DragonSpeed Announces 2018/19 FIA WEC LMP1 Programme

DragonSpeed to become first ever American-flagged FIA WEC LMP1 effort.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/10/31/dragonspeed-announces-201819-fia-wec-lmp1-programme.html

FIA GT World Cup at Macau, pre-race news

Headlines before the FIA GT World Cup races at Macau for the annual Macau Grand Prix.

Wittmann Confirmed for FIA GT World Cup
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/bmw-confirms-wittmann-for-fia-gt-world-cup/

Honda Confirms Factory NSX GT3 for Van der Zande at Macau

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/honda-confirms-nsx-gt3-for-van-der-zande-at-macau/

Scuderia Corsa to Make Macau Debut with Rosenqvist

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/scuderia-corsa-to-make-macau-debut-with-rosenqvist/

Di Grassi to Make Audi GT3 Debut in Macau
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/di-grassi-to-make-audi-gt3-debut-in-macau/

Farfus, Blomqvist to Join Wittman for Macau

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/farfus-blomqvist-to-join-wittmann-for-fia-gt-world-cup/

Engel, Mortara to Lead Four-Car Mercedes-AMG Effort for Macau

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/engel-mortara-to-lead-four-car-mercedes-amg-effort-for-macau/

Craft-Bamboo Confirms Vanthoor, O'Young for Macau

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/craft-bamboo-confirms-vanthoor-oyoung-for-macau/

Re-posting a story that first appeared almost a week ago.  A great field of cars is slated to race in FIA GT World Cup.

20 Cars, Seven Manufacturers Confirmed for FIA GT World Cup
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/20-cars-confirmed-for-fia-gt-world-cup/

Lamm:Macau Return Will Be an "Emotional Experience" for Schnitzer

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/lamm-macau-return-will-be-an-emotional-experience-for-schnitzer/

More news from Macau, still to come.  Stay tuned.

IMSA Launches Roku Channel, Features On Demand Race Broadcasts

IMSA continues to expand its digital footprint, announcing this afternoon the launch of its own Roku channel.

https://www.imsa.com/news/102017/imsa-launches-roku-channel-features-demand-race-broadcasts

more IMSA headlines

The off season headlines in IMSA continue as anticipation is building for the 2018 season, and especially, the 56th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the first of the crown jewel events of the year in the North American Endurance Cup, coming up in January.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge Winner to be Decided in Barcelona
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sunoco-whelen-challenge-winner-to-be-decided-at-barcelona/

Jeff Segal could be back racing a Ferrari with Scuderia Corsa, for Daytona, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  This story may have already been covered.

Segal Rejoins Scuderia Corsa for Daytona, Possible Le Mans Return
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/segal-joins-scuderia-corsa-for-daytona/

It is official.  Fernando Alonso will race the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona with United Autosports.

Alonso Confirmed for Rolex 24 With United Autosports
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alonso-confirmed-for-rolex-24-with-united-autosports/

Atherton: "Not Possible to Overstate" Significance of Alonso for Daytona

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/atherton-not-possible-to-overstate-significance-of-alonso-for-daytona/

Alonso "Getting Out of My Comfort Zone" with Daytona Debut
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alonso-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-with-daytona-debut/

Van der Zande Joins Wayne Taylor Racing
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/van-der-zande-joins-wayne-taylor-racing-for-2018/

Lally Rejoins Magnus for 2018
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/lally-rejoins-magnus-for-2018/

sports car racing in the 1970s

A fascinating documentary about sports car racing during the 1970s that focuses on world championship racing in Europe, as well as the North American Can Am championship during it's heyday.  Definitely worth watching. 

FIA WEC stories

More news from the FIA World Endurance Championship, including a new Ford Motorsports Director.

Pericak Promoted; Rushbrook Named New Ford Motorsports Director

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/pericak-reassigned-rushbrook-named-new-ford-motorsports-director/

Thiriet Stands Down from G-Drive
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/thiriet-stands-down-from-g-drive/

Laurent to Drive Toyota LMP1 in Bahrain Rookie Test
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/laurent-to-drive-toyota-lmp1-in-bahrain-rookie-test/

Toyota Moves Closer to LMP1 Confirmation
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-moves-closer-to-lmp1-confirmation/

Segal Rejoins Scuderia Corsa for Daytona, Possible Le Mans Return
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/segal-joins-scuderia-corsa-for-daytona/

Roussel Replaces Thiriet at G-Drive
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/roussel-replaces-thiriet-at-g-drive/

Toyota "Willing To Participate In 2018/19 WEC Season"

Toyota edging towards WEC commitment.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/10/25/toyota-willing-to-participate-in-201819-wec-season.html

IMSA headlines

More news from IMSA.

Petit Le Mans Sights & Sounds
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-petit-le-mans-sights-sounds-2/

CRP Considering Switch to LMP2
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/crp-considering-switch-to-lmp2/

Magnus Poised for Return to IMSA GTD in 2018
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/magnus-poised-for-imsa-return-in-2018/

Alonso Confirms Interest for Rolex 24
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alonso-speaks-on-possible-rolex-24-drive/

BAR1 Confirms Riley LMP for 2018
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bar1-confirms-riley-lmp2-for-2018/

Four Drivers Selected in Porsche Young Driver Academy

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/baptista-de-quesada-estep-robichon-complete-porsche-young-driver-academy/

A special edition of the Double Stint podcast this week.  It is related to an above story and is focused on a tour of the Porsche Young Driver Academy.  Tune in at the link below.

Double Stint: Porsche Young Driver Academy Special (10-25-17)
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/double-stint-porsche-young-driver-academy-vi-special-10-25-17/

Toyota look set to continue in the FIA WEC and Le Mans

Toyota will continue their involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the foreseeable future.

http://www.prescottmotorsport.co.uk/single-post/2017/10/24/Toyota-look-set-to-continue-in-the-FIA-WEC-and-Le-Mans

10 Big Questions for 2018: Prototype Edition

The first in a series of 10 questions being asked about 2018 and what the season ahead holds in store.  The topic is the Prototype class.  Other sets of questions for the GT classes, will appear in the future, stay tuned.  This is sourced from IMSA's official website.

https://www.imsa.com/news/102017/10-big-questions-2018-prototype-edition

20 Cars, Seven Manufacturers Confirmed for FIA GT World Cup

Seven manufacturers represented in 20-car entry for Nov. 16-19 race on streets of Macau...

http://sportscar365.com/other-series/gt-world-cup/20-cars-confirmed-for-fia-gt-world-cup/

World Sports Car Championship, 1991

Fast forwarding a decade, here is a season review of the 1991 World Sports Car Championship.

1981 World Endurance Championship of Makes sports car racing season

Check out a review of Lancia's season in the 1981 FIA World Championship of makes for sports cars.  Three pivotal races from the season are highlighted.  The 6 Hours of Silverstone, round five of the series, round seven, the Le Mans 24 Hours, and round eight, the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, which was presumably the final round of the series, although there were four additional events in North America and Europe at the Spa 24 Hours in Belgium, the 6 Hours of Mosport in Canada, the Road America 500 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the Brands Hatch 1,000 kilometers.

Here's a look at who competed at Daytona, Silverstone, Le Mans, and Watkins Glen, the races highlighted in the movie.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Daytona-1981-02-01.html
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Silverstone-1981-05-10.html
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-1981-06-14.html
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Watkins_Glen-1981-07-12.html

6 Hours of COTA race broadcast

Bonus FIA WEC race recap post.  Here is the highlighted version of the broadcast from the race preceding Fuji, the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, which was blogged when it happened, last month.  An FIA World Championship race highlights double whammy for your Saturday.  Enjoy.

6 Hours of Fuji race broadcast

The full race broadcast of last Saturday's 6 Hours of Fuji. 

post-race headlines after the 6 Hours of Fuji

Post-race wrap up, plus, examining and breaking down post-race headlines after the abbreviated 6 Hours of Fuji from last Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Calado, Pier Guidi, Take GTE-Pro Honors at Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/calado-pier-gudi-take-gte-pro-honors-at-fuji/

Toyota Claims 1-2 Finish in Weather-Shortened 6H Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-claims-1-2-finish-in-weather-shortened-6h-fuji/

VIDEO: Fuji Race Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-fuji-race-highlights-4/

Davidson: Toyota "Incredibly Lucky" Race Didn't Restart
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/davidson-toyota-incredibly-lucky-race-didnt-restart/

ORECA Feels "Unfairly Penalized" in LMP2 Joker Allowances
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/oreca-feels-unfairly-penalized-in-lmp2-joker-allowances/

Fuji Post-Race Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fuji-post-race-notebook-3/

Toyota: "No Absolute Deadline" on LMP1 Future Decision
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-no-absolute-deadline-on-future-decision/

Priaulx: Fuji Result "Really Hurts" as Title Hopes Fade
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/priaulx-fuji-result-really-hurts-as-title-hopes-fade/

Ligier, Dallara LMP2 Cars Granted Aero Updates Only
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ligier-dallara-lmp2-cars-granted-aero-updates-only/

Beaumesnil: Manufacturers Have "Clear Vision" on 2018 LMP1 Regs

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/beaumesnil-manufacturers-have-clear-vision-on-2018-lmp1-regs/

DC Racing LMP1 Program Unlikely for 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dc-racing-lmp1-program-unlikely-for-2018/

Laurent: "The Pressure is Not on Us" in LMP2 Title Fight
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/laurent-the-pressure-is-not-on-us-in-lmp2-title-fight/

Nico Mueller Joins G-Drive for Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nico-mueller-joins-g-drive-for-shanghai/

Brendon Hartley will make his Formula 1 debut at this weekend's United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.  Racing in WEC for the factory Porsche team has prepared him well for the occasion, as Porsche boss Andreas Seidl, notes.

Seidl: Hartley "Well Prepared" for F1 Debut
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/seidl-hartley-well-prepared-for-f1-debut/

New LMP1 Regs to be Presented in Dec.; Manufacturer Talks Intensify
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/new-lmp1-regs-to-be-presented-in-december/

IMSA news (continued)

More stories coming out of IMSA as the off season has started.

MacNeil, WeatherTech Confirmed at Scuderia Corsa for 2018
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/macneil-weathertech-confirmed-at-scuderia-corsa-for-2018/

Rumors of Jenson Button joining Acura and Penske for the 2018 IMSA endurance races have been put to bed.  Ricky Taylor, Graham Rahal, and Simon Pagenaud will be on the driver's strength for them in the endurance races, next year.

Penske Confirms Ricky Taylor; Rahal, Pagenaud for Enduros in Acura DPi
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/penske-confirms-ricky-taylor-in-final-acura-dpi-seat/

Taylor: Joining Acura Team Penske "The Opportunity of a Lifetime"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/taylor-joining-acura-team-penske-the-opportunity-of-a-lifetime/

Wayne Taylor: "Father's Dream" for Ricky to Be Called Up By Penske
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/wayne-taylor-fathers-dream-for-ricky-to-be-called-up-by-penske/

St. Cyr: "Other Circumstances" Precluded Button for Acura DPi

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/st-cyr-other-circumstances-precluded-button-from-penske-acura-dpi-drive/

VIDEO: Michelin Petit Le Mans GTLM Recap
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-michelin-petit-le-mans-gtlm-recap-2/

Di Resta Joins United Autosports for Rolex 24
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/di-resta-joins-united-autosports-for-rolex-24/

Alonso Linked to Possible United Autosports Drive for Rolex 24
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alonso-linked-to-united-autosports-drive-for-rolex-24/

2018 IMSA Entry List Tracker

Another update on confirmed and probable entries for IMSA 2018 from nasportscar.com.

http://nasportscar.com/2018-imsa-entry-list-tracker-2/

IMSA - Taylor gets first taste of Acura DPi

Reigning IMSA Prototype champion Ricky Taylor got his first taste of life at Acura Team Penske on Monday at Sebring International Raceway.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/145091-taylor-gets-first-taste-of-acura-arx-05-dpi

Reflecting on the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Season

Matt Kistler at naracecar.com/nasportscar.com, has written a reflective piece on the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship season.  Check it out, HERE.

http://nasportscar.com/reflecting-on-the-2017-imsa-weathertech-season/

California 8 Hours post-race wrap up

Wall to wall coverage of the California 8 Hours, continues, with a post-race wrap up.

Potter: Land, WRT Pit Strategy Was Very Fair
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/potter-land-wrt-pit-strategy-was-very-fair/

Unfortunately, the race broadcast from the California 8 Hours is not available for viewing even on YouTube in the United States.  If you are in other countries around the world, the full live broadcast is available via YouTube, but not here in the states.

Top Photo Picks from California 8H
http://sportscar365.com/features/photography/photos-california-8h-gallery/

The latest Double Stint Podcast, recapping the race, and also, featuring an interview with Kelvin van der Linde.

Double Stint: Weekend Recap; Kelvin van der Linde Interview (10-17-17)

http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/double-stint-weekend-recap-kelvin-van-der-linde-interview-10-17-17/

That's a wrap from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Looking forward to the Sepang 12 Hours, which will be the finale of the 2017 Intercontinental GT Challenge, and then, the 2018 campaign will get underway very shortly thereafter, with the Bathurst 12 Hours at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, in February, 2018.  So long, for now.

All of what happened during the California 8 Hours

Your race rundown of the California 8 Hours and everything that took place.  Yours truly watched the coverage on TV on CBS Sports Network last Sunday, and the two sections of the race that were televised, were great.  If you did not see it, here's what you missed.

*Bonus.  There will be a race replay posted here.  Stay tuned for that, coming up, soon.

Mies Leads Opening Hour in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/mies-leads-at-1-hour-mark-in-monterey/

Haase, Land Out Front After Three Hours in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/haase-land-out-front-after-three-hours-in-monterey/

Land Leads Audi 1-2-3 with Two Hours to Go
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/haase-land-out-front-after-three-hours-in-monterey/

Magnus Takes Dramatic Win at California 8H
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/magnus-takes-dramatic-win-in-monterey/

More post-race coverage to come, as we spend today, (Tuesday), reviewing the California 8 Hours with extensive coverage.  Stay tuned for more.

more pre-race news before the California 8 Hours

More pre-race headlines before the California 8 Hours.  Spoiler alert: the race was a great one.  Stay tuned for the details.

RJN, Nissan Pull California 8 Hours Entries
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/rjn-pulls-california-8h-entries/

RealTime to Run Retro Livery in California 8H
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/realtime-to-run-retro-livery-in-california-8h/

Reinke: Audi Believes IGTC is "The Right Product"
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/reinke-audi-believes-igtc-is-the-right-product/

California Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/mrls-thursday-notebook/

Cameron: California 8H "A Fun Way" to Begin Transition to Acura

http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/cameron-california-8h-a-fun-way-to-begin-my-transition-to-acura/

Land Leads Audi 1-2-3 in Free Practice at Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/land-leads-audi-1-2-3-in-california-8h-practice/

Land, Audi Pace Monterey Pre-Qualifying
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/land-audi-pace-monterey-pre-qualifying/

California Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/california-friday-notebook/

Land: Three Wins in 24 Hours was "Absolutely Great"
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/land-three-wins-in-24-hours-was-absolutely-great/

Law: California 8H ntry "Just Makes Sense" for K-PAX
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/law-california-8h-entry-just-makes-sense-for-k-pax/

RealTime Acura on Provisional Pole in Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/realtime-acura-on-provisional-pole-in-monterey/

Haase Leads Audi Front Row Sweep for California 8H
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/haase-land-claim-monterey-pole/

California Saturday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/california-saturday-notebook/

Porsche "Oldies" Reunited at Monterey
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/porsche-oldies-reunited-at-monterey/

Vosse (WRT): "I'm Sure IGTC Has a Great Future"
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/vosse-im-sure-igtc-has-a-great-future/

Race coverage, coming soon.  Believe me, if you did not see the two segments of it on CBS Sports Network or see it online worldwide on the SRO's web page, you missed a real treat.  Will be back tomorrow with a wrap up of the race.

6 Hours of Fuji Part 2

The spectators can still have fun as we are continuing under yellow.  Here at Fuji, pack your wellies because it will be a long, wet day.  Wet weather does mean great racing.  There were concerns about standing water.  But, it's the spray and fog that is more worrisome than any standing water.  Kazuki Nakajima says the weather won't clear up.  The four and a half hour mark is important.  You have to get to a certain distance for full points even if the race does not go to it's full six hour distance.  Toyota runs 1-2 and could be picking up a win in their home race.  Any cars that are trapped between the safety car and the class leader or the overall leader, you are given the wave by.  The rules are the same in IMSA as they are here in FIA WEC.

Darkness is one thing.  But, darkness and fog are even worse.  We could still call this race before it ends.  Trundling around at slow speeds for an hour and a half would be pretty boring.  It might clear up yet.  Miguel Molina and Matt Griffin, both in Ferrari's, are battling for position.  Some of the younger fans have probably seen enough racing with this bad weather and would rather go home and take a nap.  There are drag races down the front straightaway here.  Brendon Hartley of course won the Petit Le Mans last weekend, and he is here now, but then, he'll be off to Austin, Texas, to fill the Toro Rosso seat in Formula 1.  Carlos Sainz Jr. will now race for Renault.  Sebastien Buemi is not happy that he didn't get the F1 drive and he was balked by Hartley during qualifying.

Switch channels from FS2 to FS1 to see the rest of the race, and if you can't, well, have a good evening.  Pit road is open, but there's a red flag.  Will this race even restart?  Let's check the highlights.  We have had fog and rain since the beginning of this one.  Patrick Dempsey waves the green flag.  There were laps run behind the safety car asnd when they went to green, it was Porsche and Toyota.  Nelson Piquet Jr. spun.  Then came a fierce scrap between Buemi and Lotterer.  Porsche makes contact and needs a new nose.

SignaTech Alpine has had a great race as Toyota takes the fight to Porsche on Toyota's home tracki that they own.  Red flag for 32 minutes.  Then, pit stop time for Earl Bamber and some unpredictability.  More rooster tails from the tires.  Ben Hanley and Oliver Jarvis had a battle inj LMP2 before another yellow flag.  Conditions continued to ebb and flow.  Rain has been the story.  A Ferrari 1-2 in LM GTE Am, while Ferrari has been going toe to toe with Porsche in LM GTE Pro.  We are getting down to the final races of the year.  An hour or so ago, already, was the dodge 'em cars incident between Mathias Beche and Jean Eric Vergne.

James Rossiter has run well today, making his debut in WEC after racing in Super GT here in Japan.  We are past the 90 minutes remaining mark.  We'll update you soon here with what is going to happen as the cars are stopped in pit lane with 90 minutes to go.  This has been a strange race to say the very least.  This is the second red flag of the day.  We are in a full points race.  How long will we be under the red flag?  Will the race continue?  Lots of discussion going on up and down the pit lane.  Team managers are discussing driver changes.  You cannot change drivers under a red flag.  The engineers and the strategists are driven crazy.  When you need hibachi, you just have to have hibachi.  Get something to eat.  But don't necessarily drink any sake or Ichiban beer yet.

For a track this compact, you'd think we're talking about Spa or Le Mans with micro climates.  We see that here at Fuji, too.  It did not seem like Jean Eric Vergne took Mathias Beche out.  The crash was a racing deal.  Toyota runs 1-2 which is a great headline in their home race.  Porsche will not cliuch the championship today.  The battle will go to the next race in China in three weeks, that we will have more details about at the end of this blog post.  No official word yet whether this race will continue.

Rain is usually welcome at a race to add drama.  But today it has been very excessive.  Emmanuel Collard is a veteran racer and he hopes this race gets going again.  Collard will soon break the record for most appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Kazuki Nakajima wants to stop the race, unlike Emmanuel Collard who wants to continue racing.  Edoardo Freitas and Gerard Neveu discuss their options.  They'd like to restart the race, but the drivers think otherwise.  100R is a 100 radius corner that goes downhill.  Each category of car takes a different line.  The lack of grip makes things really greasy.

There's a river under the bridge, too, that could cause aquaplaning.  It has been wet ever since the teams arrived here as we remain under our second red flag of this event.  This is a strange race.  Drivers do want to see this race get back underway.  Marco Sorenson walked 2,000 meters up Mount Fuji.  Wow.  Mount Fuji leaves it's impression.  Marco Sorenson and Nikki Thiim are seventh in LM GTE Pro.  The Aston's have not been a factor today.  Darkness is not far away.  This has been a strang race today.  Really strange.

Toyota could still win their home race.  We await their decision on continuing in the WEC.  Toyota continues to lead ovrall.  Ferrari still dominates both GTE classes.  Only three cars are out.  Another great veteran driver, Pedro Lamy, also wants to race.  Race marshals are still looking at the weather conditions.  Less than 55 minutes on the clock now as the red flag continues.  Gerard Neveu says there is still hope to restart this race, but it does not look promising.  There are no support races here at Fuji.  But fans get to go on track tours on a bus while the cars are out practicing.

They've just had their first track safari here at Fuji and the fans loved it.  Circuit safari.  Buy a ticket, get on a bus, and run a controlled session on the track.  It's a regular deal in Super GT in Japan.  We all await the decision of race control, with 45 minutes left.  Is the fog lifting?  Yannick Dalmas is a four-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner and he is also a drifting fan, drifting the Audi R8 safety car.  He's testing the grip levl.  Be happy in your work.  Track conditions look like they are improving.n  The front straightaway is the highest elevation on this track.  The fog is impenetrable.  The TV cameras concetrate the effect, but it's wicked fog out there.

Dalmas will report to race control.  We'll see what happens.  This track has a 1.5 kilometer front straightaway.  There's lots of tradition here at Fuji as far as sports car racing.  Engines have fired on the track.  But there's been no announcement given about restarting this race.  Maybe some of the teams need to keep temperature in the cars.  The hybrid cars take preparation before they can restart with the batteries, motor generator units, and energy recovery systems.  Again, Ford #67 has had a fraught race today.  They tested at Bahrain as well for the season finale at the end of November.

We will wait 'til the 30 minute mark to make the decision, if the fog is lifting.  If there is no improvement they'll say, "forget it", and call the race off.  There's still a lot of fog out there.  We are duly bound to remain here and report on the end of the race.  The weather forecasters nailed it.  That being said, the track looks raceable now.  We have 26 minutes left on the clock.  Time is of the essence.  The fog just won't lift off the front straightaway.  This track was supposed to be an oval, a superspeedway.  Well, on an oval, you can't race in the rain.  We mentioned the legendary race here in 1976 which was the Formula 1 championship.

In 2013, they ran eight laps, waited two hours, ran another eight laps, declared a winner, and changed the rules because it was a very bizarre race.  We are at 75% distance which would make this race official.  We watch action from earlier in the day, seeing Sebastien Buemi race Andre Lotterer.  The race appears it will be resumed in 13 minutes.  If the fog lifts, we'll probably get some green flag action.  The cars will be circulating behind the safety car.  This ought to be a sprint to the finish.  The #2 Porsche is in it's pit box while the other cars are on the front straightaway.

James Calado and some of the other drivers do not seem pleased about restarting this race.  The drivers are getting rid of water off the soles of their shoes.  Ten minute board, on the grid.  This decision will be discussed.  Someone has to sit down with Gerard Neveu, Edoardo Freitas etc. to see how they arrived at the decision to send cars out with so few minutes to go in the race.  We're here, let's get the show back on the road for a dash, even though time is running out.  You can't criticize the decision.  There's effort and revenue to put this racing show on.

We are not critiquing the decisions of race control.  If what is motivating them is to give the fans their money's worth, that's awesome.  We just need to know the process.  The drivers remount, and cars will roll shortly so we can put this one to bed.  The fog is coming back.  The cars will leave the grid, and cars go straight to parc ferme.  The race cannot be restarted.  The celebrations begin!  Toyota wins it!  Another win for Toyota, and in their home race.  Can they catch the #2 Porsche with two races to go in the championship?

If the race did restart, with the championship at stake, would there have been a crash?  There was a window of time, and that window, closed.  We were hopeful of the clouds lifting.  But, the race is done and dusted now.  Wow.  What a day!  This was a bizarre race to be sure and the most bizarre sports car race yours truly has written about in a long time.  So, your winners are:

Overall/LMP1: #8 Buemi/Nakajima/Davidson     Toyota TS050 Hybrid

             LMP2: #31 Prost/Canal/Senna                  Oreca 07 Gibson

             LM GTE Pro: #51 Calado/Pier Guidi        Ferrari 488 GTE

             LM GTE Am: #54 Flohr/Castellaci/Molina     Ferrari 488 GTE

Spirit of Race wins for the first time in LM GTE Am.  Kazuki Nakajima takes a lap of honor as the cars head back to parc ferme for tech inspection and for the drivers to celebrate.  Kazuki Nakajima has to be happy to win his home race.  Rebellion also raced at Petit Le Mans before coming here of course.  So, we move on to the 6 Hours of Shanghai in Shanghai, China, coming up in three weeks.

It was mathematically possible for any of the four championships to be decided here at Fuji, but none were.  So, we've had ourselves a spectacular race here at Fuji Speedway.  See you from Shanghai, in three weeks or so.  Sayonara, and good night, from Japan. 

6 Hours of Fuji: Part 1

We are well underway in the 6 Hours of Fuji at Fuji Speedway in Fuji, Japan.  Normally, Fuji Speedway is very picturesque.  But, weather has been a factor in this race so far.  There's been heavy clouds and rain.  In nearly three hours of running, we have had only about 45 minutes of racing under green.  Porsche leads overall.  Ferrari is dominating the GTE classes.  The track has just gone green after an extended safety car period.  Each championship leader in all classes have had bad luck.  Nick Tandy leads Jose Maria Lopez in the #7 Toyota, that has had electronic issues.  Porsche #2 of Earl Bamber could take the championship today, sharing with Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard.  The conditions are changing.

The visibility has ben a big issue as the #91 Porsche 911 RSR runs off the road after starting on the front row in class.  Porsche and Ford have stayed on track in this recent stint.  G-Drive leads LMP2 and they won here with a different driving squad, last year.  This straightaway at Fuji is the longest in the World Endurance Championship at a mile in length.  We've been on wet weather tires for most of the race. Sam Bird started his Ferrari on wet tires and has kept them for a while after his team mate Davide Rigon took over.  We are getting to the halfway mark and will back time the pit stops.  Longer fuel runs are a benefit of running in the wet.  This race could be called if the weather gets worse.

Ho Pin Tung and Jackie Chan DC Racing are third in LMP2 and lead the points championship in class.  Bruno Senna says he has had a tough stint, just on the limit of being able to drive the car.  The crowd turned out in spades even in the rain.  Safety has to come first before putting on a show.  It's been an iffy weekend with the weather.  Vitaly Petrov crashed on Friday, stopping the session.  Lots of spray coming off these high downforce prototypes.  This is a huge race for Toyota, who have had a bad season.  They are still committed to the LMP1 Hybrid category.  They won four of the five races run here at Fuji, their home event.

They won at Silverstone and Spa at the beginning of the year, before the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid went on a tear, winning the most recent four races at Le Mans, Nurburgring, Mexico, and Circuit of the Americas.  If Porsche could get a 1-2 today, they'd clinch their third LMP1 manufacturer's championship cup.  Points are awarded though, through the whole Prototype field, and you will have nil points if you finish behind both the LMP1 and LMP2 cars, aggregated together.  The LMP2 title fight is a 20 point swing.  Five points in GTE Pro between Ford and Porsche.  Four points separate the LM GTE Am teams.

Nick Tandy leads the race for Porsche as Kazuki Nakajima in Toyota #8 pitted.  Jose Maria Lopez went off the road, struggling with braking into turn one.  There haven't been too many incidents today.  Conditions may be improving, but there's another wall of mist at the end of the front straightaway.  Ford GT #66 is off the road with Stefan Mucke at the wheel of it.  He was locked up entirely.  No ABS on a GTE car, unlike a GT3 racer we see racing in the U.S. and worldwide.  Andy Priaulx did not take tires on his most recent pit stop.

We have yet another safety car.  Deary me.  The visibility is horrid as the clouds are shrouding the speedway.  This is not an unusual situation here at Fuji.  A few years back, there were a couple tries to get the race underway and then the organizers cancelled it and said to the drivers, "boys and girls, head home.  No racing today."  There's lots of standing water out there.  Everything affects everything else in a race car.  The tires need to get into their sweet spot, and you can't get to the tire's sweet spot which compounds the problem, (no pun intended).

AF Corse is running well.  They did not have a good qualifying result.  Both the track and ambient temperatures are in the 50s.  Patrick Dempsey was the grand marshal.  There's a slow zone down the front straight before the Porsche's got into it and the Toyot'a sbegan to battle as Nelson Piquet Jr. spun.  Sebastien Buemi challenges Andre Lotterer but no dice.  Conditions only got worsre as the LMP2 battle began to heat up.  LMP1 cars went off into a race of their own and Andre Lotterer found grip before the field was red flagged due to the rain.  The conditions have ebbed and flowed all day long.

Porsche #2 is a lap down to everyone else.  The Clearwater Ferrari #54 started from the LM GTE Am pole.  Jose Maria Lopez had steering wheel electronic problems.  Keita Sawa who drives for cClearwater does driver coaching here at Fuji.  Lopez pushed too hard and ran wide.  Hats off to the fans who have sat through all this rain to see the WEC stars perform.  The fans are knowledgeable and courteous.  Mike Hedlund is racing in the #86 Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR.  We watrch slow motion action from the pit lane.  Stand by for more action, coming up, from Fuji.

We expect to go back to green flag conditions shortly.  There may be residual yellow flags and a slow zone to reduce the spray.  Toyota could be making a pit stop.  Mike Conway could get behind the wheel of the Toyota.  Brendon Hartley will race Formula 1 for Scuderia Toro Rosso next weekend in Austin, Texas.  Now, Porsche #92 is in the lane.  Strategy has cycled them back.  The Porsche 911 RSR has not won in WEC yet.  Rebellion is also pitting.  In 1976, the F1 world championship was decided by Niki Lauda and James Hunt, in the rain.  Lauda withdrew from the race, James Hunt won the title, and Mario Andretti won the race.

James Hunt was not sure he'd clinched the title.  McLaren team boss Teddy Mayer had to calm James Hunt down from his anxiousness, and he did win.  Now, Toyota #7 has a problem with a non functioning windscreen wiper.  Oh dear.  All four LMP1 cars have stayed on track.  What will the stewards do in calling the race?  There are so many factors.  This is ideal for cars and driver squads that may not have all the performance of the front runners.  There has been a wave around procedure executed today on a few occasions, and many teams have taken advantage of it.  Timo Bernhard could not get the wave around before the red flag.

The darkest area of the radar are moving away from the track.  So, we could go racing soon.  Emmanuel Collard brings the #28 TDS Oreca Gibson to pit lane and Alexandre Negrao will move into the class lead for Alpine.  Kevin Estre and Marvin Dienst are your GT class leaders, both in Porsche's.  We have not seen any puddling or aquaplaning today.  Race Director Edoardo Freitas is going to bring the safety car in and there will be a slow zone down the front straight before we turn the cars loose at turn one.

Brendon Hartley wants to have his tire temps up and some boys are actually touching each other at 80 kilometers an hour.  One of the Rebellion cars was making contact with another car as Nick Tandy runs away like a scalded cat!  He was on the button!  Matthias Beche and Jean Eric Vergne have hit each other and Beche pinwheels into the wall!  Wow!  Beche was trying to set up to pass a GT car and he spun.  Safety car, scrambled again.  Both of these blokes will need to have a discussion with the race director.  Vergne says "don't pass me until we get to turn one."  Beche is trying to go down inside and Vergne was right there before he spun off the road obliterating the Rebellion entry.

Beche has beached it.  He has drive, but the suspension is busted.  The two cars were accelerating at the same pace.  Beche thought he'd out accelerate Jean Eric Vergne.  No way.  Andre Lotterer was probably like, "what the.. expletive... was that?!"  Vergne was telling Beche, "you can't pass me".  Jani says to Lotterer, "can you believe it?!"  Neel Jani raced for Rebellion before joining Pporsche.  Alex Brundle's #37 has been in the garage for a long time, with battery issues.  But, the sister Jjota Sport entry has not been officially withdrawn from the race.

Matthias Beche has been going to photographers to try and figure out what happened in the argy bargy between he and Jean Eric Vergne.  Vergne can't be fully at fault for that.  No updates from the accident scene as yet.  Toyota #8 will be in good shape on pit strategy.  The fuel consumption numbers have been thrown out the window.  There's a lot of elevation changes on this track.  It's 2.83 miles long with 16 corners here at Fuji.  Two hours still remain in this race.  The Dempsey entry is in the lane for scheduled pit work.

The most recent incident is under investigation.  We're back to green and Tandy is trying to fend off the challenge from the Toyota's!  Wow!  Jose Maria Lopez goes to the race lead!  Kazuki Nakajima is now pressurizing Nick Tandy!  Wow.  Kevin Estre is trying to keep Andy Priaulx at bay and Priaulx wants his lap back.  Toyota has struggled in the ran, but they have pace.  Porsche decided on a high downforce setup as Andy Priaulx taps Kevin Estre who spins.  Porsche #91 took advantage.  Estre is racing for the first time here at Fuji.

Estre is a great rain driver though.  These conditions are in his wheelhouse.  Ooh!  Priaulx is off the road.  Ford's day for the #67 goes from bad to worse, and now he's beached it in the gravel trap.  James Calado and his wife just welcomed a daughter into their family.  We're only 65% done in this race.  You have to get to 70% to score points.  Waving yellow flag in the corner while the marshals snatch Andy Priaulx.  We are set to go full course yellow and we are there.  Andy Priaulx is still beached.  Poor chap.  Not having a good day at all.

These boys are only five points ahead in the championship and everything has gone pear shaped for them today.  The #26 G-Drive LMP2 car with Romain Rusinov spun and was able to continue.  Nick Tandy is in the lane.  The race strategists will have some whopper headaches after this and need some Tylenol or ibuprofen or something.  Mike Conway into the Toyota.  Neel Jani into the #1 Porsche 919.  One race strategy after another is thrown in the trash can as the situations change.  Priaulx is back underway once again and needs to focus on scoring points now.

Kazuki Nakajima leads overall and LMP1.  Nico Prost leads LMP2.  Fred Makowiecki is leading LM GTE Pro.  Miguel Molina leads GTE Am.  The restart has been called off as track cleanup continues.  We go back to green officially this time with Mike Conway leading Neel Jani.  Visibility is getting worse, again.  James Calado has made a pass on Fred Makowiecki.  The Ganassi crew is pitting the #67.  They will get the dollies under the car and go to work in the garage.  Porsche has a lot of pace in LM GTE Pro.  Aston Martin is struggling on their Dunlop wet tires.

Fred Makowiecki has done a lot of racing here in Japan.  James Calado is adapting well to GT cars.  Ditto for Sam Bird.  Many drivers in the field have raced here in Japan in Formula Nippon and Super Formula.  Racing in Japan is lucrative, and the Japanese are great racing fans.  We are within the final two hours of this race.  This track is known as a speedway.  It was supposed to be a 2.5 mile superspeedway.  The place was converted into a toad course and has a lot of history.  The rain is about as bad as we've seen it all day.

It goes from being clear to being in the middle of a cloud.  Ho Pin Tung and Andre Negrao battle in LMP2.  LMP2 is a spec class, and LMP1, LM GTE Pro, and LM GTE Am, they are world championships.  Keita Sawa said that if the fog comes through turn one, you are in trouble.  It comes in at turn one and then blankets the rest of the circuit.  We are in the foothills of Mount Fuji.  There is a yellow flag for poor visibility.  Edoardo Freitas is a reassuring voice to the drivers.  Turn one and the straightaway are shrouded in water.

The weather clears up a bit in turn three.  It's remarkably better.  Search for grip on the surface.  You want more abrasive surfaces in the rain.  Not a polished, smooth line, because that will cause the tires to chunk.  Good racing between Andre Negrao and Ho Pin Tung.  Ho Pin Tung is the LMP2 class leader in the championship standings.  Here comes the fog down the straightaway and into turn one.  Don't allow drivers to get the red mist in the middle of a championship battle.  Kazuki Nakajima leads Mike Conway in a battle of the two Toyota's.  Nakajima leads by 20+ seconds.  The slow motion pictures show water trailing off the bodywork of the cars.

Imagine managing 1,000 horsepower in these conditions.  We now have an hour and 45 minutes left in this race.  Fuji is truly one of the most gorgeous race tracks in thew world.  We have an hour and a half to go in this race as sunshine has been hard to come by this weekend..  Very little attrition has been seen in this race.  This is a pea soup fog.

pre-race news before the Fuji 6 Hours

We are almost ready for the Fuji 6 Hours.  Here's the latest pre-race news, including qualifying highlights.

VIDEO: Fuji Friday Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-fuji-friday-highlights-2/

Buemi Goes Quickest of Weekend in FP3
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/buemi-goes-quickest-of-weekend-in-fp3/

Lietz, Makowiecki Take GTE-Pro Pole at Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lietz-makowiecki-take-gte-pro-pole/

Porsche Sweeps Front Row for 6H Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-sweeps-front-row-for-6h-fuji/

VIDEO: Fuji Qualifying Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-fuji-qualifying-highlights-4/

Hartley Ready for Surprise F1 Debut; Hails LMP1 Preparation
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hartley-ready-for-surprise-f1-debut-hails-lmp1-preparation/

VIDEO: WEC Debuts 'Circuit Safari'
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-wec-debuts-circuit-safari-at-fuji/

Drivers Bracing for "Really Tricky Conditions" in 6H Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/drivers-bracing-for-really-tricky-conditions-in-6h-fuji/

Fuji Saturday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fuji-saturday-notebook-4/

News about LMP2 cars.

ACO Approves Updates for Ligier, Dallara, Riley LMP2 Cars
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aco-approves-jokers-for-ligier-dallara-riley-lmp2-cars/

VIDEO: McNish Narrates Lap of Fuji Speedway
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-mcnish-narrates-lap-of-fuji-speedway/

We'll see you tonight, for coverage of the race.  Maybe not in it's entirety, but a good chunk of it will be discussed right here on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

Friday FIA WEC headlines from Fuji Speedway

Pre-race buildup continues for the 6 Hours of Fuji for the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Yours truly is hopeful of being able to cover at least some of it.  So, stay tuned for a blog entry, and if you are so inclined, wake up in the wee hours of Sunday morning to see the race for yourself on Fox Sports.  Looks like the coverage will be split between FS2 and FS1.

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

Lotterer Expecting "Close Fight" With Toyota in Wet at Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lotterer-expecting-close-fight-with-toyota-in-wet-conditions/

Lopez Quickest in FP2; Porsche Tops Wet Friday
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lopez-quickest-in-fp2-porsche-tops-wet-friday/

VIDEO: Fuji Track Analysis
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-fuji-track-analysis/

Fuji Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fuji-friday-notebook-4/

AIM-JUDD Engine Announced for 2018 LMP1 Privateer Programs
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aim-judd-engine-announced-for-2018-lmp1-privateer-programs/

more FIA WEC headlines before this weekend's race in Fuji, Japan

Headlines from the FIA World Endurance Championship as they prepare to race this weekend at Fuji Speedway in Fuji, Japan.  Some of the race, but not all of it, will be covered here.

ByKolles Completes Test with Updated LMP1 Car
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bykolles-completes-test-with-updated-lmp1-car/

Ginetta Confirms First Order of Three LMP1 Cars
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ginetta-confirms-first-order-for-three-lmp1-cars/

Peugeot Unlikely to Enter LMP1; Shifts Focus to World Rallycross
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/peugeot-unlikely-to-enter-lmp1-shifts-focus-to-world-rallycross/

D3+Transformers Targeting 24H Le Mans Entry
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/d3transformers-targeting-24h-le-mans-entry/

Porsche to Remain with High Downforce Kit for Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-to-remain-with-high-downforce-kit-for-fuji/

Toyota Decision Unlikely at Fuji
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-decision-unlikely-at-fuji/

VIDEO: Home Race for Nakajima, Toyota
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-home-race-for-nakajima-toyota/

Fuji Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fuji-thursday-notebook-4/

Motul Petit Le Mans Race Broadcast

The broadcast of last weekend's season finale for the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, the Motul Petit Le Mans, presented, in two parts.

Part 1
https://imsatv.imsa.com/video/102017/2017-motul-petit-le-mans-broadcast-part-1

Part 2
https://imsatv.imsa.com/video/102017/2017-motul-petit-le-mans-broadcast-part-2

more post-race rundown after the Petit Le Mans

Still more post-race headlines after the Petit Le Mans.

TPNAEC Champions Crowned in Petit Le Mans Finale
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/tpnaec-champions-crowned-after-petit-le-mans/

Another mini salute to the champions of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.  Congratulations to the winners:

Prototype: #5 Christian Fittipaldi, Joao Barbosa, & Filipe Albuquerque  Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R.

GT Le Mans: #911 Dirk Werner & Patrick Pilet Porsche GT Team North America Porsche 911 RSR.

GT Daytona: #33 Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen & Mario Farnbacher Riley Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3.

Derani: "Brutal" Outcome at Petit Le Mans After Late Race Penalty
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/derani-brutal-outcome-at-petit-le-mans-after-late-race-penalty/

"Door's Open for Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R in IMSA, PWC
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/doors-open-for-callaway-corvette-c7-gt3-r-in-imsa-pwc/

The latest Double Stint Podcast.

Double Stint: PLM Recap; Ricky & Jordan Taylor Interview (10-10-17)

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/double-stint-petit-le-mans-recap-ricky-and-jordan-taylor-interview-10-10-17/

IMSA Competitors Honored at WeatherTech Night of Champions
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-champions-crowned-at-weathertech-night-of-champions/

post-race headlines after the Petit Le Mans

We take a look at post-race headlines after the Petit Le Mans and have an urgent, breaking sports car news story to get to.  Kuno Wittmer has parted company with BMW.

BMW Team RLL Takes GTLM Win in Final Race with M6
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bmw-wins-petit-le-mans-on-final-race-with-m6-gtlm/

Hartley Takes ESM Nissan DPi to Petit Le Mans Win
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/hartley-takes-esm-nissan-dpi-to-petit-le-mans-win/

Watch the closing laps of the Petit Le Mans as the No. 2 ESM Nissan DPi scores the win.

VIDEO: Final Laps of Petit Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/video-final-laps-of-petit-le-mans/

Balzan: Scuderia Corsa's "Reaction" Helps Net Ferrari GTD Title
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/balzan-scuderia-corsas-reaction-nets-ferrari-gtd-title/

De Philippi: "Pressure Was On" For Third Land Win of Day
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/de-phillippi-pressure-was-on-for-third-land-win-of-day/

Auberlen: "Nothing Better" Than Winning on 400th BMW Start
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/auberlen-nothing-better-than-winning-on-400th-bmw-start/

Dalziel Thought "It Was Over" After Late-Race Drama
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dalziel-thought-it-was-over-after-late-race-drama/

Pagenaud: "Incredible Effort" for Podium in Penske's Return

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/pagenaud-incredible-effort-by-penske-for-podium-in-sports-car-return/

Road Atlanta Content Recap
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/road-atlanta-content-recap-2/

Continental Tire Road Atlanta Post-Race Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/continental-tire-petit-le-mans-post-race-notebook/

WTR Closing In on Lamborghini GTD Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/wtr-closing-in-on-lamborghini-gtd-program/

Penske Ramps Up Acura DPi Testing Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/penske-ramps-up-acura-dpi-testing-program/

In a bit of a surprise move, but not really unexpected, Kuno Wittmer has parted ways with BMW Team RLL and hopes to find a ride elsewhere.

Wittmer Parts Ways with BMW
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/wittmer-parts-ways-with-bmw/

A salute to the champions

Hats off to the champions of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship who clinched at or before last night's 20th annual running of the Petit Le Mans.

Prototype: Jordan & Ricky Taylor

Prototype
Challenge: James French & Patricio O'Ward

GT Le Mans: Jan Magnussen & Antonio Garcia

GT Daytona: Christina Nielsen & Alessandro Balzan

We'll see you in 2018, for more thrilling action in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, and stay tuned for news as it develops over the off season as well.  So long, for now.

Petit Le Mans Part 3 (the finish)

The final hour and a half hours of the Petit Le Mans, are starting now.  We will first take a look at the highlights while we were away over the last oh, two and a half hours.  We are back at Road Atlanta.  Earlier in the race, the #52 PR1/Mathiasen Oreca went off the road and we've seen the trouble for the #10 Cadillac who is out.  Transmission issues for the #63 Scuderia Corsa car and a lot of argy bargy in Prototype.  Mark Wilkins had a huge wreck with the #93 Acura, slamming into the tires, while we were away.  Game over for that crew.  Brendon Hartley, Ryan Dalziel, and Scott Sharp, lead in the overall at this stage.  We will take you all the way to the checkers in this third blog entry.

Sage Karam in the GTD class leading Lexus leads the field down.  Giancarlo Fisichella is leading GTLM in the #62 Ferrari.  Misha Goikhberg is being challenged for the race lead by Eric Curran.  Brendon Hartley is leading overall.  Giancarlo Fisichella is being penalized for speeding in pit lane.  Take your medicine, get back on the road, and don't worry about going down a lap, because you don't.  No action on the Mark Wilkins and Colin Braun incident.  There's a great flow to this race track and it is one of those fantastic speed palaces we see worldwide.

Scott Dixon is at the wheel of the #67 Ford GT, trying to get back into contention.  There's been a lot of contact today.  The GT Le Mans manufacturers championship is tightly fought.  IMSA is very competitive.  Three wide in GT Le Mans, trying to pass Niclas Jonsson in the #54 CORE Autosport GT Daytona Porsche.  The #911 Porsche 911 RSR changed brake rotors on their most recent pit stop.  Freshen the brakes if you have an opportunity before the end.  It's possible a team can put themselves in the catbird seat if they change the brakes.

The #66 Ford GT passes one of the Corvette's.  Keep the balance in the front of the car.  In recent years, GT cars might not ned a pad change and can make the brakes last the whole race.  There's a chunk of debris in the grille opening on the #25 BMW M6 GT.  There's a piece of bodywork there which could create an overheating problem.  Keep an eye on that.  Bill Auberlen at the controls.  Mike Rockenfeller is in the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-.  Chevrolet will take the manufacturer's cup in GT Le Mans if they finish second in class, even, and even if the Ford GT squad wins.

Misha Goikhberg spins and gets absolutly clouted by the #57 Stevenson Motorsport Audi R8!  Ouch!  Matt Bell at the wheel of the Audi.  Goikhberg has damage as the rear wing is torn off the yellow bird.  Goikhberg made contact with the #22 and then, bang!  Bell had no place to go and he absolutely clouted the #85.  The #86 Acura NSX GT3 had to take evaisve action.  Game over for the #57.  Goikhberg runs into the back of Senna, Senna turns in, and spins him, and Bell has no place to go and... boom!  There was nothing he could do.  Stevenson is working on the car and there was a repair to the #85 at the rear.  But, he will now have to have the front end fixed and was stopped at the red light at the end of pit lane.

So, we are under full course yellow.  15 years of racing, as Stevenson Motortsports, comes to an end on a very sour note.  Thank you, Johnny Stevenson.  Your team will be a part of the annals of sports car racing history.  He is a class act.  Christian Fittipaldi gets barged out wide by Simon Pagenaud.  To finish first, first you must finish.  Niclas Jonsson runs wide and almost spins the car.  Then, we see a replay of Goikhberg's spin.  He went to the hole to the right and that hole was filled.  Settle down, and get back into the rhythm as we go back to green, now.

Time your acceleration well.  You cannot pass the safety car until it goes to pit lane.  Don't go three wide in the uphill.  This is fierce action lads.  Really fierce.  Jonathan Bomarito is now at the wheel of the #90 car.  Bomarito ran with Mazda at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park back in July, and though he's done testing, he has not raced until today.  Traffic everywhere.  Bomarito wanted to pass.  But he has to be wise and keep the car clean for Renger van der Zande and Marc Goossens.  Take a chance, get away with it.  But if you take too many risks, you will run out of luck.

Don't risk the car.  Risi Competizione boss Dave "Beeky" Sims, says that there's not been a real rhythm to this race.  Maybe we're not gelling after a season that has had a true cadence to it.  Today, everyone is going for broke.  Oh man!  We need a full course yellow and have the stewards tell everyone to calm down and cool their jets a little bit.  Mike Rockenfeller is being chased by Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen.  Sheldon van der Linde is fourth in GTD.  Yellows breed yellows.  There's no question about it.  Michael Christensen in the #28 Alegra Motorsports Porsche is applying the blowtorch to the #14 Lexus RC F GT3 with Sage Karam at the wheel of it.

This is intense racing.  But, settle down, lads.  It's not done yet.  After every yellow, everyone is on the limit.  Three and a half hours to go now.  It's been wacky races today, there's no question.  The manufacturer's cups are still in the balance.  Corvette engineer Kyle Millay is credited with bringing the 2017 championship to Corvette Racing.  The Porsche and BMW are dorr to door.  They are seven laps apart, but racing like it's a championship kerfuffle.  The BMW is seven laps behind due to a power steering problem.

Lexus #14 has surely been in the wars today.  Lexus is evaluating a DPi program.  Could they do it?  The budgets for LMP1 are just not sustainable, compared to what IMSA does.  Michelin will be the tire supplier in 2019, and we could see DPi cars at Le Mans in the not too distant future.  The LMP2 based cars are competitive with the DPi machines.  ESM runs 1-2 with Brendon Hartley still running in P1.  Prototypes in the lane.  Helio Castroneves is getting into the car.  Castroneves is rady.  Eric Curran stays in the #31 Cadillac.  The #5 Cadillac also makes a stop. 

When Eric Curran left the lane, Tim Keene told him to turn good laps, and make good decisions.  The #22 ESM Nissan is in the lane.  Oh dear.  The #24 BMW will have a stop and hold penalty for the overly aggressive scrapping from a little earlier.  ESM is in the lane, and back out again.  Simon Pagenaud is coming back to sports cars after being in IndyCar for some years.  There is a nuance to this.  Martin Tomczyk serves his penalty in the lane.  There's some steam coming out of the radiator.  Marc Goossens and Helio Castroneves were battling before.  Castroneves is extending his gap.  But it is Nissan who are extending their lead here at Petit Le Mans.

Marcel Fassler has nrun off the road and has slammed into the ZF/Continental sign.  Ugh!  There's a load of grass and red clay in that radiator.  This is the #4 Corvette and Oliver Gavin is getting into the car.  Corvette #4 has just had no luck this year.  They have only won at Long Beach.  That happened through luck, back in April of course.  The GM vs. Ford scrum continues.  Tommy Milner spun the #4 Corvette earlier.  Oliver Gavin and Marcel Fassler have also been on the whirlygig today.  The #66 Ford GT won the 24 Hours of Daytona, but since then, they had some bad luck until winning at Road America in August.

Ford #67 is in the pit lane.  Scott Dixon brings the car in.  The championship for manufacturers in GT Le Mans will go to the wire this evening.  Ferrari #62 is in the lane.  Alessandro Pier Guidi will take over from Giancarlo Fisichella.  Audi #29 and Ford GT #66 are pitting now.  Joey Hand comes in from the GTLM lead.  Three hours to go.  Now it is time to back time this race.  Porsche #73 is in the lane, coming into the lead for GT Daytona.  Mercedes and Ferrari are also pitting.  Lay the cards on the table.  Three hours to the checkers.  Three hours, to the end of the 2017 IMSA season.  A pass for GTLM leadership as Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen, pass Antonio Garcia.

If it finishes this way, Ford wins the manufacturer's championship.  In the top five finishers order in GTLM at Laguna Seca last time out, all manufacturers were represented.  Ford, Chevrolet, BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari.  Colin Braun runs ahead of Austin Cindric in GT Daytona.  We've watched Colin Braun race sports cars since he was 16.  Jeff Braun, and Tim Cindric, their fathers, have both been in motorsports for years.  Austin Cindric can drive several types of race cars.  Jeroen Bleekemolen is back at the wheel of the #33 Mercedes AMG GT3.  Bleekemolen is told to switch to the primary fuel pump.  No pressure.  Change to the reserve.  Get to hour eight for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup points.

Start playing your strategy.  Eric Curran is in the #31 Cadillac.  Mike Conway will take over.  Conway is back on track.  The BMW M6 GT makes great downforce.  The BMW has more aero drag than does the Ford or the Corvette.  But, BMW has turned drag into downforce to keep the car stuck to the road.  Use air for cooling.  Use air for downforce.  The BMW M8 will be another amazing car when it debuts next year.  The #6 is in the lane.  Penske pits their Oreca.  Just under the time of a standard IMSA event remains. 

Helio Castroneves will end his IndyCar career, except for the month of May at Indianapolis.  The 2018 season will be amazingly exciting.  The Prototype category next year will be amazing.  Christian Fittipaldi out, Joao Barbosa in, as the #5 Cadillac pits.  Barbosa is back on track.  The winning car is the one that stay in pit lane for the least amount of time.  That's why the racing has been so wonderful today.  This is an all out chase for the race win, instead of the championship.  Scott Sharp and company are running extremely well today.  The #90 car pits.  There's time left, and they could chase down to the 3.8 liter GT-R V6 powered ESM machine.  That's the same motor installed in the GT3 spec Nissan GT-Rs that we've seen racing in the likes of Blancpain GT and Pirelli World Challenge.

Two and a half hours to go.  Save fuel to get to the end, if you can.  The pit crews are crunching the numbers.  More yellows could happen.  Headlights are on.  The sun is beginning to set, and we'll see darkness soon.  Going through traffic is a definite art and is a huge factor in endurance sports car racing, unlike most other forms of racing.  Land Motorsports Audi is running extremely well.  The Audi R8 has been fast right off the truck.  Connor de Philippi will take the car home.  Sheldon van der Linde is driving the car at the moment.  Every class has it's own machinations, and it's going to be intense to the finish of this one. 

Again, Sheldon van der Linde has been amazing.  He is from South Africa.  Meanwhile, Townsend Bell spins the #23 Alex Job Racing Audi he shares with Bill Sweedler and Frankie Montecalvo.  We have not heard of Sheldon van der Linde.  However, he is making a lot of skeptics eat their hats right now.  Patrick Lindsey is racing the #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 now sponsored by Dyson vacuums.  Dyson hopes to make an electridc car.  Now, Robert Alon has cut down a tire in one of the Lexus RC F GT3's.  While Acura has been winning, poor old Lexus has been knocking at the door for a long, long time this year. 

Some bodywork is askew on the back of the #67 Ford GT.  Lexus has had potential, but a lot of their races have gone pear shaped.  Richard Westbrook tries Gianmaria Bruni in the #912 Porsche.  How much curb can a Prototype use, not much, except for setting ride height and trying to be fast.  Helio Castroneves is eating up Bruno Senna right now.  Art St. Cyr from Honda, is very excited about Acura and their prospects for next year with the new Prototype and the NSX GT3.  Helio Castroneves continues to press Bruno Senna.

The #90 Visit Florida Ligier has probably cracked a header.  They have dropped down the order.  That was a car that could be a threat in the rain.  The #31 Cadillac is falling down the order as well.  Mike Conway ran wide through turns six and seven.  Yikes.  He's lost a lap and was losing positions hand over fist.  Bruno Senna spins!  Was the from contact?  Did he spin on his own.  Oh.  Issues for the #16 Change Racing Lamborghini as well, bringing out a full course yellow with just two hours left in the race, two hours left in the season.

BMW and Corvette pit.  There may have been a touch between bruno Senna and a Porsche GT car.  Wow.  With issues for the Lamborghini, it is the 11th caution we have seen in this race.  Pit stop time for ESM and for Penske.  Juan Pablo Montoya will take the car to the finish.  Simon Pagenaud and Juan Pablo Montoya have said the car has been very loose.  The #5 Cadillac is in the lane as well.  The #16 Change Racing Lamborghini goes to the garage.  Now, we are going back to green.  Check that.  No.  Still under yellow.  Penske has not been incident free today.  But, they have been penalty free for this whole event.

Roll the dice.  Track position vs. fuel strategy.  We will have yet another lap under yellow.  Two Prototype Challenge cars will be at the front of the pack as the #33 Mercedes and the #86 Acura come into the pit lane.  Oh deary me.  Acura #86 goes behind the wall.  These boys had an outside chance at the North American Endurance Championship.  Now, the #90 car is in pit lane.  They still have that cracked header issue.  The #31 Cadillac pits and is back out.  Mike Conway stays in the car.  We are heaed back to green now.

Pippo Derani leads the field to green.  We're back to green flag action.  Three wide!  The two Nissan's are split bu Joao Barbosa goes to second in the #5 Cadillac.  Barbosa wants the lead!  Oh my!  He's done it.  Barbosa is P1!  Wow!  Cold tires, and risking it.  It should be that Action Express has now clinched their fourth straight Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup!  Oh my!  Juan Pablo Montoya has passed Ryan Dalziel for third in the overall!  Ooh.  The #33 AMG Mercedes is off the road with Mario Farnbacher now at the wheel of it.  Track conditions are coolling down.  Pippo Derani is in the ESM racer.

Derani is in the #22.  Ooh!  A big crash for the #14 Lexus RC F GT3.  He's crashed, and the car is on fire.  He looks OK and escaping the car.  nWow.  He's clobbered the tire wall.  Oh man.  This is a scary one.  A massive wreck.  There is no runoff at that corner.  Turn 12 is downhill and there's no place to go if you go off the road.  Alon understeers wide, and just spears right off the road.  The car didn't turn.  Crunch!  Drivers are transitioning from daylight to darkness.  More wild racing is yet to come.

The overhead camera view at dusk at Road Atlanta is an amazing sight.  The camera and audio people, and the production staff do a stellar job.  The Ferris wheel and the vendor midway are lit up.  The headlights shine, the brake discs glow cherry red, and flames lap out of the exhaust pipes.  If a Prototype pits soon, those cars could finish on one more stop.  Sharpen your pencils, now.  We are green!  Pippo Derani is going for it and is right on Joao Barbosa's six right now.  #5 makes a move on Chris Miller.  Ford and Porsche side by side in GTLM!  Wow! 

Side by side through turn ten.  John Edwards had a huge head of steam in the BMW M6 GT and had to back out of it, as he's laps down.  There's serious racing going on right now.  Dirk Mueller gets slammed by Dirk Werner.  2:45 stop and hold for the #15 Lexus in the lane.  The sister car had the humongous wreck in turn 12.  So, Lexus' race has gone pear shaped. Robert Alon is OK.  Something broke on the car.  The cars are bulletproof.  But something had to be weakened after the car was hit.  Joao Barbosa is running well and so is Pippo Derani.  Derani ran very well earlier.  Does the Nissan have a setup for the cooler nighttime conditions?

Mario Farnbacher is third in GT Daytona, behind Connor De Philippi.  De Philippi could be racing here in the states next year.  Daniel Morad in the #28 Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, is ahead.  Morad was one of the winners with the team at the Rolex 24 back in January.  That has put him on the map.  Nic Jonsson is down a lap in the #54 CORE Autosport Porsche he shares with Colin Braun and John Bennett.  Pippo Derani is really putting the welly down.  He has a 3.5 second lead.  Turn 12 is still calamity corner!  Juan Pablo Montoya is on a mission.

Mike Conway is still going for it in the #31 Whelen Cadillac DPi-V.R.  The strategist on the pit box is just as important as the driver.  It's all about instinct except for tracking fuel mileage.  Trust your gut.  Audi's legendary engineers like Brad Kettler and Lena Gade know to go with their gut.  Tim Keene, Peter Baron, and others know the same thing.  Don't always trust a laptop computer crunching sdata.  Ooh!  Montoya forces the issue on Barbosa!  Yikes!  Barbosa had a piece of race track that Montoya wanted!  Ugh!  That was really close.  Pippo Derani has now set sail and taken off away from some of these other blokes.

Where did Montoya go?  Did he have a puncture?  Yes.  He's headed for the pit lane.  It's a cut tire on the #6.  Adjust on the fly.  Be flexible with your strategy.  This is their penultimate stop of the race.  The #15 Lexus could have ogne behind the wall, but no.  Yes.  The Lexus may have moved a bit.  Juan Pablo Montoya thought he'd cleared the Lexus.  Does the Lexus move right?  Ah.  Maybe that was so.  Penske is slightly off sequence but still in the same window.  Derani extends his gap over Barbosa.

Joao Barbosa is giving it everything as the Corvette's were nearly forced into the weeds in the esses.  Yikes!  At night, your reference points change and flashing headlights in your mirror are incredibly bright.  There was nothing wrong with the #15 Lexus RC F GT3, with Jack Hawksworth at the wheel of it.  Hawksworth got "blasted" by Montoya, according to John Gentilozzi, part of the brain trust at Lexus.  Alessandro Pier Guidi applies the blowtorch to the Corvette.  Alexander Sims is leading in GT Le Mans.  Alexander Sims is ahead in GTLM over Ryan Briscoe by 4.2 seconds.  BMW over Ford.

Lots still to play for.  Antonio Garcia is third in class in GTLM right now.  Alessandro Pier Guidi, Laurens Vanthoor, and Dirk Mueller are really going for it as well.  Cadillac #31 in.  Dane Cameron will race his final stint for Action Express before becoming a Penske driver.  This is emotional for him and also for Sonny Whelen.  Antonio Garcia pulls out a second and a half on Alessandro Pier Guidi.  Close action as the #85 car gets in the way of the Porsche and the Ford.  Stephen Simpson at the wheel of the Hi Tide Boat Lifts entry. 

The #3 Corvette has won the driver's and teams championship.  But, they still could win the manufacturer's championship when this race ends.  Less than an hour to go and Juan Pablo Montoya is now past Renger van der Zande.  Montoya is reeling off consistent 1:13 laps.  Pippo Derani still leads as Brendon Hartley is moving in on Filipe Albuquerque.  The #28 Alegra Motorsports Porsche pits for the final time.  Michael de Quesada will take the car to the end.  But, Connor De Philippi in the Audi has been class of the field in GT Daytona for the whole race.  Wins are great, but championships are won based on points, not race wins.

The #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche pits.  Patrick Lindsey, Jorg Bergmeister, and Matthew McMurry have run very well all day.  The #911 Porsche of Nick Tandy and the #66 Ford GT also pitted.  There was some wheel spin on the air jacks for the Ford.  That's a no no.  Will Ganassi get pinged by the stewards for that one?  We are into the final 50 minutes of the 2017 WeatherTech Championship season.  Dirk Mueller is scrapping with Laurens Vanthoor.  How long have these two blokes been at it?  Quite a while this evening.  Brendon Hartley nearly goes off the road!  Wowzers!

Toni Vilander has replaced Alessandro Pier Guidi in the #62 Ferrari.  Alexander Sims is taking the #25 BMW M6 GT to the checkers.  Jorg Bergmeister leads GT Daytona.  When will you make your final pit stop if you are Derani with 47 minutes left?  Mueller is falling behind Vanthoor.  The #33 Mercedes, if they get up to second, with the #63 Ferrari ninth in class, it could tilt the manufacturer's championship in Mercedes' favor.  Pippo Derani is racing extremely well right now, putting in mega stints. 

The race is definitely on in GTLM.  We have yet another full course yellow.  Oh no!  The #38 Performance Tech Oreca Prototype Challenge car is in the gravel.  They were on track for a perfect season.  Not now.  However, Penske might still have a chance for the overall victory here as they pitted right before this most recent yellow.  Filipe Albuquerque thought another car was in turn seven, wanting to defend.  Not true.  So, Brendon Hartley made na brilliant pass.  The #38 was touched by another car, and the Porsche almost got collected in that kerfuffle.  The #38 car actually hit one of the GTD cars.  Poor old James French has damage to the car, after thinking he was OK. 

A substantial amount of gravel was sprayed onto thje road when French was trying to turn back onto the track.  Now, the #29 Monoplast by Land Audi has lost it's lead.  The Alegra Motorsports Porsche #28 may be able to come to them.  Shades of the Rolex 24 back in January.  All of the leaders are in the lane for their final stops of the race.  Final stops of the 2017 season.  #2 and #22 are in the lane.  Both cars have great stops.  The #6 Penske car was in right before this yellow.  So, they have the track position.  Once everything cycles through, this race is going to be on it's ear, and we are going to be in for a cracking finish.

29 minutes now remain in the Motul Petit Le Mans.  The yellow is extended to clean the track.  Fuel is being topped up on the Pneske car, and there's a brief stall.  Now, it will be a run to the finish.  Stephen Simpson brought the JDC-Miller car into the pit lane.  We have just 26 minutes to go now.  Everyone is ready to go.  It's showtime at Petit Le Mans.  People are going for it hammer and tongs.  The overall leader is swamped in this pack of cars.  Montoya and the other Prototype leaders are behind, but will catch up.  Albuquerque and Derani are scrapping for the top spot.  It is Nissan vs. Cadillac.

Alessandro Balzan in the #63 Ferrari knows the leaders are attacking, and he has to stay clear.  Did Dane Cameron make a move on Brendon Hartley.  Oh.  What a shame.  The #90 Visit Florida Ligier is going behiind the wall.  Dane Cameron is trying to muscle his way through.  It is ESM vs. Action Express for the top four places.  Time is of the essence.  The championships are settled.  Montoya is five seconds behind Cameron at the moment.  Oh!  One ofn the Corvette's gets slammed by another car.  Ooh.  No.  It is the #67 Ford GT and he's got damage.  Oh my gosh.  This is getting serious.  The #5 Cadillac of Filipe Albuquerque may have been involved, and there are going to be calls to the sin bin to some drivers, by the stewards.

Oh man.  Derani and Albuquerque are going to be penalized.  Albuquerque tagged Dane Cameron.  Damage to the Ford as it enters the lane.  The team is ready with a rear clip with a new rear wing.  The bodywork has to be peeled away.  Ryan Briscoe drove the car back.  The rear suspension will have to bw checked.  There will be a penalty for #5, and there will be one for the #22 as well.  Drive through penalty for the #22.  That's anh area in the downhill where you have to respect your rival drivers.

The complexion of this race has changed in a massive way!  Wow!  First and second are both penalized.  Brendon Hartley has eked out three seconds over Dane Cameron.  The #6 Penske car could be on the podium here.  The #25 BMW and the #29 Audi are leading the GT classes.  We are now into the final 15 minutes of the season.  Ooh!  Derani forces the issue, and then, has to serve a drive through penalty.  Filipe Albuquerque will have a minute stop and hold penalty.  Derani ran a 1:12.645.  Derani will have to run qualifying laps to stay on the podium.  Juan Pablo Montoya is closing in on the ailing Cadillac of Dane Cameron.  Derani could stop being scored. 

If Pippo Derani keeps going, will there be a points penalty?  Now, the #5 is in the lane.  The tewam did not see the incident.  Bring the car to the lane, stop, and then, turn the engine off.  Shut the motor off.  Albuquerque is really frustrated about this.  Tequila Patron ESM has a wing man in Brendon Hartley.  If Dane Cameron hangs on, he and Eric Curran will secure second in the championship standings.  Corvette will secure the GTLM manufacturer's championship.  Filipe Albuquerque will get another penalty for not serving the original one he was assigned within four laps.  Antonio Garcia wants to win.  He has not won yet this year, and would love to win Petit Le Mans.

Michael Christensen and Jorg Bergmeister are going to finish third and fourth in GT Daytona.  Bergmeister was stung by a wasp within the index finger on his right hand.  He is driving through the pain of that wasp sting.  Connor De Philippi is running very, very well, and could pull off a win.  Garcia is closing up for GTLM, as Alexander Sims still leads.  Could Sims and Bill Auberlen win in Auberlen's 400th start as a BMW driver?  Cameron is cutting into the margin of Montoya.  Those two will be team mates at Penske next year.  These two will probably be shaking hands on the podium.

The team mate for Helio Castroneves will be announced this week as well, and we'll know the entirety of the Penske Acura squad for next year.  White flag next time by as GTLM rivals are separated by just 3/10ths of a second.  Wow.  One lap to go for Brendon Hartley.  Hartley could be an IndyCar driver next year.  Final lap of the season.  The Nissan DPi is going to win the Petit Le Mans.  Cameron and Montoya are close.  Antonio Garcia is close but not close enough.  We run to the checkered flag.  Alexander Sims will win GTLM.  But, Nissan wins the 20th Motul Petit Le Mans!  BMW hangs on in GT Le Mans!  Dane Cameron is second overall hanging non over Juan Pablo Montoya.

Nissan, Cadillac, Oreca Gibson.  The #26 BAR1 Motorsports car wins the final Prototype Challenge race with Garrett Grist, John Falb, and Tomy Drissi.  The #29 Audi wins GT Daytona!  They were the class of the field, all day.  GT Le Mans honors go to BMW and the M6 GT of Bill Auberlen, Alexander Sims, and Kuno Wittmer.  In GT Daytona, Audi bring it home with Land Motorsports, for Connor De Philippi, Sheldon van der Linde, and Christopher Mies.

Overall/Prototype: #2 Sharp/Dalziel/Derani     Nissan DPi

             Prototype
             Challenge: #26 Falb/Drissi/Grist     Oreca FLM Chevrolet

             GT Le Mans: #25 Auberlen/Sims/Wittmer      BMW M6 GT

            GT Daytona: #29 De Philippi/van der Linde/Mies     Audi R8

Brendon Hartley wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Petit Le Mans in the same season.  Sheldon van der Linde is the driver revelation of this race.  There will be more coverage of your champions, tomorrow, in a mini salute.  But, we congratulate Scuderia Corsa in GT Daytona, winning two championships in a row for Christina Nielsen and Alessandro Balzan.  James French and Pat O'Ward are your final champions in the Prototype Challenge category despite coming up one short in the perfect season.  Pat O'Ward got the fastest lap in every race. 

Bill Auberlen has won his 400th race for BMW, ending the GTLM M6 program with a win.  What a fascinating race, and what a fascinating season.  2018 will be great.  BMW scores their first PLM win since 2001.  17 years and the dry spell is over.  Next year's championship will be amazing with Penske and Joest coming with Acura and Mazda respectively.  Thanks for coming along for the ride in 2017.  2018 will set a new standard in 113 days.  We'll see you, for the 56th renewal of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

So long, for now, and take care, everyone.