Friday 31 August 2012

FIA WTCC: Newsletter.





  LADA COMPLETED SIX-DAY TEST IN FRANCE  
     
LADA COMPLETED SIX-DAY TEST IN FRANCE
LADA Sport works team continued the testing programme in preparation of their full season comeback to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2013.
Last week the Russian team completed a six-day test at Magny-Cours, France, with James Thompson at the wheel of the Granta Sport car. During the test the team focused on setting up suspension, steering and engine parameters.
Thompson commented: "I was very happy with the way the testing went, and the team can be very proud of what they have achieved in such a short time. We have worked through a very long test plan, which culminated in a big step forward both in drivability and performance."
Team principal Victor Shapovalov added: "Our two outings in Hungary and Portugal earlier this year, enabled us to collect a lot of information about the car. Our engineers have analyzed all the issues we had, and during the summer we prepared a lot of new parts that we have tested in Magny-Cours. This test was very useful for the team and I'm very satisfied with the results. The car's reliability is very good, as we didn't meet with any technical issues over the six days. The car has been hugely improved, but will keep on developing it according to the plans."In September the LADA Sport Team will return to Russia to start working on the 2013 car. The name of the driver who will team up with James Thompson will be announced later.
     
In Short...
      HONDA TESTED AT THE SLOVAKIA RING  
HONDA TESTED AT THE SLOVAKIA RING
The Honda Racing Team JAS completed their second track test with the Civic WTCC car, at the Slovakia Ring on Monday and Tuesday. Gabriele Tarquini took the wheel for most of the time, then Tiago Monteiro replaced him on Tuesday afternoon.Team Principal Alessandro Mariani commented: “It was a very good test. We were able to go through the full programme we had planned without meeting with the lesser technical issue. The track is excellent for testing as it offers both fast and slow corners. So we had the opportunity to work on the engine and the chassis set-up, and we also completed some long runs. We are very satisfied with the outcome. The performance is there, especially in terms of race pace. During the previous test at Vallelunga, we sensed the potential of the car; at the Slovakia Ring we have had the confirmation that this potential is really promising.”And Tarquini echoed: “The Civic is a very good racing car to work on. We have tried some different set up, testing its reaction. The results were encouraging. Our relationship with the Civic has just begun and I think we have only unveiled 25/30 percent of its potential. Performance is already there, so we are optimist. However we still have a long work to do and we must wait until we measure ourselves with the competitors.”
     
      TEAM ENGSTLER TO RUN THIRD CAR IN ASIA  
TEAM ENGSTLER TO RUN THIRD CAR IN ASIA
The Liqui Moly Team Engstler will run a third car in the Asian races. A 2-litre normally aspirated BMW 320si was shipped by the German outfit straight to Japan.In addition to the two BMW 320 TC cars of Franz Engstler and Charles Ng, Japanese racer Masaki Kano will drive the 320si at Suzuka, while Joseph Rosa-Merszei will compete in his home event at Macau.Both, Kano and Rosa-Merszei have already made occasional WTCC appearances in the previous seasons at the wheel of BMW cars.The team plan to run the third car in China as well. “We still have to finalize a deal, and in the next weeks we will evaluate the proposals,” team manager Kurt Treml unveiled.

Fabio Ravaioli/Media Delegate.

Monday 27 August 2012

Advanced active all-wheel drive for even more driving fun and safety Lighter, faster, more agile: the new 911 Carrera 4








Advanced active all-wheel drive for even more driving fun and safety

Lighter, faster, more agile: the new 911 Carrera 4

Stuttgart. The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 unites the excellent performance and efficiency of the new generation of the 911 Carrera with the dynamic benefits of the latest version of the active all-wheel drive system PTM (Porsche Traction Management). The typical Porsche all-wheel drive with rear-focused layout in this latest 911 version guarantees maximum vehicle dynamics on a wide variety of road surfaces and in all weather conditions. The new 911 Carrera 4 models deliver traction and dynamic performance the power of four.

The new all-wheel drive 911 is being launched on the market in four versions – as the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S and each as Coupé and Cabriolet. They sport the same traits as the rear-wheel drive versions: their lightweight body design, suspension, engines and gearboxes are identical, the only exception being modifications related to the all-wheel drive. This means that despite a higher level of engine and driving performance, all four models consume significantly less fuel than the previous models; total savings for individual versions are as much as 16 per cent. In addition, the new 911 Carrera 4 is up to 65 kg lighter in weight.

The most distinct identifying feature of the 911 with all-wheel drive is still the wide rear section: compared to the two-wheel drive 911 Carrera models, the rear wheel housings each extend further outward by 22 mm, and the rear tyres are each ten millimetres wider. The traditional red light band that connects the two taillights has also taken on a new form.

Porsche Intelligent Performance: high levels of driving performance, low fuel consumption
All new models have a 7-speed manual gearbox as standard, and the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox is available as an option. The 911 Carrera 4 Coupé with 350 hp (257 kW) can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 4.5 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.7 s) and reach a top speed of up to 285 km/h (Cabriolet: 282 km/h), depending on equipment features. Fuel consumption with PDK is 8.6 l/100 km (CO2 203 g/km) for the Coupé and 8.7 l/100 km (CO2 205 g/km) for the Cabriolet.

The Coupé and Cabriolet of the 911 Carrera 4 S each have a 3.8-litre rear-mounted boxer engine that produces 400 hp (294 kW); this enables acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.3 seconds) and a top speed of 299 km/h (Cabriolet: 296 km/h) with a suitable equipment configuration. Fuel consumption values with PDK are 9.1 l/100 km (CO2 215 g/km) for the Coupé and 9.2 l/100 km (CO2 217 g/km) for the Cabriolet.

New: all-wheel drive indicator, Porsche Active Safe, sliding glass sunroof, extended Sport Chrono pack
In the new 911 Carrera 4, a new menu in the instrument cluster informs the driver how the PTM all-wheel drive is currently distributing engine power. In addition, with the debut of the 911 Carrera all-wheel drive models Porsche is introducing the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to the entire model range, which controls distance to traffic ahead and vehicle speed. When ordered with PDK, the ACC system adds the safety function Porsche Active Safe (PAS), which helps to prevent front-end collisions. In addition, Porsche offers a new sliding glass sunroof as an optional feature for the 911 Carrera Coupé. Driving 911 cars with a manual gearbox and Sport Chrono pack can now be even sportier: In Sport Plus mode, the system automatically double-declutches during downshifts.

The new all-wheel drive models replace a very successful previous generation, of which a total of about 24,000 units have been sold since 2008. This represents a 34 per cent share of total sales of second generation 997 models. This previous generation launched with one of the greatest development steps in powertrain technology that the 911 with all-wheel drive ever made: new were the engines with direct petrol injection, Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox and electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (PTM). In July 2011, Porsche crowned the model series with the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, whose 3.8-litre engine was boosted to 408 hp (300 kW).

World premiere at the Paris International Motor Show
The new Porsche 911 Carrera with all-wheel drive will make its first public appearance at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show. The new 911 models will launch at the end of 2012. Prices in Germany are 97,557 euros for the 911 Carrera 4 Coupé and 110,290 euros for the Cabriolet. The 911 Carrera 4 S costs 112,313 euros as a Coupé and 125,046 euros as a Cabriolet. All prices include 19 per cent VAT and country-specific features.

Product and Technology Communication

Product Communication
Holger Eckhardt

World Endurance Championship, round 4 in Silverstone/Great Britain Third podium result for Porsche in the GTE Am class













World Endurance Championship, round 4 in Silverstone/Great Britain

Third podium result for Porsche in the GTE Am class

Stuttgart. At round four of the World Endurance Championship, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR brought home its third podium placing in the GTE Am class: Christian Ried (Germany) and his Italian teammates Paolo Ruberti and Gianluca Roda claimed third place in Silverstone at the wheel of the Felbermayr-Proton 911. So far this season, they have achieved a victory from the season-opening round in Sebring and second place in Spa-Francorchamps. In the GTE Pro category, Porsche factory drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) scored fourth place with their Felbermayr Porsche.

The six hour race on the storied race track in the British Midlands initially started out well for the #77 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with which drivers Richard Lietz and Marc Lieb had already won the race in Spa this year. After clinching pole position in an outstanding last lap dash, Richard Lietz got away well at the start of the race and took the lead until the first pit stop after one hour. Marc Lieb also kept his attacking opponents at bay and concluded his stint still holding the lead. But shortly after handing his Felbermayr Proton Porsche back to his teammate, a broken rear shock absorber robbed all hopes of bringing home their second win of the season.

“I was running well after our second pit stop when the right rear shock absorber broke suddenly,” said Richard Lietz. “Luckily I could still control the car. Although our pit crew was able to quickly change the part, we rejoined the race six laps down. With such strong opposition in our class, the race was over for us. It’s a shame, we had the best time in qualifying and today we had the speed to run at the very front of the field.” Marc Lieb said, “We’re right up there as far as performance is concerned, now we just have to improve the balance. It was most unfortunate for us - we could have secured a podium spot at the least. Still, the competition is getting better and the racing’s getting tighter. You can’t afford to have anything happen.”

Round five of the World Endurance Championship takes place on 15 September in Sao Paulo/Brazil.


Result
GTE Pro class
1. Fisichella/Bruni (I/I/), Ferrari F458 Italia, 171 laps
2. Walker/Cocker (GB/GB), Ferrari F458 Italia, 169
3. Mücke/Fernandez (D/MEX), Aston Martin Vantage, 168
4. Lieb/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 164

GTE Am class
1. Perazzini/Cioci/Griffin (I/I/GB), Ferrari F458 Italia, 166 laps
2. Bornhauser/Canal/Rees (FRA/FRA/BRA), Chevrolet Corvette, 166
3. Ried/Roda/Ruberti (D/I/I), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 166
4. Krohn/Jönsson/Rugolo (USA/S/I), Ferrari F458 Italia, 165
7. Camathias/Palttala/Daniels (CH/SF/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 161


The World Endurance Championship
Sports prototypes and GT vehicles race in the new World Endurance Championship. They are divided into four classes that start together but are classified separately:
LMGTE Pro class: This class is reserved for slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
LMGTE Am class: Like the LMGTE Pro, but the regulations stipulate that only last year’s cars are eligible and there must be no more than one professional driver per vehicle.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 440 hp and a 900 kilogram minimum weight.

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

Sunday 26 August 2012

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, race 13 in Zandvoort/Netherlands Fifth win of the season for René Rast












Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, race 13 in Zandvoort/Netherlands

Fifth win of the season for René Rast

Stuttgart. Time penalties for half of the field – that is an exception in Germany’s fastest one make race series. Still it happened at the 13th race of the season on the challenging former Grand Prix circuit of Zandvoort. And one of the beneficiaries was René Rast. Driving for the Team Deutsche Post by tolimit he did not cross the finish line as the winner but was classified as first. With his fifth victory of the season, Rast has extended his series lead to twelve points over his closest rival with four races left on the calendar. Second place went to Jeroen Bleekemolen from the Netherlands at his guest appearance for Attempto Racing. And scoring third place, Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) earned more crucial points towards his diminishing chance in the title race.

For the double champion of the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and Carrera Cup champion of 2008, René Rast, this result was quietly satisfying: The seasoned campaigner made a mistake during yesterday’s race at the end of the safety car phase and lost certain victory because of the subsequent penalty. Today, Rast only saw the flag in third after a rather uneventful race. But because the first two, Norbert Siedler (Austria, Konrad Motorsport) and Nicki Thiim (Denmark, Hermes Attempto Racing), were given a 30-second time penalty due to driving too fast under the yellow flag, Rast was handed his fifth victory of the season.

Jeroen Bleekemolen gladly accepted the surprise gift of second place. As a guest starter, however, his job was first and foremost to stock up the points’ account for the Attempto squad – and he certainly did this well. For Sean Edwards, third place was a positive outcome for a race that started badly. After taking off into the sprint from third on the grid, the Briton was shunted and was running only in seventh after the first lap. On the narrow track on the North Sea coast, overtaking is difficult enough anyway, but rain early this morning complicated the situation even more. Because away the racing line the track was damp and at times wet. Feisty Edwards managed to slip past guest starter Jeroen Mul (Netherlands, Team Bleekemolen), but he had no chance against Jeroen Bleekemolen at his home round.

Fourth and fifth place went to two pilots, Norbert Siedler und Nicki Thiim, who fought a gripping duel at the front over the entire race distance: Heading into race 13 from pole position, the Dane immediately moved into the lead, while the Austrian only started from fifth place, but quickly tucked in behind Thiim. Afterwards, Siedler stuck to Thiim’s bumper over two-thirds of the race distance – until he finally nabbed him in the 15th lap. Jaap van Lagen (Netherlands, FE Racing by Land-Motorsport) was another driver to be stripped of his fourth place after driving too fast under yellow.

Porsche Junior Michael Christensen took home seventh position from Sunday’s race. The 21-year-old headed into the race from ninth, made up two places early on and with plenty of space behind and in front of him, drove a lonely race to the flag. Behind him in eighth and ninth respectively came two Dutch guest pilots competing for Team Bleekemolen, Jeroen Mul and Sebastiaan Bleekemolen. Clemens Schmid (Austria, SWITCH IT Lechner Racing) grabbed the last top ten spot, while the second Porsche Junior Klaus Bachler (Austria, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) made up three places to finish in eleventh and earn more points as well as gain experience on this demanding circuit.

Tomorrow, on 27 August, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. And on Sport1, Carrera Cup highlights will be aired on Saturday, 1 September, from 15.00 to 15.30 hours.

René Rast (winner): “How does the saying go? You learn from your mistakes. What Nicki and Norbert did today, happened to me on the Red Bull Ring. Today I very deliberately slowed down because I thought something like this would happen. So I won the race today that I threw away yesterday. Points lead extended, team classification extended – a very satisfying day.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen (second): “My start was not good and I fell back slightly. It was a difficult race today because only the racing line was dry. That was weird with the penalty. The track became faster because it had dried up. After René and my mishap yesterday where we were handed the time penalty, I was extra careful today. And ironically the two of us finished in first and second.”

Sean Edwards (third): “I got away well at the start but Norbert forced me to the outside and hit me hard. He said it was wet on the inside, which I don’t understand. But the result is okay and now I’m looking forward to Oschersleben.”

Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, seventh): “I didn’t see the yellow flag and I only realised something was up when the green flag came out. I’m happy with my race today. I started from ninth and finished in seventh. I couldn’t have done better.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, eleventh): “I’m really happy with today. Firstly, I drove from 14th on the grid to finish eleventh, secondly I matched the lap times of the front-runners on a drying track, which is particularly pleasing. Unfortunately I didn’t see the yellow flag and I received a penalty. Otherwise I could easily have moved up a few positions.”

Result race 13
1. René Rast (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 35:02.465 minutes
2. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Attempto Racing, + 3.198
3. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 4.544
4. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 27.510
5. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 29.335
6. Jaap van Lagen (NL), FE Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 32.430
7. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, + 46.511
8. Jeroen Mul (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 47.358
9. Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 47.358
10. Clemens Schmid (A), SWITCH IT Lechner Racing, + 48.122
11. Klaus Bachler (A), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 48.906

Result Amateurs

1. Hoevert Vos (NL), Land-Motorsport, 35:51.507 minutes
2. Christina Nielsen (DK), Farnbacher ESET Racing, + 26.253 seconds
3. Bill Barazetti (D), MRS GT-Racing, + 12.607

Drivers’ standings after 13 of 17 races
1. René Rast (D), 195 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 183
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), 140
4. Norbert Siedler (A), 139
5. Kévin Estre (F), 131

Amateur classification
1. Bill Barazetti (D), 202 points
2. Wolf Nathan (NL), 185
3. Harrie Kolen (NL), 165

Rookie classification
1. Kévin Estre (F), 131 Punkte
2. Michael Christensen (DK), 108
3. Philipp Frommenwiler (CH), 88

Team classification:
1. Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 383 points
2. Hermes Attempto Racing, 274
3. Konrad Motorsport, 249

Preview for races 14 and 15 in Oschersleben

Now it’s getting serious. In three weeks, on 14 to 16 September, the Carrera Cup Deutschland contests races 14 and 15 in the Motorsport-Arena Oschersleben – and heads onto the finish straight of the season. The 3.696 kilometre Oschersleben circuit is twisty and offers very few chances to overtake. Nevertheless, spectators last year were treated to some thrilling fights that was characterised by heavier rainfall.
Three drivers battled for honours at the front – the very same drivers who make up the top group this year: René Rast saw the flag in second last year, Nicki Thiim posted pole position and finished the race in third, and Sean Edwards still managed to snatch fifth place despite losing a front splitter. Following this year’s race in Zandvoort, René Rast travels to the next round topping the points, followed by Sean Edwards and Nicki Thiim.

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, race 12 in Zandvoort/Netherlands Sean Edwards wins in rain chaos










Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, race 12 in Zandvoort/Netherlands

Sean Edwards wins in rain chaos

Stuttgart. At first it looked like a comfortable fifth win of the season for points’ leader René Rast (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) – but then things were turned upside down at race 12 of the Carrera Cup Deutschland in Zandvoort. When the race was stopped after eight laps due to torrential rain, Rast’s teammate Sean Edwards was announced as winner. This marked the fourth win of the season for the Briton. Nicki Thiim was as thrilled with his surprising second place (Denmark, Hermes Attempto Racing) as Jaap van Lagen (FE Racing by Land-Motorsport) was about securing the last podium spot at his home round.

What had happened? Both the leader René Rast as well as second-placed guest driver Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands, Attempto Racing) were handed a drive-through penalty which was then changed to a 30-second penalty. The pair had accelerated too early at the end of the safety car phase that was initiated when Dutchman Harrie Kolen (Land-Motorsport) flew off the track in lap three. For points’ leader Rast (Germany), the consequences were not too dire: Because the race was red-flagged before 75 percent of the 14-lap sprint had been run, only half the amount of points were awarded. Nevertheless, this win puts title rival Edwards close on his opponent’s bumper.

For two-time winner this season and pole-sitter for Sunday’s race, Nicki Thiim’s second position has given him an extra boost in the overall standings. The Dane now ranks fourth and sits just three points shy of third place, currently occupied by his French teammate Kévin Estre. The reigning champion of the French Carrera Cup and points’ leader of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup saw the flag on the North Sea coast as fourth.

Austria’s Clemens Schmid (SWITCH IT Lechner Racing) regarded his seventh grid spot in qualifying as a good omen for some long-awaited progress. So he was all the more delighted to repeat his Norisring result and see the flag in fifth. Sixth and seventh position went to Jeroen Mul and Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, two guest drivers from the Netherlands competing for Team Bleekemolen. For Porsche Junior Klaus Bachler (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit), the day ended rather positively with eighth at Saturday’s race. After qualifying in 13th, the Austrian was disappointed. But now he and other drivers behind him profit from the fact that guest drivers are not eligible to earn points and the points-earning regular pilots move up. Philipp Eng (Austria, MRS GT-Racing) and Hoevert Vos (Land-Motorsport) round off the top ten. Finishing in tenth overall, the Dutchman celebrated his fifth win of the season in the amateur classification.

Rank 20 was the result of the second Porsche Junior Michael Christensen after a bungled race. Driving for the Konrad Motorsport squad, the Dane had taken up the race from ninth on the grid, but made a misjudgement while overtaking, spun and rejoined the race at the back of the field.

Race 13 of the season takes off tomorrow at 9.30 hrs and can be viewed in high quality live on the official Porsche website (www.porsche.com) - with editorial clips prior to the actual live-streaming, live-timing and a commentary in German and English. As always, on the Monday after the race weekend (27 August), news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. And on Sport1, Carrera Cup highlights will be aired on Saturday, 1 September, from 15.00 to 15.30 hours.

Sean Edwards (winner): “That was the craziest race of my life. When the safety car phase came to an end I was surprised that René and Jeroen were so early on the throttle. It would have been better for me if the safety car had been deployed again and we could have finished the race. But nevermind. The main thing is that I’m now closer to René in the drivers’ classification.”

Nicki Thiim (second): “In the first half of the season I experienced a lot of bad luck, now it plagues the others. After my win on the Nürburgring everything’s going smoothly. Tomorrow I start from pole position and I aim to win.”

Jaap van Lagen (third): “My start was okay, I started and finished on fifth. At the end of the safety car phase I drove really carefully. I didn’t want to make any mistakes. It’s a shame that the race was stopped. A change to wet tyres would have given the spectators a great show! Now we only receive half the points and that’s a pity.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, eighth): “My starting position was nothing to rave about, so I tried to do better in the race. Because of all the incidents I finished in eighth which is better than I had expected. It was crazy when the rain set in. I told myself to take it easy. What a shame they halted the race, it would have been great fun.”

Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, 20th): “My start was okay and I was able to match the pace in the first laps. When I tried to overtake Jeroen Mul he closed the door on me. We touched and I spun. The mistake was mine. I had to let the entire field go past – and that was an awful feeling. Then the rain started and I was the first driver to pit for wet tyres. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged a few seconds later.”

Result race 12
1. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 15:14.551 minutes
2. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 0.695 seconds
3. Jaap van Lagen (NL), FE Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 1.210
4. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 1.974
5. Clemens Schmid (A), SWITCH IT Lechner Racing, + 2.980
6. Jeroen Mul (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 3.558
7. Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 5.028
8. Klaus Bachler (A), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 8.386
9. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, + 10.141
10. Hoevert Vos (NL), Land-Motorsport, + 10.670

Result amateurs
1. Hoevert Vos (NL), Land-Motorsport, 15:25.221 minutes
2. Wolf Nathan (NL), FE Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 5.275 seconds
3. Bill Barazetti (D), MRS GT-Racing, + 12.607

Driver classification after 12 of 17 races
1. René Rast (D), 175 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 167
3. Kévin Estre (F), 131
4. Nicki Thiim (DK), 128
5. Norbert Siedler (A), 125

Amateur classification
1. “Bill Barazetti” (D), 186 points
2. Wolf Nathan (NL), 175
3. Harrie Kolen (NL), 151