Tag Archives: le mans

Hypercar Hype or Close Racing Next Week at Le Mans? Toyota vs Alpine vs Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus

Reigning World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López, in the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, have endured calamity at Le Mans, particularly when mechanical issues denied them victory despite domination in 2019 and 2020. They go into the biggest race of the year following wins in the 6 Hours of Monza last month. Continue reading

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Politics of Racing – Aston Martin Balks at Valkyrie Program

This means the oft-hyped Valkyrie Hypercar will not make its WEC debut at Silverstone in August 2020 or compete in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans. Continue reading

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LMP1 Repeat – Toyota Second Straight Win at Le Mans

In the last year before Le Mans class rules change yet again the Toyota curse appeared when the #7 blew what seemed a certain victory in front of an estimated 252,500 spectators. Continue reading

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Aston Martin On GTE Pole, Ford 2nd, Corvette 3rd at Le Mans

Aston Martin Racing is on the GTE Pro pole position for this weekend’s 87th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s 60 years since a famous 1959 win led by team director John Wyer with a DBR1 driven by Roy Salvadori, and a man who would kick Ferrari’s “ass” many more times, notably with Ford GTs a few years later – Carroll Shelby, again working with Wyer. Continue reading

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2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition Has a Racing Paint Scheme

The Heritage Edition exposed carbon fiber A-pillars and – what else –“ unique” 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in high-gloss dark stainless with black lug nuts. Orange calipers and silver rear-view mirror caps complete the look, which lacks the scuff marks, abrasions, rubber rash and dings of a LeMans winner. Continue reading

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WEC: Toyota Wins in Bahrain

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who supported TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the World Endurance Championship this season,” said Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation. “Going to Le Mans to be together with our team in our fight there this June resulted in a personally and truly frustrating experience. And I am aware that our performance in that race brought frustration to our fans, as well. Other grueling races followed, and, amid it all, we learned of Porsche’s planned withdrawal from the WEC. After last year’s Le Mans, Porsche recognized us as a rival. By battling it out with such rivals as Porsche, I think we were able to heighten our technical prowess, making us faster and stronger. As we went up against Porsche, all our team members, including me, had the same thought in our hearts: we hate to lose.” Continue reading

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Milestones – One Millionth Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 arguably created a new category and remains a premium sports car despite its rear engine design – that critics pointed out was like a trying to throw a dart backwards at high speeds. Continue reading

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Silverstone: Toyota Beats Porsche. Chan Racing Wins LMP2. Ford Bests Ferrari, Porsche in GT Pro. Ferrari takes GT Am

The race – pure England at this time of year (or any time) – was run under mixed weather conditions, forcing teams to choose between tires – slicks, so-called intermediates or rain rubber in changing conditions that forced drivers to extract the best performance out of the world’s most exciting racing machines. Continue reading

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Silverstone – WEC Opening Round Pits Toyota against Porsche in the run-up to the Grueling 24 Hours at Le Mans

The first track appearance in real racing conditions sees Porsche and Toyota dueling with two very different LMP1 cars with mixed results in the fastest, most expensive top class. Continue reading

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Porsche to Show New 919 Hybrid For Le Mans at Monza

Porsche has had great runs at Le Mans recently in the top LMP1 class, and historically in other classes as well. During 2015 and 2016, its Le Mans Prototype 919 Hybrid took overall victory in Le Mans and won the World Championship titles for Manufacturers and Drivers. Continue reading

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Daytona: Katherine Legge Drives for Acura, Shea Adam Calls for IMSA

Katherine Legge will be one of the four full-time drivers for the Michael Shank Racing/Acura Motorsports campaign starting now at the 24 Hours of Daytona for the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Continue reading

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BMW Motorsports Adapting for 2018 FIA World Endurance Cup

BMW Motorsports is changing its teams for the 2017 season to realign in preparation for its 2018 involvement in FIA World Endurance Cup racing. What class it will run in is not clear. There is speculation that it will run in the top LMP1 class Continue reading

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New Porsche 911 RSR for Le Mans and Endurance Racing

It will be running against Aston Martin, Ford, Ferrari and Corvette. In addition to systematic lightweight design that meets the rule minimum of 1,243 kg, the water-cooled, flat-six engine is positioned in front of the rear axle. The 4-liter is said to be extremely light with direct fuel injection as well as a rigid valve drive and is characterized by “outstanding efficiency.” The new 911 RSR will make its debut at the Daytona 24-hour race in January 2017. Continue reading

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Audi Dumps World Endurance Cup Racing and Le Mans after 18 Years of Success for Boring Formula E?

Unsaid was the Formula E incentives involved – rule changes, appearance money and / or a share of the F1E gate, not that racing organizations ever do such things . Continue reading

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Porsche’s Mark Webber Says Racing Career Over

On the surface or rather the track surface, Webber has no reason to quit as his lap times often and consistently are in the top ten on timing sheets. However, going out on top, and not on top of a stretcher, is a strategy that AutoInformed endorses, though we will miss watching him slice and dice through and around competitive cars. MLB’s Big Papi comes to mind where he competes in an endurance contest of another sort, one that is no less demanding on reflexes, conditioning and smarts. Continue reading

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