Friday, October 30, 2009

Asian LeMans Series Qualifying


The Drayson Lola-Judd LMP Coupe, with extensive repairs after the huge rear ender after the end of the race at Laguna Seca, proved how quick it can be by securing the first ever Asian LMS pole for LMP.
In GT Aston Martin took both GT1 pole with the Japanese entered DBR9 and GT2 when Tomas Enge put the V8 Vantage on the pole.
However, in post qualifying tech inspection both the Aston Martin's rear wings were in violation so the final GT1 pole is held by the Team Larbre Saleen SR7 and GT2 by the Prospeed Porsche 997 GT3 RSR.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Is it Time for FOTA to Dump CVC and Uncle Bernie?

A quote from Racer.com:
"The situation (on the British GP) is far from clear after a report in Britain's Daily Express newspaper on Wednesday suggested that Donington Park leaseholder Simon Gillett had paid outstanding money to Bernie Ecclestone – although it was not clear whether or not this had been completed before close of business on deadline day. Furthermore, Silverstone sources have indicated that the track will only commit to a deal with Bernie Ecclestone if the commercial terms make sense – and the two parties remain some distance apart on the finances so far."
Martin Whitmarsh of McLaren thinks F1 would be better off with a British GP, and who can argue?
Bernie cost the US an F1 race (along with Mr. George's inadequate leadership) by asking for the moon when it was just beginning to catch on in the Midwest. Not to mention crowds equal to or greater then most European GP's.
Turns out the sponsors would have coughed up the money if Mr George had asked them.
I suggest F1 (FOTA) and the FIA find a way out of putting up with the CVC and Bernie's stupid demands and move on with racing at venues where both crowds and TV will enjoy success.
FIA GT has proved that sponsors like live streaming of events as well as broadcast TV links, so quit dithering and get going. Time is short as a continued economic slump will soon stop the rich countries, who do appreciate F1, from continuing to do business in this arena by buying races at any price.
If I'm wrong, let me know.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Round 6 and Final of the FIA GT3 Championship

After some scoring problems the results are in and the Audi R8 LMS driven by Haase and Mits are the Champs!

Results: 2009 Round 6 - Zolder
Race 2 Result (Top 10)
Pos Car# Class Drivers Car
Gap Laps Avg.Speed
1 8
F Bontempelli/Gattuso Ferrari 430 Scuderia 1:00:56.226 34 0 134.10
2 24
B Walter/Huertgen BMW Alpina B6 GT3 1:01:31.779 34 35.553 132.80
3 2
FGT Mamerow/De Doncker Ford GT 1:01:43.217 34 46.991 132.39
4 26
AU Haase/Mies Audi R8 LMS 1:02:26.509 34 1:30.283 130.86
5 35
B Petit/Fumal BMW Alpina B6 GT3 1:02:27.001 34 1:30.775 130.85
6 3
AM Accary/Rodrigues Aston Martin DBRS9 1:02:32.130 34 1:35.904 130.67
7 18
P Lappalainen/Palttala Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S 1:01:03.165 33 1 LAP 129.91
8 32
AU Armindo/Campanico Audi R8 LMS 1:01:09.138 33 1 LAP 129.69
9 28
FGT Nygaard/Gruber Ford GT 1:01:18.127 33 1 LAP 129.38
10 12
P Lanik/Forsten Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S 1:01:38.730:33

Sunday, October 25, 2009

FIA Approves the 2010 GT1, 2 and 3 Schedule

2010 FIA GT1, GT2 and GT3 World Championships

4/4 - GT1 - UAE, Yas Marina**
18/4 - GT1 - South Africa*
2/5 - GT1 + GT2 + GT3 - UK, Silverstone Supercar 2010
16/5 - GT1 + GT2 + GT3 - Czech Republic, Brno
30/5 - GT1 + GT2 + GT3 - France, Paul Ricard
20/6 - GT2 + GT3 - Germany, Oschersleben
4/7 - GT1 - Canada*
1/8 - GT1 + GT2 - Belgium, Total 24H of Spa-Francorchamps*
29/8 - GT1 + GT2 - Germany, Nürburgring
12/9 - GT1 + GT2 + GT3 - Portugal, Circuito Algarve
3/10 - GT1 + GT2 + GT3 - Hungary, Budapest*
17/10 - GT2 - Belgium, Zolder
14/11 - GT1 - China*
28/11 - GT1 - Brazil*

*Subject to the ASN’s confirmation
**Subject to the homologation of the circuit.

FIA GT Titles

GT 1 is decided with the win of the #33 Maserati MC 12 Vitaphone sponsored car, but the Championship goes to Michael Bartels, in the #1 Maserati.
A race long battle determined the Championship in GT1 by 2 points over Mike Hezemans in the #4 Corvette C6.R GT1.
In GT 2 it came down to Richard Westbrook, driving the ProSpeed Porsche 997 GT2 RSR #60, winning the race and the Championship over his closest Championship rival, again by 2 points, Gianmaria Bruni in the AF Corsa Ferrari F430 #50, who finished 4the in the race.
THe GT 3 Championship goes down to the final race this afternoon, as the race this AM just made the Championship closer when Christopher Hasse won in the Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS.
2009 FIA GT3 European Drivers Championship:
Pos Name
1 Christopher Mies 49.5
Christopher Haase 49.5
2 Nicolas Armindo 42
Cesar Campanico 42
3 Thomas Accary 40
Julien Rodrigues 40

Friday, October 23, 2009

FOTA Welcomes Jean Todt

FOTA PRESS RELEASE 23 October 2009
FOTA welcomes Jean Todt to the FIA Presidency
The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) today congratulated Jean Todt on his victory in the FIA presidential election, and welcomed him to his new position. Speaking after the result of the election had been announced in Paris,
FOTA Chairman
Luca di Montezemolo said: "I would like to send my best wishes to Jean Todt in his new role, as I have always appreciated his ability, dedication and commitment. I am sure that, under his guidance, the Federation will be rejuvenated and will restore a climate open to dialogue and constructive collaboration with the teams and FOTA, thus ensuring stability of the regulations and the whole environment”. “Formula One is about to embark on a new phase: all the stakeholders must work together with an eye to the future, to increase the credibility and interest generated by this sport, tackling the technical and environmental challenges that await it, while keeping unchanged, those characteristics that have made it one of the most popular disciplines on the world stage”.
FOTA Vice Chairman John Howett added: ”I extend my best wishes to Jean Todt as he takes on this demanding but crucial role. I am convinced that Jean Todt’s presidency represents an opportunity for all Formula One’s stakeholders to unite under his leadership and work together to strengthen our sport. FOTA is looking forward to supporting him to broaden the appeal of our sport among fans and sponsors while respecting Formula One’s great heritage to which he has contributed enormously".

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Kyle Busch to US F1 in 2011?

NASCAR star Kyle Busch has been singled out as a key target of the new Team US F1, as the outfit continues its preparations to enter grand prix racing in 2010.

Although US F1 is unlikely to field an American driver for its debut campaign, the team is keen to get a home-grown driver in for 2011. Sporting director Peter Windsor has said that Busch is high on his list of contenders for 2011 – and would like him to test the car next year.

Speaking to USA Today, Windsor said: "If he wanted to drive for us in 2011, we'd certainly be keen on that. I think there'll be a lot of speculation about that as time goes on. If I was Kyle, I'd be saying to myself, 'Yeah, those guys all talk the talk, let's see what they do, let's see what the car's like. Let's see what the race shop is like.' Fair enough. We're going to do a good job. I know when Kyle gets to see it, I'm pretty sure it'll get his pulse rate going."

He added: "I've watched him a lot and have massive respect for him. I know people who know him very well. I believe Kyle can win a World Championship in Formula 1. I think he's got exactly the right talent, the right approach. I'd love to see him in a Formula 1 car.

"If he wants to jump in our car next year for doing some demonstrations here in the States, he's very welcome to do that."

Windsor has revealed that he has already met with Busch's business team, and he is well aware that the American driver's contract with Joe Gibbs Racing expires at the end of next season.

Busch himself said earlier this year that he would not totally rule out a switch to F1, providing he achieved title success in NASCAR.

"It's definitely something I wouldn't shoot down," he was quoted as saying shortly after the official launch of US F1. "If I could win a championship (in NASCAR) in the next two or three years, then I wouldn't mind going doing (F1) for a few years and coming back.

"I think I'd still be young enough that if I could win a championship by 25, go run Formula 1 for a few years and be back (in NASCAR) by 28."

This article originally appeared in Autosport.com

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Donna Mae Mims Passes

Donna Mae Mims passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 at the age of 82. This legendary female sports car driver was known by many as the "Pink Lady,""Think Pink," and"Donna Amazing".
Ms. Mims started racing in 1958 and was the first woman driver ever to win a Sports Car Club of America National Championship H Production 1963.
She worked for Yenko Chevrolet and Yenko sports car division as executive secretary for both and was the liaison for design and production with the Yenko sports car division with such cars as the Deuce, Camaro, Nova, Chevelle and Corvair. She worked closely with Zora Arkus Dontuv, Ed Cole and the pioneers of Chevrolet Racing. Her career and involvement in Yenko led her to racing such cars as the Camaro, Austin Healey, MG, Corvette and Corvairs.
She raced many times at Sebring, Daytona and Riverside, and many other tracks throughout the US.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Scott Sharp Forms New Ferrari GT2 Team

2009-10-10 20:21:00by PR

Champion race car driver Scott Sharp, who has made his mark everywhere from Trans-Am and Champ Car to IndyCar and the American Le Mans Series, announced Saturday his latest venture in motorsports. The Patrón Highcroft Racing star has created and will own a new race team called Extreme Speed Motorsports that will compete in the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class.

The team will race a Ferrari 430 GTC and be sponsored by The Patrón Spirits Company (Tequila Patrón) and supported by Ferrari Corse Clienti. Sharp has also named the team’s first driver - Ed Brown, currently a Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama driver and American Le Mans Series GT Challenge class driver with ORBIT Racing. Co-drivers will be announced at a later date.

“I’ve worked very closely with Ed for the past three years, and I’m impressed with his growth and maturity on the track,” said Sharp, who leads the American Le Mans Series’ LMP1 championship with David Brabham heading into the season’s final race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “The GT2 field will undoubtedly be very tough, but I’m confident that Ed’s approach will prove successful for the team. And I am ecstatic that our new team will be partnered with such iconic brands as Patrón Tequila and Ferrari Corse Clienti. We’ve had a great year at Patrón Highcroft Racing, and I’m looking forward to combining my own racing with Brabs and the boys with team ownership next year.”
Sharp has scored three victories with teammate Brabham for Patrón Highcroft Racing in the 2009 American Le Mans Series and also contested this year’s Indianapolis 500 aboard a Patrón-sponsored entry.

Team sponsor Patrón is a longtime supporter of motorsports, and brings a popular presence at American Le Mans Series races.

“Scott’s impressive career has made him one of the most accomplished competitors in racing. It’s a tremendous honor to drive for his new Extreme Speed Motorsports team,” said Brown, whose best finish in GT Challenge class this season was a runner-up position at Lime Rock Park.

“Ferrari Corse Clienti is committed to keeping the Prancing Horse name at the highest levels of racing in the U.S., and we’re excited to count among our rows the new Extreme Speed Motorsports team,” said Ferrari’s Maurizio Nardon. “We welcome Scott and his team, and look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation.”

"We’re excited and proud to associate the Tequila Patrón name with Extreme Speed Motorsports and Ferrari,” commented Matt Carroll, Patrón’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our association with motorsports, and the iconic brands and top-notch teams in this premier racing series, fits perfectly with our ultra-premium Patrón brand. We’re looking forward to another great season in 2010.”

Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series added, “The announcement of this new team fulfills the vision we had when we launched the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama. This is especially gratifying because it involves individuals who have participated with us at other levels of competition, and are ready to do battle now in the Series’ most competitive class.

“When we created the GT Challenge class, it was designed so those drivers could progress to GT2. Clearly that’s what has happened in this case, and it is evidence that the plan is working. Ed and Scott form a unique team. They are the perfect pair to be the first to announce a venture of this type. I suspect this is only the first example of a new American Le Mans Series program growing out of the IMSA and Series ladder system."

The American Le Mans Series opens its season in 2010 with the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on March 20.

Source : ALMS