British F1 talent returns to Autosport
One of Britain’s present F1 talents, Paul Di Resta made his Autosport debut during the course of the 2012 event. This year he is one of a number of motorsport driving stars to visit the event.
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Donington's Dunlop Bridge to be auctioned
NewsThe Dunlop Bridge was a fixture of Donington Park for 30 years before a revamp of the circuit saw it out of commission. A deal signed with the Goodwood Revival will see the bridge auctioned on 15 September, with funds raised to be donated to local Leicestershire and Rutland charity, Hope for Cancer. Established in 1977, like its close counterpart at Le Mans, the bridge became a landmark as part of Donington Park’s rich racing history, which hosted some of the world’s most watched races, including British Tour Car Championship and MotoGP action.
Team Falken repeats Baltimore ALMS GT class victory
MotorsportTeam Falken’s strong tyre performance and experience in last year’s victory allowed it to score a repeat performance at the Baltimore stage of the American Le Mans Series in the GT class. Having spent limited time on the track during practice, including some “light contact with the wall”, Team manager Derrick Walker chose Falken’s 2011 Baltimore tyres over the “new generation” tyres. “We relied on our track record at Baltimore, and the rest was indeed history,” stated Kevin Jones, Falken’s ALMS supervisor.
Hankook-sponsored Millen masters Pike Peak in record time
MotorsportThe victor in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb conquered the 'Race To The Clouds' in record time – and this is good news for Hankook Tire, as the protagonist responsible for this feat was none other than Hankook-sponsored driver Rhys Millen. The New Zealander’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe – fitted with Ventus F200 racing slicks – reached the summit with an overall time of 9:46:164 to claim victory over a field of almost 200 cars and motorcyclists. Millen’s Hyundai is the same car that his professional racer father Rod Millen drove to a world record time in the Time Attack 2WD class at last year's running of the race.
Brembo supplies two-thirds of Le Mans entrants
Product NewsFifty-six race cars from around the world took to Le Mans on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 June for the classic 24 Hours of Le Mans, and brake disc manufacturer, Brembo supplied more than two-thirds of the field with its lightweight, long-lasting brake technology. Lightness was of particular importance this year, as Audi’s No.1 R18 e-tron Quattro became the first event-winning hybrid. According to Brembo, most of the prototypes run lightweight monobloc aluminum calipers with carbon-carbon discs, 380mm in front and 355 or 332mm on the rear axle, while GT cars are required to use the heavier cast iron rotors. The Italian brake manufacturer has been dominant in its field at the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe and this year Brembo supplied 18 LMP prototypes and 18 GT cars, including every Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche.
Wet French MotoGP a “challenge” for Bridgestone’s Azuma
NewsBridgestone’s wet tyres were employed at the rain-lashed Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans for last Sunday’s French MotoGP and an exciting wet race ensued. With two wet tyre compounds available, the softer was preferred by riders due to their greater warm-up performance and initial grip on a very cool track, where temperatures struggled to surpass 25°C. Masao Azuma, chief engineer, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Department explained how the weekend panned out according to the tyre supplier:
Lorenzo claims Le Mans MotoGP victory on Bridgestone wets
NewsJorge Lorenzo dominated the field on his Yamaha Factory Racing M1 in a wet French MotoGP to claim his second win of the season, ten seconds ahead of Ducati’s Valentino Rossi, moving him to the top of the Championship standings ahead of third-placed Casey Stoner. All the riders chose to use Bridgestone’s soft wet tyres on front and rear on a cool, sodden track, increasing warm-up performance and initial grip. Bridgestone said the reduced standing water as the race went on resulted in very little degradation, since the majority of riders setting their personal best times in the latter stages of the race.
Bridgestone provides asymmetric MotoGP tyre for Le Mans
NewsBridgestone is at Le Mans this weekend for the fourth round of the 2012 season, where it will provide an asymmetric rear tyre to deal with the demands of the circuit’s emphasis on right-hand turns. Hiroshi Yamada, manager at Bridgestone’s Motorsport Department, said: “Le Mans is a special place to visit with the large crowds and history of the venue combining to create a unique atmosphere and over the years the French GP has provided some very challenging races due to the poor weather conditions encountered at this time of year.
Falken reveals new Porsche livery for ALMS
MotorsportTyre manufacturer, Falken has unveiled its 2012 Porsche 997 RSR livery for the American Le Mans Series ahead of its second Sebring test on 28 and 29 February. Bryan Sellers will share the new for 2012 car with Wolf Henzler in the ALMS season opener at the Florida venue on 17 March.
Pirelli sponsors Le Mans 24 camping Village
MotorsportPirelli has announced that it will sponsor this year’s Village on the Curves at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Formerly known as the Porsche Owners International Village, the Village on the Curves is situated at a spectacular vantage point on the 8.5 mile Circuit de la Sarthe. The cars enter the Porsche Curves in fifth gear, which is a fast but narrow complex of sweeping bends at the very end of the lap with little run-off, making it one of the best places to watch the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Michelin shrinks Le Mans tyre for DeltaWing
NewsOn 27 January Michelin unveiled the first set of specially designed race tyres for the Project 56 DeltaWing vehicle that will compete in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. And the tyre maker says that just one look at the tyres, and their “unique” size, makes the radical nature of the US group’s prototype design obvious.
Dunlop to support National Motorsport Week
MotorsportNational Motorsport Week, which will run between 25 June and 3 July, will receive the backing of UK motorsport tyre manufacturer Dunlop, the company has announced. The initiative is led by the Motor Sports Association and the Motorsport Industry Association and is intended to encourage more people to participate in motorsport and reaffirm the country’s dominant position internationally.
Michelin North America begins 2011 Green X Challenge
NewsThe third running of the Michelin Green X Challenge gets underway in North America on March 19, and the tyre maker says the season opener at the Sebring circuit in Florida will offer “a glimpse into the future of technology and innovation that become more relevant every day.” The US based Green X Challenge recognises the Prototype and GT category cars that prove “cleanest, fastest, most efficient” in the “race within the race” at every American Le Mans Series event. Similar competitions are now also part of every Asian and European Le Mans Series event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.
Charlie Shears Seals Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship
MotorsportWith a victory and a third place finish in Rounds 12 and 13 of the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship at Mosport, Canada, Charlie Shears clinched both the Lites1 class overall championship and the Masters Class Championship with a race weekend to spare. The American tyre manufacturer-backed Championship features racing between two sports racer prototype classes, Lites 1 and Lites 2, presenting a dimension of competition as drivers must be aware of classes with distinctly different speeds, a similar challenge to that faced by the drivers of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.
Michelin to Field Longer Lasting Tyres at Le Mans
MotorsportMichelin is hoping to walk away with its 13th consecutive win at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. To achieve this, the tyre maker says its engineers, chemists, developers and technicians have prepared a new line-up of even more durable tyres. Working with its partners, Michelin has focused on increasing tyre life without sacrificing performance in other areas. This year the company’s stated goal at the 24 hour race is to quadruple the length of each stint for prototypes and to double them for GT cars.
