Trans Am at Mid Ohio

The latest Trans Am Series race to be on video.  Here's the First Energy 100 from Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

ELMS at Paul Ricard

All the news and results from the latest round of the European Le Mans Series at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Le Castellet, France.  The Le Castellet 4 Hours.

Beche Storms to Paul Ricard Pole
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/beche-becomes-first-repeat-elms-polesitter-of-season/

Paul Ricard Weekend Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/paul-ricard-weekend-notebook-2/

TDS Leads First Half at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/tds-leads-first-half-of-4h-paul-ricard/

TDS Goes Three-in-a-Row at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/tds-dominates-paul-ricard-for-third-win-in-succession/

Lone Star Racing Targeting Full Season GTD Program in 2017

Lone Star Racing will try to run a full season GT Daytona program in IWSC next year.  But, the question remains, what car will they run?  The Dodge Viper, has ended production, and is more or less obsolete with the new European FIA GT3 regulations in GT Daytona to begin with.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/lone-star-racing-targeting-full-season-gtd-program-in-2017/

News about CORE Autosport

CORE Autosport is looking to race an Oreca 07 Gibson in the 2017 IMSA Prototype division.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/08/28/core-autosports-looking-to-imsa-prototype-class-in-2017.html

But, folks, all of that has changed, as IMSA is not looking for a Pro Am component to the new Prototype division.  Therefore, this is the team's new plan.

CORE Planning Switch to GTD With Porsche
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/core-poised-for-switch-to-gtd-with-porsche/

VIR race wrap up

Wrapping up IMSA action from Virginia International Raceway, with post-race news, and a disqualification/penalty for Magnus Racing and their Audi in GT Daytona.

Paul Miller Breaks Through for Lamborghini's First GTD Win
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/paul-miller-breaks-through-for-lamborghinis-first-gtd-win/

As you know, from the race report, Corvette Racing wins overall at VIR.

Magnussen, Garcia Take Corvette to Victory at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/magnussen-garcia-take-corvette-to-victory-at-vir/

VIDEO: VIR Race Recap
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-vir-race-recap/

GTD Podium-Finishing Magnus Audi Excluded
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/gtd-podium-finishing-magnus-audi-excluded/

Winner & highlights of the IMSA Oak Tree Grand Prix/Michelin GT Challenge

GT class cars, have a long tradition, of racing, at Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia.  This is a track that was on the sports car racing radar from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s, and then, fell off the radar for a good number of years.  But now, it is indeed, back to it's former glory.  The GT Le Mans and GT Daytona divisions of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, take center stage, today.

Rolling hills and green grass is part of the scenery.  But, this track is very demanding.  The temperature is one thing.  Hot!  We are live, for sports car racing.  In GT Le Mans it has been Ford and Corvette going at it.  Ferrari is on top in GT Daytona, with Audi and Viper, giving chase.  Anything can happen, as we start, now!  "If there really is a heaven on earth, it must be VIR."  VIR has just been repaved.  Pure dominance for Corvette #4 and Ford GT #67.  The heat and humidity will be a big deal.  All cooling systems need to be set.  The tires also need to be at a specific temperature at 200 to 220 degrees.

The cockpit temperatures will also b measured.  It's hot.  W are gren for the Michelin GT Challenge!  We are green!  Jan Magnussen leads and here come the Ford, the Ferrari, and the BMW.  Joey Hand in the Ford GT is up to second, and we almost see the BMW M6 go off the road!  Run up to the esses.  This ribbon of road is amazing for the GTLM cars.  Magnussen is truly hooked up.  TommyMilner tries Giancarlo Fisichella.  But, it's close.  Down though the Roller Coaster, and back uphill to Hog Pen, to complete lap one.  The Ford GT gives up speed quicker than the Corvtte does.

Tommy Milner is starting to lose spots.  It's slick off line as the Turner Motorsports BMW M6 is into the pit lane in GT Daytona.  He's gone off the road, and neds to repair damage.  Thefront splitter is damaged.  Joey Hand closes on Jan Magnussen as Giancarlo Fisichella is third.  Magnussen twitches.  The Turner BMW goes behind tghe wall.  Ryan Brisco and Richard Westbrook are way down the order.  Westbriiik has to be careful.  Yesterday, during the Continental Tire Challeng race, had a huge deluge of rain. n The grass outside the track is also wet.  So, do your darnedest to not go off the road,

It's Tandy vs. Milner.  Westbrook maybe tagged that yellow and blue BMW M6 out of Hog Pen.  Bret Curtis went around, and has now had to regroup.  No action from the stewards.  The cars work through the Roller Coaster section of track.  Dirk Werner is running well in the BMW.  Madison Snow in the Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini, is pushing, with Matt Bell in the Stvenson Motorsports Audi R8, is still going strong.  This course is suited for Lamborghini and Audi.

VIR is an hour or so north of Greensboro, North Carolina.  The track is repaved entirely.  Richard Westbrook has gotten around one of his rivals.  Madison Snow leads GT Daytona at the moment in a class dominated by Lamborghini and Audi this weekend.  The whole GT Daytona field was two seconds quicker than the old track record with the new pavement and GT3 spec cars.  Christina Nielsen is also pushing very hard with the Ferrari 458 Italia of Scuderia Corsa.  Nielsen has slid to tenth in the running order.  Did the Ferrari get caught in the Ford/BMW shemozzle earlier?  Maybe.

Corey Lewis and Spencer Pumpelly should give the Lamhorghini, a run.  The pace is really heating up.  Do teams go for two or three pit stops?  It'll depend on long runs in the heat.  Who has tire longevity?  Who has tire performance?  The fuel window will also play a factor.  Nick Tandy gaps Tommy Milner.  He almost went off the road into the wet grass.  Porsche has had a lean year in North American GT competition, as the team Porsche of Earl Bamber, wiggles a bit.  Jan Magnussen has nearly a second in hand over the #67 Ford GT of Joey Hand.  Tire pressures need to come up on the Corvette, and the team is also working on fuel maps, running leaner, to save fuel.

Giancarlo Fisichella runs wide ahead of Dirk Werner in the BMW M6 GT.  Those blokes needed a wheel change for some reason.  The #100 car of John Edwards, he lost a wheel and had to pit to change it.  Don't lose a wheel at 160+ miles an hour.  Three wheels on my wagon.  We have not seen anything like this from the #25 BMW.  But, the Ford #67 and the Corvette #4 just have had a lot more luck.  Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller have had speed, won Le Mans, but they haven't had much else to show this year.  In GTLM, you have three compounds on soft, medium, and hard compounds for Michelin tires.

Giancarlo Fisichella forces the issue and runs Mario Farnbacher off the line into turn one.  The #100 BMW M6 GT will be penalized by the stewards for the fireman at their pit, not having his balaclava and goggles on.  Watch out for the grass, because there are loose grass clippings that could clog a radiator, easily, in one of these GT racers.  John Edwards and Lucas Luhr have had a fraught season thus far in the IWSC.  The fuel window will be 55-57 minutes, in this two hour and 40 minute race.  Jan Magnussen is leading overall in GTLM at the moment.

Dirk Werner, Giancarlo Fisichella, Nick Tandy, and Tommy Milner are liner stern, but, they are behind the leader.  Tandy runs deep, and Milner takes fifth spot away.  Tandy was way off line.  There's a lot of grip on this track.  It's like Velcro.  But, if you go off on the grass, it's like getting on a skating rink.  There are no paved runoffs or gravel traps at VIR.  They dug down into the pavement, without changing the corners.  The same blokes who repaved Watkins Glen in New York, repaved this place.  Cedric Sbirazualli in the Lamborghini, off and on.

Christina Nielsen is dealing with a vibration in her Ferrari at the moment.  Madison Snow still leads.  There are concerns about fueling time for the Lamborghini's.  Thjey had their fueling restrictor reduced by a milimeter and a half, costing them seven additional seconds in the lane.  Madison Snow has seven seconds in hand in the lead.  Andrew Davis, he does not have the handling he wants on his Audi.  The car crashed in practice, and confidence is needed to fly through these corners.  Andrew Davis, is loose.  Christina Nielsen is in a similar situation, pushing herself up to a higher position.

Jan Magnussen continues to lead.  But, key cars are having some issues.  BMW #25 runs wide.  The Corvette goes off the road, getting clag all over his tires.  Thjat grill is packed with grass.  Ooh!  The Viper, spins off the road in GT Daytona.  The #4 Corvette pits and Bryan Sellers, he is the driver going into the #48 PMR Lamborghini.  Good, clean stop.  Check that.  Madison Snow might still be in the car.  We saw Ben Keating spin into the grass, and he got it into a forward gear, and thankfully didn't crash.  The #63 Ferrari is in, and they need to clear grass out.  Christina Nielsen is out of the car and has to finish her stint later, as Alessandro Balzan is now at the wheel.  Christina went off the road in the uphill.

Drive through penalty for the #4 Corvette for using an unspecified air hose.  Antonio Garcia now takes over the sister car from Jan Magnussen.  The #4 car had an air line blowing out the radiators but it was operated by a man behind pit wall.  That's a no no.  Hot tires, and a light fuel load.  It is go time, here at VIR.  Ryan Briscoe takes over the #67 and the #911 Porsche 911RSR is slightly off the road.  GTD teams are doing driver changes before 50 minutes, because of fuel issues.  #63 is good to go with Alessandro Balzan at the controls.  Antonio Garcia is going for it on Dirk Mueller out of Hog Pen.

The Corvette's were 11 thousandths of a second apart.  Robin Liddell is being pushed by the Corvette.  GTLM vs. GTD.  Bill Auberlen took over the #25 BMW from Dirk Werner.  Joey Hand runs a 1:43.1 on his in lap of his stint.  Fast lap of the race so far.  Earl Bamber has caught Dirk Mueller.  Down into turn one, Bamber passes Liddell.  Earl Bamber is chasing the Ford GT.  Antonio Garcia is going for it, and is still strong.  Lamborghini #16 is off the road.  The humidity is up, in Virginia.  One of the Porsche's went off the road.  Frenchman Frederic Makowiecki, at the wheel.

It is go time, as we watch Andy Lally, trying to attack the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW M6 of Markus Palttala.  With confidence, Andy Lally can truly set a fast, consistent, pace.  Lally is a street luge racer.  He ran down the back straight on his street luge at 107 miles an hour.  Lally will try for a street luge speed record.  Spencer Pumpelly, we watch him again, sliding off the road in the Hog Pen.  One other chap who has done well, is Michael Marsal, a gentleman driver, who is Markus Palttala's team mate.  Marsal is taking his racing far more seriously.  No driver change for the PMR #48 Lamborghini.  Madison Snow is still going for it.

Ryan Briscoe runs sixth, two spots clear of Tommy Milner's Corvette.  Lawson Aschenbach is catching Madison Snow.  Mario Farnbacher has also come from nearly dad lastt, to third in class for Alex Job at The Heart of Racing team.  The #80 SRT Viper of Mike Skeen is fifth in GTD, sharing with Dan Knox.  Sadly, it's game over for the sister #96 Turner Motorsports BMW.  120 degree track temperature, with zero tire concerns.  That's good news.  Antonio Garcia leads Dirk Mueller at the moment. Chevrolet vs. Ford.  Ryan Briscoe runs ahead of Tommy Milner at the moment.  Ford hasb track position.

Only two rounds left in IWSC after this race.  Plus, there are a few other races that still need to be covered here on the blog.  Oh dear!  An off/on for Patrtick Pilet.  #912 of Earl Bamber is off the road as well.  Hmmm.  A sudden incident.  Hit the braskes and clear the grass.  Patrick Pilet is pitting now.  A huge amount of grass is caught in the radiator inlet and it is cleaned out.  He's lost time and dropped to eighth.  Garcia, Mueller, Vilander, are the top three.  The #3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia has set sail in the GTLM lead.  Garcia can and has used a full rich fuel setting, to gain more speed.  1:42.9 for Dirk Mueller.  Mueller sets his personal best lap time.

Joey Hand was able to pull a Michael Schumacher, and while other drivers pitted, he starting laying down really quick, blistering lap times.  Will Risi Competizione lose some time based on their fuel flow restriction?  Hmmm.  Every make needs to take the same time frame to fill the car with fuel, despite different types of engines and different fuel capacities/consumption.  Andy Lally has a lead in this race.  The SRT Viper is running well,l and they could have a strong showing in the next IWSC race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, next month.

The leaders catch GTD traffic.  Madison Snow pits, and Bryan  Sellers takes over the car once again.  Many teams have tgo be careful with their pit stops.  But, trouble for Alessandro Balzan.  He's got a cut tire and thankfully, he's managed to pit.  Lawson Aschenbach also pits one of the Stevenson Audi R8's.  Patrick Pilet races the #4 Corvette for position.  #3 and #66 both in the lane for routine service.  Oliver Gavin has had some tire issues.  #66 could not stretch their fuel.  Corvette #4 is sixth. The bad news is, the #67 Ford leads, but needs to pit.  Robbin Liddell will have a drive through penalty.  #66 in the pit lane, now.

Dirk Mueller is closing on Antonio Garcia.  Toni Vilander in the #62 Ferrari made his last pit stop.  Spencer Pumpelly in the #16 Lamborghini is slow.  Earl Bamber nudges the Ford to try and get around Joey Hand.  Pumpelly tries to get off the racing line, as Bryan Sellers in the #48 Lamborghini is also off the road!  #16 pits.  Mueller runs behind the Corvette through The Snake.  Did Antonio Garcia run wide and get clag on his tires?  The warm weather is making these tires handle differently, but it is good, since midway through the stint, they come into their own.  Temperatures are not so bad, but the humidity is up.  Campers were sunburned and looking like boiled lobsters.  So, it's hot in Alton, Virginia.

Car #48 may be needing to look at their fuel situation.  Earl Bamber does the bump and run through the kink and says "thank you very much", making the pass. Antonio Garcia leads Dirk Mueller right now and Giancarlo Fisichella is also up there.  Turner Motorsports' race goes from bad to worse.  Markus Palttala has a tire down.  Their strategist, Don Salama, it's his birthday today.  But, not a good present, seeing your car, being torn up, by a shredded tire.  Take your medicine, and fix the problem if you can.  Madison Snow leads the GT Daytona class.  This is a huge swing in points, when we have only two races to go in the season.

We have just over a half hour left in this event.  VIR resurfaced the speedway before in 2013, but it wasn't working.  So, they decided, "let's do it right, and repave the whole track".  Well, it seems that is working like a charm.  Dirk Mueller is losing a little time to Antonio Garcia, who is in control and managing the gap.  Garcia flies in one of these Corvette's.  Car #3 is looking for their first win of the 2016 season in IWSC.  Giancarlo Fisichella is some 22 seconds in-arrears of the leaders, as Alex Riberas is a lapped GTD Porsche.  Antonio Garcia is a great driver, who does not make mistakes.

The #27 Lamborghini is in the lane after problems, with the sister driver at the wheel.  Luca Pesiani is that driver, sharing with lead pilot, Cedric Sbirrazuioli.  Jeroen Bleekemolen needs to get rid of the grass in his SRT Viper's radiator.  Hit the brakes, and ditch the grass.  Bleekemolen is in the pits to get the grille cleaned.  Mike Rockenfeller and Marcel Fassler will run the enduro at Petit Le Mans for the season finale and Ben Keating, his team might very well stay in GTD with a new manufacturer and a new car, next year.

Mike Skeen and Alex Riberas are battling each other.  Skeen has lots of laps at VIR.  This is Riberas' first VIR race.  We have not seen a yellow flag all day, and we could see a race with no yellows here, for two years in a row.  Mike Skeen is holding off Riberas' challenge.  Skeen raced here in Trans Am back in 2009, but has not forgotten the quick line around his home track.  We are into the final 15 minutes of this race.  Alex Riberas has gone ahead of Mike Skeen.  Ooh!  Riberas thumps Skeen's Viper.  Alessandro Balzan gets around Mike Skeen.  Fuel for the Audi's is going to be close.

Robin Liddell and company in the Stevenson Audi, they are in the catbird seat on fuel.  Oliver Gavin passes Ryan Briscoe for fourth.  Briscoe in the Ford, had a slight mishap.  The #4 car does not have any weak spots.  Skeen pits his SRT Viper.  Balzan is now right behind Riberas.  Spencer Pumpelly is reeling off very quick laps after having issues earlier on.  Corey Lewis is his team mate.  #3 has an off and holds on.  We are so close to the finish, here at Virginia International Raceway.  Oh no!

Corvette #4 is off the road!  Oliver Gavin, is off.  He got on the curb, spun through the Roller Coaster, and, ker-rash!  That was a long brake pedal for sure.  Gavin his driven the car back to pit lane.  He's devastated and knows it was a mistake.  Game over for car #4.  There's fluid coming out of the car.  The GTD cars get a wave around.  Thre will be a shootout to the end of this race.  Everyone will go full rich for these final laps and put the welly down.  Lights out on the safety car, and here we go, for the race to the finish!

Safety car, in.  Garcia, away!  Into the first trurn, Bamber is looking for it, and turns into Fisichella who is hung up on the grass!  Risi Competizione won't be happy.  Final lap.  We will be done, this time by.  Antonio Garcia has checked out.  Corvette #3 is going to win the Michelin GT Challenge!  Bryan Sellers is under pressure from Lawson Aschenbach and Andy Lally in GTD.  Antonio Garcia will give Corvette their fifth win of the year and the first for Garcia and Magnussen!

Jan Magnussen  gets his seventh win and second at VIR.  The first VIR win for Antonio Garcia.  In GT Daytona, it is Lamborghini earning their first ever IMSA WeatherTech win with Paul Miller Racing, and drivers Madison Snow, and Bryan Sellers!

Overall/GT Le Mans: #3 Garcia/Magnussen     Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-
             GT Daytona: #48 Sellers/Snow             Lamborghini Huracan GT3

Folks, there are now two races remaining in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship for 2016.  Yours truly has a couple that have not been seen or written about.  Will catch up with those.  But, the penultimate event of the season is the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, coming up in less than three weeks.

Post script.  Earl Bamber and Giancarlo Fisichella, have had some cool down lap argy bargy.  Not good.  Those two blokes will have to settle their differences now that the race is over.  So long, everyone.  We'll see you, in Texas. 

VIR pre-race notebook

Ladies and gentlemen, stay tuned, soon, for coverage of the IMSA race from Virginia International Raceway, when yours truly, has time, to blog about it.  In the meantime, here's the up to date pre-race news.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/vir-pre-race-notebook-2/

Cadillac DPi Set to Begin Testing

It looks as though Cadillac will re-enter the Prototype ranks of sports car racing, for the first time in 15 years, as they are set to test their version of the Daytona Prototype International or DPi concept.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/cadillac-dpi-set-to-begin-testing/

more sports car racing news

News and information, not only for the IMSA WeatherTech GT class race at Virginia International Raceway this weekend, but also, for some other sports car racing championships.

Continental Tire Keys To The Race: VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/continental-tire-keys-to-the-race-vir-2/

No. 98 Aston Martin Switches to Michelins for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/no-98-aston-martin-switches-to-michelins/

Picariello to Make Blancpain GT Debut with Phoenix at Hungaroring
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/picariello-to-make-blancpain-debut-with-phoenix-at-hungaroring/

Coleman Among Murphy Signings for 4H Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/coleman-among-murphy-signings-for-4h-le-castellet/

Lally Makes CTSC Return at VIR in RS1 Porsche Cayman
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/lally-makes-ctsc-return-at-vir-in-rs1-porsche-cayman/

Milner: "VIR Has Been a Great Track to Me"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/milner-vir-has-been-a-great-track-to-me/

VIR Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/vir-thursday-notebook-2/

Snow, Sellers in Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini ST Entry for VIR

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborghini-st/snow-sellers-to-complete-lamborghini-st-season-in-paul-miller-entry/

Sellers: "These Cars Are Such Different Animals"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sellers-it-expands-paul-miller-racings-lamborghini-experience/

Bamber Tops Opening Practice at VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bamber-tops-opening-practice-at-vir/

DragonSpeed Dominates Friday at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/dragonspeed-dominates-friday-at-paul-ricard/

Walkinshaw Porsche Scorches to Maiden Pole in Sydney
http://sportscar365.com/gt/australian-gt/walkinshaw-gt3-scorches-to-maiden-pole-position-in-sydney/

Mies Tops Free Practice at Hungaroring
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/mies-tops-blancpain-free-practice-at-hungaroring/

24 Hours of Spa: Part 3 (the finish)

The third part, of the 24 Hours of Spa, including the race finish.

24 Hours of Spa: Part 2

Part 2 of the 2016 Spa 24 Hours.  The race's middle stages. 

24 Hours of Spa: Part 1

The opening segment of the crown jewel event of the Blancpain Endurance Series, and GT3 spec cars.  The 24 Hours of Spa.

ISC, SCRAMP Partnership for MRLS Operations Gaining Momentum

International Speedway Corp. and SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula), have agreed to a management proposal to oversee the operations of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the foreseeable future.  Sportscar365 has the details.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/scramp-isc-partnership-for-mrls-operations-gaining-momentium/

Double Stint: News Roundup: Earl Bamber Interview (8-23-16)

The latest Double Stint podcast from Sportscar365.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/double-stint-news-roundup-earl-bamber-interview-8-23-16/

more sports car racing headlines

More news from the world of sports car racing, particular pertaining to IMSA and FIA WEC.

The latest Michelin GTLM Insider.

Michelin GTLM Insider: The Knock-On Effect
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/michelin-gtlm-insider-the-knock-on-effect/

Williamson to Complete Season in Strakka Gibson
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/williamson-to-complete-season-in-strakka-gibson/

Graff Steps Up to LMP2 with Oreca 07 for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/graff-steps-up-to-lmp2-with-oreca-07-for-2017/

Keating Purchases Riley-Multimatic LMP2 for 2017 Campaign
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/keating-purchases-riley-lmp2-for-2017-campaign/

UMC Planning Expansion; Wilson Leading China Track Development

Utah Motorsports Campus plans to expand their facility, and former General Manager of UMC, Alan Wilson, is also working on developing more race tracks in China, with the assistance of Chinese automaker, Geely and it's subsidiary, Mitime Investment & Development Group.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/umc-planning-expansion-wilson-leading-chinese-track-development/

INSIGHT: Prepping for IMSA's DPi Future

The future, is now, as IMSA prepares to introduce their new Daytona Prototype International formula, for the 2017 North American sports car racing season.  Racer magazine's Marshall Pruett has the scoop.

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/133238-insight-prepping-for-imsa-s-dpi-future?showall&limitstart

more sports car racing news (assorted bytes from different series)

Another sports car racing news update, with assorted bytes from different series.

IMSA Confirms CTSC Car Eligibility for 2017 and Beyond
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/imsa-confirms-ctsc-car-eligibility-for-2017-and-beyond/

Ford VR App Launches: Debuts with 24H Le Mans 360-Degree Story
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-vr-app-launches-debuts-with-24h-le-mans-story/

Manor Drops Second LMP2 Entry for 6H Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/manor-drops-second-lmp2-car-for-6h-mexico/

Teams Pledge Support for GT Asia Amid Blancpain GT Asia Launch
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/teams-voice-support-for-gt-asia-amid-blancpain-gt-expansion/

36 Cars on Hungaroring Entry List
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/36-cars-on-hungaroring-entry-list/

Increased Car Count for 4H Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/increased-entry-for-4h-paul-ricard/

An interview with Rory Butcher, who took his maiden win in the European Le Mans Series at the 4 Hours of the Red Bull Ring in Austria, last month.

Butcher: "This Win Was Going to Come Sometime Soon"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/butcher-this-win-was-going-to-come-sometime-soon/

Porsche GTD Withdrawals Made on Team Level

As has already been stated here, two top level GT Daytona tams who race Porsche's have withdrawn from the upcoming GT Le Mans and GT Daytona class race for the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship at Virginia International Raceway.  However, the withdrawals were not decided upon by Porsche.  Rather, the individual teams made th call not to race.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/porsche-gtd-withdrawals-made-on-team-level/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Road America

The race broadcast of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge event from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

http://imsatv.imsa.com/video/082016/2016-road-america-broadcast

CTSCC joins the GT classes in IMSA WeatherTech competition for their next race at Virginia International Raceway, next weekend.

More IMSA news

More news from IMSA, some of it is welcome, and some of it, shocking and yet perhaps expected as two teams pull the plug on their efforts in GT Daytona.

A story relevant to IMSA and to the Blancpain GT Series about Lamborghini.

Inside Lamborghini's World GT3 Growth
http://sportscar365.com/gt/inside-lamborghinis-worldwide-gt3-growth/

Shank: 2017 Continental Tire a "Positive Direction"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/shank-2017-continental-tire-a-positive-direction/

WeatherTech Porsche Withdraws from IMSA in BoP Dispute
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/weathertech-porsche-withdraws-from-imsa/

Park Place Pulls Porsche GTD Entry for VIR
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/park-place-porsche-withdrawn-from-vir/

IMSA GT Teams Set for Michelin GT Challenge at VIR

In a couple of weekends, the GT Le Mans and GT Daytona classes of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship will get a chance to shine in a stand alone race for the GT classes, at Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia.  The Michelin GT Challenge.  Here is a preview.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-gt-teams-set-for-michelin-gt-challenge-at-vir/

First Gibson LMP2 Engines Delivered to Constructors

Gibson Technology has delivered the engines to constructors (new, spec engines, built by the company), for the new LMP2 class in FIA World Endurance Championship competition that is going to debut, next year.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/first-gibson-lmp2-engines-delivered-to-constructors/

Porsche to Retain Existing Monocoque for 2017 LMP1 Car

Porsche is going to retain the same monocoque for their 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 racer, as used in the current 919 Hybrid.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/same-tub-design-for-2017-porsche-919-hybrid/

24 Hours of the Nurburgring 2016 highlights

Check out this video of highlights from the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring that took place back in May.  At that time, yours truly posted a brief synopsis of the event.  But, here's a condensed highlights video for your viewing pleasure.

24 Hours of Spa coverage

Yours truly has been very, very busy as of late, and hopes soon, to provide full coverage of the 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps.  When there is indeed ample time to do so, look for a full race summary, with hourly reports, right here on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog, as well as video recaps of the whole race.  Stay tuned.

brief news from the FIA WEC and ELMS

A couple of news headlines from the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series.

Conway to Sub for Hirakawa at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/conway-to-sub-for-hirakawa-at-4h-le-castellet/

Barker: "We're More Than Capable of Sticking It to The Other Teams"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/barker-we-are-more-than-capable-of-sticking-it-to-the-other-teams/

Toledano Joins Manor for 6H Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toledano-joins-manor-for-6h-mexico/

Continental Tire Road Race Showcase Race Broadcast

The race broadcast from the IMSA Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America.

http://imsatv.imsa.com/video/082016/2016-continental-tire-road-race-showcase-broadcast

Q&A With Continental Tire's Travis Roffler on IMSA Evolution

Sportscar365 founder and Editor-in-Chief, John Dagys, interviews Travis Roffler, Director of Marketing for Continental Tire, to discuss the new era of IMSA, beginning next year in both the WeatherTech Championship, and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/qa-with-continental-tires-travis-roffler-on-imsa-evolution/

Sims: "We Were Not the Favorites to Go and Win Spa"

Folks, yours truly still has to go through and publish a multi-part race report on the Spa 24 Hours.  Time sometimes prevents that from being done.  However, before we get to a full race report, here is an interview with one of the winning drivers on the Rowe Racing BMW M6 GT squad, Alexander Sims.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/sims-we-were-not-the-favorites-to-go-and-win-spa/

Pirelli World Challenge coverage

Back in May, we saw the debut of the new Pirelli World Challenge SprintX Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.  Here is what has happened, since then including news, and race coverage.

Calvert to Make GTA Debut at Mid Ohio; Enters SprintX Rounds

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/calvert-to-make-gta-debut-enters-remaining-sprintx-rounds/

Lewis to Complete Season in Calvert Dynamics Porsche
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/lewis-to-complete-season-in-calvert-dynamics-porsche/

41 Entries for PWC at Mid Ohio
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/41-entries-for-pwc-at-mid-ohio/

Kox Poised for Acura NSX GT3 Drive
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/kox-poised-for-acura-nsx-drive/

More news to come.  Stay tuned for coverage of the Lime Rock event, in a post, following this one.

Trans Am at Brainerd International Raceway

Check this out.  We don't often get a chance to cover the Trans Am Series here.  But, this double feature of races, is big, for yours truly.  They took place over Independence Day weekend at my home track, at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.  This is one of it's formative race courses, which back in the 1960s, when Trans Am got started, was called Donnybrook Raceway.  We join commentators Rick Benjamin, Michael McDowell, and Todd Lewis, for the call.  Two races.  TA, TA3, and TA4, and also, TA2.

Winner & highlights of the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America

Just a few races remain in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship season for 2016.  Today, we are at the picturesque, legendary Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  A famous, four mile ribbon of asphalt, that is one of the great speed palaces of North America, if not the world.  This race is mega for the championship in Prototype.  Starworks and Renger van der Zande have won three racs this year.  We have a battle ahead in GTLM and GT Daytona.  Last time out at Lime Rock (a race you will hear about, soon), Corvette beat Ford and got their 100th win.  The #66 Ford GT of Dirk Mueller and Joey Hand has pole, but the sister car #67 was penalized.

Scuderia Corsa and Magnus Racing are battling for the GT Daytona championship.  Championships are wide open right now.  Road America is a fast track with 14 critical corners.  We are green!  Jonathan Bomarito in the Mazda leads ahead of the Corvette Prototype's of Christian Fittipaldi and Ricky Taylor.  Eric Curran and company battle.  GT Le Mans competitors are flying as Patrick Pilet leads Dirk Mueller. Porsche leads Corvette and Ford.  Giancarlo Fisichella is pressuring for position in the Ferrari 488 turbo.  Andrew Davis and others are pushing in GT Daytona.

Spencer Pumpelly spins the Change Racing Lamborghini.  The Kink is the beastly corner here at Road America.  Bomarito is comfortable with his Continental tires in the Mazda.  Clean and green for them at the moment, going out to play right no0w.  The cloud cover over Road America is helping with track temperature, in turn, helping the balance of the car.  But, it is a guessing game.  What do you do?  Three stops for Prototypes and two, for GT.  The GT class cars will be comfortable to drive today.  It’s Porsche vs. BMW M6 in GT Daytona through the Carousel.

Sven Mueller is the new driver in the #22 WeatherTech Porsche as we see the Ford spin out of Canada corner.  Dirk Mueller is in trouble.  Something could be broken on the Ford.  Is the engine not working?  It costs you 42 seconds running through the lane at 60 kilometers an hour.  Bodywork damage in the front.  There is an issue for the car, though, and they need a nw front nose.  Since their Le Mans win, they have not had good racing luck.  In GTLM, Patrick Pilet leads in class as Giancarlo Fisichella is chasing him down.  Fisichella has lost ground, but Kiwi Earl Bamber, is chasing him down into the Carousel.

 

The #70 Mazda, is in pit lane.  Mazda has won three poles, but they have not won a race yet.  Jonathan Bomarito leads, but Tom Long will perhaps have to retire the sister car.  It is getting hairy, as Prototypes hit lapped traffic and we watch a couple of Prototype Challenge cars, spin.  One of them, nor both, could be team cars for BAR1 Motorsports.  Matt McMurry and Don Yount, have both spun off the road.  Yount and Johnny Mowlem share the car.  The race is under a short full course yellow.  Dirk Mueller ran wide, and in replay, he gets passed by Giancarlo Fisichella and the engine note fluctuates.

 

Mueller had another problem, slapping the wall when he lifted off the throttle into the turn.  There was nothing mechanically wrong with the Ford.  It's turbo, spooled up prematurely, to provide more power for the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6.  Lights are now out on the safty car, ready to resum racing here in the Kettle moraine.  Green flag and they whistle down to turn one.  Bomarito, Fittipaldi, and Ricky Taylor, the top three.  Ryan Briscoe chases Oliver Gavin in the Corvette in GTLM.  Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford GT.  Giancarlo Fisichella is losing spots.  Fisichella dropped off the curb and into a rut.

Porsche performs well here at Road America.  The left rear tire, might get some wear through long duration corners.  This is lessened by the cool temperatures.  Two stops will be in order for the GTLM cars because of the length of pit lane and the time delta.  Pilet and Bamber run 1-2 as Ryan Briscoe hounds Oliver Gavin's Corvette C-7-R- at the moment.  Four rounds to go in the GT series while there are three for Prototype.  You cannot afford to get too far behind.  GTLM is a serious factory battle, as THE RACE CONTINUES.  Porsche has had a dry spell in the IWSC so far this year.

 

Jonathan Bomarito leads this race in the Mazda.  Too much downforce = less speed.  Too little downforce = more tire degradation.  Road America is tough on tires.  Alex Job Racing has a third car entered with David MacNeil and Gunnar Jeannette.  Gunnar Jeannette is now at the controls.  Giancarlo Fisichella passes Earl Bamber for second in GTLM at the moment.  The BMW M6 GT's had over boost issues in GTLM as through the Billy Mitchell Bend, there's a scrum between Cooper MacNeil and Michael Marsal.  Porsche vs. BMW, in GTD, with the John Potter driven Audi, taking the place.  The two Stevenson Motorsport Audi's are also running real well.

Alex Riberas in the sister Alex Job Porsche is running in the class lead.  Fisichella is storming after Patrick Pilet in GT L Mans, and he is attacking for the lead, on the outside line.  Pilet has the inside line and Fisichella takes it in deep, locking the brakes into the corner.  Pilet covers and defends.  No dice for the Ferrari!  That move would have ended in tears!  Bamber is being hounded by the #3 Corvette C-7-R- of Antonio Garcia.  Minnesota based JDC Miller Motorsports, is going for it in Prototype Challenge, at what is their home track in IWSC.

Mikhail Goikhberg is trying to give room to the GTD cars.  GTLM is simmering right now.  The bst teams, manufacturers, and drivers, in the world.  GTLM has seen yet another lead change.  Giancarlo Fisichella takes the Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 back to the class lead through turn six.  Fisichella had to correct the Ferrari on the track.  Antonio Garcia is coming in a hurry.  Watch for the Porsche's, because their tires could be going away.  Both Action Express Corvette Prototype's pitted.  Dane Cameron and Joao Barbosa are now driving each car, respectively.  Mazda is now in the lane.  Ricky Taylor pitted the #10 WTR Corvette.  Jordan Taylor takes over.

Car #5 leads this race at the moment with Joao Barbosa at the keyboard.  Dane Cameron is hounding Tristan Nunez at the moment.  Pit stop time for GT Le Mans as Corvette #3 is third in class with Ryan Briscoe right behind.  #912 was in the lane, and Fred Makowiecki took over the car.  BMW and Chevrolet pit.  Jan Magnussen switches into the #3 Corvette as Jonathan Edwards switches into one of the BMW M6 GT's.  Bamber takes advantage of Magnussen.  Hit the sweet spot with the tires.  Cold tires make it hard to keep up with the other cars.  Alex Riberas pitted and switched over to co-driver Mario Farnbacher.

 

Giancarlo Fisichella leads GTLM with Ryan Briscoe in second.  Can Briscoe stay out and leapfrog the Corvette's?  #4 Corvette is in the lane.  Tommy Milner is in.  The #16 Change Racing Lamborghini had a bad pit stop and has to serve a penalty with Cory Lewis in the car.  Risi is in the lane, and down and away.  Ford pits the #67.  Risi will be beaten by Richard Westbrook in the Ford.  Where is the Corvette?  He's on the start/finish straight.  Ganassi played their strategy perfectly, beating Risi Competizione out of the pits.

Oh dear.  Full course yellow as the #88 Starworks Prototype Challenge car has crashed with Mark Kvamme at the controls.  Full course yellow.  Barbosa, Nunez, and Cameron, lead overall.  We have a flurry of activity in the pit lane for Prototypes.  This ought to be a short fill on fuel.  Ozz Negri takes four tires on the Ligier Honda sharing with John Pew.  Action Express takes tires.  What will the Michael Shank Racing Ligier do, as the green flag comes out?  Pits are open for GT cars and Madison Snow pits from the GT Daytona lead.  The #66 Ford GT is now back to normal.  Snow, is racing the #48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan of course.

Tristan Nunez has flown through, now that we are back to green and the battle in GT Le Mans, is on!  GT Le Mans is having a great battle.  Use traffic as a pick.  Richard Westbrook vs. Nick Tandy vs. Toni Vilander, who has taken over from Giancarlo Fisichella.  The Ferrari 488 is hooked up, and working extremely well.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. makes contact with another car.  Not sure which.  Dane Cameron has gone around Joao Barbosa.  Barbosa is falling back.  He needs to settle in.  He is a prodigious talent indeed.  Dane Cameron is hounding Ryan Dalziel in the #90 Visit Florida Racing entry.

 

Cameron looks inside and is trying to get around the GT cars.  Those boys are not going to open the door and let the Prototypes by.  Road America is fast and narrow, despite it's long layout.  Dane Cameron passes Ryan Dalziel for third.  Remember, just three races remain for the Prototype cars in the IWSC.  Cameron is doing all he can right now.  In GT Daytona, we watch Jereon Bleekemolen who has taken over from Ben Keating.  Seven GTD cars are covered by four seconds.  The Viper won at Road America last year.  The #73 Park Place Porsche 911 is pushing for a win with Patrick Lindsey and Jorg Bergmeister.

Andy Lally in the #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8.  Tristan Nunez still leads as we are into the middle section of this race.  Mazda now hits pit lane with the leader.  They are on an island with strategy with just over an hour left in this race.  Four new tires, and fuel.  The crew fumbles with the tires, and loses some time.  That was a 29 second stop when it should have been a bit shorter.  The fuel flow rate for the Mazda's is slower than the other Prototype teams.  Jordan Taylor takes the race lead in the #10 Corvette Prototype.

Richard Westbrook still leads this great battle in GT Le Mans as John Edwards is pushing in fifth in the BMW #100.  Nick Tandy is also hanging onto the Ford.  Flying through the kink.  This track suits the GT Le Mans cars with it's fast sections.  If Westbrook and Tommy Milner finish in their current places, they could be slugging it out for the class championship before the end of the season.  Alessandro Balzan leads GT Daytona right now.  Dane Cameron goes inside Jorg Bergmeister.  What a great duel.  Jordan Taylor vs. Dane Cameron.

 

Taylor slips, and has tire degradation issus as Dane Cameron takes the race lead!  This was a gamble for sure.  Jeroen Bleekemolen continues to lead GT Daytona.  The sun has come out, and the cars will begin to oversteer a bit more, towards the end of this race.  We have entered our final hour of competition.  Dane Camron uss vry inch of the road here.  John Edwards and Lucas Luhr have not had a very good season.  Edwards is pushing past Fred Makowiecki.  These two had a kerfuffle at Lim Rock last time out, a race that you will soon hear about.

The GT Daytona leader is in the pit lane.  The #6 and #9 Audi R8's are also pitting.  Less than an hour to go.  The #63 Ferrari pits for fuel and Andy Lally has done likewise.  Another issue for the #23 AJR Porsche has a penalty.  #4 Corvette in the lane, with four tires and fuel.  He's down and away.  Toni Vilander gets pushed by Nick Tandy.  It was retaliation.  Race control reviews this fracas as #911 pits for the final time.  We wait on fuel, and he is down and away.  The dominoes are beginning to fall.

 

There was some trouble for Dane Cameron on his pit stop.  But the crew ended up recovering.  Fuel will be crucial on this 4 mile track.  Fred Makowiecki and John Edwards battle.  Last time out at Lime Rock, these two got together.  Cars #5 and #10 trundle through pit lane.  #31 gets the lead as Barbosa has a miscue in the lane!  This is about the championship.  Corvette's are in.  Jan Magnussen pitted from the race lead.  Cameron clears traffic on the way to The Kink.  On the brakes for Canada corner.

Tristan Nunez leads but needs a pit stop.  Cameron clears the Ford GT and Jeroen Bleekemolen in the Viper.  Go fast, and conserve tires.  In the lane is the #55 Mazda.  Fuel only for Nunez.  Nunez has lost over a minutes being in the lane.  This could affect his ability to win the race.  They need a yellow flag before this race ends.  The overall lead battle is on.  The balance of the car might dictate who will win this race.  Dane Cameron leads Joao Barbosa right now.  Cameron can't risk having his team mate make a pass.  Cameron has to cross the stripe right as the clock runs out if he does not want to do another four mile lap after the clock runs out.

 

The #20 Prototype Challenge car spins, with veteran Bruno Junquiera at the wheel.  Junquiera will be in the FIA World Endurance Championship race in Mexico City, next month.  Richard Westbrook leads Toni Vilander in GTLM.  Jeroen Bleeekemolen is being harried by his rivals in GT Daytona at the moment.  Richard Westbrook leads GTLM as Toni Vilander is continuing to claw at him.  Vilander tries to take advantage of Westbrook through traffic.  But, no dice.  Westbrook flies past Jeroen Bleekemolen's Dodge Viper.  Vilander takes a shallow entry into Canada Corner.  Dane Cameron just clears GT traffic and stays ahead of his team mate.  Tommy Milner passes the BMW M6 GT of John Edwards.

Dane Cameron slides inside and hopes that the GTLM drivers are looking in their mirrors.  Wow! Joao Barbosa may immediately respond with lap times as we have 17 minutes remaining.  Will Dane Cameron have enough fuel?  After this race, just two races remain in the 2016 season for the WeatherTech Championship.  Bruno Junquiera has another spin.  Tristan Nunez is also struggling for grip, out in the marbles.  Nunez is all over Ozz Negri Jr. who is dealing with a misfire in his Honda power plant.

 

Tristan Nunez passes by one of the factory Corvette's, with Jan Magnussen at the controls.  Stephen Simpson and Renger van der Zande have wrecked and these two blokes are the points leaders in Prototype Challenge.  There’s a battle for position.  Now, Tom Kimber-Smith and Robert Alon might have a chance to gain the points lead.  #85 is now third in points.  These two are amazingly quick.  Colin Braun, and others, have a good standing in Prototype Challenge as well.  The Ford, Ferrari, Porsche battle will continue in GT Le Mans.

We are anticipating going back to green this time.  Before we go back to green, the food, at Road America, is stuff of legend.  It is far more than just hamburgers and regular fries.  We have only five minutes left.  Can Dane Cameron hold off Joao Barbosa?  The caution helped him save fuel.  Dane Cameron has a margin ahead of Barbosa.  Westbrook and Vilander scrum in GTLM with Nick Tandy third.  Fred Makowiecki and the Corvette also battle.  Tandy tries going inside Westbrook, and spins!  Vilander roughs up Richard Westbrook.  Game over for Nick Tandy!  Westbrook runs wide.  He's got crud on his tires.

 

Risi Competizione wants a win.  They haven't won all year.  Corvette's move up.  Vilander is doing all he can to stay in touch with Westbrook.  Two more laps to go.  Cameron hangs on.  Jordan Taylor is also in this fight.  Oh!  Vilander gets turned by the Mazda!  Fisichella is shocked!  Miller is up to second behind the Ford!  Wow!  It's now the battle of the American muscle cars!  Milner has to pile pressure on Westbrook!  The #100 BMW M6 GT of John Edwards will be third in the running order.  Barbosa and Taylor are all over Dane Cameron.  Milner gets split by a Prototype Challenge car.  The margin decreases for the lead to two car lengths.  Last lap.

Edwards has a run on the Corvette.  Edwards and Luhr have not been on the podium all year.  Milner has a run on Westbrook and is ahead of the Ford!  Corvette Racing goes bonkers!  Westbrook is in trouble.  Westbrook makes up ground on the Corvette.  Here we go.  Cameron is going to hang on to win!  Third 1-2 for Action Express consecutively.  Tom Kimber-Smith wins PC with co-driver Robert Alon.  GT Le Mans and it is is Tommy Milner winning GTLM at Road America!

Whoa!  That was a race!  In GT Daytona, it's the #33 Viper of Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen, winning for the second year in a row!

Overall/Prototype: #31 Cameron.Curran     Chevrolet Corvette Prototype

              Prototype

              Challenge: #52 Kimber-Smith/Alon   Oreca FLM Chevrolet

              GT Le Mans: #4 Milner/Gavin           Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-

              GT Daytona: #33 Bleekemolen/Keating    SRT Viper GTS-R-

Folks, there are a few other races we have not covered in IWSC yet.  But, with two races to go, the overall championship is just one point.  The penultimate event for Prototypes is the Lone Star Le Mans in mid-September, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.  That race will be in mid September.  For the GT cars, there is an extra event, at Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Virginia.  It is the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, coming up in three weeks.