Audi, Porsche to Have Reduced Two-Car Efforts at 24H Le Mans

Next year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will see both Porsche, and Audi, scale back, to two-car teams, as opposed to three, like both squads ran in 2015.  Defending champions from Le Mans, Nick Tandy, Nico Hulkenberg, and Earl Bamber, will not be back to defend their crown (there is a Formula 1 race, conflicting with Le Mans, for next year, which ruled Hulkenberg, out, a while ago).  Also, because of Audi's decision to scale back, this leaves drivers such as Rene Rast, Marco Bonanomi, and Filipe Albuquerque, without a ride, unless they go GT racing, with Audi in the R8 LMS in Blancpain Sprint or Blancpain Endurance Series competition.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-porsche-to-have-reduced-two-car-entries-at-24h-le-mans/

2016 WEC Silly Season Update: LMP2

Here's how the LMP2 class in the FIA World Endurance Championship shapes up for 2016.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2016-silly-season-update-lmp2/

WEC: Audi launches 2016 R18 LMP1 Racer

Bonus story for today, and, breaking news.  Audi has unveiled it's 2016 contender for the FIA World Endurance Championship.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/item/124102-audi-launches-2016-r18-lmp1-racer

2016 WEC Silly Season Update: LMP1

What does the driver/team situation for 2016 look like in the LMP1 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship?  Here's a first glance.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2016-silly-season-update-lmp1/

Lamborghini Huracan GT3 testing

Bonus post.  Lamborghini tested their new Huracan GT3, at Sebring International Raceway, recently.  Check this out.

IMSA news stories

News stories (some of which, have been highlighted already), from IMSA's website, and the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Date For 2016 Event At Virginia International Raceway Moved to August 26-28

http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship-date-2016-event-virginia-international-raceway

News from Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

Rum Bum Racing Exploring Options For 2016
http://www.imsa.com/articles/rum-bum-racing-exploring-options-2016

Scuderia Corsa Confirms Christina Nielsen for 2016 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship

http://www.imsa.com/articles/scuderia-corsa-confirms-christina-nielsen-2016-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship

New Cars Turn First Laps in IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Test at Daytona International Speedway

http://www.imsa.com/articles/new-cars-turn-first-laps-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship-test-daytona-international

New Look For IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Prototype Teams at Daytona Test

http://www.imsa.com/articles/new-look-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship-prototype-teams-daytona-test

2000 Petit Le Mans Part 3

Part 3 of the 2000 running of the Petit Le Mans.

2000 Petit Le Mans Part 2

Part two of the 2000 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

2000 Petit Le Mans Part 1

Revisiting another classic sports car race, from the year 2000.  Here is the Petit Le Mans, at Road Atlanta, from that year, broadcast on Speedvision, with commentary from Derek Daly, Dorsey Schroeder, Gregg Creamer, and Jeremy Dale  along with pit reporters Calvin Fish, Andrew Marriott, and Sandy Heng.

A lap of Le Mans, with Mike Hawthorn in the Jaguar D Type, circa 1956

Check out a lap, of Le Mans, circa 1956.  You are riding aboard the Jaguar D Type, driven by sports car and Formula 1 legend, Mike Hawthorne, of Great Britain. 

Provisional Gulf 12H Entry List Released

A provisional entry list, has been released, for next month's Gulf 12 Hours, at the Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/gulf12h/provisional-gulf-12h-entry-list-released/

1999 Petit Le Mans

The race broadcast of the second annual Petit Le Mans, broadcast on NBC, with commentary by play-by-play announcer Allen Bestwick, former sports car racing driver, Bill Adam, and pit reporters, Steve Evans, and Martin Haven. 

Ganassi confirms Ford GT full-season IMSA lineup

Big news, as Ganassi Racing, has confirmed it's full season driver lineup for the all new Ford GT program, for the 2016 season.

Spoiler alert, here are those four drivers.  They are, Joey Hand, Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook, and Dirk Mueller.  

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/ford-gt-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship-ganassi-lineup-112115

1998 Petit Le Mans

A video of the inaugural running of the Petit Le Mans from back in 1998.  A race, that would become another classic of endurance racing, throughout it's history.  Let's join commentators (and former sports car racing drivers), Derek Daly, Jeremy Dale, and Davy Jones, with pit reporters (and former drivers), Calvin Fish, and Jeff Purner, for the call on this one.  Check it out.

More video of Daytona testing

Another video, (double bonus post), of testing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, shot by fans, in attendance, in the grandstands. 

RACER: Tuesday IMSA Daytona Test Report

Bonus post.  Racer magazine, was at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday, for WeatherTech Championship testing.  Here's a video of their report.

IMSA Daytona testing, & other news

Testing, and other news, from the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

Race Version of Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Revealed
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/race-version-of-porsche-cayman-gt4-clubsport-revealed/

November Daytona Test Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/november-daytona-test-wednesday-notebook/

VIDEO: DeltaWing Onboard Lap of Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-deltawing-on-board-lap-of-daytona/

DragonSpeed Mercedes Impresses in its Lone Day at Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dragonspeed-mercedes-impresses-in-its-lone-day-at-daytona/

Prototype, PC Teams Turn Laps, Make Tweaks at Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/prototype-pc-teams-turn-laps-make-tweaks-at-daytona/

SMP Racing Confirms BR01 Entry For Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/smp-racing-confirms-br01-entry-for-daytona/

Snow: "The Huracan GT3 is a Completely Different Car"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/snow-the-huracan-gt3-is-a-completely-different-car/

BodyMotion Racing Confirms Porsche Cayman GT4 Program

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/bodymotion-racing-confirms-porsche-cayman-gt4-clubsport-program/

Ferrari Drivers Bid Farewell to 458 Italia
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ferrari-drivers-bid-farewell-to-f458-italia/

P.S. There are two big races this weekend.  First, it's the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals at Sebring International Raceway.  Second, the FIA World Endurance Championship season finale, in Bahrain, as mentioned.  Yours truly, has a very busy schedule, and may not initially be able to blog the 6 Hours of Bahrain.  But, no worries.  There will be a race report, when time permits, along with some other races, from earlier this year, that haven't been blogged yet, probably during the month of December.  Stay tuned.

FIA World Endurance Championship news from Bahrain

The FIA World Endurance Championship runs it's final race of 2015, this weekend, in Bahrain.  Yours truly, will blog the race, when time permits.  Here are some news stories, from Bahrain.

World Champions to be Determined in 6H Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/world-champions-to-be-decided-in-6h-bahrain/

Bahrain Wednesday notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-wednesday-notebook-2/

Rojas to Test BR01 LMP2 Car in Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rojas-to-test-br01-lmp2-car-in-bahrain/

VIDEO: Postcard from Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-postcard-from-bahrain/

Minassian: "We've Come Here Wanting To Win"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/minassian-weve-come-here-wanting-to-win/

Bernhard Tops Free Practice 1 in Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bernhard-tops-free-practice-1-in-bahrain/

Carcamo (Nissan): "We Want To Get Back To What We Started with LMP1"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/carcamo-nissan-we-want-to-get-back-to-what-we-started-with-this-project/

Bahrain Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-thursday-notebook-2/

IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship news stories

Lots of news items to catch up on, from the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.  Plus, headlines about testing, at Daytona International Speedway.

Pagenaud to test for Action Express at Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/pagenaud-to-test-for-action-express-racing-at-daytona/

Johnson to Race BMW 228M in CTSC with Simpson
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/johnson-to-race-bmw-228-m-in-ctsc-with-simpson/

New Mercedes-AMG GT3 Ruled Out of Rolex 24 Debut
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/new-mercedes-amg-gt3-ruled-out-of-rolex-24-debut/

November Daytona Test Monday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/november-daytona-test-monday-notebook/

Turner Confirms Marsal, Curtis to Split Two Full-Season BMW M6 GT3s

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/turner-confirms-marsal-curtis-to-split-two-full-season-bmw-m6-gt3s/

Fassler, Rockenfeller to Drive for Corvette Racing at Daytona, Sebring

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/fassler-rockenfeller-named-corvette-racing-drivers-for-daytona-sebring/

Pigot Joins Mazda Prototype Test Lineup in Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/pigot-joins-mazda-prototype-test-lineup-in-daytona/

Lamborghini Teams to Take Car Delivery in December
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/lamborghini-teams-to-take-car-delivery-in-december/

IMSA Shifts VIR Date Back One Week to Aug. 26-28
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-shifts-vir-date-back-one-week-to-august-26-28/

Ford GT IMSA Drivers To Be Revealed on Saturday in Miami
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ford-gt-imsa-drivers-to-be-revealed-on-saturday-in-miami/

Wide Variety of Drivers Making The Rounds at November Daytona Test

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/wide-variety-of-drivers-making-the-rounds-at-november-daytona-test/

November Daytona Test Tuesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/november-daytona-test-tuesday-notebook/

New Cars Highlight Day One of November Daytona Test
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/new-cars-highlight-day-one-of-november-daytona-test/

2000 12 Hours of Sebring Part 4

Part four of the 2000 12 Hours of Sebring.

2000 12 Hours of Sebring Part 3

Part 3 of the 2000 12 Hours of Sebring. 

2000 12 Hours of Sebring Part 2

Part 2 of the 2000 12 Hours of Sebring. 

2000 12 Hours of Sebring Part 1

The 2000 12 Hours of Sebring, was another classic, and is also remembered as the first of Audi's 11 Sebring triumphs, which is third on the all-time list for manufacturers, behind Ferrari, and Porsche, who have 12 and 18 wins, respectively.  As a side note, yours truly, misses the old days of Speedvision.  What a fabulous line up of commentators for this broadcast.  Among them, former drivers Sam Posey, Derek Daly, David Hobbs, Alain de Cadenet, Jeremy Dale, and Calvin Fish (who was also a pit lane reporter that year), and play-by-play analysts Greg Creamer, and the late, great, Steve Evans. 

1999 12 Hours of Sebring

The race, that started it all, for what was, the American Le Mans Series.  The 1999 running, of the 12 Hours of Sebring.  A classic, to be sure.

Pirelli World Challenge Round 6: Detroit

Pirelli World Challenge action, from Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, from May, 2015.  More PWC races, to come.  Stay tuned. 

DAGYS: Solving the Ford GT Driver Puzzle

A bonus post, for this Saturday.  Finding drivers for the new Ford GT factory program, has been a bit like putting a jigsaw puzzle together.  In this bonus post, John Dagys, from Sportscar365, informs us, (the fans), who is in, who is definitely out, and who could still be a possibility, to drive the cars, both in the U.S., and, in Europe.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dagys-solving-the-ford-gt-driver-puzzle/

Maxi Endurance 32H Postponed

What was to be the second running of the Maxi 32 Hour Endurance Race, at Portimao racecourse in Portimao, Portugal, has been postponed.  The race, was slated to be run, next weekend.  However, it has been postponed simply because there is a lack of entries... a lack of interested teams, who would want to run the race.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/maxi-endurance-32h-postponed/

Blancpain Endurance Series Round 5: Nurburgring 1,000 Kilometers (season finale)

In the final race of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series, the Nurburgring 1,000 kilometers, Von Ryan Racing, scored their second win of the year, having also won the second race of the season at Silverstone, with their #58 McLaren 650S shared by Rob Bell, Kevin Estre, and Shane van Gisbergen.  Pro Am saw a class win for the Swiss Emil Frey Racing Jaguar team, with Freddy Barth, Lorenz Frey, and Gabriele Gardel, winning.

In the Am class, just like in Pro Am, there was a fifth different winner on the season.  That was the #16 AKKA ASP Ferrari 458 GT3 driven by the French duo of Fabien Barthez, and Anthony Pons.

Overall/Pro: #58 Bell/Estre/van Gisbergen     McLaren 650S
             Pro Am: #14 Barth/Frey/Gardel         Emil Frey G3 Jaguar XK
             Am: #16 Barthez/Pons                        Ferrari 458 GT3

Here's how the championships in each class came out.  Nissan, and their drivers Wolfgang Reip, Katsumasa Chiyo, and Alex Buncombe, ended up winning the championship in Pro Cup, by three points over the factory Bentley of Steven Kane, Andy Meyrick, and Guy Smith, and the Bentley Boys, despite their consistency, never won a race all year.  In Pro Am, it was the AF Corse Ferrari of Brit Duncan Cameron and Irishman Matt Griffin, handily winning the crown over their rivals from Kessel Racing, by 25 points (in another Ferrari)... Michael Broniszewski of Poland, Italy's Alessandro Bonacini, and Michael Lyons, of Britain.

The closest championship fight, was in the Am class, with the Team Parker Racing Audi R8 of Ian Loggie and Julian Westwood, taking the championship, by a single point, over Attempto Racing and their Porsche 997 shared by Germans Jurgan Haring, and Frank Schmickler, along with Greek driver Dimitrios Konstantinou.

Pro Champions: #35 Reip/Chiyo/Buncombe     Nissan GT Academy Team RJN Nissan Nismo GT-R GT3

Pro Am Champions: #51 Cameron/Griffin        AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia

Am Champions: #24 Loggie/Westwood            Team Parker Racing Audi R8

That's a wrap of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series season.  How will 2016 shape up?  Stay tuned, to find out.  The same races will be on the schedule, starting at Monza in April.  The only difference, next year's season closer at the Nurburgring, will be a more traditional, three hour race.  See you, for more action in 2016.  So long, for now.

Classic 24 Celebrates 53-Year Heritage of Rolex 24 at Daytona

The event this weekend, should be lots of fun, for fans, who get to attend, and for drivers, who get to compete.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/classic-24-celebrates-53-year-heritage-rolex-24-daytona

Bell To Be Reunited With Lowenbrau Porsche 962 at Classic 24

Some bonus stories, for today, related to this weekend's Classic 24 at Daytona.  First, Derek Bell will be reunited with the legendary Al Holbert prepared Lowenbrau Special Porsche 962.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/bell-be-reunited-lowenbrau-porsche-962-classic-24

IMSA: Audi preparing for busy 2016 with new R8

Audi Sport North America Customer Racing, will be in for a busy 2016 season here in the United States, with several teams running the car in the GT Daytona class in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.  Racer magazine, has the story.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/123559-imsa-audi-preparing-for-busy-2016-with-new-r8

Happy Birthday, Al Holbert

We remember, on what would be his 69th birthday, the late, great sports car racing driver and team owner, Al Holbert, who was tragically killed in an airplane crash, of a plane that he owned, and was flying, back from an IMSA race, when a clamshell door was not closed.  Rest In Peace, Al Holbert.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2015/11/al-holbert-born-in-abington.html?spref=fb

sports car racing news update

A major update, from several spheres of the sports car racing world.

News & Notes Roundup, 11-4
http://sportscar365.com/gt/news-notes-roundup-11-4/

Abril Replaces Meyrick in Bentley Factory Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/gt/abril-replaces-meyrick-in-bentley-factory-lineup/

Abril: "This Factory Deal Was Absolutely Necessary"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/abril-replaces-meyrick-in-bentley-factory-lineup/

Q&A with Stephane Ratel on Increased SRO, PWC Relationship
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/qa-stephane-ratel-on-increased-sro-pwc-relationship/

Champions Crowned at SRO Awards Ceremony
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/champions-crowned-at-sro-awards-ceremony/

SRO Regains Control of GT4 European Series
http://sportscar365.com/gt/sro-regains-control-of-gt4-european-series/

Misano Confirmed as Blancpain GT Season Opener
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bss/misano-to-host-opening-round-of-2016-blancpain-gt-series/

ByKolles Eyeing Expanded Effort with Updated CLM P1/01
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bykolles-eyeing-expanded-2016-effort/

Strakka Planning 2016 LMP2 Return, Working on Second Entry
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/strakka-planning-2016-lmp2-return-possible-expanded-effort/

Mapelli Joins Abu Dhabi Proton for 6H Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mapelli-replaces-ried-at-abu-dhabi-proton-for-6h-bahrain/

Porsche Confirms Eng, Catsburg for Bahrain Rookie Test
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-confirms-eng-and-catsburg-for-bahrain-rookie-test/

Patrick Dempsey to Miss 6H Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dempsey-to-miss-6h-bahrain/

Wurz Announces Retirement
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wurz-announces-retirement/

Magnussen Makes Porsche 919 Hybrid Test Debut
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/magnussen-makes-porsche-919-hybrid-test-debut/

Daytona to Host 2016 Ferrari World Finals
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/dev/daytona-to-host-2016-ferrari-world-finals/

VisitFlorida.com Racing Set for Driver Shakeup in 2016
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/visitflorida-com-racing-set-for-driver-shakeup-in-2016/

Dalziel, Goossens to Drive VisitFlorida.com Racing Corvette DP
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dalziel-goossens-sign-with-visitflorida-com-racing-for-2016/

FIA Releases 2016 Driver Ratings
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/fia-releases-2016-driver-ratings/

DragonSpeed Still Holding Out for IMSA GTD Entry with Mercedes
http://sportscar365.com/gt/dragonspeed-still-holding-out-for-imsa-entry-with-mercedes-sls/

Sellers, Snow To Pilot Paul Miller Lamborghini
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sellers-snow-to-pilot-paul-miller-lamborghini/

DeltaWing Confirms Rolex 24 Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/deltawing-confirms-rolex-24-program/

IMSA: Risi sampling 488 turbo at Vallelunga

Instead of running the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship test session at Daytona International Speedway this coming weekend, Risi Competizione, is instead, sampling the new Ferrari 488 turbo, run by the Michelotto, the Italian firm, responsible for building the car.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/123525-imsa-risi-sampling-488-turbo-at-vallelunga

IMSA: DeltaWing DWC13 headed to Daytona test

The DeltaWing, will apparently return to competition for the 2015 WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, and run in the upcoming test session at Daytona International Speedway, next weekend.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/123504-imsa-deltawing-dwc13-headed-to-daytona-test

2016 Ferrari 488 GT3 & GTE

More new race car debuts.  Here's a short video clip of the debut of the new Ferrari 488 in GTE (ELMS/FIA WEC), and GT3 trim.

Cooper MacNeil to race Alex Job Racing Porsche in Classic 24 at Daytona

Current WeatherTech Sports Car Championship driver, Cooper MacNeil, will race a 1999 spec Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 RSR in the Classic 24 at Daytona, next weekend.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/cooper-macneil-race-alex-job-racing-porsche-classic-24-daytona

Eddie Cheever III. Tries Out Action Express Corvette DP at VIR

Second generation driver Eddie Cheever III. (son of Indycar racer and 1998 Indianapolis 500 champ, Eddie Cheever Jr.), tested the Action Express Corvette Prototype at Virginia International Raceway, recently.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/eddie-cheever-iii-tries-out-action-express-corvette-dp-vir

Danny Sullivan joins United Autosports for Classic 24 at Daytona

A great racing name, (Danny Sullivan), will be another of the participants, in next weekend's Classic 24 at Daytona, driving three great cars.

http://www.racer.com/more/historic/item/123416-danny-sullivan-joins-united-autosports-for-classic-24-at-daytona

Grid Shaping Up for 2016 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship

The 2016 field for the newly renamed IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, is coming together.  Here are the latest details.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/grid-shaping-2016-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship

IMSA: Keating, Bleekemolen set to return with Viper

For the third straight year, Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen, and ViperExchange.com Racing, will return to race in the GT Daytona division of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/123171-imsa-keating-bleekemolen-set-to-return-with-viper

IMSA: Series reduces WeatherTech Championship test days

IMSA reduces the number of test days that a team can use during the 2016 season.  

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/123168-imsa-series-reduces-weathertech-championship-test-days

Alex Zanardi NO LIMITS - OFFICIAL TRAILER

The official trailer for the the new documentary film about Alex Zanardi, called "No Limits".  Check it out.

6 Hours of Shanghai, highlights

Here are the highlights, of the 6 Hours of Shanghai, for the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 6 (the finish)

Mark Webber has a 33 second lead gap over Marcel Fassler.  Could Webber win four races in a row?  That would be astonishing.  Romain Dumas needs to book it, and pass the Audi's to clinch the constructor's championship, for Porsche, as has been mentioned, throughout this whole race.  Chris Cumming, is gaining, on Nick Tandy, in LMP2.  Rui Aguas has served a drive through penalty.  He is coming in for his final pit stop, and he is back on schedule.  This is a real championship challenge.  The #72 Ferrari has not done well today.  But, the #77 Porsche of Patrick Long, is also not as far up as he needs to be, to gain enough points, for the LM GTE Am championship crown.

50 minutes to go.  No further action, on the incident, involving someone reversing into another race car.  Mark Webber, looks to win his fourth FIA WEC race in a row.  The #96 Aston Martin hits pit lane.  they were in a podium place, until Liam Griffin took the car, off the road.  Romain Dumas sets fast lap of this motor race at 1:48.1.  A boatload of cars are under investigation by the stewards.  Porsche Team Manthey, pits one of their cars.  Marcel Fasssler runs his fastest lap of the event at 1:48.6.  Mark Webber is controlling the race.  But, another stop will be needed, for the top four cars.  It's never a done deal.  Make sure the car restarts on final stops.  Porsche has not been faultless in their reliability all year, despite their triumphs.

#18 had to have a new engine, earlier in the week, before the race, when trouble with the throttle, caused a misfire.  The #47 KCMG car pits for the final time.  Fuel only for Nick Tandy.  Audi will roll the dice.  Loic Duval will get a new set of Michelin tires.  Slick tires, will not even have a chance, to be double stinted here.  Marcel Fassler had a bit of a problem, trying to pass a GTE Pro car.  Richard Lietz and Michael Christensen, make their final pit stop.  Marcel Fassler runs second overall.  Audi #8 has pitted.  Now, Audi #7 has done so.  The Audi takes tires, apparently.

Oh.  Left hand side tires only, for the #7.  Wow.  Loic Duval spend 1:05 in the pits.  Andre Lotterer spent a solid minute in pit lane, despite a low fuel level.  Lotterer is right up behind the #17 Porsche to unlap himself.  Watch out, boys.  This could end in tears.  Ah.  Well, Audi is slightly faster.  Or, rather, they were, in the dry, earlier in the week, at 309 kilometers and hour (193 miles an hour).  Porsche has a fuel advantage.  But, they need extra pace, from new tires.  The advantage will be until Webber comes into pit lane.

Tom Dillman retains the LMP2 lead and Pedro Lamy relinquishes in the LM GTE Am lead to the #83 car in the hands of Francois Perrodo.  Webber is in the lane, now.  This is Formula 1 thinking.  The time delta is so great, they can't allow Audi to eat into their lead.  Will this win the race for Porsche?  Webber knows he has to push, and attack, the Audi.  Lotterer has been passed by Romain Dumas out of pit lane.  Lotterer is a long way back, (down by 40 seconds).  Dumas has to get after it if he wants a podium.  Audi will have to leave Loic Duval on track, and hope they can hold off the charge by Mark Webber.

Can Romain Dumas leapfrog the Audi's on his last stop?  We'll see.  Twenty eight minutes to go in this race.  Andre Lotterer pushes for all he's worth, setting a new fast lap and lap record at 1:46.6.  He goes off the road, to do it.  Romain Dumas is faster than Loic Duval right now.  The Porsche's are faster than the Audi's.  Romain Dumas goes off line just a bit.  Audi is not giving up.  It's all to play for.  What will Romain Dumas do with his final pit stop? 

Romain Dumas pits, and what will happen, on the stop?  Fuel only.  No tires.  Track position is what they want and need.  Roll the dice, chaps.  Roll the dice.  Audi trumps Porsche in the pits.  But, Audi, has older tires.  Mark Webber leads by about half a minute, back to Andre Lotterer, and Loic Duval, is third.  Andre Lotterer has to find nine seconds, and go for it.  What does he have left in the locker?  A crash, between the Rebellion, the Strakka car, and perhaps, the CLM.  Big damage to the Rebellion.  Simon Trummer will win the race in the non hybrid LMP1 sub class.  We could have a full course yellow.  No safety car.

Full course yellow in less than 30 seconds.  Audi, will not get second position back.  15 seconds to full course yellow.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1... full course yellow.  Less than eight minutes to go in this race.  Will it finish, under yellow?  This has put a halt to the battles for the wins.  Crucial battles might be stopped, for podium places, too.  30 seconds to a green flag.  Here we go.  It's a sprint to the finish.  Mark Webber can just coast from here.

Porsche will finish 1-2, despite two different strategies between the cars.  This race isn't quite over yet.  The driver's championship might go to Audi if they get to second.  But, Porsche, will win the manufacturer's cup.  There's no question of that, now.  Lotterer is eating into the gap, but, it won't be enough.  Porsche is going to win another FIA World Endurance Championship race, today, in China.  Oh dear.  Steam comes from one of the Rebellion machines, with Matheo Tuscher at the wheel.  There's a fire at the back of that Rebellion.

We might have to end the race here and now, to get assistance to Tuscher.  Oh my!  KCMG will be on the podium!  G Drive car #28, spins off the road!  The #28 car's chances of the LMP2 championship, vanish!  Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, and Timo Bernhard, win four in a row!  Porsche is manufacturer's world champion!  If they finish well in the finale, they are 2015 world champs. Porsche are provisional champions.  Signatech Alpine, win LMP2.

Porsche also wins LM GTE Pro with Richard Lietz and Michael Christensen, and in LM GTE Am, it's AF Corse with their #83 Ferrari 458 Italia in the hands of Francois Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard, and Rui Aguas.

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

             LMP2: #36 Panciatici/Chatin/Dillmann   Alpine A450b Nissan

             LM GTE Pro: #91 Lietz/Christensen       Porsche 911 RSR

             LM GTE Am: #83 Perrodo/Collard/Aguas   Ferrari 458 Italia

The final race of the 2015 season, will be the 6 Hours of Bahrain at the Sakhir Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, in less than three weeks.  Also, yours truly, has not had a chance to blog the Spa 6 Hours from back in May, in Belgium.  Might still have an opportunity to do so.  Stay tuned for details.  Might have to blog the Bahrain and Spa races, later on, but, will get to both of them. 

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 5

No fall off in pace, has been indicated for either of the Porsche's, despite tire wear.  Toyota are back in for a routine stop.  Intermediate slicks for the #2 car.  That means, the only factory cars on wets, still, are the Porsche's.  The two Porsche's will need tires on their next stops, in about five minutes time.  Once more, Porsche appears to be in the catbird seat here. The #8 Audi, driven by Loic Duval, needs to clean his tires.  Marcel Fassler, is losing time, to the both Porsche's right now.  Working lap 114.  386 miles have now been run.  Pit stop time for Porsche.  Slick intermediates, off.  Not sure which tires were put onto the car.

We have an hour and 45 minutes left.  Sam Bird has to chase down Paul Loup Chatin and Ho Pin Tung, in LMP2.  Mark Webber is going to take over the #17 Porsche.  Brendon Hartley, has finished his stint.  One more pit stop, will be needed.  In the last part of the race, Audi has to do something special, if they want to win.  Porsche, will, no doubt, clinch the manufacturers cup.  Romain Dumas runs a lap at 1:56.562.  Fernando Rees pits the #99 Aston Martin from fifth place in LM GTE Pro.  Paul Loup Chatin is still looking for water to cool his tires, as he is on intermediate rubber.

Paul Loup Chatin, will take the LMP2 lead.  Chatin is a silver rated driver, and won the German Formula 3 championship in 2010.  Correction.  He was elevated to gold level driver status.  Sam Bird is closing the gap on Ho Pin Tung.  Pit stop time for one of the Aston Martin's.  That's the #98 Am class leader, with Pedro Lamy aboard.  That's the leading car, #98.  Mark Webber resets fast lap at 1:55.2.  Webber lowers the fastest lap to a 1:54 flat.  We are now into the final 90 minutes, of the penultimate race of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Mark Webber leads Romain Dumas, by seven seconds.  Ho Pin Tung pits what was the leading LMP2 machine.  Paul Loup Chatin is running well.  Mark Webber, lowers fast lap, to the 1:53 range.  Oh dear.  Alex Imperatori, loses the rear end of his Rebellion prototype, and hits the #88 Porsche 911 RSR with Klaus Bachler at the controls.  The marshals will investigate this latest fracas.  But, I don't think much will happen.  Steward asks, "what happened, boys?"  One says, "this bloke, reversed into me, and there was nothing I could do."

Pit stop time for Rebellion, to effect repairs.  A new rear bonnet goes on the car.  Drama for car #18.  Romain Dumas has spun at the turn two exit, and he can't restart the car.  Don't drive into the Audi, Romain.  Watch out, sunshine.  He had to wait, and couldn't pull in front of the leader.  He came into slight contact, with the #29 Morgan.  The battle is definitely on, in the last hour and 20 minutes of this contest.  Audi pits, and switches, to slick tires.  They need to catch the Porsche's in the final hour and 18 minutes of this event.  It is time, for slick tires.  Porsche's cannot stop now.  They can't go to the end, from here.

Can the Porsche's go full rich?  Can they turn up the wick 100%?  Fastest lap goes to a Toyota!  1:51.047.  Go, Sebastien Buemi!  Marcel Fassler will take fastest lap away.  But, Toyota, is fastest, right now, the 2014 FIA WEC champions.  How fast will Porsche go, if they do an hour and 45 minutes, on one more pit stop?  Five seconds difference, between Romain Dumas, and Mark Webber.  Porsche #17 is in the lane.  But, he can't go to the end without a full course yellow, or, a safety car.  They can't double stint the tire, either.  They'll have to make a full, extra stop.

Everyone else will have to take a tire stop.  Will Audi, be in the catbird seat?  The gap now, is real, with no variables, except, if it starts raining again.  Mark Webber continues to lead, and has made the switch to full slick tires.  Audi have played their hand well, and Porsche, have also responded in an amazing way, delivering the lap times they were expected to.  The Audi is quicker on an open lap.  The issue, is indeed, traffic.  It's incredible how the track has dried out.  45 seconds, between the top four.  How close do you like it?

Patrick Dempsey will finish out his stint in the #77 Porsche, after a pit stop.  Tom Dillmann is pulling away from Romain Rusinov in LMP2.  Dillmann has taken over the Signatech Alpine from Paul Loup Chatin.  Two or three seconds is the difference between a clean lap, and one where you might be forced slightly offline.