototype runs eighth in class, in the hands of Tom Long, from North Carolina. More strife for a Prototype Challenge car. This is the #85 machine. The driver has hit the Continental signage on the side of the track. Chris Miller is at the controls.
Henzler and Edwards continue the BMW and Porsche scrap in GT Le Mans. How did Miller run off the road? Was he hip checked? He was running slowly, wanted to pull over, started to spin, and... bonk. Right into the sign. The grass is slick, as there was heavy rain, 48 hours before the race. The #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America has pitted. John Potter, handed the car over to co-driver, Andy Lally. Oswaldo Negri Jr. is trying to make up for lost time, with the MSR Ligier Honda, #60, who had an iffy start to this race, to say the least.
Negri Jr. has turned the fastest lap of this race, overall, so far, with a 1:58.2. At the sharp end of the field, the lap times are fast. Run the lap times (for the cars chasing Ricky Taylor), and stay close. But, save fuel. Can you leapfrog your competition? The Konica Minolta team have done well over the last few races. The #38 Prototype Challenge car pits. It was thought we'd see rain in this race. It has not come yet, as bright sunshine envelops the track at Road America, currently. Connor Daly takes over the car.
#38 has a damaged rear wing end plate on the left hand side. One the bolts has come loose. That will affect the handling of the car, on this track. The #85 Prototype Challenge racer that crashed into the sign, is still at that corner, but, it is covered by a local yellow. So, no need for a full course yellow that would slow the field. The car will need a new battery, and the pit crew will get it out there so the car can continue.
Ricky Taylor is not concerned about Christian Fittipaldi, unless they get caught in traffic. GTLM is in traffic, passing the leading GTD car. Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette jumps ahead of John Edwards in the #24 BMW. Wolf Henzler has gapped them. Edwards tries Milner into the braking zone. No dice. But, the Corvette stepped out, on a downshift. The #73 Park Place Racing GTD Porsche of Patrick Lindsey is in this scrap. Check that. Lindsey, pitted the car, and handed the driving chores over to co-driver, Spencer Pumpelly. Jeroen Bleekemolen has taken over the wheel of the #33 SRT Viper in GTD, from Ben Keating.
The Carousel at Road America is an awesome corner, because it is a test of a car's performance, when it comes to the chassis, and mechanical balance. A great battle ensues between Corvette and BMW. It's #3 and #25. Christina Nielsen continues to drive the #007 TRG GTD Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Kevin Buckler, the team owner, has lots of confidence in Nielsen's ability. If you have two drivers who can run identical lap times, it does not matter which one is in the car, because it gives you strategic flexibility, more than anything else.
Back in 1955, Cliff Tufte, built Road America, to replace racing on the public roads in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and is a true meaning of what is said in the baseball movie "Field of Dreams"... "if you build it, they will come." Tufte, passed away, at the age of 84, on January 8th, 1981.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/10/obituaries/cliff-tufte-84-chief-developer-of-road-america-auto-racing.html
Ricky Taylor and Christian Fittipaldi still lead. It's easy to make a mistake, braking through the downhill corners. The straightaways are fast at around 170 miles an hour. Pit stop time for the #31 Whelen/Action Express Corvette Prototype. Fuel and tires for the car. There's a 50 second delta for a full service stop for getting down pit lane. Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell work together well, and are trying to do well with having a chance to battle for the championship.
Bill Sweedler is upping his game as a driver. Earl Bamber has had a meteoric career arc. He winsthe Porsche Carrera Cup championship, becomes a Porsche factory driver in GT racing, gets the opportunity to race for Porsche's World Endurance Championship factory prototype program, and, wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans! If you haven't followed sports car racing, check this guy out in an internet search. Giancarlo Fisichella is going well, too, with the #62 Ferrari 458 Italia. They don't have to play a strategy game with a team mate.
Don't be confused, between that car, and the #63 Scuderia Corsa GT Daytona Ferrari piloted by Bell and Sweedler. Two entirely different classes, and two entirely different teams. The Deltawing is passing the Ferrari as the #5 Action Express Corvette, pits. How will Dane Cameron in the sister car #31, do, on his outlap? Joao Barbosa will take over the #5 car, and Dane Cameron will finish in car #31, after Eric Curran, started the race. Dane Cameron has hot tires. Joao Barbosa, has cold tires. This is the difference. Cameron, may have the upper hand.
Barbosa has not moved yet in the #5 Mustang Sampling Corvette Prototype. One of the factory Corvette's pits. #31 looks to go by the #5. Brake dust spews out from the wheels of the #31. You can only do that with the brakes for so long, before the braking degrades, and... gasp, you find yourself without any brakes. That's the last thing you want at a track as fast as Road America. Jan Magnussen has taken over the #3 Corvette. This is the car that was crashed at Le Mans. They had some wiring issues. But, they were fixed. The sister car (#4) in the hands of Tommy Milner, had a bump and run with John Edwards in the #24 BMW.
In the meantime, Ricky Taylor pits the #10 Corvette Prototype, from the race lead. How will the stop work? #31 is coming through the kink right now. Jordan Taylor will take over the wheel. There will be a tire change on the car. The team is getting good longevity from the car and the tires. Oswaldo Negri Jr. and the #60 Mike Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda, pits. The patch on the fuel tank, is staying together, as the car, is in the lane, for routine service. The team has a slight delay on the fuel.
In the meantime, the #01 pits. Scott Pruett takes over from Joey Hand, on the scheduled driver change. Also in the lane, it's the #90 Corvette Prototype. Pit action is hot and heavy at this stage. Richard Westbrook, will stay in the car, and finish the race. #01 beats #90 out of the pits. Now, the #31 of Dane Cameron, leads the motor race. Bruno Junquiera is fifth overall in his Prototype Challenge car, as we have reached halfway. Dane Cameron, has also run the fastest lap of the motor race, to this point, at a 1:57.7.
Joao Barbosa runs second, and has trimmed the lead down to 8.7 seconds. Whoa! A pirouette for the #911 factory GTLM Porsche! He is second in class, in close proximity to his team mate in car #912. Giancarlo Fisichella in the Ferrari, is closing. The #62 car, has a flat tire. Tandy locks up the brakes. Fisichella passes Tandy. This is not a meaningful pass, though. #911 will hit pit lane, soon. It does pit, and exits, back into the fray. The #17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR is also in the lane. Bryan Sellers is taking over from Wolf Henzler, to finish out the race.
We watch a pair of class leaders. Bruno Junquiera in Prototype Challenge, and, Christina Nielsen in GT Daytona. Kuno Wittmer, will take over, from Christina Nielsen, in short order. She pitted under yellow and will do a stint and a half. The sister factory Porsche GTLM car, is now, in the lane, pitting from the class lead. Jorg Bergmeister takes over the car from Earl Bamber. Bergmeister has many championships and wins in sports cars.
It's beautiful at Road America. But, rain is in the forecast. Members of the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer team, are on hand, to watch the race here at Road America, and they took a ride around Road America, with Audi Customer Racing driver, Christopher Haase. The driver's championship is very close as we've reached and passed halfway here at Road America. The two Corvette teams from Spirit of Daytona and Action Express, are tied, at the top, 247 points apiece. Eric Curran and Dane Cameron, in the second Action Express entry, are a single point behind. Then, there's just an eighteen point spread, to fifth place.
Brake dust still appears from the front wheels of the #31 Corvette Prototype. With carbon rotors, they work great. But, when you wear them down, they wear down, REALLY quickly! Will there be rain in the forecast with an hour left in the race? It does not seem likely. After their steering problems last year, once again, the Konica Minolta Corvette Prototype team for Wayne Taylor Racing, runs into more gremlins. Another steering issue. This one, seems to be focused, on the right rear suspension. It is a camber issue. Camber is the slant of a vehicle's steerable wheels, that makes them slightly closer together at the bottom than at the top.
Some shims in the steering came loose, and were adjusted by the pit crew. The shims are installed on the ends of the suspension wishbones to create camber. If you run over curbs consistently, the rear tires, will be pinched into position and won't be able to be adjusted. If you run over the bumps, the bolts will drop out, and thus, the rear suspension will feel loose, and like it's about to come out from underneath the car. The #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche, pits. To quote lead race broadcaster Bob Varsha, (with a term yours truly would use), this track has been nothing less than a bugaboo for WTR.
#10 currently sits eighth in Prototype, 16th in the overall. Jeroen Bleekemolen, meanwhile, has the #33 SRT Viper in the GT Daytona class lead. We thought they'd contend for the GT Daytona championship. Viper has won two races this year, but, with the sister #93 machine. They won two of the three endurance races run this year so far. The Rolex 24 at Daytona, and, the Six Hours of Watkins Glen. They hit pit lane in #33 as the #0 DeltaWing, exits. Car #11 with Bruno Junquiera driving, still leads Prototype Challenge.
Second in Prototype Challenge is the #38 car, piloted right now, by second generation driver, Conor Daly. The PC cars are getting right to their 50 minute fuel window, before they make their final pit stops of the race. Third in class is the #54 CORE Autosport special, in the hands of Colin Braun, whose team mate, Jon Bennett, qualified, and started the car. Braun, will take it to the checkers. The scrum for third in the overall and in Prototype, the final step on the podium, is heating up, and fast. It's the #60 MSR Ligier Honda driven by Ozz Negri... playing the rabbit, and the #01 Ganassi Racing Riley Ford EcoBoost of Scott Pruett, playing the hound.
Pruett has run a fastest lap of 1:57.4 and these blokes at Ganassi just have not been able to get back to the sharp end, after their earlier issues with a hose clamp on the Ford twin turbo V6 engine in the back of the Riley Prototype chassis. Dane Cameron, running in the lead, is 3/10ths slower, at a 1:57.7. Because of their issues, Ganassi Racing is 25 seconds behind the leaders at this stage. It's been an odyssey for MSR at this race, and during the 2015 Tudor Championship season.
Every time MSR has run at Road America, they have completed laps. Meanwhile, the #912 factory GTLM Porsche pitted from the class lead, for an entirely unscheduled stop. Jorg Bergmeister thought the hood would fly off. They took fuel, and left side tires. Bergmeister wants his fifth win at Road America. Dane Cameron, will pit, at the end of this lap, while Conor Daly takes to pit lane for the #38 Performance Tech Prototype Challenge car. Conor Daly has not raced here, since 2010, back when he was competing in the Star Mazda open wheeled feeder series.
Pruett is chasing Negri Jr. Watch the giant bump at the end of pit lane. That one, will rattle a driver's teeth. Pruett passes both factory BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GT's in GTLM as the #911 factory Porsche now hits pit lane. Fuel and left side tires only for car #911. The right side tires wear better. The #31 car pits, too. New tires and fuel. The tire pressures have been adjusted. The team is putting on scrubbed Continental tires. Bryan Sellers pits the #17 Porsche and gets new Falken tires. There is a speed differential, between the Falken and Michelin tires, though.
Use the curbs, in order to go fast, and achieve lap times. The issue there is, it beats the race car, to pieces. Joao Barbosa in the overall race lead, should have clear track ahead. Barbosa is racing to Canada Corner right now. Barbosa brings the car into the pits, for fuel and tires. Dane Cameron has clear road, with a little bit of traffic, and he might still get one, clear, flying lap. Action Express, has completed every racing lap in the history of the Tudor Championship, to this point. There was a delay on the left rear tire on car #5 as #31 comes down the front straightaway.
This is going to be close! #31 stays ahead, and in the race lead. With hot tires, #31 should open a gap over #5. Cameron is stuck behind a Prototype Challenge machine, overtaking a GT Daytona car. This is going to be tight. Pierre Kaffer is at the controls of the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia, and, is leading GTLM right now. GT Daytona is still lead by the #007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage, now in the hands of Kuno Wittmer. Pierre Kaffer makes a quick stop, for a splash of fuel.
The GTLM lead changes hands, as the #911 Porsche, sweeps by. Patrick Pilet is currently driving th Porsche. This race has gone by quickly. Porsche goes for three wins in a row. Ferrari wants their second straight Road America win. The top three in GTLM will be good on fuel. Lucas Luhr in fourth in the factory BMW will need a splash and dash. Giancarlo Fisichella is quite the entrepreneur. He has his own line of coffee, and, is a professional DJ. The #3 Corvette C-7-R- runs seventh in the overall, and he needs to pass the #17 Porsche of Bryan Sellers. The next man up the road is Dirk Werner in the BMW.
In the last 25 minutes of this race, the Prototype Challenge battle between Conor Daly and Bruno Junquiera, will intensify. Now, it's down to the drivers. This event, is scheduled, for two hours, and 40 minutes. The #007 Aston Martin, could be about ten minutes short on fuel. They are ten minutes shy. They should roll the dice, or hope for a yellow. The Viper SRT has the same concern. Looking at points in GTLM and GTD, both classes, are very close. In the GT Daytona points, there's a tie between Christina Nielsen and the team of Haase/Von Moltke on 202 points. The nearest competition, is 14 points in arrears.
This is a separate tie, between the #22 WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT America squad of Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen, and the #63, Bell/Sweedler duo for Scuderia Corsa in the Ferrari, while the sister Alex Job Racing #23 Porsche of Mario Farnbacher and Ian James, is five more points behind. GTLM is also close. There may be a tie in GTLM after this race, headed into the next race, coming up. Details on that, at the end of this post.
The #007 Aston Martin needs more fuel. TRG AMR will roll the dice, and pit on the next lap, according to radio chatter between Kuno Wittmer in the driving seat, and team boss/owner Kevin Buckler. SRT Viper is good on fuel. We watch a great battle in GT Le Mans, that could affect the championship, between BMW RLL, Corvette Racing, and Falken Porsche. These blokes are fifth, sixth, and seventh, in class. More great battles. Townsend Bell passes Christopher Haase. This could affect the outcome of the GT Daytona championship, too.
Spencer Pumpelly also clears Haase. So, he's lost two places. Werner, Garcia, and Sellers, also continue their scrap. It's every man for himself. Dirk Werner and Bill Auberlen in the #25 BMW are two points behind the #3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen. Pit stop time for TRG AMR. This will be a quickie. Left side tires only on the front and rear. #33 goes by. #007 may keep second in GTD. Wittmer used to drive for SRT Viper. So, Bill Riley and the rest of that team, waved to Wittmer as he exited down pit lane.
Garcia is pushing Werner. He wants by! Go wide. Brake early. Mash the throttle and get on the power. He's trying every trick in the book. Garcia tries to pass Werner, and they may need to use the Park Place GTD Porsche, as a pick! Werner can't react. He is ahead of Garcia, and has to move first. Werner locks up! Opportunity for Garcia? No dice, in the Carousel. The Mustang Sampling #5 Action Express Corvette Prototype spun briefly, but is now, back on the road.
Joao Barbosa works his way through turn three. Could the spin have happened in turn one? Barbosa tried to dive inside the #48 Audi in GT Daytona, and paid the price, taking a turn on the whirligig. No action will be taken, by the IMSA stewards. Three cars might be within two points for the overall championship. Pierre Kaffer is being hounded by Jorg Bergmeister, as we see Conor Daly and Bruno Junquiera battling in Prototype Challenge. Kaffer is trying to bust up the hopes of a Porsche 1-2 in GTLM.
We're coming up on ten minutes to go. More fracas in GTLM as the #25 BMW is caught behind the DeltaWing, allowing the Corvette #3 to make a move. Thank goodness that was not an accident! What a piece of driving by Antonio Garcia! Dane Cameron leads this race, by 15 seconds. It's a balance between risk and reward. Risk everything with just a few races remaining in the season. The #60 Ligier Honda of Ozz Negri, went off the road, trying to pass the Ferrari. He got in the marbles, went off in the gravel trap, and Scott Pruett made the pass.
The track is really dirty. No grip for Negri Jr., who is relegated to fourth spot overall. The battle in GTLM continues between Ferrari and Porsche. Kaffer knows where Bergmeister will try to make a move. Thanks to Giuseppe Risi, Ferrari really has a presence in North American sports car racing. The team's plans are not set in stone for next year, yet. Ferrari has the twin turbocharged V8 powered 488 GTB coming online. They could be in the wars, with one car, next year. They would battle, certainly, with Corvette, Porsche, and Ford, with their new GT. Don't count out the BMW M6 either.
GT3 rules will come to the fore in GT Daytona. Ooh! Bergmeister tries going around Kaffer. But, no dice! You can challenge into turn 14 at Road America. But, you have to hit the brakes, and be set up to exit the corner correctly, in order to get a decent run. If you're trying to dive down the inside, late, you can brake deep, without many issues. In Prototype Challenge, Conor Daly leads by six seconds. Performance Tech may win Prototype Challenge. TI Automotive Viper, will likely win GT Daytona.
Bergmeister has his hands full with the Prototype Challenge machine from CORE Autosport. Three laps to go, with just under four minutes on the clock. Kaffer makes the right move, letting Colin Braun go, and still being able to fend off the challenge, from Bergmeister. Sometimes, in sports car racing, to overtake, you need to know when to lift off the throttle. The Ferrari is solid under brakes at turn five, while the Porsche is not as stable. If you have the overall leader behind you, your class battle could run for another lap.
Kaffer wants to get inside the #48 GTD Audi. This is tight. No worries. Where can Bergmeister make the move, without incurring a penalty? Turn five could be the place. He can't pull into the slipstream of the Ferrari. Bergmeister has to be right on Kaffer's gearbox. The Ferrari has good off corner torque. White flag for Dane Cameron. He will likely win the second race for Action Express, this year. GTLM will be a battle to the bitter end. Kaffer's got a lap and a half. Bergmeister is trying to let off the throttle and feed back into the power, so he can stay with the Ferrari. 100th of a second to blip the throttle, is a major margin.
The aero wash off the Ferrari, affects Bergmeister's front downforce, too. Pierre makes a move to the right. Jorg wants the spot. Bergmeister can't get it. He runs wide. The Porsche, is faster, than the Ferrari. The chap in front can make one move. No weaving and darting is allowed. One more full lap, they are told. GTLM will go one more lap, while Dane Cameron, will bring the leading Prototype to the checkers. Check that. This GTLM battle, is for second. Not the win. Patrick Pilet in the sister factory Porsche will win in class.
It's the last corner of the last lap. Whoa! Hold on a minute, folks. We've got contact. The #11 and #38, the leaders in Prototype Challenge, got together. Meanwhile, Dane Cameron and Eric Curran will win the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase! Victory for Action Express! In Prototype Challenge, there was argy bargy. No. That's not the case. Conor Daly will finish second. Bruno Junquiera wins Prototype Challenge in car #11!
We've got a problem in GTLM! The Ferrari is off the road! Has Risi thrown it away? Bergmeister in the factory Porsche, continues. There was a touch. Porsche 1-2? Yes! For now. What will the stewards say? For now, it's a factory Porsche 1-2. No argy bargy in Prototype Challenge. Conor Daly took the car deep into the corner, and paid the price. He spun out. Back to GTLM. #62 had the position. #912 moves inside, and makes contact. Thud, thud. It's just hard racing. Nothing intentional.
That win will stand. 1-2 for Action Express in Prototype. 1-2 for Porsche in GT Le Mans. Dane Cameron becomes the all-time class wins leader in Tudor Championship competition with seven. Bruno Junquiera and Chris Cumming win Prototype Challenge. Factory Porsche #911 wins GTLM with Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy. GT Daytona honors go to the #33 ViperExchange.com SRT Viper of Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen.
Overall/Prototype: #31 Cameron/Curran Chevrolet Corvette Prototype
Prototype
Challenge: #11 Junquiera/Cumming Oreca FLM Chevrolet
GT Le Mans: #911 Tandy/Pilet Porsche 911 RSR
GT Daytona: #33 Keating/Bleekemolen SRT Viper GTS-R-
Only four races remain in the season for 2015. The next event on the Tudor Championship schedule (as they are winding down), is next weekend. It is the Oak Tree Grand Prix set to be held at Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Virginia. No Prototypes at VIR. It will be exclusively for the GT classes. GT Le Mans, and, GT Daytona. Don't miss it! There will be a full race report, right here, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog. Until then, so long, everyone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettle_Moraine
A moraine is defined as, accumulated glacial debris. A mass of earth and rock debris carried by an advancing glacier and left at its front and side edges as it retreats.
There's a good geography lesson, race fans. Road America combines fast straightaways, and treacherous, off speed corners. All four divisions of the Tudor Championship, will race today, in round nine of the 2015 season, as we near the end of the series' second season. Prototype, Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans, and GT Daytona, will all race today. The championships are VERY close! A total of 17 points separates first and second in the standings, in the four divisions, combined! Who will emerge the big cheese in The Dairy State? Stay tuned, and find out, as the story of the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase is told... next!
Sports cars have been headliners at Road America for six decades. Lots of news has come out of the Tudor Championship. Michael Valiante and Richard Westbrook lead the Prototype points, over Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi, with Dane Cameron and Eric Curran in third place. Barbosa and Fittipaldi, are not only the defending IMSA champs, but, they are also, defending champions, of this very race at Road America... the Road Race Showcase. Jordan and Ricky, the Taylor brothers, are also in contention for the title.
They need more wins to stay in the title fight. Prototype Challenge sees a mere three points, separating Colin Braun and Jon Bennett (for CORE Autosport), from PR1/Mathiasen Motorsport and their drivers, Mike Guasch, and Tom Kimber-Smith. Four races remain for both GT classes. This is the time to build a lead and/or gain back lost points. Corvette and BMW continue to slug it out in GT Le Mans. Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, are competing directly with Dirk Werner and Bill Auberlen, for the title. The points leaders, are separated, by only two.
Porsche has won the last two GT Le Mans events, after their big win overall at Le Mans. Falken Tire won Watkins Glen, and Porsche Motorsport North America, won at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. The defending champs at Road America, looking to repeat, are the squad of the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia. In GT Daytona, it's just as competitive. Christopher Haase and Dion von Moltke, lead the points, for Audi, and Paul Miller Racing. Christina Nielsen for Aston Martin, is five points out of the lead, in second place. Recall PMR crashed their Audi, at Lime Rock Park, last time, after getting tangled with a Prototype Challenge racer.
Look out for the WeatherTech Porsche of Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen, as well as the Scuderia Corse Ferrari of Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell. We still see a struggle for Ganassi Racing, who has been so dominant is season's past. They have no wins this year, and are 20 points behind the Prototype class points leaders. However, Joey Hand set a phenomenal lap in qualifying, and puts the #01 Riley Ford EcoBoost, on pole. Road America is a fast track, with sweeping corners, and loads of elevation change. That's the good point. The not so good point is, it's tough to pass on this track, despite it being such a speed palace.
Road America, was built, in 1955, over a span of only four months. Fourteen corners in a four mile loop, where a driver averages 44 gear changes a lap. The elevation change is 170 feet and the top speed is at least 175 miles an hour. As the cars come through Canada Corner, there used to be a bridge there, (the Billy Mitchell Bridge). But, the bridge, was taken out. Temperatures are warmer for the race than were seen on Friday and Saturday, during practice and qualifying sessions. Here we go. We are ready for a start, for the Prototype machines!
Joey Hand and Christian Fittipaldi lead the field to green. Up the hill, and it's go time at Road America! Chicago Fire soccer goalie Sean Johnson, waves the green flag. Joey Hand starts well, but Michael Valiante already is scrapping, diving inside Ricky Taylor, immediately! Fittipaldi has sunk to fourth place, already! The DeltaWing is already mixing it up early on, with Memo Rojas and Katherine Legge sharing the driving chores. We turn our attention back to the hill, to watch the GT cars start, in GT Le Mans and GT Daytona.
Earl Bamber takes the lead from the GTLM pole. Patrick Lindsey set pole time in GTD. Bamber grabbed pole in the wet, after seeing the track only a couple of times. John Edwards in the factory BMW Z4 GT is hounding him, right from the get go. Edwards is pushing, challenging Bamber on the outside, downhill! That's really tough to do at this sweeping, hilly, amazing circuit. Watch out for braking downhill into the next corner, with cold brakes and cold tires. This is going to be hairy! We have the lone Falken Tire Porsche. Everyone else in GTLM is on Michelin's. However, BMW are using a totally different compound, than the rest of the field in the category.
Edwards is booking it already. The sister factory Porsche had issues during qualifying, and is trying to carefully but potently scythe it's way through the field, being caught up with several GT Daytona class cars. They run through turn six, a left hand corner, into a section of track called "hurry downs". Onward through turn seven, and then, they reach The Carousel. We watch as Giancarlo Fisichella is trying his best to catch, and pass, Antonio Garcia. It's Corvette C-7-R vs. Ferrari 458 Italia. Fisichella and co-driver Pierre Kaffer are at least two and a half seconds faster with their lap times, than they were in qualifying, going back to last year. They are defending champions of the Road Race Showcase.
Bamber is flying! He's moving away from the rest of the GT Le Mans field as we speak! Car #911 had an engine misfire. The team had to change the motor, after using the engine mapping software in the car's computer, didn't work. The Corvette Antonio Garcia is racing, is the same car that had a heavy wreck at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before the race even got underway, and had to miss two Tudor Championship events as well. But, today, it's back in the hunt. Tight racing in GTLM! Garcia wants by Edwards. Edwards says, "no way, sunshine." Now, Fisichella also wants to get a run on the bright yellow Corvette.
Edwards locks up the brakes! He runs wide, opening the door for Garcia! Garcia will inherit second place in class. The #60 Mike Shank Racing Ligier Honda, has served a penalty. MSR discovered a fuel leak in the car, this morning, prior to the morning warmup. Ozz Negri Jr. smelled fuel as he was towed out to run hot laps. They had to skip the warmup, and start from pit lane. We watch Wolf Henzler beginning to move up. The fuel cell on the #60 car, collapsed upon itself, bolting pieces of aluminum, to fix it. Will it hold through the end of the race? Not too sure.
Giancarlo Fisichella has passed the Corvette of Garcia, for second in GT Le Mans. The Porsche passes the BMW. Michelin has come up with a single stint tire, which has more grip, and less tire life, than a normal tire. It is a "gumball" tire, if you will. It has less grip and tire life than a standard endurance tire. Why? It is for pit strategy. But, will the tires hold up in the heat at Road America? We'll find out. You get data from testing or racing. There was a test session the Tuesday before the race. Patrick Lindsey currently leads GT Daytona from pole position.
Christina Nielsen in the Aston Martin and Ben Keating in the SRT Viper, are giving chase, to the Porsche driven by Lindsey. Ben Keating wants inside Christina Nielsen to make a pass, in this, a big, heavy race car. Nielsen tries shutting the door. Keating continues to fight. He won't surrender. He makes a pass stick into turn three. There is concern with drive time for Pro/Am classes like Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona. GT Daytona usually requires a 60 minute drive time per driver, to get points.
Because of discussing fuel mileage with the team manager's, now, IMSA has limited that drive time, for scoring points, to 50 minutes. If this did not happen, the Pro/Am drivers would have to do a second stint, under green flag conditions. In the Prototype Challenge class for identically prepped French Oreca built chassis' with Chevrolet small block V8 motors, and we watch James French, leading Chris Cumming. Car #38 leads car #11. Rain is in the forecast at Road America. Will it come? How heavily will it fall? Those questions, must be answered, but only if such a story, is told. We'll see.
Joey Hand leads this race at the moment, with the Ford twin turbo V6 motor in the Riley chassis. The cars make their way down through Canada Corner, the twelfth of fourteen turns on this track, and back uphill, to end another lap. Dion von Moltke and Christopher Haase, continue to lead the GT Daytona championship, despite their huge wreck last time out at Lime Rock Park. We watch the Audi, chasing the #63 Ferrari driven by Bill Sweedler, teaming with Townsend Bell. We now resume, the GTLM scrap. Corvette vs. Falken Porsche vs. BMW.
The GTLM class will get stronger. Ford, rolled out their new GT racer, and other makes, could be joining the party, in the years to come. Ganassi won their first pole (for this race), since Long Beach, in 2014. Right now, Joey Hand is being eaten up, by other Prototypes. He has run lap times in the 1:59 bracket. Michael Valiante is right on top of him. Car #01 may need to change tires, as the handling is suspect, just slightly. The crew flew into action, checking tire pressures. Hand has had understeer and traction issues. Although, Ganassi did test the car, earlier on, at Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia, which hosts the Petit Le Mans, season finale, later in the year.
Michael Valiante wants to make an inside move, now. Valiante takes the lead after Hand makes the one move you are allowed, to let his rival by. Hand falls to third, behind Valiante, and Ricky Taylor. Hand's lap times, have slowed, by two seconds. They went from 1:59 to 2:01, in short order. Ooh! Some contact, somewhere, coming up on lapped traffic. The #90 and #10 touched going into the braking zone for turn eight. Taylor went around the outside, and Valiante comes back, to re-pass. No harm, no foul, for the #10 car.
Ooh! We've had a wreck. The #97 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GT has suffered a big shunt, at one of the fastest parts of this track. Michael Marsal of New York, was the listed driver, at the time of the crash. There was contact with a Prototype Challenge car. It's game over for car #97. This is very disappointing, especially since Marsal and Dane Cameron, won at the previous race, at Lime Rock Park. Michael Marsal is OK. But, his team mate, Markus Palttala, won't even get to race. Sorry for being hasty about it being game over for the car. The team will have a look and see if it is fixable, once it gets towed back on the flatbed truck.
We watch the championship contending #52 Prototype Challenge entry circulating, with Mike Guasch at the controls. Guasch's car is reported to have made contact, with the Will Turner entered BMW driven by Marsal. Both these cars won in class at Lime Rock. Last year, on this same part of the course, recall a big accident with James Davison being hit by a Mazda prototype, damaging the car, hugely, in a practice session.
There are no small wrecks at Road America. It is time, now, under full course yellow, for Prototypes, to pit. Can the #01 car get fixed? Joey Hand has been sinking like a stone, due to a power problem. The team is doing routine service on the car, and might be able to diagnose the problem, under this full course yellow. Car #90 is also, in the lane, as are the #10, #31, and #5 Corvette Prototype's. #10 beats #90 out of pit lane. Strategy call for the VisitFlorida.com Racing squad, with a driver change. Richard Westbrook, takes over, from Michael Valiante. Car #10 goes to the race lead under this yellow.
Joey Hand is now back on track. Turbo boost, was the issue, for the Riley Ford EcoBoost, from Ganassi Racing. Now, the GT cars pit. Giancarlo Fisichella pits the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari. The factory #911 Porsche is also pitting. Ditto for the sister car, #912. #912 has a faster stop. Nick Tandy takes over from Earl Bamber. Great stops for the #17 Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR and the #62 Ferrari. Corvette and BMW had problems getting away from pit lane. Michelin is making this new single stint tire, as in the Tudor Championship (unlike the old American Le Mans Series, or, the FIA World Endurance Championship), you are allowed to change tires and fuel the car, at the same time.
Whereas, in the old days, in North America, and still, in Europe and other places around the world, in sports car racing, you have to add fuel, and then, after doing so, change tires, and service the car. Car #01 is back on the road. They had to work on a hose from the turbo or the waste gate. It was a clamp, or a small piece. For the #25 BMW, it was caught on an air hose either for a tire air hammer, or, the air jack to lift the car so the crew can work on it. Our GT Daytona leader, leads us back to the green flag, on the restart.
Going uphill, some drivers cannot see the green flag. So, they have to hear over the radio from their spotters, "green, green, green", before they can accelerate. Ooh! Dane Cameron makes a move and runs wide in the #31 Whelen Corvette Prototype, as the #90 car, is sent spinning! This might be big, as Westbrook and Valiante are only seven points clear in the championship from their nearest rivals. It's ironic, as Westbrook's engineer is Dane Cameron's dad, Ricky Cameron. Richard Westbrook claimed his was punted, and so, he's not a happy camper at all.
In multi class racing, you as a driver have to be aware of the performance capabilities oof the other cars around you. This is critical. Car #31 has not been damaged. Christian Fittipaldi is quickly gaining on Ricky Taylor. Taylor defends and passes Fittipaldi, while he cuts to the inside for the turn six braking zone. In 1999, Christian Fittipaldi won his first Champ Car race here. The Indycar Series will also return to Road America, next year. The DeltaWing was reported smoking, earlier. But, the car is fourth in class, with Memo Rojas at the wheel. Fourth in Prototype, fifth in the overall.
Oh wow! More slice and dice from Fittipaldi! Ricky Taylor tries to defend the line, runs wide, and gets in the gray dust on the outside of the track! Dane Cameron is now on the tails of both of these boys! A three way fight ensues for the lead! Remember now, the #5 and #31 are team mates at Action Express Racing. Cameron, has a run! He is alongside Fittipaldi! These blokes are squeezing each other down the back straightaway. These boys are playing dodge 'em cars! No pit maneuvers between Cameron and Fittipaldi.
This is great racing. But, team boss Gary Nelson must be nervous, watching this! Cameron gets on the radio, saying, "Gary, I'm not OK with that", meaning, Christian Fittipaldi's defensive driving. Ricky Taylor says, "cheerio, boys. I'm getting away!" Action Express will be back with both of their cars, next year. It is time to make your move, with races running out in the 2015 Tudor Championship season. Whoa. We have a spin. Mirco Schultis loops the #8 Prototype Challenge car, with team manager for Starworks, Peter Baron, on the radio, saying, "turn it around! Turn it around! Let's go!"
Schultis came into contact with one of the factory Corvette GTLM cars, (the #3). Correction. Jan Magnussen is now in the #3. Schultis says, "the car isn't running." Baron replies, "turn off all the power, and restart. Come on!" Baron gives another suggestion. "Roll down the hill." This might give him enough momentum for the motor to turn over. He tells Schultis, "go man, go! Come on!" Meanwhile, in the pit, is the #63 Ferrari for Scuderia Corse in GT Daytona. Bill Sweedler hands the car over to Townsend Bell.
They are pitting as a strategy call. They are good to go for minimum drive time. Chris Cumming leads Prototype Challenge, making a pass on James French. The braking zones for some of these turns, are bumpy. So, it is easy to lock up a front wheel unintentionally. The #07 Mazda Skyactiv Diesel prototype runs eighth in class, in the hands of Tom Long, from North Carolina. More strife for a Prototype Challenge car. This is the #85 machine. The driver has hit the Continental signage on the side of the track. Chris Miller is at the controls.
Henzler and Edwards continue the BMW and Porsche scrap in GT Le Mans. How did Miller run off the road? Was he hip checked? He was running slowly, wanted to pull over, started to spin, and... bonk. Right into the sign. The grass is slick, as there was heavy rain, 48 hours before the race. The #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America has pitted. John Potter, handed the car over to co-driver, Andy Lally. Oswaldo Negri Jr. is trying to make up for lost time, with the MSR Ligier Honda, #60, who had an iffy start to this race, to say the least.
Negri Jr. has turned the fastest lap of this race, overall, so far, with a 1:58.2. At the sharp end of the field, the lap times are fast. Run the lap times (for the cars chasing Ricky Taylor), and stay close. But, save fuel. Can you leapfrog your competition? The Konica Minolta team have done well over the last few races. The #38 Prototype Challenge car pits. It was thought we'd see rain in this race. It has not come yet, as bright sunshine envelops the track at Road America, currently. Connor Daly takes over the car.
#38 has a damaged rear wing end plate on the left hand side. One the bolts has come loose. That will affect the handling of the car, on this track. The #85 Prototype Challenge racer that crashed into the sign, is still at that corner, but, it is covered by a local yellow. So, no need for a full course yellow that would slow the field. The car will need a new battery, and the pit crew will get it out there so the car can continue.
Ricky Taylor is not concerned about Christian Fittipaldi, unless they get caught in traffic. GTLM is in traffic, passing the leading GTD car. Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette jumps ahead of John Edwards in the #24 BMW. Wolf Henzler has gapped them. Edwards tries Milner into the braking zone. No dice. But, the Corvette stepped out, on a downshift. The #73 Park Place Racing GTD Porsche of Patrick Lindsey is in this scrap. Check that. Lindsey, pitted the car, and handed the driving chores over to co-driver, Spencer Pumpelly. Jeroen Bleekemolen has taken over the wheel of the #33 SRT Viper in GTD, from Ben Keating.
The Carousel at Road America is an awesome corner, because it is a test of a car's performance, when it comes to the chassis, and mechanical balance. A great battle ensues between Corvette and BMW. It's #3 and #25. Christina Nielsen continues to drive the #007 TRG GTD Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Kevin Buckler, the team owner, has lots of confidence in Nielsen's ability. If you have two drivers who can run identical lap times, it does not matter which one is in the car, because it gives you strategic flexibility, more than anything else.
Back in 1955, Cliff Tufte, built Road America, to replace racing on the public roads in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and is a true meaning of what is said in the baseball movie "Field of Dreams"... "if you build it, they will come." Tufte, passed away, at the age of 84, on January 8th, 1981.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/10/obituaries/cliff-tufte-84-chief-developer-of-road-america-auto-racing.html
Ricky Taylor and Christian Fittipaldi still lead. It's easy to make a mistake, braking through the downhill corners. The straightaways are fast at around 170 miles an hour. Pit stop time for the #31 Whelen/Action Express Corvette Prototype. Fuel and tires for the car. There's a 50 second delta for a full service stop for getting down pit lane. Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell work together well, and are trying to do well with having a chance to battle for the championship.
Bill Sweedler is upping his game as a driver. Earl Bamber has had a meteoric career arc. He winsthe Porsche Carrera Cup championship, becomes a Porsche factory driver in GT racing, gets the opportunity to race for Porsche's World Endurance Championship factory prototype program, and, wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans! If you haven't followed sports car racing, check this guy out in an internet search. Giancarlo Fisichella is going well, too, with the #62 Ferrari 458 Italia. They don't have to play a strategy game with a team mate.
Don't be confused, between that car, and the #63 Scuderia Corsa GT Daytona Ferrari piloted by Bell and Sweedler. Two entirely different classes, and two entirely different teams. The Deltawing is passing the Ferrari as the #5 Action Express Corvette, pits. How will Dane Cameron in the sister car #31, do, on his outlap? Joao Barbosa will take over the #5 car, and Dane Cameron will finish in car #31, after Eric Curran, started the race. Dane Cameron has hot tires. Joao Barbosa, has cold tires. This is the difference. Cameron, may have the upper hand.
Barbosa has not moved yet in the #5 Mustang Sampling Corvette Prototype. One of the factory Corvette's pits. #31 looks to go by the #5. Brake dust spews out from the wheels of the #31. You can only do that with the brakes for so long, before the braking degrades, and... gasp, you find yourself without any brakes. That's the last thing you want at a track as fast as Road America. Jan Magnussen has taken over the #3 Corvette. This is the car that was crashed at Le Mans. They had some wiring issues. But, they were fixed. The sister car (#4) in the hands of Tommy Milner, had a bump and run with John Edwards in the #24 BMW.
In the meantime, Ricky Taylor pits the #10 Corvette Prototype, from the race lead. How will the stop work? #31 is coming through the kink right now. Jordan Taylor will take over the wheel. There will be a tire change on the car. The team is getting good longevity from the car and the tires. Oswaldo Negri Jr. and the #60 Mike Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda, pits. The patch on the fuel tank, is staying together, as the car, is in the lane, for routine service. The team has a slight delay on the fuel.
In the meantime, the #01 pits. Scott Pruett takes over from Joey Hand, on the scheduled driver change. Also in the lane, it's the #90 Corvette Prototype. Pit action is hot and heavy at this stage. Richard Westbrook, will stay in the car, and finish the race. #01 beats #90 out of the pits. Now, the #31 of Dane Cameron, leads the motor race. Bruno Junquiera is fifth overall in his Prototype Challenge car, as we have reached halfway. Dane Cameron, has also run the fastest lap of the motor race, to this point, at a 1:57.7.
Joao Barbosa runs second, and has trimmed the lead down to 8.7 seconds. Whoa! A pirouette for the #911 factory GTLM Porsche! He is second in class, in close proximity to his team mate in car #912. Giancarlo Fisichella in the Ferrari, is closing. The #62 car, has a flat tire. Tandy locks up the brakes. Fisichella passes Tandy. This is not a meaningful pass, though. #911 will hit pit lane, soon. It does pit, and exits, back into the fray. The #17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR is also in the lane. Bryan Sellers is taking over from Wolf Henzler, to finish out the race.
We watch a pair of class leaders. Bruno Junquiera in Prototype Challenge, and, Christina Nielsen in GT Daytona. Kuno Wittmer, will take over, from Christina Nielsen, in short order. She pitted under yellow and will do a stint and a half. The sister factory Porsche GTLM car, is now, in the lane, pitting from the class lead. Jorg Bergmeister takes over the car from Earl Bamber. Bergmeister has many championships and wins in sports cars.
It's beautiful at Road America. But, rain is in the forecast. Members of the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer team, are on hand, to watch the race here at Road America, and they took a ride around Road America, with Audi Customer Racing driver, Christopher Haase. The driver's championship is very close as we've reached and passed halfway here at Road America. The two Corvette teams from Spirit of Daytona and Action Express, are tied, at the top, 247 points apiece. Eric Curran and Dane Cameron, in the second Action Express entry, are a single point behind. Then, there's just an eighteen point spread, to fifth place.
Brake dust still appears from the front wheels of the #31 Corvette Prototype. With carbon rotors, they work great. But, when you wear them down, they wear down, REALLY quickly! Will there be rain in the forecast with an hour left in the race? It does not seem likely. After their steering problems last year, once again, the Konica Minolta Corvette Prototype team for Wayne Taylor Racing, runs into more gremlins. Another steering issue. This one, seems to be focused, on the right rear suspension. It is a camber issue. Camber is the slant of a vehicle's steerable wheels, that makes them slightly closer together at the bottom than at the top.
Some shims in the steering came loose, and were adjusted by the pit crew. The shims are installed on the ends of the suspension wishbones to create camber. If you run over curbs consistently, the rear tires, will be pinched into position and won't be able to be adjusted. If you run over the bumps, the bolts will drop out, and thus, the rear suspension will feel loose, and like it's about to come out from underneath the car. The #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche, pits. To quote lead race broadcaster Bob Varsha, (with a term yours truly would use), this track has been nothing less than a bugaboo for WTR.
#10 currently sits eighth in Prototype, 16th in the overall. Jeroen Bleekemolen, meanwhile, has the #33 SRT Viper in the GT Daytona class lead. We thought they'd contend for the GT Daytona championship. Viper has won two races this year, but, with the sister #93 machine. They won two of the three endurance races run this year so far. The Rolex 24 at Daytona, and, the Six Hours of Watkins Glen. They hit pit lane in #33 as the #0 DeltaWing, exits. Car #11 with Bruno Junquiera driving, still leads Prototype Challenge.
Second in Prototype Challenge is the #38 car, piloted right now, by second generation driver, Conor Daly. The PC cars are getting right to their 50 minute fuel window, before they make their final pit stops of the race. Third in class is the #54 CORE Autosport special, in the hands of Colin Braun, whose team mate, Jon Bennett, qualified, and started the car. Braun, will take it to the checkers. The scrum for third in the overall and in Prototype, the final step on the podium, is heating up, and fast. It's the #60 MSR Ligier Honda driven by Ozz Negri... playing the rabbit, and the #01 Ganassi Racing Riley Ford EcoBoost of Scott Pruett, playing the hound.
Pruett has run a fastest lap of 1:57.4 and these blokes at Ganassi just have not been able to get back to the sharp end, after their earlier issues with a hose clamp on the Ford twin turbo V6 engine in the back of the Riley Prototype chassis. Dane Cameron, running in the lead, is 3/10ths slower, at a 1:57.7. Because of their issues, Ganassi Racing is 25 seconds behind the leaders at this stage. It's been an odyssey for MSR at this race, and during the 2015 Tudor Championship season.
Every time MSR has run at Road America, they have completed laps. Meanwhile, the #912 factory GTLM Porsche pitted from the class lead, for an entirely unscheduled stop. Jorg Bergmeister thought the hood would fly off. They took fuel, and left side tires. Bergmeister wants his fifth win at Road America. Dane Cameron, will pit, at the end of this lap, while Conor Daly takes to pit lane for the #38 Performance Tech Prototype Challenge car. Conor Daly has not raced here, since 2010, back when he was competing in the Star Mazda open wheeled feeder series.
Pruett is chasing Negri Jr. Watch the giant bump at the end of pit lane. That one, will rattle a driver's teeth. Pruett passes both factory BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GT's in GTLM as the #911 factory Porsche now hits pit lane. Fuel and left side tires only for car #911. The right side tires wear better. The #31 car pits, too. New tires and fuel. The tire pressures have been adjusted. The team is putting on scrubbed Continental tires. Bryan Sellers pits the #17 Porsche and gets new Falken tires. There is a speed differential, between the Falken and Michelin tires, though.
Use the curbs, in order to go fast, and achieve lap times. The issue there is, it beats the race car, to pieces. Joao Barbosa in the overall race lead, should have clear track ahead. Barbosa is racing to Canada Corner right now. Barbosa brings the car into the pits, for fuel and tires. Dane Cameron has clear road, with a little bit of traffic, and he might still get one, clear, flying lap. Action Express, has completed every racing lap in the history of the Tudor Championship, to this point. There was a delay on the left rear tire on car #5 as #31 comes down the front straightaway.
This is going to be close! #31 stays ahead, and in the race lead. With hot tires, #31 should open a gap over #5. Cameron is stuck behind a Prototype Challenge machine, overtaking a GT Daytona car. This is going to be tight. Pierre Kaffer is at the controls of the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia, and, is leading GTLM right now. GT Daytona is still lead by the #007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage, now in the hands of Kuno Wittmer. Pierre Kaffer makes a quick stop, for a splash of fuel.
The GTLM lead changes hands, as the #911 Porsche, sweeps by. Patrick Pilet is currently driving th Porsche. This race has gone by quickly. Porsche goes for three wins in a row. Ferrari wants their second straight Road America win. The top three in GTLM will be good on fuel. Lucas Luhr in fourth in the factory BMW will need a splash and dash. Giancarlo Fisichella is quite the entrepreneur. He has his own line of coffee, and, is a professional DJ. The #3 Corvette C-7-R- runs seventh in the overall, and he needs to pass the #17 Porsche of Bryan Sellers. The next man up the road is Dirk Werner in the BMW.
In the last 25 minutes of this race, the Prototype Challenge battle between Conor Daly and Bruno Junquiera, will intensify. Now, it's down to the drivers. This event, is scheduled, for two hours, and 40 minutes. The #007 Aston Martin, could be about ten minutes short on fuel. They are ten minutes shy. They should roll the dice, or hope for a yellow. The Viper SRT has the same concern. Looking at points in GTLM and GTD, both classes, are very close. In the GT Daytona points, there's a tie between Christina Nielsen and the team of Haase/Von Moltke on 202 points. The nearest competition, is 14 points in arrears.
This is a separate tie, between the #22 WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT America squad of Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen, and the #63, Bell/Sweedler duo for Scuderia Corsa in the Ferrari, while the sister Alex Job Racing #23 Porsche of Mario Farnbacher and Ian James, is five more points behind. GTLM is also close. There may be a tie in GTLM after this race, headed into the next race, coming up. Details on that, at the end of this post.
The #007 Aston Martin needs more fuel. TRG AMR will roll the dice, and pit on the next lap, according to radio chatter between Kuno Wittmer in the driving seat, and team boss/owner Kevin Buckler. SRT Viper is good on fuel. We watch a great battle in GT Le Mans, that could affect the championship, between BMW RLL, Corvette Racing, and Falken Porsche. These blokes are fifth, sixth, and seventh, in class. More great battles. Townsend Bell passes Christopher Haase. This could affect the outcome of the GT Daytona championship, too.
Spencer Pumpelly also clears Haase. So, he's lost two places. Werner, Garcia, and Sellers, also continue their scrap. It's every man for himself. Dirk Werner and Bill Auberlen in the #25 BMW are two points behind the #3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen. Pit stop time for TRG AMR. This will be a quickie. Left side tires only on the front and rear. #33 goes by. #007 may keep second in GTD. Wittmer used to drive for SRT Viper. So, Bill Riley and the rest of that team, waved to Wittmer as he exited down pit lane.
Garcia is pushing Werner. He wants by! Go wide. Brake early. Mash the throttle and get on the power. He's trying every trick in the book. Garcia tries to pass Werner, and they may need to use the Park Place GTD Porsche, as a pick! Werner can't react. He is ahead of Garcia, and has to move first. Werner locks up! Opportunity for Garcia? No dice, in the Carousel. The Mustang Sampling #5 Action Express Corvette Prototype spun briefly, but is now, back on the road.
Joao Barbosa works his way through turn three. Could the spin have happened in turn one? Barbosa tried to dive inside the #48 Audi in GT Daytona, and paid the price, taking a turn on the whirligig. No action will be taken, by the IMSA stewards. Three cars might be within two points for the overall championship. Pierre Kaffer is being hounded by Jorg Bergmeister, as we see Conor Daly and Bruno Junquiera battling in Prototype Challenge. Kaffer is trying to bust up the hopes of a Porsche 1-2 in GTLM.
We're coming up on ten minutes to go. More fracas in GTLM as the #25 BMW is caught behind the DeltaWing, allowing the Corvette #3 to make a move. Thank goodness that was not an accident! What a piece of driving by Antonio Garcia! Dane Cameron leads this race, by 15 seconds. It's a balance between risk and reward. Risk everything with just a few races remaining in the season. The #60 Ligier Honda of Ozz Negri, went off the road, trying to pass the Ferrari. He got in the marbles, went off in the gravel trap, and Scott Pruett made the pass.
The track is really dirty. No grip for Negri Jr., who is relegated to fourth spot overall. The battle in GTLM continues between Ferrari and Porsche. Kaffer knows where Bergmeister will try to make a move. Thanks to Giuseppe Risi, Ferrari really has a presence in North American sports car racing. The team's plans are not set in stone for next year, yet. Ferrari has the twin turbocharged V8 powered 488 GTB coming online. They could be in the wars, with one car, next year. They would battle, certainly, with Corvette, Porsche, and Ford, with their new GT. Don't count out the BMW M6 either.
GT3 rules will come to the fore in GT Daytona. Ooh! Bergmeister tries going around Kaffer. But, no dice! You can challenge into turn 14 at Road America. But, you have to hit the brakes, and be set up to exit the corner correctly, in order to get a decent run. If you're trying to dive down the inside, late, you can brake deep, without many issues. In Prototype Challenge, Conor Daly leads by six seconds. Performance Tech may win Prototype Challenge. TI Automotive Viper, will likely win GT Daytona.
Bergmeister has his hands full with the Prototype Challenge machine from CORE Autosport. Three laps to go, with just under four minutes on the clock. Kaffer makes the right move, letting Colin Braun go, and still being able to fend off the challenge, from Bergmeister. Sometimes, in sports car racing, to overtake, you need to know when to lift off the throttle. The Ferrari is solid under brakes at turn five, while the Porsche is not as stable. If you have the overall leader behind you, your class battle could run for another lap.
Kaffer wants to get inside the #48 GTD Audi. This is tight. No worries. Where can Bergmeister make the move, without incurring a penalty? Turn five could be the place. He can't pull into the slipstream of the Ferrari. Bergmeister has to be right on Kaffer's gearbox. The Ferrari has good off corner torque. White flag for Dane Cameron. He will likely win the second race for Action Express, this year. GTLM will be a battle to the bitter end. Kaffer's got a lap and a half. Bergmeister is trying to let off the throttle and feed back into the power, so he can stay with the Ferrari. 100th of a second to blip the throttle, is a major margin.
The aero wash off the Ferrari, affects Bergmeister's front downforce, too. Pierre makes a move to the right. Jorg wants the spot. Bergmeister can't get it. He runs wide. The Porsche, is faster, than the Ferrari. The chap in front can make one move. No weaving and darting is allowed. One more full lap, they are told. GTLM will go one more lap, while Dane Cameron, will bring the leading Prototype to the checkers. Check that. This GTLM battle, is for second. Not the win. Patrick Pilet in the sister factory Porsche will win in class.
It's the last corner of the last lap. Whoa! Hold on a minute, folks. We've got contact. The #11 and #38, the leaders in Prototype Challenge, got together. Meanwhile, Dane Cameron and Eric Curran will win the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase! Victory for Action Express! In Prototype Challenge, there was argy bargy. No. That's not the case. Conor Daly will finish second. Bruno Junquiera wins Prototype Challenge in car #11!
We've got a problem in GTLM! The Ferrari is off the road! Has Risi thrown it away? Bergmeister in the factory Porsche, continues. There was a touch. Porsche 1-2? Yes! For now. What will the stewards say? For now, it's a factory Porsche 1-2. No argy bargy in Prototype Challenge. Conor Daly took the car deep into the corner, and paid the price. He spun out. Back to GTLM. #62 had the position. #912 moves inside, and makes contact. Thud, thud. It's just hard racing. Nothing intentional.
That win will stand. 1-2 for Action Express in Prototype. 1-2 for Porsche in GT Le Mans. Dane Cameron becomes the all-time class wins leader in Tudor Championship competition with seven. Bruno Junquiera and Chris Cumming win Prototype Challenge. Factory Porsche #911 wins GTLM with Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy. GT Daytona honors go to the #33 ViperExchange.com SRT Viper of Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen.
Overall/Prototype: #31 Cameron/Curran Chevrolet Corvette Prototype
Prototype
Challenge: #11 Junquiera/Cumming Oreca FLM Chevrolet
GT Le Mans: #911 Tandy/Pilet Porsche 911 RSR
GT Daytona: #33 Keating/Bleekemolen SRT Viper GTS-R-
Only four races remain in the season for 2015. The next event on the Tudor Championship schedule (as they are winding down), is next weekend. It is the Oak Tree Grand Prix set to be held at Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Virginia. No Prototypes at VIR. It will be exclusively for the GT classes. GT Le Mans, and, GT Daytona. Don't miss it! There will be a full race report, right here, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog. Until then, so long, everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)