Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Iron Lynx continued the development of its SC63 LMDh challenger this week, completing a productive three-day test at the Circuito de Almería in Spain. The car, which will make its competitive debut at the FIA World Endurance Championship 2024 season opener in Qatar next March, was shared by Factory Drivers Andrea Caldarelli and Romain Grosjean with the latter turning his first laps.

Reliability and procedural tests were the main objectives carried out during the three days at the 4.2km circuit located in the Andalucian desert of southwest Spain. Technicians from both Squadra Corse and Iron Lynx concentrated on long runs as the team learns more about the prototype.

A single chassis was used across all three days, meeting its pre-test target of nearly 2000km. The test also gave Squadra Corse and Iron Lynx technicians the opportunity to simulate Full Corse Yellow and related restart procedures and strategies that often characterise endurance races in preparation for next season.

The test also marked the debut of Romain Grosjean at the wheel of the SC63. The Swiss driver – who has driven in selected endurance events in the WeatherTech IMSA Sports Car Championship with Iron Lynx this year – began his programme on the opening afternoon, alternating with Caldarelli. The pair then equally divided the mileage across the remainder of the test.

Romain Grosjean: “It was a very intense three days, but I am very happy to have been able to work the team and the car on the track for the first time. The car proved to be very good from the first laps and I can’t wait to put even more kilometres on it during the next tests.

“It felt really good, and I am happy to be in Almerían with the whole team and discovering all the people and the work that has been going on behind the scenes. So, I am very excited to be here, the car felt really good from the beginning but obviously we still have a bit of a journey [ahead of us]. But the work that has been done prior to my arrival has been very good and I am looking forward to learning more about the car.”

The test programme will continue in Europe next week. Subsequently, the Lamborghini Iron Lynx test team will move to the United States to continue the homologation process by IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) and for a series of tests on North American tracks.

Here’s details on first test of Lamborghini

Here’s Romain Grosjean pressing against Andretti

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Grosjean completes his first test with Lamborghini in Spain ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

A racing prototype version of the ultimate hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie, will take on the challenge it was born for when it carries Aston Martin into the fight for overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 2025. Through the invaluable support and backing of Aston Martin’s championship-winning endurance racing partner Heart of Racing [HoR], at least one Valkyrie racecar will be entered by Aston Martin in the top Hypercar class of each of the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championships [IMSA] from 2025.

This means that the prototype Valkyrie will participate in three of sportscar racing’s most prestigious events; Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Performance is the driving force behind everything Aston Martin creates and just as its latest production siblings DB12 and DBX707, the world’s fastest luxury SUV, are class leading for performance and driving dynamics, so Aston Martin Valkyrie is the definitive hypercar, unlimited by sporting regulation and harnessing emphatic, breathtaking performance.

Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “Performance is the lifeblood of everything that we do at Aston Martin, and motorsport is the ultimate expression of this pursuit of excellence. We have been present at Le Mans since the earliest days, and through those glorious endeavours we succeeded in winning Le Mans in 1959 and our class 19 times over the past 95 years. Now we return to the scene of those first triumphs aiming to write new history with a racing prototype inspired by the fastest production car Aston Martin has ever built.

“In addition to our presence in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of endurance racing will allow us to build a deeper connection with our customers and community, many of whom found their passion for the brand through our past success at Le Mans. And of course, the complex knowledge-base we are building through our F1 team is data that Aston Martin Performance Technologies can harness to further enhance the capabilities of the Valkyrie racecar at Le Mans, in WEC and IMSA.

“Just as the learnings we gain through endurance competition will feed directly into our road car programmes, further improving the ultimate performance of our products. I would like to thank Gabe Newell and Heart of Racing for partnering with Aston Martin on this programme, and I look forward to working with him and the team as we aim for success in the greatest endurance race of them all.

Sportscar racing is in Aston Martin’s DNA. Its name is synonymous with endurance racing glory, with the brand’s Le Mans debut coming just five years after the race was run for the first time in 1923. Since then, cars adorned with the famous Wings have clinched no less than 19 class victories at the world-famous French event, including overall triumph in the 1959 race with the iconic DBR1 driven by Roy Salvadori (GBR) and Carroll Shelby (USA).

In total, more than 240 drivers have raced Aston Martins at Le Mans over the past 95 years in 27 different chassis and engine combinations, through virtually every era. No other venue has given Aston Martin so much success, or more steadfastly proven that our DNA is forged out of the very essence of competition. So in the year the marque celebrates its 110^th anniversary, it makes perfect sense to announce its return to the greatest endurance race on earth with the ultimate expression of the most potent hypercar ever devised.

Valkyrie AMR Pro was originally designed and developed to meet the LMH hypercar regulations and now Aston Martin Performance Technologies, situated in the newly-built AMR Technology Campus which is co-located with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One team’s Silverstone headquarters, has begun the task of developing a competition prototype version of Valkyrie for racing within a pre-defined aerodynamic and power performance window that gives it parity with its direct competition in WEC. It will then be homologated for the WEC Hypercar and IMSA GTP classes ahead of the 2025 season.

The race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis Valkyrie will use a modified version of the sensational Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, which in standard form revs to 11,000rpm and develops over 1000bhp. The power unit will be enhanced further to incorporate the critical Balance of Performance requirements of the Hypercar class, and developed to withstand the rigours of top level long-distance competition. As with the Valkyrie AMR Pro track-car, the battery-electric hybrid system that features on the road-specification Valkyrie is absent from the race car.

Once homologated, the Heart of Racing team will spearhead Aston Martin’s programmes in both WEC and IMSA as the Valkyrie race car becomes the first purebred hypercar to participate in both championships, and the only one among its rivals that can trace its origins back to an existing production car.

Founded in 2014 by American businessman and philanthropist Gabe Newell, The Heart of Racing is a charity that raises money for the Seattle Children’s Cardiology Research Fund (among other worthy causes). The US-based HoR team was conceived in 2020 and has partnered with Aston Martin since its inception, competing predominantly with the ultra-successful Vantage GT3 in IMSA’s two GTD classes.

Having brought Aston Martin its first IMSA GTD class championship title with AMR Academy graduate Roman De Angelis [CDN] in 2022, HoR recorded the brand’s maiden class victory in January’s Rolex 24 with Team Principal Ian James (GBR), Darren Turner (GBR) and two-time WEC GT champion Marco Sørensen also driving. HoR also made its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut with the Aston Martin Vantage GTE in June this year, finishing seventh, and will continue through the rest of the 2023 WEC season.

Ian James, Team Principal of Heart of Racing, said: “It’s a privilege to be able to bring Aston Martin back to the top of endurance racing with the Heart of Racing. Our team has grown exponentially since we began racing with those famous wings at Daytona in 2020. We understand and are aligned with the ethos of the brand and we have developed our own systems and technologies to extract the maximum performance of the cars we compete with. Our understanding of Valkyrie is strong and we have worked closely with it through our customer activation programmes for two years now.

“This HoR team has big ambitions in endurance racing and this is absolutely the right time for us to step into the top classes of WEC and IMSA and challenge for overall honours. This is not an easy target, but between our partners and the support of Aston Martin Performance Technologies, it is one we have all the tools and capabilities in place to hit the bullseye with.”

Aston Martin’s entry into the Hypercar class ensures that the British ultra-luxury sportscar manufacturer will have a presence in all aspects of endurance racing from the gentleman racer through to the very pinnacle of the sport. Indeed, from 2025, Aston Martin will be the only manufacturer competing at all levels of sportscar and GT racing (from Hypercar to GT4) and the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

This is made possible through an additional announcement today of Aston Martin’s commitment to building and preparing all-new GT3 and GT4 cars, based on the Vantage platform, which will conform to all existing and new GT rule-sets, including the new-for-2024 LMGT3 regulations that replace the outgoing GTE class in WEC.

This new GT challenger, which is expected to compete in WEC, IMSA and SRO-run GT World Challenge Series as well as various internationally-based regional championships, will be available for existing Aston Martin Racing partners and prospective customers to purchase and compete with for the beginning of the 2024 racing season.

The introduction of a new GT race car brings to end a remarkable chapter in Aston Martin Racing’s history with the current generation of Vantage, arguably the most successful racing car Aston Martin has ever produced. Since making its debut in 2018, the Vantage GTE has recorded four world championship titles, including two drivers’, one manufacturers’ and one teams’ crown, as well as three 24 Hours of Le Mans class victories.

The GT3 variant is also steeped in glory, having won IMSA’s GTD crown and this year’s Rolex 24. A class winner in the Spa 24 Hours, Vantage GT3 was GTWC class champion and was also the first Aston Martin to win a sportscar championship in Japan, with D’station Racing taking the 2021 Super Taikyu title. Vantage GT4 is a multiple championship-winning entry level GT adored by amateur and gentleman racers’ for its driver-friendly attributes, and is the most successful and popular GT racing car currently competing in the US.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, said: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Aston Martin in endurance racing. As a manufacturer, Aston Martin has a consistent record of success at world championship level and, through the efforts of the Heart of Racing, also now in IMSA.

“Valkyrie takes us back into the top tier of sportscar racing and, together with our partners we are absolutely confident that we can deliver a race car with the potential and the performance capabilities to fight alongside the benchmark machinery in the class. To be able to do this in cooperation with a proven championship-winning operation such as Heart of Racing ensures we have all we need to race from a competitive platform.

“It’s a fascinating programme, given that this is the only hypercar in the class with direct synergies to its road car counterpart, but the Valkyrie concept was always intended to break through boundaries, and now we have the opportunity to show what it can do on a track. By also confirming Aston Martin’s commitment to a new GT3 and GT4 challenger, we signal our intent to compete for victory at all levels of sportscar racing now and well into the future.”

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Aston Martin to enter WEC and IMSA championships in 2025 ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

JDC-Miller MotorSports confirmed today that 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will be joining Tijmen van der Helm and Mike Rockenfeller in the team’s Porsche 963 GTP for the season finale Motul Petit LeMans on Oct. 11-14.

Originally from England, the 43 year old now calls Los Angeles home. As a 19 year old, he started his Formula One career in 2000 with Williams F1.  Over the next 18 years he drove for F1 teams Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda and McLaren ending his active Formula One career after the 2017 season. Jenson won the Formula One Championship with Brawn GP in 2009, and scored 15 wins, 50 podiums, 8 pole positions as well as 8 fastest laps during his Formula One career.

He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing with support from Stewart-Haas Racing and sponsorship from Mobil 1. At JDC-Miller MotorSports he will be reunited with Mike Rockenfeller, with whom he shared driving duties at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside NASCAR Champion Jimmy Johnson. The trio drove a Hendrick Motorsports entered NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as the Garage 56 entry and were a fan favorite.

JDC-Miller MotorSports started its 2023 season with the Porsche 963 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on May 12-14.  After coming home 7^th in their first race, the team has scored three top five finishes, with season high 4^th place finishes at Watkins Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and a strong 5^th at Road America.

Jenson Button, No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963: “I’m very excited to announce that I will be racing at Petit Le Mans this year with 2021 Sebring winners JDC-Miller MotorSports. Whilst I’m having a lot of fun cutting my teeth in the NASCAR Cup series this year, a prototype with high downforce is definitely more in my comfort zone! That said, the Porsche 963, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and Road Atlanta are all brand new to me so I can’t wait to tackle all three with my teammates for the weekend. I partnered with Rocky at Le Mans this year and he will be invaluable as he’s fantastic at car/team development. He is also incredibly quick which always helps! I’ll also have the pleasure of working with rookie Tijmen van der Helm who seems to really be gaining speed and confidence through the season so we should have a lot of fun.”

John Church, Managing Partner, JDC-Miller MotorSports: “JDC-Miller MotorSports is honored to confirm that Jenson will be joining us for the final race of the season in our Porsche 963 at Road Atlanta. The team had hoped to have him join Rocky and Tijmen at Watkins Glen but unfortunately that did not work out as the very busy Jenson had some TV commitments. His accomplishments speak for themselves. He and Rocky bonded through the extensive development of the Garage 56 Camaro.  We are confident he will quickly integrate with the team and get up to speed with the 963.”

Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO Porsche Motorsport North America: “Having Jenson join JDC-Miller MotorSports is a testimony to the program John Church, John Miller and the entire team has assembled. It also speaks to the high level of competition and interest in the IMSA GTP class. Rocky and Tijmen have proven how successful a privateer can be with the Porsche 963. The addition of Jenson should bring even greater success.”

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Button joins JDC-Miller for Petit LeMans debut in 2023 finale ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Lamborghini Iron Lynx has successfully completed the first on-track running of its SC63 prototype, with which it will contest next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, in a two-day test at Imola.

Following an initial shakedown at Vallelunga at the start of the month, attention quickly shifted to Imola where Lamborghini Squadra Corse engineers began calibration work on the LMDh machine alongside Lamborghini’s factory supported IMSA and WEC team, Iron Lynx.

Official factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli and Daniil Kvyat each drove during the test, totalling 1500km, and focused on a number of development areas of the SC63, ahead of two further European tests which take place at Paul Ricard and Spa-Francorchamps throughout the rest of August.

The three drivers worked on a variety of calibrations across the two days, most notably on the engine which is the first bespoke racing engine developed in-house by Lamborghini Squadra Corse. Additional gearshift calibration was carried out on the Xtrac gearbox which, although standard to all LMDh cars, can be customised to the brand’s requirements of gear ratios and mechanical differential slip. The team also worked on calibrations of the speed limiter and traction control as well as conducting a brake migration, cooling data acquisition and an extensive aerodynamic test.

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Lamborghini completes first test of SC63 prototype at Imola ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse today launches its first hybrid endurance racing prototype, the SC63, at Goodwood Festival of Speed. The SC63, which will begin testing within weeks, is set to compete in the Hypercar class of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Endurance Cup, comprising classic races such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Lamborghini has partnered with Italian team Iron Lynx to run the car in international competition and has signed world-class drivers from the world of Formula 1 and endurance racing.

The LMDh project represents a new concept of racing and fits the Direzione Cor Tauri strategy presented in 2021: a roadmap for electrification leading the company to hybridize the entire model range by the end of 2024 enhancing driving emotions and performances at the same time. Thanks to the SC63 this approach has been applied also to the motorsport programme representing a new pillar of the Lamborghini Manifesto: Driving Humans Beyond.

“The SC63 is the most advanced racing car ever produced by Lamborghini and it follows our roadmap ‘Direzione Cor Tauri’ laid out by the brand for the electrification of our product range,” says Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO. “The opportunity to compete in some of the biggest endurance races in the world with a hybrid prototype fits with our vision for the future of high-performance mobility, as demonstrated for road legal cars with the launch of the Revuelto. The SC63 LMDh is the step into the highest echelons and into the future of motorsports for our Squadra Corse.”

The SC63 features an all-new 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 engine that has been developed by Lamborghini engineers specifically for the racing program. The engine is a ‘cold V’ configuration, meaning that the turbos are mounted outside the vee angle of the engine which makes them easier to cool and to service. Furthermore, the ‘cold V’ solution lowers the mass and optimizes the car’s centre of gravity. This solution, combined with a specifically developed aero balance and attitude, has been identified as the most effective to achieve the best tyre grip, and perfect balance, drivability and consistent speed both over a single lap but also across long distance races.

Power from the engine and the hybrid system, which is standard across the LMDh-category cars, is limited by regulation to 500kW (680 CV). The Power Unit is managed by a Bosch electronic control unit. The LMDh rule set specifies a standard gearbox, battery and motor generator unit (MGU), which helps to contain the development costs for the prototype. Under the skin, Lamborghini engineers have been able to exert their influence over all aspects of the car. Although the gearbox is standard across all LMDh cars, there is still freedom to customise it to a brand’s requirements including the selection of the gear ratios and the slip of the mechanical differential.

“Motorsport is, to us, also a valuable and demanding proving ground for our technology,” states Rouven Mohr, Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer “Our LMDh car, the Lamborghini SC63, is an exciting challenge from both a technical and a human standpoint. The development of our internal combustion engine, aerodynamically efficient bodywork and the overall technical package is a process that has pushed us to constantly raise our own standards. Now, it is time to put the wheels in motion, literally, on track in order to be ready and competitive for the 2024 season. As we develop our LMDh car, we are also mindful of the technology transfer opportunities. We will take our learning experiences from motorsport and apply them where possible to our future production cars.”

Lamborghini has selected renowned experts Ligier as its partner to develop and build the monocoque. As the first manufacturer to select Ligier on an LMDh project, there was freedom for Lamborghini to specify its requirements, including the development of the push rod front suspension design, overall weight distribution and ease of service for critical parts of the car. The bellhousing, which fills the gap between the rear of the engine and the front of the gearbox, positively affects torsional stiffness, and has been designed to house the electric engine.

Another key aspect of development is the braking system, which must deliver the highest level of performance and reliability in all conditions. Endurance racing places a lot of stress on the brakes and the first target has been to find a compromise between weight and durability, effective cooling, and also a system that is able to accommodate different styles of driving. The bodywork has been designed by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design department, in conjunction with the race design team. It features very clear brand styling cues throughout the car, including the iconic y-shaped lights at the front and rear.

“From the beginning, my personal briefing to the design-team was that the car needs to be highly functional, but we wanted to create a car that is immediately recognizable as Lamborghini,” says Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s Head of Design at Centro Stile. “The main recognition of the front and rear of the SC63 is driven by the y-shaped signature light. The size of the cabin and the main character of the car is driven by the sporting rules, but we have also implemented our own brand styling cues throughout the car. Integrated into the side panel of the body you can see a NACA duct that was inspired by the air intake of the Countach. When you look at the rear wheel arch, we gave the impression of acceleration towards the front, and this relates to the wheel arch design language of Lamborghini that can also been seen on the Revuelto.”

The cars will be dressed in a familiar livery, in keeping with the branding seen on the Huracán GT3 challenger. The SC63s will run in Verde Mantis green, with a black Nero Noctis strip over the cabin, front hood, carbon diffuser, rear fin and wing. The cars will also feature green, white and red Italian Tricolore colours, and will carry the branding of long-time partner of Lamborghini, Swiss watch manufacturer Roger Dubuis. The cooling layout for the car has decided much of the engineering and design. For example, air intakes into the sidepods behind the cockpit underwent several iterations before a final design was settled upon. The team has incorporated eight different radiators including two intercoolers, one gearbox radiator, one condenser for the air conditioning, one radiator for the Energy Recovery System (ERS), one for the Energy Storage System (ESS) and two water radiators.

One of the limitations of the regulation is that there is only one body kit configuration allowed, and changes that teams are allowed to make to that kit race-to-race are limited. The design team therefore has to take into account the worst-case scenario, such as high ambient temperatures, and manage the thermal efficiency of the car at both IMSA and WEC circuits. The SC63 has been designed and developed to offer the widest ‘operating window’ possible, to optimize performance while also being able to look after its tires even on the most aggressive track surfaces. Ahead track testing, intense development work has been carried out in the virtual world using a Driver in the Loop (DiL) simulator.

Further help has come from the Lamborghini factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli, together with new drivers Daniil Kvyat and Romain Grosjean. The latter two have recent race experience of hybrids in Formula 1 and have been able to help the engineers to tune the LMDh system, in particular design the steering wheel controls to allow the driver to control the necessary functions of the hybrid system.

“This year marks not only the 60^th anniversary of our brand, but also the tenth anniversary of Squadra Corse, Lamborghini’s motorsport division,” says Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport. “Over the last decade we have achieved great results. Starting from scratch we have won some of the most prestigious endurance races in the GT category for our production-based racing cars. These include three class wins at the 24 hours of Daytona, and two wins in a row at the Sebring 12 hours. Now we are ready for what is our biggest step into the future of motorsport, measuring ourselves against the best manufacturers in the world.”

Starting in 2024, one car will compete in the full FIA World Endurance Championship. The second car will race in the North American Endurance Championship races of the IMSA series. The Iron Lynx team, presented as a partner at the 2022 Lamborghini Grand Finals, will run the cars in both series, and the driving line up will include Bortolotti, Caldarelli, Grosjean and Kvyat. Other drivers will be confirmed later in 2023.

Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, Andrea Piccini, said: “Being involved in such an ambitious project is a once in a lifetime experience. We are honoured and extremely excited to be part of it and to start a new chapter for Iron Lynx with Lamborghini. It’s been amazing to see everything finally come together for the reveal of the SC63. Everyone at Iron Lynx is eager for testing to get underway. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges we’ve ever faced as a team, and we are now looking forward to seeing the SC63 on track.”

The moment you have all been waiting for. Meet the all-new @LamborghiniSC SC63 ⭐️

The long-anticipated SC63 Lamborghini LMDh has finally been unveiled today at @fosgoodwood. The Lamborghini Iron Lynx Team is set to compete in @FIAWEC and @IMSA Championships in 2024. So much… pic.twitter.com/yQjPNyyxiO

— Iron Lynx (@IronLynx_) July 13, 2023

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Lamborghini unveils SC63 car for WEC, IMSA championships ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

NASCAR today announced a prestigious driver lineup to pilot its Garage 56 entry in the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 100th anniversary of the legendary race. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller, and 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button will share the driver’s seat of the Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which is anticipated to be approved for entry by l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) in the coming weeks.

The Garage 56 project is a partnership between NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear – the winningest team, manufacturer and tire in the sport’s 75-year history. “Since the beginning of the Garage 56 project, it has been our goal to partner with the top racers in the world to represent us in Le Mans,” said Jim France, NASCAR chairman and CEO.

“The lineup of Jimmie, ‘Rocky’ and Jenson is everything we could have dreamed of – three elite drivers who have won at the highest levels of motorsports worldwide. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, we are honored to have these world-class champions help bring the sights and sounds of a NASCAR race car to fans in Le Mans, and across the world.”

France was honored last year with the 2022 Spirit of Le Mans Award in recognition of his longtime impact in motorsports and his work securing a historic convergence agreement between IMSA and the ACO. The first chicane at Le Mans’ Mulsanne Straight is now called the “Daytona Chicane” and the chicane at Daytona International Speedway – once referred to as “The Bus Stop” – is now called the “Le Mans Chicane.”

Johnson won a record-tying seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 83 races for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet in his illustrious career. He recently became part owner of NASCAR Cup Series team LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and will race in next month’s Daytona 500. Johnson helped test the Garage 56 car at Sebring in December.

“I’m super thrilled – it’s been at the top of my bucket list to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans someday,” Johnson said. “To have this opportunity come – and to partner with everybody and this driver lineup – is truly an incredible opportunity and one that I am thankful to be a part of.”

Rockenfeller, whose sports car accolades include winning the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans GT Class, the 2010 ROLEX 24 at Daytona and the 2013 German DTM championship, has served as the lead test driver for the Garage 56 project.  He has driven the car at every on-track test and spent countless hours behind the wheel in the simulator.

“It has been a great journey so far with the whole team and project,” Rockenfeller said. “To be involved as a driver from day one until now was already a great honor, and to now have Jimmie and Jenson alongside me as teammates in Le Mans is unbelievable.”

Button had one of the most prolific careers in F1 history finishing with 15 wins and 50 podiums on top of his 2009 World Championship and is widely considered one of the top British drivers of all time.

“As a lifelong racing fan, I have always dreamed of racing certain cars, with and against certain drivers and competing in certain events,” Button said. “In June, a number of those dreams will come true in one event when I get to bring NASCAR to the world stage alongside my pals Jimmie and ‘Rocky’ for the 100th anniversary of the most prestigious race in the world. I’m really looking forward to sharing this journey with NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, and current and future NASCAR fans from around the world.”

All three drivers will participate in next week’s two-day test at Daytona International Speedway. Jordan Taylor, who currently competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing, will serve as the backup driver and help coach the drivers. Taylor won the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro Class and has finished on the podium four times. He is a four-time IMSA champion.

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Button to partner Johnson, Rockenfeller for Le Mans 24H entry ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Having joined Haas in 2019, Fittipaldi will continue with the team as its official test and reserve driver for another year in 2023 which will be his fifth year together. In the four years till now, the Brazilian has managed to make his F1 debut with them.

He filled in for injured Romain Grosjean while he has also undertaken several test runs. For 2023, Fittipaldi will be trackside in support while racing in the LMP2 class for full-time in WEC and in selected events in the American IMSA series.

It is to be seen if he has any F1 test run. “I’m very happy to be continuing with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, a team that I consider family,” said Fittipaldi. “It will be my fifth season in Formula 1 as the Official Reserve & Test Driver for Haas and I’m super excited to be going into 2023 coming off the back of a very competitive season.

“Last year I did two free practice sessions, tested at the beginning of the year and at the end of season test so we’ve already been able to try some stuff for the new season. I’m excited to see the new car and new developments, and I hope that we’re able to make an even bigger step forward with the VF-23,” summed up Fittipaldi.

Team boss Guenther Steiner added: “I’ve said before that continuity and consistency is key to success in Formula 1 and Pietro remaining with the team for 2023 makes me believe that we have strong foundations. In Formula 1, you need to be able to react within the smallest of margins to any scenario, and Pietro is a proven performer and is ready to step in at any time to get behind the wheel and drive, as he did twice in 2020.

“Last season he took part in pre-season testing, two free-practice sessions and post-season testing in the VF-22 and surprisingly unlike many drivers on the grid, he’s said this car suits his aggressive style, which is music to my ears when track time is so limited. He’s an asset to our team so I look forward to seeing his continuation with us this season.”

Here’s Haas on Kevin Magnussen’s minor surgery

Here’s Guenther Steiner on his book

Here’s Haas with new logo

Here’s Kevin Magnussen on 2022 slow development

Here’s Guenther Steiner on Kevin Magnussen

L'entrada Fittipaldi continues as Haas’ reserve for his fifth year in F1 ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

While it was not unknown about Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Shwartzman taking up the reserve role for the 2023 F1 season, Ferrari officially confirmed the news on Thursday where at least one of them will be present at every grand prix this year.

Giovinazzi continues in the role while dovetailing his year racing in the WEC series in the Hypercar class. Shwartzman, meanwhile, gets a promotion to be a full-time reserve F1 driver as he is no longer part of the Ferrari Driver Academy even.

In addition to that, the Russian will compete in the GT World Challenge Europe driving the new Ferrari 296 GT3 car for AF Corse alongside Alessio Rovera and Nicklas Nielsen. Continuing in as a development driver will be Davide Rigon and Antonio Fuoco.

The duo have been on simulator duty for few F1 seasons now which they will continue doing alongside their respective racing programmes. In fact, the two will also be compete in the GT World Challenge Europe in the same team alongside Daniel Serra.

“Honoured to step up as Scuderia Ferrari F1 Reserve Driver and continue my journey with the Ferrari family,” said Shwartzman. “I look forward to working hard, getting back behind the wheel of the F1 car and racing in the GT World Challenge with Ferrari Competizioni GT.”

Here’s list of its junior drivers

Here’s Carlos Sainz on Frederic Vasseur

Here’s Ferrari counting on Carlos Sainz

Here’s Mattia Binotto on Sebastian Vettel

Here’s Carlos Sainz having clear target for 2023

Here’s Sebastian Vettel on time with Charles Leclerc

L'entrada Ferrari shares pool of reserve and development drivers for F1 2023 ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Having compete in the Gulf 24 Hours in December, Magnussen was gearing up for racing in Daytona 24 Hours later this month with MDK Motorsport alongside father Jan, Mark Kvamme and Trenton Estep. They are to drive a Porsche 911 GT3 in the GT category.

But his participation is in doubt after Magnussen revealed of a minor surgery requirement on his left hand. While speaking to mynewsdesk.com, the Dane noted about a harmless surgery and the subsequent rest he is to take which will likely force him to miss the race.

“I had a sore wrist so I went to the doctor to have it looked at and they found a cyst that needs to be removed now so I can be ready for the F1 season,” said Magnussen. “It’s a harmless procedure, but I probably need to rest for a couple of weeks afterwards. I need to wait and see what the doctor says, but it’s unlikely that I can race at Daytona.”

His priority will be the F1 season and so he is ready to miss the Daytona race to be ready for the 2023 season. In the meantime, Haas has been made aware of the surgery and the American outfit is certain that he will be fully fit for testing and the season ahead.

“Kevin Magnussen has kept MoneyGram Haas F1 Team fully briefed on his requirement for minor hand surgery,” said a short statement from the team. “The team is looking forward to Kevin being at full strength for his pre-season testing commitments starting next month.”

Here’s Guenther Steiner on his book

Here’s Haas with new logo

Here’s Kevin Magnussen on 2022 slow development

Here’s Guenther Steiner on Kevin Magnussen

Here’s Guenther Steiner on picking Nico Hulkenberg

L'entrada Haas aware of minor hand surgery requirement for Magnussen ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse is delighted to announce the arrival of Romain Grosjean as an official Lamborghini Factory Driver from 2023. The experienced former Formula 1 driver will also be a key cog in the development of the Lamborghini LMDh project, which will debut in 2024.

The Swiss French driver, who has spent the last two seasons racing in the IndyCar Series, will make his factory debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona aboard a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, run by Iron Lynx, alongside fellow Lamborghini Factory Drivers Andrea Caldarelli and Mirko Bortolotti. Grosjean will also contest further endurance events throughout the 2023 season, with a full programme to be announced in due course.

In addition to his GT3 programme next year, Grosjean will also join Caldarelli and Bortolotti as a test driver for Lamborghini Iron Lynx’s LMDh car, with which it will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in 2024.

Born in Geneva but competing under a French licence, Grosjean spent nine seasons in Formula One and recorded 10 podiums. He raced for Renault, Lotus and Haas before switching to the IndyCar Series in the US in 2021.

A versatile driver, Grosjean has a number of junior single seater titles to his name over the years, winning the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2007, AutoGP in 2010 and the GP2 Series in 2011. He has equally raced in GTs and took a race win on his FIA GT1 World Championship debut in Abu Dhabi in 2010 as well as contesting the Spa 24 Hours the same year.

Iron Lynx, which is owned by the Swiss company DC Racing Solutions Ltd, will be the partner Lamborghini team in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. Iron Lynx and Lamborghini will also work in close collaboration with PREMA Engineering, which will utilize its 30-year championship-winning expertise.

Speaking about the latest step in his career, Grosjean said: “First of all, it’s an honour to be joining Lamborghini, it’s such an iconic brand for everyone who loves cars, including myself and my kids. On top of that, I am very excited about two things: the first is starting in Daytona with the GT3 which has been very successful in Daytona and a really good team like Iron Lynx and team-mates around me, so that is going to be a nice discovery for myself.

“And then, later in the year developing the new LMDh which is a beautiful car – I’m lucky to have seen it – and an incredible project in endurance. It’s becoming a very exciting category with all the constructors coming. With Lamborghini being such a successful brand, I hope we can do well in the future.”

Lamborghini Head of Motorsport Giorgio Sanna added: “We are very proud to welcome Romain Grosjean to the Lamborghini family, for this new and exciting period in the history of Squadra Corse. He’s a driver with a huge amount of experience in various categories over the years and will be able to add a great deal of value to both our GT3 programme but more importantly, the development of our LMDh car as well. I am looking forward to seeing Romain out on track in Daytona which will hopefully be the start of a very successful partnership going forward.”

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Grosjean joins Lamborghini Iron Lynx in WEC/IMSA championships ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Iron Lynx have announced that they will join forces as both entities embark on a dual assault as Lamborghini Iron Lynx in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2024. Unveiled during the Lamborghini Finals at Portimão, the partnership will begin from 2023, with Iron Lynx becoming a factory supported team in GT3 competition in Europe and the United States.

Headed up by DC Racing Solutions Ltd. and led by Deborah Mayer, Iron Lynx will be the official Lamborghini team in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. Iron Lynx and Lamborghini will also work in close collaboration with PREMA Engineering, which will utilize its 30-year championship-winning expertise.

The partnership was officially announced in Portimao by Lamborghini Chairman and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann and Lamborghini Head of Motorsport, Giorgio Sanna. Lamborghini and Iron Lynx will collaborate on the new LMDh prototype which will feature hybrid technology powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine.

Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO, commented: “Ever since we announced our intention to race in the LMDh racing series, it was clear to us that Iron Lynx was the right partner to take such an important step with. I am delighted to welcome the team to the Lamborghini family; over the years, Iron Lynx has proven to be a fast, strong and successfully entity, just like the Lamborghini motorsport department.”

The collaboration will begin in 2023, with Iron Lynx fielding the new green #63 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in the 24 Hours of Daytona before a full season of IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship campaign in the Endurance Cup. In Europe, the team will take part in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.

Additionally, Iron Lynx will operate a magenta liveried #83 Huracán GT3 EVO2 through its all-female Iron Dames outfit, while a third car (using the #19) will also be run in 2023. “I am extremely proud of the partnership with Iron Lynx,” says Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini Head of Motorsport. “It is a team as young as Lamborghini Squadra Corse, which like us, has grown exponentially over the years and has become a protagonist in GT racing around the world after making its debut with us in Super Trofeo in 2018.

“Now, we find ourselves together again and will strive to be stronger and more mature and set great goals. From GT programmes to LMDh, we have combined the excellence of three Italian organisations, while boasting a technical partnership with PREMA Engineering through Iron Lynx, with whom it is our duty to achieve great results.”

Iron Lynx will also be present in the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe championship, following the team’s return to the one-make category reserved for Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 cars in Portimão. The team ran one car in the final round of the European championship for Doriane Pin and Michelle Gatting.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Deborah Mayer, Chairwoman of DC Racing Solutions Ltd., – the Swiss-based motorsport company which owns Iron Lynx, Iron Dames and PREMA – said: “I am really pleased that we can share the news about the partnership between Iron Lynx and Lamborghini, which marks a significant milestone for our group. Our championship-winning racing pedigree, combined with the successful motorsport heritage of Lamborghini, will create the perfect mix to deliver a highly competitive performance on track. I am looking forward to this next chapter.”

Andrea Piccini, Team Principal of Iron Lynx, added: “We are very happy to start this new chapter together with Lamborghini for Iron Lynx and the Iron Dames. Since its debut in 2018 in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the team has grown rapidly and has become increasingly competitive, putting together some extraordinary season. After a lot of work and preparation, we cannot wait to hit the track with Lamborghini and achieve more success.”

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Lamborghini partners with Iron Lynx for WEC, IMSA championships ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

50 years on: return to the elite class of the World Endurance Championship

Imola, 29th October 2022 – 499P is the name of the new Le Mans Hypercar with which Ferrari will tackle the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship in the elite class from 2023, a name evoking the history of the Prancing Horse manufacturer. In the past, prototypes were identified by the letter ‘P’, frequently preceded by the number of the engine’s unitary displacement. The 499P is no exception. The car is an outcome of a vision proudly rooted in the past, that gave rise to the legend of today, enabling the company to achieve 22 world titles and 9 overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Nevertheless, it has its sights set firmly on the future, both in terms of the technical and design content that the prototype features. The livery, with which the 499P will debut at the forthcoming 1000 Miles of Sebring, includes a revived version of the renowned 312 P colour scheme from the 1970s, which also visually underscores the historical connections interrupted 50 years ago, but that have remained ever present in the brand’s essence. For this reason, one of the Maranello-entered endurance cars will be adorned with the number 50, while the other will bear the number 51, one of the most successful ever. The official line-up of who will race the 499P will be the subject of future communications.

Le Mans Hypercar: winning DNA

The new FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) technical regulations outlined for the Hypercar class have led Ferrari to embark on an innovation and development path to produce a Le Mans Hypercar (LMH), faithful to tradition, that sees the track as the ideal terrain for developing cutting-edge technological solutions to be integrated onto its road cars. The 499P is a manifesto to Ferrari’s commitment to endurance racing.

The four-wheel drive prototype complies with the technical regulations and requirements of the hybrid-engined Le Mans Hypercar class, delivering a maximum power of 500 kW to the wheels and with a minimum weight of no less than 1,030 kilos. In defining the 499P, the company has drawn on the vast resources of technical, professional and human excellence that epitomise the Maranello marque, entrusting the management to Attività Sportive GT, under the direction of Antonello Coletta and the technical supervision of Ferdinando Cannizzo, head of the department in charge of engineering and development of Sports and GT racing cars.

New hybrid power

The 499P’s hybrid powertrain combines a mid-rear power unit with an electric motor powering the front axle. The internal combustion engine (ICE) has a maximum regulation-limited output to the wheels of 500 kW (680 cv) and is derived from the road-going twin-turbo V6 family. The ICE, which shares the architecture of the engine fitted to the 296 GT3, has undergone a thorough overhaul by Ferrari’s engineers, aimed both at developing ad hoc solutions for the prototype and lightening the overall weight. Among the specific characteristics of the 499P’s V6 is the fact that the engine is load-bearing and therefore performs a valuable structural function, compared to the versions fitted to competition GT cars, where the engine is mounted onto the car’s rear sub-chassis.

The second ‘soul’ of the hybrid powertrain is the ERS – Energy Recovery System – with a maximum power output of 200 kW (272 cv). The electric motor is equipped with a differential and is driven by a battery that is recharged during deceleration and braking, requiring no external power source. The battery pack, with a nominal voltage of 900v, benefits from experience honed in Formula 1, although it was purpose-built for the project. The 499P’s overall maximum power output is 500 kW (680 cv) and the powertrain is coupled to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.

Wind designed

The design of the new Ferrari 499P was refined with the support of the Ferrari Styling Centre under the direction of Flavio Manzoni. The car’s technical and aerodynamic  features have been enhanced by means of simple, sinuous shapes: – an explicit expression of Ferrari’s DNA. The balance between tense lines and flowing surfaces, expressed in a futuristic, pure and iconic language, defines a clear yet essential architecture. The bodywork of the prototype is sculpted from a flat surface, from which the side pods and wheelarches develop harmoniously.

Aerodynamic flows pass through the side pods over the recesses between the main ridges surrounding the cockpit, cooling the radiators concealed beneath the bodywork. On the Ferrari 499P, the surface area of the wheel arches, a Ferrari hallmark, are characterised by large louvres, aimed at reducing the pressure inside the wheel housings. Together with the headlight clusters, they imbue the nose with a sense of character and expressiveness, with subtle references to the styling traits first introduced on the Ferrari Daytona SP3.

The rear is the ultimate expression of how to blend technology, aerodynamics and design. A subtle carbon-fibre skin covers the various functions, leaving the wheels and suspension completely visible. The tail is characterised by a double horizontal wing; the main wing and upper flaps have been meticulously designed to guarantee the necessary downforce and achieve maximum performance.

The lower wing also features a ‘light bar’ that enriches the rear design with a decisive yet minimalist touch. Finally, in a dominant position above the car is a multiple air intake that feeds the V6 engine intake and supplies cooling air to the battery and gearbox.

Innovative technologies

Built on an all-new  carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, the Ferrari 499P features solutions that represent the cutting edge of motor sport technology. The geometry of the double wishbone, push-rod-type suspension results in outstanding qualities of damping stiffness, the benefits of which are evident at both maximum velocity as well as in cornering. The electronics systems are developed from and further innovate upon the experience honed in the world of GT racing.

No less sophisticated is the braking system, which integrates a brake-by-wire system necessary to allow the recovery of kinetic energy by the front electric axle under braking. The system has been developed to combine precision and speed of response with reliability and durability, complementary aspects that are one of the keys to success in endurance racing. The electric front axle uses energy recovered while braking, storing it in the high-voltage battery before transmitting torque to the front wheels when a certain speed is attained, thus helping boost the performance on the tracks scheduled to host the 2023 calendar.

Partnership with AF Corse

The Ferrari 499P will be managed on track by Maranello technicians and engineers with the collaboration of AF Corse. The partnership continues the winning streak which began in the 2006 FIA GT with the F430 GT2 that secured Team, Driver and Constructor titles in its debut season. The vast majority of GT successes in recent years have been the result of the partnership between Ferrari and AF Corse, including all those achieved in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) since its inception in 2012.

Quotes

John Elkann, Ferrari Executive Chairman: “The 499 P sees us return to compete for outright victory in the WEC series. When we decided to commit to this project, we embarked on a path of innovation and development, faithful to our tradition that sees the track as the ideal terrain to push the boundaries of cutting-edge technological solutions, solutions that in time will be transferred to our road cars. We enter this challenge with humility, but conscious of a history that has taken us to over 20 world endurance titles and 9 overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”.

Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Attività Sportive GT: “The 499P is a dream come true. Today is an important moment for all the people who have worked so hard on this project over the past two years. We wanted to pay homage to our history, with many references, both large and small, to a past made up of successes and titles. We do so however, looking ahead, creating a manifesto of our commitment to the world endurance championship. The 499P is a prototype that is decidedly Ferrari, in the fullest sense of the term, and it gives us an enormous thrill to finally show it to our clients and to the many enthusiasts of the marque”.

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Ferrari GT Track Car Development: “For the whole team and myself, this is a really thrilling moment. We know that we have a huge responsibility. We have designed and engineered a car that is brand new and particularly complex in every aspect. This unprecedented challenge motivated everyone into all-encompassing, all-sharing collaboration involving every department of our company and our technical partners. Starting from a blank sheet of paper was a source of unique and continuous motivation in order to find effective solutions to guarantee the 499P’s performance and reliability.

“From the very first shakedown to the first race, we have planned a very intense development programme, both on the test bench and on the track, which has given us some interesting feedback. The work of synthesis that awaits us over the coming weeks, and which will see us involved in further track testing, is the most important for fine-tuning and the final integration of all the systems. We still have a lot of kilometres to go, but the team is aware of the importance of the project and will continue to show commitment, passion, maturity and great professionalism.”

https://twitter.com/FerrariHypercar/status/1586452110136250373?s=20&t=6M3l8BKbembr_LD1vWhq9A

https://twitter.com/FIAWEC/status/1586450460520509440?s=20&t=6M3l8BKbembr_LD1vWhq9A

https://twitter.com/FerrariHypercar/status/1586468059803361282?s=20&t=6M3l8BKbembr_LD1vWhq9A

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Ferrari unveils Hypercar in new livery ahead of WEC lead class run ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The Porsche Penske Motorsport team sends the new Porsche 963 to hunt for overall victories in the world’s greatest endurance races. From 2023, two of the hybrid LMDh-spec prototypes will be fielded in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The racing vehicle that was unveiled today (Friday 24 June) at Goodwood in England flies the typical Porsche motor racing colours: white, red and black.

In the cockpits of the 500 kW (680 PS) racers, experienced and championship winning prototype drivers are paired with season specialists from Porsche’s works driver squad. Porsche Penske Motorsport prepares for these missions at two locations: The branch in Mannheim (Germany) is responsible for the FIA World Endurance Championship, with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship vehicles prepared in Mooresville, North Carolina, USA.

“After 7,889 test kilometres during the first half of 2022, we’re on a very good path but there is still work to be done before the start of next season,” outlines Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Motorsport. “Our new Porsche 963 should continue the legacy of legendary models such as the 917, 935, 956, 962 and the 919. I’m positive that we’ll be well-positioned when it comes to technology and we’ve also created the relevant team structures to set us up for wins in the thrilling competition between many manufacturers and different concepts.”

The official race debut of the Porsche 963 is planned to take place in January 2023 at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the USA. In the meantime, the FIA WEC has opened the door for testing as part of the upcoming world championship races this year. Porsche Penske Motorsport is aiming for a non-competitive dress rehearsal at the final round of the season in Bahrain this November.

“Over the past few months, our people at Porsche Motorsport and Team Penske have grown into an efficient and committed squad – the Porsche Penske Motorsport Team,” acclaims Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh. “We’ll have powerful driver crews in the four factory cars. The collaboration with our long-standing tyre partner Michelin and the chassis manufacturer Multimatic works flawlessly. The Porsche 963 should be homologated this autumn. Until then, we want to make further progress with test drives and gain additional insights. We can hardly wait for our first outing.”

The drivers selected for the races in the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship include the experienced works drivers Kévin Estre (France), Michael Christensen (Denmark), André Lotterer (Germany), Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium), Matt Campbell (Australia), Mathieu Jaminet (France) as well as the accomplished sportscar drivers Dane Cameron (USA) and Felipe Nasr (Brazil). In the initial development phase, Frédéric Makowiecki played a key role: during the rollout at Weissach in January, the Frenchman drove the first metres in the Porsche 963 and also turned the first laps in the simulator.Other driver announcements, including those for the endurance races at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans), will be made at a later date.

Porsche Penske Motorsport prepares a total of four 963 for the world’s most important sports car races at its bases in Mooresville (North Carolina) and Mannheim (Germany). The WEC facility in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg is a former Porsche Centre of Penske Automotive, built to state-of-the-art standards. The exchange of data between the three high-tech centres of Porsche Penske Motorsport occurs almost in real-time. The WEC team will move into the Mannheim premises this autumn.

Jonathan Diuguid is the Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport: “Expectations are extremely high,” acknowledges the American. “Not only from the public but also from Porsche and Team Penske, who have written great motorsport chapters together in the past.” Diuguid and Travis Law (Competition Director) will guide the global Porsche Penske Motorsport Team, with direct oversight and management of both the FIA WEC and IMSA programs. Daily operations of the FIA WEC team will be led by Bernhard Demmer (General Manager) and Francis Schammo (Team Manager. Joel Svensson (Team Manager) will be responsible for these roles in the IMSA championship in North America.

In compliance with the LMDh regulations, the Porsche 963 is based on an LMP2-category chassis. This newly developed vehicle chassis is supplied by the Canadian high-tech company Multimatic. Bosch, Williams Advanced Engineering and Xtrac contribute the standard hybrid components. At the heart of the powertrain lies a 4.6-litre V8 Biturbo. The engine is based on the high-performance 918 Spyder hybrid sports car. Its DNA goes back to the RS Spyder racing car, with which Porsche and Team Penske notched up many victories between 2005 and 2008. The design of the new Porsche 963 hails from the victorious 956 and 962 classics from the 1980s. A continuous strip of lighting at the rear echoes the distinctive feature of the latest 992-generation 911. The white-red-black vehicle design is a salute to Porsche’s successful racing cars. And another tradition lives on: The new Porsche 963 will be available to customers from the first year of competition. The first Porsche customer teams will already communicate their program in the next few days.

For its envisaged campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSA) – the world’s two most long-distance racing series including the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Daytona 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Sebring classics – Porsche Penske Motorsport joins forces with strong and proven partners. The tyre manufacturer Michelin continues its close alliance, as does ExxonMobil with its Mobil1 brand.

In addition to the software specialist Ansys, which supports the global team with cutting-edge simulation solutions as the official technology partner, the Penske Corporation, which will highlight a number of subsidiaries and brands, is also on board as an official partner. With its expertise in development and engineering, Multimatic joins the project as a technology partner. The luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer also joins the global team as the official timing partner of the Porsche Penske Motorsport team. The fashion brand Hugo Boss as the team’s clothing partner and outfitter as well as the sports lifestyle company Puma as the technical partner for fireproof race clothing complete the portfolio of top-level partnerships of Porsche Penske Motorsport.

The excitement is building. #PorschePenskeMotorsport pic.twitter.com/9s9oBkmQ6a

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 25, 2022

[Note: The story is as per press release]

L'entrada Penske reveals WEC/IMSA’s Porsche 963 car along with driver line-up ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse is developing its first LMDh prototype, which will debut in 2024 in the FIA World Endurance Championship (Hypercar class) and the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship (GTP class). Since 2015, Lamborghini has been competing at the pinnacle of GT racing, celebrating more than 40 titles and some unique achievements: the triple GTD class win at the legendary 24 Hours at Daytona between 2018 and 2020 was the first time a manufacturer won three times in a row.

Now, the company’s commitment to the LMDh class is the step into the top level of sports car racing, allowing Lamborghini to compete for overall victories at the world’s most prestigious endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.

“This step up into the highest echelon of sports car racing marks an important milestone for our company,” stated Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO. “We will be measuring ourselves against the very best, on the most demanding proving grounds. On one hand, this will give our successful motorsports program even more visibility, but it will also allow us to test future technologies: our LMDh prototypes will become our most sophisticated open laboratory on four wheels.”

In keeping with the company’s racing credentials and heritage in innovation, Squadra Corse is making the step into a motorsport landscape driven by hybrid propulsion. LMDh is, therefore, the perfect fit with Lamborghini’s transition to hybrid technologies: by the end of 2024, the entire Lamborghini range will be hybridized.

LMDh stands for Le Mans Daytona hybrid and gives the name to the new sports prototype race car category debuting in 2023, giving the possibility to compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the highest class. For Lamborghini, the LMDh program will run in addition to Squadra Corse’s GT platform, consisting of Super Trofeo and GT3, which remains the core of its customer motorsport operation.

Speaking about the entry into LMDh, Lamborghini Head of Motorsport Giorgio Sanna commented: “I am absolutely delighted that Lamborghini will be taking the next step in our motorsport journey, the step into LMDh and the top level of sports car racing. LMDh will play a special role in Lamborghini’s Motorsports strategy, giving us the unique opportunity to expand our customer racing activities to new platforms and enforce our long-term partnership with customer teams and drivers.”

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest commented: “To be joined by such a prestigious make as Lamborghini is fantastic for endurance racing. Hypercar, the discipline’s new top tier, has attracted carmakers from across the globe. We are soon to celebrate the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and another golden age of endurance is just beginning. I for one am ready to enjoy it to the fullest.”

IMSA President John Doonan stated: “IMSA has enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Lamborghini dating back to the introduction of Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America a decade ago and continuing into a successful GTD program. We are proud that Lamborghini is confirming plans to grow its IMSA footprint even further in 2024 into GTP and the top category of prototype sports car racing. Having another manufacturer of this caliber make the commitment to race in GTP reinforces the LMDh technical platform that we developed alongside our partners at the ACO, and we cannot wait to see these new Lamborghini prototypes debut in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.”

Frédéric Lequien, FIA WEC CEO, commented: “We are honoured that Lamborghini will join the Hypercar class of FIA WEC from 2024. Lamborghini is an iconic brand but it has never competed in the premier class of endurance racing before. They will join the FIA WEC at a very exciting time in its history. For the 2024 season there will be an exceptional line-up of marques competing in our premier class. The competition will be fierce but we have no doubt that Lamborghini will be in the thick of the fight. Lamborghini has been highly successful in other classes of endurance racing so we cannot wait to see them compete for overall victories at our iconic events.”

[Note: The above is as per press release with no edits made]

L'entrada Lamborghini commits to LMDh programme for ’24 season in WEC & IMSA ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Magnussen was in a “happy place” after leaving Formula 1 at the end of 2020, but admits he didn’t think about the “obstacles” to returning to F1 until after agreeing to return to the Haas team at late notice.

The Danish driver was unceremoniously pushed out of Formula 1 by the Haas team when his contract ended, alongside teammate Romain Grosjean, with both having built successful careers in the US and in the case of Magnussen, sports car racing.

He spent the 2021 season competing for Chip Ganassi Racing in a prototype Cadillac, and was never fully in the frame for Mazepin’s Haas seat as Magnussen was preparing to lead Peugeot’s hotly anticipated World Endurance Championship project, which clashes with F1 at three of the four rounds in 2022.

Since departing F1 and claiming he would never return unless offered a race-winning car, he’s moved back to his home country, Denmark, and became a father for the first time, which Magnussen hints at being crucial factors in his decision to return after Haas Team Principal Steiner offered him the seat.

This will be Magnussen’s second return to F1 after a season away, having been forced out of McLaren after his rookie season to make way for Fernando Alonso, and joining Renault for 2016.

Haas’ Steiner though was confident the teams’ former compatriot was the one-and-only choice to “bring the team forward the quickest way with the least amount of risk”, and to be a suitable reference for young Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher on the other side of the garage. Magnussen got his first taste of the 2022 car on Friday afternoon in Bahrain – the first time he’d driven any iteration of a Formula 1 car since 2020 and set the pace in the extra hour they got.

Magnussen on deal plus ending contracts, return –

Decision –

Magnussen: “I was in a happy place when Guenther called me me, I was in a good place. 2021 was really enjoyable for me, I have a daughter and I moved back to Denmark for the first time in many years. And did a season in IMSA, which I enjoyed a lot too, I had fun with it and did an IndyCar race, did Le Mans with my dad, I was just really enjoying myself a lot, so I wasn’t really thinking about Formula One a lot. I’d kind of really, truly accepted that Formula 1 was a closed chapter. Then of course I saw that Mazepin was out of Haas. I didn’t think I had a chance to go in that because I still don’t bring a lot other than just my driving skills to a team, so I thought that was still not going to be a possibility, and then Guenther called me.

“And that was a big surprise and I felt really excited when he called me and asked if I wanted to come back. Of course I had some thoughts about what if we’re going to go back again, and is that going to be fun or not? But I think with this regulation change that is, for this year, I just think there’s got to be some opportunity that things will be a little better. So, I thought that opportunity was too good to let down. And I also thought about the fact that I’m still only 29 years old. So there was not a lot of reasons to not take this opportunity, especially as given how I felt when Guenther called me I was so happy.”

Quick deal –

Magnussen: “When he called me I said yes immediately. And then I was like afterwards, then thought about it, when he asked me I was straight away I said yes. Then these obstacles became quite clear that I’ve got contracts with other teams and also all these thoughts about ‘do I need this?’ But I just feel like that first initial feeling that I had when Guenther called was so telling. I hadn’t really been thinking about Formula One. It’s not like I was missing F1, I’ve been doing TV work on Danish television, for the Formula 1 races. And it didn’t hurt, I was watching races and feeling good about it.

“So, I thought that was a closed chapter. I was happy where it was. But then, yeah, I just felt so excited about this possibility to actually just go back again and make another comeback. This is my second comeback and it’s fantastic, anyone that gets a chance to race in Formula 1 is extremely lucky. And if you get the opportunity, I think you should always grab it, and seize the moment.”

The second end –

Magnussen: “I think it was tough. Mentally, it was tough to accept that okay, that’s it, this dream that you’ve been working towards ever since you were a little kid is now a closed chapter. You have to deal with it and I think one of the ways that I dealt with it was to really think about how lucky I was to actually get the opportunity in the first place at all, even though I hadn’t won a world championship when I exited Haas in 2020, and I thought that whole chapter was closed, so that made me really sad.

“But then, I thought about how lucky I was to actually have that opportunity to have done seven years in Formula One and to get all those races and experiences, that made me feel really happy about what I had achieved. So in a way I just felt really grateful and blessed, and courteous what I have done, instead of sitting around, missing it and thinking about old times, looking back, just kind of look forward.”

Other obligations, plans for 2022 –

Magnussen: “I was also planning to do Le Mans with my dad again. I wasn’t sure that we would be able to do it, but we were trying to make it happen again. If it was difficult to get out? I’ve got to say a big thank you to Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for allowing me to do this, because I was contracted to those two organisations and Chip Ganassi Racing has a has a big race in Sebring next weekend. And they don’t have a lot of time to find new driver and make new plans. So I think it was really big of both Chip Ganassi Racing and Peugeot to allow me to pursue this opportunity.”

You didn’t wish to return to a midfield team, so what changed –

Magnussen: “I don’t know, but I did. Very quickly. I think it’s one thing saying all that stuff when you don’t have an opportunity to go to Formula 1 and then when you actually sit with an opportunity to go back. It’s different. And it’s also a way of coping. There’s no way looking back, there’s no reason to look back and say, ‘oh, I want to go back’ and I get asked quite a lot. Would you like to go back? And I get tired of all of these questions. So it’s like, it’s easier to deal with if you’d say no, look, I’m looking forward, I’ve moved on. But then when you get that opportunity, then you take it.”

Steiner on Magnussen, Fittipaldi –

Multi-year deal –

Steiner: “I think you know a person pretty well after four years you work with him and we didn’t even have to discuss it. We said, ‘we’ve got to do this’, it was both ways ‘yes we are going to do this’. And that was it, it was pretty simplistic. There was no negotiation or anything. It’s like I know what he wants, I know what we want, and it’s the same thing. We are here to get better again, and we need him to help us to do that, like he did last time.”

Admission of going wrong with Mazepin –

Steiner: “I wouldn’t say it was the wrong decision, it was the right decision at the time to do that, because we knew 2021 will be a difficult year with a car which wasn’t an attempt to do something. And knowing that the car will not be good in 2021, we all knew that from 2020 onward when we started to develop, and we said we can do that and we try through another way and then what happened? We said, okay, I think we are ready again, to go the other way [on drivers]. We want to go up again and we took that decision to go with somebody experienced at that time, a week ago.”

Any back-up option if Magnussen didn’t work out –

Steiner: “That I don’t know the exact day anymore. I don’t know what I did yesterday with the events, which are happening to us at the moment, so never mind a week ago. But it was about a week ago, I would say. I don’t really know. But no, I never thought it was going sideways, I always worked on it actively. I didn’t speak with anybody else with any other driver, I was just confident that it will happen. Obviously then there were a few difficulties. But when you do any deal at this level, you know that it will be difficult, especially if we are involved, everything is more difficult. But then you just keep on working on it and solve the difficulties, you find solutions. Once we decided, I wouldn’t say it went smooth but there was a few hurdles in the way, but we just got them out of the way.”

Proven quality, any other –

Steiner: “Obviously, some of it is, you look back and see, and you always look what worked and the position you’re in now and this position we found ourselves in, it was like, how we can bring the team forward the quickest way with the least amount of risk and that was Kevin, because we know him, he works with us. I mean I explained that all before. Taking another rookie, we would face again the same problem or the same issue, we wouldn’t know where they are because we have no reference. So I think it’s one of those things that you just have to say it may be in the in the back of your head, let’s go the safe route and that’s what we did, but still it’s not a mega safe option it’s just like something we know which works and if you’ve got the opportunity to change that. And that will be that.”

Fittipaldi’s disappointment to find out he’s not going to race –

Steiner: “I would say if the talks with Kevin would have stalled, I think that would have been the fallback position because it was just too close to the first race or to the test, but it was not really discussed because I said before, Kevin came onboard pretty good. We never really stalled. It was just like, ‘oh we have to sort this one out’ and then we got there pretty quick… I spoke with Pietro. I don’t remember the day. I called him up one morning and told him obviously, it wasn’t his happiest moment, for obvious reasons. But I explained to him why, and he’s a team player and he’s still part of the team. I mean, he’s out now testing. So I would say yeah, obviously he would have preferred to be in the car himself.”

Decision balanced despite Fittipaldi been there for design process –

Steiner: “I think the biggest thing is I took the experience Kevin has in F1 racing as the deciding point. A car that the drivers don’t have input into the design of the car because we don’t know, I mean, nobody knew that these cars will be old bouncing down the street you know, that is not the drivers input what you get when you design a car, that is just driven by the regulation. So the main factor was the experience of the driving of Kevin was the main reason to choose him.”

The story was written by Danny Herbert

Here’s how Day 2 went in Bahrain where Haas topped

Here’s Haas on signing Kevin Magnussen

Here’s Uralkali wanting repayment of money

L'entrada Magnussen, Steiner expand on decision to return/rehire, quick deal & more ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

After Danish media broke the news of Magnussen in consideration for the Haas seat alongside Antonio Giovinazzi and Nico Hulkenberg, the American F1 team eventually confirmed the Danish driver on Wednesday evening.

Haas revealed it to be a multi-year deal for Magnussen to partner Schumacher as a replacement of Nikita Mazepin. The Dane will get to drive in this week’s Bahrain test where the team have only named Pietro Fittipaldi so far, who remains as its reserve.

It is unclear when Magnussen arrives and gets to drive with Haas yet to reveal the names for Friday and Saturday. Having raced for the team until 2020, the Dane moves to America to compete in IMSA and was preparing for a WEC run this year.

Both Chip Ganassi and Peugeot agreed to release him promptly. “I’m delighted to welcome Kevin Magnussen back to Haas F1 Team,” commented Guenther Steiner. “When looking for a driver who could bring value to the team, not to mention a wealth of Formula 1 experience, Kevin was a straightforward decision for us.

“Kevin’s immediate availability means we can tap into him as a resource for pre-season testing alongside both Mick Schumacher and Pietro Fittipaldi. Pietro’s going to be first in this week with half a day’s running at the test on Thursday – that’s a great opportunity for him, with Mick and Kevin doing the rest ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“Kevin was a key component in our previous successes – not least when we both scored our best finishes in Formula 1 back in 2018. He continued to show last year that he’s an elite race car driver adding wins and podiums to his resume. As a veteran presence in both the garage and the engineering room, he’ll provide a solid benchmark for us with the on-going development of the VF-22. We’re all looking forward to welcoming Kevin back this week in Bahrain.”

Upon his return, Magnussen added: “I was obviously very surprised but equally very excited to receive the call from Haas F1 Team. I was looking in a different direction regarding my commitments for 2022 but the opportunity to return to compete in Formula 1, and with a team I know extremely well, was simply too appealing. I really have to say thank you to both Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for releasing me promptly – both are great organizations.

“Naturally, I also want to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for the chance to resume my Formula 1 career – I know just how competitive they both are and how keen they are to return to competing week in and week out. We’ve enjoyed a solid relationship and our positive association remained even when I left at the end of 2020.

“I’ve been briefed as much as possible on the development of the VF-22 and the potential in the package. There’s work to do but I’m excited to be a part of it. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car in Bahrain.”

Here’s Uralkali wanting repayment of money

Here’s Haas on Bahrain Test

Here’s Hitech GP dropping Uralkali

Here’s Gene Haas on dropping sponsor and more

L'entrada Magnussen signs multi-year F1 deal with Haas to replace Mazepin ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Porsche is set to start the 2022 motorsport season with ambitious goals and extensive programmes. The prime focus will be on the two works entries in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. The expansion of customer sport activities and intensive preparation for the new LMDh programme have now been added to the schedule of activities. “Motorsports have always had a special role to play in Porsche’s corporate strategy, and for more than 70 years now we have used the racing stage as the testing grounds for our latest technologies. We face great challenges today – in both sporting and organisational terms. We are determined to play an active role in shaping the future, while ensuring we retain our motorsports DNA,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG at the digital Porsche Night of Champions.

“We place sustainability and electrification very high on our list of priorities,” added Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development. “This is something that will also be reflected in motorsports of the future. As you can see from the development of eFuels in partnership with ExxonMobil, in addition to our Mission R concept car, the first major steps in this direction have now become visible.” The all-electric Mission R racing car study caused a sensation when it was unveiled at the IAA MOBILITY 2021 in Munich, for example. This spectacular all-wheel drive racing car that delivers up to 800 kW (1,088 PS) is the vision of a potential customer sports car of the future.

TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is aiming at gaining its first race wins

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Series will be starting its eighth season in 2022. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team has set itself an ambitious goal for the next 16 world championship events: the Porsche 99X Electric is expected to turn its great potential into a series of successes. “There is absolutely no doubt that we have what it takes to win races. The highlights of the past season have made this very clear,” says Thomas Laudenbach, the man who took over the management of Porsche Motorsport from Fritz Enzinger on 1 October this year.

“Over the past few months, our development team in Weissach has made all the modifications permitted by the regulations and we are firmly convinced that the Porsche 99X Electric will be capable of leading the pack in the coming season. “The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is putting in faith on continuity in the two cockpits: works drivers André Lotterer (#36) and Pascal Wehrlein (#94) will be on the grid again for the team from Weissach in 2022. Should one of the two drop out, Simona de Silvestro or Neel Jani will be ready to jump in. The new season is scheduled to start on 28/29 January 2022 with two races in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Two works Porsche 911 RSR entered once again in the FIA WEC

In the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), Porsche will again field two 515 PS 911 RSR in the 2022 season. The two racing cars will enter the upcoming six races under the leadership of Alexander Stehlig, Overall Project Manager and Head of Operations, and will field a slightly different driver crew. The Italian Gianmaria Bruni and Austrian Richard Lietz will again share driving duties in the No. 91 car. In the No. 92 sister car, Kévin Estre from France will swap seats with the experienced Dane Michael Christensen. The duo had taken a class victory competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three years ago as well as picking up the 2018/2019 title. The first race of the new season is billed to take place on 18 March in Sebring (USA), and on 11/12 June 2022, the two Porsche 911 RSR will compete in the 90th edition of the French endurance classic. When they compete in the highlight of the year, the two driver crews will be supported by works drivers Frédéric Makowiecki from France (#91) and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor (#92).

Preparing for the LMDh rollout: Cameron and Nasr added to driver line-up

Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr are to be included in Porsche Motorsport’s works driver line-up as of 2022. Cameron, the 33-year-old American, won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship DPi title in 2016 and 2019, while Nasr, the 29-year-old ex-Formula 1 driver from Brazil, secured the championship in the North American endurance racing series in 2018 and 2021. The two new works drivers are to be involved intensively in the further development of Porsche’s LMDh prototypes. The management of these ground-breaking endurance racing activities for Porsche will be in the capable hands of the experienced Swiss national, Urs Kuratle. The 500 kW (680 PS) hybrid racing car is scheduled to complete numerous test runs in 2022.

Beginning in 2023, the LMDh prototype will be entered by Porsche Penske Motorsport in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. For the first time in some 30 years, it will then be possible to compete for overall victories in the endurance classics at Le Mans, Sebring and Daytona with cars of identical construction. “We are working all-out with our partner Penske on the development of the new LMDh prototype and collaborate closely with the chassis manufacturer Multimatic at all times,” explains Thomas Laudenbach. “In January, we will begin intensive testing to ensure that we are optimally prepared for our 2023 competition debut.”

https://twitter.com/FIAWEC/status/1472293200912125952?s=20

[Note: The above is as per the press release with no edits made]

L'entrada Porsche shares first image of LMDh car, reveals Nasr/Cameron as drivers ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The year 2021 has been a great for McLaren so far, they are fighting for the third spot in the F1 Constructors’ Championship with Ferrari, where Lando Norris is doing the same in the Drivers’ Championship. At the same time, they announced their increased effort in IndyCar with Arrow SP, as Patricio O’Ward fights for the title.

Elsewhere, McLaren announced its entry into Extreme E, before confirming their Formula E stance. Whilst this list is incredibly impressive, there is still a question that remains, which as noted is about its single-seater electric racing idea. Additionally, they are yet to decide on their World Endurance Championship bid too.

The latest Formula E season ended not too long ago, with Nyck de Vries taking home the world title. However, with the end of the season, came the end of the journey for Audi and BMW, whereas Mercedes is also set to leave after the 2022’s season end. The departure of these three teams slowed down McLaren’s bid as per Brown.

The big question is the commercial viability that Formula E can offer. On top of that, its economic viability is also being questioned. Formula E, currently, does not have any official cost cap introduced, and with the current average number of people in a team, 60-70 people, no cost cap is not economically feasible.

“On Formula E, we are continuing to look at, we wanted to get Extreme E out, we really like what it stands for, from sustainability and diversity and gender equality,” said Brown to media including FormulaRapida.net. “So we wanted to get that announcement out, and kind of see how our partners and fans are reacting, which has been extremely positive.

“On Formula E, we’re kind of looking to see how it continues to develop. Obviously, with Audi and BMW leaving a bit of a concern, and Mercedes will be out after Season 8. And when we make a decision, as you guys have heard before,  we see, is it commercially viable? We’re still looking at that.

“Is it operationally distracting as Formula E teams are becoming quite big? Now we’re talking about putting in a cost cap, that’s not yet done. But the current Formula E team has about 60-70 people, and currently doesn’t have a cost cap. So, we don’t yet know if it is going to be economically viable without a cost cap. I don’t think it is,” stated Brown.

All logistics and technicalities aside, Brown states that McLaren like and respect Formula E racing, both as spectators and suppliers. “With all that we’ve got going on with IndyCar and Extreme E is something that we feel the timing is right. So, we like what Formula E stands for, we like the racing, we’ve been, obviously, participating as the supplier, so those are the things that go into consideration,” he said.

Amid the Formula E look-in, McLaren is also checking out the new steps being taken in WEC, a series which is internationally acclaimed with viewership and participation across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Brown already co-runs a team via United Autosports in the LMP2 class, but the new LMDh/Hypercar category is interesting him more.

The biggest hurdle for McLaren is engine supply, as the British carmaker do not manufacturer engines of their own. A top entry outfit in WEC requires a large team and quite an effort in development so it is a big commitment. Though it does go hand-in-hand with McLaren’s racing pedigree, and is something that they would really like to do.

Brown explains that if McLaren were to actually do it, it would have to be the 2024 season, as it’s too late to be ready in time for 2023. To be ready for the that season, however, McLaren would have to make their decision by the end of this year, especially on the engine side, because that is crucial for their bid.

“On WEC, I’m very happy to see the LMDh-Hypercar coming together, because that was a concern. There, our engine does not work in the current regulation, our crank height is too high, so it requires us having an engine partner,” said Brown. “That’s something that we’re exploring. A WEC team is also quite a large team, and quite an undertaking of development. I think it does fit great with our racing pedigree and our automotive business, so that’s something that we would really like to do. But we’re still evaluating if we’re going to do it, and when we would do it.

“If we do it, it would be for the 2024 season; we will not be at this point ready to start for the 2023 season. We’ll need to make that decision in order to be ready for ’24 by the end of this year as well,” summed up Brown. The WEC’s new category in combination with IMSA’s new one has attracted the likes of Toyota, Audi, Porsche, Peugeot, Alpine, Glickenhaus, ByKolles, Ferrari, Acura, BMW and Cadillac, for now.

The story was written by Selena Aburas

Here’s news on ACO-IMSA convergence

L'entrada Brown elaborates on McLaren’s deliberations regarding Formula E & WEC ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The reports of Cadillac joining the LMDh category has been surfacing online for some time now, with the confirmation only coming through on Tuesday of the American manufacturer developing a fourth generation prototype car to enter the LMDh class.

This will help Cadillac to compete in both WEC and IMSA championships from 2023 onward. Dallara will be helping them in the design work, while they are partnering with Chip Ganassi Racing and Action Express Racing in running the new cars.

The idea to kick-start its new association under the LMDh rule from Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in January 2023, while they also aim to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours. “We are excited to compete at the top level of international motorsport in the LMDh class beginning in 2023,” said Rory Harvey, Cadillac Global Vice President.

“Like motorsport, Cadillac is making the transition into a future driven by alternative propulsion. The hybrid nature of the LMDh rules will help us to bridge our technology transfer to our all-electric future. We are excited to carry forward our success and continue to transfer our learnings and technology from the track to our production vehicles.

“We have had great success with the championship-winning Cadillac DPi-V.R and look forward to building on that record into the future with the next generation Cadillac LMDh.” At the same time, Ganassi, added: “We are looking forward to the new international prototype formula and running the Cadillac LMDh.

“We have had a great relationship across three different racing disciplines with GM and we are looking forward to developing the car with Cadillac and Dallara over the next year-and-a-half.” And finally, AXR Team Manager, Gary Nelson, stated:

“The IMSA LMDh category is looking to be very competitive with multiple manufacturers. We’ve had a lot of success running the Cadillac DPi-V.R as one of the original teams since 2017 and we are looking forward to being a part of the next chapter of Cadillac Racing.”

With the announcement, Cadillac joins Toyota, Peugeot, Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Acura, Glickenhaus and ByKolles, to enter the LMDh category.

.@Cadillac Commits to LMDh!

Read more: https://t.co/cdfUurdmiN#IMSA pic.twitter.com/Lx89qIlsFi

— #IMSA (@IMSA) August 24, 2021

Here’s final news on convergence

L'entrada Cadillac partners with CGR & Action Express under LMDh rule from 2023 ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The convergence thought about years ago between the ACO, the FIA and IMSA, has been completed with the confirmation of Hypercar entry into the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and the Daytona h allowed in the World Endurance Championship.

The Le Mans Hypercar is already underway in the WEC series, while the Le Mans Daytona h will make its first appearance from 2023 onward. The final signing was sealed at their latest meet, with the approval from FIA World Motor Sport Council too.

The discussion focused around four key technical elements, such as ‘tyre fitment, acceleration profile, braking capability and aerodynamics’. Now the work is on to prepare a final regulation jointly by ACO, FIA and IMSA, ahead of 2023 start.

Upon the historic announcement, Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), said: “This major announcement stems from our ambition to forge a common future for Endurance racing. We have all worked together to achieve this landmark agreement and I would like to thank all the stakeholders very sincerely.

“It is wonderful news for teams and fans alike and maps out a bright future for Endurance. The manufacturers dreamed of being able to participate in the greatest endurance races in the world with the same model of a car: this will now be reality.”

At the same time, Richard Mille, President of the FIA Endurance Commission, stated: “The FIA, ACO and IMSA have been working towards a common future where teams running in LMH and LMDh can race on both sides of the Atlantic. Today we can see that the convergence has taken a step closer to reality, which is great news for all of us involved in endurance racing.

“The principles have been agreed by all parties. The dream of teams and manufacturers being able to compete in all of the top endurance races with the same car for the first time is now at hand. This represents a significant moment in the history of motor racing.”

And finally, John Doonan, IMSA President, added: “What we achieved as a group a few weeks ago in Paris has the potential to revolutionize prototype sports car racing all over the world. The stage is set for a highly competitive top category that will include many of the world’s greatest automotive manufacturers, showcasing relevant technology in the world’s most prestigious endurance races.

“Collectively, we have an opportunity to engage with the next generation of endurance sports car racing fans and elevate our sport to the highest levels. I cannot be prouder of the spirit of collaboration between our IMSA team, our colleagues at the ACO and FIA, and all of our automotive partners.”

Further details here: https://mcusercontent.com/b5f125906fc10a7f9e846de69/files/fccfc3a3-9969-a58c-9950-ef6aa0c12728/LMH_LMDh.01.pdf

L'entrada ACO, FIA and IMSA completes convergence with Hypercar allowed in US ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.