Press Release June 06, 2014 No

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Press Release June 06, 2014 No Press Release June 06, 2014 No. M 71/14 Preview of the 24 hours of Le Mans, LMP1 (3rd race of the World Endurance Championship) Porsche with the 919 Hybrid before the start in Le Mans Stuttgart. After an absence of 16 years, Porsche will once again compete in the top category of what is certainly the world's toughest car race, which starts at 3:00 pm on June 14, 2014. Porsche is fielding its most innovative prototypes at the 24 hours of Le Mans. The two Porsche 919 Hybrid cars with start numbers 14 and 20 will be driven by two trios of drivers: Romain Dumas (France), Neel Jani (Switzerland), Marc Lieb (Germany) and Timo Bernhard (Germany), Brendon Hartley (New Zealand), Mark Webber (Australia). These six world-class drivers have between them a total of 37 appearances at Le Mans. Despite being a record holder at Le Mans with 16 overall victories, this year the sports car manufacturer has no experience to benefit from. For the first year of the LMP1 project the target is to get one of the fast Porsche 919 Hybrids to the finish line at the marathon. Quotes before the race: Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: "Porsche is facing the biggest moment of the LMP1 project – its first start in the top category at Le Mans in 16 years. Whatever the results, we have successfully completed a lot of stages to get here. Above all, we have established a strong, innovative engineering team in the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach. The new know-how generated in-house by the great efforts of all those involved is something that no one can take away from Porsche. The pole position in Spa showed that the Porsche 919 Hybrid is fast, and, as newcomers, we earned respect for this achievement. I am very proud of this young team, which is as Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 1 of 9 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport Press/LMP1 70435 Stuttgart Holger Eckhardt phone +49 (0)711 911 – 24959 email [email protected] Press Release June 06, 2014 No. M 71/14 competent in its technology as it is in its drivers. I wish each individual the best of luck and success in this marathon." Alexander Hitzinger, Technical Director LMP1: "The challenge of developing a car for Le Mans was always to build a fast yet durable car. The constraints of the new race regulations have made this task even more difficult, but fascinating as well. Even in areas that were routine for the competition, we had no experience whatsoever. Nonetheless, we chose the boldest solution for our drive concept, because it offered the best future potential. In the pre-testing period, the aerodynamics that were once again modified to achieve lower air drag for the Le Mans event proved themselves, as did advanced developments that enhanced durability. The Porsche 919 Hybrid is our first LMP1 race car design. It is fast – but not all of its potential has been realised yet; that is the reality." Andreas Seidl, Team Principal LMP1: "The operating task for a Le Mans team is enormous. We had to build an organisation with new personnel from the ground up. They are all excellent people. But even a hundred top soloists must first learn to play together as an orchestra. Responsibilities, communication, procedures, manual tasks – everything must mesh together perfectly. We have only competed in two races so far: in Silverstone and in Spa-Francorchamps. Everything went remarkably well. Our training was intensive. The team will have carried out 1,573 pit stops up to race week at Le Mans. We have also tested at night. Nonetheless, we have not yet experienced the stresses of a 24-hour race as a team. Everyone is looking forward to this challenge." Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 2 of 9 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport Press/LMP1 70435 Stuttgart Holger Eckhardt phone +49 (0)711 911 – 24959 email [email protected] Press Release June 06, 2014 No. M 71/14 Drivers, starting number 14: Romain Dumas – 36, France. (13 races: overall victory 2010, 3rd place overall 2007, class victory GTE 2013, 2nd place GT class 2001 and 2002, 3rd place GT class 2004) "Le Mans is the most famous and toughest race in the world, and it is even more special for me as a Frenchman. I have been driving here since 2001, and I also lived here. In 2010 I won the race; I would love to repeat that one day – together with Porsche. So many people have been anticipating this return to LMP1 by Porsche. It makes me very proud to be one of the six drivers here. I have wanted to be with Porsche ever since my father put me in a 962 as a child. My favourite part of the track is the Porsche bends. Not because of their name, but because they are so quick and difficult. When you race down the Hunaudières at 330 km/h at night – all by yourself in your own world - you live a dream. You see and smell what is happening around the track. But you have to remain focused. We want to get to the finish line." Neel Jani – 30, Switzerland. (5 races since 2009) "Le Mans is living motorsport history. That is more true of Porsche than with any other brand. To be part of the return to the top class after 16 years is a dream come true for me. Most racing car drivers would agree. It is a great honour, but also a tremendous responsibility. My best result at Le Mans was in 2012 when I finished fourth with a privateer team. I knew I could only improve on that result in a good factory team. Now I have reached that point. But, regardless of which class or which car, this race stirs up an emotional feeling. I will never forget my first time racing at night; it was awesome. Yet, it is important to block out all of that and concentrate on doing your best – for yourself and your team-mates. We want to be competitive in our first year." Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 3 of 9 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport Press/LMP1 70435 Stuttgart Holger Eckhardt phone +49 (0)711 911 – 24959 email [email protected] Press Release June 06, 2014 No. M 71/14 Marc Lieb – 33, Germany. (8 races: class victory GTE 2013, class victory GT2 2010, class victory GT 2005, 2nd place GT class 2003) "Porsche took me on board in 2000 when my bank account was empty and the prospects for my Formula racing career had almost run out. It means a lot to me to now be part of a return to the top class, especially since we have this incredible technology that our engineers have created for the 919 Hybrid. Starting in the LMP1 class changes your perspective entirely compared to racing in the GT categories. You look less in the rear-view mirror and more at the cars out front that you are going to lap. Radio contact with the pit crew is also much more intensive to achieve efficient energy usage. The racing is incredibly tough for everyone involved. Whenever I won class victories, the most enjoyable thing for me was to look down from the podium and gaze at the tired but happy faces of the mechanics." Drivers, starting number 20: Timo Bernhard – 33, Germany. (7 races: overall victory 2010, class victory GT 2002, 2nd place GTE class 2013, 2nd place GT2 2005) "In my first start for Porsche in 2002, Le Mans was stunning. And people always asked me: When will you return to the top league. I was involved with the building of the LMP1 team right from the start, and in 2013 I drove at the roll-out, then did testing and development work. The entire time I had the big goal in mind; I can hardly express how much I am ready for it now. The week leading up to the race will still be intensive, right up to the starting ceremony. I always found it satisfying to be the starting driver, and to finally close the door after all the pre-race show was over. And then at some point on this long circuit you find a very special rhythm. Especially at night when everything gets even faster, and when it might drizzle or rain ... It is indescribable; there is a certain magic to it." Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 4 of 9 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport Press/LMP1 70435 Stuttgart Holger Eckhardt phone +49 (0)711 911 – 24959 email [email protected] Press Release June 06, 2014 No. M 71/14 Brendon Hartley – 24, New Zealand. (2 races since 2012) "For me, Le Mans is my whole passion. I have the feeling that racing here fulfils the entire reason I climbed into a kart for the first time at six years of age. To now start as a Porsche factory driver, for the greatest sports car icon is like a dream. And then there is this special project with technology that never existed before. Hybrid systems, all-wheel drive, intuitive operating systems – the Porsche 919 is fantastic. Sometimes I can hardly believe that I have been chosen to sit in this car. I especially like Le Mans at night; that is the best. The lights fly past you, and everything feels a lot faster.
Recommended publications
  • Porsche 911 GT3
    September 2009 HALLOWEEN IS COMING Perhaps an Orange GT3 is in Order. (or on order?) See page 7 For Zeitung Subscription Information, email: [email protected] FRED SAID The Presidents Message: by Fred Scott Ron and Shari Walker lead a group of cars for In This Issue a day trip to the Morrow Bay on the 29th of August. I understand they had a great time and Page 3 John Lillian wrote a great commentary about it Recurring Monthly Events on the following pages. Page 4 Upcoming Tours The monthly dinner meeting was held at Jon’s Page 5 Bear Club in Reedley. There were 46 who at- Monterey Bay Tour tended and as always, the dinner was fantastic. Page 6– 9 Jon has been a member of PCA and a Porsche owner for many 911 GT3 & GT3 rs years. During the dinner, Jon spoke to the group about his rac- ing days and had some good stories to tell. Page 10 Auto-X Schedule The official ballot for the Sequoia Region for the 2010 board Page 11 was sent out about a week ago. Please vote and send your bal- Christmas Party - Details lots in. Page 12 New Members It’s hard to believe that it’s already the end of the year. This Page 13 year, the annual Christmas Party will be held at the Downtown Sequoia Region Board Club in Fresno. The party will be held on December 12th and the cost will be $35 per person. I hope we have a good crowd like we have in the past as this is really a special dinner and a great time to reflect on the year, count our blessings, meet our new members, and have a good time.
    [Show full text]
  • Porsche in Le Mans
    Press Information Meet the Heroes of Le Mans Mission 2014. Our Return. Porsche at Le Mans Meet the Heroes of Le Mans • Porsche and the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1 Porsche and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche in the starting line-up for 63 years The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the most famous endurance race in the world. The post-war story of the 24 Heures du Mans begins in the year 1949. And already in 1951 – the pro - duction of the first sports cars in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen commenced in March the previous year – a small delegation from Porsche KG tackles the high-speed circuit 200 kilometres west of Paris in the Sarthe department. Class victory right at the outset for the 356 SL Aluminium Coupé marks the beginning of one of the most illustrious legends in motor racing: Porsche and Le Mans. Race cars from Porsche have contested Le Mans every year since 1951. The reward for this incredible stamina (Porsche is the only marque to have competed for 63 years without a break) is a raft of records, including 16 overall wins and 102 class victories to 2013. The sporting competition and success at the top echelon of racing in one of the world’s most famous arenas is as much a part of Porsche as the number combination 911. After a number of class wins in the early fifties with the 550, the first time on the podium in the overall classification came in 1958 with the 718 RSK clinching third place.
    [Show full text]
  • First Racing Commitment of the Audi R18 TDI
    Communications Motorsport Jürgen Pippig Eva-Maria Veith Telephone: +49 (0)841 89 34200 Telephone: +49 (0)841 89 33922 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] www.audi-motorsport.info First racing commitment of the Audi R18 TDI • Le Mans “dress rehearsal” at the 1000-kilometer race at Spa (Belgium) • Record field comprising 60 sports prototypes and GT cars • Audi Sport Team Joest competes with three cars Ingolstadt, April 29, 2011 – Now the action will begin in earnest. After thousands of test kilometers including the recent test day at Le Mans, the new Audi R18 TDI is ready for its first race. At the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on May 7, Audi Sport Team Joest will perform its “dress rehearsal” for the Le Mans 24 Hours. The racing debut of a new race car is always a very special event and Audi Sport has good experiences in this regard. Since 2000 every new sports prototype of the brand with the four rings has won its first race. In 2000, 2006 and 2009 Sebring in Florida (USA) was the venue of the respective debut victories of the R8, R10 TDI and R15 TDI models. The updated R15 TDI, internally designated as “R15 plus,” won its maiden race as well, at Le Castellet (France). Now Spa-Francorchamps is the track to see the debut of the latest LMP1 sports car made by Audi which turns the company’s ultra-lightweight technology into a visual experience and which is equipped with a new type of ultra-compact V6 TDI engine.
    [Show full text]
  • WRC Rallye D'espagne
    MEDIA INFORMATION November 2013 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship Round 7: 6 Hours of Shanghai Victory for the N°1 AUDI R18 e-tron quattro/MICHELIN, as Tom Kristensen/Loïc Duval/Allan McNish secure the 2013 WEC Drivers’ title After the torrential rain that forced the organisers to halt the recent 6 Hours of Fuji after just 16 laps, all spent behind the safety car, Audi Sport Team Joest and Toyota Motorsport GmbH were both eager to join battle once again this weekend in China. In contrast to the conditions encountered in Japan, the 6 Hours of Shanghai was marked by clear skies and warm weather (air temperature: approximately 25°C, and track temperatures up to 30°C) which enabled the teams to produce yet another thrilling show, with the outcome only settled with less than half-an-hour remaining. The pole-winning N°7 Toyota TS030-Hybrid of Wurz/Lapierre carved out an early lead, while the N°8 sister car – with Antony Davidson in command – engaged in a fight with André Lotterer in the N°1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro. On Lap 10, the British driver succeeded in finding a way past to ease into second place. The two Japanese prototypes then proceeded to dominate the top of the leaderboard until the eventful 143rd lap (190 laps completed in total). After 4½ hours of racing, the N°8 Toyota TS030-Hybrid was suddenly eliminated when its front- right suspension failed under barking for Turn 6. This promoted the N°1 Audi to second spot, approximately half-a-minute behind the N°7 Toyota, thanks to a strong stint from Benoît Tréluyer in the German car, as well as to a couple of time-consuming „moments‟ for the Japanese team‟s Nicolas Lapierre while overtaking slower competitors.
    [Show full text]
  • Le Mans 1998 – the Anniversary Victory
    Le Mans 1998 – the anniversary victory Porsche celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding with victory in Le Mans, overcoming stiff competition from Mercedes, BMW and Toyota. Driven by Allan McNish, Laurent Aïello and Stéphane Ortelli, the 911 GT1 ’98 secured Porsche’s 16th overall victory in Le Mans. The strength of the starting field led Porsche race director Herbert Ampferer to describe it as the ‘race of the century’. A crowd of at least 250,000 attended the 1998 edition of the classic race, with Porsche not looking much like a winner in the opening stages. An AMG-Mercedes took the lead early on and the BMWs were also setting a good pace, but engine trouble and problems with the wheel bearings forced the cars from both teams to retire. The Porsche 911 GT1 ’98 models were built with a focus on durability rather than recording the quickest lap times. The engineer Norbert Singer noted the gearbox as an example of this phenomenon, as rival Toyota took greater risks than Porsche in its design and trusted that this would enable them to perform a gearbox change within a few short minutes. By the early hours of Sunday morning, the quickest Toyota and the two Porsches – one driven by Allan McNish, Laurent Aïello and Stéphane Ortelli, the other by Jörg Müller, Uwe Alzen and Bob Wollek – were almost neck-and- neck. However, both cars from Weissach then lost time in the pits. Jörg Müller gave his team a lot of work to do after spinning into the gravel, with the entire crew descending on the Porsche to perform repairs.
    [Show full text]
  • Download The
    ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA - 2016 NEW MACHINES Ford joins BMW and Ferrari in debuting new GTLM machines in 2016 READY TO RUMBLE AT THE ROLEX 2016 GTLM BATTLE FIRST to FIRST Ford, Ferrari, BMW Debut New Cars 2 If the first major race of the New Year asks, “what’s “When you have a brand new car you always find some new?” The answer is, “nearly everything.” things that are not ideal and then you work to improve The Rolex 24 At Daytona is the first event for the new those things or to adjust to them,” said Luhr, whose veteran IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and opens the BMW Team RLL finished second by a mere 0.48 seconds here stunning $400 million Daytona Rising Stadium. Icing the in 2015. new season cake is the spectacular array of new cars. While the popular Risi Competizione team awaited The highly anticipated debut of the Chip Ganassi Racing delivery of its new Ferrari 488 GTE, the team joined with (CGR) Ford EcoBoost GTs adds yet another top manufacturer longtime Ferrari stalwart AF Corse at the recent Roar Before and a pair of stunning cars to the powerful GTLM class. the 24 test with GTLM newcomers Scuderia Corsa and SMP Since Ford announced its return to competition at Racing in a thorough testing regimen of the new car. Le Mans last June, the Ford CGR team has been on an While the pace, traffic, and reliability challenges in the aggressive testing and development path in preparation for frantic Rolex 24 At Daytona are daunting, an even bigger its competition debut here.
    [Show full text]
  • Revolution Magazine Autumn 2005
    Welcome to Revolution When we launched Revolution magazine earlier this year we were pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback that we received from readers, in the form of calls, letters and emails. You 2 seemed to like the mix of information and news and it’s given us something to live up to with this, our second issue. As the largest independent distributor of turbochargers in the world, we aim to support the factors and vehicle repairers who depend on us to supply replacement turbos quickly and efficiently, and to provide advice on all aspects of turbocharging. Some of the facts and figures that we quote in this issue illustrate just how many turbocharged vehicles there are on the road today. Sooner or later, they’re all going to need some turbo attention! Inside Revolution 2 In this issue, you’ll find an article outlining the basic principle of turbocharging. It is surprisingly simple in its basic form, but technology is moving very fast, as you will see in our profile of BorgWarner Turbo Systems. We also look at the success of the Garrett®-boosted Audi R8 in June’s Le Mans 24 hour race and, by way of contrast, we see how turbocharged diesel power is becoming popular in the marina (that’s the harbour, not the seventies’ Morris car!) Win a Silverstone Track Day BTN offers you the opportunity to spend a day driving at Silverstone! Enter our simple competition and you and a friend or colleague could be off to for an adrenalin-filled day behind the wheel, in everything from a Lotus Elise on the track to a 4x4 on the specially constructed off-road course.
    [Show full text]
  • Porsche 956/962 Engines – Group C Vs IMSA
    www.porscheroadandrace.com Porsche 956/962 engines – Group C vs IMSA Published: 26th July 2019 By: Martin Raffauf Online version: https://www.porscheroadandrace.com/porsche-956-962-engines-group-c-vs-imsa/ Lined up for the photo shoot following scrutineering for the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours are the three works Group C Porsche 956s – they would finish the race in the order of their racing numbers: the #1 finished first, the #2 was second and the #3 third In the early 1980’s there was a divergence in the rules for sports car racing world-wide. IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) in the USA proceeded with the GTP concept. The GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) was a prototype car using street car based engines. By 1982, the FIA was moving to a fuel based formula for sports cars. Porsche knew the 935 was no longer competitive and so they developed the 956 Group C car. It was highly successful, www.porscheroadandrace.com finishing 1-2-3 at its second race, the 1982 Le Mans. It was a ground effects prototype car with an engine type of 935/76. A flat six-cylinder, which was based on the earlier 936-engine (which in turn used the still-born Indianapolis race car engine). It featured a combination of water-cooled cylinder heads and air-cooled cylinders. The engine specifications were as follows: Type 935/76 (1982) Displacement 2.65 litre (2649 cc) Horsepower 620 bhp @ 8200 rpm; 1.2 bar boost (standard boost) Torque 630 Nm Turbochargers Twin turbo KKK K26 Cooling Water-cooled cylinder heads, air-cooled cylinders with fan Fuel feed Kugelfischer mechanical injection www.porscheroadandrace.com Exploded view 1982 Porsche 956 (© Porsche Werkfoto) www.porscheroadandrace.com Rothmans 956 with engine type 935/76 at Le Mans in 1982 www.porscheroadandrace.com Turbo and exhaust installation on factory 956 in 1982.
    [Show full text]
  • Michelin Notches up Its 20Th Consecutive Le Mans Success
    MEDIA INFORMATION 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Round 3: 24 Hours Le Mans Michelin notches up its 20th consecutive Le Mans success After providing Michelin with the first of its recent sequence of victories at Le Mans with Laurent Aïello, Stéphane Ortelli and Allan McNish in 1998 (Porsche 911 GT1-98), Porsche fittingly earned the French tyre firm’s 20th straight victory in the endurance racing classic today. This time round, it was Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley (N°2 Porsche 919 Hybrid) who claimed the discipline’s most prestigious prize after winning the weekend’s drama-packed race which was led during the hours of darkness by the N°1 Porsche 919 Hybrid (Jani/Lotterer/Tandy), in the wake of the near-simultaneous retirements of the N°7 (Conway/Kobayashi/Sarrazin) and N°9 (Lapierre/Kunimoto/Lopez) Toyota TS050-Hybrids, and after the long period spent by the N°8 Toyota (Buemi/Davidson/Nakajima) in its pits to resolve a technical issue. During this time, the N°2 Porsche concentrated on its bid to recover the chunk of time it had lost on Saturday evening while curing a technical problem. Undeterred, and after the race had been led briefly by an LM P2 prototype, the three drivers went on to emerge at the top of the order with one hour remaining. Since the beginning of its uninterrupted sequence of 20 Le Mans victories in 1998, Michelin has won the Le Mans 24 Hours in association with Audi, Bentley, BMW, Peugeot and Porsche. And prior to that, it won the French marathon with McLaren, Mercedes, Alpine-Renault and Chenard & Walcker.
    [Show full text]
  • Fastest Laps by Driver After Race
    After Race Results by Driver Fastest Lap Pos Class Nr Team Car Driver Time Laps Gap Mph Session 1 DPi 01 Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac DPi Renger van der Zande 1:34.146 355 136.129 Practice 3 2 DPi 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura DPi AJ Allmendinger 1:34.287 175 0.141 135.925 Practice 2 3 DPi 01 Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac DPi Scott Dixon 1:34.442 290 0.296 135.702 Practice 3 4 DPi 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi Ricky Taylor 1:34.459 222 0.313 135.678 Practice 3 5 DPi 48 Ally Cadillac Racing Cadillac DPi Kamui Kobayashi 1:34.519 255 0.373 135.592 Practice 2 6 DPi 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi Felipe Nasr 1:34.653 277 0.507 135.400 Practice 3 7 DPi 5 Mustang Sampling / JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi Loic Duval 1:34.726 306 0.580 135.295 Practice 3 8 DPi 48 Ally Cadillac Racing Cadillac DPi Simon Pagenaud 1:34.726 252 0.580 135.295 Practice 3 9 DPi 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi Mike Conway 1:34.731 233 0.585 135.288 Practice 1 10 DPi 48 Ally Cadillac Racing Cadillac DPi Mike Rockenfeller 1:34.765 246 0.619 135.240 Practice 2 11 DPi 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura DPi Juan Pablo Montoya 1:34.779 250 0.633 135.220 Practice 2 12 DPi 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi Harry Tincknell 1:34.786 285 0.640 135.210 Practice 1 13 DPi 5 Mustang Sampling / JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi Sebastien Bourdais 1:34.816 240 0.670 135.167 Practice 2 14 DPi 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi Jonathan Bomarito 1:34.836 248 0.690 135.138 Practice 2 15 DPi 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release June 9, 2017
    Press Release June 9, 2017 LMP1 preview Le Mans 24-Hours Porsche LMP Team faces hard fight for the overall victory Stuttgart. The countdown for the season highlight is almost at an end: Over 17th/18th June, Porsche will again fight for the crown jewels of endurance motor- sports in attempting to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a third consecutive year. The toughest competition on track is Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer has yet to win Le Mans. In 2016, Toyota retired in a dramatic finish just minutes before the end of the race with a technical failure and in 2017 competes with three cars against the two Porsche 919 Hybrid in the top LMP1-H class. Five overall winners in Porsche driver squad: Behind the wheel of the Porsche 919 Hybrid with start number 1 Neel Jani (33/CH), André Lotterer (35/DE) and Nick Tandy (32/GB) will alternate. The three drivers share a combined experience of 20 Le Mans starts and five overall victories. Jani (8 starts, 1 overall victory) is the only Le Mans title defender and reigning FIA World Endurance Champion in 2017 and is also the qualifying lap record-holder at Le Mans since 2015. Lotterer (8 starts, 3 overall victories) faces his first Le Mans race with Porsche after a successful career at Audi. For the second time, Tandy competes in the LMP1 class at the Sarthe. He raced there three times in GT and celebrated Por- sche's 17th overall victory as an LMP1 rookie in 2015. The crew of the sister car – Earl Bamber (26/NZ), Timo Bernhard (36/DE) and Bren- don Hartley (27/NZ) – shares a total of 17 Le Mans participations and two overall vic- tories.
    [Show full text]
  • 50 Years of Endurance Racing: the ROLEX 24 AT
    50 Years of Endurance Racing: THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONAY ARL EYFERT B K S The race cars have gotten faster and the technology an order of magnitude more advanced, but after half a century of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, two things haven’t changed: Today’s drivers are just as tough and the race is as grueling as ever. Take it from us. Bobbitt Kevin Photo: ndianapolis celebrated the 100th signal from the flagman indicating that chicane in the second half of the back anniversary of the 500 last year. the three-hour race was about to end, straight further slows the cars before the This year it was time for Day- he employed gravity to allow the crip- Turn 12 banking and completes the mod- tona to mark the 50th anniver- pled car to coast across the finish line ifications to the basic tri-oval design. The sary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, for the win. Gurney’s son Alex compet- added road course curves and chicane ex- and MOTOR was lucky enough to ed this year and was the sentimental fa- tend the lap distance to 3.81 miles. attend the event. While this year’s race vorite to win the race. While the 24 Hours of LeMans is held Ifeatured just two classes, the inaugural The race was lengthened to 2000 near the summer solstice, the winter 1962 version (called the Daytona Conti- kilometers two years after the 1962 date of the Daytona endurance race nental) had 10, with Dan Gurney’s Lo- event.
    [Show full text]