IMSA racing action

Yours truly, has decided to take a different approach with respect to covering a couple of the IMSA races.  Tomorrow's Petit Le Mans, will be televised, but there will be limited coverage blocs.  So, instead, yours truly will update one of the races that he has not yet been able to see.  Stay tuned for a race report, but from one of the different races earlier this year, that has not been covered just yet.

Don Panoz Discusses Racing Future and Delta Wing

Don Panoz celebrates his 20th anniversary in the world of sports car racing.  But, with the DeltaWing making one of it's last appearances at Petit Le Mans this weekend, what will the future hold?

http://beyondtheflag.com/2016/09/29/don-panoz-discusses-racing-future-delta-wing/

Sportscar Retrospective - Daytona Prototypes

Another article on the Daytona Prototype era and remembering it.  We bid farewell to the DP cars after the Petit Le Mans on Saturday.

http://nasportscar.com/sportscar-retrospective-daytona-prototypes/

INSIGHT: A farewell to Daytona Prototypes

This weekend's Petit Le Mans not only marks the final race of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.  It also brings an end to the Daytona Prototype era, that has lasted for 13 years, since beginning back in 2003.

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/134825-insight-a-farewell-to-daytona-prototypes

A fond farewell and grand sendoff to these race cars.

IMSA: Ford GT customer programs in 2018?

Will we see customer teams running the Ford GT in 2018?  Keep in mind, back in the 1960s, customers did race Ford GT40's as well, and the most successful of them, had to be the John Wyer Gulf oil team.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/134792-imsa-ford-gt-customer-programs-in-2018

Happy Birthday, Ron Fellows

One of my favorite sports car drivers of all time.  Happy Birthday, Ron Fellows!  He is a veteran of Trans Am, IMSA, the American Le Mans Series, and also, NASCAR road course racing.

http://canadianautoracing.blogspot.com/2016/09/happy-birthday-ron-fellows.html?spref=fb

FIA WEC news

More news from the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Aleshin Rejoins SMP Racing for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aleshin-rejoins-smp-for-remainder-of-season/

LMP2 Set To Remain Pro-Am in 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lmp2-set-to-remain-pro-am-in-2017/

Multiple Garage 56 Projects Under Evaluation for 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/garage-56-projects-under-evaluation-for-2018/

Tavares: Two of Three Conditions Met for Peugeot's LMP1 Return

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tavares-two-of-three-conditions-already-met-for-peugeots-lmp1-return/

BMW Confirms WEC GTE-Pro Program For 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bmw-confirms-wec-gte-pro-program-for-2018/

Franchitti Out at Ford for Remainder of Season
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/franchitti-to-sit-out-for-remainder-of-season/

Beaumesnil: More GTE Manufacturers On The Way
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/beaumesnil-more-gte-manufacturers-on-the-way/

Webber Showcases Porsche 919 Hybrid on Streets of London
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/webber-showcases-919-hybrid-on-streets-of-london/

Triple Threat: IMSA's Petit Prototype Battle

The folks at NASportscar.com take a look into the battle for the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, Prototype championship fight, headed into Petit Le Mans, this weekend.

http://nasportscar.com/triple-threat-imsas-petit-prototype-battle/

IMSA race highlights

Stay tuned for the highlights of the Lone Star Le Mans from Circuit of the Americas.  Yours truly has not had a chance to blog that one just yet.  Also, this weekend marks the season finale for the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, and for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.  That race, will also be blogged, hopefully live, when it happens, this coming Saturday.  Also hoping to update the latest news from the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as IMSA, and Pirelli World Challenge.  Lots to write about.  Stay tuned for continuing updates.

Ligier JS P217 Unveiled

More sports car racing news is on the way, including some summaries of races from this weekend.  But, for now, you can read about the unveiling of Ligier's new 2017 spec LMP2 car.  Presenting, the Ligier JS P217.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/ligier-js-p217-unveiled/

Tequila Patron ESM Announces 2017 IMSA Return

Very nearly neglected to mention this story.  But, after a year racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Tequila Patron ESM will return to IMSA full-time in 2017.

http://www.imsa.com/news/092016/tequila-patron-esm-announces-2017-imsa-return

2017 FIA World Endurance Championship schedule

The 2017 race schedule for the FIA World Endurance Championship has been released.  All races remain the same, but, the venue for the prologue pre-season test, has been switched, from Le Castellet, France and Paul Ricard, to the fabled Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2017-wec-schedule-released/

The full schedule is subject to approval by the FIA World Motorsport Council, and is listed as follows:

March 24-25 — Prologue (Monza)
April 14-16 — Silverstone
May 4-6 — Spa-Francorchamps
June 17-18 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
July 14-16 — Nürburgring
Sept. 1-3 — Mexico City
September 14-16 — Circuit of The Americas
October 13-15 — Fuji Speedway
November 3-5 — Shanghai
November 16-18 — Bahrain

News before the Petit Le Mans + Lone Star Le Mans coverage

Yours truly is trying to find time to cover the Lone Star Le Mans from Circuit of the Americas last weekend.  But, in the meantime, here is news on the upcoming season finale for the WeatherTech Championship, the fourth jewel in the crown, if you will, for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

2016 Petit Le Mans
http://www.imsa.com/events/petit-le-mans

Guest Stars Join IMSA WeatherTech Championship For 2016 Season-Ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta

http://www.imsa.com/news/092016/guest-stars-join-imsa-weathertech-championship-regulars-2016-season-ending-petit-le-mans

FYI.  Click to download the entry list.

Also, Mike Shank Racing will be the lead team to race an Acura NSX GT3 in IMSA competition, next year.

Michael Shank Racing To Lead 2017 Acura NSX GT3 IMSA Effort

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/michael-shank-racing-lead-2017-acura-nsx-gt3-imsa-effort

IMSA 1995

More sports car racing nostalgia.  Here is the full season review of IMSA 1995, narrated by Bob Varsha. 

IMSA 1993

A review of the 1993 IMSA season, the final year of the ground pounding IMSA GTP prototype race cars, along with highlights of other classes such as Camel Lights, GTS, GTO, GTU, and the Bridgestone Supercar and IMSA Firehawk street stock series, with narration by Bob Varsha and Marty Reid. 

Winner & highlights of the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas

Everything, is bigger, in Texas.  This includes endurance sports car racing as the FIA World Endurance Championship makes it annual pilgrimage to the United States and the running of the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.  Here are the abbreviated race highlights.

The weather is hot and steamy as the drivers wish each other well on the starting grid, before the race.  The cars roll off from their grid positions in pit lane as "Mr. Le Mans" himself, Tom Kristensen, waves the green flag.  At the official race start, the #7 Audi of Marcel Fassler went into the lead.  The back end of the team Audi R18 eTron Quattro, piloted by Frenchman Loic Duval, gets loose over the top of the hill.  This opens the door for Mark Webber in the Porsche 919 Hybrid to make a move.  It's not just Porsche and Audi going at it hammer and tongs early.  The Toyota's also have good pace in the race's early stages.

In LMP2, Alex Brundle is doing a masterful job to work his way through traffic from the back of the field.  He started caboose on the field, in 31st position, and is looking to put the G Drive car back into contention as the race goes on.  Romain Dumas is passed by the #5 Toyota TS050 in the hands of Sebastien Buemi.  The action heats up among the production based cars in the GTE classes, too.  In GTE Am, it's a Porsche vs. Aston Martin fight.  Aston Martin #98 driven by Formula 1 and sports car veteran Pedro Lamy, has the spot, and the #88 Abu Dhabi Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR of Kevin Estre, wants the place.  These two blokes, started on row thirteen of the grid in 25th and 26th overall, respectively.

In LMP2, there's a scrap for position, too.  It's the #35 Signatech Alpine of Nelson Panciatici, fending off the attack from #43, the RGR entry of Bruno Senna, in a Ligier.  It's RGR vs. Maxi DC Racing.  While those boys were tussling, the two factory Audi's whistle right by and say, "thank you very much, boys.  We're going to put a lap on you.  Tee hee."  This is what a difference of 400 horsepower will do.  600 horsepower in an LMP2, compared to 1,000+ in one of these spaceship LMP1 hybrid racers.  Senna, decides, to hit the pit lane for routine service.  After the first pit stops it was Stephane Richelmi holding the LMP2 class lead for Maxi DC Racing, having taken over from Nelson Panciatici.

In the lead, for Audi, it's the #7 car, in the hands of Andre Lotterer, with a 2.3 second cushion, over his team mate Oliver Jarvis, piloting the sister car, #8.

Now, we fast forward the tape, ladies and gentlemen, to the third hour of the race.  Pedro Lamy is now back at the wheel of the Aston Martin, and we ought to give a shout out to Ricky Taylor in the #50 Larbre Competition Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- he shares with Pierre Ragues of France and Yutaka Yamagishi of Japan.  Bruno Senna is still scrapping with the Alpine of Stephane Richelmi, and makes the pass, just in the nick of time as the lead Audi's fly around him to put him a lap down.  Pit stop time now, and with the shuffling, it's the sister Alpine team car, #36, in the hands of Gustavo Menezes, who takes the class lead.

Audi #7 gets caught in traffic.  Not sure who is at the wheel at the moment.  The sun begins to set, here in Texas, and we are headed towards the nighttime when the race will finish.  Other than Le Mans, this is the only FIA WEC race, that has night running.  Deary me.  We have our first full course yellow.  Race Director, Edoardo Freitas, informs the teams.  Electrical failure for the #27 BR01.  That car was started by the veteran Nicolas Minassian of France, sharing with Maurizio Mediani of Italy, in one of the few driving duos.  Most teams in this race have a trio of drivers at the ready.

The car did restart and drive away.  More pit action.  Audi, in the lane.  Both cars #7 and #8 in for routine service.  Box, box, box.  Status quo pit stops, except perhaps for the decision to run new, or scrubbed tires.  The Audi's came back out again, #8 ahead of #7.  The Toyota's are showing a turn of speed, but one of their drivers has his hands full not only with the #2 Porsche but also with a GTE Aston Martin V8 Vantage, making it three wide on the straight!  Wow!  The sun sets as the Toyota's are now fifth and sixth.  Sebastien Buemi, and Mike Conway, are the respective drivers.  Whoops.  We've got the #86 Gulf Oils Porsche 911 RSR, off the road.

Mike Wainwright tried to exit the pit lane and did so, but on the uphill into turn one, he lost traction, and found the gravel trap.  Another full course yellow.  Wainwright shares his Porsche as always with fellow Brits Adam Carroll, and Ben Barker.  Porsche takes an opportunity to pit, and so do both of the Audi's.  You know the numbers.  #7 and #8. But, there is a problem for Audi as Loic Duval, in the lead, coasts to a halt.  Is it a major problem?  Not likely.  The car, like a computer, needs to be rebooted.  The fastest lap time of the leading cars at this stage of the race is a 1:48.6.  A bump probably upset the Audi, shutting off the system, and Duval reboots and is on his merry way again.

We now press fast forward again, and are on to the fifth hour, getting towards the end of this one and only appearance during the year, in the United States, for the world's fastest sports cars and their best drivers.  The cause for Mike Wainwright's off course excursion in his Porsche, was as simple as a long brake pedal.  You decelerate into the corner, the car turns, but does not want to brake.  The brake pedal goes to the floor, and the driver says, "oh no!  What now?"  Thankfully, Wainwright slid off the road without hitting anything.  Another incident, as we see tandem spins by the #45 Manor LMP2 car and the #66 Ford GT in LM GTE Pro in the hands of Stefan Mucke. 

Not sure who was driving the #45 Manor (the sole entry for that team, in this race).  The car was started, by Roberto Merhi.  This incident, brings out another full course yellow.  A new nose, for the Manor.  As the fireworks lit up the Texas sky about Circuit of the Americas, that was the precise cue for the on track fireworks to also get underway, as we come to the conclusion of this motor race.  Benoit Treluyer was charging at the front, but after contact with one of the Ford's, the aforementioned #66 entry, it's, a spin.  Screech... off into the gravel, and finally... ker-runch, into the tire barrier.  The Audi was off the circuit, but it was definitely game over for Treluyer.

This promoted the Toyota up one place.  Later in the race, it's game over for Manor.  The left rear suspension on the car, collapses, and leaves a trail of mosquito killing smoke, as the bodywork rubs on the deck.  That was one of just two retirements in this whole event.  29 of 31 starters, will finish.  Aston Martin sweeps both Am and Pro classes in GT, once again, here in Texas.  Alpine #36, consolidates it's championship lead winning in LMP2, and the overall win, despite Audi's sheer dominance earlier on in the race, will go to Porsche, after some great late race pit strategy for the #1 car!

Three wins in a row, for Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, and Brendon Hartley!

Overall/LMP1: #1 Bernhard/Hartley/Webber     Porsche 919 Hybrid

             LMP2: #36 Menezes/Lapierre/Richelmi     Alpine A460 Nissan

             LM GTE Pro: #95 Thiim/Sorenson             Aston Martin V8 Vantage

             LM GTE Am: #98 Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda   Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Alpine wins LMP2 again, with Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre, and Stephane Richelmi.  It's a GTE sweep of both Pro and Am for Aston Martin.  In Pro, its the duo of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorenson, and in Am, the trio of Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, and Mathias Lauda.  That's a wrap, from here in Texas, y'all.  We'll see you in the Land of the Rising Sun, in Japan, for the 6 Hours of Fuji at Fuji Speedway in a little less than a month's time.

updates from Circuit of the Americas

Stay tuned, for coverage of FIA WEC and IMSA action from Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.  An abbreviated report on the WEC race and a full report of the IMSA event, will appear in due time.

FIA WEC COTA 6 Hours, qualifying

Folks, yours truly has some other commitments this weekend that may not allow me to blog the whole of the 6 Hours of COTA as previously mentioned.  Before we even get to the race itself, here are the qualifying highlights, to wet your appetite for some great racing, that you will hopefully hear about, on Sunday evening.  Audi locks out the front row of the grid.

FIA WEC news headed into Circuit of the Americas

The latest news from Circuit of the Americas before the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Austin, tomorrow.  Yours truly, has some events happening tomorrow, and may watch part of the race.  But, more than likely, a blog entry, will come from the race highlight reel, just as it did for the most recent round in Mexico.

Conway: "Hopefully We Can Close The Gap"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/conway-hopefully-we-can-close-the-gap/

The latest Double Stint Podcast

Double Stint: COTA Preview; Ryan Dalziel Interview (9-13-16)
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-cota-preview-ryan-dalziel-interview-9-13-16/

Drivers Looking to Keep Cool as WEC heads to COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/drivers-looking-to-keep-cool-as-wec-heads-to-cota/

Aston Martin's Hit with BoP Adjustment for 6H COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aston-martins-hit-with-bop-adjustment-for-cota/

RGR Sport Targeting Second LMP2 Car in 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rgr-sport-targeting-second-lmp2-entry-in-2017/

COTA WEC Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/cota-wec-wednesday-notebook/

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes with RGR Sport: Track Walk
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-behind-the-scenes-with-rgr-sport-track-walk/

Jarvis Quickest in WEC Free Practice 1 at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jarvis-quickest-in-wec-free-practice-1-at-cota/

COTA WEC Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/cota-wec-thursday-notebook-2/

Duval Fastest on Thursday in Austin
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/duval-fastest-on-thursday-in-austin/

VIDEO: COTA WEC Night Practice Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-cota-wec-night-practice-highlights/

Duval Quickest Again in Free Practice 3
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jarvis-fastest-again-in-free-practice-3/

IMSA news from Circuit of the Americas

IMSA news headed into this weekend's action at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.


IMSA Confident of Balancing LMP2, DPi Cars
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-confident-of-balancing-lmp2-dpi-machinery/

CORE Confirms Porsche GTD Program for 2017; Withdraws from PC
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/core-confirms-porsche-gtd-program-for-2017-withdraws-from-pc/

Inside The Helmet Designs of Porsche Drivers
http://sportscar365.com/features/photography/the-stories-behind-porsche-drivers-helmet-designs/

The latest Double Stint Podcast.

Double Stint: COTA Preview; Ryan Dalziel Interview 9-13-16
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-cota-preview-ryan-dalziel-interview-9-13-16/

Raffauf: 2017 Prototype Speeds Could Be Capped at Daytona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/2017-prototypes-could-be-pegged-back-at-daytona/

Shank to Run Retro Livery in Honor of 250th Prototype Start
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/shank-to-run-retro-livery-in-honor-of-250th-prototype-start/

VIDEO: COTA IMSA Weekend Preview
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-cota-imsa-weekend-preview/

Continental Tires Keys To The Race: COTA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/continental-tire-keys-to-the-race-cota-2/

COTA IWSC Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/cota-iwsc-wednesday-notebook/

Calvert-Jones, Barker Confirmed in TRG Aston Martin for COTA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/calvert-jones-barker-confirmed-in-trg-aston-martin-for-cota/

Fassler, Rockenfeller Return to Corvette for Petit Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/fassler-rockenfeller-return-to-corvette-for-petit-le-mans/

Action Express Goes 1-2 in Opening Practice at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/action-express-goes-1-2-in-cota-practice-1/

more PWC news before Utah

News before the Pirelli World Challenge race in Utah.  Stay tuned for updates on what exactly happened.

Increased SprintX Entry for Utah
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/increased-entry-for-sprintx-at-utah/

2017 PWC Driver Ratings System Confirmed
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/2017-pwc-driver-ratings-system-confirmed/

Porsche Expecting Influx of GT4 Clubsport MRs for PWC
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/porsche-expecting-influx-of-gt4-clubsport-mrs-for-pwc/

Davison Suspended for First Race at Utah; Dolby to Sub
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/davison-suspended-for-first-round-at-utah-dolby-to-sub/

Stay tuned for more news, tomorrow, about the race itself.

Pirelli World Challenge news

Stay tuned, for a report on the most recent Pirelli World Challenge race that happened in Utah.  But
for now, here are some headlines.  More headlines, from PWC, still to come.

Fuentes: "Getting One Win at a Time is the Main Focus"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/fuentes-getting-one-win-at-a-time-is-the-main-focus/

Sprint, SprintX Separated in 2017 PWC Schedule
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/sprint-sprintx-separated-in-2017-pwc-schedule/

PWC Practice Cancelled Due to Lightning at Mid Ohio
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/pwc-practice-cancelled-due-to-lightning-at-mid-ohio/

Pumpelly: "Any Driver Would Want To Be A Part of This"
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/pumpelly-any-driver-would-want-to-be-a-part-of-this/

The Mid Ohio race report, is coming soon.

Here's why a WeatherTech-sponsored team is leaving the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship

From Autoweek magazine.  We have heard this story before.  But, it is true and bears repeating.

http://autoweek.com/article/imsa/how-imsa-weathertech-championship-racing-series-pissed-its-weathertech-sponsored-team?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

55 Cars For Blancpain Endurance Finale at Nurburgring

A big field of cars, (55 strong), is set for the finale of the Blancpain Endurance Series at the Nurburgring, next weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/55-cars-for-blancpain-endurance-finale-at-nurburgring/

Mercedes-AMG Teams Respond To 24H Spa Penalties

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams that ran at the 24 Hours of Spa respond to the penalties levied against them by the FIA and the SRO during the race, back in July.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/mercedes-amg-teams-respond-to-24h-spa-penalties/

News from IMSA & FIA WEC

More news from IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

GTD Porsche Gets BoP Change for COTA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/gtd-porsche-gets-bop-change-for-cota/

McCutcheon Returns in TRG Aston Martin for COTA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mccutcheon-returns-in-trg-aston-martin-for-cota/

IMSA Anticipating Additional DPi Involvement in 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-anticipating-additional-dpi-involvement-in-2017/

PR1/Mathiasen Confirms Step Up To Prototype for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/pr1mathiasen-confirms-move-to-prototype-for-2017/

Proton Rules Out GTE-Pro Return
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/proton-rules-out-gte-pro-entry-for-2017/

Ullrich: Audi Formula E Program an "Additional Project"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ullrich-audi-formula-e-an-additional-project/

Manor to Continue With Single Car at 6H COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/manor-to-continue-with-single-car-at-cota/

More IMSA stories

Stories from the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, via IMSA.com.

Every WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona Full-Time Manufacturer Has Visited Victory Lane In 2016

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/every-weathertech-championship-gt-daytona-full-time-manufacturer-has-visited-victory

Circuit of The Americas Hosts The Lone Star Le Mans With WeatherTech Championship Battles On The Line

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/circuit-americas-hosts-lone-star-le-mans-weathertech-championship-battles-line

Lone Star Racing Takes Viper Back To Home Turf at COTA

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/lone-star-racing-takes-viper-back-home-turf-cota

Ford vs. Chevrolet - The Long-Standing American Rivalry

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/ford-vs-chevrolet-long-standing-american-rivalry

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Seeks Third Straight Victory In Austin

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/ford-chip-ganassi-racing-seeks-third-straight-victory-austin

IWSC headlines

Here is the latest news from the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

Magnus VIR Exclusion Upheld by IMSA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/magnus-vir-exclusion-upheld-by-imsa/

Magnus Uncertain on 2017 Plans Amid VIR Exclusion
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/magnus-uncertain-on-2017-plans-amid-vir-exclusion/

Visit Florida Racing Closing in on Multimatic-Riley LMP2 Deal
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/visit-florida-closing-in-on-multimatic-riley-lmp2-deal/

All Four Classes Return for Lone Star Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/all-four-classes-return-for-lone-star-le-mans/

Ligier JS P217 to Be Unveiled at Spa; Testing Set to Begin Next Week
http://sportscar365.com/industry/ligier-js-p217-to-be-unveiled-at-spa-testing-set-to-begin-next-week/

Rebellion LMP2 Program Unlikely for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/rebellion-lmp2-program-unlikely-for-2017/

GTD Porsche Gets BoP Change for COTA
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/gtd-porsche-gets-bop-change-for-cota/

The Story Of Callaway's Corvette C7 GT3

Ernst Wohr tells the fascinating story of Callaway's latest project.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/09/08/the-story-of-callaways-corvette-c7-gt3.html

1969 24 Hours of Daytona

More memories of the golden ages of sports car racing.  This is a picture, of the 1969 Rolex 24 at Daytona, taken from a Facebook group called Sports Car Prototype and Endurance Racing.

This is what racing was like during the golden age. In the infield at Daytona in 1969 we have the Lola T70 Mk 3 GT of Ed Leslie and Lothar Motschenbacher leading the Pontiac Firebird of Jerry Titus and Jon Ward. BTW The Lola would come in second and the Firebird third overall. Next is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale of Bill Pryor and Jose Marina that would finish 27th. Coming up fast behind the Alfa is the David Hobbs, Mike Hailwood Gulf Ford GT40. It blew a head gasket and failed to finish. Last is the Porsche 911 of Harold Williamson and George Drolsom that finished 8th overall. Those were the days. Eric della Faille photo.

6 Hours of Mexico Race Broadcast

Here is the full broadcast of the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Mexico.

Porsche's secret Le Mans car

We know now how much success Porsche is having with the 919 Hybrid in the FIA World Endurance Championship.  But, would you believe, that in 1999, they developed an open cockpit LMP1 racer, that was top secret?  The car, was supposed to race, but it never did.  When I was younger and had just begun following the world of sports car racing, admittedly, I was very upset that they never raced this car.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/secret-porsche-le-mans-car-revealed/

FIA WEC news after the 6 Hours of Mexico

After the 6 Hours of Mexico, here are the latest headlines from the FIA World Endurance Championship, as we now look ahead to racing at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, very soon.

Porsche Claims Victory in Rain-Affected 6H Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-claims-victory-in-rain-affected-6h-mexico/

VIDEO: Mexico City Race Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-mexico-city-race-highlights/

PHOTOS: Mexico City Weekend Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/photos-mexico-city-weekend-gallery/

Mexico City Post-Race Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mexico-city-post-race-notebook/

Mexico City Content Recap
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mexico-city-content-recap/

GTE-Am Teams Pushing for Regulations Freeze
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gte-am-teams-pushing-for-regulations-freeze/

VIDEO: Mexico City Sights & Sounds
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-mexico-city-sights-sounds/

Rebellion Considering Engine Switch for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rebellion-considering-engine-switch-for-2017/

Toyota Targeting Third Car for 24H Le Mans; New Aero in 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-targeting-third-car-for-24h-le-mans-new-aero-for-2017/

Winner & highlights of the 6 Hours of Mexico

As promised, here are the abbreviated highlights/race report from the latest race on the calendar for the FIA World Endurance Championship.  The FIA WEC visits Mexico, for the first time, and the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.  Formula 1 came back here to race, last year, after a 23 year hiatus.  But now, it is the turn of the stars and cars of the FIA World Endurance Championship to have a go at this speedway.

The grid is a good one.  Six hours on the clock.  Red lights on.  Red lights out.  Green lights, on!  The 6 Hours of Mexico is underway!  We see the #4 CLM entry making up places right off the line.  But it is the two Audi's that are going for the lead, right here, right now.  This 2.674 mile layout has hosted international and domestic sports car races before.  So, it's not the first go around on this track for these types of cars, but it is the first visit by the rocket ship hybrid LMP1 cars of the WEC to Mexico.  17 corners are packed into this track and should provide for loads of action as we get started.  Ah!  The leading Audi has run wide.  Andre Lotterer makes the pass on his team mate, and it is unclear who is driving the second Audi right now.

We watch the CLM ByKolles car coming up through the field.  We know that the privateer LMP1 cars do not have the hybrid energy boost that the factory cars do, that gives the driver 500-600 extra horsepower at the push of a button.  But, the LMP1 privateer cars still have very slippery aerodynamics on them.  Straight line speed is paying off for the CLM ahead of one of the two factory Toyota's.  Audi still runs 1-2 as we are just getting started here in Mexico.  The LM GTE cars are beginning to catch the runners in LMP2.  In LM GTE Am, there's a change for the lead as Ben Barker in the #86 Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR moves ahead of Patrick Long in the #88 Abu Dhabi Racing Proton Porsche 911 RSR.

Barker is sharing with his regular co-drivers and fellow Britons Michael Wainwright and Adam Carroll.  Those guys lead LM GTE Am at this stage, as we see a huge Ford vs. Ferrari battle through the tight turns here at Hermanos Rodriguez.  There's a bit of a shemozzle in turns thirteen and fourteen.  As Andre Lotterer leads in Audi #7, there's a battle for second between the sister #8 Audi started by Lucas Di Grassi, and the #2 Le Mans winning Porsche 919 Hybrid, currently in the hands of Brendon Hartley.  A spin for one of the Ford GT's after the earlier action we saw.  Deary me!  It's the #66 Ford GT of Stefan Mucke and Olivier Pla, that has had all the dramas this weekend, while it's been smooth sailing for the sister car #67 of Marino Franchitti, Andy Priaulx, and Harry Tincknell.

Was Olivier Pla pushed off the road by one of the Ferrari 488's?  This incident happened just beyond the stadium section of the course.  Pla is back in the race with no damage.  Ben Barker is steaming right along in LM GTE Am, holding off a challenge from the Pro entry AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE in the hands of James Calado.  Car #51 for AF Corse if you are keeping score at home.  Porsche has a 1-2-3 sweep going in LM GTE Am with Patrick Long, Joel Camathias, and Ben Barker are the drivers in those respective automobiles.  The best front engine car is Emmanuel Collard.  Check that.  Collard, is in the #83 AF Corse entry which is the older Ferrari 458 Italia, which has it's engine in the rear of course.

In the race's first hour, Audi dominated.  Again we watch the just described little nudge between the Ferrari and the Ford.  No action from the race stewards for that one.  Racing incident.  The LMP2 battle began to heat up.  There was a penalty assessed to Aston Martin #98 for contact with one of the AF Corse Ferrari's.  #98 is shared by Paul Dalla Lana, former Formula 1, and sports car veteran, Pedro Lamy, and Matthias Lauda, son of F1 world champion and Mercedes F1 ambassador, Niki Lauda.  Audi and Porsche continue to battle for the lead as Andre Lotterer chases down the #1 Porsche.

Problems for SMP Racing.  A cut tire for their #27 BR01 Nissan.  A duo is sharing that car in this race.  Nicolas Minassian of France, a driver who is vastly experienced in sports cars, and Italian Maurizio Mediani.  These two are the regular drivers for the SMP squad in their LMP2 program.  Brendon Hartley, meanwhile puts Porsche #1 into second spot.  A full course yellow flag.  Cars having not pitted, can do so now.  Luca di Grassi is having some minor problems with the #8 Audi as the #26 G Drive Oreca Nissan is running consistently.  Not sure who is at the wheel there.  It's the usual threesome of Roman Rusinov, Rene Rast, and now, Brit Alex Brundle, son of former Formula 1 and sports car driver and rival to the late, great Ayrton Senna in junior formulae, Martin Brundle.

The SMP BR01 Nissan tipped the #31 ESM Ligier JS P2 Nissan of Chris Cumming, into a spin.  Cumming shares the sister ESM entry with Ryan Dalziel and Pippo Derani.  Mark Webber takes over the lead as Audi #8 does a touch of off road racing, over the curbs.  The Toyota's have not been on the pace, but have been at the sharp end of the field.  Kazuki Nakajima had a brief period in the top three in the order.  Nakajima has battled with Neel Jani who took over the #2 Porsche 919 from Romain Dumas.  Shades of Le Mans, albeit, in a whole different context.  Kazuki Nakajima wants to make an inside pass on Neel Jani, but runs out of room in the esses, and has to recover, allowing Jani to keep the spot.  Jani says, "thank you very much, Kaz."

Jani has a 7.3 second gap in third place.  No real drama in the second hour.  So, let us move now, to hour three.  Race organizer and driver Ricardo Gonzalez is pleased as punch to have this race in Mexico as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, for sure, because he is the race promoter and driving for the home team, RGR Morand in LMP2.  Toyota's challenge is now down to one car.  One bullet in the gun.  Kazuki Nakajima has retired his TS050 Hybrid, because the hybrid system, packed up.  Game over for Nakajima.  More drama for Toyota #6 as Mike Conway at the wheel, was swiped by one of the ESM Ligier Nissan's, and the ESM machine gets the worst of it.  Conway is sent to the sin bin by the stewards, for a penalty due to that contact.

At the front, Porsche and Audi continue their scrap and it looks like Audi regains second spot in the overall.  Whoops!  The RGR machine, who is crowd darling car of the fans here in Mexico, loops it.  The battle in LMP2 sees argy bargy fisticuffs as Ricardo Gonzalez was sent spinning.  Porsche and Audi both in the pit lane for scheduled stops.  More spins in LMP2 and a case of bumper cars between ESM and SMP.  The Aston Martin and the Proton Porsche in GT take evasive action onto the runoff area in the corner.  Full course yellow flag, and there will be penalties for this LMP2 altercation.

A late decision was made by Brendon Hartley, to not pit.  But, he was approaching the pit lane timers just before jerking the Porsche 919 back onto the road. Crossing the separation line between the pit and the track is unsafe in the judgment of the stewards, and he'll get a stop/go penalty, losing the lead.  We move next, to the fourth hour.  No call was made on the Ferrari and Ford touch from earlier on as #66 is in pit lane.  Rain began to fall in hour four, and there was debris on the road.  What do you do when there is debris on the road?  Throw a full course yellow.  Timo Bernhard did the same thing as Brendon Hartley earlier, approaching asking, "should I pit?  Should I pit?"  Then. at the last possible second, saying, "um, no."

This communication breakdown or judgment error cost Porsche #1 a stop/go penalty.  More scrapping at the front between the usual suspects.  Porsche vs. Audi.  Porsche have the pace in dry conditions.  Then the rain came down, and the #2 Porsche kicks up some dust going off line.  Actually, Loic Duval at the controls of Audi #8 was fervently defending his line on the road.  Porsche 1-2.  Rain starts to come down.  Audi, in the lane, to swap to rain tires.  Oliver Jarvis takes over the aforementioned #8 car from Duval.  Full wet tires for both Porsches.

But now, it's gone pear shaped for Audi.  Oliver Jarvis, spins.  Why?  The left front wheel bearing, locked up and failed entirely.  This wheel lock up, pitches Jarvis into a frightening spin!  He nearly hits the wall, and the DHL billboards at over 200 miles an hour, and is jolly lucky he saved that car from certain disaster.  Aston Martin's running liner stern as #95 was in the lead in LM GTE Pro for a while, with Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorenson at the wheel.  They stayed on slick tires and lost the lead to their team car in class, the #97 V8 Vantage shared by Richie Stanaway, and Darren Turner.

The #2 Porsche loses part of the right rear fender.  Things go from bad to worse for Nicki Thiim, as he hits a damp patch in a corner, and sails off the road at high speed, before the inevitable, and... ker-runch!  Into the barrier he goes, bending the Audi billboards, and also, crumpling the left rear tail section of his Aston Martin V8 Vantage.  Through the drizzle, Audi #7 begins to fight its way back into contention.  Andre Lotterer runs well on the Michelin intermediate tires that are sans tread.  But then, it's true.  The skies over Mexico City, open in a huge way!

It's a short shower, but leaves the speedway wet.  This race was full of unknowns at the beginning.  With the rain falling, no one knows what tires to chose before the end of this one.  Wets?  Slicks?  Intermediates?  All of them were used.  Oh dear!  Andre Lotterer, than, crashes the #7 Audi out of second!  Rene Rast leads LMP2 for G Drive Racing.  But, in the final hour, their hopes of a class win, evaporated.  Kaboom!  With a flash of fire, a brake disc explodes, sending Rast spinning off the road.  No brakes.  Not good.

The fairy tale could come true and the home team, the #43 RGR Sport By Morand Ligier Nissan would win in LMP2!  Abu Dhabi Proton, with Patrick Long finishing the race out, wins LM GTE Am.  Long's team mates Khaled Al Qubaisi and David Heinemeier Hansson are sure to celebrate this one, too.  Darren Turner gives Aston Martin the win in LM GTE Pro, for the #97 car, sharing with Richie Stanaway.  RGR wins LMP2!  This news will excite fans in Mexico City and all over the country!  The home heroes, have done it!  Kudos to Ricardo Gonzalez, Filipe Albuquerque, and Bruno Senna!  Porsche wins overall.  World Champions, Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, and Brendon Hartley, give Porsche the W in Mexico City!

Overall/LMP1: #1 Bernhard/Webber/Hartley             Porsche 919

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

             LM GTE Pro: #97 Stanaway/Turner              Aston Martin V8 Vantage

             LM GTE Am: #88 Al Qubaisi/Heinemeier Hansson/Long     Porsche 911 RSR

Adios, from Mexico.  The next FIA WEC race, is in the United States, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, coming up in less than two weeks.

6 Hours of Mexico

If you wish to follow the 6 Hours of Mexico, go HERE for live text updates.

http://www.motorsport.com/live-text/mexico-wec-race/

Magnus VIR Exclusion Upheld by IMSA

Despite a protest by Magnus Racing and a claim that damage to their Audi R8 from on track incidents was to blame, IMSA has upheld the team's exclusion from the results of the Michelin GT Challenge that took place last weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/magnus-vir-exclusion-upheld-by-imsa/

Aston Martin Loses GTE-Am Pole

Aston Martin Racing has lost their pole position for today's FIA WEC Six Hours of Mexico presented by AT&T, over a technical infringement.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/no-98-aston-martin-loses-gte-am-pole-in-mexico/

Senna: Massa can find a home beyond F1 in WEC

Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, is retiring from the sport at the end of this season.  Could he find refuge in the FIA World Endurance Championship?  Bruno Senna, nephew of F1 World Champ Ayrton Senna, and a former F1 driver, thinks so.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/senna-massa-can-find-a-home-beyond-f1-in-wec-814352/?s=1

FIA WEC news from Mexico

Yours truly is unsure if he will be able to blog the entirety of the 6 Hours of Mexico tomorrow.  But, nonetheless, here is the pre-race news, before the green flag falls.

Mexico "A Step Into the Unknown" on Durability, Cooling at High Altitude

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/6h-mexico-a-step-into-the-unknown-for-lmp1-car-durability-cooling/

Ricky Taylor: "I Can't Wait to be Back in the WEC"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ricky-taylor-i-cant-wait-to-visit-some-new-tracks-and-be-back-in-wec/

Estre to Sub for Long in Proton Porsche at 6H COTA
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/estre-to-sub-for-long-in-proton-porsche-at-6h-cota/

Junqueira: "The Biggest Race Missing On My CV Is Le Mans"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/junqueira-the-biggest-race-missing-on-my-cv-is-le-mans/

Mexico City Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mexico-city-wednesday-notebook/

Bernhard Tops Test Session, Sarrazin Crashes in Mexico City
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bernhard-tops-test-session-sarrazin-crashes-in-mexico-city/

No. 6 Toyota to Miss FP1, FP2 Due To Tub Change from Testing Accident
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/no-6-toyota-to-miss-fp1-fp2-due-to-tub-change/

Gonzalez: "The First Year Has to be a Big Push"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gonzalez-the-first-year-has-to-be-a-big-push/

This story first came to light, yesterday.

Davidson Ruled Out of 6H Mexico Due to Rib Injury from Accident
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/davidson-ruled-out-for-6h-mexico-after-testing-accident/

Lotterer Paces Free Practice 1 in Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lotterer-paces-free-practice-1-in-mexico/

Porsche Quickest on Thursday in Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-on-thursday-in-mexico/

Mexico City Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mexico-city-thursday-notebook/

Porsche Quickest Again in FP3
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-again-in-fp3/

Treluyer Sidelined for 6H Mexico with Back Injury
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/treluyer-sidelined-for-6h-mexico/

VIDEO: Behind The Scenes with RGR Sport: Arrival By Helicopter
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-behind-the-scenes-with-rgr-sport-arrival-by-helicopter/

Aston Martin Sweeps GTE Qualifying in Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aston-martin-racing-sweeps-gte-qualifying-in-mexico/

Audi Takes Pole for 6H Mexico
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-takes-pole-for-6h-mexico/

Stay tuned for some form of highlights package, from the race.

Dane Cameron Tackles The Legendary Toyota Eagle Mk. III.

Current IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship driver (for Action Express Racing and their Daytona Prototype Corvette program), got a taste of days gone by and the wonderful, legendary, IMSA GTP Grand Touring Prototype era, shaking down the legendary All American Racers Toyota Eagle Mk. III.

http://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/news/092016/dane-cameron-tackles-legendary-toyota-eagle-mk-iii

Anthony Davidson Out of 6 Hours of Mexico

Anthony Davidson is sidelined with bruised ribs and won't race in the 6 Hours of Mexico on Saturday, leaving the #5 Toyota TS050 with a two man line up of Kazuki Nakajima and Sebastien Buemi.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/09/01/anthony-davidson-out-of-6-hours-of-mexico.html

Porsche Fastest, Sarrazin Crashes in Mexico Collective Test

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, is driver approved for this weekend's first ever 6 Hours of Mexico FIA World Endurance Championship race.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/09/01/porsche-fastest-sarrazin-crashes-in-mexico-collective-test.html

WEC drivers face altitude challenge in Mexico

In the five year history of the FIA World Endurance Championship, drivers and teams may find no greater challenge (including the mental fatigue of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the marquee event), than the altitude changes, in Mexico, as the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is more than a mile above sea level.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/wec-drivers-face-altitude-challenge-in-mexico-083116