Browse by Tags
Posted
Jun 19 2011, 02:30 PM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 8 comment(s)
Ticker tape, the streets lined with people cheering and shouting, drivers running down the sides of the road waving and signing as they go. Rock stars for a day. The drivers' parade on the Friday evening before the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an incredible experience. Even the drivers who have experienced it before can't help but be open-mouthed at the event – here's Finnish driver Toni Vilander, who was driving the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 in GTE-Pro. For newcomers like Nascar star...
More...
Posted
Jun 17 2011, 09:58 PM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 24 comment(s)
The Le Mans 24 Hours is about so much more than the 56 cars on track. 24 hours applies to the racecars, but for a lot of the 240,000 spectators the events is more like a week-long auto carnival. The sprawling interior of the Circuit De La Sarthe – for 358 days of the year a sleepy light-industrial area – is subdivided into lots and inundated with private and public camping areas. With the tens of thousands of tents come tens of thousands of sportscars, and the sheer number and variety...
More...
Posted
Jun 12 2011, 04:10 PM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 19 comment(s)
What a finish! Both Audi and Corvette were hard pushed right to the very end at Le Mans this year, and had to earn their victories in LMP1 and GTE respectively. The surviving #2 Audi R18 driven by Benoit Treluyer, Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer crossed the line just 13 seconds ahead of the first of the quartet of Peugeot 908s – finishing a battle between the #2 and #9 Peugeot that started 13 hours earlier and ebbed and flowed throughout the night and all the way to the flag. The #9 Peugeot...
More...
Posted
Jun 11 2011, 03:00 PM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 4 comment(s)
The GTE battle has been exactly as expected: hard-fought and close. It's the #74 Chevrolet Corvette of Oliver Gavin, Richard Westbrook and Jan Magnussen that's at the head of the field – but it's being chased hard by a pack of Ferraris and Porsches. The race is neutralised at the moment, with a second safety car period that's likely to last quite some time as barriers are being repaired. The BMWs have faded slightly after suffering problems in the first couple of hours, but...
More...
Posted
Mar 30 2011, 06:00 AM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 20 comment(s)
Let's start with my second look at the Automaxx Streetpower event. This R33 underwent a full transformation with a new paintjob, carbon parts and a new R34 nose transplant. It looked pretty spectacular with its bright paintjob. The TR Racing R34 GT-R had a pretty funky color but underneath its skin lies a fully built engine. The twins have been exchanged for one giant single turbo that resulted in a 750bhp engine. The car actually belongs to Shane Smith who also competes in the UK Time Attack...
More...
Posted
Mar 18 2011, 07:30 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 20 comment(s)
The 59th running of the 12hours of Sebring takes place this weekend and will kick off a series of GT racing previews on Speedhunters. This year, the Sebring Endurance race plays host to the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the regular American Le Mans Series. It makes for a packed grid of 56 cars, with a confusing number of classes…. Most cars are entered in one or the other series. A few, such as BMW are running in both. Confusing! The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) is a series of Endurance...
More...
Posted
Feb 03 2011, 11:00 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 18 comment(s)
Peugeot launched their all-new 908 Endurance Racer earlier today on the Champs-Elysees in Paris The French manufacturer confirmed it will continue to use the 3700cc V8 Turbocharged Diesel unit despite previously showing the Hybrid in the past. New regulations require a reduction on power for 2011 so aerodynamics are proving crucial in development. Its no surprise Peugeot have retained the Coupe layout. Under the updated livery, the car is all-new. According to Peugeot, the only component which has...
More...
Posted
Dec 29 2010, 03:23 PM
by
John Brooks
with 6 comment(s)
Le Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans is without doubt the biggest motor race in the world. The Indianapolis 500 may have more spectators on the day or at least it did when it had relevance. There may be bigger yachts moored at Monaco with even bigger egos on display, during the Grand Prix but Le Mans is the daddy when it comes to recognition from the non petrolheads. From the hordes of fanatical supporters and fans to the teams and drivers, from all parts of the racing spectrum, it is the cornerstone of...
More...
Posted
Dec 28 2010, 07:00 PM
by
John Brooks
with 6 comment(s)
While the attention of the SpeedHunters' Tribe when focused on sportscar track action natuarlly gravitates towards the GT battles, witness the scale of coverage on this site, there is, of course, another side to that form of racing. The Prototypes. The contest is played out at the sharp end of the field and in the past few years the speeds have risen to all time record level. The winning Audi at Le Mans this June finally broke the distance record set by Gijs Van Lennep and Helmut Marko in the...
More...
Posted
Oct 11 2010, 04:45 AM
by
John Brooks
with 9 comment(s)
Rage against the Night. McNish's Audi R15 chases the Peugeots but even he can't make up the gap. 2-0 to the French, a whitewash in China? Allez Les Blues! Who can you believe these days? I feel like a politician. I boldly make a statement, totally convinced that I am right, then it turns out to be utter tosh. A quick look at my work schedule shows that I have still to write my PLM wrap up. So here goes. Reputation shot to pieces. The 2010 edition of Petit Le Mans may well go down in history...
More...
Posted
Oct 03 2010, 07:20 PM
by
John Brooks
with 10 comment(s)
October arrives bringing with it the final episodes of 2010. At this time of year motorsport pulls down the shutters and prepares for the winter, and hopefully, the spring. There are still some rituals to be observed, the last Grand Prix and the Formula One titles, Macau and in North America, Petit Le Mans. This instant classic, brought to a grateful public some 12 years ago by the Don Panoz and the ACO, is the punctuation mark, the full stop, that completes the real endurance season. The 2010 race...
More...
Posted
Jun 18 2010, 01:45 AM
by
John Brooks
with 15 comment(s)
Fire in the Hole! Franck Montagny peers into his mirror..............and sees his (and realistically Peugeot's) chance of winning the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours disappear. It is 7.00am on Sunday morning and the #2 Peugeot was in cruise mode with a lap or two in hand over the chasing Audis. Then the 908 arrives once again at Terte Rouge, this time the engine lets go and the dream is over. Motorsport can be a cruel past time. Wind the clock on by 8 hours and Audi led by #9 cross the finish line celebrate...
More...
Posted
Jun 13 2010, 06:50 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 29 comment(s)
Few people would have bet Audi could win the 2010 Le Mans after qualifying earlier this week, let alone finish 1-2-3 for a third time! A great race and fantastic experience here in France. With just 75 minutes to go, the final Peugeot blew up. You have to feel sorry for the French team after almost 24 hours. They were in tears. Provisional results are:- LMP1 (and overall) 1. Audi R15 plus TDI (Bernhard, Dumas, Rockenfeller) 2. Audi R15 plus TDI (Lotterer, Faessler, Treluyer) 3. Audi R15 plus TDI...
More...
Posted
Jun 13 2010, 03:58 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 5 comment(s)
As the sun rose earlier this morning, Franck Montagny’s dream of winning Le Mans came to an abrupt end when flames were seen on the right hand side engine cover. Montagny had to stop the car and despite his best efforts, the car was retired, leaving Peugeot to concentrate its efforts behind car #1 of Anthony Davidson, Alex Wurz and Marc Gene. Around the same time, the #63 Corvette also retired with an engine crank sensor, giving the lead to its sister car. Corvette had more trouble an hour...
More...
Posted
Jun 12 2010, 09:00 PM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 5 comment(s)
Just the one image this time around which sums up everyone in the pitlane and those who stayed upstairs in the press room. I've been down in the pitlane for a couple of hours. As we enter the 15th hour, the Peugeots now seen to have gained some dominance again. The #2 car, currently driven by Nicholas Minassian leads by two laps from the #9 Audi and #1 Peugeot. Top petrol car are the two Lola-Aston Martins. LMP2 remains the Strakka HPD. Saleen leads the GT1 class. The two Corvettes continue to...
More...
Posted
Jun 12 2010, 05:20 PM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 3 comment(s)
We are almost at the half way point here at Le Mans. Despite a few problems earlier in the evening, Peugeot remain in 1st and 2nd. However, it is the ORECA Matmut car which is 2nd. Anthony Davidson had a small off, we think due to a collision with a Corvette, resulting in a drop to 6th place. This has allowed Romain Dumas in the #9 Audi R15 plus TDI into 3rd place, 55 seconds behind the 2nd place Peugeot. The other two Audi's follow. The Audi's are closer than most people thought, although...
More...
Posted
Jun 12 2010, 12:47 PM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 4 comment(s)
As we near 10pm local time, seven hours into the race, we have seen a few high profile retirements including the #61 MaTech Ford GT, Flying Lizard Porsche and both ‘Art Cars’, the BMW and the Dunlop Aston Martin. Peugeot continue to lead with Alex’ Wurz currently 2 minutes ahead of team mate Nicolas Minassian. Olivier Panis is the third Peugeot in the non works car. The Audi’s have been split by the 007 Lola Aston Martin. This follows an incident when a slowing Andy Priaulx...
More...
Posted
Jun 12 2010, 09:05 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 4 comment(s)
The 2010 is underway. Seems strange to think three hours are already in the books. The #3 Peugeot led from pole but as we came up to the three hour mark, this car was brought into the pits with what appears to be a broken suspension pick-up point. The pole-sitting Peugeot has now been confirmed as retired. The big news early on was a accident with Nigel Mansell at the wheel of his Ginetta Zytek. Mansell had earlier straight lined a chicane. It appears Mansell suffered a puncture, but it has not been...
More...
Posted
Jun 10 2010, 06:20 PM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 1 comment(s)
Within minutes of the conculsion of qualifying at Le Mans, Peugeot already had their mock newpaper headline placed on their #3 Peugeot of Sebastien Bourdais, Pedro Lamy and Simon Pagenaud. Cheeky! Their time remained from yesterday, but the Peugeots were backing off in the final sector. Peugeot locked out the top four slots, with Audi slightly closer than last night. Mike Rockenfeller edging out Allan McNish. It remains to be seen if Audi can challenge the lions during in the race. LMP2 Pole went...
More...
Posted
Jun 10 2010, 11:14 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 10 comment(s)
The cars finally took to the track at La Sarthe on Wednesday afternoon for their first practice session and it was immediately apparent Audi was up against it. Peugeot were quick, straight out of the box, where as Audi's appeared to struggle. A concerned Allan McNish explaining his concerns to Audi engineer, Howden 'H' Haynes. The first qualifying session got underway at 10pm. Despite the weather forecast, the track stayed dry. Peugeot continued there dominance with the French manufacturer...
More...