IMSA news before Laguna Seca

Headlines via Sportscar365 before IMSA's Pro/Am doubleheader at Laguna Seca Raceway tomorrow.  Mazda, could be on track, for a great race tomorrow, judging from their results, so far, this weekend.

Nielsen: "The Sebring Win is a Great Confidence Boost"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/nielsen-the-sebring-win-is-a-great-confidence-boost/

Continental Tires Keys To The Race: Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/continental-tire-keys-to-the-race-monterey-2/

Corvette, Porsche Battle Set to Resume in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/corvette-porsche-battle-set-to-resume-in-monterey/

Monterey Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/monterey-thursday-notebook-2/

Visit Florida Targeting 24H Le Mans Effort
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/visit-florida-racing-targeting-24h-le-mans-debut-in-2017/

Miller: "The First Few Races Have Shown the Potential to Win"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/miller-the-first-few-races-have-shown-the-potential-to-win/

Mazda 1-2 in Opening Practice at Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mazda-1-2-in-opening-practice-at-monterey/

Mazda Ends Friday on Top in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mazda-ends-friday-on-top-in-monterey/

Monterey Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mazda-ends-friday-on-top-in-monterey/

Mazda Quickest Again in Practice 3 at Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mazda-quickest-again-in-monterey/

Capacity Grid for Brands Hatch

A full field of 37 cars, is entered, for Blancpain Sprint, at the Brands Hatch circuit, in Kent, England, next weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/capacity-grid-for-brands-hatch/

Pirelli World Challenge: Barber Motorsports Park: Birmingham, Alabama

Here's how things went down, for Pirelli World Challenge, at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama, last weekend.

Parente Wins Barber PWC Race 1
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/parente-wins-pwc-race-1-at-barber/

Barber Weekend Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/barber-saturday-notebook/

Cooper Wins PWC Barber Race 2
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/cooper-wins-barber-race-2/

The next round of the championship, is in a little over three weeks on May 20th-22nd at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly known as Mosport Park), in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.

Pirelli World Challenge: Long Beach

Results from round three of the Pirelli World Challenge on the legendary streets of Long Beach, California.

O'Connell Wins PWC at Long Beach

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/cadillac-and-oconnell-win-long-beach-pirelli-world-challenge/

Johnny O'Connell's glory, was short lived.  He incurred a penalty, giving Alvaro Parente, the checkers.

O'Connell Penalized for Overboost; Parente Inherits Win
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/oconnell-penalized-for-overboost-parente-inherits-win/

After the race at Long Beach, it was on to Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama, for round four of the series championship.  Stay tuned, for the story, on that race, in a post, to be published, in the not too distant future.

Should CTSCC Follow PWC's lead?

Bonus post, and a good question, asked on NASportscar.com. 

http://nasportscar.com/should-ctscc-follow-pwcs-lead/

Happy Birthday, Bob Bondurant

Happy Birthday to Formula 1, NASCAR, Can Am, Baja off road, motorcycle, and sports car racer, and owner of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Bob Bondurant.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/bob-bondurant-born-in-evanston-illinois.html?spref=fb

sports car racing news update

More of the latest sports car racing news, from several divisions.

TRG Expands into Lamborghini ST; Davison returns for Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/trg-expands-into-lamborghini-st-davison-returns-for-monterey/

GTE Manufacturers Lobbying for Common IMSA/WEC BoP
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gte-manufacturers-lobbying-for-common-imsawec-bop/

Designing a race car, starts, with the tires.  Check this out.

Michelin GTLM Insider: Ready for Launch
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/michelin-gtlm-insider-ready-for-launch/

Bentley, Nissan Rule Out DPi Programs for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bentley-nissan-rule-out-dpi-programs-for-2017/

GTLM Teams to Debut 2016 Michelin WEC Tires in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/michelin-gtlm-teams-to-debut-2016-wec-tire-in-monterey/

Riberas to Complete Season in Heart of Racing Porsche with Farnbacher

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/riberas-to-complete-season-in-heart-of-racing-porsche-alongside-farnbacher/

Change Racing Set for Three-Car Lamborghini ST Campaign

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/change-racing-set-for-three-car-lamborghini-st-campaign/

20 Entries for Lamborghini ST at Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/20-entries-for-lamborghini-st-at-monterey/

Snow Joins DXDT Lamborghini ST Effort
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/snow-joins-dxdt-lamborghini-st-effort/

Nissan Evaluating LMP1 Privateer Engine Supply Program
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-evaluating-lmp1-privateer-engine-supply-program/

34 Entries for 6H Spa
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/34-entries-for-6h-spa/

Stanaway: "Sports Cars is Where It's At Right Now"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/stanaway-sports-cars-is-where-its-at-right-now/

Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix race broadcast

The race broadcast of the Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix from the streets of Long Beach, California.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2016-bubba-burger-sports-car-grand-prix-long-beach-race-broadcast

Winner & highlights of the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach

It is a street fight, as the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship runs it's first sprint race of the season, at the legendary Long Beach Grand Prix on the streets of Long Beach, California,.  The beautiful southern California coast, and Long Beach, is going to outshine Hollywood in the Roar By The Shore, today!  Round three of the WeatherTech Championship, is now!

The kickoff of the championship, truly happens today.  The season-long driving teams, are paired up, for only 100 minutes in today's race.  This is an electric atmosphere.  Pole position, is critical, at Long Beach.  Kyle Marcelli in Prototype Challenge, Bill Auberlen in GT Le Mans, and Christian Fittipaldi on the overall pole in Prototype.  In GTLM, those boys will make it on one pit stop, but not in Prototype or Prototype Challenge.  The teams have traveled 2,500 miles to California, to this 1.968 mile track with 11 turns.  Turn 11, the hairpin, is critical to driving down Shoreline Drive.

The track is very bumpy, and the walls, are unforgiving.  Mazda has scored their best ever qualifying effort, here at Long Beach.  The weather, is perfect.  Two pace laps, and a reconnaissance lap.  There will be fuel stops, for sure.  One stop, will be the way to go, on strategy.  It's a very long pit lane here at Long Beach.  If you have to make a second pit stop, you're going to lose at least 3/4 of a lap.  Class overlap is a big deal, as the GT Le Mans cars, slice their way through the Prototype Challenge traffic in order to contend today.  If you have an early problem, pit for a top up on the fuel tank, and then leapfrog everyone else, to see chances of victory, late in the going.

Two of the Prototypes had a coming together, in qualifying.  The #90 VisitFlorida.com Corvette, and the #55 Mazda, and they were moved to the rear of the field.  Strategy will be wide open, for those two teams.  Here we go.  We are ready, to start the Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix!  100 minutes of racing, in round three of the IWSC is underway!  Right off the bat, the cars are single file.  But, Ricky Taylor isn't settling, and he's going to look inside of the Action Express car, right here, right now!

They bang doors, and Taylor runs Fittipaldi wide!  Fittipaldi demoted to third, and he's passed immediately by the Mazda.  Ricky's brother Jordan Taylor made the same move, last year, and went on to win the race for the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing team.  Can they repeat?  Tom Long in the Mazda, takes advantage of the maneuver.  The GTLM cars take their start.  Bill Auberlen, the defending race champion, took pole, in the beautiful BMW M6 GT.  Earl Bamber in the Porsche, already wants a piece of him.  The two yellow Corvette's are also in the thick of this.  The production supercars are battling it out, early on, here on the streets of Long Beach.

Patrick Pilet in the second factory Porsche, is trying desperately to get around team mate Earl Bamber.  Lucas Luhr in the second BMW M6 gets passed by one of the Ferrari 488's.  There are lots and lots of camber changes with every corner on this race track, since it is a public road.  Bill Auberlen knows his way around Long Beach like no other.  But, he sure is having the blowtorch applied by the Kiwi in the Porsche.  Bamber is focusing his efforts on IMSA this year.  But, don't forget, he was part of the driving squad, that took the overall victory for Porsche, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, last year.

Early trouble for Scuderia Corsa with their #68 GTLM class Ferrari 488 GTE.  Ricky Taylor continues to lead, with Tom Long in the Mazda, running second.  Christian Fittipaldi has to be frustrated, after starting on pole, and now, having to claw his way from third, back to the front.  Ricky Taylor admitted to making a mistake in turn eight in qualifying.  The curbs have been removed from the apex of that turn, so the drivers can drive the cars in deep, and get right next to the wall.  The Ford GT's for Chip Ganassi Racing, are right at the back of the GTLM field, after making a strategy call.

It was Joey Hand in car #66 doing well, and team mate Richard Westbrook in the #67 machine, having a bit of a fire, and not being able to take a time in qualifying.  As this train of GTLM cars exits turn six, Westbrook is now on the move.  The #68 Ferrari is in the lane, and Alessandro Balzan got out of the car.  Will there be a driver change?  Maybe this was a strategy call, because the Ferrari 488 has a significantly smaller fuel tank than the Porsche, BMW, Corvette, and Ford GT, do.  Ricky Taylor looks set to start lapping the tail end of the GT Le Mans field, as the Ford GT's continue to deal with teething problems.

Joey Hand had to hit pit lane to fix the door.  The sister BMW M6 GT of Lucas Luhr (car #100), has also had issues.  Hand continues to have door trouble on the Ford.  Compounding his woes, he sped in pit lane on the last stop, and will have to do a drive through penalty, where the team cannot repair the car.  Ford's day, here at Long Beach, has definitely turned pear shaped.  There has been a driver change as Dirk Mueller has taken over the car, from Joey Hand.  Ricky Taylor holds the lead, but Christian Fittipaldi, is closing in all the time.  Eric Curran in the sister Action Express Corvette Prototype, #31, is also having a strong race in the early going.

Turn nine is a very tight corner.  Could Richard Westbrook be having issues with the #67 Ford GT?  Curran has also had success here at Long Beach in other forms of sports car racing, such as Pirelli World Challenge.  The Prototype points championship is surely heating up, during this race.  Sixth in GT Le Mans, and 21st overall, is the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE.  Auberlen and other in GTLM have to negotiate the slower Prototype Challenge car of gentleman racer, Mark Kvamme.  Kvamme had a practice incident, and did not force the issue with the GT Le Mans machines trying to get around him.

BMW has won three of the last five races here, with their M3 and Z4 cars that were very successful.  The M6 is so big, one driver for BMW said it is like driving a limo around the streets here at Long Beach.  Bamber looks inside Auberlen going into the corner, and decided discretion was the better part of valor.  The turbocharged motor in the BMW is a big help for them.  Meanwhile, the Ganassi Ford GT is still in pit lane, with Dirk Mueller aboard, trying to get the door fixed.  Three mechanics took their time to fix the door on the Ford.  BMW #100 pitted for new tires.  No driver change.

Are we seeing something with tire choice?  Back to that, in a second as it looks like Porsche will make their move on BMW!  Ooh!  #912 passes.  Meanwhile, track temperature, is 20-25 degrees hotter than it was during Friday running for these teams.  Auberlen realized he'd been had on that pass.  The BMW's are on harder Michelin tires, which gives them greater durability.  But, Lucas Luhr has not had the most ideal grip as this race has gotten underway.  Auberlen got a bad run off turn seven, and looking in his mirrors, he sees the Porsche bearing down on him.

He had no choice but to leave the door open for Bamber, to avoid contact.  Patrick Pilet in the second Porsche also makes a move.  Giancarlo Fisichella is giving the Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE a good outing.  They have had success here at Long Beach, with wins, and podium finishes.  They almost won this race in class, last year.  Fisichella is sharing the car, with Toni Vilander this time out.  Vilander finished third in 2011, in his only other Long Beach appearance.  The Ferrari's don't have the outright pace of the Porsche's or BMW's.  Meanwhile, Andy Meyrick, in the #0 DeltaWing, spins the car, and thankfully does not hit anything.

This is Meyrick's first race at Long Beach.  He shares the car, as usual, with co-driver Katherine Legge.  He was in deep into the corner, and spun out.  Meyrick re-fires the engine, and is back up and running.  There's a scrap underway in Prototype Challenge.  The qualifying session never made it through the full allotted ten minutes, so the cars lined up on points.  Due to the red flag, several cars well up in points in the division, got moved to the back of the grid.  James French could have had pole, but after basing qualifying off points, that meant the #85 car was in the pound seats.  Mikhail Goikhberg, takes it around, right now.

Recall that these boys won the big one at the Rolex 24 back in January.  Goikhberg's co-driver, Stephen Simpson has also done a sterling job.  Alex Popow is also in contention, but James French is clawing his way up the order, in full attack mode.  French tries diving inside Popow.  Popow doesn't give up too easily here.  Thought this scrap was done and dusted.  No way.  Starworks and team boss Peter Baron, are fighting for what they've got here on the streets of Long Beach.  This is good for Mikhail Goikhberg, who extends his lead in the class.  Mazda is becoming very, very competitive.

Mazda Motorsports boss John Doonan, is quite confident that the team can score a top result here at Long Beach.  Christian Fittipaldi makes a move on Tom Long going into the final corner.  Pit stop time for Corvette Racing.  #4 in and out, for perhaps their only stop, taking a driver change.  If they are running on strategy, they are getting great gas mileage and we have only about an hour or so to go in this race.  We have been clean and green in this race so far.  A major scrap unfolded between the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Prototype and the similar #31 machine for Action Express Racing.

There's Prototype Challenge traffic to contend with.  Tom Long in the Mazda holds Eric Curran at bay.  Through the Fountain turn, Tom Long makes the pass on Curran.  The car loosened up on Long just a shade.  Oh dear.  Problems for Jon Bennett in the #54 CORE Autosport Prototype Challenge machine.  He's hit the wall, and surely has a damaged rear wing on that car.  This incident may have happend in turn ten.  Bennett has fluid dripping out of the car.  Will there be a full course yellow for this incident?  Bennett has damage to the left rear corner of the race car.  The tow link is broken on that car.

Game over for CORE Autosport in this race.  Tristan Nunez in the #55 Mazda is setting fast lap after fast lap.  Christian Fittipaldi seems to be working his way back into contention.  Jon Bennett has made it to the pit lane.  Tires, fuel, and a driver change are in order, as Colin Braun will surely get into the car.  Maybe not.  Bennett has not hit the 35 minute maximum drive time yet.  Continental Tire, is now using dandelion roots, to derive rubber, for making tires, since the world's rubber supply in the rain forest, may be dwindling.  Drive through penalty for the #25 BMW M6 GT in GTLM.

Why?  It is for contact with the aforementioned #54 car.  Bill Auberlen went inside, and tapped Jon Bennett's Prototype Challenge racer.  Marc Goossens is currently at the wheel of the #90 VisitFlorida.com Corvette Prototype, and Ryan Hunter-Reay will soon take over that car.  Hunter-Reay says his Indycar has a lot more grip than the Daytona Prototype based Prototype car he drives in IWSC.  Each car has it's own unique driving style, as we are now under an hour remaining in this motor race.  Porsche now pits their cars in GT Le Mans, as well as Jan Magnussen in the sister #3 Corvette.

The #912 Porsche is also in the lane.  Earl Bamber out, and Fred Makowiecki, in.  Jan Magnussen is out of the #3 car and Antonio Garcia is in the car.  Nick Tandy in the #911 Porsche will be penalized for speeding in pit lane.  A critical mistake.  Bill Auberlen is now back in pit lane, for a regular stop, including a driver change.  Dirk Werner will take over the car.  Ricky Taylor has to drive a few more minutes before pitting, so he can get a few more laps on fuel.  Taylor is trying to make a move on Alex Popow in the #8 Starworks Motorsports Prototype Challenge car.  Popow sharing with Renger van der Zande as Tandy takes his drive through penalty.

Overall leader, Ricky Taylor, in the #10 WTR Konica Minolta Corvette Prototype, hits pit lane.  This team is at the top of tree when it comes to making clean, quick, efficient, pit stops.  #5 is in and out, with Joao Barbosa now at the wheel.  #31 also came in, as both Porsche's were penalized for speeding in the pit lane.  Eric Curran stepped out, and Dane Cameron, took over.  Normally if you speed in pit lane, it's a drive through.  But the Porsche sped excessively, at 17 kilometers over the limit.  #90 is in the pits and Ryan Hunter-Reay will take over the car.

The balance on car #90 was bad in qualifying, and the team changed everything, according to engineer Gary Grosenbacher.  50 minutes left in this race as Jordan Taylor runs really wide out of the last corner!  Ooh!  Taylor scrapes the wall!  Joao Barbosa has to work his way quickly around the lapped Ford GT in GT Le Mans.  Mazda runs 1-2 after staying out on their fuel load, longer.  The Mazda's have to hit pit lane.  The #70 Mazda now leads, and the #55 team car of Tristan Nunez is in the lane.  Jonathan Bomarito takes over the car.  The team did not clean the windshield, that was very, very dirty.

The sister #70 Mazda will be in next lap.  In fact, it's hit the pit lane, now.  Tom Long will turn the sister Mazda over to Joel Miller.  There's so little running on this track due to the compressed schedule, it is really hard to get running data on actual fuel consumption.  A big question mark remains as to why Corvette Racing pitted Oliver Gavin in car #4 so early in the going, as the #3 sister car thunders around Long Beach.  Joel Miller in the #70 car is also a California based racing driver.  Mazda North America is also located in Los Angeles.  Corvette had a flat left front tire on car #4.  They hope for a yellow flag, or can run blocker for the #3.

Mark Kvamme is in the lane and will turn his #88 Prototype Challenge car over to his co-driver.  Only 45 minutes now remain in this street fight.  Joao Barbosa is going after Jordan Taylor and Dane Cameron is fastest on the road.  He has a gap between himself and the leaders.  Joao Barbosa has more pace than does Jordan Taylor.  When Taylor whacked the wall, could that have damaged something?  Barbosa is 2/10ths of a second quicker at the moment, as these two will try and put a lap on the #4 Corvette.  Cameron takes 8/10ths of a second out of the leader, with 39 minutes left.  Nick Tandy tries to get inside Dirk Werner in the BMW M6 GT, and is a man on a mission.  Werner does not take kindly to Tandy's little nudge.

CORE Autosport Porsche believes the marker for the pit lane speed limit, has been moved, by the IMSA officials.  Both cars did so.  Two different cars, two different drivers.  Tandy is absolutely flying at the moment.  Corvette Racing is on a roll right now.  But, fuel mileage is the big question.  Dane Cameron runs a 1:15.6 while the leaders are in the 1:16 bracket.  Jordan Taylor has to watch for where Joao Barbosa is.  Dane Cameron is five seconds in-arrears of this battle.  Dane Cameron had a great drive here, last year, and was the only driver to pass a competitor, on the race track and not just in the pit lane.  Tire management is the key to success around Long Beach, though.  Cameron continues to trim the margin by half a second a lap, or more.

Taylor and Barbosa caught in traffic, allow Cameron to trim the margin to 2.8 seconds.  Barbosa shows his nose to Taylor, but Cameron is coming!  The top two should clear a lapped Prototype Challenge car ahead.  Will Cameron also clear the slow car?  Taylor and Barbosa get through.  Cameron, is blocked by the PC machine.  Cameron passes, and can now close the margin.  It is luck of the draw, as far as where you get the chance to pass.  We are now under our first full course yellow flag, as the CORE Autosport Prototype Challenge car, is stranded, out on course.  Colin Braun at the controls.  After earlier woes with Jon Bennett at the wheel, the left rear corner of the car, is again, broken.

The car is going on the flatbed truck.  Game over.  Pit lane is open for Prototypes to come in.  Will there be any takers?  Probably not.  PC cars will pit.  Will Corvette pit next time by? The #66 Ford GT is coming to pit lane.  These boys had the door issues earlier in the race.  They are in for tires and a top up on fuel, and so is car #67, the team car.  Now, we are back to green flag racing, with just 22 minutes on the clock, remaining, in this race.  The Mazda's are trying to pounce on the leading Corvette Prototypes.  Jordan Taylor pulls a gap as Dane Cameron is close to Joao Barbosa.  The #4 factory Corvette did not pit, and is rolling the dice. 

Oh dear.  More drama for the DeltaWing, as the suspension is broken on the car.  Did Katherine Legge hit the wall?  Or, have the bumps taken their toll on the car?  John Edwards brought the #25 BMW M6 GT into the lane, with a flat left rear tire.  There was a big cut in the sidewall of the tire.  The pro drivers have taken over the top Prototype Challenge machines.  You have a group including Stephen Simpson, Kyle Marcelli, Renger van der Zande, Johnny Mowlem, and Tom Kimber-Smith, all going for it.  Some major ringers (and, Rengers... hardy har har), are in this field.

Tommy Milner has a bit of a cushion.  But, Fred Makowiecki is chasing down Antonio Garcia.  Makowiecki does not want the Prototype Challenge overlap to disrupt his run.  But, it will.  Makowiecki is also hounded by the VisitFlorida.com Racing #90 Corvette Prototype of Ryan Hunter-Reay.  Simpson tries Milner.  The new low energy Michelin tire really suits the Porsche's.  The Porsche is strong on a street course, and is able to get the power down with the engine weight over the drive wheels.  Jordan Taylor opens the margin in the lead with just over 15 minutes to go.

We have had seven lead changes, only one yellow, and no cars have retired from this race.  Jordan Taylor is making a good run through traffic and has had a car that has settled down.  Corvette boss Doug Fehan says the team can make it on fuel.  Jordan Taylor has adjusted the brake bias on the #10 car, and that's made the car come alive.  Fred Makowiecki has come right back onto the tail of Antonio Garcia's Corvette.  Nick Tandy is also surging.  Tandy taps Makowiecki as we now have just ten minutes left.

Milner can really open a margin, and he's still in need of stretching fuel.  Ooh!  Antonio Garcia has swapped ends, and spun the #3 Corvette, between the barriers!  He just lost control.  Unreal.  You do not see a driver like Antonio Garcia, make mistakes of that kind.  That was a heavy clout with the wall.  Is the car moveable?  Will a full course yellow be required?  The car does not look to have suffered a lot of damage.  Now, Garcia gets going again.  Did he clip the left rear corner and cause damage?  Something just broke, over a bump.

Garcia feathered the gas pedal through that part of track.  Game over for the #100 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing BMW M6 GT, which has had a fraught race, and has now crunched the barrier, someplace, here at Long Beach.  Radiator damage to the front of the car.  The hood got loose off the front the car.  Edwards is driving blind, hits the wall, and spins out.  Ker-runch!  Could there have been a suspension issue?  The tire came off, and that's what caused the crash.  Car #3 pits to repair damage.  We are green as we close in on the last five minutes.  Milner will be eaten up by the two Porsche's, perhaps.

Jordan Taylor leads by 3.5 seconds over the Action Express cars.  Second place in Prototype Challenge will also be contested.  Corvette has not lost a race yet this year.  Porsche, has yet to win one.  Will Nick Tandy try and pass Fred Makowiecki?  Milner has lots of confidence, and is on top of his game.  Under three minutes left.  Jordan Taylor has three seconds in hand over Barbosa, and a half a second over Dane Cameron.  Oh no!  Makowiecki turns Tommy Milner!  There goes Nick Tandy.  Tandy, looks to be the winner, in GT Le Mans, should things hold together.  Unbelievable!  Porsche was going to push.  You just had to know they wouldn't sit back and rest on their laurels here at Long Beach.

What will the stewards have to say about this one?  The Porsche is wounded, definitely.  It was too late for Makowiecki to even get through the corner, let alone make a banzai move.  Makowiecki policed himself on this one, breaking the car, and limping it into the lane, with just a minute or so to go.  Jordan Taylor has two seconds in hand, and he's going to win this race, going for two in a row here on the streets of Long Beach.  It's the final lap.  Corvette and Porsche will not be happy with each other.  It was Kevin Estre vs. Jan Magnussen at Sebring, and here, at Long Beach, it's Tommy Milner vs. Fred Makowiecki.

Mazda will bring both cars home in the top five.  Joel Miller, fourth, and Jonathan Bomarito, fifth.  Toni Vilander in the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE is up to third in GT Le Mans.  Ryan Briscoe in the #67 Ford GT is also going to get a decent finish.  Stephen Simpson gets the white flag in the Prototype Challenge class.  For the second year in a row, it's a sweep, of pole, and the race win, for Wayne Taylor Racing, and the #10 Konica Minolta Corvette Prototype, piloted by Wayne's sons, on the streets of Long Beach.

As we finish, there's big contact in turn eight for one of the Prototype Challenge cars.  It's a monster shunt, for Kyle Marcelli.  That car, is junk.  Win number two for the #85 JDC Miller Motorsports car of Stephen Simpson, and Mikhail Goikhberg!  Nick Tandy takes the win in GT Le Mans, for Porsche!
Kyle Marcelli scraped the wall, lifted to slow down, and by lifting, he spun the car, and smashed the opposite end, into the barrier.  What a street fight!

Overall/Prototype: #10 Taylor/Taylor     Chevrolet Corvette Prototype

             Prototype
             Challenge: #85 Simpson/Goikhberg     Oreca FLM 09 Chevrolet

             GT Le Mans: #911 Tandy/Pilet             Porsche 911 RSR

That's it, from Long Beach.  California dreamin' will continue for the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, in northern California, as opposed to southern California, on the Monterey Peninsula, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, this weekend.  Two races.  One for Prototype and GT Le Mans and the other, for Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona.  Separate events for professional and amateur drivers.  Looking forward, to bringing those races, to you, right here on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

So long, for now.

In Memoriam: Rolf Stommelen

Remembering the great sports car driver, Rolf Stommelen, who also drove in Formula 1 a few times.  He died, after suffering a heart attack, shortly after a big crash in an IMSA race at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, when he lost control of his Porsche 935 that he shared with Derek Bell.  He is the only driver, to be involved in a fatal wreck, at the wheel of a Porsche 935.  Rolf Stommelen, Rest In Peace.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/rolf-stommelen-dies-following-vicious.html?spref=fb

News from Blancpain GT and Pirelli World Challenge

News updates from Blancpain GT and the Pirelli World Challenge.  The Blancpain Endurance Series, kicks off their season at Monza, in Italy, this weekend.  Pirelli World Challenge also races, at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Garcia Joins WRT Audi for Partial Season Blancpain GT Program
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/garcia-joins-wrt-audi-for-limited-blancpain-program/

Monza Entry List Update: 4-21
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/monza-entry-list-update-4-21/

Buhk: "In The End it Was a Decision From My Heart"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/buhk-in-the-end-it-was-a-decision-from-my-heart/

Lamborghini Targeting Customer Expansion into PWC
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/lamborghini-targeting-customer-expansion-into-pwc/

Urry: "Our Team is Focused on What We Need to Do"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/urry-our-team-is-focused-on-what-we-need-to-do/

Davis: "PWC Has Always Been a Goal of Mine"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/davis-pwc-has-always-been-a-goal-of-mine/

GAINSCO McLaren Ready for Barber After Rebuild
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/gainsco-mclaren-ready-for-barber-after-rebuild/

Audi Not to Appeal 6H Silverstone Exclusion

Audi will not appeal the decision by the FIA to exclude the race winning #7 Audi R18 from the results in last weekend's opening race of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Silverstone.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-to-not-appeal-6h-silverstone-exclusion/

50 Entries for PWC at Barber

The third round of the Pirelli World Challenge at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, will see an entry list, of 50 cars.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/50-entries-for-pwc-at-barber/

Ford GT onboard camera lap at Silverstone

A cool experience.  A 360 degree on board camera view in a Ford GT around the Silverstone circuit during Sunday's 6 Hours of Silverstone.  Click the link to watch the video, and as you are watching, use the arrow button on the left hand corner of your screen, to pan the camera angle around the inside of the car.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/video/main-gallery/ford-gt-incredible-360-degree-onboard-lap-of-silverstone-360video-vr-fordwec-6hsilv-52990/?s=2&em=1

Porsche Planning Factory GTE-Pro Return in 2017

Bonus post.  No full factory LM GTE Pro team for Porsche in the FIA WEC this year, (except at Le Mans).  But, they will return, full-time in 2017.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-planning-factory-gte-pro-return-in-2017/

Silverstone Content Recap

Recapping all the stories from Sportscar365, on last Sunday's 6 Hours of Silverstone.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-content-recap-2/

Silverstone Post-Race Notebook

Wrapping up yesterday's wild 6 Hours of Silverstone, which saw Audi disqualified, and Porsche, handed the race victory.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-post-race-notebook-2/

NEWS FLASH: Winning #7 Audi Excluded After Post Race Scrutineering

Audi, has had their win in today's 6 Hours of Silverstone, taken away, after the car failed post race inspection.  The front skid plank, was worn down too far, and thus, outside of legality measures set by the FIA.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/04/17/winning-7-audi-excluded-after-post-race-srutineering.html

...and

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/no-7-audi-excluded-porsche-inherits-6h-silverstone-victory/

6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 6 (the finish)

Less than one hour to go, and Neel Jani is in the lane, for his final stop, perhaps.  If they will make it, they'll be on fumes.  Jani sets fastest race lap.  Jani ran 51 minutes on that last stint with fuel.  56 minutes now remain.  Let's hope he still has petrol in the tank.  It was a quick stop.  The race to the finish, should be a dandy.  The AF Corse Ferrari's continue leading both GT classes.  An early stop was the only way for the leading Porsche to try to hang in there.  #2 pitted again, for right side tires.  It was a two tire stop for the Porsche on the previous one.  The double pit stop, could win the race for Porsche.  Good luck to the Audi boys, catching them.

The gap is 54 seconds, with a 35-40 second pit lane delta, and the stop.  15 seconds, to top up the fuel tank.  Traffic is also a factor.  Who will roll the dice?  Filipe Albuquerque leads Pippo Derani in LMP2 by 41 seconds as the KCMG LM GTE Am Porsche is nudged aside.  Neel Jani pitted, as he heard a tire pressure alarm, in the cockpit.  The left side tires were changed, and they very well may have dodged a bullet as they look for a win here at Silverstone.  Yikes!  A podium run, for Toyota.  They only saw two podiums last year.  Here, at Silverstone, as well as in Bahrain.  Neel Jani did have a right front tire puncture when he pitted.  Marcel Fassler has 55 seconds in hand, in the lead, over Jani.  However, Fassler still needs to stop one more time.

The gap is 55.8 seconds to be precise.  Fassler opens the gap, very slightly.  He stays on track.  Watch the traffic.  That will determine when the final stop is executed.  Neel Jani ran fast lap at 1:40.3.  The Audi has run solidly at 1:40.4.  So, there's nothing in it.  Fassler runs wide over the curbs.  He ran afoul of the rules and using the curbs last year.  Will he do so again?  He has opened the margin, and grown it to 56 seconds.  The Porsche is definitely in the window and the pressure will be on the pit crews indeed.

In third, is the #6 Toyota TS050 with Kamui Kobayashi at the wheel.  Kobayashi was the reserve driver for Toyota, last year.  The Ford GT's are fifth and sixth in LM GTE Pro, and they hoped to have more left in the locker.  But, not today.  Sam Bird and Davide Rigon could be on their way to a GTE Pro class win.  Christian Ried in a Porsche leads LM GTE Am.  Audi are making the call as to when to bring Fassler into the lane for the final stop.  Does he need new tires?  If he takes fresh tires, it puts him behind the eight ball.  The gap shrinks to 54 seconds.  Fassler, in the lane, now.  There will be fuel.  No tires.  Where is Neel Jani?  He will assume the race lead.  Fassler holds the lead.

The Porsche is at full chat with hot tires.  Seven seconds is the gap at the moment.  It's now down to the drivers, as we are less than 35 minutes away, from the finish.  Fassler got no penalty for track limits.  Only three official retirements of the 33 starters in this race.  Wow.  What will Neel Jani have up his sleeve?  We'll find out.  There's a ways to go yet.  Klaus Bachler in the pole winning LM GTE Am Porsche 911 for Proton, has a right front suspension breakage.  Same problem for #77 earlier in the race.  There's a major scrum for second between Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado.  It's a Ferrari 1-2 in LM GTE Pro.

Anthony Davidson was close to Rene Rast in the G Drive LMP2 machine.  Porsche is so focused on Le Mans, they did not have a high downforce set up for here at Silverstone.  They won last year.  They thankfully came back to the Silverstone setup, has worked.  However, Audi, may repeat, as Silverstone winners this year, just as they did, a year ago.  Marcel Fassler tells engineer Lena Gade, "leave me alone, now".  It's not a distraction.  But, Fassler believes that he needs to concentrate on things.

Work continues on the #88 car.  Meanwhile, it's ka-blammo for the #97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.  The V8 motor, has gone up in smoke.  Game over.  Wow.  What a start to the year for Fassler.  Richie Stanaway was the driver in the Aston Martin that had the motor let go.  We now have less than 20 minutes remaining.  The KCMG Porsche was pushed to the garage with another suspension issue.  Manor Racing has been running well on their FIA WEC LMP2 debut.  The gap at the front is down to 8.4 seconds.  The two Ford's run close together as Harry Tincknell has passed Olivier Pla.  Davide Rigon and Sam Bird have led every lap while Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado are second in class.  Emmanuelle Collard has the LM GTE Am lead in another AF Corse Ferrari.

Neel Jani is 7.8 seconds behind the Audi.  Porsche was not looking for this outcome, after winning six straight races, last year.  The #2 car did not have the same setup as the #1 that was flipped on it's side earlier on in the race.  The face of LMP2 changes next year with the global LMP2 platform with Dallara, Ligier, and a couple other brands, with Gibson branded engines.  Both Alpine's have gone off the road.  Both are forced wide and off the road.  Meanwhile back at the Manor manor, (no pun intended), things are looking good.  The gap shrinks back to just under ten seconds as we get closer to the end of this race.  It'll be game on for the championship.  Last year in this race, Toyota was no place.

No penalty for an earlier incident.  Neel Jani in the Porsche and Kamui Kobayashi took splash and dash pit stops.  It is amazing when you look at the resources for these big teams.  250 people, thousands and thousands of miles of testing, and millions of dollars spent in the budgets.  RGR By Morand is running very well, and AF Corse stands to win for Ferrari in both GT classes.  Pedro Lamy has moved the #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to second in class.  Fourth and fifth for the two Ford GT's.  Less than five minutes now remain in this race.  The podium should include an Audi, a Porsche, and a Toyota. 

Fassler should maintain a rhythm, and Audi passes Toyota.  Neel Jani will be disappointed with these results as we watch a replay of the sideways flip of the sister Porsche, skidding across the grass and getting on it's side.  Marcel Fassler can't lose.  He's won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, with Corvette Racing, and now, Fassloer will win, with Audi at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, for the moment.  It's not over just yet.  It will be the fourth LMP1 victory for Audi at Silverstone in five tries and the third for the trio of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer, and Benoit Treluyer. 

One more lap, for Audi, here at Silverstone.  We may see rain in the next race at Spa.  This is the last year of Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich as head of Audi Sport.  Audi, wins at Silverstone!  LMP2 is won by RGR Morand.  LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am wins, both go to AF Corse!

Overall/LMP1: #7 Fassler/Lotterer/Treluyer     Audi R18

             LMP2: #43 Gonzalez/Albuquerque/Senna     Ligier JS P2 Nissan

             LM GTE Pro:  #71 Rigon/Bird                       Ferrari 488 GTE

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

That's it, from Silverstone.  We'll see you, for round two of the FIA WEC at the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, at the mighty Spa circuit in the Ardennes Forest, in Belgium, in a little less, than three weeks.  So long, everyone.

6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 5

Marino Franchitti tries to pass Fernando Rees.  No dice.  George Howard Chappel, who used to be with Dave Richards and Aston Martin, now is head cheese at Ford Europe.  The #88 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche pits.  The car is driven by Khaled al-Qubaisi, Klaus Bachler, and David Heinemeier-Hanson.  Heinemeier-Hanson is a good shoe.  Meanwhile, the #43 car has really been running well.  Benoit Treluyer pits, and Marcel Fassler, takes over.  Lucas di Grassi set the fastest lap.  But, the two best laps are averaged for the qualifying position. Lucas di Grassi had the best lap time in qualifying.  Stephane Sarrazin pits from second overall.

Toyota won't win this race.  But, they've got to be pleased with their performance.  Mike Conway finishes the race, and is in.  The stewards want to speak to the team manager of the #2 Porsche 919.  These cars roll away from pit lane, on electric power, and barely make a sound.  We are in that window, for the run to the flag, and into the last, oh, hour and 45 minutes of this race.  So, this update, and a report on hour six before the finish are in progress.  The #2 Porsche pits.  Porsche may need one more stop, while Audi, will need two.  Porsche went six minutes longer, on fuel, than Audi did.

Both Ford GT's run together at the moment in LM GTE Pro.  The #2 Porsche 919 may have been off in the mud, someplace.  Fox Sports lead commentator, Bob Varsha, mentions the car is indeed covered in mud.  Benoit Treluyer has been experimenting with the hybrid boost, and if you are not on the brakes as long, you are not harvesting as much energy through the braking system.  Major number crunching has to be going on at Porsche.  Porsche has picked up talented drivers from the Red Bull Road to Formula 1.  Neel Jani, was expected to go to Formula 1.  Porsche, nabbed him, for their sports car effort.

Filipe Albuquerque is running well with the new Morand Racing Ligier Nissan.  ESM has their Ligier Nissan in the lane, having completed a pit stop.  They are ninth in class at the moment.  Ferrari leads both LM GTE Am and LM GTE Pro.  Only three times, has one marque swept classes in the GTE classes.  We will see 60 cars at Le Mans this year.  Absolutely amazing.  We have an hour and 36 minutes to go in this race.  The Manor Racing Oreca Nissan is in the garage and the Dempsey Racing Porsche was in the garage.  Fassler and Jani are 13 seconds apart right now.  Meanwhile, Mike Conway is coming back into the picture.  He is a minute or so behind the Porsche's.

Matthias Lauda is now in the #97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.  Harry Tincknell is driving the Ford GT.  Tincknell was part of the abandoned Nissan program, that was so promising, but delivered nothing.  Thankfully, Tincknell and Olivier Pla, found a home at Ford Europe.  Nissan dominates LMP2 with every car in the field running one of their motors.  The maggots/Becketts complex, down Hangar straight, is wicked fast.  Pippo Derani is chasing down Nathaniel Berthon.  LMP2 cars are restricted on the number of tires they can use.

Drivers like Roberto Merhi and Vitaly Petrov, have made it to FIA WEC after not finding the right fit in Formula 1 or in DTM, the German touring car championship.  Drivers in the LMP1 cars, don't blink, because if you do, you'll miss two corners.  Marcel Fassler talks to Lena Gade on the radio, about changing tire compounds.  Neel Jani tells his crew at Porsche, about the tire debris or "clag" he is picking up.  The clock runs down, and the tension, ratchets up.  Problems for G Drive in the pit lane at the moment.

Marcel Fassler leads over Neel Jani, and Mike Conway.  Each of the top three teams, has had problems.  Most of the teams have just one bullet left in the gun.  Both Toyota's are still pounding around, but one, is walking wounded.  Pippo Derani pitted for two tires, and fuel.  There is no weak link in the chain at Audi.  Plug in and play.  Rotate who has to experience the pressure, of doing the closing stint.  It used to be Andre Lotterer.  Now, Marcel Fassler, is the closer.  Marcel Fassler has pace.  But, he is understeering right now, so the tire pressures need to be adjusted, or the compound needs to be changed.

The next round of pit stops will be telling.  A couple LMP2 cars have been in for new noses, and Race Director Edoardo Freitas has warning drivers about exceeding track limits, or, not having working headlights.  No word on the stewards inquiry for Neel Jani and Porsche.  No further action?  Hmmm.  Aston Martin Racing won the ELMS race yesterday, in class.  Again, stay tuned for highlights of that race, too.  Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado are really working well right now.  The Ferrari's are just plain fast.  Nicki Thiim has taken over one of the Aston Martin's.  It's the Dane Train, or was.  Two Danes and a Brit.  Nicki Thiim, Marco Sorensen, and Darren Turner.

An hour and seven minutes to go.  Marcel Fassler pits the Audi.  Porsche will need to pit, with 57 minutes remaining.  Can Porsche go another ten minutes?  Neel Jani cycles to the race lead, with traffic ahead.  Marcel Fassler is back on track, in total book it mode.  Porsche is also still fighting.  How will things play out in the final hour?  Keep a measured pace, more or less.  Neel Jani is complaining about traffic.  The team tells him, "keep pushing", which is all he can do, as these blokes fly through Maggots/Becketts/Chapel, and onto the Hangar straightaway.

Mike Conway is 58 seconds off the lead, and three seconds behind Marcel Fassler.  Toyota is using the lithium ion battery system.  The super capacitor and flywheel systems could not handle the energy.  Car #43 is in the lane from the LMP2 lead.  He too, will need a splash and dash.  Filipe Albuquerque, at the wheel.  Mike Conway pits.  Marcel Fassler has the pressure relieved, for now. 

6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 4

Again, a mix of snow and rain, greeted the drivers, at Silverstone.  Fox Sport's Calvin Fish, almost raced in the snow, in a Formula 3 race in 1984, at Silverstone, racing with V8 Supercars veteran, Paul Radisich.  Anthony Davidson, Sebastien Buemi, and Kazuki Nakajima, have 113 Formula 1 starts between them.  Toyota has to be pumped about having a competitive car to try and beat Audi and Porsche this year, with their new twin turbo V6 motor.  Race Director Edoardo Freitas told teams to make their drivers aware of tire temperature, in a restart situation, as we watch that wicked shunt between Mike Wainwright and Brendon Hartley.

G Drive is in the lane, with some issues.  The leader is in.  Audi, in the lane.  Benoit Treluyer will stay behind the wheel.  Marcel Fassler will not get into the car just yet.  The team also seems to be double stinting tires.  Nope.  They'll change tires, and away he goes.  Toyota, in the lane.  Back time the race, now.  Porsche now leads. Kazuki Nakajima, will stay in the car.  Benoit Treluyer back on track, with Marc Lieb, in the lead.  We are looking for the sister car to Davide Rigon, and it's Gianmaria Bruni.  These are the two AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE's #51 and #71 respectively.  We will look for Marc Lieb in pit lane, soon.

Gianmaria Bruni is sharing a Ferrari with Brit, James Calado, and he's made up quite a bit of time.  Porsche, is now, in the lane.  They have a fuel advantage right now.  However, they may need an extra stop.  Oh dear.  The right rear tire is down, on the Toyota.  He's got a cut tire, and is riding the rim into the lane.  Well, he's into Maggots/Becketts.  This is a long lap, and he has to watch out that the tire does not shred and damage bodywork.  The #2 Porsche is turned looose, but the Audi makes the pass.  Marc Lieb resumes second, behind th Audi.  Romain Dumas, is now at the wheel of the Porsche, pardon me.

We are now under a safety car as Kazuki Nakajima still limps the Toyota around, with a continually shredding tire.  Carbon fiber and Kevlar are everywhere.  The safety car closes the gaps.  Billy Johnson and Marino Franchitti, are third and fourth in LM GTE Pro.  Today, Ford could get on the podium.  They will have huge competition at Le Mans.  Ford will race Ferrari, Corvette, and Porsche.  They are also racing in the WeatherTech Championship at Long Beach.  Stay tuned, for a race report, on the Long Beach event, later on.

We are under the safety car, and looking at a slow motion replay, the Porsche handles bumps better than the Audi.  Audi and Toyota have fully new cars.  The Porsche, is an evolution of the 919.  It's odd that Audi has kept the R18 moniker, on a new car.  Thankfully, they are not calling it the R18 eTron Quattro.  That's a mouthful.  Audi is running the six megajoule class, because of the heavier diesel engine.  They can have more power, but, the batteries etc. and all the onboard equipment on the motor, makes the car heavier. 

We are back to green, and the track and ambient temperatures, have gone up.  Traffic is a factor as Dumas runs deep, trying to pass Treluyer around the Rebellion machine.  Audi has a faster lap time than the Porsche.  1:40.4 compared to 1:40.5 for the Porsche.  Romain Dumas will put the car anyplace to make the pass.  Marcel Fassler, has yet to run in the Audi.  Kazuki Nakajima climbs out of the Toyota.  Could it be game over for them?  They've had that tire issue.  The #13 car is fourth with Matteo Tuscher at the controls.  The Alpine cars are locked together. 

The Alpine cars are built by Oreca,, and Hughes de Chaunac, a very successful company in sports cars.  Pippo Derani will drive the last part of the race for ESM.  Remember, he's proven how fast he's been, winning the big endurance races in the U.S. already this year, at Daytona and Sebring.  Matteo Tuscher is leading Nick Heidfeld as far as the Rebellion team is concerned.  The #5 Toyota is still in the garage.  One Audi, one Porsche, and one Toyota, at the front of this field.  Benoit Treluyer, gets squeezed.  The noises are so different with the cars.  At high speed, with the Audi, years ago, you could hear wind noise, and not the engine.

The speed these cars carry through fast corners, are amazing, and these things have to be an absolute blast to drive.  Mark Webber has won in Formula 1 at Silverstone.  Webber wants to win in a sports car at Silverstone.  But, that won't happen today.  Audi continues to lead.  Treluyer leads Dumas and Sarrazin.  In the last two hours and nineteen minutes, we should see three more pit stops.  The Audi slides through a corner.  Big correction!  The Ford's are running well, but they are a half second down on the Ferrari 488.  The game is changing indeed.

Contact did puncture the tire on the Toyota.  Two hours and 15 minutes to go.  The next ten minutes will tell if Audi will be OK on three more stops before this race ends, chaps.  Marino Franchitti is currently at the wheel of the #67 Ford GT.  Harry Tincknell will finish the race.  James Calado is running well in the Ferrari 488 GTE.  Sam Bird, is driving the #71 Ferrari.  These cars look fantastic.  The 458 Italia, was a great car.  But, the new car, has more downforce and more power.  What a great car.  The AF Corse GTE Am car, is a normally aspirated 458 Italia. 

Ryan Dalziel in the ESM Tequila Patron Ligier Nissan is running pretty well.  The Audi and the Porsche are the cars on the lead lap at the moment.  We are coming close to the end of the fourth hour.  Drama!  Romain Dumas has gone off and on, and he got tagged by the #67 of Marino Franchitti.  The stewards are looking at Marino Franchitti violating a safety car procedure.  Marcel Fassler will finish this race for Audi, and Neel Jani, will finish, for Porsche.  Audi will need only three more stops.  Porsche vs. another Ford.  Billy Johnson is in car #66, the sister Ford GT.

Romain Dumas has to take risks.  The Porsche won't have one less pit stop, compared to Audi.  It looks like the Porsche and the Ford did make contact.  Romain Dumas may have checked up.  Fifteen seconds is the gap between the two leaders.  These guys need to stay sharp, and do race with other teams, maybe in the U.S.  Brad Kettler stays on, with Audi, with Lena Gade, about to depart the team, a little later on.  We will see these cars at Spa Francorchamps, next month.  Stay tuned, for more details on that race, at the end of this race report.

6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 3

Brendon Hartley has gone off the road from the race lead!  Oh my gosh!  He almost flips the car!  I thought he was on his lid!  The Porsche gets up on it's side and Hartley, is devastated.  Game over.  He committed too far into the corner and the GT class Porsche had no clue he was there.  Rules stipulate a 25% increase in vent holes to keep the car from flipping.  Tohyota pits and we see issues for the #8 Audi R18.  Lucas di Grassi is recycling the system, just like rebooting a computer.  The #86 Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR in LM GTE Pro, driven by three British pilots, including Michael Wainwright, Adam Carroll, and Ben Barker. 

We are under full course yellow.  You can pit any time you like.  Freeze the field, with no need for a safety car.  Maybe they'll switch to a safety car.  Freeze the field at 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles an hour), on the road, and the pit lane speed is 60 kilometers per hour (37.5 miles per hour).  Meanwhile, more concerns for Audi.  A mechanic is handling the hybrid, to make sure there is no electricity turned on.  There was a huge puff of white smoke, and Lucas di Grassi knew he had to get out of it.  It's a miracle, when we see a replay of the Porsche wreck, that the 919 Hybrid didn't turn turtle. 

Mechanics with the fire extinguisher gets to the Audi, and, boom!  Fire.  The mechanic arrives, and then, out comes the flame.  One Audi now remains in the race.  Game over for Benoit Treluyer.  The technology in this series is fantastic.  They are very sophisticated.  The Porsche uses two MGU motor generator units. Mike Wainwright says Ben Barker, is OK, and so is Brendon Hartley.  Everyone makes mistakes.  We are still under the 50 mile per hour full course yellow speed limit as the #8 Audi is being worked on.  The virtual safety car idea, works well.  Use the brakes under yellow, and driving against the brake pedal, to generate tire temperature.

Race Director Edoardo Freitas, makes teams aware of what will happen before we go back to green.  Will Stevens did well in Formula 1, but now, he's venturing into GT and prototype sports car racing.  Like computers, these cars, do what you tell them, not necessarily what you want them to do.  We are coming up on two and a half hours into this race.  We are back underway.  Marc Lieb has taken over the #2 Porsche.  One bullet in each gun for Audi and Porsche, and Lieb door slams a Rebellion.  Porsche and Audi 1-2.  Lieb and Benoit Treluyer, with the two Toyota's going for it.  Stephane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima are in the Toyota's.

Lieb was pinchd by the Rebellion, and so, the Audi came by.  This track has undergone a lot of changes.  This track is owned by the British Racing Driver's Club.  The British midlands is a hub of motorsport, in England.  Unlike the Porsche, the Audi and Toyota have only one motor generator unit.  It's very different to be using the battery system, for Audi and Toyota after they came from their respective flywheel and super capacitor systems.  The #4 CLM of Simon Trummer struggles and so does the #50 Larbre Competition Corvette C-7-R- with Yutaka Yamagishi at the controls.  The SMP entry is the BR01 Nissan.  It's a Russian funded team.

Next year, LMP2 will change drastically, with four confirmed chassis's and a choice of engines in the U.S. but with Nissan power in Europe and the rest of the world.  LMP2 will become aspec category more or less.  With these yellow flags, the fuel strategy will be equalized.  We watch Richard Bradley, Kiril Ladygin, and Bruno Senna, trying to catch Danny Watts, who is the class leader.  Stephane Sarrazin is fourth overall in the #6 Toyota TS050.  Kazuki Nakajima runs third behind Benoit Treluyer and Marc Lieb.  The #26 G Drive Racing car is in the hands of Rene Rast, sharing with Roman Rusinov and Nathaniel Berthon.

Ooh!  The G Drive car is off and on, into Stowe corner.  Bruno Senna in the #43 car is passed by Rast in car #26.  Rene Rast kept booking it and made it stick.  Bulldozer time, eh?  Yikes!  Marc Lieb is closing on the Audi right now.  They cannot take chances, because there's only one Porsche left.  Efficiency is the key with the hybrid cars.  Danny Watts leads LMP2 in the #42 Strakka Racing machine.  Danny Watts continues to be chased by Rene Rast.  One open cockpit Gibson vs. a closed cockpit Oreca.

They have changed, to Oreca chassis' from Ligier chassis'.  Marc Lieb is not letting Benoit Treluyer escape.  We are approaching the halfway point in this race, at three hours.  Benoit Treluyer is told to stay in the car at the next stop.  Audi does not want to put third driver, Marcel Fassler, in yet.  One Porsche and one Audi remain, running 1-2.  Again, Toyota's run third and fourth.  SignaTech Alpine and Baxi DC Alpine, run together.  Two different teams.  One of the cars has a problem.  These are both Alpine A460's with Nissan 4.5 liter V8's.  David Cheng, Ho-Pin Tung, and Nelson Panciatici share the Baxi car.  The Signatech machine has Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre, and Stephane Richelmi.

In the lane, is #35, for a tire change.  It was only a puncture.  You cannot spin the tires as you exit pit lane, for safety reasons.  One of the Manor entries is in the garage.  #44, the Le Mans entry, with Will Stevens, Tor Graves, and James Jakes.  Stevens is a FAormula 1 veteran, and Jakes, an IndyCar veteran.  Ed Brown in one of the ESM cars runs off the road.  It is the #30 of Ed Brown, Scott Sharp, and Johannes van Overbeek.  The sister car #31 is shared by Pipo Derani, Ryan Dalziel, and Chris Cumming.  We are now at the end of the third hour, and halfway, through this motor race, ladies and gentlemen.

 

6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 2

Lunchtime, in England.  One roast beef and one Yorkshire pudding, please.  Would you like a tea?  Yes.  The rules stipulate that in Pro/Am classes, has to have one amateur driver.  Higher rated drivers, don't often get to race.  That's something that many fans might not agree with.  The wealthy privateer drivers, (gentleman drivers), are still in racing.  But, don't force feed it.  SMP Racing sat on pole at the Rolex 24 earlier this year.  Vitaly Petrov is in the car, now.  Discretion is the better part of valor, when you race a speedy, space age hybrid prototype.  I've said it before, but, it bears repeating. 

Cloud cover cools the track as we watch Stefan Mucke at the wheel of the Ford GT in LM GTE Pro.  The #12 Rebellion Prototype, has moved up.  Michael Christensen, moves ahead of the Ford.  Michael Christensen, could have definitely won the championship last year, but, had to race an IMSA round in the U.S. and that cost him the title.  It was one, conflicting with the World Endurance Championship.  Teams tell you where to go, and you focus on wherever the race is, whether it's in the states, or, other parts of the world.  An off/on with Ricardo Gonzalez in car #43.  He goes side by side in the Morand Racing LMP2 car, along with a GT car. 

Alex Wurz is now, the reserve driver for Toyota.  It was thought he was going to retire.  Keep in mind, he also raced with Ganassi at Daytona in one of their Prototype cars.  Toyota is focused on Le Mans and they are running their low downforce Le Mans package.  Wurz has been a driver coach for the Williams Formula 1 team, too.  Wurz is at a high level.  He's a real professional, the President of the Grand Prix Driver's Association, and also, a safety activist.  He wears a different colored driving shoe on each foot.

In replay, a Rebellion LMP1 car and an LMP2 car battle.  Ricardo Gonzalez at the controls.  He is a gentleman driver, with a silver rating.  He is a talented driver, a promoter of the FIA WEC race in Mexico later this year, and a businessman.  Chris Cumming is fifth, passed by Nelson Panciatici.  The #4 ByKolles Racing CLM P1 01, is in LMP1.  They are not running hybrid power.  But, new rules could help the privateeers compete with the factory cars.  The CLM has a new nose, on the 2015 car.  They have a new chassis coming up.  James Rossiter is racing with them, as Pierre Kaffer, is contracted to Audi.  Kaffer will be back, for Le Mans.

Nelson Piquet Jr. gets squeezed!  It's his debut, or second race in WEC.  He is the reigning Formula E champion.  He's run Global Rallycross, NASCAR, and Formula 1.  He ran Le Mans ten years ago in 2006 and ran the Brazilian GT Series.  He will race for three races with this team, before Switerland's Mattias Beche,  G Drive makes their second pit stop and Roman Rusinov is at the controls.  He stays in the car, to get his drive time in.  They tape up the bodywork.  Oliver Jarvis is now back up to second.  Lena Gade, with Audi, (as you heard), will move on to Bentley, in mid season.

Will Bentley go back into Prototype racing?  We'll see.  The #12 car moves past the ByKolles Racing.  Once again, our thoughts are with Catherine Crawford, recovering from emergency surgery.  Our thoughts are with her.  Crawford is back on U.S. soil.  Alexandre Imperatori brings the Rebellion into the lane, as Hans Stuck, an endurance racing legend, looks on.  We approach the 90 minute mark in this race as Audi pits.  Andre Lotterer out, and we'll see who the next driver is.  Benoit Treluyer takes the controls over in the #7.  Lucas di Grassi has the sister car. 

Aston Martin in the pits.  Richie Stanaway, Fernando Rees, and Johnny Adam, share the car.  Two Manor entries are in this race.  But, they will not race at Le Mans, because they were not put together by the deadline for invitations for Le Mans.  So, Manor won't be at Le Mans.  Richard Bradley, Roberto Merhi, and Matt Rao.  Oh boy.  A problem for Audi.  No boost.  The new car, has not had the most trouble free run.  Brendon Hartley brings the leading Porsche into the pits.  No tire change until the fuel is in.  Just the driver change.

The sister #2 car also comes in.  Porsche has stacked their pit stops.  Neel Jani is at the wheel of the sister car.  Despite massive horsepower, speed, and downforce, efficiency is the big deal with these cars.  You are only allowed three aerodynamic configurations through the season.  Neel Jani is back on track and the Toyota is now back in the race, climbingh up out of the pits.  Toyota has committed to stay in the World Endurance Championship.  They race a twin turbo V6 with the battery hybrid system. 

The KCMG Porsche goes off and on.  KCMG is now racing in GTE rather than Prototype.  The entry is the #78 Porsche 911 RSR shared by Christian Ried and Wolf Henzler from Germany, and Joel Camathias, from Switzerland.  Benoit Treluyer spins the Audi.  The team is having issues as Lucas di Grassi has had hybrid boost problems.  Brake temperatures are at the limit, and the hybrid boost is not regenerating.  The driver is worried he's not getting power.  Well, the braking regeneration isn't working.  It's like downshifting into a lower gear.  Everything is on the limit.  If the hybrid system goes down, there is no fail safe mode.

Audi and Toyota have totally redesigned cars as the #98 Aston Martin, dirt tracks it on the wet corners.  Paul Dalla Lana at the wheel.  Dalla Lana shares with Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda.  Flat right front tire on the Dempsey Proton Porsche!  Actually, it's broken suspension.  Maybe it is just a wheel nut.  Ooh.  It's the suspension that's gone awry.  A broken right front, and a little too much camber.  Meanwhile, Porsche runs 1-2 at the moment.  No one without issues on their cars at the moment. 

Audi took a couple races last year, and then, Porsche, went on a tear at Le Mans and the rest of the season.  Porsche only has plans to race a GT factory car, at Le Mans this year, but is only involved with Abu Dhabi Proton for the rest of the season and the six hour races.  A Manor, spins.  That's Richard Bradley.  He gets it headed in the right direction, as Danny Watts goes outside Ricardo Gonzalez, and makes the pass.  Bradley spun and continued.  Strakka Racing want to get back into the LMP1 privateer ranks, next year.  But, there is not much glory in the non hybrid cars.  Push the boulder up the hill.

Marino Franchitti is next into the factory Ford GT, car #67.  Michael Christensen will be sent back on track.  Marino Franchitti is gingerly running, coming out of the pits.  Neel Jani passes Lucas di Grassi.  di Grassi is down by some 400 horsepowr without the hybrid system working, on the Audi.  If Andy Priaulx did get tapped in the rar, watch out for the diffuser.  Priaulx debuted in Formula 3 here at Silverstone.  More pit stops are taking placek for KCMG and others.  They will have an entry for Le Mans, having earned it with their old LMP2 car.

Brendon Hartley runs fastest lap at 1:40.3.  He has a 42 second lead.  It's very close in lap time. 

6 Hours of Silverstone: Hour 1

If you like long distance racing, the FIA World Endurance Championship, is where you will find it.  We begin today, at the home of British motorsport, Silverstone, England.  Who wins the season opener?  Find out, now.

This is the fifth season of FIA World Endurance Championship, competition.  There was the official test day at the Paul Ricard Le Castellet track.  Toyota introduces their new TS050.  Audi has a new generation R18.  Porsche, evolved their championship and Le Mans winning 919 Hybrid Prototype.  Ford arrives in GT and the American team will learn quick to match their ambiotions.  Ferrari also has their new 488 GTE entered, along with Porsche, Corvette, and Aston Martin.  In LMP2, the cars are upgraded, new teams, and also, new drivers. 

Rain is frequent at Silverstone.  Snow, also came.  The GTE Am qualifying went through with Klaus Bachler and Khaled al-Qubaisi, getting fast time.  Davide Rigon and Sam Bird, are on pole in LM GTE Pro.  G Drive has pole in LMP2.  LMP1 produced a shock.  Porsche only qualified third.  Audi sweeps the front row with Andre Lotterer and Marcel Fassler.  Stand by, for the 2016 FIA WEC season opener.  It begins, next!

Actor/racer Patrick Dempsey, is no longer driving, but he's waving the green flag to get the field on track.  Porsche was dominant, winning six races in a row including Le Mans, last year.  Audi has swept the front row.  There was snow, sleet, rain, and sun.  It's still cold at Silverstone, and we are about ready to get this race underway.  These guys are generating tire and brake temperature right now.  Traction controlwill be on full tilt.  These cars tested for 14,000 miles.  But, these complex machines, are still being worked on.

Now, we're ready.  Andre Lotterer and Oliver Jarvis lead the way!  Go!  Ltotterer gets the jump on Jarvis, through Abbey corner.  We expect to see Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado do well in the new Ferrari 488 GTE.  But they changed engines and need to serve a penalty.  Watch Luis Felipe Derani.  He won Daytona and Sebring earlier this year.  Manor moves from Formula 1 to the WEC this year.  Lotterer and Jarvis lead Mark Webber, Romain Dumas, Sebastien Buemi, and Mike Conway.  Audi, Porsche, Toyota.

This track was built on an airfield and opened in 1947.  It's been through eleven track rivisions.  Watch the #42 Strakka Racing car.  It is the only open cockpit LMP2 car.  Nick Leventis, Danny Watts, and Jonny Kane, at the wheel.  Nissan engines power all the cars.  All the LMP2 cars, except for Manor, will be at Le Mans.  Everyone will be there, with a 60 car grid.  Can't wait, for June!  Toyota has switched everything, including batteries for the hybrid system and also, a four cylinder turbo gasoline engine.

Ten Formula E drivers are in this WEC field.  The new Audi is working with their aerodynamics.  It's not as pretty as some of the predecessors, but, it's fast.  The two Ford's are going for it.  Chip Ganassi has two cars here, and had two others at the WeatherTech Championship event in Long Beach, California, a race, you will hear about, soon, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.  We see Mark Webber pull past Oliver Jarvis.  Contact, between Vitaly Petrov and Will Stevens, SMP vs. Manor.  Jarvis says, "I have no grip" in the Audi.

Mark Webber is in pursuit of Oliver Jarvis.  Lotterer vs. Webber for the lead, and Jarvis vs. Dumas, for third.  Tire compounds are what are a factor on the grip.  All LMP1 hybrid cars are on Michelin tires.  Roman Rusinov is leading LMP2.  They are running in conjunction with Jota Sport, who won the European Le Mans Series race, yesterday, and you will hear more, in a short highlight package, about that event, too.  Silverstone has gone through so many revisions.  They run through the eighteenth corner, Club.

The GT cars are going for it, as Andy Priaulx battles.  Neither Rebellion entry recorded a qualifying time in LMP1 L (non hybrid cars).  Pippo Derani leads the class as Bruno Senna makes the pass on the G Drive machine.  Senna is surely, on the attack.  Bruno Senna is pumped about having this opportunity.  RGA Sport By Morand, is the team.  They will promote the World Endurance Championship race in Mexico, later this year.  The LM GTE cars, have massive rear diffusers on them. 

Dunlop is the new tire for the Aston Martin V8's.  The front engine cars have trouble on those tires.  Mark Webber makes a move down the inside, catching Andre Lotterer.  Race control does not want the Prototypes leaning on the GT cars.  Same as in IMSA.  The speed differential between the GT cars and the Prototypes, is simply astonishing.  Moments ago, Mark Webber, passed Andre Lotterer, for the lead!  Respect track limits.  Copse at turn nine, and the final corner at Woodcote, are the ones where drivers are taking too many risks.

Porsche #2 of Dumas, forces the issue on Jarvis, and he's close!  The top LMP1 hybrid cars, are lapping the non hybrid machines, and the terminal velocity is amazing.  In the grass, you've got to lift.  These cars are wild, with 1,000+ horsepower.  It's like a runaway locomotive.  The Audi is gathering 50% more energy, but using less fuel.  Just amazing.  The Porsche has a larger fuel tank, running gasoline vs. Audi using diesel. 

A few years ago, Toyota, Audi, and Porsche, used three different systems.  Flywheel for Audi, super capacitor, for Toyota, and battery, for Porsche.  Now, all three, run on batteries.  The new regulations keep everything in check.  Strakka's Nick Leventis, is driving for Strakka now.  Strakka is named for the Leventis' olive farm in Spain.  Danny Watts, and Jonny Kane, are his co-drivers.  Vitaly Petrov and Nelson Panciatici, battle.  GP2 and DTM drivers who are refugees who could not make it to F1, the World Endurance Championship, is the next best place.

Klaus Bachler is subbing for Patrick Long, who is racing Pirelli World Challenge at Long Beach, in California.  Bachler, himself, is a strong driver.  Wolf Henzler is back running a full season in World Endurance competition.  Henzler had raced in the United States, for eleven years.  Andre Lotterer still runs second.  Mark Webber has checked out on everyone else right now.  Porsche has done 14,000 miles of testing!  A Manor gets in the way of Andre Lotterer, who is chasing the Porsche.  This is great racing at the moment.

First scheduled pit stops are underway.  Chris Cumming replaces Pippo Derani in the ESM Ligier Nissan.  Cumming follows the sister car of Johannes van Overbeek.  Romain Dumas pits, and will hand over the car.  Neel Jani will take over the Porsche.  Manor is pitting both cars right now.  The Toyota's are in the pit.  Toyota has now changed their car and will try to compete with Audi and Porsche.  Neel Jani is now in the #2 Porsche.  Mark Webber in the sister #1 919 Hybrid, is pitting.  Teams split pit strategies, because they are still learning about the cars.  All eyes are on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in June.  Brendon Hartley is now in the car.  He is the quickest Porsche driver, and also, the quietest guy.  Sometimes, that's the best way to be.

Audi is doing double stints and Porsche, single stints.  Fernando Rees for Aston Martin Racing has been black flagged for abusing track limits.  There's lots of runoff area.  However, if you shortcut the circuit, that's a no no.  The cars fly through Maggots/Becketts, and onto the Hangar straight.  Porsche, is dominant, already, telling Audi and Toyota, to be on their game.  Pippo Derani had a great run, and Chris Cumming, is now at the wheel.  Cumming is a silver graded driver, and ooh!  Cumming is off the road, and spins!  Cold tires, more than likely.

He had more speed than the Ferrari he was passing.  Gauge the closing speedbetween the Prototype and the GT car.  Minimum drive time for silver drivers is an hour and fifteen minutes in Prototype and an hour and 45 minutes, in GT.  Tire clag begins to build up off line.  Porsche now has a high downforce setup on the car.  The target is Le Mans.  But, nine races, are all important.  Last year, Porsche gave away this race, and the one at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium (round two of the series), to Audi.

Oliver Jarvis has passed Andre Lotterer.  The two Audi's are sandwiched by the two Toyota's.  Kamui Kobayashi, former Formula 1 driver, is a full-time recruit, for Toyota, replacing Alex Wurz, after he retired.  Pit stop time for Stefan Mucke and the #66 Ford GT.  Andy Priaulx in the #67, he also came in.  American, Billy Johnson, is racing with the new Ford GT in Europe, this year.  He has developed the car, too.  He will learn, the European circuits.  The Ford GT is a new car and a new team.  On the Euro side, George Howard Chapel, he's the team boss.  He worked for Dave Richards and Prodrive, for years.

SMP and their Ferrari pit.  Davide Rigon, takes the car in, and hands it over to British pilot, Sam Bird, in his home race.  23 British drivers are in this race.  Seven LM GTE Pro cars, and there are seven cars.  At Le Mans, we'll see four Ford GT's, the two factory Porsche's will be back, and also, the two factory Corvette's will be there.  Richie Stanaway serves a stop/go penalty.  Nelson Panciatici is also black flagged. 

sports car racing, this weekend

Yours truly, is looking forward, to tomorrow, and the opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship, at Silverstone, in England.  The WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, also races their first sprint race of the season, this afternoon, on the streets of Long Beach, California.  Yours truly, will cover the FIA WEC race tomorrow.  I will also cover the IMSA action, but, maybe in a few days.  So, stay tuned, for a couple of race updates, over the next few days.

IMSA stories from Long Beach

Some stories, before the first sprint race of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, directly from IMSA's webpage.  Stay tuned, for more details.  A race report on the Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix, will come.

Ford Focus RS Named Official Safety Vehicle for Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix

http://www.imsa.com/articles/ford-focus-rs-named-official-safety-vehicle-bubba-burger-sports-car-grand-prix

Mazda Prototype Team Gets Aggressive for Long Beach
http://www.imsa.com/articles/mazda-prototype-team-gets-aggressive-long-beach

BMW Team RLL Returns To Defend Victory at Long Beach
http://www.imsa.com/articles/bmw-team-rll-returns-defend-victory-long-beach

Taylor Brothers To Defend Victory in Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix
http://www.imsa.com/articles/taylor-brothers-defend-victory-bubba-burger-sports-car-grand-prix

More IMSA & FIA WEC News

Races loom for IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, in Long Beach, California, and Silverstone, England, this weekend.  Here's more news, leading up, to both.

Conway Launches eXclaim Racing for Lamborghini ST
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/conway-launches-exclaim-racing-for-lamborghini-st/

Legge: "As a Driver, The Goal is to Win"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/legge-as-a-driver-the-goal-is-to-win/

Inside Ford's Dual Continent Effort for Silverstone, Long Beach
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/inside-fords-dual-continent-effort-for-silverstone-long-beach/

PHOTOS: Silverstone Wednesday Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/photos-silverstone-wednesday-gallery/

Hartley: "We Ended on Such a High From the Last Five Races"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hartley-we-ended-on-such-a-high-from-the-last-five-races/

Leena Gade to Leave Audi, Set for New Bentley Role
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/leena-gade-to-leave-audi-set-for-new-bentley-role/

Happy Birthday, Dan Gurney

Happy Birthday to the legend, the one and only, Dan Gurney.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/dan-gurney-born-in-port-jefferson-new.html?spref=fb

News about Le Mans & the ELMS

Some headlines pertaining to Audi testing for Le Mans, as well as other late breaking developments in the FIA WEC and ELMS.

Audi Testing Le Mans-spec R18 in Monza
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-testing-le-mans-spec-r18-in-monza/

Senna: "The fight in LMP2 is So Strong This Year"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/senna-the-fight-in-lmp2-is-so-strong-this-year/

Giermaziak Completes Greaves Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/giermaziak-completes-greaves-lineup-for-elms-24h-le-mans/

IMSA & FIA WEC news

News from IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, as both series head for races, this weekend.  The WeatherTech Championship is on the streets of Long Beach, California for a sprint race, while the FIA World Endurance Championship, kicks off, with the 6 Hours of Silverstone at the legendary Silvertstone Circuit in Silverstone, England.

Koch Optimistic Despite Being on Sidelines
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/koch-optimistic-despite-being-on-sidelines/

Michelin GTLM Insider: Taking It To The Streets
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/michelin-gtlm-insider-taking-it-to-the-streets/

Antinucci to Sub for Kujala for Monterey, Road America Rounds

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/antinucci-to-sub-for-kujala-in-monterey-lamborghini-st-season-opener/

Atherton Optimistic on IMSA/ACO Relations, Global LMP2 Future
http://sportscar365.com/industry/atherton-optimistic-on-imsa-aco-relations-global-lmp2-future/

The latest Double Stint Podcast.

Double Stint: WEC Season Preview; Richard Lietz Interview (4-12-16)
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-wec-season-preview-richard-lietz-interview-4-12-16/

Menezes: "LMP1 is a Dream That's More Likely Than F1"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/menezes-lmp1-is-a-dream-thats-more-likely-than-f1/

No Changes to GTE BoP for 6H Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gte-bop-unchanged-for-silverstone/

Audi: 8 MJ Hybrid Subclass "Not Worthwhile" for Diesel
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-8-mj-hybrid-subclass-not-worthwhile-for-diesel/

In Memoriam: Yoshimi Katayama

Rest In Peace, Japanese sports car racer, for Mazda, Yoshimi Katayama.  His most significant accomplishment, was a class win, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1984.  He won the C2 prototype division in a Lola T616 Mazda for the BFGoodrich tire company, sharing with American sports car racing veterans John Morton, and John O'Steen.  The trio, finished 10th overall.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/04/09/yoshimi-katayama-1940-2016.html

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/1984/Le_Mans-1984-06-17-068.jpg

...and

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-1984-06-17.html

Triple Shot of Tequila: ESM's Quest For The Triple Crown

Can Tequila Patron ESM get the Triple Crown after winning Daytona and Sebring, going on to win Le Mans in June?  It seems unlikely, because an LMP2 car like their Ligier Honda, will be outperformed by the monstrous hybrid LMP1 prototypes of the FIA World Endurance Championship from the likes of Porsche and Audi.

http://nasportscar.com/triple-shot-of-tequila-esms-quest-for-the-triple-crown/

Blancpain GT Round 1: Misano

Highlights from both the qualifying, and the feature races, from the opening Blancpain GT Series race of 2016 at Misano Adriatico in Misano, Italy. 

Bentley Takes Strategic Win in Misano Qualifying Race
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/bentley-takes-strategic-win-in-misano-qualifying-race/

VIDEO: Misano Qualifying Race Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-misano-qualifying-race-highlights/

Misano Sunday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/sunday-misano-notebook/

Vanthoor, Vervisch Claim Misano Main Race Win
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/vanthoor-vervisch-claim-misano-main-race-win/

VIDEO: Misano Main Race Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-misano-main-race-highlights-2/

PHOTOS: Misano Weekend Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/features/photography/photos-misano-weekend-gallery/
 
The next race for Blancpain GT is also, in Italy, at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, in two weeks.

Crawford Discharged from Hospital After Brain Surgery

Some good news, about Catherine Crawford.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/crawford-discharged-from-hospital-after-brain-surgery/

more sports car racing news

Here is more of the latest sports car racing news.

CORE Expands into Global Rallycross
http://sportscar365.com/industry/core-expands-into-global-rallycross/

Ockey Joins US Racetronics for Lamborghini ST Campaign

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/ockey-joins-us-racetronics-for-lamborghini-st-campaign/

ESM Commits To Remainder of TPNAEC
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/esm-commits-to-remainder-of-tpnaec/

VIDEO: Shank Tests Updated HPD ARX-04b at Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-shank-hpd-arx-04b-test-at-sebring/

PHOTOS: Misano Thursday Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/features/photography/photos-misano-thursday-gallery/

VIDEO: Misano Preview
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-misano-preview/

Buncombe: "It's Great to Also Compete In Sprint Cup This Year"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/buncombe-its-great-to-also-compete-in-the-sprint-cup-this-year/

WRT Audi's Dominate First Practice at Misano
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/wrt-audis-dominate-first-practice/

New Blancpain GT Sporing Regulations Confirmed
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/new-blancpain-gt-sporting-regulations-confirmed/

Misano Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/misano-friday-notebook/

WRT Audi Fastest in Wet Night Practice at Misano
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/wrt-audi-fastest-in-wet-night-practice-at-misano/

Turner To Replace Adam in Beechdean Aston Martin for 4H Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/turner-to-replace-adam-for-4h-silverstone/

Bachler to Sub for Long at 6H Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bachler-to-sub-for-long-at-6h-silverstone/

Q&A: The 2017 Daytona Prototype International (DPI) Concept

Questions about the new Daytona Prototype International concept, answered.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/qa-2017-daytona-prototype-international-dpi-concept

Fourth Corvette C7.R For 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours

It looks like there will be a fourth Corvette, from Japan's Team AAI, joining the two factory entries, and the one, from Larbre Competition, for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in June.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/04/07/fourth-corvette-c7-r-for-2016-le-mans-24-hours.html

Brumos Closes Its Doors, Haywood Reflects on Legacy

Brumos Porsche, a legendary dealer that was also involved with sponsoring some of their race cars, is no more.  The dealer is still there, but it is under new ownership, and is now called, Porsche Jacksonville.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/brumos-closes-its-doors-haywood-reflects-on-legacy/

more sports car racing news

Continuing to look at news items from the world of sports car racing via Sportscar365.

25 Entries for IMSA at Long Beach
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/25-entries-for-imsa-at-long-beach/

Ligier JS P2 Honda Hit With Further Performance Cut for Long Beach

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ligier-js-p2-honda-hit-with-further-performance-cut-for-long-beach/

Rossiter Completes ByKolles Lineup for Silverstone, Spa
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rossiter-completes-kolles-lineup-for-silverstone-and-spa/

Montecalvo: "My goal is to earn the GT badge and move up"

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/montecalvo-my-goal-is-to-earn-the-gt-badge-and-move-up/

GT racing news

News from the GT racing side of sports car racing.

Dries Vanthoor: "I Hope I Can Follow In The Footsteps of My Brother"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/dries-vanthoor-i-hope-i-can-follow-in-the-footsteps-of-my-brother/

Double Stint: Blancpain GT Season Preview; Vince Abril Interview (4-5-16)

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/double-stint-blancpain-gt-season-preview-vincent-abril-interview-4-5-16/

Plowman, Dolby Complete Garage 59 Lineup for Blancpain Sprint
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/plowman-dolby-complete-garage-59-lineup-for-blancpain-sprint/

Sandstrom, Henkola Complete Grid For Misano
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/sandstrom-henkola-complete-blancpain-sprint-grid-for-misano/

Scuderia Praha to Debut Ferrari 488 GT3 at Monza
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/scuderia-praha-to-debut-ferrari-488-gt3-at-monza/

Monza Entry List Update: 4-6
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/blancpain-monza-entry-list-update-4-6/

Vautier: "It's About Driving Against the Best Drivers and Teams"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/vautier-its-about-driving-against-the-best-drivers-and-teams/

Wittmer Joins Mills Racing BMW Z4 GT3 for PWC Sprint-X Rounds
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/wittmer-joins-mills-racing-bmw-for-pwc-sprint-x-rounds/

24 Entries for PWC at Long Beach
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/24-entries-for-pwc-at-long-beach/

Nissan Confirms N24 Effort With Zakspeed, RJN
http://sportscar365.com/gt/n24/nissan-confirms-n24-effort-with-zakspeed-and-rjn/

In Brief: FIA WEC & ELMS news

A couple of headlines, pertaining to the FIA World Endurance Championship, and, the European Le Mans Series.

Franchitti: "I Wanted This So Badly"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/franchitti-i-wanted-this-so-badly/

Ghorpade Completes Algarve Pro Racing Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/ghorpade-completes-algarve-pro-racing-lmp2-lineup/

...and

Bertolini Headlines JMW Ferrari ELMS Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/bertolini-headlines-jmw-ferrari-elms-lineup/

Phoenix Audi's Sweep VLN Season Opener

A race report, on the opening round of the Nurburgring VLN Championship for 2016.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/phoenix-leads-audi-sweep-in-vln-season-opener/

WTCC Champion Lopez Eyeing Switch To Prototype Racing

At the end of this season, when his Citroen World Touring Car Championship factory contract, runs out, two-time World Touring Car Champion, Jose Maria Lopez, could switch, from touring cars, to endurance sports car racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wtcc-champion-lopez-eyeing-switch-to-wec/

Conway: "We've Been Chipping Away Test After Test"

Mike Conway hopes that with a brand new race car, Toyota, can (after a very difficult, and disappointing 2015 season) rebound, in a big way in 2016.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/conway-weve-been-chipping-away-test-after-test/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Sebring

The race broadcast of round two for the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, from Sebring International Raceway, in Sebring, Florida.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/2016-sebring-150-race-broadcast

CTSCC round three will be at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California, in support of the WeatherTech Championship, as always, at the end of this month.

sports car racing news flash

Updates on news from IMSA, FIA WEC, and ELMS.

First reported yesterday.  Praying for Catherine Crawford.

DeltaWing Engineer Crawford Undergoes Surgery for Brain Tumor
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/deltawing-engineer-crawford-undergoes-surgery-for-brain-tumor/

Plus, more headlines.

Meyrick to Sub for Rayhall in DeltaWing at Long Beach
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/meyrick-to-sub-for-rayhall-in-deltawing-at-long-beach/

VIDEO: Sights and Sounds of Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-sights-and-sounds-of-sebring-2/

Fassler: "We're Still In A Learning Prcoess"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fassler-were-still-in-a-learning-process/

Norma Named as Sixth LMP3 Constructor
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/norma-named-6th-lmp3-constructor/

45 Entries for 4H Silverstone
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/45-entries-for-4h-silverstone/