- 2015

YOUNG LIONS Meet the young stars who are changing the face of THE YOUNG LIONS

Clockwise from top left: , Jordan Taylor, Jann Mardenborough, , John Edwards, , Earl Bamber,

2 Hall of Fame driver and BMW Team He and older brother Ricky Taylor (26) RLL leader recalls a time were the TUDOR Championship runners-up when older, veteran drivers were especially last year. valuable as they provided the only means At Action Express, Georgia’s Dane of communicating to a crew just what a Cameron (26) won the 2014 GTD TUDOR race car was doing on the track. Championship. He moved up to the Whelen The development of data recorders, Engineering car in the Prototype class for telemetry, simulators and even video games 2015 to team with Eric Curran. They already has dramatically changed that model. have a pair of race wins. So too have training programs, Cincinnati’s John Edwards (24) has coaches, development series and increased climbed the ladder from the Star manufacturer scouting for talent. The result championship in 2008, to the Formula is many more opportunities for drivers Atlantic title in 2009. He has a BMW Team to earn prime rides much earlier in their RLL factory drive and a pair of TUDOR careers. Championship GTLM class wins already in The prowess of the ‘young lions’ was his pocket. on full global display this past June as Texan Colin Braun, of CORE autosport, is ’s Earl Bamber (now 25), Nick already a four time IMSA Series champion Tandy (30) and F1’s Nico Hülkenberg (28) and co-drives with team owner Jon Bennett celebrated atop the podium as the overall in the PC class. Braun, who now lives in winners of the . Tandy Charlotte, turns 27 next week. had contested the event once before, but How did these young drivers get to be for his co-drivers, the overall race win came so good, so fast? Drivers start sooner in in their first entry at Le Mans. organized karting or video gaming. They Joining them on the Le Mans podium get seat time in progressively faster cars was their teammate of and there are more good cars available. New Zealand, age 25, who finished second Where in Rahal’s early years the drivers overall aboard a Porsche 919 co-driving were the human data recorders, modern with former F1 ace . cars are so heavily instrumented that it At in August, Bamber takes teams days after a race to analyze was given his first opportunity to qualify all the data. Bamber and Tandy’s Le Mans the Porsche North America 911 RSR at a winning Porsche transmitted 13.5 gigabytes TUDOR United SportsCar Championship of data to the pits during the race. event. The priority is on pure , the ability Rain washed out most of the Friday to trust and help the engineers, and to be practice, giving Bamber just four laps mature enough to keep bringing the car in the dry on Saturday morning before back intact for the engineers to sort. heading out to qualify. Drivers must be able to deal with Two laps later he was on the GTLM class traffic, increasingly complex displays and pole having broken the track class record steering wheels that look and, and in some by 1.4 seconds on a track he had never ways are, like video game consoles loaded previously seen. with the multiple electronic features and Entrusting million dollar cars and entire programs. programs to a young driver was once has filled several seats, including unthinkable, but rather than thrashing factory prototypes, with drivers whose around in old, uncompetitive equipment to careers started in video games. In fact, gain experience, today’s promising young Nissan has established a formal program drivers find top rides. called the Nissan GT Academy to identify The TUDOR Championship has an and develop top gamers and put them into especially impressive group of talented various cars. The most promising is Jann young shoes already winning races, “The Mann” Mardenborough, a winner of championships and setting records. GT Academy. He marked his 24th birthday Florida based ’s last week. Jordan Taylor (24) won the 2013 GRAND– Youth in sports cars is no longer wasted AM Rolex Series Prototype Championship. on the young.

3 Corvette’s triple play

If a victory in one of the world’s You may think that those three After Corvette claimed victories premier endurance races makes the victories would satisfy the Corvette in the first two events of the 2015 season a success, the Corvette Racing Racing team and the legendary TUDOR Championship, BMW Team team is having a triple. Corvette Nation. You would be wrong. RLL leapt to the front with victories at The Michigan based factory team The Corvette Racing team and Long Beach and Monterey. reeled off consecutive 2015 class drivers arrive at each race focused on Since then it has been all Porsche victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the win. with the Falken Porsche team the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Their preparation, race set ups, claiming the win at Watkins Glen and the 24 Hours of Le Mans to claim strategies, pit work and consistency lap International and the Porsche North the endurance racing Triple Crown. after lap have built a stunning record America factory team vaulting to the , Antonio Garcia and of success that includes eight wins at Le lead by dominating the last three took their Corvette C7.R to Mans, nine at Sebring and eight at Petit races. victory in the TUDOR United SportsCar Le Mans. They want more. Will Porsche continue its streak? Championship opening round at With just two races, Lone Star Le Will BMW Team RLL regain the top Daytona in January and followed that Mans and , remaining in of the podium? Will the Houston up with the win at Sebring in March. the 2015 TUDOR Championship, the based Teammates , Tommy driver, team and manufacturer titles squad, podium finishers in the last Milner and Jordan Taylor then delivered are very much in play. That makes every two events, take a home win? Or, will the goods at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in point critical in the hyper-competitive Corvette Racing end the season on June. Three majors. Three wins. GTLM class. high notes to bookend the start?

Don’t miss the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and Watch us the FIA World Endurance Championship as they compete at the now on FOX Circuit of The Americas. TUDOR Championship Qualifying Friday, September 18 (All times EDT) 4:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. IMSA.com (Live), IMSA App Race Saturday, September 19 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. FOX Sports 2 (Live) Sunday, September 20 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. FOX Sports 1 (Re-air)

FIA World Endurance Championship Qualifying Friday, September 18 (All times EDT) 6:45 p.m. – 7:35 p.m. WEC App Race Saturday, September 19 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. FOX Sports 2 (Live), FOX Sports Go, WEC App

4 FAN FAVORITES

Auberlen/Werner BMW Team RLL • BMW Z4 GTE GT Le Mans Michelin 25

5 Westbrook/Valiante 90 Gavin/Milner 4 Fittipaldi/Barbosa • Corvette DP VisitFlorida.com Racing • Corvette DP Corvette Racing • Corvette C7.R Prototype Continental Prototype Continental GT Le Mans Michelin

10 Pruett/Hand 01 Fisichella/Kaffer 62 R. Taylor/J. Taylor Wayne Taylor Racing • Corvette DP • Ford Riley DP Risi Competizione • Ferrari F458 Italia Prototype Continental Prototype Continental GT Le Mans Michelin

60 Long/Miller 07 Tandy/Pilet 911 Pew/Negri Jr. Michael Shank Racing • Ligier JS P2 Mazda Motorsports • Mazda Porsche North America • Porsche 911 RSR Prototype Continental Prototype Continental GT Le Mans Michelin

Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000 • www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, August 5, 2015 • Volume 9, Issue 9 Printed on recycled paper • 10% Total No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. • Copyright © 2015 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Recovered Fiber • All Post-Consumed Fiber

5 WINNER: Rolex 24 At Daytona

Ford ECOBOOST RILEY DP Race Rolex 24 At Daytona Car No. 02 Ford EcoBoost Riley DP Weight 1038.727 kg / 2290 lbs Powertrain Twin-turbo 3.5 Liter Ford EcoBoost V6 Top speed in race 195.9 mph Fastest race lap 128.49 mph Race average speed 109.693 mph Pit stops 34 pit stops Fuel usage 546 gallons Tires 30 sets / Continental Total Distance 2,634.4 miles Qualifying Speed 129.061 mph Circuit length 3.56 miles

Race 24 Hours of Le Mans Car No. 19 Weight 870 kg / 1918 lbs Powertrain PorscheV4 + Hybrid Top speed in race 211.4 mph Fastest race lap 154.4 mph Race average speed 139.3 mph Pit stops 30 pit stops Fuel usage 500.87 gallons Tires 10 sets / Michelin Total Distance 3,452.3 miles Qualifying Speed 154.846 mph Porsche 919 Hybrid Circuit length 8.47 miles WINNER: 24 Hours of Le Mans WINNER: Rolex 24 At Daytona

Ford ECOBOOST RILEY DP Race Rolex 24 At Daytona Car No. 02 Ford EcoBoost Riley DP Weight 1038.727 kg / 2290 lbs Powertrain Twin-turbo 3.5 Liter Ford EcoBoost V6 Top speed in race 195.9 mph Fastest race lap 128.49 mph Race average speed 109.693 mph Pit stops 34 pit stops Fuel usage 546 gallons Tires 30 sets / Continental Total Distance 2,634.4 miles Qualifying Speed 129.061 mph Circuit length 3.56 miles

Race 24 Hours of Le Mans Car No. 19 Porsche 919 Hybrid Weight 870 kg / 1918 lbs Powertrain PorscheV4 + Hybrid Top speed in race 211.4 mph Fastest race lap 154.4 mph Race average speed 139.3 mph Pit stops 30 pit stops Fuel usage 500.87 gallons Tires 10 sets / Michelin Total Distance 3,452.3 miles Qualifying Speed 154.846 mph Porsche 919 Hybrid Circuit length 8.47 miles WINNER: 24 Hours of Le Mans FAN FAVORITES The PATRICK Show

Dumas/Jani/Lieb Porsche Team • Porsche 919 Hybrid LM P1 Michelin 18

1 Rusinov/Canal/Bird 26 Bruni/Vilander 51 Davidson/Buemi/Nakajima Racing • Toyota TS040 - Hybrid G-Drive Racing • Ligier JS P2 - Nissan AF Corse • Ferrari F458 Italia LM P1 Michelin LM P2 Dunlop GTE-Pro Michelin

8 Sharp/Dalziel/Heinemeier Hansson30 Lietz/Christensen 91 Duval/di Grassi/Jarvis Sport Team Joest • e-tron quattro Extreme Speed Motorsports • Ligier JS P2 - HPD Porsche Team Manthey • Porsche 911 RSR LM P1 Michelin LM P2 Dunlop GTE-Pro Michelin

12 Howson/Bradley/Lapierre 47 Turner/Mucke/Adam 97 Prost/Beche/Heidfeld • Rebellion R-One - AER KCMG • - Nissan Racing • Aston Martin Vantage V8 LM P1 Michelin LM P2 Dunlop GTE-Pro Michelin

8 FAN FAVORITES The PATRICK Show

His popular television character was written out of the show’s script earlier this year, but starred in a different show this summer. Dempsey realized his racing dream by finishing on the podium at Racing team the fabled 24 Hours of Le took on Aston Mans. Martin, Porsche, Dempsey’s well-earned Ferrari and Corvette 18 second place finish at Le rivals in the class. Mans in the popular GTE- “It’s hard to put into AM class, which combines words what this means,” Pro and Amateur drivers, an emotional Dempsey was the result of his own told Eurosport Television long running sports car at Le Mans. (Dempsey) and racing program. Dempsey After running in we’ve always dreamed has spent the past decade contention for podiums of climbing the podium building his racing skills and at Le Mans in both 2013, together. Now this dream experience here in when they led midway and has come true,” said Long North America and on the finished fourth, and again at Le Mans. They are ranked fourth international stage. with a fifth place finish The two Americans in the GTE-AM class He was joined aboard a in 2014, Dempsey shifted and Seefried arrive at the championship as the second Porsche 911 RSR by fellow his racing focus to the WEC’s sole North American half of the 2015 WEC series American and Porsche 2015 FIA World Endurance stop, The Lone Star Le begins. factory ace and Championship (WEC). Mans, fresh from a fourth A podium in the six-hour Germany’s Marco Seefried, “This is my third Le place class finish at the WEC race here in Texas 91 as his Dempsey–Proton Mans attempt with Patrick Nurburgring. would be a nice plot twist. Friday, September 18, 2015 8:00 am - 8:50 am Race #2 - Lamborghini Circuit of 9:10 am -10:10 am Practice #3 - TUDOR (All Classes) The Americas 10:30 am - 11:30 am Practice #3 - FIA WEC Schedule 12:40 pm - 3:10 pm Race - CTSC 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (GTD) Saturday, September 19, 2015 4:10 pm - 4:25 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (GTLM) 8:00 am - 8:20 am Warm Up - TUDOR (All Classes) 4:35 pm - 4:50 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (PC) 9:15 am -10:00 am TUDOR Autograph Session 5:00 pm - 5:15 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (P) 11:35 am - 2:15 pm Race - Lone Star Le Mans for the 5:45 pm - 6:05 pm Qualifying - FIA WEC (LMGTE PRO / AM) TUDOR United SportsCar Championship 6:15 pm - 6:35 pm Qualifying - FIA WEC (LMP1 / LMP2) 4:20 pm - 4:33 pm Grid Walk - FIA WEC 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm Race #2 - GT3 CUP 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm Race - FIA WEC - 6 Hours

9 There comes a time in nearly every championships are not simply possible, Marcel Fassler (39) (pictured below) race, season or career where a driver’s but expected. have been the winning combination talent and experience comes together Here are some who may be best for three overall victories in a magical blend of speed, consistency, known to North American fans: at Le Mans and a WEC discipline and creativity. Nick Tandy, a factory championship. Drivers in the zone seem to driver for Porsche Racing, is They currently lead the consistently optimize a car, a situation the hottest new prime time 2015 WEC championship or their performance. For some that player. In the past two years, heading into Circuit of zone is fleeting, while others seem to Tandy, now 30, has posted The Americas (COTA). set up residency. victories at Petit Le Mans, the Corvette Racing’s Exhibit In a Lone Star Le Mans paddock Rolex 24 At Daytona and the A is “rock star” Antonio filled with top factory shoes in both the biggest prize, the overall win at the Garcia (35). The quiet but TUDOR United SportsCar Championship 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans. ruthlessly efficient Spaniard now has and FIA World Endurance Championship He was also aboard the LMP2 class three Le Mans wins and an American Le (WEC), virtually every Pro class seat is winning car at the most recent WEC race Mans Series (ALMS) championship. filled by a young lion, a proven winner at the Nurburgring in Germany. He and co-driver Jan Magnussen or a prime time player. He and fellow Porsche factory team have posted six TUDOR Championship Dan Binks, crew chief for the 2015 prime timer (33) GTLM class victories in the last 16 races. Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 (pictured left) arrive with Garcia’s Corvette Racing teammate, Twelve Hours of Sebring GTLM class three consecutive TUDOR (29) (pictured right), is winning No. 3 Corvette calls that Championship GTLM class certainly in that prime zone. special time in a driver’s career, “the wins, taking victories in Since joining the team in 2011, sweet spot.” Canada, at Road America Milner has a pair of GTE Pro class It is that point, usually in their late and most recently at VIRginia wins at Le Mans, including this 20s to mid-30s, when a driver’s skills, International Raceway. past June when he teamed with focus and results are at their absolute Audi’s formidable trio of Andre veteran Oliver Gavin and young peak. Poles, wins, fastest race laps and Lotterer (33), Benoit Treluyer (38) and lion (see page 2) Jordan Taylor.

10 Milner and Gavin also claimed the Their Porsche Manthey Racing At some point, drivers reach their 2012 ALMS GT Championship. counterparts in WEC, peak, but some special drivers can With young drivers, teams look for (32) and Michael Christensen (25) led remain there for a long time. talent, speed, the ability to learn and a 1-2 finish in the GTE-Pro class at the Corvette’s Jan periodic flashes of brilliance. Nurburgring over teammates Pilet and Magnussen (pictured As a driver gains seat time and Frederic Makowiecki (34). right) and Oliver experience, the expectations are raised. Ferrari’s Gianmaria Gavin, Chip Ganassi Mistakes are no longer tolerated (Gimmi) Bruni (34) Racing’s , and the driver is in the car for the (pictured right) has three BMW’s , most difficult conditions and tactical GT class wins at Le Mans Risi Competizione Ferrari’s situations. and the 2013 FIA WEC and Porsche’s Porsche has a deep roster of proven championship to his credit. Jörg Bergmeister are virtually ageless, winners. Former ALMS and Le Mans BMW’s (36) has seemingly retaining all of their speed champions (37) and a record 49 career ALMS wins. and prowess while ignoring the (34) have been (36) is a past winner at calendar. key players in the Porsche Daytona and Sebring and a former Almost imperceptibly, others factory line up. ALMS GT champion. gradually lose a tenth of a second Mark Webber (39) He is currently paired with or two and get in trouble by forcing (pictured right) and Scott Pruett in a Chip Ganassi situations. Brendon Hartley Racing Ford EcoBoost Riley Prime timers are often the hidden (25) teamed with Prototype. The CGR Ford leaders in their respective teams as the Bernhard aboard firmament will soon expand mechanics, engineers and co-drivers look a Porsche 919 as the team gears up to to them to be the ultimate difference Hybrid prototype for field a total of four Ford GTs makers in incredibly close competition. the overall win at the with pairs in both the 2016 IMSA For them the look in the eyes of their Nurburgring. Dumas, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teammates in victory is the ultimate (31) and (35) finished second. and the FIA WEC. praise and reward.

11 CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS - 2015

PRIME TIME The world’s finest sports car drivers in their prime do battle in Texas Nick Tandy