6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 4

Is Audi, splitting the strategy, between their two cars?  Porsche is now 1-2.  With splitting the strategy, the car you want to do best, is on a more conservative strategy, while the car you want to take it easy, is probably turning up the wick, just a bit.  Patrick Dempsey has pitted the #77 Porsche from fourth spot in class.  Marco Seefried continues behind the wheel.  Toni Vilander, and Michael Christensen, continue their battle, in LM GTE Pro.  Gustavo Yacaman, is passed, by Fred Makowiecki.  Makowiecki runs behind Toni Vilander, in the Ferrari.  These are championship rivals in GTE Pro.

The Audi's are off strategy to the Porsche's.  But the tire strategy, won't change, for at least one more stint.  We continue to wonder, if Team Manthey will be back in the FIA WEC next year in GTE Pro.  Now, it looks like Timo Bernhard, has taken the lead.  What will team orders dictate?  #17 pits.  This is not a gamble.  The lead goes back to Jani.  Audi have already done it.  This track at Shanghai, is very abrasive.  If it dries out, those tires could fall off, very quickly.  However, there are low clouds still in the sky, that could spill more rain.  It's like someone has turned the contrast level down on the screen on a video game.

Ho Pin Tung has taken over the Pegasus Morgan #29.  Second place in LM GTE Pro changes hands, and it's now a Porsche 1-2.  85 laps are now complete.  288 miles.  Toyota is in the lane.  Can't tell which number.  It could be #1, and it is.  Kazuki Nakajima is on the super soft option intermediate tire.  Andrea Bertolini and Marco Seefried battle for position in LM GTE Am.  If any performance drops out of the tires, it will be greater in tires that are already in a worn state.  Sebastien Buemi is in the #1 Toyota.

Sebastien Buemi has gone for the intermediate Michelin tire, too early.  The track is not as dry as it could be, even though the conditions are improving.  Toyota can gamble.  They just don't have the performance of Audi or Porsche.  These tires, have to last, through this fuel load.  Alexandre Imperatori in the Rebellion is running real well, real fast, running at over 300 clicks.  300 kilometers per hour.  Sam Bird is carving his way through the field, and particularly, taking his LMP2 car through the LM GTE Pro field. 

The #7 car appears to be the quickest through the speed traps.  Treluyer is slightly offline trying to keep away from the bad bumps.  The titanium skid plate under the car, is sparking.  Benoit Treluyer is also still dealing with a very dirty windscreen.  Paul Dalla Lana in the Aston Martin, and Rui Aguas, in the Ferrari, trade places.  Patrick Dempsey has to get back into the #77 car to fulfill all his drive time.  Alexey Basov also has to finish the race in the #72 SMP Racing Ferrari.  Neel Jani says his tires are going away.  Double stinting the tires, probably won't work because the track is beginning to dry.

The full wet tires from Michelin, are being overheated.  This track has dried out enough, that the teams will hope to be running intermediates after their next stops.  Tire wear is a big deal.  But, if they hold station, they could win the manufacturers trophy, fair and square.  The battle will be down to Porsche vs. Audi for the overall victory.  Richard Bradley pits the #47 KCMG car.  Can Nick Tandy make the best of the improving weather conditions?  Paul Dalla Lana, has spun off the road.  In LM GTE Am, it is now Rui Aguas, leading.  Sam Bird, pits.

New intermediate tires in order for car #26.  Sebastien Buemi and Alex Wurz in the Toyota's, are on par with each other, as far as lap time.  Oh dear.  The #18 Porsche runs wide, and the lead, has changed.  Jon Fogarty in the #31 HPD has a penalty to serve in pit lane.  The #17 Porsche's tires are nearly knackered.  Audi is in the lane.  They are rolling the dice.  A driver change is being made.  They are forcing Porsche's hand, clearly.  The Porsche's will run one more lap at least.  Marcel Fassler is the driver of the #7 Audi now.

Fassler is out, for his first stint in this event.  Lucas di Grassi has not brought in the #8 Audi yet.  Marcel Fassler runs a 1:41 flat!  That's a quick lap.  He is ruthless in the car.  LMP2 leader in the lane, now.  The Audi's are now quicker than the Porsche's through the first sector.  Car #8 is on fresher wet tires.  Marcel Fassler is heating his intermediate tires and could double stint them.  The Porsche's will also have to use intermediate tires.  Audi will undertake a driver change.  Audi prepare, as Lucas di Grassi, will indeed, make a pit stop.  What strategy, will they use?

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 3

The #50 car is being reported to the stewards for rejoining the race in an unsafe manner.  Also, we have another car off in the gravel trap.  Yellows breed yellows.  Now, the Toyota, is in the gravel, and the lap times, are going down.  This is the #1 Toyota of Mike Conway, and he's spun it, again!  He went off at corner 14 and lost it again at 16.  Pardon me.  That's Kazuki Nakajima.  Double yellows also for Khaled al Qubaisi.  Another full course yellow,. chaps.  Brendon Hartley pits the leading Porsche.  Timo Bernhard, takes over the driving chores.  The #18 also pits for fuel and tires. We are ready to go back to green.

Someone has had a razor blade/box cutter puncture a tire.  Porsche is quick to maximum speed, but then, the Audi gets a later advantage.  As the Porsche runs out of electrical energy, it gets swamped.  Audi seems to have a slight advantage over the Porsche's.  The Porsche cannot find a way past the Morgan LMP2 car.  The LMP2 lead battle sees Alex Brundle take the lead, right alongside Pepe Derani!  Into the braking zone, the Audi is also moving by.  Brundle has gone through!  The LMP2 battle for the championship, is not over yet!

The #1 Toyota is now pitting for new full wet tires.  Who would have thought Alex Brundle, in an older Morgan chassis, would be leading LMP2?  Brundle is in a guest entry, for this race.  Audi, Porsche, Audi, Porsche, is what the top four looks like, at the moment.  Benoit Treluyer is now the quickest man on track.  Timo Bernhard has to fight to maintain position, and also, wants to keep the #7 Audi from taking a position to join it's team mate.  Porsche could take the manufacturer's crown.  But, the driver's championship, is still, wide open. 

The Porsche will have an advantage down the straight.  The Audi, will have the edge, in cornering.  The gap is closing, and fast.  We're back to these classic Audi vs. Porsche battles, that we've seen, all year.  Neel Jani in the sister Porsche, is closing.  The battle now, is for second spot.  Ooh!  Lucas di Grassi somehow, made a pass.  The pressure is on.  di Grassi, Bernhard, Treluyer.  That's the top three.  The driver's championship, is up for grabs.  Porsche looks inside, and Audi, passes, actually.  No fighting from Timo Bernhard.

It is possible to race in tough conditions, without smashing into your competition.  The ebb and flow of the race, is amazing.  Six hour races, are longer.  But, they are worth your time to watch.  Trust me.  Ooh!  James Calado was a pick, in this battle, in one of the Ferrari 458's.  Audi has to take advantage.  The #18 Porsche, is coming, and coming, fast.  The Porsche gets balked by the #47 KCMG Oreca Nissan of Matt Howson.  The Audi is ahead, but, Timo Bernhard is trying.  It's Audi #7, Porsche #17, and Porsche #18.  Team orders are working well.  There have never been issues with team orders, in this kind of racing.

Timo Bernhard is having a visibility issue, as Neel Jani, is pushing, trying to fend off the Audi's.  Porsche needs 44 points, total, to clinch the manufacturer's cup, after this race.  The skies are clearing up a bit.  But, in the next couple hours, if the track dries, it's going to get wild.  We are almost halfway through this race.  James Calado pits the #71 Ferrari.  Benoit Treluyer is 4.4 seconds ahead of Neel Jani.  Calado is indeed in the lane, and has exited.  Mark Webber is going to have to finish this race in the #17 Porsche.

Michael Christensen is battling an LMP2 car... the car of Alex Brundle.  GTE Pro vs. LMP2 for the tenth spot.  Oh no!  The #18 Porsche has run wide, off the road.  Ooh.  Neel Jani missed his braking point, and almost spun completely.  He lost a full second.  Audi and Benoit Treluyer, continue to lead.  The #18 Porsche is stymied, and has to hold station for the time being.  In replay, we watch Lucas di Grassi, get passed, by Timo Bernhard.  There's a long way to go yet.  The track, could dry out, in the last couple hours.

Down the long straights, Porsche gets great boost with their eight megajoule system.  Acceleration is the Porsche's strong suit.  Aerodynamic efficiency, is the strong point, for the Audi.  Oh boy.  The #50 Corvette C-7-R- is off course, again.  Nicolai Sylvest, at the controls.  Richie Stanaway is fourth in LM GTE Pro, and he could get a drive in an LMP1 car.  The #12 Rebellion R-One runs wide.  Nicolas Prost is at the wheel.  Francesco Castellaci is being caught by Matthias Lauda.  This is an inter-team Aston Martin battle.  No team orders.  But, definite rivals.  They are customer cars.

The #95 car is not racing this weekend, and it won't be at the finale in Bahrain, next time out, either.  Aston Martin Racing still runs 1-2 in class.  Whoa.  Andrea Bertolini goes off the road, in another one of the Ferrari's.  One of the Aston's pits, for new, grooved tires.  Are they full wets, or, plain wets?  The extreme wet tires are coming off, and standard wets are going on the cars.  They are not intermediate tires.  Neel Jani is catching the leading Audi of Benoit Treluyer. It is getting darker.  It will be dusk, by the time we finish this race.

An incident between the #28 LMP2 and #77 LM GTE Pro cars, are under investigation, by the stewards, just after the race started.  Neel Jani moves past Benoit Treluyer for the lead!  Treluyer was snoozing.  Treluyer has a badly smudged windscreen.  Car #26 serves a drive through penalty, investigating an exceeding of the 80 kilometers per hour full course yellow, speed limit.  Did they run afoul of the rules?  Yes.  The team car of Gustavo Yacaman (car #28), has made a pass.  Alex Brundle has been doing a great job, even though he has not raced for a good chunk of the year.  Ryan Dalziel is also getting close to his maximum drive time, even though he's been leading, in class.

Sam Bird has taken over from Julien Canal in car #26 after the pit stop.  We are headed to halfway in the 6 Hours of Shanghai.  Neel Jani ahs retaken the lead, and is 2.5 seconds up on Benoit Treluyer.  Toyota, is in the lane, now.  Routine service for the team.  These guys have had a fraught year, after winning the World Championship, last year.  Lucas di Grassi, has been told that wet tires are ready, and they might go for intermediates.  Will Audi Sport roll the dice?  The gaps are opening and closing, between the leaders, at the same time.

The #71 Ferrari of James Calado, runs wide.  The #7 Audi, pits. 

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 2

Marc Lieb is taking time out of the leaders, making inroads.  He is the only leading driver in the 1:57-1:58 bracket.  We've got lots of rain forecast for the majority of this race.  It is 80% now, will reduce to 50%, and then, there will be haze for the final couple hours.  We watch Johannes van Overbeek spin the #31 ESM HPD Prototype.  The weather is starting to get tricky.  Patrick Long pits the #77 Porsche.  The #28 G Drive machine also is in the lane.  Tire choice, dictates you can go to slicks, or, stay on intermediates. 

Many cars are now pitting.  ByKolles and Strakka both pit.  Pepe Derani stays in the #28 G-Drive machine.  Toni Vilander pits from third in LM GTE Pro.  Again, Michelin have two grades of wet weather tires.  Wets, and full wets.  We are set to complete lap 29 of this race.  Sam Bird pits the G Drive car for fuel, and for a driver change.  Julien Canal, takes over the car.  The #4 ByKolles CLM is also on an outlap after it's pit stop.  The #43 Team SARD Morand car is also in the lane, with Oliver Webb at the controls.

Toni Vilander has stayed on wets.  Marc Lieb is starting to gain positions back in the #18 Porsche 919 Hybrid.  He has pace, but is struggling with grip.  He's way quicker than some of the cars ahead of him.  He's two seconds ahead of leader and team mate, Brendon Hartley.  Nick Tandy and KCMG are definitely playing catch up right now.  Anthony Davidson will pit the Toyota.  Davidson will pit from third spot.  Audi are at the entrance to pit lane, when they usually prefer, to be at the exit.  Fuel is added and tires are being changed.  The Audi went onto full wet tires.

The left rear tire is the one that is taking the most abuse here at Shanghai.  Christian Ried has taken the class lead in LM GTE Am.  He is at the wheel of the #88 Abu Dhabi Racing Porsche 911 RSR.  Brendon Hartley and Marc Lieb both visited the Porsche pits.  Nick Tandy has spun the #47 KCMG Oreca Nissan, and has dropped way down to 24th in the overall as a result.  We see Toyota pitting.  Brendon Hartley, Oliver Jarvis, and Andre Lotterer run in the top three.

We have drama in pit lane with the #72 SMP Racing Ferrari 458 Italia, which needed points to take the LM GTE Am championship.  It was refueling under a safety car.  The #99 Aston Martin pits from the lead in LM GTE Pro.  Alex MacDowall out, and either Fernando Rees, or Richie Stanaway, in.  Francesco Castellaci in the #96 Aston Martin leads the LM GTE Am class.  Now, there's a nasty moment for one of the Audi's running out on the curbs.  There's confusion over tires in GT.  The difference between the wet and full wet tires in GT, is the full wets, have a deeper cut groove into the tires.

It's all about displacement of water, and a bigger contact patch, for the tire itself.  Patrick Dempsey is passed in LM GTE Am by the #98 Aston Martin of Matthias Lauda.  Trouble, and a spin, for the #4 ByKolles machine of Pierre Kaffer.  The turbo spools up quickly on that AER motor.  AER stands for Advanced Engine Research.  Gianluca Roda gets a bit wiggly in the Larbre Competition Corvette C-7-R- but hangs on to the car.  We are now getting heavier rain.  Toyota #1 has pitted, and he didn't take tires.  His tires are fading.

The rain intensifies and the lap times go up.  Not a good time to change tires right now.  Danny Watts has spun off the road, causing a full course yellow.  The cars are now under the enforced 80 kilometer per hour (50 mile per hour) field freeze.  Anthony Davidson took the gamble on the tires.  Kazuki Nakajima took over the car.  The conditions are worsening.  The #47 KCMG car is still having issues.  They are chasing the #26 G Drive car, that is leading in class.  What tires did Nick Tandy take?  It is still full course yellow.  The #2 Toyota pits.  Alexander Wurz, takes over from Mike Conway.

Anyone who has not stopped, needs to pit, now.  There could be a quick track cleanup.  The rain is starting to come in, and it's getting wetter and darker.  Throw away the earlier idea, that the rain would stop.  It will keep bucketing with rain.  Julien Canal takes over the #26 G Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan.  Ryan Dalziel is way back.  No tires.  It's Ligier 1-2-3.  Onroak Automotive has two brands, in the top five in LMP2.  Three Ligier's and two Morgan's.  Pierre Kaffer pits the ByKolles machine.  We've got a little race under yellow, between the #92 Porsche and the #71 Ferrari. 

This is similar to a virtual safety car.  The cars are frozen in their positions, running at a constant speed.  42 laps have been run so far.  142.2 miles.  15 seconds to green.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  Green.  We are back to full racing speed.  That's the call from Edoardo Freitas.  Get the heat back into the tires.  There's lots more spray up on the track now.  The cars are moving huge amounts of water.  This is now getting very difficult, as the #50 Corvette of Gianluca Roda is off the road one more time.  Oh boy.  Patrick Dempsey also goes off the road.  He has spun at the entrance to pit lane.

He was facing the wrong way.  Also, synchronized spinning by one of the other cars.  It's the Shanghai synchronized spinning championship!  Christian Ried is back on the road, but his tires, are toasted.  Pepe Derani has had an off.  Correction.  Julien Canal.  He did not take tires.  Alex Brundle was 17 seconds quicker last time around than Ryan Dalziel.  Alex Brundle is ten seconds quicker than the LMP2 leader.  Ooh.  A big slide, too, for SMP Racing.  The #72 car spins.  Now, the #26 G Drive car is also under investigation by the stewards.

Ooh.  The Rebellion is beached in the gravel.  Dominik Kraihamer at the controls.  He can't go sideways, and he stops immediately.  The adage of "just add water" is definitely true, here in Shanghai.  Lap times are now in the 2:06-2:07 range.  We have another full course yellow, in less than a minute.  Matt Howson has pitted.  Howson has taken over from Nick Tandy in the #47 car.  We are under full course yellow.  Snatch the cars, and send the marshals to clean up the gravel in turn six.

The #7 Audi pits for a tire change.  Full course yellows are a good time to make your pit stop and not lose time.  In Pro classes, the driver time maximums are not too much consequence.  But, in the Am classes, there are more crucial driver times to follow in order to score points.  The weather conditions are as bad as they have been since the race started.  Larbre Competition team boss Jack Leconte, looks on, as the team has just made another pit stop.  The #98 Aston Martin could be readying for changing to full wet tires. 

Nicolas Sylvest in the Corvette has spun, and, well, Alexander Wurz in the Toyota, had no place to go except off the road, to get by!  Is there someone in front of me?  Oh rats!  I have to brake to avoid this guy in front of me!  Yikes!  The lap time spread is between 4:10-4:18 under safety car conditions.  No chances being taken by anyone at the moment.  The rain has mitigated offline rubber buildup on the outside of the circuit.  If it were dry, you'd get buildup on the tires.  We are ready for a green flag.  It's soaking wet out there.

15 seconds to green.  10.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  Green!  The LMP1 cars rocket away.  Oh no!  Alex Wurz has spun the Toyota.  Kazuki Nakajima in the sister car, passes the #26 G Drive entry. 

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 1

Audi has pole here at the Shanghai International Circuit.  Porsche and Audi are on different tires for the 6 Hours of Shanghai, and the race, has started.  The clock has begun, on a real tire shredder of a circuit here at Shanghai.  It's damp.  It's not totally wet, but, it's not totally dry.  Audi saved a set of slick tires during qualifying.  You don't get free tires.  You get free choice of tires.  You have to start the race on the same type of tire you qualify on. 

This track eats tires.  We have started the race.  The clock is running.  This is the penultimate race for the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship.  We have now been racing, for a good seventeen minutes, folks.  Porsche, Audi, Audi, Toyota, Toyota, is the top five, currently.  Brendon Hartley, Andre Lotterer, Oliver Jarvis, Anthony Davidson, and Mike Conway, are the starting drivers, in each car.  We are prepping for a full on green flag. 

Cars have been changing position behind the safety car.  The #77 Dempsey Racing Porsche 911 RSR spun off the road.  There is some slight banking on this track.  Here at Shanghai, turn 13 is the slowest corner in all of the World Endurance Championship.  56 kilometers per hour, or 35 miles an hour.  Now, we are racing!  Marc Lieb takes the lead and the Audi's are under pressure from Toyota.  Anthony Davidson taps Oliver Jarvis.  Can Jarvis pass Davidson back?  No.  Three wide!  Oh my!  Someone has spun off!  It's the #18 Porsche 919 that is stranded! 

Wow!  Don't move until everyone is through!  Nick Tandy is also off the road in the #47 KCMG LMP2 car!  Cars are off the road already.  The Porsche will rejoin the race.  Will their be consequences for that contact?  Brendon Hartley leads Andre Lotterer right now.  The two championship combatants lead each other (insofar as the driver's championship).  With KCMG, they are starting to lose ground in the driver's championship standings, as there are waving yellow flags in one corner.

Sam Bird in one of the G Drive cars, leads LMP2.  Andre Lotterer was trying to stay out of the way of one of the Porsche's.  Marc Lieb says on the radio, "the Audi hit me, even though I gave him room."  The #18 was trying to help #17 get to the lead.  Ooh.  Nick Tandy loses it into the gravel trap, under braking, by himself.  These blokes are on intermediate tires.  The safety car is on track now.  Wow.  This race is starting, with major action, everyone.  Marc Lieb let his team mate through, and the Audi followed him through.

Alex Brundle makes a pass, and Pepe Derani is also moving up in LMP2.  Richard Lietz and Patrick Pilet are third and fourth in LM GTE Pro at the moment.  Ferrari's are sharing special development tires with the Porsche's in the GTE classes.  They are development tires being made by Michelin.  Larbre Competition's Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- driven by Paolo Ruberti, leads LM GTE Am.  Davide Rigon in the Ferrari is trying to move up, working on a pass on Alex MacDowall in the #99 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.  This is the #71 AF Corse Ferrari, I think.

#92 now leads LM GTE Pro.  The GT cars on Michelin's in the wet, can pass LMP2 cars very well.  The Dunlop full wets are not being used in the LMP2 class.  They are not durable enough on a dry track.  Toni Vilander is in the leading #51 AF Corse Ferrari, and he has passed the #42 Strakka Racing Gibson Nissan of Danny Watts, as a car has spun on the back straight.  Turn 16, the hairpin, is where this spin happened.  The #30 ESM prototype also went off the road, briefly.

Patrick Long takes the LM GTE Am lead in car #77.  Sam Bird and Alex Brundle are 1-2 in LMP2, about a second apart.  Right now in LMP1, there's three seconds, between the top three, in the overall in LMP1.  Hartley, Lotterer, Jarvis.  Ooh.  A touch between Pedro Lamy and Stuart Hall in the Aston Martin's.  Christian Ried, actually, in one of the Porsche's tapped him.  A bit of argy bargy for sure.  Calm down, chaps.  Toni Vilander catches up with the Audi, but allows Richard Lietz in the #91 Porsche to pass!  Yikes! 

Nick Tandy has to try and pass Sam Bird back in LMP2.  There are battles all over this race track, folks.  There is a battle for third in LM GTE Pro between Davide Rigon and Frederic Makowiecki.  It's a doppleganger for the other GTE Pro clash.  Ooh.  Someone went off into the gravel, slightly.  It's starting to dry just a bit.  The lap times are in the 1:55-1:56 range right now.  A gravel trap that used to be by pit lane, has been removed.  Keep at least two wheels inside the white line, down towards the 60 kilometer speed limit line, entering the pits.

The race is working into a rhythm.  Marc Lieb is ahead of Mike Conway in the back half of the overall top five in LMP1.  LMP2 cars are starting to make scheduled pit stops it appears.  The gap is staying put, as Andre Lotterer is keeping Brendon Hartley honest.  21 laps have been run, and we've got sub two minute lap times at the moment.  Hartley is fastest at 1:57.714 as Lotterer runs a 1:58.177. 

Marc Lieb has moved around Mike Conway into the top six.  In pit lane now, are both the Prototype and GT Porsche's.  Porsche's manufacturer's cup chances in LM GTE Pro, could be hampered by both Aston Martin and Ferrari.  The rain has not quit.  We watch Ryan Dalziel pass a competitor.  He has opened a gap immediately, and Brendon Hartley could pit, in another four or five laps.  We see Sam Bird, twelve seconds up on team mate Pepe Derani, in LMP2.  It is fair to say that the GTE Pro tires are starting to get worn down.

Dropping down a huge drop, that is a couple storis down.  Christian Ried battles Emmanuel Collard in LM GTE Am.  The #98 Aston Martin is in the lane.  Mike Conway has run fastest lap for his car with a 1:59.8 on worn, wet tires.   

More sports car racing news

More breaking news from sports car racing, mainly from IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, as the WEC is racing in China, this weekend, of course.

Sonic Tools Announces Partnership with CJ Wilson Racing
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/sonic-tools-announces-partnership-with-cj-wilson-racing/

Lamborghini ST World Final Details at Sebring Released
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/lamborghini-st-world-final-details-at-sebring-released/

IMSA Updates Testing Regulations for 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-updates-testing-regulations-for-2016/

Bradley Reprimanded for Fuji Accident
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bradley-reprimanded-for-fuji-accident/

Porsche Quickest on Friday in Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-on-friday-in-shanghai/

Shanghai Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-friday-notebook-2/

Cox Departs from Nissan
http://sportscar365.com/gt/cox-departs-from-nissan/

IMSA & FIA WEC news

News flashes from IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, as the WEC preps for it's race in Shanghai, China, this weekend.

Morand to Support Proposed NAEC P2 Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/morand-to-support-planned-naec-lmp2-program/

Derani: "The Objective is to Have a Factory Drive in LMP1"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/derani-the-objective-is-to-have-a-factory-drive-in-lmp1/

Shanghai Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-thursday-notebook/

DC Racing Set for Expansion to ELMS, WEC
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dc-racing-set-for-expansion-to-elms-wec/

Plus... one story out of the Asian Le Mans Series.

17 Entries for Sepang November Asian LMS Round
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/17-entries-for-sepang-november-asian-lms-round/

Porsche Closing in on Manufacturers World Championship

This weekend, at the FIA World Endurance Championship event in China, Porsche, could make history, and sew up the manufacturer's cup, one race early.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-closing-in-on-manufacturers-world-championship/

sports car racing news update

Big, big update on the latest news from sports car racing, via Sportscar365.

Q&A With PWC Director of Competition Marcus Hasselgrove
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/qa-with-pwc-director-of-competition-marcus-haselgrove/

Planning Continues for PWC, SRO Event at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/planning-continues-for-pwc-sro-event-at-cota/

Car Collection Set for Switch to Audi R8 LMS for 2016
http://sportscar365.com/gt/car-collection-set-for-switch-to-audi-r8-lms-for-2016/

Former 24H Dubai Winners Headline Konrad Lamborghini Effort
http://sportscar365.com/gt/24hseries/former-24h-dubai-winners-join-konrad-lamborghini-effort/

Four Drivers Take Part in Porsche Young Driver Academy
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/four-drivers-take-part-in-porsche-young-driver-academy/

Koch: "The Goal is To Be In The WeatherTech Championship"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/koch-the-goal-is-to-be-in-the-weathertech-championship/

Hulkenberg: "There's Still Definitely Big Interest on Both Sides"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hulkenberg-theres-still-definitely-big-interest-on-both-sides/

Dillmann Joins Signatech Alpine for Shanghai, Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dillmann-joins-signatech-alpine-for-shanghai-bahrain/

Young Driver AMR Withdraws from 6H Shanghai Over BoP Concerns

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/young-driver-amr-withdraws-from-6h-shanghai-over-bop-concerns/

8Star Absorbed By Team Pelfrey
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/8star-motorsports-absorbed-by-team-pelfrey/

Tuscher Replaces Abt at Rebellion for Rest of FIA WEC Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tuscher-replaces-abt-at-rebellion-for-rest-of-fia-wec-season/

Kevin Magnussen to Test Porsche 919 Hybrid
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kevin-magnussen-to-test-porsche-919-hybrid/

Capacity Grid Reached for 24H Dubai
http://sportscar365.com/gt/24hseries/capacity-grid-reached-for-24h-dubai/

IMSA Silly Season Updates

Let's review the silly season updates in IMSA, for Ptototype, as well as looking at happening in Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans, and GT Daytona.  Do not worry.  Yours truly, will soon have, a full review of the Petit Le Mans from a few weeks ago.  Stay tuned.

2016 IMSA Silly Season Update: Prototype (revisited)
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2016-weathertech-championship-silly-season-update-prototype/

2016 IMSA Silly Season Update: Prototype Challenge
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2016-imsa-silly-season-update-prototype-challenge/

2016 IMSA Silly Season Update: GT Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2016-imsa-silly-season-update-gt-le-mans/

2016 IMSA Silly Season Update: GT Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2016-imsa-silly-season-update-gt-daytona/

IMSA: Cadillac ATS-V.R testing

Could Cadillac make a return to endurance sports car racing?  They raced with a Le Mans Prototype between 2000 and 2002.  Here, is footage, from testing at Sebring International Raceway of the Cadillac ATS-V.R, testing at Sebring International Raceway.  This car, with what sounds very much like a turbo V6 motor, could race in the GT Daytona division of the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.  But, that remains to be seen.

IMSA: Ford Ganassi GT program closes successful Sebring test

Lots was learned by Ganassi Racing, in their most recent test of the new Ford GT, that was just completed, at Sebring International Raceway, according to team manager, Mike Hull.  Racer magazine's Marshall Pruett, has the scoop.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/122951-imsa-ford-ganassi-gt-program-closes-successful-sebring-test

IMSA 2016 Corvette Sebring Testing

Have yet to fully blog the 2015 Petit Le Mans.  Don't worry, folks.  You will see a full race report.  Yours truly, need some time.  But, for now, check out this short video of the 2016 spec Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- being put through it's paces in a shakedown test at Sebring International Raceway, and feel the thunder of the monstrous V8.

more updates from sports car racing

A few more worthwhile stories to look at, including the beginning of "silly season", in the WeatherTech Championship.

VIDEO; Asian LMS Fuji Race Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/video-asian-lms-fuji-race-highlights/

First Entries for Bahrain Rookie Test Revealed
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/first-entries-for-bahrain-rookie-test-revealed/

2016 IMSA Silly Season Update: Prototype
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2016-weathertech-championship-silly-season-update-prototype/

BR Engineering Set for Expanded 2016 Program with BR01
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/br-engineering-set-for-expanded-2016-program-with-br01/

another brief news update

Another brief update of sports car racing goings on, via Sportscar365.

News & Notes Roundup, 10-21
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/news-notes-roundup-10-21/

Brundle Completes Lineup in Pegasus Morgan for 6H Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/brundle-completes-lineup-in-pegasus-morgan-for-6h-shanghai/

Planning Continues for PWC, SRO Event at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/planning-continues-for-pwc-sro-event-at-cota/

Rinaldi Planning Switch to Ferrari 488 GT3
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/rinaldi-planning-switch-to-ferrari-488-gt3/

IMSA: Paul Miller Racing leaves Audi for Lamborghini

Breaking news in this bonus post for today.  Paul Miller Racing, will contest GT Daytona competition in the fully GT3 spec class in Tudor Championship competition, in 2016, with a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 as opposed to the Audi R8 it ran this year.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/122845-imsa-paul-miller-racing-leaves-audi-for-lamborghini

Brief news update

A brief bit of news from the sports car racing world, mostly centered around GT racing.

32 Entries for 6H Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/32-entries-for-6h-shanghai/

Schubert Planning Endurance Program with BMW M6 GT3
http://sportscar365.com/gt/schubert-planning-endurance-program-with-bmw-m6-gt3/

Teams Voice Concerns Over Escalating GT3 Costs
http://sportscar365.com/gt/teams-voice-concerns-over-escalating-gt3-costs/

Porsche Confirms Montoya to Test at Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-confirms-montoya-to-test-at-bahrain/

Thiriet by TDS Wins Estoril, Greaves Claims LMP2 Title

News of the final European Le Mans Series race of 2015, from Estoril, Portugal, and of the 2015 series champs.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/tds-wins-estoril-greaves-claims-lmp2-championship/

New racing championships planned by the ACO

The ACO who organizes and runs the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is developing new championships in Asia, and in Europe.

ACO Planning New Asian Prototype Sprint Championship
http://sportscar365.com/industry/aco-planning-new-asian-prototype-championship/

...and

ACO Launches Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup for 2016
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/aco-launches-michelin-gt3-le-mans-cup/

sports car racing news update

Lots of news to speak of in the world of sports car racing.  Sportscar365 has the headlines.

Performance Tech Rebuilding, Refocusing on PC Changes for 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/performance-tech-rebuilding-refocusing-on-pc-changes-for-2016/

IMSA Approves E20 Fuel for GTLM; Corvette Confirms Switch
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-approves-e20-fuel-for-gtlm-in-2016/

Hindman banks Back-to-Back Wins to End 2015 Campaign
http://sportscar365.com/gt/hindman-banks-back-to-back-wins-to-end-2015-campaign/

IMSA News & Notes Roundup, 10-14
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/news-notes-roundup-10-14/

IMSA Outlines PC Upgrades, Set to Extend Class to 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-outlines-pc-upgrades-set-to-extend-class-to-2017/

RLL Set for BMW M6 GTLM Delivery, Set to Test in November
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/rll-set-for-bmw-m6-gtlm-delivery-set-to-test-in-november/

News & Notes Roundup, 10-14
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/news-notes-roundup-10-14/

Sylvest to Continue in Larbre Corvette for 6H Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/sylvest-to-continue-in-larbre-corvette-for-6h-shanghai/

Muecke, Lyons Completes Craft-Bamboo Lineup for FIA GT World Cup

http://sportscar365.com/gt/gt-world-cup/muecke-lyons-completes-craft-bamboo-lineup-for-fia-gt-world-cup/

Team Brasil Switches to Lamborghini in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/team-brasil-switches-to-lamborghini-in-2016/

ARC Bratislava to Run Lamborghini Huracan GT3
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bes/arc-bratislava-to-run-lamborghini-huracan-gt3/

Sportscar Retrospective: John Paul, Sr. and Jr.

The triumph and tragedy surrounding John Paul Sr. and John Paul Jr., one of the most successful father/son duos in sports car racing history.

http://nasportscar.com/sportscar-retrospective-john-paul-sr-and-jr/

Classic 24 at Daytona Presented by IMSA Entry List Announced

More about the entry list for the Classic 24 at Daytona presented by IMSA.  There are some mouthwatering cars of the past, that will take part in this race, ranging a time span of 53 years between 1960 and 2013.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/classic-24-daytona-presented-imsa-entry-list-announced

HSR Classic 24 at Daytona Presented By IMSA - News & Notes

This is an exciting event.  The Historic Sportscar Racing Classic 24 Presented By IMSA at Daytona International Speedway, is coming up, soon.  Check out all the details, HERE:

http://www.imsa.com/articles/hsr-classic-24-hour-daytona-presented-imsa-news-notes

FIA, ACO Working on New LMP1 Regulations, 10MJ Hybrid Subclass

The current Prototype rules for the FIA World Endurance Championship, are set in stone for the next two seasons, until 2017.  But, there are plans, already in the works, for rules, for the next generation of world championship prototype sports cars.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fia-aco-working-on-new-lmp1-regulations-10mj-hybrid-subclass/

IMSA: BMW "not ruling out" P2

BMW could return to the Prototype ranks with an LMP2 program, according to this article in Racer magazine. 

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/122658-imsa-bmw-not-ruling-out-p2

PRUETT: More Ford GT driver rumors

Marshall Pruett from Racer magazine, has some insight as to who else could possibly drive for Ford's new GT program in 2016.  However, these are purely speculative ideas, right now.

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/122630-pruett-more-ford-gt-driver-rumors

IMSA: Tire changes under consideration for 2016

IMSA could very well open up the tire rules, for next year.  Racer magazine, has the details.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/122505-imsa-tire-changes-under-consideration-for-2016

1993 IMSA Year In Review

Here is the season review from IMSA in 1993, the last year, for the ground pounding rocket ships that were the IMSA GTP cars.

1992 IMSA GTP Year in Review

Let's turn back the clock, to the glory days of IMSA GTP, and the 1992 season review program, hosted by veteran broadcaster Bob Varsha and racer turned broadcaster, David Hobbs.

6 Hours of Fuji: Hour 6 (the finish)

Final pit stops are happening now.  One of the GTE Pro Porsche's is in pit lane.  Gianmaria Bruni has made a pass for the class lead.  Bruni has to get it to the checkered flag without making a pit stop.  He's got to pull his slippers on and go for it.  Patrick Pilet spins out on his out lap!  Yikes!  James Calado makes the pass.  Trouble for the Larbre Competition Corvette for improving it's place under a yellow flag.  The #98 Aston Martin has also been nabbed by the stewards for doing the same thing.  Earl Bamber is trying to pass Rui Aguas.  Bamber can't quite pass Aguas.  They run through these tricky esses.

More penalties are being applied as we watch some dodge 'em cars between Bradley and Rusinov!  Argy bargy indeed!  Richard Bradley has successfully made the move.  Yikes!  Rui Aguas continues to hold off Earl Bamber.  We also watch a battle in LMP2 between Chris Cumming and Nick Leventis.  Earl Bamber is now in the pit lane.  Slick tires are set for the #88 machine.  Romain Rusinov is going after Richard Bradley in a big way, as we watch the #8 Audi hit the pit lane.  The sister #7 takes third place.  Benoit Treluyer at the controls. 

Treluyer has one stop left.  Nick Leventis pits.  Many drivers are running the best laps for their respective cars, and improving their times.  Great battles in all four classes as we are coming to the end of this race.  Patrick Pilet has gone straight on in turn one.  #18 leads #17 (for Porsche), by fifty seconds.  Neel Jani has nearly a minute lead.  Drama, though, as two cars (the #7 Audi), and the leading #18 Porsche, are under investigation by the stewards, for passing under yellow.  KCMG and G Drive continue their scrap for LMP2 honors.

Race leader is in.  This should be the final stop for the #18 Porsche.  New Michelin tires are going on the car.  Brand new slick tires.  Rusinov passes for the LMP2 lead, or tries to.  Richard Bradley holds the lead even though Rusinov used one of the LMP1 cars, as a pick.  Rusinov hits Bradley!  Did Bradley lift?  Did he brake?  He was too close in the braking zone.  KCMG is into the pits.  A left rear tire is down for the championship leading team in LMP2! 

KCMG pits and we also see the #17 car in pit lane.  Just over a half hour to go.  We are under full course yellow.  Run at 80 kilometers an hour (50 miles an hour).  Jani wants a win, as he has not won with his team since Brazil in 2014.  There's debris on the track, and we look at the argy bargy between Rusinov and Bradley.  #26 is in the lane, repairing damage under full course yellow, in pit lane.  There is a full course yellow.  This is the third full course yellow of the race.  More drivers are under investigation for improving spots under yellow.  Paul Dalla Lana is the culprit. 

Signatech Alpine is in the lane.  Now, will Patrick Dempsey finish this race for the #77 team?  We'll see.  Green flag back in the air.  Whoops!  Richard Bradley has spun!  He was tapped by the sister G Drive car.  Earl Bamber has spun, along with the #7 Audi!  Earl Bamber has a right rear puncture.  The #18 checked up and the #88 spun, leaving #7 no place to go.  The #28 car of Gustavo Yacaman needs to be parked.  "The Yac Attack" is driving wrecklessly. 

This is the final twenty five or so minutes of the race, blokes.  It will be over, soon.  Will Patrick Dempsey get back in the car?  Or, will he help Patrick Long with his drink bottle?  The #18 Porsche is taking a drive through penalty.  Neel Jani gos through pit lane and he still has a gap over the sister car.  So much is happening, within the final 20 minutes of this event.

Porsche 1-2.  Audi 3-4.  What will happen in the closing moments?  There are still battles in LMP2 as well, plus GTE Pro and GTE Am.  No further action on the incident between cars #7 and #88.  Now, we focus on the battle between James Calado and Richard Lietz.  No further action on the Yacaman and Bradley incident.  They are still together.  Ah.  It's the #26 and #47 fracas from earlier on.  Yellow flag at turn one.  It's one of the ESM Ligier's.  The lead in shrinking.  Can Porsche hold on?  Will it be #17 or #18 winning this thing?

Yacaman and Bradley battle.  Yacaman is pushing too hard.  He is causing damage to Bradly's car.  There was definite contact.  Bradley crashes!  He's out!  John Hindhaugh (lead race commentator) is very upset, about Yacaman's driving brahvior.  Romain Rusinov has also driven erratically.  G Drive... shame on you.  That is poor racing sportsmanship.  Dirty, disgraceful tactics.  A battle between Ferrari and Porsche!  Calado vs. Lietz.  James Calado goes off the road!  But, he stays with it.

Five minutes left in this race.  Richard Bradley has returned to pit lane.  #28 and #47 will be investigated after the race.  Yacaman should not be able to stand on the LMP2 podium.  KCMG will have a DNF.  Also, they need to load a damaged car into a container before the next event.  The Audi's battle, and so do the Porsche's.  A minute left on the clock.  Porsche, is going to win their fourth straight FIA WEC race!

Porsche has been dominating, all year.  Their strategy worked, and they've had a wider fuel window all day compared to Audi.  It will be two in a row for Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, and Brendon Hartley!  They win in Japan!

Overall/LMP1: #17 Webber/Hartley/Bernhard     Porsche 919 Hybrid

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

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

           LM GTE Am: #77 Dempsey/Long/Seefried  Porsche 911 RSR

I do not like voicing my own opinion in these blogs.  But, G Drive Racing, was a disgrace, with Gustavo Yacaman's on track antics.  Neither of their cars including the Bird/Rusinov/Canal team, should be credited, and maybe the aforementioned trio, should have their win taken away.  This is not a playground.  It is a race track.  If you are a bully, and don't behave on track (a.k.a. play nice), you should be penalized.  I agree with John Hindhaugh.  For shame, G Drive.  For shame.  There is no place on a speedway, for that kind of dirty, unscrupulous racing. 
  
The next FIA WEC race is the 6 Hours of Shanghai, in Shanghai, China, at the Shanghai International Circuit, in three weeks. 

6 Hours of Fuji: Hour 5

Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Audi.  Audi and Porsche are going to be a mere point apart.  The championship will go down to the finale in Bahrain.  Sebastien Buemi mentions he has lost the lexan cover over the headlight.  Brendon Hartley sets another fastest lap.  Porsche AG wants the points. Porsche will try to get close enough with #17 to tell #18 to slow the pace down, to try catching up for a 1-2 finish, more than likely, here at Mount Fuji.  Toyota has stayed in contention, for the most part, in their home race.  Albeit, with only one bullet in the gun.

#77 is in the lane.  Marco Seefried will be relieved by Patrick Long.  #77 is on slick tires.  Mathias Lauda is the next car in line.  Matt Howson stays aboard the #47 car in LMP2.  Richard Bradley has not driven that car yet.  The #26 G Drive Ligier of Julien Canal is also running well.  It is still slippery offline.  In LMP2, 1:40 is the norm for lap times here at Fuji Speedway.  Julien Canal has done really well stepping up to the Prototype ranks.

Tires for the Larbre Competition Corvette. GT cars in FIA WEC, do not have intermediate tires.  Patrick Long is behind the wheel of the #77 Porsche.  Marc Lieb and the #18 Porsche will need a couple more stops.  An hour and 45 minutes left to run.  Some sparks are coming from underneath the car.  Brendon Hartley goes around the Strakka prototype in the hands of Danny Watts.  Meanwhile, #8 is in the lane, and the Porsche's might be in, too.  Loic Duval takes over the Audi.  Audi has put slicks on the #8.

#17 passes the pit lane.  Marc Lieb is on a charge.  Andre Lotterer is now third in the #7 Audi.  Brendon Hartley says he hears a ticking noise in the car.  I something loose inside the Porsche?  Audi runs fifth.  One more stop will be expected for Audi #8.  The ticking sound heard in the Porsche is not slowing down Brendon Hartley at all.  Sebastien Buemi runs a 1:30.2 in the sole remaining Toyota.  Loic Duval is now running in the 1:29 bracket.

It gets dark early here in Japan.  We might run the last half hour of this race in twilight.  Andre Lotterer moves into the 1:29 lap time range now.  The #2 Toyota of Mike Conway goes off the road slightly.  He had a worse incident at Circuit of the Americas last time out.  Toyota #1 pits.  They have not broken into the top four yet, though.  G Drive leads KCMG in LMP2.  Richard Bradley might take over the car for the last hour and fifteen minutes of this event.

Trouble for #1.  Whoops.  Spin for Sebastien Buemi.  The Toyota and the Audi have been close on their pit cycles.  Romain Rusinov and Richard Bradley both need to put their time in.  The hybrid drive on the Porsche is still having some issues.  #47 is in the lane.  Richard Bradley is in, and gets new tires.  But, there was a problem.  Marc Lieb pits the #18 Porsche from the lead.  Neel Jani will take over the car.  Brendon Hartley will take the overall lead of the motor race.  Audi #7 is in the lane, too.

The #18 car came off intermediate tires and the crew put new slicks on the car.  The rain could be close.  It is getting very dark, down towards the valley, here at Mount Fuji.  Brendon Hartley is in the lane, from the lead.  Hartley out.  Timo Bernhard, in.  Tires at the ready.  The Super GT lap record, has been matched, here at Mount Fuji, by Brendon Hartley.  We have a shade over an hour remaining in this race.  Someone is stopped.  Not sure who.  Richard Bradley is closing up on Romain Rusinov.  Ah.  One of the Rebellion cars is not running properly.

A new lap record set by Benoit Treluyer.  Wow!  How quick can these cars and drivers go?  These cars are amazing.  Oh dear.  One of the Prototypes is off the road.  Can't tell which one.  Ah.  It is the #13 Rebellion R-One.  Daniel Abt is at the wheel.  He's back on the road.  Abt goes into the garage.  It could be game over.  The privateer teams need to be given more of an opportunity.  Something has to happen, with private teams and the new LMP2 cars in 2017 with 600 horsepower, that are more or less, spec cars.

Daniel Abt had an electrical issue causing the car to be stuck in top gear... 7th gear.  They've been eating spark plugs, too.  LMP1 privateers want to design, build, and run their own cars.  By 2017, with the new LMP2 regs, you cannot do that.  #72 is in the lane.  They are in a disaster scenario after having a bad race today.  It is sad to think that greatly committed teams like Rebellion could lose an opportunity to race.  The dark clouds are lowering.  The clouds are boiling up from the valley floor.  The track record was just smashed by Benoit Treluyer in drying conditions.

Paul Dalla Lana pits the #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage in LM GTE Am.  Davide Rigon pits the #71 Ferrari, and Davide Rigon will take over, headed for the finish.  Benoit Treluyer sets new fast lap at 1:26.104.  Both AF Corse cars have now pitted.  Oh no.  The #95 Aston Martin V8 Vantage of Marco Sorensen has spun.  Oh dear.  The #95 Aston Martin has water spilling from the front splitter.  Another of the Aston Martin's (#96) is in the lane.

Everyone has fuel to go to the end of the race.  Richard Bradley is catching Romain Rusinov in LMP2.  Neel Jani leads Timo Bernhard in the overall, with just over an hour left.   

6 Hours of Fuji: Hour 4

Anthony Davidson serves a penalty for Toyota.  Porsche and AF Corse continue to battle in LM GTE Pro.  We see the #2 Toyota, in the garage.  A fraught time for the team.  We watch Marco Seefried in the #77 Porsche, and Patrick Dempsey can be very happy with his stint, after only being here at Mount Fuji for the first time.  As the weather changes, we can almost see Mount Fuji in the background of the track.  The track is drying out quickly.  Mike Conway is still in the #2 Toyota.  They may not be out of this thing yet.  Conway looks to be getting ready to take the car back out on track.

#2 is off the dollies and back on the track.  In LM GTE Am, the leader in class, pits.  We watch the battle between Andre Lotterer and Brendon Hartley.  Hartley is having boost issues.  They are down on torque (down on energy from the battery).  Hmmm.  Hartley won't be able to take advantage and make a move on the Audi.  #47 is in the lane.  Nick Tandy is out of the car.  His team mate, takes over the car.  Not sure which co-driver it is.  Brendon Hartley in the #17 Porsche gets a run on Andre Lotterer and makes it stick.  Marc Lieb leads over Brendon Hartley and Andre Lotterer.

Julien Canal leads LMP2 and Matthew Howson has taken over the #47 machine.  The #92 Porsche 911 RSR is understeering, and Patrick Pilet is going for it.  He needs to cool his tires.  It could be possible to switch to slick tires.  But, this idea will be a gamble more than anything else.  There is rain in the air.  Pilet has the pace to pass the AF Corse Ferrari?  Does he have the room to pass Toni Vilander?  This is the battle for the LM GTE Pro lead!  Pilet is going for it!  Into Panasonic bend, th Ferrari has thr steam out of the corner.  There's nothing between them.

Pilet tries to pass, and he almost does!  He's on the wet line, and Vilander makes the move!  Yikes!  Two different lines.  It was like a slot car track!  Both Audi's are now in the lane.  Pardon me.  Only the #7.  Pilet goes inside Vilander, and he was out on the paint.  Pilet is now leading LM GTE Pro, giving Porsche a lead in three of the four classes.  They do not have a car in LMP2.  But, they did, years ago, with the RS Spyder.

Toyota is pitting, as the track is drying.  The ESM cars are running well, and the #77 Proton team car is running well.  These teams have American drivers, obviously.  Toni Vilander is falling behind in LM GTE Pro a bit.  #17 sets fastest lap so far.  Not sure of the lap time to be exact.  Andre Lotterer is running in the 1:43 and 1:44 range.  Marc Lieb pulls off the fastest second and third sector times in the 1:33 bracket.  Lotterer loses third to his team mate, Lucas di Grassi.  Lotterer goes offline and almost off the road.

Rolling the dice on car #7 has not worked yet.  It could be pit stop time for the #17 Porsche.  Brendon Hartley asking for another set of intermediate Michelin tires.  There is a new set of intermediate tires at the ready for the Porsche.  Oh dear.  Audi is under investigation by the stewards, for one of their early pit stops.  In and out, for Porsche.  No tires.  Fuel only.  No time to change tires and keep the lead.  #18 is now in the lane, too.  Serviced and sent... Marc Lieb.  No tires for #17.  Audi #7 is back in for intermediate tires.

There's no way #7 will be able to challenge for a podium spot.  Trouble for the #31 ESM car in the hands of Jon Fogarty.  Fogarty is beached.  Full course yellow.  He cannot reverse back onto the road from the apex of the corner.  Pit stop time for one of the Ferrari's, as we are ready to go back to green again.  The track is green, according to Edoardo Freitas.  Porsche cannot deploy the entirety of their hybrid energy.  This has been an issue in the past.  The internal combustion engine has been fantastic.  But, the hybrid power, is a concern.

Don't put too much pressure on the driveshaft.  They could also be traction limited.  Aston Martin #99 spins with Alex MacDowall at the wheel.  Audi will have to change back to intermediate tires, as Lucas di Grassi puts in fast lap on old intermediates at 1:32.2.  di Grassi is as close as he's been to car #17 with Marc Lieb at the wheel.  Andre Lotterer can run identical lap times to di Grassi.  A dark cloud sits over the track, and has not moved.  Slight rain will fall for the next fifteen minutes.  Fred Makowiecki now leads LM GTE Pro over Gianmaria Bruni.

Brendon Hartley lowers best lap to 1:31.938.  The track here at Mount Fuji continues to dry.  Nelson Panciatici brings the #36 car into the lane, and stays in the car.  Fuel, but no tires.  Julien Canal is now past that car.  Luis Felipe "Pepe" Derani is running well, and Mike Conway in the #2 Toyota is also moving up.  A wide, dry line is beginning to appear on the road here at Mount Fuji.  The drying race course is going to put a lot of pressure on everyone, as we are close to ending the fourth hour of this race.

The Porsche's are down on speed, it seems.  It is wet.  So the speeds are down.  But, 297 kilometers an hour is a lot less than 314 kilometers an hour during practice.  For comparison, that's 185 miles an hour, vs 196 miles an hour.  An eleven mile an hour (17 kilometer per hour), difference.  This race has not completely dried out yet.  Rather, the track has not dried out.  The LMP1 lap record is a 1:26.2.  These guys are five seconds off of that.  Lucas di Grassi still runs in the 1:33 bracket in the Audi.  Andre Lotterer is setting good lap times.  But, Brendon Hartley has a 1:19.6 fastest first sector time.

Slick tires for the #83 Ferrari 458 Italia.  Gianmaria Bruni leads in LM GTE Pro at the moment, with Fred Makowiecki second in class. 

6 Hours of Fuji: Hour 3

Porsche seems to be having to manage their tires more than Audi does.  Each team wants entirely different conditions.  Signatech Alpine has retaken the class lead in LMP2.  Richard Lietz continues to lead in LM GTE Pro.  The #51 AF Corse Ferrari splits the two Porsche's.  Stuart Hall in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage continues to hold the lead in LM GTE Am.  The #99 Aston Martin will pit.  Oliver Webb is also pitting in LMP2.  The lead gap is shrinking between Romain Dumas and Marcel Fassler, with Mark Webber, joining the party, and fast.

Mark Webber is the quickest bloke on the circuit right now.  Stefan Mucke takes over the #99 Aston Martin.  He replaces Fernando Rees.  Darren Turner seems to be in the #97 car.  The GT cars have more mechanical grip it seems.  Romain Dumas is looking for an opportunity.  Marcel Fassler and Romain Dumas, as well as Mark Webber.  Nothing has changed as yet.  The top three are separated by under three seconds.  Car #7 leads the driver's championship over the #17.  Porsche has been more consistent than Audi so far this year. 

The lead changes at Fuji.  Porsche passes Audi.  Romain Dumas now has the advantage, and Fassler will push hard to get back into this fight.  Fassler is right on Dumas' tail.  Mark Webber is going for it, and Webber wants by the Audi.  It's go time!  The Audi gets a run towards turn one.  Webber cannot enter that corner cleanly.  Audi has more power on the front straight here at Mount Fuji.  These blokes are scything their way through traffic.  Dumas is not getting away from Fassler and Webber.  The gray clouds are blowing back over the spedway.  Can Marcel Fassler hold on?  He passes Webber!  Webber does the over/under, and he gets it back.  No.  It's Fassler!  This is amazing!

Respect, skill, excitement.  This is sports car endurance racing, at it's best, folks.  Wow!  Shades of Silverstone, the opener, back in April.  This is a mega dust up between these two masters.  This scrap, is still happening.  Amazing racing!  Webber and Fassler are side by side again!  The eight mega joule power of the Porsche is just as much of a match for the Audi's tractiopn.  Car #7 in the lane.  Andre Lotterer takes over.  Lotterer has lots of experience here in Japan.  The tires about to go on #7 are very stable in the wet.

#8 is now in the lane.  Into the car goes Lucas di Grassi.  Marc Lieb has taken over the #18 Porsche.  Lieb is working on a Ph. D. in engineering, in addition to racing.  Mark Webber has passed into second place.  Pit stop time for Toyota #1.  These are slick intermediate tires.  SARD Morand is off the road.  Oliver Webb has run on in the turn, and he gets out of the gravel trap, and onto the escape road, but, then, back off the road and into the wall.  There is a snatch vehicle to pick up the car.

Intermediate tires for the Porsche.  #7 is going to make a pass.  A cloud is forming in front out of the valley.  Full course yellow... now.  Full course yellow.  We are under full course yellow procedures.  The two Porsche 919 Hybrid's run 1-2.  Audi #8 may have lost a windshield wiper.  The #91 Porsche in GTE Pro did not pit under this yellow, as we resume racing, under green.  Right away the Audi and the Toyota try getting their laps back from the Porsche.  Stephane Sarrazin has now gone down a lap to the leader.

Lucas di Grassi is also pushing, to get a lap back from the Porsche.  Porsche is sailing away from Audi and Toyota.  The wiper is missing on car #8.  #7 is third.  Porsche was able to stretch their pit window.  The track is still damp, still wet.  Audi has an advantage in the wet.  In the dry, Porsche is better.  Now, with both cars on the same tires, in intermediate conditions, that's what we will study.  Oliver Webb was at the wheel of the SARD Morand car that went off track earlier on.

Marco Seefried has just driven the drive of his life.  He's pushing hard.  His lap times have been amazing, and he leads in LM GTE Am, over Francesco Castellaci and Pedro Lamy in the factory Aston Martin's.  Oh wow!  Nearly three wide with Lotterer, Brendon Hartley, and the Aston Martin!  The competitive fire is relit now.  Hartley wants to outbrake on the slippery line.  He can't quite do it.  Brendon Hartley has taken over the #17 machine from Mark Webber.  Stephane Sarrazin in the #2 Toyota, pits.  He is out of sequence.

Marc Lieb has extended his lead to over 50 seconds.  Nick Tandy has run for two hours and 40 minutes in his stint.  He has done really well this year in FIA WEC and Tudor Championship.  More on his Tudor Championship success, in an upcoming post, later on.  Stay tuned for Petit Le Mans highlights.  Now, back to this race.  In LM GTE Pro, Richard Lietz leads by 35 seconds.  But he has to pit in three laps.  Toni Vilander should take the lead.  Porsche seems to have split the strategy.  Vilander pitted, Davide Rigon is running well in the sister #71 AF Corse machine in LM GTE Am.

It is now raining again in turn one and turn five.  It's the tail end of this system of rain.  Most of these boys are running in the 1:37 range.  We watch Francois Perrodo go for it, trying to pass.  Perrodo tries to pass the Porsche.  Who has the grip?  Trhough goes Stephane Sarrazin, keeping them honest.  Richard Lietz pits.  But, we watch this great battle, and Lietz's pit stop.  Lietz is down and away.  The two Porsche's will have a scrum.  Marco Seefried is leading LM GTE Am right now.

Julien Canal has taken over from Sam Bird in the G Drive LMP2 machine.  Porsche leads right now.  Marco Seefried has lapped up to third place in LM GTE Am.  Keep an eye on the skies, as they could open again.  Toyota have had a grim and lean year after winning here last year and winning the championship.  #8 has lost his windshield wiper.  Lucas di Grassi only has Rain-X on his windscreen right now.  The team would have to bolt on another windshield wiper.  Ah.  A spin by the #36 Alpine, right in front of di Grassi!  Nelson Panciaticci at the controls of the Alpine.

Panciatici mashed the throttle too early, spinning the car.  #2 Toyota in the garage.  Game over it seems.  The home fans will not be too happy.  We are nearing the end of hour three.  Engine cooling system is the culprit for Toyota.  Is it a radiator problem?  There were also brake cooling concerns earlier in the race.  Paul Loup Chatin has almost driven half the race, before Nelson Panciatici took over the car.  With Audi #8, the windshield wiper was removed, because, it was not working properly.

 

6 Hours of Fuji: Hour 2

Mark Webber is going for Kazuki Nakajima.  The glare is starting to form, and so is blue sky, looking back from the mountains.  Toyota is working on a new hybrid system, as we see Nakajima and Webber continuing their scrap.  The skill level to drive these cars in these conditions, is top notch.  You are on your tiptoes the whole time.  The weather is clearing up.  The Nakajima and Webber scrap will continue. 

The line on the track begins to dry.  In replay, we see Mark Webber straight line the Dunlop corner.  In LM GTE Am, Patrick Dempsey runs off the road in car #77, spinning, and resuming the race.  LMP2 teams are making moves into the pit lane.  A wiggle under braking gives Romain Dumas an opportunity to challenge Oliver Jarvis.  The Audi has superior traction at this point.  Dumas closes on the #8 Audi.  Romain Dumas wants by Jarvis, and soon.  Oliver Webb is in pit lane.  Porsche is going for it. Stuttgart takes the lead from Ingolstadt.  Is Romain Dumas faster?  Is Oliver Jarvis, cooling his tires? 

The action has been hot and heavy in this contest so far.  There hav been some spins and some close calls with drivers running wide, or going off the road.  Mark Webber is off the road again.  This same chicane has caught Webber out before.  The #18 Porsche has passed the #8 Audi.  Nick Tandy leads LMP2.  The GT classes have not changed too much.  Plenty of racing still to come as pit crews are mopping up the water.  They've got the squeegees fully operational.  Give a call to the #36 Alpin team who had a good run going before giving way to the #47 KCMG machine with Nick Tandy at the controls.

The #8 Toyota pits for the first time.  Audi have never won a race in Japan, and they have only led once.  Toyota #1 is in the lane.  Now, Porsche has a fuel mileage advantage, over the others.  The diesel motor in the Audi is much heavier than the turbo four cylinder in the Porsche.  Paul Loup-Chatin is trying to pass Ricardo Gonzalez in car #28.  Quite the battle in LMP2.  Signatech Alpine are running well.  In LM GTE Pro, Michael Christensen passes James Calado.  More pit action.  Webber is in the lane.  This is a long stop for Porsche.

Porsche is using a higher downforce configuration than Audi or Toyota.  Porsche runs three laps longer on fuel, than Audi.  The #18 Porsche pits.  Practice pit entrances.  Romain Dumas was on the ragged edge entering the lane.  Can the #7 Audi pass?  The #7 Audi R18 eTron Quattro takes over the race lead.  No tires for Romain Dumas and Porsche.  44 laps was the distance of that stint.  Marcel Fassler still leads.  But his lead is smaller.  Mark Webber is not gaining.  He's falling behind.  Anthony Davidson has taken over the #1 Toyota.  Stephane Sarrazin is in the #2 sister Toyota now.

All LMP1 Hybrid pit stops, were for fuel.  No tires were changed.  The #12 Rebellion of Mathias Beche is off the road.  The super soft slick tires with no grooves, are good in drying conditions.  But, they cannot be cooled in standing water.  Nick Tandy is being chased by Paul Loup Chatin in LMP2.  Chatin is doing all he can, throwing everything at Nick Tandy.  Kazuki Nakajima says Toyota expects less rain to fall, and that's why they did an earlier driver change. 

Transition into darkness.  That's the idea.  The racing line is widening even though it's wet.  The #91 LM GTE Pro leading Porsch 911 RSR, is in.  Michael Christensen will hand over to Richard Lietz.  The #51 Ferrari also pits.  No tires for Porsche in GTE Pro.  Toni Vilander stays in the #51 Ferrari 458 Italia.  The conditions are changing again.  Marcel Fassler is being hounded by Romain Dumas.  Johnny Adam has taken over the LM GTE Pro lead in one of the Aston Martin's.  Fred Makowiecki has been disqualified. 

We see another car that has gon off the road.  That's Nick Tandy in the #47 car.  In LM GTE Am, #72 will pit.  This is the first green flag stop for Victor Shaytar.  We have an hour and a half before half distance... midnight, our time in the Central Time zone in the U.S.  Romain Dumas is slowing in the middle sector, due to traffic.  Lap times are not improving in LMP1.  But, they are double stinting tires.  There will be drop off in performance on this second stint.  Does Romain Dumas have a tire issue?  His tires could be toasted, as his times began to fall.

This race has not settled down yet or gotten into a rhythm.  Johnny Adam pits the Aston Martin in LM GTE Am.  Victor Shaytar gets penalized for speeding in th pit lane.  Romain Dumas' lead is fluctuating.  Car #83 is going to pit.  This is one of the AF Corse cars, switching drivers,  G Drive is in the lane.  With AF Corse Francois Perrodo takes over from Emmanuel Collard.  No team orders at AF Corse.  The manufacturers cup is the most important trophy as there are Ferrari factory drivers on the team.  The track is not drying out as we have expected it to.

Audi still leads.  Eight Tudor Championship drivers, are in this race.  Meanwhile, we continue to look at tire wear, and, Mark Webber continues to push.  Stuart Hall regains the class lead in LM GTE Am.  Hall, followed by Emmanuel Collard, and Patrick Dempsey.  This is Dempsey's first race at Mount Fuji.  People are making mistakes in turn one, as we watch Oliver Webb and Nick Tandy battle into Coca Cola corner.  Paul Loup Chatin is behind this scrum.  So is Sam Bird.  We have just over four hours left in this event, folks. 

The #7 Audi continues to lead, as Nick Tandy tries to pass Oliver Webb.  The gaps are very, very close.  Audi, Porsche, Porsche, Audi.  There is a drier line down the middle of the straightaway.  The lead is four and a half seconds between Marcel Fassler and Romain Dumas.  Nick Tandy runs off the road.  The ESM cars run liner stern.  Ryan Dalziel and Johannes van Overbeek, are actually racing for position.  Dalziel was seven seconds quicker than van Overbeek on the previous lap.  Audi continues to lead this race overall.

Have both ESM cars got intermediate tires?  Or has one got intermediates on and one got full wet tires?  van Overbeek's tires might be overheating.  Nick Tandy is definitely closing up on second in class.  Patrick Dempsey pitted the #77 Porsche 911 RSR and handed the car over to Marco Seefried.  Top five at the moment, overall, is Audi, Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Toyota.  Mark Webber started his sports car career, with Mercedes Benz.  But, now, as a Porsche driver, he is really running well.  It has been an interesting change of direction in Webber's career, changing from Formula One, to sports cars.

Open the Venetian blinds, and see the light.  Porsche have used their momentum that they began here at Fuji, last year. 

6 Hours of Fuji: Hour 1

The FIA World Endurance Championship, makes its way to "the land of the Rising Sun"... Japan, for the 6 Hours of Fuji, at Fuji Speedway.  The famous, Mount Fuji, provides the backdrop, for this race.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Fuji

The track itself, is set in the foothills and was built in the 1960s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_Speedway

Several sports car racing legends, hold lap records at this track.  The late, great Stefan Bellof, set the record in the World Sports Car Championship driving a Porsche 956 on October 1st, 1983.  That lap record of 1:10 seconds flat, just reached it's 32 year anniversary a short while ago.  Other record setting sports car aces at this track include Kazuyoshi Hoshino, setting the record in the Japanese Sports Prototype Championship for Nissan, with their ultra fast Nissan R92CP at 1:14 flat.  Still four seconds slower, than Bellof.

Japan native and former Formula One and sports car driver, Ukyo Katayama, set the Le Mans Prototype lap record in a factory Toyota GT One, at 1:16.349 in November, 1999.  Andre Lotterer holds the record here, for current LMP1 machinery, setting the mark in 2013, for the FIA World Endurance Championship at the wheel of his Audi R18 eTron Quattro.  That time (1:26.235), is a full ten seconds off of Katayama's mark, (because of the change in technology), and also, a dozen seconds off Hoshino's lap, and a further 12 seconds south of Stefan Bellof's Group C record.

Bertrand Baguette and Darren Turner, are the other two modern sports car drivers, to set lap records at Mount Fuji in LMP2 and LM GTE respectively.  Baguette drove a Morgan Nissan in the 2013 edition of this race to a fastest lap of 1:32.350, while Turner, (in that same event), clocked a fastest time through the beacons of 1:38.605. So, for sports cars, we know this track is fast.  An additional record, is held in Japanese Le Mans Championship competition, (for LMP1 cars), by Japan's Shinsuke Yamazaki in a Zytek chassis, set in 2007.

Other records can be found for production based Super GT cars and Super Taikyu.  These records were set in Japanese GT Championship/GT500, Japanese GT Championship/GT 300, Super GT (GT500), and Super GT (GT300) classes.  Two of those records were set this year, and one, has stood, since 2003.  Much like the Suzuka circuit, also in Japan, Fuji has corner names, and some are named after sponsors, while others, are designated by the degree of the corner.

Turn 1: First corner, 27R
Turn 2: 75R
Turn 3: Coca Cola corner, 80R
Turn 4: 100R
Turn 5: Hairpin, 30R
Turn 6: 120R
Turn 7: 300R
Turn 8: Dunlop corner, 15R
Turn 9: 30R
Turn 10: 45R
Turn 11: Netz corner, 25R
Turn 12: Panasonic corner, 12R

Audi started off hugely this year.  But, Porsche has come back, strong.  Toyota are the defending champs of the 6 Hours of Fuji, but, they want to turn their 2015 campaign around, with only three races left, including today.  Toyota has won all three races here at their home track. Full focus is on points.  Anyone can still win this championship.  Audi #7 leads.  But the #17 Porsche wants more.  Nick Tandy is back at KCMG for this race in LMP2.  The two G Drive cars are also close.

In LM GTE Pro, Ferrari leads by two points over Porsche. The Balance of Performance, has been updated.  SMP Racing has 35 points in hand for the LM GTE Am championship.  In GTE Pro, Porsche will have five kilograms heavier.  Aston Martin has a larger air restriector, and the Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- will be 20 kilograms lighter. 

In qualifying, Larbre Competition tried for the pole in GTE Am, but were disqualified.  SMP Racing has pole.  AF Corse has pole for the LM GTE Pro class.  In LMP2, G Drive has pole with the #26 Ligier JS P2 Nissan.  Porsche has pole in LMP1.  #17 of Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, and Timo Bernhard, have pole.  There's a chance of rain.,  We are ready, for the 6 Hours of Fuji... next!

The cars wait on the grid.  The weather will be a factor.  The safety car will lead the field for the start.  We will start, slowly.  Viktor Shaitar is promoted to pole on the LM GTE Am class.  Paolo Ruberti will start the Corvette that was demoted.  There is no formation lap according to race director Edoardo Freitas.  Stand by for action.  Green flag!  The race has begun, behind the safety car.  The clock has started for the 6 Hours of Fuji as Yojiro Terada waves the green flag.

All 31 cars away from the echelon start.  It's a huge motorsport weekend this weekend.  People are exploring the circuit, as it's wet, here at Mount Fuji.  Kazuki Nakajima starts the #1 Toyota TS040. HHybrid, and a quick spin for the #12 Rebellion of Mathias Beche.  Oh dear!  Christian Ried spins the #88 Porsche 911 RSR through 100R.  James Calado in the #71 Ferrari 458 Italia, is being told to be careful with the gearbox.

Seventeen minutes, have already elapsed, under the safety car.  Porsche, Audi, Toyota, the top six, so far.  Each team is in order.  The field is gauging the grip behind the new Audi R8 safety car.  The #28 of Gustavo Yacaman, pits.  Lots of drivers are weaving their cars to find wet spots for their intermediate tires.  Standing water runs off of the elevation spots.  Keeping the tires cool, is a good plan.  The mountains are in full sunshine.  Hmmm.  Could the weather be changing?  James Calado in the #71 Ferrari 458 Italia is still having transmission issues.

Many cars do not like upshifting or downshifting if you are on full throttle.  The #28 car of Yacaman was reported to the stewards for speeding in pit lane as #72 spins, and Stuart Hall spins the #96 Aston Martin V8 Vantage at 100R.  Stefan Mucke is driving one of the Aston Martin's.  The clouds are clearing up.  It's not cold at all, and it's going to get steamy and humid, soon.  Mark Webber continues to lead.  This is a safety car, not a full course yellow.  Clear the standing water.  One of the rivers is gone between turns six and seven.  That's between 120R and 300R.

Visibility is a problem.  Wait for the start of the race, and just keep running laps.  Audi can change their four wheel drive settings, based on the weather.  We watch ESM and Ryan Dalziel replaces Scott Sharp in the #30 machine.  Johannes van Overbeek is in the sister car (#31).  Larbre Competition is catching up under the safety car.  They are 23rd in the overall.  The Porsche's still lead the Audi's and the Toyota's.  The track is not quite safe enough yet to race at full speed.

It's a good opportunity to get every driver into the car, and cycle through minimum drive times.  Conditions are improving.  Scott Sharp finds the edge of adhesion on the inside of the corner.  No change in track conditions.  Oliver Jarvis has no visibility right now.  Visibility is at a premium.  There is no question.  It's still raining in the foothills of Mount Fuji.  The safety car has been told to pick up speed.  The #13 Rebellion quickly went off and damaged the bodywork.

The minimum drive time in LMP2 is an hour and 15 minutes for the amateur drivers, and an hour and 45 minutes in LM GTE Am.  There's blue sky there, somewhere.  The clouds are breaking up.  The safety car is instructed to go at full speeed.  Let's book it, boys.  Patrick Pilet in the #92 Porsche is going for it, and the safety car will enter pit lane.  Here we go!  It's time to race!  The race is on!  1,000 horsepower in the wet!

One Audi tries to outbrake into turn one.  Mark Webber is trying to open a gap, but he runs wide, and grazes the outside!  Audi leads!  Marcel Fassler has the lead.  Toyota is pushing, too.  Oliver Jarvis comes to second.  Toyota's are up to third and fourth!  Porsche has fallen down the order.  Fassler will lead through Panasonic.  Three wide into turn one.  Mark Webber goes through on his team mate, Romain Dumas, in car #18.  Oliver Webb leads LMP2 over Paul Lpup Chatin.  Stuart Hall gets passed by Johnny Adam in the LM GTE Am class, in a battle of Aston Martin's.

Porsche is battling with their two cars in LM GTE Pro, and in LMP1.  Webber tries Kazuki Nakajima, and Alex Wuez tries to pass, too.  No dice.  The conditions are a nightmare!  Romain Dumas spins after contact with Alex Wurz!  Has Wurz got a dive plane missing?  Has he got a cut tire?  Marcel Fassler is going well.  Could this be Audi's race to lead and win?  We'll find out.  Kazuki Nakajima explores the outer limits of turn one.  Mark Webber wants to pass him.  Mark Webber has fans, too, here, from his Formula One days.

Emmanuelle Collard and Viktor Shaitar are playing dodge 'em cars with their Ferrari's, as the #28 car gets a penalty for speeding in the pit lane.  Stuart Hall uses two Ferrari's as a pick, and slams the Aston Martin V8 Vantage into the LM GTE Am lead!  Nakajima and Webber still battle.  Webber is trying to rely on mechanical grip, and there's not much of it.  The Toyota has an advantage.  Webber is gaining, and alongside Nakajima.  Who gets the spot?  Webber goes through on Kazuki Nakajima!  Nakajima forces the issue, and makes the pass!

This is wild.  Racing in the rain, with Prototypes.  This is what sprots car racing is all about!  Webber slides off the track slightly, and Romain Dumas is chomping at the bit to get by his team mate.  This is amazing stuff!  The LMP1 battle is incredible.  The two Porsche's are trying to make inroads on the leading Audi.  Toni Vilander is trying to defend from the Porsche 911 RSR's.  Patrick Pilet has gone to second in class.  James Calado leads in the sister AF Corse Ferrari. This is wild racing, and it has indeed begun, after running 17 solid laps under safety car conditions, to begin this event.

Audi has great handling in the wet with high downforce.  Porsche is getting into a better rhythm towards the end of the first hour.  1,000 horsepower for these LMP1 hybrids.  Amazing!  The 1,000 horsepower limit imposed on LMP1 is on class two circuits, (Le Mans).  Every other track in the FIA WEC is class one.  The pace of development of the hybrid systems will carry on, on other circuits.  Battery powered hybrid systems will come online.  New cars from Toyota and Audi, and, a revised Porsche for 2016.

Nick Tandy passes Sam Bird in LMP2.  The sun is peaking out near the Coca Cola curve. It's still damp in Oliver Jarvis' Audi R18 eTron Quattro.  It is hard to see through the windshields of these cars.  So, use the side windows to get the braking points.  1,000 horsepower does not always mean more boost and better lap times.  Increase tire and aerodynamic development.  Stuart Hall leads LM GTE Am.  No umbrellas for now.  Sunshine on the circuit.  James Calado leads.  But Michael Christensen and Patrick Pilet are hot on his heels.

We've run eleven laps so far.  Johannes van Overbeek flashes the lights on the #31 Ligier JS P2 Honda.   

more sports car racing news stories

More news and features, from the world of sports car racing.  Today's focus... IMSA, and the FIA World Endurance Championship, going into their race at Fuji Speedway in Japan, this weekend.

Benton (Change): "Super Trofeo Prepares Us to Step Up to GTD"

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/benton-change-we-have-a-steep-learning-curve-but-were-ready-for-it/

Goldcrest Motorsports to Focus Solely on IMSA Series in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/goldcrest-motorsports-to-focus-solely-on-imsa-series-in-2016/

AF Racing Enters BR01 for 6H Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/af-racing-enters-br01-for-bahrain/

Fuji Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fuji-thursday-notebook-2/

Inside Patron ESM's Engineering Changes
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/inside-tequila-patron-esms-engineering-changes/

Lotterer Tops Free Practice 1 at Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lotterer-tops-free-practice-1-at-fuji/

Porsche Quickest on Friday at Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-on-friday-at-fuji/

Fuji Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fuji-friday-notebook-2/

IMSA: "The car was flawless" says Hand after first Ford GT outing

Bonus post for this Thursday.  Joey Hand tells Racer magazine's Marshall Pruett, that the new Ford GT ran very well in testing at Daytona International Speedway today.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/122463-imsa-the-car-was-flawless-says-hand-after-first-ford-gt-outing

Go to the bottom of the article, for a short video clip of the car, on track.

Kristensen to be Inducted into Sebring Hall of Fame

A great honor, (yet another feather in his cap), for the great sports car racing champion, and nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner... "Mr. Le Mans"... Tom Kristensen.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/kristensen-to-be-inducted-into-sebring-hall-of-fame/

New GT cars

Announcements of arrivals of new GT racing machinery ready to hit the world stage.

Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R Unveiled
http://sportscar365.com/gt/callaway-corvette-c7-gt3-r-unveiled-at-hockenheim/

New Porsche 911 GT3-R to Debut in VLN
http://sportscar365.com/gt/new-porsche-911-gt3-r-to-debut-in-vln/

MEDIA: Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R Photo Gallery & Video
http://sportscar365.com/gt/photos-callaway-corvette-c7-gt3-r/

Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Set for November Launch
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/porsche-cayman-gt4-clubsport-set-for-november-launch/

Marc VDS Racing Team Ceases Car Racing Activity

Marc VDS Racing, will no longer race cars.  This is breaking news, fans.  They will, however, continue to race motorcycles in MotoGP and Moto2 competition, which you can read about on my other blog: 2 Wheelin'.

2 wheelin'
http://skip-bruber.blogspot.com/

But, the sports car racing participation by the team, who won with BMW in this year's 24 Hours of Spa for the Blancpain Endurance Series, has come to an end.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/marc-vds-racing-team-ceases-car-racing-activities/

IMSA: Bentley affirms 2017 P2 interest

Marshall Pruett from Racer magazine, reports that Bentley, (who scored their sixth overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 2003, and has seen success in GT racing in the Blancpain Series in sprint and endurance formats, could be back in the Prototype ranks, with the advent of the new LMP2 rules set to take effect in 2017.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/122276-imsa-bentley-affirms-2017-p2-interests

Tandy, Pilet Score Historic Overall Win in Rain-Shortened Petit Le Mans

Say what?  I am shaking my head, in disbelief on this one.  The Petit Le Mans, was cut short, at Road Atlanta yesterday, due to torrential rains.  It is understood, though, that the visibility, was absolutely awful.  There was no way these blokes could have raced in this torrential rain.  The darkness, and the huge amount of spray in the wet, was a real safety issue. 

A GT Le Mans car, wins, overall!  Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet, for Porsche North America, are champions in the endurance classic.  Will have a race report, soon, folks.  But, it kind of seems like a moot point.  The race ended, two hours, before it was supposed to, running eight of the ten hours.  The win also gives the GT Le Mans championship, to Patrick Pilet!  Congratulations!

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/tandy-pilet-score-historic-overall-win-in-rain-shortened-petit-le-mans/

More stories are here, talking about the race.  Action Express ended up winning in Prototype competition with Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi, and Sebastien Bourdais.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/action-express-wins-prototype-class-race-championship/

Here too, is the explanation from race director, Beaux Barfield, on the rain shortened event.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/audio-imsa-race-director-beaux-barfield-on-decision-to-shorten-petit-le-mans/

Even with this result, yours truly will still write a race report on the event, when there is time.  For now, here is video of the end of the event, with commentary from Fox Sports' announce team of Brian Till, Tommy Kendall, Justin Bell, and Jamie Howe.

late breaking news before the Petit Le Mans

Late breaking news before today's Petit Le Mans.  Remember, race coverage, will come your way, later on, fans.  There will be additional news highlighted tomorrow, and over the course of the next few days, before yours truly can find time to do a full race report.

Barbosa Quickest in Mixed-Condition Practice 4
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/barbosa-quickest-in-mixed-condition-practice-4/

Paralyzed Racer Michael Johnson Switches to CTSC ST for 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/paralyzed-racer-michael-johnson-switches-to-ctsc-st-for-2016/

BMW Team RLL Confirmed for 2016 with BMW M6 GTLM
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/bmw-team-rll-confirmed-for-2016-with-bmw-m6-gtlm/

Bamber Crashes, Takes GTLM Pole in Qualifying at Road Atlanta
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/bamber-crashes-takes-gtlm-pole-in-qualifying-at-road-atlanta/

Westbrook Scores First Pole of Season for Petit Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/westbrook-scores-first-2015-pole-for-petit-le-mans/

Road Atlanta Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/road-atlanta-friday-notebook-2/

more sports car racing news (including coverage from Road Atlanta before the Petit Le Mans)

First, an FYI.  Yours truly, has a busy weekend coming up, and may not be able to cover the Petit Le Mans when it airs live or in tape delayed coverage.  Since it is the end of the season, and there will be a race archive of the broadcast, you can still look for full updates of the race, on this blog.  But, you may have to wait a while, fans.

Also, some big news from Road Atlanta, coming up, in this update.  It is probably game over for one major player in the championship fight, before the race has even begun.

IMSA Introduces Daytona Prototype international (DPi), for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-introduces-daytona-prototype-international-dpi-for-2017/

Hand Quickest in Wet Practice 2 at Road Atlanta
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/hand-quickest-in-soggy-second-practice-at-road-atlanta/

CTSC Qualifying Canceled at Road Atlanta due to Rain
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/ctsc-qualifying-canceled-at-road-atlanta-due-to-rain/

Road Atlanta Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/road-atlanta-thursday-notebook-2/

VIDEO: DeltaWing Splitter Cam at Road Atlanta
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-deltawing-splitter-cam-at-road-atlanta/

*Pew Crash Puts Shank's Petit Le Mans Participation in Doubt
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/pew-crash-puts-shanks-petit-le-mans-participation-in-doubt/

A story first covered, yesterday.  Reducing power for LMP1 cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

LMP1 Power Reduction Approved by WMSC
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lmp1-power-reduction-approved-by-wmsc/

Hulkenberg Ruled Out of 24H Le Mans Title Defense Due to F1 Clash
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hulkenberg-ruled-out-of-defending-24h-le-mans-win/

2016 Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE car Spotted Testing
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2016-aston-martin-vantage-v8-gte-car-testing-at-estoril/

Cumming Confirmed at SARD-Morand for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/cumming-confirmed-at-sard-morand-for-remainder-of-season/

Nissan LMP1 Delayed Until 2016: New Team Principal Announced

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-lmp1-delayed-until-2016-carcamo-named-new-team-principal/

Riley, Keating Evaluating Switch to FIA WEC with Viper GTS-R
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/riley-keating-evaluating-switch-to-fia-wec-with-viper-gts-r/

Walker: "I've Been Trying to Catch Up and Work to Put a Program Together

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/walker-ive-been-trying-to-catch-up-and-work-to-put-a-program-together/

Flying Lizard Exploring 2016 Options, Possible McLaren GTD Effort
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/flying-lizard-exploring-2016-options-possible-mclaren-gtd-effort/

Nielsen Looking To Be First Female Driver To Win International Sports Car Championship

What an honor it would be, for Christina Nielsen, if at age 23, she could become the first ever female driver to win an international sports car championship title, if she takes the Tudor Championship GT Daytona crown this weekend at the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/nielsen-looks-be-first-female-driver-win-international-sports-car-championship