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Posts Tagged ‘Le Mans’

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F1Weekly podcast # 565 - March 29, 2012

Filed under: General,Interviews,Motorsport Mondial,News,Podcast
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f1weekly @ 11:21 PM

f1weekly PODCAST # 565

Malaysian GP review and special interview:

Michela Cerruti: is an Italian racing driver, currently competing in the Superstars Series.

Cerruti attended the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, studying Psychology. Cerruti’s racing career began after her father Aldo ‘Baronio’ Cerruti, also a racing driver, decided to enrol her in a safe driving course with Mario Ferraris, son of car-preparator Romeo Ferraris. Impressed by Michela’s ‘speed and instinctive car control’, Ferraris convinced Cerruti’s father to let her race.

She debuted in the Italian Touring Endurance Championship (CITE) in 2008, racing an Alfa Romeo 147, sharing the drive with Mario Ferraris, finishing third in the class standings. She remained in CITE in 2009, racing a Abarth 500.

For 2010 she stepped up to the Superstars Series, racing a Mercedes C63 AMG for the Romeo Ferraris team. She also competed in the Italian GT Championship for the team in a Ferrari F430.

Remaining in the Superstars Series for a second season in 2011, Cerruti impressed at the opening weekend of the season at Monza, topping the two free practice sessions. She then went on to finish the first race in second position, before winning the second race and taking the championship lead.



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Motorsports Mondial - March 24, 2012

Filed under: General,Motorsport Mondial,News
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f1weekly @ 1:13 AM

 

Photo: gp2media

Luiz Razia flies to Sepang win

Arden driver dominates opening race of the 2012 season

Luiz Razia is a happy man: a perfect get away from the front row and a flawless drive meant he took a lights to flag win today in the Sepang Feature Race. It was also the first win for the Brazilian’s team Arden International, since Charles Pic in Barcelona Feature Race in 2010. Razia crossed the finish line an impressive 7.8s ahead of Davide Valsecchi. Max Chilton in third pocketed his and Carlin’s first GP2 podium.

It all happened at the start: poleman Valsecchi was slow to get away and dropped to fourth. It was Razia who took the lead entering into Turn 1 and he would never be seen again. Behind him, Fabio Leimer made a perfect start from P5 to pass Valsecchi, Chilton and Stefano Coletti, the Monegasque driver slotting into P3. The young Brazilian rapidly built a 2.3s gap to his closest rival. The battle for P2 commenced and Coletti made a move on Leimer only to make a small mistake which opened a gap for Valsecchi to pass him.

The DAMS ace had his eye on catching Leimer. Running on Option tyres, the Italian was one second faster than the Swiss and by Lap 6 he overtook him to take P2. Razia was by then 5.1s away. Although Valsecchi set the quickest laptime, the Arden man remained in control and maintained the gap. Further down, Leimer had a tough job defending his position to Coletti and Chilton whilst James Calado and Felipe Nasr weren’t lurking too far behind.

Coletti was the first one to pit, soon followed by Leimer and Nasr a lap later. Chilton and Calado also decided to observe their mandatory pistops after that. On Lap 12 Valsecchi pitted and handed P2 to Esteban Gutiérrez, who had  battled from P15 on the grid. Razia pitted from the lead on lap 14 and easily regained it a lap later ahead of Valsecchi who was by then 9.7s away.

Chilton made his way to P3 and spent the rest of the race trying to keep Leimer at bay, while Coletti, Nasr, Calado, Gutierrez, Giedo van der Garde and Fabrizio Crestani fought tooth and nail for the remaining points and tomorrow’s reversed pole position. Gutierrez got through on his teammate after the Brit went a bit too wide at Turn 15 for P7.

Rain started to fall at Turn 6 with four laps to go, but no one had to return to the pits for wet weather tyres and when the flag dropped Razia punched the air with joy, crossing the line 7.8s seconds ahead of Valsecchi, with Chilton, Leimer, Coletti, Nasr, Gutierrez and van der Garde following the front pair nose to tail for P3 to 9, and Crestani 1.7s seconds back for the final points position. Calado will start from pole position tomorrow with Gutiérrez next to him for a 100% Lotus GP front row.


Motorsports Mondial - March 21, 2012

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f1weekly @ 8:57 AM

FIA European F3 Championship founded

In close cooperation of the World Motor Sport Association, FIA, and the organisers of the two leading European Formula 3 championships – the Formula 3 Euro Series (organised by DMSB and ITR) as well as the British Formula 3 (organised by MSA/SRO) – a cross-series European Formula 3 Championship is announced. In 2012, the new championship’s calendar comprises 10 events held in seven countries.

Within the framework of the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting, the FIA passed the general conditions for the new championship that replaces last year’s FIA Formula 3 International Trophy. As partner of Formula 3, FIA is going to remain involved in the coming years when it comes to the promotion of young and skilled drivers. The race calendar was created on the basis of the race weekends of the two Formula 3 championships involved. Eight of the 10 European Championship rounds will be held within the framework of the Formula 3 Euro Series and in addition, two of the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series rounds also will be decorated with the European Championship status. Precondition for participating in the new FIA approved series is an entry as permanent competitor in one of the two basis championships. Currently, the Formula 3 Euro Series entry list comprises 15 drivers from nine countries. First reactions already demonstrated that the FIA approval has caused increased interest of drivers and teams and arguably could result in additional entries.

The most successful competitors will be offered the opportunity to test Formula 1, DTM and Formula 2 vehicles, thus attracting additional attention. “For the European motor-racing young guns, Formula 3 now represents an even more attractive field of activity,” said Dr Hans-Gerd Ennser, DMSB board member car racing. “Together with our partners, we succeeded in creating a format that will consolidate the existing championships on the one hand while promising drivers, teams and spectators top-class motor racing on the other.” Entering the new FIA approved series is made particularly attractive by the fact that there is far more to win than just the title: an extraordinary package of valuable prizes for the most successful competitors. Following the season, the three top-placed drivers will be offered the chance of demonstrating their skills during two days of Formula 2 testing. In addition, the vice-champion will be rewarded with a DTM test – and the European Formula 3 Champion may look forward to a very special highlight: he will execute a Formula 1 test for Ferrari. The entry deadline for the new series is the 18th April, 2012. Interested teams can request information by email at info@fiaf3.com. In addition, they can contact the Formula 3 Euro Series organisers at info@f3euroseries.com for additional queries.


Motorsports Mondial - February 2, 2012

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f1weekly @ 9:37 AM

Photo: carracingnews

A.J. FOYT, PORTRAIT OF A MOTORSPORTS LEGEND 

With over 50 years in motorsports – as a driver and team owner – American A. J. Foyt’s remarkable career has seen him make his mark nationally and abroad in at least four countries: Canada, Great Britain, France and New Zealand.  His race record includes: winning the Indianapolis 500 four times in 35 consecutive tries; Les 24 Heures du Mans (1967); and the Rolex 24 At Daytona (1983, ’85).  He’s won 12 national titles with a total of 172 major race wins in Indy Cars, NASCAR, USAC stock cars, midgets, sprints and sports cars.
 
When people ask Foyt what it is like to be a national hero he simply replies:  “I’m not a national hero as far as I’m concerned.  I’ve had fun through the years of racing but as far as me being a hero, I’m just still A. J.  I’m really happy with the racing I did here in this country, and I was fortunate enough to win races in everything I competed in.”

Comparing his wins of the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Les 24 Heures du Mans, Foyt explained:  “These two races are totally different because they are run on different types of tracks.  They are both difficult tracks to race so you have to stay on your toes around the clock.  Today every team has three or four drivers, but back in my day it was just two drivers at Le Mans and three drivers at Daytona.  Dan Gurney had raced at Le Mans before he and I were teammates, so he gave me some tips on what to do and what not to do, as well as what time of the night you had to be real careful, so that’s what helped my success at Le Mans.  What he told me was to be careful between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m., of the fog at those hours and smoke coming from the fans’ campfires.  It is that time of night when most of the accidents occur so being aware of these points made a not so easy time a little bit easier, having a partner like Gurney made it a lot easier.  Back then the Le Mans track was a lot faster than it is today because the Mulsanne Straight didn’t have a chicane in it.  The race is held on regular roads that are narrow – it’s not a closed circuit like Daytona.  As for Daytona, it was very challenging, especially when it rained.  There was no resting, you had to stay alert.  You had the high banking and then you’d come off that onto the road course in the middle which was flat, so when it rained the high banking  was easy but there was nothing easy about the flat section.”

Foyt explained that Daytona was particularly special for him because Bill France personally telephoned to invite him to race there:  “My Daddy was dying of cancer in the hospital but he told me ‘There’s no sense you just sitting here, go have some fun this weekend.’  I didn’t want to go but when Mr. France phoned me again my father said ‘Get outta here, there’s nothing you can do here.’  So to be fortunate enough to bring back the trophy to him made it very special.”

In motorsports, fathers and sons often work together on a team and in some cases compete against each other on track.  Foyt’s father played a major role in his racing career and now his son Larry is Team Director at A. J. Foyt Racing Ltd.  “Larry is playing a major role with my team and it gives me a lot of pleasure seeing him doing that end of the business instead of driving,” said Foyt.  “He was a pretty good race car driver but I’m glad to see him take such an interest in managing the team.  When he got hurt at Indy I didn’t care to see him race anymore.  I felt like he would be more important in the family business and I’m glad he finally agreed with me.”

There comes a time in every great race car driver’s career when it is time to hang up the racing shoes.  For A. J. Foyt that time came at the 1993 Indianapolis 500. “I knew my career was coming to an end because I wasn’t as healthy as I needed to be to race and I couldn’t perform liked I used to,” said Foyt.  “When I won the Indy 500 in 1961, Mr. Hulman, who owned the Indianapolis Speedway, sent me and Ray Harroun (who won the first Indy 500 in 1911) to New York to appear on the television program What’s My Line.  I remember asking Mr. Harroun, ‘When do you know when to quit?’ He said ‘It will probably come to you all of a sudden and you’ll just know.’  I think that’s what happened to me that day at Indy in 1993.  I got word that Robby Gordon, who was driving one of my cars, crashed for the second or third time and I just said I’m through; I can’t concentrate on running cars with young drivers and then try to drive them too.  I just knew it was my time to quit.”

 


Motorsports Mondial - January 30, 2012

Filed under: General,Motorsport Mondial,News
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f1weekly @ 9:43 AM

Photo: oryxracing

Oryx Racing Gains Valuable Experience From Rolex 24 At Daytona Début

New Audi Sport “customer’ team creditably takes chequered flag after difficult twice-around-the-clock season-opener

Important data collected on Audi R8 GRAND-AM for remaining 13-races in US

Oryx Racing will use the near nine-week break before the second round of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series to evaluate important data collected from the team’s series debut and first race with the Audi R8 GRAND-AM at Daytona (US State of Florida) this weekend (28-29 January).

Having taken delivery of its Audi a little over a month ago and with less than 1,000-miles on the clock before the annual race began on Saturday afternoon (1530hr local), the 50th running of the Daytona 24 Hours was always going to be a steep learning curve.

Issues with the near standard clutch, unique to the GRAND-AM specification Audi R8 making its US race début, ultimately cost valuable time and the prospect of a top maiden U.S. result.

Ultimately the #74 Oryx Racing Audi R8 GRAND-AM of Steven Kane (GB), Humaid Al Masaood (UAE) and Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE) registered 32nd in GT having completed 432-laps but Oryx Racing can comfort itself from learning a great deal about the Audi, the “control” Continental tyres and GRAND-AM racing in general – all of which can be put to good affect for the remainder of the season.

Kane gave a glimpse of what the Audi, which has recorded 118 worldwide race wins and 13 championship titles since 2009, is capable of when the Ulsterman comfortably ran inside the GT class top-10 early on. In the closing stages on Sunday afternoon the Oryx R8, which set the faster race lap of the two Audi sports cars competing, was recording laps comparable with the top-six GT cars around the 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway road course.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona marked the first race in the GRAND-AM Series for Oryx Racing – contesting its third-ever twice-around-the-clock race – which achieved a praiseworthy fourth in the 2011 American Le Mans Series’ LMP1 Team Championship.   

The second round of the 14-race GRAND-AM series is staged at the Barber Motorsports Park at Birmingham (US State of Alabama) on 31 March and will see Team Principal Al Masaood and Kane piloting the Audi.

#74 – Audi R8 Grand Am: Qualified 15th (GT) 1m 50.312s (116.179mph) Kane. Race: 32nd (GT).

Steven Kane (GB). Age: 31. Born: Newtown nr Banbridge, N Ireland. Lives: Brixworth, N’thants, UK:

“To bring our brand new Audi home to the finish on our Daytona 24 Hour and GRAND-AM début is an achievement. We can be pleased with what we accomplished in what are very early days with our new GT project. Everything went well for 45mins in my opening stint until I had to pit after flat spotting a couple of tyres. I was trying to keep out of the way of some faster Daytona Prototypes which caused me to go off line and across the grass. I then thought I’d got a front left puncture but it was just [rubber] ‘pick up’. I was a couple of laps short of a scheduled fuel stop when a full course caution caused the pits to be closed and I ran out of fuel at ‘pit in’. I was towed to our garage where some fuel was added. Having been ‘held’ at pit exit for a long time, I rejoined the race for a lap before handing over to Humaid but the clutch felt it was ‘slipping’.”

Humaid Al Masaood (UAE). Age: 31. Born: Abu Dhabi, UAE. Lives: Abu Dhabi, UAE 

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season. Bearing in mind the lack of testing we had with the Audi, I’m delighted with what we achieved – the R8 has masses of potential for the remainder of the season. I did just one, very slow lap after taking over from Steven on Saturday evening but the clutch was malfunctioning and I drove the car straight back to the garage. When I got out again almost three hours later the Audi felt it had a handling imbalance but it was just a case of not being used to the Continental tyres but we worked at it and everything came together.”

Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE). Age: 24. Born: Dubai, UAE. Lives: Dubai, UAE:

“It was a tough race and was an amazing all-round team effort. We overcame many problems. I had a ‘long’ brake pedal during my stint on Saturday evening but I quickly adapted to it. I was hit up the rear going in to Turn 3 causing slight rear fender and exhaust damage. We were still having a clutch issue so the team took out the gearbox again and inspected the clutch.”

Tom Maplethorpe (GB), Team Manager:

“We’ve learned a great deal about the R8 and ourselves as a team this weekend. The Audi is a proven package and with the help of Audi Sport and quattro GmbH we’ll be on the pace when we get to Birmingham. Doing this 24 hour race as a season-opener gives us the opportunity to address many issues that perhaps would not have surfaced in a ‘sprint’ event. Steven, Humaid and Saeed were near faultless on the track while the team did a fantastic job in taking the gearbox out on two occasions. There are many positives to take forward and we’re very excited about the remainder of the season.”

ORYX Racing is owned by UAE National Humaid Al Masaood and has its headquarters in Abu Dhabi (UAE) with its new for 2012 Grand-Am project based out of Dayton (US State of Ohio). The team’s development has been meteoric since its formation at the end of 2010. ORYX finished second (SP3) on its race début in the 2011 Dubai 24 Hours before contesting the European-based Speed Euroserie. In 2011, ORYX Dyson Racing finished fourth in the American Le Mans Series’ LMP1 Team Championship – Masaood & Kane finishing fifth in the Drivers’ standings. In 2012, ORYX Racing competes in the GT category of the North America-based 13-race GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Audi R8 Grand Am

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, power 480hp, over 500Nm, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fibre composite/aluminum bodywork, Continental radial tires. Minimum start weight 1,285kg. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. The Audi R8 LMS recorded 118 race wins and 13 championship titles around the world in just three years (2009-11).


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