Posts Tagged ‘Audi’

24 Hours of Le Mans - News and Notes

By Bram • Jun 13th, 2009 • Category: News, Notes, Other Racing News

Mid-night action in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (ACO photo)

Mid-night action in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (ACO photo)

Corvettes Lead GT1 at Six-Hour Mark in Le Mans

Routine Race So Far for Corvette Racing; Safety Cars Play Key Role in First Quarter of Race

LE MANS, France, June 13, 2009 – A quartet of Corvettes took control of the GT1 class in the first six hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Jan Magnussen, Johnny O’Connell, and Antonio Garcia has led from the start at 3 p.m., completing 88 laps at the six-hour mark. The No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Marcel Fassler was second in the GT1 class, 2 minutes and 6 seconds behind its sister car. The No. 73 and No. 72 Corvette C6.Rs of Luc Alphand Aventures were third and fourth respectively with 86 laps completed. [read more...]




Le Mans - In 24 hours Anything Can Happen, And Usually Will

By Bram • Jun 13th, 2009 • Category: News, Notes, Other Racing News

Porsche race cars claimed pole position in both the LMP2 class for sports prototypes as well as in the production-based GT2 category with Denmark’s Essex racing RS Spyder on pole in the LMP2 class (ACO Nikon)

Porsche race cars claimed pole position in both the LMP2 class for sports prototypes as well as in the production-based GT2 category with Denmark’s Essex racing RS Spyder on pole in the LMP2 class (ACO Nikon)

The diesels of Peugeot and Audi are sandbagging? David Brabahm has said that two of the three Peugeots are running track set-up the third depending on fuel-load tire wear set up.

The Aston Martin drivers like Jos Verstappen believes the leading diesels have not yet shown their true pace. [read more...]




Le Mans - Peugeot Protest and Audi’s On-Track Response - Practice Speeds at La Sarthe

By Bram • Jun 10th, 2009 • Category: News, Notes, Other Racing News, Results

Audi\'s Aero Appendage. Peugeot\'s Offending Article ( Marshall Pruett photo)

Audi's Aero Appendage. Peugeot's Offending Article ( Marshall Pruett photo)

Audi’s Allan McNish was the first prototype to set a meaningful time in the mostly track conditions, posting a 3:30.708. The green track, washed free of rubber after three days of a weather deluge, never had the chance to ‘rubber in’ before drops started to fall.

Tonight’s practice session started off on a dry track. The six hours of free practice gave us a good idea of what tomorrow’s qualifying sessions will look like, a fierce battle between Peugeot and Audi, with Pescarolo and Aston Martin taking their turn to go quickly.

About 20.00 the rain set in and the session became quieter Peugeot and Audi swapped first position, with Pescarolo playing their part and even setting the pace in the Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP. Some teams decided to play it safe, and focused on qualifying all of their drivers.

Peugeot, on the other hand, ran a real 6-hour race, with the three drivers of the #7 Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP putting in a amazing 79 laps, that’s 1076km. Grip conditions were sometimes very difficult, but they had no major problems.

Audi did however take over the top two positions, with Allan McNish lapping in 3:30.708 in the #1 R15, ahead of colleague Marco Werner in the #2 Audi.

Weather permitting, this lap time will most probably be improved on tomorrow. The #31 Porsche RS Spyder dominates its category more than 10 seconds in front of the QSM Portuguese Ginetta Zytek.

The official Corvettes will be affected by Antonio Garcia losing control but the job is done for the yellow and the black cars, they’re leading the LM GT1 category, dominating the #66 Jet Alliance DBR9.

The first LM GT2 is the #77 Porsche Felbermayer-Proton, before the 2008 category winner #82 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 and the astonishing Dutch #85 Snoras Spyker C8 Laviolette, this last car was surprisingly fast during the session. To resume, it was a rainy and wet testing session with some cars going off the track, such as the #39 KSM Lola Mazda Spyder which has been rebuilt and rejoined in the late evening.

The surprise fastest LM P1 non-diesel didn’t belong to one of the four Aston Martin-Lolas, but rather the Pescarolo-Judd of Barbosa/Tinseau/Jouanny. The freshened chassis not only looks purposeful, it’s capable of impressive speeds.

Controvery Denied

Peugeot lodged a protest this morning against the front bodywork design of the Audi R15 TDI on the eve of practice for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The French squad claimed that elements of the front bodywork constitute illegal aerodynamic devices, and is calling for a rules clarification.

“It would indeed seem that two features of the Audi R15 - in the configuration in which it was shown at technical scrutineering for the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours on June 8 - do not comply with Article 3.6.2 of the current technical regulations: the flap which links the two front wings; the appendages fixed to the inner surface of the front wings,” said a Peugeot statement.

“These appendages and this flap effectively form part of the bodywork and their sole purpose is to generate downforce. These bodywork parts are considered to be aerodynamic elements. Since they do not appear on the list of aerodynamic elements authorised by Article 3.6.2, they are consequently not permitted.”

After the ACO denied Peugeot’s protest, the 908 team opted to file an appeal of that decision, sending out the following note in a release at 2:04 am:

TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL APPEALS DECISION
Following the protest lodged by Team Peugeot Total, the Sporting Stewards of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours have decided “not to uphold the protest”. The team was notified of this decision at 23.33 on Wednesday, June 10.

After reading the notification (“…the ACO has the discretionary power to deem whether or not the sole function of an element of bodywork is to generate downforce… …it is based on this discretionary power of appreciation, compounded by the exclusive power it has to interpret the technical regulations as laid out in Article 18, that the ACO homologates the cars which take part in the events covered by its regulations”), Team Peugeot Total, in compliance with the regulations, has decided to appeal the decision of the Sporting Stewards within the permitted timeframe of one hour following the publication of the said decision.

Audi’s only released statement was from the scrutineering process: “It’s fantastic that in spite of the terrible weather so many spectators attended the technical scrutineering, which traditionally opens the Le Mans week,” explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. “That our competitors were also interested in the R15 TDI is clear – after all they haven’t seen the car since Sebring.”

After its victorious début in March the diesel racing sportscar has been purposely optimized for the peculiarities of the extremely fast race track at Le Mans. “We had planned two aerodynamic configurations for the R15 TDI from the very beginning,” says Dr Ullrich. “A version for Sebring with maximum downforce, and one for Le Mans with greater emphasis on the aerodynamic efficiency. The basic concept is, however, exactly the same. The modifications which we undertook for Le Mans were already planned before Sebring.”

24 Hours of Le Mans Practice Speeds

Pos, Car #, Team, Time
1 1 Audi Sport Team Joest, 3′30.708
2 2 Audi North America 3′30.762
3 9 Peugeot Total 3′31.102
4 17 Pescarolo Sport 3′33.028
5 8 Peugeot Total 3′33.426
6 3 Audi Sport Team Joest 3′34.716
7 16 Pescarolo Sport 3′35.868
8 008 AMR Eastern Europe 3′35.996
9 007 Aston Martin Racing 3′36.732
10 7 Peugeot Total 3′37.980
11 009 Aston Martin Racing 3′38.490
12 11 Team Oreca Matmut AIM 3′44.474
13 14 Kolles 3′44.508
14 13 Speedy Racing Sebah 3′44.560
15 10 Team Oreca Matmut AIM 3′46.202
16 31 Team Essex 3′46.426
17 5 Navi Team Goh 3′48.096
18 15 Kolles 3′49.960
19 12 Signature Plus 3′52.858
20 4 Creation Autosportif 3′54.552
21 40 Quifel ASM Team 3′56.200
22 23 Strakka Racing 3′56.698
23 63 Corvette Racing 3′57.876
24 33 Speedy Racing Sebah 3′58.210
25 64 Corvette Racing 3′59.586
26 35 OAK Racing 4′00.428
27 25 RML 4′01.378
28 39 KSM 4′03.488
29 66 Jetalliance 4′06.606
30 77 Felbermayr Proton 4′08.304
31 82 Risi Competizione 4′10.980
32 85 Snoras Spyker 4′13.196
33 76 Imsa Matmut 4′14.340
34 92 JMW Motorsport 4′14.584
35 97 BMS Scuderia Italia 4′14.858
36 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports 4′15.254
37 78 AF Corse 4′16.846
38 89 Hankook-Farnbacher 4′17.098
39 30 Racing Box 4′18.870
40 87 Drayson Racing 4′23.262
41 41 G.A.C. Racing Team 4′23.788
42 75 Endurance Asia Team 4′24.420
43 6 Team LNT 4′24.700
44 99 JMB Racing 4′26.170
45 84 Team Modena 4′26.298
46 81 Advanced Engineering 4′26.514
47 96 Virgo Motorsport 4′26.784
48 26 Bruichladdich Bruneau 4′28.252
49 70 Imsa Matmut 4′29.856
50 24 OAK Racing 4′35.952
51 72 Alphand Aventures 4′38.342
52 73 Alphand Aventures 4′42.802
53 83 Risi Competizione 4′44.220
54 32 Team Barazi Epsilon 5′00.760
55 68 JLOC NO TIME




Le Mans début for new Audi R15 TDI

By Bram • Jun 8th, 2009 • Category: News, Notes, Other Racing News

Audi continues to back efficiency and innovation
New aerodynamics and logical lightweight construction
More compact TDI engine and new vehicle power supply

Ingolstadt/Le Mans – Logical lightweight construction, downsizing, efficiency and the best possible aerodynamics – the same subjects which currently occupy the brains of the automobile industry development departments are also key elements in the 24 Hours of Le Mans held for the 77th time on the weekend of June 13/14. [read more...]




Dixon Claims Pole for Acura in Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Quals

By Bram • Mar 19th, 2009 • Category: American Le Mans, News, Notes, Results

Scott Dixon, New Zealand (right) shown with Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Simon Pagenaud, France won the overall pole for the Sebring 12 Hours for Acura and de Ferran Motorsports. (Dan Boyd/ALMS)

Scott Dixon, New Zealand (right) shown with Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Simon Pagenaud, France won the overall pole for the Sebring 12 Hours for Acura and de Ferran Motorsports. (Dan Boyd/ALMS)

de Ferran Acura bests Audi, Peugeot in qualifying

SEBRING, Fla. — Scott Dixon put Acura into the Sebring record books Thursday with a stunning final-lap dash to win the overall pole position for Saturday’s 57th annual 12 Hours of Sebring.

Dixon, the defending Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion, made his first Sebring race appearance quite notable by driving the all-new No. 66 de Ferran XM Radio Acura ARX-02a prototype sports car to the top position in Saturday’s grid over expected favorites Audi and Peugeot. It is the first time since 2005 that a manufacturer has captured both the LMP1 and LMP2 pole positions in the same event.

[read more...]




Audi Storms to Another Petit Victory

By Bram • Oct 5th, 2008 • Category: American Le Mans, News, Notes, Results

Emanuele Pirro, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish celebrate their thrilling overall victory at Road Atlanta. (Dan Boyd/ALMS)

Emanuele Pirro, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish celebrate their thrilling overall victory at Road Atlanta. (Dan Boyd/ALMS)

The battle that everyone expected at Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6 lived up to its billing. Audi remained unbeaten at Road Atlanta as Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro spotted the field two laps at the start of the race but came back for a stunning victory in the 11th annual 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic.

McNish and his Audi R10 TDI crossed the finish line 4.512 seconds ahead of Peugeot’s Christian Klien and the Peugeot 908 HDi that he drove with Stephane Sarrazin and Nic Minassian. A record weekend crowd of 113,000 witnessed the week-long fight between the top two powers in sports car racing.

[read more...]




ALMS News: Petit Le Mans — Record-Breaking Day at Road Atlanta

By Bram • Oct 3rd, 2008 • Category: American Le Mans, News, Notes, Results

Peugeot\'s Stephane Sarrazin set an all-time speed record at Road Atlanta in qualifying for Petit Le Mans. (ALMS Photo)

Peugeot's Stephane Sarrazin set an all-time speed record at Road Atlanta in qualifying for Petit Le Mans. (ALMS Photo)

All four classes set qualifying records Friday at Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6, highlighted by Stephane Sarrazin’s run to the overall pole position for Saturday’s 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic at Road Atlanta. Sarrazin’s time of 1:06.242 (138.039 mph) nipped Audi Sport North America’s Allan McNish by 0.085 seconds as the battle between the two marques intensified even more.

[read more...]




Audi Reigns in Mosport Classic

By Bram • Aug 24th, 2008 • Category: American Le Mans, News, Notes, Results

Audi\'s Lucas Luhr (left) and Marco Werner claimed their third straight overall Series win with a triumph at Mosport. (ALMS photo)

Audi's Lucas Luhr (left) and Marco Werner claimed their third straight overall Series win with a triumph at Mosport. (ALMS photo)

Traffic at Mosport International Raceway did little to faze Audi Sport North America’s Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner on Sunday as they drove to their third straight overall American Le Mans Series victory in the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. Luhr crossed the finish line 21.392 seconds ahead of teammate Emanuele Pirro as Gil de Ferran ran out of fuel on the last lap while leading in LMP2. That sent David Brabham and Scott Sharp to their fourth class victory of the season.

[read more...]




Old Records Fall- New Records Set; For ALMS Teams, Mosport is Fast !

By Bram • Aug 23rd, 2008 • Category: American Le Mans, News, Notes, Results

Audi R10 TDI #1 (Audi Sport North America), Dindo Capello sets a record pace on the way to ALMS Mosport pole. (Audi Communications Motorsport)

Audi R10 TDI #1 (Audi Sport North America), Dindo Capello sets a record pace on the way to ALMS Mosport pole. (Audi Communications Motorsport)

Audi Sport North America’s Dindo Capello made Mosport International Raceway the fastest circuit in the American Le Mans Series with a stunning lap time of 1:04.318 (138.116 mph) in qualifying Saturday for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. Capello smashed his own previous record at the track by 1.735 seconds, one of 10 cars to go under last year’s pole time.

Audi swept the front row with its two diesel-powered Audi R10 TDIs. Marco Werner was just 0.094 seconds behind his teammate as Audi asserted itself for the first time on the weekend. The top five cars qualified within 0.525 seconds of each other.

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ALMS News — Mosport Preview, Gregory Loles on Winning, Scott Dixon Joins De Ferran at Petit Le Mans

By Bram • Aug 21st, 2008 • Category: American Le Mans, News, Notes, Your Series. Your Driver.

Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Audi R10 TDI driver Lucas Luhr (Audi Communication Motorsport)

Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Audi R10 TDI driver Lucas Luhr (Audi Communication Motorsport)

VOICES OF MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Prototype pilots Lucas Luhr and Chris McMurry are looking forward to the speed and exhilaration of racing at Mosport.
The only thing American Le Mans Series drivers love more than a fast circuit are two consecutive ones. That’s what the field is in for this weekend in Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at historic Mosport International Raceway. The 2.459-mile, 10-turn circuit rivals Road America - the previous Series stop - as the fastest on the schedule, and the enthusiasm of the Mosport fans makes the Series’ only annual Canadian stop one of the highlights of the season.

[read more...]