Tag: LeMans

FIA, ACO Announce World Endurance Championship

Mike Shaw

The FIA and the ACO, organizers of the 24 Hours at Le Mans and the Intercontinental Le Mans Championship (ILMC) have announced a World Endurance Championship starting in 2012. There will be a manufacturer’s championship and driver championship. The FIA press release stated “In establishing this new category of motorsport championship, both the FIA and ACO are keenly aware it needs to be a laboratory for innovation and the development of new technologies, allowing motor manufacturers to express, through the rigours of competition, their ability to be inventive and, as…

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The Ally Becomes a Rival

Mike Shaw

Part III of  IV on the ALMS Rocked by a sour economy, decimated by manufacturer defections and a TV deal that has been panned by fans and the media (“It’s About the Content Not the Medium”) the American Le Mans Series is in damage control mode.  Yet the biggest blow to the ALMS may end up being the one thrown by its partner, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.  The ACO are the organizers of the 24 Hours at Le Mans, and partners with the European Le Mans Series (LMS) and North America’s…

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Episode 88 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Shaun

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSit back and enjoy as Shaun and Doug discuss all the happenings in motorsport. Rally Italy, Le Mans at Spa, F1 in Turkey and Mike Conway finally joins us! Plus much more!

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Episode 84 – Openpadock.net Podcast

Shaun

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Shaun and Mike as they hash out the week’s rally news! Thats not all of it though..we had an F1 race in Malaysia and another race in China! Shaun also recaps his visit Barber! Want a recap of the Barber race? We got that too with our opinion to spice it up! Sit back as always and enjoy the show!

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Pescarlo Team Wins Le Castellet 6 Hours

Mike Shaw

The LMP1 Pescarlo Team of Emmanuel Collard, Christophe Tinseau and Julien Jousse win the opening round of the Le Mans Series in the Le Castellet 6 Hours at Paul Ricard.  The Pescarlo-Judd started last on the grid following a technical infraction after qualifying second Saturday.  It was the first race for Team Principal Henri Pescarlo’s team after being away from racing for a year. Rebellion Racing’s Lola B10/60 Toyota of Andrea Belicchi and Jean-Christophe Boullion finished second, a lap down. The Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN-Nissan of Ojjeh, Chalandon and Kimber-Smith…

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Rebellion Racing Lola on Pole for LMS Paul Ricard

Mike Shaw

Neel Jani put the Rebellion Racing Lola B10/60 Toyota on pole for Sunday’s 6-Hours of Le Castellet at Paul Ricard for round one of the Le Mans Series.  The TDS Racing Oreca 03 Nissan took top honors in LMP2 class. GTE-Pro field did not disappoint. AF Corse’s Gimmi Bruni repeated his Sebring pole, this time in AF’s Ferrari 458. Bruni’s pole was more dramatic as the car barely made qualifying following a serious crash earlier.  Four out of the top five GTE positions were claimed by Ferrari 458’s. Tomas Enge split the…

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Audi R18’s Complete Test

Mike Shaw

Two Audi R18 “Evolution 2” racers made their first public appearance following the 12 hours of Sebring. All ten Audi drivers were involved in the four day test and the R15 was used to set test benchmarks. According to Audi all three cars generated “thousands of test kilometers to generate important findings relating to vehicle setup, aerodynamics, tires, cooling, and reliability.” The R18’s were scheduled to arrive at Audi Sport in Ingolstadt, Germany, Monday and will be dismantled and analyzed. It’s been reported that one of the R18 “Evolution 2” bested Peugeots…

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BMW Announce ILMC GTE Contenders

Mike Shaw

BMW Team Schnitzer will contest the European and China rounds of the ILMC. Drivers for the Team Schnitzer No. 55 BMW M3 GT are Augusto Farfus (BR) and Jörg Müller (DE). ALMS BMW Team RLL driver Dirk Werner (DE) will join them at Le Mans. Lead driver for the second Team Schnitzer (No. 56) BMW M3 GT will be three time world touring car champion Andy Priaulx (GB).  Priaulx will be reunited with his Sebring winning teammates, Dirk Muller and Joey Hand at Le Mans. Hand, winner at the Rolex…

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