Endurance... the sports car racing blog: August 2018

Friday, August 31, 2018

Pirelli World Challenge from Watkins Glen, Friday News

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Ratel Confident of PWC GT Turnaround, GT3 Growth

Stephane Ratel confident of GT3 growth within Pirelli World Challenge for 2019...

https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/ratel-confident-of-pwc-gt-turnaround-gt3-growth/

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

America's Tire 250 - Entry List Notebook

he IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returns to picturesque Monterey, California and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the penultimate round of the season, the America’s Tire 250, on Sunday, Sept. 9.

https://www.imsa.com/news/082018/americas-tire-250-entry-list-notebook

Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo Set for End-of-Year VLN Debut

Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo set for end-of-season VLN debut ahead of 2019 customer rollout...

https://sportscar365.com/industry/audi-r8-lms-evo-set-for-end-of-year-vln-debut/

6 Hours of Silverstone highlights

The highlighted, 52 minute recap of the 6 Hours of Silverstone from a couple of weeks ago.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Pirelli World Challenge stories headed for the finale at Watkins Glen

Lots of news to discuss headed for the finale of Pirelli World Challenge this weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway in upstate New York.

Acura NSX GT3 to Make PWC Return With Farnbacher at WGI

https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/acura-nsx-gt3-to-make-pwc-return-with-farnbacher-at-watkins-glen/

Chase, TruSpeed Audi Withdrawn from Watkins Glen
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/chase-truspeed-audi-withdrawn-from-watkins-glen/

TCR Cup Class Confirmed for 2019
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/pwc-confirms-tcr-cup-class-for-2019/

Titles on the Line Heading into Watkins Glen Finale
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/pwc-titles-on-the-line-heading-into-watkins-glen/

Monday, August 27, 2018

GT2 Launch Event Planned for 24H Spa Weekend

SRO planning GT2 launch event during Total 24 Hours of Spa weekend next year.

https://sportscar365.com/sro/gt2-launch-event-planned-for-24h-spa-weekend/

Suzuka 10 Hours race broadcast

Both parts of the race broadcast of the Suzuka 10 Hours. But, be warned. The race commentary for this event does not come from professional race broadcasters, and instead from a couple of radio DJ’s who sound dreadfully unprofessional in delivering the play by play. One of them does seem aware of the cars and drivers she is describing. But, the commentary is very, very sketchy at best.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Suzuka 10 Hours race summary and winners

Yours truly watched a little bit of the Suzuka 10 Hours, and the racing was great around the legendary Japanese circuit. But, the amateur commentary from radio DJs made the online race broadcast nearly unwatchable. At any rate, here are all the highlights of what happened in the race itself.

Foster Leads, Hit with Penalty in Opening Hour at Suzuka
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/foster-leads-hit-with-penalty-in-opening-hour-at-suzuka/

The one and only McLaren entered at Suzuka, did not have a good race at all.

McLaren Crashes Out in Hour 3
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/mclaren-crashes-out-in-hour-3/

GruppeM Mercedes have dominated the race so far.

GruppeM in Control at Halfway
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/gruppem-mercedes-in-control-at-halfway/

Marciello Leads with Two Hours to Go at Suzuka
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/marciello-leads-with-two-hours-to-go-at-suzuka/

Mercedes has a dominating 1-2 finish at Suzuka, and GruppeM, with lead driver Raffaele Marciello. Mercedes also doubles up, winning the Pro Am class with SunEnergy1.

GruppeM Leads Mercedes 1-2 in Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/gruppem-leads-mercedes-1-2-in-suzuka-10h/

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Saturday pre-race news from Suzuka

All the pre-race news from Suzuka, before the inaugural 10 hour endurance race gets underway as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Look for race coverage on YouTube or perhaps on Motor Trend on Demand if you have a subscription. YouTube may be your best shot.

Foster Takes HubAuto Ferrari to Suzuka 10H Pole
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/foster-takes-hubauto-ferrari-to-suzuka-10h-pole/

Suzuka Qualifying Replay
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/suzuka-qualifying-replay/

Teams Bracing For “Very Demanding” Race Amid Heat
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/drivers-bracing-for-very-demanding-suzuka-10h-amid-record-heat/

Suzuka Saturday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/suzuka-saturday-notebook/

*Note. My above statement is incorrect. Motor Trend on Demand will not carry the coverage of the Suzuka 10 Hours. Instead, go to the GTWorld SRO YouTube Channel at 8PM or 9PM local time depending on where you live, to catch the action.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Live qualifying for the Suzuka 10 Hours

Check it out, HERE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hawsmbq_rNY

more Suzuka 10 Hours news

More headlines from Suzuka in preparation for tomorrow’s race.

Foster, HubAuto Ferrari Quickest Friday Morning at Suzuka
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/foster-hubauto-ferrari-quickest-friday-morning-at-suzuka/

Absolute “Very Honored” in Audi Sport Role for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/absolute-very-honored-in-audi-sport-role-for-suzuka-10h/

Habul Commits To Remainder of IGTC Season
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/habul-commits-to-remainder-of-igtc-season/

Jaminet Tops Free Practice 1 in Suzuka
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/jaminet-tops-free-practice-1-in-suzuka/

Chiyo, KCMG Fastest in Night Practice
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/chiyo-kcmg-fastest-in-night-practice/

Suzuka Friday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/suzuka-friday-notebook/

Thursday, August 23, 2018

IMSA at VIR

Yours truly has been feeling under the weather these last few days, and so, I have not yet had a chance to post the race report on IMSA GT from VIR, though I have watched the race replay once already. Stay tuned, however, because you can be assured there will be a race report, followed up with all the post-race news, just like always. I can not determine yet, when that will be.

SRO Flashback: 1998 Suzuka 1000km

Watch highlights of SRO Motorsports Group’s last endurance race at Suzuka,ahead of this weekend’s Suzuka 10 Hours...

https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/sro-flashback-1998-suzuka-1000km/

stories ahead of the Suzuka 10 Hours

News ahead of the third round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, the inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours in Japan, coming up this weekend.

Jarvis to Drive KCMG Nissan in Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/jarvis-to-drive-kcmg-nissan-in-suzuka-10h/

IGTC Frontrunners Marciello, Vautier Join GruppeM for Suzuka
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/igtc-frontrunners-marciello-vautier-join-gruppem-for-suzuka-10h/

Teams Set Up Ahead of Track Action for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/features/photography/first-photos-from-suzuka-paddock/

Strakka Using Duplicate Resources in IGTC Logistics
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/strakka-using-duplicate-resources-to-aid-igtc-logistics/

Suzuka Thursday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/suzuka-thursday-notebook/

Vautier Leads Mercedes 1-2 in Wet Thursday at Suzuka
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/vautier-lead-mercedes-amg-1-2-in-wet-thursday-at-suzuka/

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

pre-race news before the IMSA GT event at Virginia International Raceway

Yours truly is playing catch up, and still has to blog the entirety of the IMSA race from Virginia International Raceway. Here is all the pre-race news. Stay tuned, for a race report, still to come, on the all GT event.

Westbrook Tops Opening Practice at VIR
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/westbrook-tops-opening-practice-at-vir/

United Autosports to Skip Petit Le Mans; Eyeing DPi Future
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/united-autosports-to-skip-petit-le-mans-eying-dpi-future/

Corvette Leads Practice 2 at VIR
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/corvette-racing-leads-practice-2-at-vir/

VIR Friday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/vir-friday-notebook-6/

Milner Quickest in Practice 3 at VIR
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/gavin-quickest-in-practice-3-at-vir/

Westbrook on Pole at VIR after Rain-ffected Qualifying
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/westbrook-on-pole-at-vir-after-rain-affected-qualifying/

VIR Qualifying Replay
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/vir-qualifying-replay/

Stay tuned, as coverage of the race is coming soon.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Post-race from Silverstone (continued)

More post-race headlines from Silverstone for the FIA World Endurance Championship, including this week's Double Stint Podcast, which will highlight the WEC race, and the IMSA GT race from Virginia International Raceway, which yours truly, has yet to cover. Stay tuned for more IMSA coverage, later in the week.

Toyota won’t appeal their exclusion from Silverstone.

Toyota to Not Appeal 6H Silverstone Exclusion
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-to-not-appeal-6hsilverstone-exclusion/

Renger van der Zande’s latest column.

VAN DER ZANDE: No Real Winners at Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/van-der-zande-no-real-winners-at-silverstone/

Menezes: Rebellion “Deserved” Maiden Win
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/menezes-rebellion-deserved-maiden-win/

Manufacturers: 'Increasing Pace' on Hypercar Regs Formalization
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/manufacturers-increasing-pace-on-hypercar-regs-talks/

The latest Double Stint Podcast, featuring Ho-Pin Tung

Double Stint: Weekend Recap; Ho-Pin Tung Interview (8-21-18)
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-weekend-recap-ho-pin-tung-interview-8-21-18/

Monday, August 20, 2018

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Stop The Presses! Post race news and some major, major changes to the Silverstone results

Folks, we have some major changes to go over, regarding the outcome of today’s 6 Hours of Silverstone, and some new winners. Both Toyota’s and one of the LM GTE Pro Porsche’s have been disqualified. Here’s the wrap up, and the 411 on the latest developments,

Pre-Race:

A Lap of Silverstone in DragonSpeed Oreca
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lap-of-silverstone-in-dragonspeed-oreca/

Race:

Toyota Leads Dramatic Opening Hour at Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-leads-dramatic-opening-hour-at-silverstone/

Ford, Tincknell Lead GTE-Pro at Halfway
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-leads-gte-pro-at-halfway/

Calado, Pier Guidi Win GTE-Pro at Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/calado-pier-guidi-win-gte-pro-at-silverstone/

Toyota Takes Dominant 6H Silverstone Victory
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-takes-dominant-6h-silverstone-victory/

*Read on, and you’ll find out, that today’s race results will change, and it is no sunshine and roses for the boys from Toyota.

Silverstone Race Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-race-highlights-2/

Priaulx: Ford Would Have Won Without FCY
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/priaulx-ford-would-have-won-without-fcy/

OK, folks, here’s where the race results get turned on their ear. As you will read, two of the four class cars, were disqualified from today’s motor race. Three cars, in total were disqualified after the post-race technical inspection by the FIA and ACO stewards.

Second-Placed No. 91 Porsche Excluded from 6H Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/second-placed-no-91-porsche-excluded-from-6h-silverstone/

Porsche, gets dinged for an infraction, and so to, do both of the Toyota’s that finished first and second. Both of the Toyota TS050 Hybrids are under investigation.

Wow, this is a stinger. Both of the Toyota’s have been disqualified! This means, that there is no hat trick for Fernando Alonso, Kazuki Nakajima, and Sebastien Buemi, even though their Le Mans triumph and Spa triumph still stand. The second place car, the sister car of Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez, and Mike Conway, have been disqualified, thus, Rebellion Racing inherits the win!

Your new winners of the 6 Hours of Silverstone, are the drivers of the #3 Rebellion Racing Rebellion R13 Gibson, Thomas Laurent from France, Mathias Beche from Switzerland, and Gustavo Menezes from the United States.

Both Toyota’s Disqualified, Rebellion Inherits Win
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/both-toyotas-excluded-from-6h-silverstone/

Wow. How things can change.

Winner & Highlights of the 6 Hours of Silverstone

Welcome, everyone, to round three of the 2018-2019 FIA World Endurance Championship, “Super Season”. It used to be, 1,000 kilometers) race format for the championship, at another legendary venue. We are at Silverstone Circuit in the English midlands in Northamptonshire, for the 6 Hours of Silverstone. We are about an hour and a half drive north of London, racing in the height of the British summer. It marks a return to action for the FIA WEC after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two months ago.

Clear, yet blustery weather, greeted the drivers, for qualifying on Saturday before Sunday’s race. The LM GTE Am cars were first out to qualify, and in third place, the legendary #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage in the hands of Paul Dalla Lana from Canada, ex Formula 1 driver turned sports car ace, Pedro Lamy of Portugal, and son of Formula 1 World Champion and Mercedes team ambassador Niki Lauda, Matthias Lauda. Just ahead was another Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but this one, the #90 machine of TF Sport, for Charlie Eastwood of Ireland, Salih Yoluc of Turkey, and new recruit, Jonny Adam, who formerly drove the factory Aston Martin Vantage. But, in the Am category, Porsche went immediately to the top of the times, with the #56 Project 1 Porsche 911 in the hands of Jorg Bergmeister, team owner Patrick Lindsey, and Egidio Perfetti, the Italian born Swiss driver who now calls Norway, home. In GTE Pro, it was kind of predictable in qualifying. Ford in fourth place, with the two factory Aston Martin Vantage’s next, and at the top, another Ford. So, two Aston Martin’s in a Ford sandwich, if you will.

Ford vs. Aston will be the story in GTE Pro as Stefan Mucke and Olivier Pla will share the pole sitting car, the #66 Ford GT. Next up, Prototypes, and a combination of LMP1 and LMP2. In Free Practice, Toyota got some competition from the SMP Racing BR Engineering BR1 Gibson powered cars. More about LMP1 in a moment. In LMP2, Signatech Alpine are coming off of victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the #36 car of Pierre Thiriet, Andre Negrao, and Nicolas Lapierre. This is their lineup for the “super season”, and they were looking for a good showing in qualifying here at Silverstone. Signatech Alpine managed third position in class, but LMP2 was dominated by both cars from one team. That team, Jackie Chan DC Racing, owned in part by action film star, Jackie Chan.

Car #38 was second in the hands of Ho-Pin Tung, Gabriel Aubry, and Stephane Richelmi. But, it was the all-Malaysian lineup in the team’s sister car, #37, that snatched pole in class, with Jazeman Jaafar, Weiron Tan, and Nabil Jeffri on top. A red flag interrupted LMP1 qualifying briefly. It was Jenson Button taking third place in his #11 SMP Racing BR01 he is sharing with Russian drivers Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin. No surprises at the very top. It’s a Toyota lockout of the front row, but, it is the #7 machine of Mike Conway from England, Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi, and Argentina’s Jose Maria Lopez who earn the pole over their sister car of Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi, Fernando Alonso, the two-time Formula 1 World Champion, who recently announced he will take a sabbatical from F1 at the end of 2018, and Kazuki Nakajima of Japan.

The #7 squad needs a win, here at Silverstone, if they are going to keep up in the championship with their sister car, and it’s driving team, who is going for the hat trick, three straight wins to open the FIA WEC “super season”. So, qualifying is done and dusted, and now, we move on to the race itself. Stay tuned in the following paragraphs for all the highlights. There’s a big crowd of British fans here, for their home race of the FIA WEC. Adding to the spectacle, a daredevil stuntman on a jet propelled hover board. Rather him, than me. Race car drivers are bold and daring individuals, but let’s just say, the bloke on the jet hover board, he’s just as daring, if not more so. Holy smokes!

At the start of the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the two Toyota’s lead on the front row, and the GT cars are bunching up behind the Prototypes. Six hours on the race clock. Red lights, on, and the rolling start, coming. Red lights, out! Away we go! The third place SMP Racing BR01 didn’t get the power down off the line but seems to have recovered from that momentary stumble. Oh boy! We have a little argy bargy headed into Stowe corner for the first time as one of the Ford GT’s runs wide! Both of the Ford GT’s make contact, and it looks like one of the Rebellion LMP1 cars is also off the road. One of the SMP cars is in this opening corner carambolage as well.

Well, that’s overly dramatic. It wasn’t a carambolage, as no contact was made, but there’s a lot of dust offline, making it hard to see the car as they venture out into the hinterlands beyond the track. Toyota goes 1-2 at the start of the race as was highlighted. Lots of argy bargy at the early stage of the race. Into The Loop for the first time, and the #31 DragonSpeed Oreca 07 came to grief right in the middle of the corner. That car stopping confused the daylights out of the GT field. Former Toyota pilot, Anthony Davidson is at the wheel of the DragonSpeed car. The Brit is sharing with former Formula 1 driver Pastor Maldonado of Venezuela, and Mexico’s Roberto Gonzalez.

Reboot, and do a Control Alt Delete, and Davidson was back in the race. The Ford GT’s had gotten bottled up at the start, and so, Andy Priaulx decided to open the door, and team mate Olivier Pla, followed him through. So far in this motor race, the LM GTE Pro class and the LMP2 class, both of them had been turned entirely on their heads and we’re only in the race’s first hour. The #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07 moved up to second in class. That’s the Tung, Aubry, Richelmi machine. Andy Priaulx is still fighting through the GTE-Pro traffic, finding and passing the Aston Martin of fellow Brit Alex Lynn, passing him for fourth in class. Lynn is sharing the #97 Aston Martin Vantage, with Belgian Maxime Martin, and that car of course, is the all new design, with the 4.0 liter turboicharged V8 motor under the bonnet, as opposed to the normally aspirated 4.5 liter units in the two Am class privateer Vantage’s that are a few years old.

Alex Lynn was passed previously by the #71 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE with another Briton, Sam Bird at the wheel of it, sharing with Italian Davide Rigon. Toyota runs 1-2, and the #8 is running harry flatters trying to close down on the sister car, #7. Alex Lynn got mugged by Olivier Pla and Alessandro Pier Guidi, in the second AF Corse Ferrari. Pier Guidi is sharing the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 with season long team mate, Brit, James Calado. There’s trouble for poor old Mikhail Aleshin in the #11 SMP Racing BR01. “No! Not the engine!” he cries to his crew. “Sorry, Mikhail, it’s the engine.” Its game over, as Aleshin expires from the race in a plume of very expensive smoke. SMP are down to one car. One single bullet, left in the gun.

Great racing continues in LM GTE Pro between Porsche and Aston Martin, with their rivals from Ferrari and Ford also in the game, yet. Toyota #7 still leads as there’s plenty of action all over the track. We now press the fast forward button, to the middle of race, and what went on in hour three. As we’ve seen, Toyota #7, the Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez car, went to the front. Andy Priaulx is putting on a clinic on how to work your way from the tail end of the field, to the sharp end. Alessandro Pier Guidi in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE, has a fight on his hands with Olivier Pla in Ford GT #66 and one of the Porsche’s, the #92 911 RSR of Michael Christensen, the Dane, sharing with the French Porsche ace, Kevin Estre. The Estre/Christensen team will pit early for tires, throwing a slight spanner into their strategy. By the third hour, Toyota #7 had resumed in P1. The real battles are now seem in LMP2, GTE Pro, and GTE Am.

Stefan Mucke moves into a podium place in Ford GT #66. The Toyota’s continue to play cat and mouse. The #8 Alonso/Buemi/Nakajima car wants the lead from the sister car of Conway, Kobayashi, and Lopez. Debris,, and a rather slow moving Ferrari bring out the first full course yellow of the motor race. Said slow Ferrari is the trouble plagued #70 MR Racing machine, of Olivier Beretta of Monaco, Motoaki Ishikawa of Japan, and Eddie Cheever III., son of World Sports Car and IndyCar veteran, and 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner, Eddie Cheever. Cheever is listed as hailing from Italy, but may actually reside in the U.S. The full course yellow caused yet another car to retire. The #4 ByKolles CLM P1/01 Nissan with its 3.0 liter turbocharged V6, and Austrian driver Rene Binder at the controls, was punted out of the motor race right on cue.

To be fair, Binder was going too fast, and the bloke spun himself out. He was traveling faster than the mandated slow zone limit of 80 kilometers per hour under yellow flag conditions. To be clear, slow zones are different, than full course yellow flags. Pit stops routinely happen under the yellow, and when the race resumes, so does the scrap between the two Toyota’s. #8 is instructed by the crew to move ahead of its sister car, as the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca experiences a flattened tire. This moves their sister car, #38, to the LMP2 class lead. More argy bargy, and it’s another of the SMP cars. This time, the #17 BR Engineering BR01 of Egor Orudzhev of Russia, slams one of the AF Corse Ferrari 488’s and causes a puncture for the #71 Sam Bird and Davide Rigon driven 488 GTE.

Rigon limps back to the pit lane. Speaking of the lane, there’s some trouble for the #66 Ford GT, leading LM GTE Pro. Under a safety car for debris on the road, the Olivier Pla and Stefan Mucke driven Ford GT had the driver’s door come loose, and the mechanics have to scramble to replace it. AF Corse leads LM GTE Pro, and the #8 Toyota, it’s a Sunday drive for that bunch. The #51 AF Corse Ferrari, would head to the top of GTE Pro, as there’s problems for the #28 TDS Racing Oreca 07 of Loic Duval, Francois Perrodo, and Matthieu Vaxiviere. The all-French squad is in the garage, making repairs. Despite, punctured tires, off course excursions, and a drive through penalty, the two Jackie Chan DC Racing machines are tops in LMP2.

Toyota still dominates LMP1. In LM GTE Am, a spirited drive from TF Sport and their Aston Martin, as they move around the Project 1 Porsche, cars #90 and #56, respectively, who have been mentioned during the race. Toyota made a routine pit stop, for a front nose change. So, there was position swapping amongst the two Toyota’s as #7 assumed the lead for a brief time. Will they get their first win? They want it, but their team mates have been fairly unstoppable throughout the race to this point.

A couple of pit stops, or stop and hold penalties for some of the GTE Am contenders, as the battles continued into the sixth and final hour of the race. TF Sport and Team Project 1 were both delayed on their pit stops. These delays, were penalties handed to them, by the stewards, allowing the #77 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR, winners last time out in the biggest race in the world, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to move ahead. Matt Campbell from Australia, Julien Andlauer from France, and Germany’s Christian Ried they could be on the way to another win.

The #1 Rebellion R13 Gibson had a long pit stop to fix the tail. The back decklid/engine cover didn’t fit right after damage. A delay for the two driver team of Neel Jani and Andre Lotterer, would put them out of contention. Bruno Senna, injured in qualifying, sat out the race. Lotterer and Jani would not make it to the podium. Their sister car, #3, in the hands of Thomas Laurent of France, Mathias Beche, of Switzerland, and American Gustavo Menezes, would have the better result. In the closing moments, Ford came clawing back onto the LM GTE Pro podium, playing a bit of dodge ‘em cars with one of the factory Porsche’s. Project 1 finally got the best of TF Sport in LM GTE Am on the final lap of the race.

In the Prototype classes, the cars that started 1-2, finished 1-2. In LMP2, it was Jackie Chan DC Racing doubling up and scoring the class win, and overall, Toyota wins their third straight! It is also the third straight triumph, for the #8 team of Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi, and Kazuki Nakajima! Three different manufacturers, in as many races in the “super season”, have won in LM GTE Pro. This time, Ferrari scores the LM GTE Pro honors with the #51 AF Corse car of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Daniel Serra, the rapid Brazilian driver, son of former Formula 1 racer, Chico Serra. The doubling up for Jackie Chan’s team does mean the second win of the “Super Season” for the #38 car of Ho-Pin Tung, Gabriel Aubry, and Stephane Richelmi. Speaking of doubles, to top their triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR of Matt Campbell, Christian Ried, and Julien Andlauer wins again!

So, the winners from the 6 Hours of Silverstone in the English midlands are:

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

LMP2: #38 Tung/Aubry/Richelmi Oreca 07 Gibson

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

LM GTE Am: #77 Campbell/Ried/Andlauer Porsche 911 RSR

The FIA WEC “Super Season” leaves Europe, until the season wraps up with Spa and Le Mans in 2019. The next three races will be in Asia, and then, the United States. We will see you again, in mid-October, on Toyota’s home track, at Fuji Speedway in Japan, for the 6 Hours of Fuji, on Sunday, October 14^th. Join us, for a late night race, which actually takes place during the day in Japan, but is late at night on the U.S. time zones. It’ll be worthwhile to stay up late to see this one. If you have Motor Trend on Demand, fire up your mobile device, and join us, to check out the race when it happens. So long, from Jolly Old England, and we’ll see you, in Japan, in October.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

pre-race news from Silverstone on Saturday

All of the pre-race stories from the Silverstone circuit, on Saturday, before Sunday’s 6 Hour race.

Senna Aiming for Fuji Return After Silverstone Crash
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/senna-aiming-for-fuji-return-after-silverstone-crash/

A couple of teams will race today in the European Le Mans Series, and tomorrow in the FIA WEC event.

Teams Managing Silverstone Double Duty Challenge
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/teams-managing-silverstone-double-duty-challenge/

Alonso Quickest in Silverstone FP3
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/alonso-quickest-in-silverstone-fp3/

Pla, Mucke Claim Silverstone GTE-Pro Pole
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/pla-muecke-claim-silverstone-gte-pro-pole/

Toyota Scores Third Straight Pole for 6H Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-scores-third-straight-pole-for-6h-silverstone/

Silverstone Qualifying Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-qualifying-highlights/

Martin: Aston Power Increase “Enough”for One-Lap Pace
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/martin-aston-martin-power-increase-enough-for-one-lap-pace/

Gamers and simulator racers, check this out.

Le Mans Esports Series Launched at Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/le-mans-esports-series-launched-at-silverstone/

Button: “Everything Works Against the Privateer”
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/button-everything-works-against-the-privateer/

Silverstone Saturday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-saturday-notebook-8/

If you can, tune in on Motor Trend online tomorrow to watch the race, at 5:30 A.M. Central Time, 6:30 A.M. Eastern Time, and stay tuned for race highlights at the conclusion.

Friday, August 17, 2018

Friday headlines from Silverstone

All the headlines from Silverstone on Friday, looking ahead to Sunday and the 6 Hour race.

Silverstone Opener, Mixed Format Races in 2019-20
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-to-kick-off-2019-20-wec-season/

De Vries Enjoying “Relaxed” Atmosphere in WEC Debut
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/de-vries-enjoying-relaxed-atmosphere-in-wec-debut/

Conway Quickest in Silverstone FP1
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/conway-quickest-in-silverstone-fp1/

Senna Ruled Out of 6H Silverstone After FP1 Crash
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/senna-ruled-out-of-6h-silverstone-after-fp1-crash/

WEC Working to Avoid Potential Macau Clash
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-working-to-avoid-potential-macau-clash/

Toyota Quickest on Friday at Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-quickest-on-friday-at-silverstone/

Silverstone Friday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-friday-notebook-7/

Ford keeping door open to DPi Entry

Once their involvement with the Ford GT wraps up, Ford Motor Company could next be headed to building a car to fit IMSA Daytona Prototype International regulations.

https://racer.com/2018/08/16/ford-keeping-door-open-to-dpi-entry/

United Autosports closing in on DPi Program for 2020

A loss for LMP2, will be a gain for DPi in 2020, as United Autosport is set to make the switch.

https://racer.com/2018/08/16/united-autosports-closing-in-on-dpi-program-for-2020/

Thursday, August 16, 2018

FIA WEC stories headed for Silverstone

More news from the FIA World Endurance Championship headed to Silverstone this weekend. This is your update for Thursday. Stay tuned for news tomorrow, and Saturday, and then, a full summary of what happens in the race on Sunday.

Aston Martin Gets BoP Break for Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aston-martin-gets-bop-break-for-silverstone/

Davidson Expecting “A Lot of Learning” in LMP2 Debut
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/davidson-expecting-a-lot-of-learning-on-lmp2-debut/

Alonso Hopeful of Long-Term Sports Car Future
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/alonso-hopeful-of-long-term-sports-car-future/

Silverstone Thursday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/silverstone-thursday-notebook-6/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Road America

The race broadcast for Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge from Road America.

https://imsatv.imsa.com/video/082018/2018-road-america-120-race-broadcast

pre-race IMSA news headed to VIR

All kinds of news from IMSA as we look ahead to this weekend’s GT only stand alone race at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.

Ferrari Slowed for VIR
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ferrari-slowed-for-vir/

Juncos Confirms Cadillac DPi Effort for 2019
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/juncos-confirms-cadillac-dpi-entry-for-2019/

Juncos “Raised the Game” in Landing Cadillac DPi Program
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/juncos-raised-the-game-in-landing-cadillac-dpi-program/

Teams, Drivers Look to Make Move in Points at VIR
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/vir-preview/

Mixed Views on GTD Format Expansion
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mixed-views-on-gtd-format-expansion/

DragonSpeed Eyeing Rolex 24 LMP2 Effort
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dragonspeed-planning-rolex-24-lmp2-entry/

Continental Tire Keys to the Race: VIR
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/continental-tire-keys-to-the-race-vir-4/

AFS/PR1 Switches to Oreca LMP2 for Remainder of Season
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/afs-pr1-switches-to-oreca-lmp2-for-remainder-of-season/

Lots of racing to cover this weekend. There is some overlap between the end of the FIA WEC race at Silverstone, and the start of the IMSA race at VIR. Might have to blog one, and then, blog the other later on. Either way, you will get sports car racing coverage on Sunday, and then, one race, likely VIR, will have a full race report early next week.

VANTHOOR: The Four 24-Hour Classics

In his latest Sportscar365 column, Laurens Vanthoor compares the four 24-Hour endurance classics...

https://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/vanthoor-the-four-24-hour-classics/

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Headlines from Intercontinental GT Challenge

Many headlines from Intercontinental GT Challenge, in preparation for the third race of the championship, the inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours in a couple weeks.

Picariello Set for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/picariello-set-for-suzuka-10h/

A revival is afoot for one of the classic sports car races of years gone by, the Kyalami 9 Hours at the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa.

Ratel: “Dream Come True” for Kyalami 9H Revival
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/ratel-dream-come-true-for-kyalami-9h-revival/

Henry Walkenhorst says he was both nervous and excited in the closing moments of the 24 Hours of Spa before his team won.

Walkenhorst: “Very Nervous” in Closing Stages of 24H Spa
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/walkenhorst-very-nervous-in-closing-stages-of-24h-spa/

24H Spa Sights & Sounds
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/24h-spa-sights-sounds/

Strakka Adds Third Mercedes for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/strakka-adds-third-mercedes-for-suzuka-10h/

Andy Meyrick is on the road to recovery after his massive shunt at Spa.

Meyrick Recovering; Returns Home to UK
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/meyrick-recovering-returns-home-to-uk/

Audi Reveals Suzuka 10H Lineup
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/audi-announces-suzuka-10h-drivers/

Manufacturers Praise Expanded IGTC Calendar
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/manufacturers-praise-expanded-igtc-calendar/

It should be noted, this will be the first World Championship race in South Africa, since the 1984 Kyalami 1,000 Kilometers for the FIA World Endurance Championship.

More driver lineup confirmations for Suzuka, from factory outfits at McLaren and Callaway.

McLaren, Callaway Lineups Confirmed for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/mclaren-callaway-lineups-confirmed-for-suzuka-10h/

Whincup to Drive SunEnergy1 Mercedes at Laguna Seca
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/whincup-to-drive-sunenergy1-mercedes-at-laguna-seca/

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Lamborghini Eyeing Huracan Super Trofeo for GT2

Lamborghini eyeing possible upgrade kit for Huracan Super Trofeo to GT2 spec...

https://sportscar365.com/industry/lamborghini-eyeing-huracan-super-trofeo-for-gt2/

More from Pirelli World Challenge

More analysis and news after the final Pirelli World Challenge SprintX finale in Utah. Toni Vilander files his latest column, and its Double Stint Podcast day. Featured are a recap of the race, and also, an interview with driver Parker Chase. It should be noted, that as per usual, other series’ news will be covered in the podcast. So, there are updates on, and previews for, IMSA at Virginia International Raceway, and the resumption of the FIA WEC “super season” at Silverstone in England.

VILANDER: My First Championship in the U.S.
https://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/vilander-my-first-championship-title-in-the-u-s/

Double Stint: Utah Recap; Parker Chase Interview (8-14-18)
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/double-stint-utah-recap-parker-chase-interview-8-14-18/

2019 Endurance Racing Calendars, Listed by Series

2019 endurance sports car racing calendars, listed by series.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/08/12/2019-calendar-listed-by-series.html

Monday, August 13, 2018

6H Silverstone Through The Years

A look back at the first six editions of the WEC’s race in the UK.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/08/13/6h-silverstone-through-the-years.html

Splitsville

If you watch the video posted earlier this morning, of the IMSA State of the Series address, you will find out that the DPi and LMP2 classes will be separate in IMSA competition, beginning next year. Here is some analysis on that.

http://nasportscar.com/splitsville/

Weekly Racing Roundup (8-13-18)

Race reports from DTM at Brands Hatch, PWC TCR in Utah, and 24H Zolder...

https://sportscar365.com/features/roundup/weekly-racing-roundup-8-13-18/

2018 IMSA State of the Series Address

Video footage of the 2018 IMSA State of the Series address, that was covered here, in notebook form back when it originally happened, on August 3rd.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Sunday action for Pirelli World Challenge in Utah

Its the final race for the Pirelli World Challenge SprintX Championship, today, at Utah Motorsports Campus. To begin the recap, let us first revisit the highlights of Saturday’s action.

Utah Saturday Race Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/utah-saturday-race-highlights/

Gottsacker Wins Race 2; Welch, Sofronas Claim GTS SprintX Title

https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/gottsacker-wins-race-2-sofronas-welch-claim-gts-sprintx-title/

Toni Vilander and Miguel Molina do the double in Utah, and win the Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX Title!

Vilander, Molina Win Race 2, GT SprintX Title
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/vilander-molina-win-race-2-gt-sprintx-title/

There will be a wrap up of the action, from Utah, tomorrow or Tuesday. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, congratulations to Alex Welch and James Sofronas on the GTS SprintX Title, and to Toni Vilander and Miguel Molina in the overall GT SprintX category. The final Pirelli World Challenge regular season event, is in three weeks, at the historic Watkins Glen International Raceway in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, in three weeks.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

GT Too

Another analysis on the proposed GT2 regulations being proposed by the SRO.

http://nasportscar.com/gt-too/

Pirelli World Challenge Saturday action in Utah

Saturday qualifying and racing action for Pirelli World Challenge at Utah Motorsports Campus.

Johnny, Canaan O’Connell Relishing GTS Debuts
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/johnny-canaan-oconnell-relishing-gts-debuts/

Maxwell Scores GTS Race 1 Pole
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/maxwell-scores-gts-race-1-pole/

Bentley has the front row for race one.

Parente Leads K-PAX 1-2 in Utah Qualifying
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/parente-leads-k-pax-1-2-in-utah-qualifying/

James Takes Panoz to Fifth GTS Win of Season in Utah
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/james-takes-panoz-to-fifth-gts-win-of-season-in-utah/

Vilander, Molina Take Utah Race 1 Win
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/vilander-molina-take-utah-race-1-win/

Stay tuned, as there will be more racing action tomorrow, with the races that close out the SprintX season for Pirelli World Challenge for 2018.

Friday, August 10, 2018

All The Mid-Engine Corvette Race Car’s Hidden Aero Secrets

Take a closer look at Chevrolet’s interesting approach to mid-engine aerodynamics.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a22691355/mid-engine-corvette-c8r-aerodynamic-analysis/

Friday Pirelli World Challenge headlines from Utah

All the on and off track news from Pirelli World Challenge on Friday as SprintX begins the weekend of their final race of 2018.

Cooper Quietly Confident of Last-Minute CRP Drive
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/cooper-quietly-confident-ahead-of-last-minute-crp-drive/

Wittmet Sets the Pace in Utah GTS Practice 1

https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/wittmer-sets-the-pace-in-utah-gts-practice-1/

Alegra Leads Porsche 1-2 in Utah Practice 1
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/alegra-leads-porsche-1-2-in-utah-practice-1/

Maxwell Fastest in GTS Practice 2
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/maxwell-fastest-in-gts-practice-2/

Risi Competizione Leads Utah Practice 2
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/risi-competizione-leads-utah-practice-2/

Utah Friday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/utah-friday-notebook-3/

Lots of action set for tomorrow including practices and racing.

2018 WeatherTech Data Analysis - Road America

Analyzing data from last weekend’s Road Race Showcase at Road America for the WeatherTech Championship.

http://nasportscar.com/2018-weathertech-data-analysis-road-america/

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Pirelli World Challenge headlines

More stories from Pirelli World Challenge, including a major hire by the series to their officiating staff. Lots of this information was also discussed in the latest Double Stint podcast.

PWC Schedules Released; ‘Grand Finale’ Confirmed
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/pwc-schedules-released-grand-finale-confirmed/

Blancpain GT Race Director Alain Adam has been exported and hired by Pirelli World Challenge.

PWC Hires Blancpain GT Race Director
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/pwc-hires-blancpain-gt-race-director/

PWC Evaluating Long Beach Addition for GTS
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/pwc-evaluating-long-beach-addition-for-gts/

Johnny, Canaan O’Connell in Robinson Camaro GT4 for Utah

https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/johnny-canaan-oconnell-to-team-up-in-robinson-camaro-gt4-at-utah/

Classic BMW to field seven cars in PWC’s Utah doubleheader
https://racer.com/2018/08/06/classic-bmw-to-field-seven-cars-in-pwcs-utah-doubleheader/

Morad Parts Ways with CRP
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/morad-parts-ways-with-crp/

It’s going to come down to the wire for SprintX in Utah, as far as the 2018 championship.

SprintX Titles to be Decided in Utah
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/sprintx-titles-to-be-decided-in-utah/

Cooper Joins CRP for Remainder of Season
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/cooper-joins-crp-for-remainder-of-season/

Gill: GT4 Americas to Serve as Ladder to GTS, GT
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/gill-gt4-americas-to-serve-as-ladder-to-gts-gt/

Utah Thursday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/utah-thursday-notebook-3/

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Grand PrixView Has Higher Elevation

This weekend marks the finale of the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge SprintX season, at Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele, Utah.

http://nasportscar.com/grand-prixview-has-higher-elevation/

EXCLUSIVE: Mid-Engined Corvette C8-R Breaks Cover

Photos of the new Chevrolet Corvette C8 race car testing at Road America.

https://sportscar365.com/industry/exclusive-mid-engined-corvette-c8-r-breaks-cover/

Continental Tire Road Race Showcase Race Broadcast

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

https://imsatv.imsa.com/video/082018/2018-continental-tire-road-race-showcase-race-broadcast

IMSA news (continued)

Still more IMSA stories to delve into after Road America. Here’s the latest.

Ford DPi Program Coming Into Focus
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ford-dpi-program-coming-into-focus/

The latest Double Stint Podcast.

Double Stint: Road America Recap; Christina Nielsen Interview (8-7-18)

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/double-stint-road-america-recap-christina-nielsen-interview-8-7-18/

HPD Trackside: Road America Race Recaps
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/hpd-trackside-road-america-race-recaps/

Keating: “Impossible” to Eliminate All ‘Super Silvers’
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/keating-impossible-to-eliminate-all-super-silvers/

Michelin GTLM Road America Recap
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/michelin-gtlm-road-america-recap/

Ricky Taylor’s latest column.

TAYLOR: The Challenges of Road America
https://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/taylor-the-challenges-of-road-america/

A couple more headlines from different sources.

CORE Autosport flying high after Road America win
https://racer.com/2018/08/07/core-autosport-flying-high-after-road-america-win/

Sad news from Performance Tech Racing. The team's crew chief, Frankie Parzych passed away after suffering a heart attack.

Performance Tech Crew Chief Parzych Passes
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/08/07/performance-tech-crew-chief-parzych-passes.html

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

more news from the FIA World Endurance Championship

Next weekend, marks a resumption in the FIA World Rndurance Championship with the 6 Hours of Silverstone in Silverstone, England. Lots of news has transpired, and here is the latest.

Aston Martin Shuffles GTE-Pro Lineup; Adam, Turner Out
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aston-martin-shuffles-gtepro-lineup-adam-turner-out/

No Ginetta at Silverstone.

Both Ginetta LMP1’s to Miss 6H Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/both-ginetta-lmp1-cars-to-miss-6h-silverstone/

34 Entries Confirmed For 6H Silverstone
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/34-entries-confirmed-for-6h-silverstone/

There will be no factory GTE program for Lamborghini in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Lamborghini GTE Program Called Off
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lamborghini-gte-program-called-off/

Mecachrome Responds To Ginetta Engine Change
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mecachrome-responds-to-ginetta-engine-change/

Ford and Ferrari have both exited the negotiations, for the time being on the FIA and ACO 2020 regulations that center around ‘hypercar’ rules.

Ford, Ferrari Exit 2020 ‘Hypercar’ Talks
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-ferrari-exit-2020-hypercar-talks/

Monday, August 6, 2018

Sprint vs. Sprint

On Friday evening IMSA announced their 2019 schedule and sporting regulation changes with a lot of said changes focused on the privateer and Am-supported GTD (GT3) class. One of the major tweaks for 2019 is the inclusion of the “Sprint Cup” where GT3 competitors who cannot afford or do not want to put up the money for a full season, can race the 7 “sprint” events and still win a championship.

http://nasportscar.com/sprint-vs-sprint/

Mecachrome Respond To Silverstone TRSM Withdrawal (Plus Ginetta Response)

Mecachrome move to explain their position - Ewan Baldry adds important detail!

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/08/06/mecachrome-respond-to-silverstone-trsm-withdrawal-plus-ginetta-response.html

Weekly Racing Roundup (8-6-18)

Race reports from the weekend’s British GT and Australian GT action.

https://sportscar365.com/features/roundup/weekly-racing-roundup-8-6-17/

Post-race news from Road America

Post-race stories after the Road Race Showcase at Road America yesterday.

Westbrook Stretches Fuel Mileage for GTLM Win
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/westbrook-stretches-fuel-mileage-to-win-at-road-america/

Braun Holds On for Second Straight Win for CORE
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/braun-holds-on-for-second-straight-win-for-core/

De Philippi: BMW Had to “Go For It” in Near Miss
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/de-phillippi-bmw-had-to-go-for-it-in-near-miss/

Road America Final Lap
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/road-america-final-lap-post-race-reactions/

Continental Tire Road America Post-Race Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/continental-tire-road-america-post-race-notebook-2/

Braun: “Anything’s Possible” in Emerging Title Fight for CORE

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/braun-anythings-possible-as-core-emerges-in-prototype-title-fight/

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Winner & highlights of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Road Race Showcase

We are ready, to start the Road Race Showcase at one of the fastest, greatest race courses in the country. Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. We are racing, now! Robert Alon and Ricky Taylor on the front row and we are racing! Ricky Taylor and Renger van der Zande are going for it and here comes Juan Pablo Montoya! Mazda has some fast cars, too. Renger van der Zande moves ahead and the two Action Express cars are going for it as well. It is a warm day at Road america. Everyone is settling in, now. The GT Le Mans cars have started well. But, Gustavo Yacaman has spun the PR1 Ligier #52 and has landed in the gravel trap. Make your move now, before there is a full course yellow.

One of the BMW M8 GTE's runs wide. This is a short yellow as we see Gustavo Yacaman plow over the curbs and spin into the gravel. We are under full course yellow, right now. Yacaman was jolly lucky he didn't hit anything. Yacaman is sharing the car with Olivier Pal of France. We will be ready to go back to green with Robert Alone leading Ricky Taylor. Joao Barbosa's wrist has healed and he is back racing cadillac #5. Big move through the Moraine sweep! Eric Curran and Joao Barbosa are going for it and Can Pablo Montoya. There's damage to the #63 Ferrari 488 GT3 of Cooper MacNeil, racing with Alessandro Pier Guidi, who is the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship GTE Pro champion.

GT Le Mans sees ford leading Corvette and Porsche. BMW is also in the fight. Alexander Sims starts the BMW M8 GTE. Don't cut a tire on a 4 mile lap like it is here at Road America. Problems for the #63 car, the WeatherTech racer. Get the damage fixed ASAP. There is not much of a fuel window for GT Daytona. The good news is that it is a long lap. Manage the damage, go slowly, and try to keep the tire intact, as Juan Pablo Montoya climbs the hill through turn five. A lap ago, there was all kinds of near contact between Eric Curran in the #31 Cadillac and the #6 Acura.

MacNeil in the lane to fix the damage. MacNeil's dad, David, the team manager, is not happy. This is the home track for WeatherTech, so they want to do well. Tire management, and downforce vs. speed. Look at the fuel strategy too. Nick Tandy, sharing with Earl Bamber, has started off this race well in the #911 Porsche 911 RSR. Road America sits on 650 acres of land, outside Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The track dynamics are amazing. There are three or four really good overtaking spots on this circuit.

Ford has had three poles in GTLM at Road America, and he is currently leading Corvette. It's these two who are battling right now. Be in fuel save mode as this race is in it's infancy. We've run just 20 minutes so far. The GTLM cars are running within a tenth of each other and everyone is a factory driver. Speaking of factory drivers, Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell, for Mazda, are racing Road America for the first time. Mazda did not race at Road America in 2017. Robert Alon in "the banana boat" is opening a gap over Ricky Taylor in the #7 Acura as Ben Keating will get pinged with a penalty after argy bargy with the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT3 of Robbie Foley and Markus Palttala.

Bill Auberlen is not racing as he hurt himself in a home injury, making repairs to his house. He'll be back, later in the season, and perhaps for the next GT only race, at Virginia International Raceway, next weekend. Taylor, Alon, and van der Zande, are the top three. Continental Tires have been doing very well balancing fan interaction and also their product placement with their tires on the track. Of course, Michelin tires will be the new tire supplier and sponsor for IMSA, next year. Misha Goikhberg runs wide in turn five and Scott Sharp says "thanks, Misha", and makes the pass. So, those two chaps have a battle on their hands.

Ooh. Some argy bargy between Ryan Briscoe and the #63 Ferrari. Ryan Briscoe is holding on in the #67 Ford GT over Corvette. Cadillac #31 pits. Eric Curran hands over to Felipe Nasr, and Ferrari #51 spins in the kink. It's a full course yellow. The Ferrari driver has spun, and i's veteran Ozz Negri Jr. Fortunately, he is OK, but it is game over for the car. Sticking a tire with a probe helps to check the temperature, and if the temperature is hotter in one spot than another, it needs to have heat distributed all over. Bibendum is training the engineers, and you have to stick the tire, in the middle, not the sides.

Pit stop time for GTLM and Prototype. BMW leapfrogs Corvette, and the fuel window will be tight, with just two hours remaining. Will there be more time behind the safety car? We'll find out. Patrick Long in the #58 Wright Motorsports Porsche is leading GT Daytona, sharing with Christina Nielsen. We continue under full course yellow as GT Daytona cars hit pit lane. Normally, you'd stay out for ten more minutes. This is a point for the minimum 45 minute drive times to be in place for the Pro Am drivers. Bryan Sellers pits the #48 Lamborghini, too.

The field remains behind the safety car, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 safety car, which has more power than some of the race cars, believe it or not. Now, Felipe Nasr gets the jump on everyone, and here comes Colin Braun in the #54 CORE Autosport machine. More GT Daytona pit stops and drivers changes coming. Tristan Nunez squeezes Renger van der Zande to the grass! Yikes! Helio Castroneves spins around in the #7 Acura ARX05. It is hot and intense here at Road America.

When Ricky Taylor won at Mid-Ohio, he was the 50th driver to win for Roger Penske. A penalty for Robert Alon! Deary me. He came in and served it. Pit equipment in the lane. He was not in the proper pit box, and then, he hit pit equipment in the lane, exiting. The #14 Lexus RC F GT3 pits and Kyle Marcelli will take over the car from Dominik Baumann. The #15 car is not in the race after issues in the morning warmup. The battle is now raging at the front of GT Daytona! Madison Snow is being pressured by Patrick Long, and Snow is trying to go after Justin Marks. Lindsey is also racing the FIA World Endurance Championship "super season" which sees their next race at Silverstone in a couple weeks. You will find coverage of that event, here, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog, too.

It's been an ebb and flow for all three classes with the yellow flags. Porsche still leads Ford in GT Le Mans. Alessandro Pier Guidi has taken over the #63 Ferrari. Pier Guidi runs a 2:08.4, fastest lap so far in GT Daytona. Acura #93 has a tire issue. Madison Snow leads in class in GTD. In the heat, there are constant loads on the left side tires here at Road America. We've seen debris on the road, and a big chunk of the Ford GT had come off, and was hit by one of the Porsche's. With a long lap, the race can come back to you, if you play the strategy properly. Colin Braun is the meat in the sandwich between the two Action Express Cadillac's as the Banana Boat is off the road! The splitter hit the rise ion the asphalt, and he's off the road. Deary me. Alon is beached in Canada Corner. Lawson Aschenbach tips Robert Alon into a spin.

This off track crackup for the Banana Boat, has become a full course yellow, due to, if you can believe it, the yellow car. Could it be an early bath for Robert Alon and Simon Trummer? Felipe Nasr leads Colin Braun at the moment. Whelen vs. CORE Autosport. This is puzzling as we watch a replay of Robert Alon getting blocked by Lawson Aschenbach, and then, simply nudged out of the way and the Banana Boat, spins. Felipe Nasr gets a massive jump over Colin Braun and the rest of the field. Eric Curran and Felipe Nasr lead the points, but only by one.

The #66 Ford GT is slow! Dirk Mueller and Joey Hand have just one point over the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- of Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia! Something is wrong with the Ford! The engine is running roughly. Nick Tandy and Porsche still lead GTLM as the sister car pits, #912. We are an hour and ten minutes into the race, with an hour and a half remaining. Ford #66 is pitting, and not retiring. Joey Hand will get into the car. Work is underway on the right rear corner. Something is wrong in the half shaft area of the automobile. Maybe it's the pushrod in the suspension. It could be a pushrod or control arm. It can't be a half shaft issue.

Colin Braun is all over Felipe Nasr like a rash. Recall Braun's great performance to win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Braun is rumored to be going to IndyCar next year. Braun's father, Jeff, is the team engineer, and he is an expert in the setup department. Will #54 gain places and be in contention for the win? We'll see. What a lovely view of Elkhart Lake itself, which is very close to the track at Road america. In Friday practice, Pippo Derani had a major fuel fire and a crash, melting the visor off his helmet. Derani was fine. He is racing the #22 Nissan DPi, and Ryan Dalziel, his team mate, is right there. If you have a higher downforce car, don't make sudden moves. We saw a savage wreck in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race, yesterday.

Christian Fittipaldi is going to retire after the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona. He is at peace with his decision to end his professional racing career. Fittipaldi has had success in Formula 1, IndyCar, and sports cars. Fittipaldi will run Petit Le Mans and then, the 2019 Rolex 24. He has three overall wins in the Rolex 24. Fittipaldi will work with the team, and just not drive. Felipe Nasr leads Filipe Albuquerque as Acura #6 is in pit lane. They have had a fraught race today. Juan Pablo Montoya is back on track. A good day for Mazda, seeing Harry Tincknell in fourth and Tristan Nunez in fifth. #55 leads #77. Madison Snow in the #48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Mazda boss John Doonan's home track is Road America.

Time is of the essence. An hour and 15 minutes now remain. #54 is in the pit lane. Jon Bennett will get into the car, possibly. Check that. Colin Braun will stay in the car. No driver change. There will be one more pit stop for the frontrunners, back timing to the end of this motor race. Porsche #911 is fending off the #67 Ford GT, which is still dealing with rear end damage. Nick Tandy is pushing, but he cannot violate track limits without getting pinged by the marshals. The #31 Cadillac pits from the lead, and the sister car #5 is second. Cadillac is in the hunt at the moment. It is a dead heat out of the pit lane, and Felipe Nasr did a mega stint.

Tristan Nunez leads the motor race now aboard the #77 Mazda RT24P. Oliver Jarvis at the wheel of it. Gustavo Yacaman, Colin Braun, and Dane Cameron go three wide! Now, Braun and Cameron are pushing each other. Jordan Taylor runs the #10 Cadillac Dpi-V.R in fifth overall. A clean windshield or a clear tear off is like a brand new day to a racing driver. Nick Tandy continues to lead the GT Le Mans class over Richard Westbrook in the #67 Ford GT. Some agricultural racing for Tandy! Yikes! Connor De Philippi is third in class in the BMW M8 GT #25. Trouble in the kink! Porsche #73 was way off the road as some argy bargy is going on between Tandy and Westbrook! These two were mates, but now, their friendship may be strained just a tad.

The #73 Porsche is stopped in GT Daytona, causing a full course yellow. Patrick Lindsey at the wheel of it. Helio Castroneves just pitted in Acura #7, which was a slow stop waiting for tires. Porsche #911, Corvette's #3 and #4, and Ford #67 all in pit lane. Porsche has left the lane. Connor De Philippi beats his rivals out of pit lane. An incredible stop for BMW! Patrick Lindsey speared off the road after a late turn in, and getting out into the clag on the outside of the road. We watch a replay of the argy bargy between Tandy and Westbrook.

Westbrook went deep into turn five, and they banged fenders about three times. No harm, no fowl. We look forward to the 50th anniversary of IMSA next year. Ricardo Juncos, from the IndyCar series is here, visiting the race. Juncos is interested in racing in sports cars. We continue to clean up the mess after the full course yellow. Felipe Nasr leads the motor race. Cooper MacNeil will be ahead in GT Daytona, but has a battle on his hands with Katherine Legge and Alvaro Parente. We still remember, and will always, Dave Maraj, from Champion Racing, an American Le Mans Series winner, and a Le Mans winner. A man who didn't want fame and fortune, but did extremely well and was so, so successful for Champion Racing.

So many drivers were touched by Dave Maraj's involvement in racing and his generosity. Rest In Peace, Dave. A class act. Just over 45 minutes to go. Felipe Nasr still leads, but Filipe Albuquerque, is pushing, too. They continue to execute. We look again at fuel strategy. Where will our winner come from? All of the Prototypes will need fuel before the end of the race. Can cars leapfrog to the front? We'll see. Alvaro Parente passes Alessandro Pier Guidi into turn eight. Jeroen Bleekemolen is also there. Patrick Long is coming up through the field, and he and Bryan Sellers have fresher tires but the fuel situation will be a big deal.

Jeroen Bleekemolen also needs more fuel. aH. earl Bamber vs. John Edwards. Some argy bargy between the Porsche and the BMW! Patrick Pilet goes around the Corvette. Bamber roughs up Edwards! This is a serious scrap! Pilet drops wheels into turn seven! An off for the #52, and, crunch! Sebastian Saavedra hits the wall! He hit the wall, broadside. Not good. This is a full course yellow. Will the pit lane be closed? Yes. This is a short one. I have to correct myself. The #85 JDC-Miller ORECA is still on track. So, Robert Alon did not have an early bath and retire from the motor race.

The countryside around Road America is very picturesque. Felipe Nasr and Eric Curran want to hold on to their points lead and extend it. John Olson, the CEO of Whelen, passed away a few days ago. so the #31 team is racing with heavy hearts. It is time to lay your cards on the table, blokes. There will be a new President for Road America next year, and the current President will remain involved with the operations of the circuit. Everyone will pit, more than likely. Here's the restart! #5 is under pressure from the Mazda #77! Filipe Albuquerque vs. Oliver Jarvis! Jarvis squeezes Pippo detain, and he takes the spot away! He did all he could to get it stopped in turn five! Cars dive to pit lane. One Acura pits, and one doesn't. The top four cars stay on the road.

If a yellow falls for the cars who chose not to pit, those boys could be in dire straits. Pit stop time for Mazda #77 and trouble for a right front tire. Trouble with the wheel nut! Now, Porsche #911 is serving a penalty. Alessandro Pier Guidi passes Alvaro Parente. Bryan Sellers is going to move up. Bad news for Parente, and team mate Katherine Legge, who may lose points. Cadillac #5 in pit lane. There will be a tire change and fuel on that car. Two tires on the left side are changed, and they are back on track. They don't need a full fuel load to get to the end as John Edwards is in the lane in the #24 BMW. He goes behind the wall! Game over for #24! Those boys cannot buy a break.

Jeroen Bleekemolen has won five races in a row here at Road america. Bleekemolen is scrapping with Markus Palttala in the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT3. Bleekemolen is in full attack mode. It's time to put everything on the line, as Bleekemolen is also being pressured by Alessandro Pier Guidi. Albuquerque is on the rebound, cutting through the GT Daytona traffic. Some contact in turn five or something. There's a huge closing rate between a Prototype and a GTD car as Ryan dalziel is trying his hardest to clear the GTD cars. #58 got a bad tire in the previous race. Patrick Long is evenly matched with bryan Sellers. But, Long is leading in class and has a gap over the Lamborghini. Markus Palttala is a winner here at Road America who won in GTD in 2014 here at Road America.

Dane Cameron brings the #6 Acura to pit lane for half a tank of fuel. The dive plane is also damaged, as it was wedged into the #10 Cadillac. #6 has led six races in 2018 but has yet to win. Pier Guidi and Bleekemolen are still scrapping! Oh! Pier guide goes off the road! That was close! Alvaro Parente slides wide as he attacks Jeroen Bleekemolen, and gets gobbled up by Kyle Marcelli in the sole Lexus RC F GT3 in this race. There's damage to the right front dive plane on the #22 Nissan DPi. A piece of the rear wing, actually, the wire to the brake light, is loose on the #31 Cadillac from contact at the very beginning of the race. No action for the argy bargy in GT Daytona.

Pier Guidi still went off into the kitty litter, however. Sellers and Snow could extend their points lead in GTD. BMW leads GT Le Mans with Connor De Philippi at the wheel of it. BMW is winless so far in 2018 in IMSA with the M8 GTE. The next race for IMSA, is for GT classes only, at another classic track, Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia. Stay tuned for more details when we finish this race. cOLIN braun runs off the road into the dirt! Yikes! Less than 15 minutes remaining now. In a distance race, you can save two laps on fuel, but in a timed race, it is even more critical. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen are just one point behind Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe. There's just one point in it even though Corvette has not won in 2018.

Connor De Philippi and BMW could win,. Now, Jordan Taylor in the #10 Cadillac leads Jonathan Bomarito in the #55 Mazda. The #10 Cadillac has been out on track for 53 minutes at most, but lately can't do more than 40 minutes on a stint. #10 needs a win. They have not won in a year. They did so at Detroit in 2017 after winning five races in a row. They have had a long, long dry spell. The top four cars are all on the same pit strategy. This race has been a war. It's been very, very physical. Not much mechanical attrition. If WTR can pull the rabbit out of their hat, it will be incredible. No love lost between WTR and Action Express. Both want to be top dog for Cadillac.

Mazda #55 has to pit for a splash and dash. They only need a yellow flag. Colin Braun and Jon Bennett, fourth in the championship, don't want to gamble. Oliver Jarvis slides through the corner, trying to hold off Helio Castroneves in the #7 Acura. Fuel strategy is playing out, as people guessed it would before the race. Nasr is faster. Cadillac #10 on pit lane for a very quick stop. Taylor has a quick fuel fill, for six seconds, and #31 streaks by. Taylor will still lose time because of the 60 kilometer per hour/37 mile per hour speed limit. Patrick Long continues leading GT Daytona and ooh! some argy bargy between the Ferrari and the Mercedes! Alessandro Pier Guidi barges Jeroen Bleekemolen. Pier Guidi is steaming. He wants by. Bleekemolen gives up and lets Pier Guidi by.

Boom! Boom!, and he goes off the road. He brake tests Bleekemolen. This is the make or break point of the season. People's contracts for 2019 are being looked at as Richard Westbrook flies past Connor de Philippi. De Philippi is slowing! Colin Braun leads overall after the #55 Mazda had to pit for a splash and dash. Final lap! This is going to be unreal. Bomarito has to pit and Felipe Nasr is now onto the podium, chasing Stephen Simpson. Connor De Philippi runs out of fuel and can't come to the pits. Nasr slides wide and he is on the attack. Nasr runs 11 seconds faster than Braun.
Simpson is still in the way! What does Colin Braun have left in the locker?

Drama! Two corners left, uphill. This is it! Colin Braun and Jon Bennett will make it to the top and win two in a row in Prototype! In GTD, Andy Lally has a huge crash! Big damage to the #44 Audi! Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe win GT Le Mans. In GT Daytona, Patrick Long and Christina Nielsen will score Wright Motorsports' first GTD win of 2018! What a race! Andy Lally slid and spun into the barrier. He is nerfing the Lexus, spun the wheels up, and... bang! Right into the barrier. He is OK. Stephen Simpson and Misha Goikhberg will be second, but run out of fuel. What a race!

Overall/Prototype: #54 Braun/Bennett Oreca 07 Gibson

GT Le Mans: #67 Westbrook/Briscoe Ford GT

GT Daytona: #58 Nielsen/Long Porsche 911 GT3R

Three races to go in 2018. Next up, is the second and final all GT battle, with no Prototypes. The Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, in two weeks time.

Quick morning update from Elkhart Lake

A couple of updates before this afternoon’s IMSA race.

HPD Trackside: Road America Qualifying
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/hpd-trackside-road-america-qualifying/

Derani Paces Warmup; Hawksworth Crashes
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/derani-paces-warmup-hawksworth-crashes/

Due to Hawksworth’s crash, 3GT Racing has withdrawn the #15 Lexus RC F GT3 he was due to share with David Heinemeier Hanson.

3GT Withdraws No. 15 Lexus After Warmup Crash
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/3gt-withdraws-no-15-lexus-after-warmup-crash/

A Lap of Road America with Tristan Nunez

Before today’s race at Road America, go for a ride with Mazda driver Tristan Nunez around the majestic and fabled 4 mile Circuit.

https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/a-lap-of-road-america-with-tristan-nunez/

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Saturday headlines from Road America

More pre-race headlines from Road America before tomorrow’s running of the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, tomorrow.

Atherton: DPi, LMP2 Class Split a “No Brainer”
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/atherton-dpi-lmp-class-split-a-no-brainer/

Trummer Tops Practice 3 at Road America
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/trummer-tops-practice-3-at-road-america/

Ford Locks Out GTLM Front Row at Road America
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ford-locks-out-gtlm-front-row-at-road-america/

Alon Takes Shock Pole at Road America
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alon-takes-shock-pole-at-road-america/

Road America Qualifying Replay
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/road-america-qualifying-replay/

Fittipaldi to Retire After 2019 Rolex 24
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/fittipaldi-to-retire-after-2019-rolex-24/