Monday 29 November 2010

Muehlner Motorsport P3 en Campeonato GT Masters 2010.


En la Ciudad Alemana de Essen se esta celebrando el ESSEN Motorshow mundial, en esta semana fue premiado los 3 Mejores equipos de la GT Masters.

El turno de recibir el trofeo por el P3 absoluto en la temporada 2010 fue para Renate Carola Muehlner esposa de nuestro gran amigo Bernhard Muehlner propietarios de Muehlner Motorsport.

El trofeo fue recibido de manos de Hermann Tomczyk Presidente de ADAC Sports.
Otro gran exito para un gran equipo.

Sunday 28 November 2010

Audi Motorsport




Motorsport Newsletter 37/2010


  • Podium result for Audi at DTM finale
  • Audi presents GT4 concept
  • Audi driver Albuquerque wins Race of Champions
  • Double podium success “down under”
  • Audi R8 LMS at the Essen Motor Show
  • Audi IT launches motorsport project
Podium result for Audi at DTM finale

DTM:
Timo Scheider clinched a podium result for Audi at the DTM’s world final in Shanghai (China). After a serious accident in qualifying the Audi A4 DTM of the two-time DTM Champions had to be repaired from scratch overnight. In the race that was shortened from 60 to 49 laps Scheider advanced from grid position four to third place. An early stopping of the race destroyed his chance to also overtake the new DTM Champion Paul Di Resta. Martin Tomczyk and Miguel Molina shone with overtaking maneuvers in places four and five. Markus Winkelhock in seventh place scored points for the second consecutive time.

Audi presents GT4 concept

GT4:
On the occasion of the DTM race in Shanghai Audi presented the concept of a GT4 vehicle based on the Audi TT. The TT developed by the Technical Development and Production divisions plus quattro GmbH is intended to extend Audi’s new modular customer sport program from 2012 forward and to offer potential customers a base option for affordable motorsport at a price of about 120,000 euros.

Audi driver Albuquerque wins Race of Champions

ROC:
Filipe Albuquerque, who contested the Italian GT Championship this year for Audi Sport Italia in an Audi R8 LMS, surprisingly won the Race of Champions in Düsseldorf. At the finale, the 25-year-old Portuguese defeated World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, who had previously eliminated Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen. In the competition of the world’s best race and rally drivers the Audi R8 LMS was fielded as well this year, for the first time. At the wheel of the GT3 sports car Albuquerque defeated Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel as he was heading toward overall victory in Düsseldorf.

Double podium success "down under"

GT Australia:
At the finale of the Australian GT Championship’s season at Sandown Park Audi driver Mark Eddy clinched two podium places. The Australian took third place at both rounds in his Audi R8 LMS. In Sunday’s race the seasoned, 50-year-old campaigner was just short of three seconds to the winner. The result marked the conclusion of Penfold Audi Sport Team’s first season in the GT3 Championship in sixth place overall. Eddy achieved eight top-ten results in total.

Audi R8 LMS at the Essen Motor Show

GT3:
64 victories and seven champion’s titles have been clinched by the Audi R8 LMS in its first two years of being fielded - interest in Audi’s GT3 sports car is accordingly high. At the Essen Motor Show (November 27 to December 5) Audi Sport will provide information on the Audi R8 LMS to potential customers at the Bilstein booth in hall 3.0.

Audi IT launches motorsport project

Clubsport:
The Audi IT department and Brandl Motorsport GmbH, Walldürn (Germany), have jointly launched the new "Audi IT - Fascination Motorsport" project. By fielding a production-based Audi TT RS in races on the Nürburgring-Norschleife the Audi IT team, consisting of members of Audi departments and Audi IT plus strategic partners, aims to strengthen the cooperation with external partners in the IT environment across departmental and external boundaries. In case of questions about the project please contact the colleagues by e-mail at audi-it@audi.de.

News bits

Audi "factory" driver Dindo Capello finished the Rally di Monza as the runner-up behind WRC driver Daniel Sordo.

Results and points

Shanghai (CN), November 28, DTM, round 11
1 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) 49 laps in 51m 57.657s
2 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes) + 3.751s
3 Timo Scheider (Audi A4 DTM) + 4.212s
4 Martin Tomczyk (Audi A4 DTM) + 5.341s
5 Miguel Molina (Audi A4 DTM) + 16.306s
...
7 Markus Winkelhock (Audi A4 DTM) + 19.469s
9 Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 DTM) + 23.554s
12 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 DTM) + 35.319s
14 Katherine Legge (Audi A4 DTM) + 39.710s
17 Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 DTM) - 2 laps
Final standings: 1 Di Resta, 71 points; 2 Paffett, 67; 3 Spengler, 66; 4 Scheider, 53; 5 Ekström, 35; ... 7 Rockenfeller, 22; 8 Tomczyk, 20; 9 Jarvis, 18; 10 Molina, 15; 11 Prémat, 12; 12 Winkelhock, 7.

Sandown (AUS), November 20, Australian GT Championship, round 13
1 Tony Quinn (Mosler) 22 laps in 30m 20.657s
2 James Koundouris (Porsche) + 3.771s
3 Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS) + 20.960s
4. Ash Samadi (Mosler) + 37.618s
5 Marc Cini (Porsche) + 38.944s
Sandown (AUS), November 21, Australian GT Championship, round 14
1. Tony Quinn (Mosler) 22 laps in 30m 43.594s
2. James Koundouris (Porsche) + 2.247s
3. Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS) + 3.055s
4. Ash Samadi (Mosler) + 6.839s
5. David Wall (Porsche) + 9.724s
Final standings: 1 Wall, 475.5 points; 2 Koundouris, 444.5; 3 Grant, 440.5; 4 Quinn, 406.0; 5 Hackett, 397.0; 6 Eddy, 386.5.

Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/ Acreditated and Autorized Press.

Friday 19 November 2010

Audi aims to win DTM’s world finale DTM visits China on the last weekend of November Audi A4 DTM of Darryl O’Young to advertise “Du Shi Li Ren” Fr




Audi aims to win DTM’s world finale


  • DTM visits China on the last weekend of November
  • Audi A4 DTM of Darryl O’Young to advertise “Du Shi Li Ren”
  • Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro, Christopher Mies and Alex Yoong will also be on location for Audi
Ingolstadt, November 19, 2010 - For the second time the DTM will race in Shanghai and for the first time the most popular international touring car racing series will hold a classification race plus its world finale there. Audi is set on continuing in China the form it last proved when Timo Scheider clinched a commanding victory from grid position 15 at the European finale at Adria (Italy). In addition, Audi will enter Darryl O’Young from Hong Kong in Shanghai, a driver who has regional ties to the event.

After his so far best performance of the season and his sixth personal DTM victory Timo Scheider, like his team colleagues, aims to achieve a brilliant finish of the 2010 season for Audi. As well as Mattias Ekström, Martin Tomczyk and Markus Winkelhock the champion of the past two years competed in Shanghai in 2004 when the DTM visited China for the first time. Whereas Audi will not be able to continue the hat-trick of having won the championship in the past three years, and the title decision in China will be made between the Mercedes-Benz drivers, Audi with a score of 4:3 remains the more successful manufacturer in terms of the number of title wins since its return to the DTM in the 2004 season.

The finale in Shanghai will be held on a 2.456-kilometer circuit in the district of Pudong that has been specifically established for the DTM. None of the teams has any knowledge of the new track that has no reference to the circuit used in 2004. "This means the cards will be reshuffled once more at the end of the year," stresses Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "While our competitor will experience a tough fight within its own team we’ll be free to drive for victory. It would be nice to actually make this happen in a country that is as important to Audi as China is."

The newly prepared race car designated as car number "9" will be entered with a new driver and special graphics. After giving Alexandre Prémat a leave of absence Audi signed the Hong Kong Chinese Darryl O’Young. The blue Audi A4 DTM driven by the 30-year-old racer will continue to advertise a product of the Bauer Media Group - albeit this time it will not be TV Movie but the Chinese magazine "Du Shi Li Ren." It is China’s highest-circulation fashion and lifestyle magazine for women, selling over 1.25 million copies.

In addition to the nine Audi A4 DTM race cars the Chinese fans will get to see four other fascinating models on the race weekend. During the DTM’s supporting program they will be able to marvel at two Audi TT RS cars with endurance race specifications, an Audi R8 LMS race taxi and an Audi R8 GT. The race taxis will be driven by the five-time Le Mans winners and former Audi "factory" drivers Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela, the former European FIA GT3 Champion Christopher Mies and the Malaysian Alex Yoong. Yoong was most recently victorious at the wheel of the R8 LMS in the GTC class at the ILMC round at Zhuhai.

Racing in an increasingly important market


By holding its finale in Shanghai the DTM responds to the importance of a steadily growing automobile market. In October Audi delivered the one-millionth vehicle in China, after the brand’s success story had begun with a license agreement in 1988. The most recent sales statistics complement this success: in the first ten months of 2010 Audi delivered 192,060 vehicles in China - marking a growth of 55.7 percent over the prior-year period. This now makes China Audi’s largest single market ahead of Germany. On November 7, just three weeks before the DTM finale, Audi finished the ILMC season in China with a victory: the Audi R8 LMS in the hands of the customer sport team KK Performance won the GTC class. Now the aim is for another product-related race car - the A4 DTM - to win on Chinese soil.

Complex logistics extending all the way into next year

From October to January - this is how long the DTM finale in Shanghai lasts from the perspective of the logisticians. As early as on October 8 the hazardous goods of all the teams, such as lubricants, brake cleaners or compressed air bottles, were sent off in a bulk container by ship. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Audi Sport Team Phoenix and Audi Sport Team Rosberg have individually been dispatching their air cargo since November 10. At the Hahn airport in the Hunsrück region the material was loaded onto aircraft pallets and the Audi A4 DTM race cars on car racks. A two-car team like Rosberg or Phoenix shipped about 16 to 18 tons of cargo weight consisting of material, equipment and vehicles, Abt Sportsline with five race cars, the two DTM safety cars, the Audi RS5 and the R8, plus a race taxi shipped 40 tons. After their arrival in China, clearing customs at the circuit on November 22 and the race, the sea containers will be loaded again for the return trip as early as on November 28 and 29. The race cars will be flown back and will land in Frankfurt on December 6. It is anticipated that the container cargo ship will embark on its voyage for Europe during the 49th calendar week and arrive at the port of Antwerp in the third calendar week of 2011, in other words from January 17 onward. Only then will the teams receive their material again "from the longest race weekend of the year."

Topics of the weekend

• After the triumph at Adria, will Audi achieve the second consecutive victory?
• Will Mattias Ekström, as in 2004, be the best Audi driver in China?
• What will be Mike Rockenfeller’s chances in the fight with Jamie Green for the position of the best driver of a used car in 2010?
• Will Audi Sport Team Abt still clinch the "vice champion’s title" in the team classification?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport):
"In the past races we worked our way forward, closer and closer toward the chance for victory. At Adria, it actually worked out. That was a huge motivation boost for the whole squad. We’d like to use this boost in Shanghai to make a good showing and to be in contention for victory again. This race is very important for Audi. China is one of the most important markets of all. Therefore, we’ll tackle our tasks with full concentration once more at the end of the season."

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "We’re looking forward to Shanghai. It’ll be great to prepare for the race in this metropolis. This is a mega-event for the whole series. We can be relaxed about the decisions in the championship. We, by contrast, have got nothing to lose. We want to clinch this last trophy of the season if possible. And we’ve still got a chance to finish the team classification as the runners-up."

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "The street circuit is new to everyone. Such a track has no grip at first. You’ve got to keep your cool and find the right set-up even if the grip level changes again. You need a good grid position because overtaking is difficult on such circuits. And you’ve got to stay out of trouble. We’ve simply had our fill of such situations; we saw enough of them at Adria. It’s better to take the bull by the horns and win!"

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "Even though Shanghai unfortunately brings back memories of a case of total damage due to a manhole cover in 2004 we’ll start into the finale with momentum. Fourth place by Markus Winkelhock in Italy has lifted everyone’s spirits. We feel relieved and are relaxed about tackling the race. We no longer feel the pressure we did before Adria. I’m optimistic that things will be going as well for us in Shanghai as they did before, in Italy."

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Mattias Ekström (32/S), Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)

• With a third-place finish was the best Audi driver in Shanghai in 2004
• Was most recently fighting for a podium position at Adria until encountering a minor defect
"I don’t know yet what we can expect in Shanghai. I only know the circuit from a map so far. I like street circuits and this one will be very narrow. So a lot will be predetermined in qualifying. Before flying to Asia I’ll enjoy a couple of days off, and then the finale will come."

Oliver Jarvis (26/GB), Tabac Original Audi A4 DTM #2 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Experienced part of his career in Asia
• Most recently, at Adria, clinched his second-best result of the season by finishing fifth
"It’s always nice to return to Asia. I’ve got fond memories of races in Japan and China. I clinched my first A1GP podium in Beijing. Our form curve points upward a bit. I scored points four times in the five past races. It would be great to finish the season with a good result."

Katherine Legge (30/GB), Glamour Audi A4 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)

• Enters new territory in Shanghai
• Drove the fourth-fasted race lap in difficult conditions most recently, at Adria
"My car was excellent at our last wet race, at Adria. I really like street circuits and often raced on such tracks in the United States. It’ll probably be a little bit like at the Norisring. The atmosphere is really special at such events. I’ve never been to this part of the world. That’s why I’m very much looking forward to it. The track looks great on the pictures. I can hardly wait to drive there. It’ll probably be an exciting event."

Miguel Molina (21/E), Audi Bank A4 DTM #18 (Audi Sport Rookie Team Abt)
• Remains the best DTM rookie of the 2010 season
• Will be racing in Shanghai for the first time
"This will be a completely new and no doubt a good experience for me. We don’t yet know what to expect there. I want to continue to clinch the best possible results. And I’m hoping that we’ll manage to do this better than we did at the previous races."

Darryl O’Young (30/CN), Du Shi Li Ren Audi A4 DTM #9 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)

• Will celebrate his DTM debut in Shanghai
• Will be sporting the colors of a Chinese magazine published by the Bauer Media Group during his run
"I’m proud to have the chance of competing for Audi in Shanghai. This is a fantastic opportunity. I’m not running in an Audi for the first time. Competing for Race Experience Team Joest and finishing the Sepang 12 Hours in the R8 LMS as the runner-up was a great experience. Of course I realize that the Audi A4 DTM is a completely different car. The street race in Shanghai is very special. Nobody has ever driven on this circuit. I like street circuits very much and achieved good results in Macau in the past few years. Although I won’t have much time to get used to my new environment I’ll do my best to make a good showing for Audi and the DTM fans."

Mike Rockenfeller (27/D), S line Audi A4 DTM #10 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• As seventh in the standings continues to be the best driver of a 2008-specification Audi A4 DTM and third-best Audi driver in total
• The DTM in Shanghai will be his 18th racing commitment this season
"I’m looking forward to Shanghai. Unfortunately, I didn’t clinch any points at the last race, at Adria. I’m hoping for a good qualifying and want to really score points once more at the finale. The circuit is new to all of us. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice circuit that suits us well and is fun to drive on."

Timo Scheider (32/D), GW:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM #1 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Celebrated his 32nd birthday 18 days before the race
• Only completed 13 laps at his DTM run in Shanghai in 2004
• Still has a mathematical chance of clinching third place in the standings
"The final race is a good motivator. It’s also great that before the finale we managed to clinch the victory we’d been hoping for so long. Since the middle of the season our performances have stabilized. We were on pole twice in the second half of the season but didn’t win any races before Adria. Shanghai will be another heated battle. I’ll attack there again and will hopefully deliver a good final result."

Martin Tomczyk (28/D), Red Bull Cola Audi A4 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Wants to continue his string of five consecutive point-finishes
• Retired after an accident at his run in Shanghai in 2004
"This is something new for a change. I’m sure we’ll be in for a nice closing of the season. And it’ll no doubt be a tough and thrilling race because three drivers from Mercedes-Benz will be fighting for the title."

Markus Winkelhock (30/D), Playboy/GW:plus Audi A4 DTM #14 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Achieved his best result of the season with a fourth-place finish at the most recent race at Adria
• Took ninth place in Shanghai in 2004
"I’m really excited about going to Shanghai. After my success at Adria I’m even more motivated. Street circuits have always suited me well, both in touring and in formula cars. I’ve competed in Shanghai before but obviously don’t know this circuit version. So it’s new territory for everyone and the same prerequisites apply to all of us."

The Audi drivers in the 2010 DTM

Mattias Ekström (S):
* Jul 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single; height: 1.83 m; weight: 77 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 103; pole positions: 16; victories: 14; fastest laps: 11; points: 482; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result, DTM Shanghai: 3

Oliver Jarvis (GB): * Jan 09, 1984 in Burwell (GB); residence: Ermatingen (CH); single; height: 1.80 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2008; DTM races: 31; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 41; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Katherine Legge (GB): * Jul 12, 1980 in Guildford (GB); residence: Ermatingen (CH); single; height: 1.73 m; weight: 58 kg; Audi driver since 2008; DTM races: 30; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 12th place); fastest laps: 1; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Miguel Molina (E): * Feb 17, 1989 in Girona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 62 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 10; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; (best result: 4th place); fastest laps: 1; points: 11; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Darryl O’Young (CN): * March 26, 1980 in Vancouver (CDN); residence: Hong Kong (CN); single; height: 1.73 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 0; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Mike Rockenfeller (D):
* Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Altnau (CH); single (partner Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 67 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 41; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 43; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 11, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single, one son (Loris); height: 1.78 m; weight: 74 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 108; pole positions: 9; victories: 6; fastest laps: 6; points: 313; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Martin Tomczyk (D): * Dec 07, 1981 in Rosenheim (D); residence: Aesch/Basel (CH); single (engaged to Christina); height: 1.88 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2001; DTM races: 102; pole positions: 7; victories: 4; fastest laps: 5; points: 244; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Markus Winkelhock (D): * Jun 13, 1980 in Stuttgart (D); residence: Berglen-Steinach (D); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 65 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 48; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 4th place); fastest laps: 0; DTM titles: 0; points: 22; best result, DTM Shanghai: 9.

2010 DTM point standings

1 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes) 66 points
2 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes) 63 points
3 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) 57 points
4 Timo Scheider (Audi) 47 points
5 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 35 points

6 Jamie Green (Mercedes) 29 points
7 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 22 points
8 Oliver Jarvis (Audi) 18 points
9 Martin Tomczyk (Audi) 15 points
10 Alexandre Prémat (Audi) 12 points
11 Miguel Molina (Audi) 11 points

12 Susie Stoddart (Mercedes) 4 points
13 Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes) 3 points
14 Maro Engel (Mercedes) 3 points

2010 DTM season interim statistics

Victories: Mercedes 8; Audi 2
Pole positions: Mercedes 6; Audi 4
Fastest laps: Mercedes 4; Audi 6
Leading laps: Mercedes 426; Audi 108
Points: Mercedes 225; Audi 165

Audi DTM statistics

Pole positions: 58
Victories: 54
Fastest laps: 45
Champion’s titles: 7 (1990, 1991, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009)

All winners of the DTM races at Shanghai

2004 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)

Track info

Track length: 2.465 km
Race distance: 60 laps = 147.900 km
DTM qualifying record on this track: new track layout, no previous statistics
DTM race record on this track: new track layout, no previous statistics

Mattias Ekström about Shanghai: "The DTM came to Shanghai in 2004, and I secured third place for Audi in an Audi A4 DTM back then. I really liked racing on this street circuit and I’m delighted that we’re going back to China. We don’t yet have any details about the new circuit, so I can’t really say much about what we can expect there. But one thing’s for sure: a DTM finale on a street circuit is bound to be an exciting affair."

DTM statistics in Shanghai since 2004 (Audi "factory" commitment)

Races: 1
Audi victories: 0
Pole positions: 0
Fastest laps: 0

Shanghai 2004 flashback

At the DTM invitation race in Shanghai Mattias Ekström finished in third place as the best Audi driver. In his Audi A4 DTM the Swede pushed forward from position nine on the grid to third place in a turbulent race that had been started with a nearly five-hour delay due to work on the circuit. Dindo Capello on his DTM debut occupied fifth place. Audi lost its chance for victory in Shanghai as early as on the starting lap due to collisions. Of all cars, the incidents took the fastest Audi A4 DTM cars in qualifying out of the race.

2004 results
1 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) 22 Rd. in 27m 23.509s
2 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes) + 0.887s
3 Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 DTM) + 13.228s
4 Jean Alesi (Mercedes) + 15.583s
5 Dindo Capello (Audi A4 DTM) + 32.756s
...
11 Peter Terting (Abt-Audi TT-R) + 1m 07.046s
13 Frank Biela (Audi A4 DTM) - 1 lap

Schedule

Friday, November 26

10:30-11:00 Roll-out
11:00-11:05 Starting practice
14:00-15:30 Free practice 1
15:30-15:35 Starting practice

Saturday, November 27
10:00-11:30 Free practice 2
15:20-16:16 Qualifying

Sunday, November 28

11:10-11:40 Warm-up
15:23 Race

TV schedule (ARD live)

Saturday, November 27

08:05-09:30 Qualifying

Sunday, November 28
08:05-09:55 Race

Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/Autorized Media Press.

Interwiew with Alain Prost: This Professor is still learning.

News Image
  • Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost speaks to The Race of Champions ahead of his ROC debut in Düsseldorf on November 27-28
  • Prost will join a dazzling line-up of driving stars that includes fellow F1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher
  • In the ROC Nations Cup, Prost will race for Team France in partnership with seven-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb
    When their glory days dry up, sports stars usually start living the good life they were denied when they competed on a world stage. Not Alain Prost. The Frenchman was ludicrously fit at his F1 peak but today, aged 55, he is ‘one or two kilos’ lighter still – thanks to a gruelling programme both on four wheels and two.

    Prost’s main automotive activity is now France’s Trophée Andros ice-racing series where the cars seem permanently sideways. But he also competes in a dozen cycle races every year at distances up to 200km, similar to the stages of the Tour de France. Easy life? Hardly. But what else would we expect of a man once famously described as having a level of mental discipline beyond the comprehension of most people…

    “It’s not about discipline, it’s more about attitude,” says Prost. “Sports stars very often change their attitude when they stop but I did not change mine. I always needed to do sport and I still do. Even if I have planes to catch and meetings to go to, I have to plan at least one hour’s jogging. That could seem boring for people but I’m never bored. I am 55, I enjoy all kinds of sports and there are still lots of things I want to do.

    “With the cycle races you need a training programme so you need discipline for the food and everything – but that’s what I like. When you have a target, whether or not you achieve it, you work for it. That is something that I really need mentally.

    “But I also never set the objectives too high. I like to reach my targets as I don’t like to be disappointed! Take the Race of Champions: obviously I’m going to do my best but I know I cannot have too high expectations.”

    Four-time F1 world champion Prost may be the most experienced racer of everyone next weekend, but he remains a ROC newcomer. As such ‘Le Professeur’ is happy to play the ‘learner’ card. Prost lines up with fellow multiple champion Sébastien Loeb for Team France in The ROC Nations Cup, but he admits Team Germany will be hard to beat.

    “People like Michael and Sebastian have got used to this type of race and circuit – but most importantly cars like the buggies and the KTM X-Bow, which I’ve never driven. So I honestly don’t know where I’m going to stand up.

    “It’s very different to what I used to do in F1. Even in the ice races we work to set up the car and change it every 10 minutes to adapt to different heat and track conditions – as the ice changes all the time during the day.

    “So Düsseldorf will be very different for me. You jump in the car, just set up the seat and the pedals and go for it. The most important thing is to have fun and be part of it – but to be at least a bit competitive…”

    Tickets are still available from www.raceofchampions.com with prices starting at 29 Euros. Sign up for all the latest updates at www.raceofchampions.com, @raceofchampions on Twitter, or Race Of Champions on Facebook.

    Drivers confirmed for the 2010 Race of Champions:

    • Sebastian VETTEL, 2010 Formula 1 World Champion
    • Michael SCHUMACHER, Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
    • Alain PROST, Four-time Formula 1 World Champion
    • Sébastien LOEB, Seven-time World Rally Champion
    • Mick DOOHAN, Five-time World 500cc Motorcycling Champion
    • Tom KRISTENSEN, Eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner
    • Heikki KOVALAINEN, Formula 1 grand prix winner
    • Andy PRIAULX, Three-time World Touring Car Champion
    • Jason PLATO, Two-time British Touring Car Champion
    • Alvaro PARENTE, GP2 race winner & winner ROC South Europe 2010
    • Filipe ALBUQUERQUE, A1GP race winner & winner ROC South Europe 2010
    • Jeroen BLEEKEMOLEN, Two-time Porsche Supercup Champion
    • Bertrand BAGUETTE, 2009 World Series by Renault Champion
    • Carl EDWARDS, 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion
    • Travis PASTRANA, Eleven-time X-Games gold medallist
    Info and pic: Press2010 Race of Champions/ to Acreditated and Autorized Press.
  • AmigosRacingForLatinAmerica/ Acreditado y Autorizado por Press2010/Race of Champions.

    Thursday 18 November 2010

    The world’s greatest Porsche race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife






    Porsche Carrera World Cup

    The world’s greatest Porsche race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife

    Stuttgart. It will be one of the most spectacular sprint races ever: At the Porsche Carrera World Cup on 25 June, 2011, up to 200 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers will line up on the Nürburgring Nordschleife watched by more than 200,000 spectators. The world’s greatest Porsche race takes place just prior to the start of the 39th ADAC 24 hour race and runs over a distance of six laps (152,268 km). The Porsche Carrera World Cup forms the season highlight of Porsche’s 18 brand trophy series worldwide. This race counts as a competition round towards several championships, including the Porsche Carrera Cups in Germany, Scandinavia, France and Italy.

    The field will be divided into two classes: The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with 3.6-litre engines from 2007 to 2009 model years (400 to 420 hp) as well as the 3.8-litre versions of the 2010 and 2011 model years (450 hp). Each class is classified separately. All competitors must provide proof of their considerable track experience. For all Nordschleife rookies, an intensive two-day training course will take place in the week leading up to the event with former Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen as the head instructor.

    “Since its market launch in 1998 we have built over 2,000 units of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for competition in our 18 Porsche one-make championships around the world,” explains Porsche’s head of motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “With the Porsche Carrera World Cup on the northern loop of the Nürburgring, we aim to offer yet another highlight to our brand trophy customers all over the globe. Racing in the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup never fails to underline its excellent aptitude for the world’s longest and most difficult races. I’m sure that this race will be an unforgettable experience for all pilots and spectators at the track.”

    Over the last years, the success story of Porsche Motorsport has been closely tied to the Nürburgring. From 2006 to 2009, the Porsche team, Manthey Racing, won the 24 hour race on the Nordschleife four times in a row. In May this year, the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid held the overall lead for more than eight hours at Germany’s most popular automobile race. From the ten races on the VLN Nürburgring Long Distance Championship calendar this year, a Porsche 911 won nine times.

    Info and Fotos Porsche Motorsport/Autorized and Acreditation Press.

    Wednesday 17 November 2010

    Darryl O’Young to compete for Audi at Shanghai



    Darryl O’Young to compete for Audi at Shanghai

    • The Chinese replaces Alexandre Prémat in the cockpit of the Audi A4 DTM
    • Good showing by O’Young at the Sepang 12 Hours in the R8 LMS
    • Many years of experience in GT sports cars
    Ingolstadt, November 17, 2010 - At the DTM’s finale, Audi will contest a race for the first time with a Chinese driver in its line-up: Darryl O’Young from Hong Kong will replace the Frenchman Alexandre Prémat in the cockpit of the Audi A4 DTM at the eleventh DTM race of the season.

    Audi gives 30-year-old Darryl O’Young an opportunity to contest his "home race" in the 338-kW (460 hp) Audi A4 DTM. The Chinese who was born in Vancouver, Canada, and lives in Hong Kong, will celebrate his DTM debut at Shanghai on November 28 with Audi Sport Team Phoenix.

    "We welcome Darryl O’Young to Audi and are pleased to have been able to secure his services for our showing in China at short notice," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Darryl has been driving high-performance GT sports cars for many years and by finishing as the overall runner-up clinched a remarkable result in the Audi R8 LMS at the Sepang 12 Hours in August together with Frank Biela and Marco Werner. The decision to give Alexandre Prémat leave of absence before his contract expires wasn’t an easy one for us. Unfortunately, though, opinions on important topics most recently differed too much. We would like to thank him for his work during the past four years and wish him all the best for his future career."

    Darryl O’Young’s outstanding successes include championship wins in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2006 and 2008 and victories at the 2008 Merdeka Millennium Race plus the 2008 Macau GT Cup. In addition, the Chinese has gathered racing experience in the FIA GT Championship, in the Porsche Supercup and in the World Touring Car Championship

    Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/Acreditated and Autorized Press Media.

    Tuesday 16 November 2010

    105 race victories counting for Mühlner Motorsport.




    105 race victories and counting for Mühlner Motorsport

    Looking back at a long and successful 2010 season

    Competing in five different race series

    Francorchamps. The Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium based Mühlner Motorsport Team took part in 44 races spread over 24 race weekends in the 2010 race season. That made for a very busy year for the ambitious team from the Ardennes but the numerous successes made up for the untold overtime hours.

    The season began as early as January in Dubai. Mühlner Motorsport took part in the UAE GT Championship running in the United Arab Emirates from January to April, where they ran the CYTECH Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S. The drivers were Andrew Donaldson in the four races in Dubai and Porsche Supercup ace René Rast in Abu Dhabi. Rast won comfortably on the Jas Marina grand prix circuit and Donaldson was also able to book a win in Dubai.

    The European season kicked off with the ADAC GT Masters Weekend in Oschersleben. After a second place in the Saturday race through Kevin Estre and Frank Schmickler in the WEG Porsche 911 GT3 R, Tim Bergmeister and René Rast were able to top that on the Sunday with a win in the year old Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S thanks to clever tactics in tyre choice.

    So at this stage the first 3 wins of the season were achieved and a total of 99 on the Mühlner Motorsport Teams account.

    At the ADAC GT Masters Weekend in Hockenheim, the series’ third event of the year, Tim and Jörg Bergmeister were able to record the 4th win of the season and thus the magical 100th win overall in the history of Mühlner Motorsport. This win also regained the lead in the teams’ points and, together with a 3rd place on the Sunday, brought Tim Bergmeister up to 2nd in the points battle as the teams went into their mid-season break.

    Accidents at the fourth round in Assen meant all chances of championship success were gone. Tim Bergmeister was best Porsche driver, behind a Lamborghini pairing and an Audi pairing. Mühlner Motorsport were still third in the teams points.

    In the FIA GT3 European Championship, which started in early May, speed and performance were always there: the Mühlner cars were almost always the fastest Porsches in the field and the team had many laps in the overall lead. However, the points haul was much lower than might have been expected: accidents, tyre blowouts, stop and go penalties and changing driver line-ups all took their toll on the points tally. This will be different in 2011!

    Mühlner Motorsport also took part in the Porsche Sports Cup. Running up to three Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S, the team took in both Super Sports Cup and the 2-hr Endurance Races: 4 outright wins and 2 second places! At the final round of the German Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Mühlner Motorsport made a guest appearance in their 5th series of the season with Tim and Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel. This was in preparation for the 2011 season when the team will once again enter the VLN series and the 24hrs on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. A front row start and 125km in the lead of the race showed the impressive performance of the Mühlner Porsche until a broken exhaust manifold took away all chance of a top finish.

    A further highlight of Renate-Carola and Bernhard Mühlner’s successful team came on 1. August at their home event, the Spa 24hrs. Their 8th class win on the Ardennes rollercoaster, together with an excellent overall position was the result.The seeds are already sown for the 2011 season: the season will start in January in the Middle East and in the USAThe team, who have already taken part in 33 24hr races, will do two more in January – in the middle of the month in Dubai and at the end of the month at Daytona. In Europe there will be a further two: Nürburgring in June and Spa in July.

    International racing elite compete in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup





    Race of Champions

    International racing elite compete in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

    Stuttgart. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most-produced race car in history. To date, over 2,000 vehicles have been delivered to customers around the world. And now, the 450 hp GT racer from Weissach belongs to the official competition cars at the Race of Champions, where a number of the world’s most talented and famous racing celebrities from the most diverse disciplines come together in Dusseldorf on 27/28 November.

    Joining the ranks of the world class starter field is Porsche pilot Jeroen Bleekemolen. The 29-year-old driver from the Netherlands won the GTC class of the American Le Mans Series this season at the wheel of a 911 GT3 Cup and knows the Cup-911 from many years of racing. In 2008 and 2009 he won the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the fastest international brand trophy series. In 2008 he clinched victory in the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours with a Porsche RS Spyder.

    In Dusseldorf, Bleekemolen is up against the likes of Formula 1 pilots Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel as well as World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb and World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx. “I’m proud to be part of the Race of Champions for the first time,” says Bleekemolen. “Obviously, I’m hoping to contest as many heats as possible with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – not one of the participating drivers knows the car like I do.”

    The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, based on the road-legal 911 GT3 RS sportscar, is powered by a 3.8-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine delivering 450 hp. The spectacular sounding race exhaust system features a fully controlled catalytic converter. The rear-engine concept and the wide track give the racing-911 excellent traction and razor-sharp handling. Pilots operate the sequential six-speed gearbox manually. Power from the high-revving engine (max. 8,500 rpm) is distributed to the wide rear wheels via a mechanical differential.

    “I’m very pleased that the racing elite from all over the globe will be seen driving the world’s most produced race car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche. “I’m sure that fans and drivers alike will have just as much pleasure in the spectacular sound and the superb handling of this vehicle.”

    This marks the return of the Race of Champions to Germany since its first meet here in 1989. The event will be broadcast by the German national TV, ZDF. “Aktuelle Sportstudio” provides coverage on Saturday, with “Sportreportage” broadcasting the spectacular action from Dusseldorf’s Esprit Arena on Sunday.
    Info and fotos/Porsche Motorsport/Autorized Press.

    Saturday 13 November 2010

    Sillas disponibles Temporada 2011-Equipo Oficial Porsche.






    Pilotos Latinos: Sillas disponibles en equipo Oficial Porsche. Tenemos sillas disponibles para la temporada 2011 en: FIA GT3 - ADAC GT Masters - Porsche Super Sport Cup - VLN Nurburgring - 24 Horas Dubai 2011 - 24 Horas Rolex Daytona - 24 Horas Spa - 24 Horas Nurburgring - SRO GT Endurance Series .
    Participaras en Equipo Profesional con mas de 100 triunfos/ 30 años de experiencia en motorsport/ mas de 200 pilotos han pasado por nuestras filas. Te ofrecemos tambien coaching profesional en cada carrera.
    Contactanos:

    Friday 12 November 2010

    Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz is Motor Racing Driver of the Year in Austria Stuttgart. Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (26, Austria) has bee






    Porsche works drivers

    Richard Lietz is Motor Racing Driver of the Year in Austria


    Stuttgart. Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (26, Austria) has been voted Motor Racing Driver of the Year by the commitee of the Austrian Motorsport Association (OSK). Lietz, together with his teammate Marc Lieb (Germany), won the title in the Le Mans Series and triumphed in the GT2 class in the Le Mans 24 hour race in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. In the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup he won the team championship in conjunction with the team of Felbermayr-Proton. Lietz finished second overall in the Spa 24 hour race and was runner-up in the international GT Open racing series.

    “I am delighted to receive this distinction, which marks another high point of my career“, Richard Lietz said. “I am very proud that, as a Porsche works driver, I am in a position to celebrate these great successes at the wheel of the world’s most successful GT racing car, the 911 GT3 RSR.“

    The coveted trophy will be presented on 30th November at the awards ceremony for Austrian motor racing champions at the Technical Museum in Vienna. Richard Lietz follows in the footsteps of former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz who was voted Motor Racing Driver of the Year in 2009.

    Info and Fotos/ Porsche Motorsport / Autorized and Acreditated Press Media.

    Monday 8 November 2010

    Both Audi cars on the podium at Zhuhai.






    Motorsport Newsletter 34/2010


    • Both Audi cars on the podium at Zhuhai
    • KK Performance wins at R8’s debut race
    Both Audi cars on the podium at Zhuhai

    ILMC:
    Audi Sport Team Joest clinched second and third place with its two Audi R15 TDI cars at the 1000-kilometer race at Zhuhai. Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish were clearly leading the race before a safety car period destroyed their 30-second advantage. When Kristensen was blocked by the second Peugeot that was actually no longer in contention shortly before the end of the race, the Le Mans record winner lost the lead and possible victory. After five and a half hours merely 4.826 seconds were missing. Dindo Capello and Romain Dumas occupied third place.

    KK Performance wins at R8’s debut race

    ILMC:
    Team KK Performance from Kuala Lumpur won the GTC class with the Audi R8 LMS on the car’s first running at the finale of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Zhuhai (China). Marchy Lee, Alex Yoong and Matthew Marsh occupied twelfth place overall although all three Audi R8 LMS cars had to go into the race with 30 kilograms of additional weight after a strong performance in qualifying. Henri Richard and Allan Lan clinched third place for the United Autosports team. The second United-R8 retired while having the lead.

    News bits

    As a guest of honor at the truffles fair in his native Canelli (Italy) Audi "factory" driver Dindo Capello will auction truffles for a charity next Sunday ... Frank Biela will contest a 24-hour race for slot cars at the Nürburgring as the title defender next weekend ... On Tuesday, a press conference for the Race of Champions with the two Audi "factory" drivers Mattias Ekström and Tom Kristensen will be held at the ADAC Driving Safety Center Grevenbroich ... Allan McNish will visit the Audi Show Room in Hong Kong on Monday on his return trip from Zhuhai.

    Results and points

    Zhuhai (CN), November 7, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), round 3
    1 Montagny/Sarrazin (Peugeot) 232 laps in 5h 35m 39.053s
    2 Kristensen/McNish (Audi R15 TDI) + 4.826s
    3 Capello/Dumas (Audi R15 TDI) + 49.302
    4 Bourdais/Pagenaud (Peugeot) - 3 laps
    5 Nicolet/da Rocha/Lafargue (Pescarolo-Judd) - 26 laps
    ...
    12 Lee/Yoong/Marsh (Audi R8 LMS) - 40 laps
    17 Richard/Li (Audi R8 LMS) - 61 laps
    Final standings, LMP1 manufacturers classification:
    1 Peugeot 140 points; 2 Audi, 101.

    Coming up next week

    November 12-13 Belgian GT Championship Zolder (B)
    November 12-14 Portuguese GT Championship Portimao (P)

    Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/ Autorized and Acreditated Press Services.

    Sunday 7 November 2010

    Peugeot seals ILMC title in China. Oficial Boletin.

    Peugeot seals ILMC title in China

    image Team Peugeot Total produced a blend of panache and suspense to round off the 908 HDi FAP's career with a resounding victory in Sunday's 1000km of Zhuhai (southeast China). After monopolising the front row of the grid at the start, the two cars succeeded in dominating the early part of the race before coming under pressure themselves. The team's nerves held, however, and Peugeot – helped by an assertive strategy – went on to celebrate its fifth win of the season thanks to Stéphane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny in the N°2 908, as well as the Manufacturers' title in the inaugural ILMC (Intercontinental Le Mans Cup)!

    In a little less than two months, Peugeot has succeeded in securing two one-two finishes (Silverstone and Road Atlanta) and a win at Zhuhaï, China, to claim both the Manufacturers' and Teams' crowns in the newlycreated ILMC. The race win went to Stéphane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny in the N°2 908 HDi FAP which crossed the line with a cushion of 4.826 over the Audi of Kristensen/McNish. The other 908, which was shared by Sébastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud, completed the distance in fourth place after running to a slightly different strategy and after surviving a tangle with another competitor with the flag in sight. image

    A thrilling end

    Peugeot's opponents did all they could to apply pressure during the opening laps, and Capello (Audi N°8) briefly succeeded in splitting the two French cars before the latter began to pull clear after the first round of refuelling stops. But as the afternoon progressed, The German machines succeeded in gaining ground again, and McNish emerged from the 150th lap in front. His move sparked the beginning of a particularly tense, nail-biting finale which saw the two teams trade the lead as a function of their respective pit stop strategies. But there were also a number of questions being asked in the Peugeot camp… image

    "From the start, we double stinted on the same tyres, whereas our rivals changed theirs each time they stopped," observed Simon Pagenaud during the race. "The problem was that our rears started to lose their edge towards the end of our second stints. We eventually decided to switch to the single-stint option, but we are still in the hunt, which goes to show how strong our original strategy was. Now, it's going to be an exciting sprint to the finish..." image

    The Frenchman's prediction was on the button, and the final phase of the 1000km of Zhuhaï proved to be an emotional roller-coaster for all the front-runners. Throwing all he had had into the fight, Franck Montagny lost a little ground after going wide into a gravel trap on Lap 162. Shortly afterwards, Bourdais was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop to change a number of damaged body parts following a tangle which earned him a one-second "stop&go". This left everything poised for the outcome to be settled by the speed of the last refuelling stop of Sarrazin who had recovered the lead when Kristensen (Audi) made his final stop. Peugeot Sport got its calculations spot on, however, calling the Frenchman in for a "splash and dash" on Lap 219 which enabled him to rejoin just in front of his Danish rival! From then on that, it was a case of trying to keep the gap stable – or even increase it slightly – during the dying laps to eventually hand a 19th win to the 908 HDi FAP which consequently ends its career on a high thanks to a great team effort. image

    After completing the 232 laps in 5hours 36minutes, Team Peugeot Total's drivers and team members could let their joy show after the incredible tension of the previous two hours or so. Sarrazin (Peugeot N°2) took the chequered flag with a lead of 4.826s over the best placed Audi, a result which clinches both the Manufacturers' and Teams' titles in the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for Team Peugeot Total.

    Stéphane Sarrazin: "It was an extremely close race, and the last 20 or so laps were incredibly difficult. I just tried to stay concentrated all the way to the flag and not make any mistakes while at the same time driving absolutely flat out. The team did an amazing job and I am proud to have celebrated the 908's last competitive outing by qualifying on pole position and winning the race here in China." image

    Bruno Famin (Technical Director, Peugeot Sport): "The 908 has concluded its career the way it began it: with a win! True, today's success was a very close-run thing, but I think that only serves to underline how difficult our mission was today, and that makes it all the more satisfying! The race scenario was quite strange, because we started strongly before suffering one or two technical and sporting setbacks. Our biggest technical issue concerned the brakes of the N°2 Peugeot which tended to wear very quickly. As a result, we asked Stéphane to modify his driving style and he had to live with the problem until the very last turn…" image

    Olivier Quesnel (Director, Peugeot Sport): "We are naturally delighted to have won the inaugural ILMC title, but this today's win is particularly satisfying. The race was quite simply magnificent, and the fact that it enabled the 908 to complete its career on a high note is magical. The car will now take its place as one of motor racing's legendary cars, and I am especially proud to have taken this win in China which is a market where Peugeot has high ambitions." image

    Franck Montagny: "What an incredible way to end a race! I have to say that I share my car with a fantastic driver! At the beginning of my first stint, our car was really strong. But then its performance started to deteriorate, especially concerning its balance under braking." image

    1000km of Zhuhaï – final positions:
    1, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (Sarrazin/Montagny), 232 laps in 5h 35m 39.053s
    2, Audi R15 TDI (Kristensen/McNish), +4.826s
    3, Audi R15 TDI (Capello/Dumas), +49.302s
    4, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (Pagenaud/Bourdais), +3 laps
    5, Pescarolo-Judd (Nicolet/Da Rocha/Lafargue), +26 laps
    Etc.
    Fastest race lap: Franck Montagny (Peugeot 908 HDi FAP N°2): 4.3km in 1m 22.296s (Lap 3)


    2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – final positions:
    Manufacturers:
    1, PEUGEOT, 140 points
    2, AUDI, 101 points
    Teams
    1, Team Peugeot Total, 118 points
    2, Audi Sport Team Joest, 101
    3, Drayson Racing, 32
    4, Team Oreca Matmut, 22

    Peugeot 908 HDi FAP: a legendary car

    Following a successful career spanning four years, the 908's last competitive outing was the 1000km of Zhuhai in China. Thanks to a record totalling 19 race wins from 28 starts, the car will now join a long list of outstanding competition cars in the Peugeot museum. Between its debut at Monza, Italy (April 15, 2007) and its swansong appearance at Zhuhai (November 7, 2010), the 908 succeeded in winning every one of endurance racing's classics, from the Le Mans 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Sebring to Petit Le Mans/Road Atlanta, the Silverstone 1000km, Spa, Interlagos, etc. image

    Bruno FAMIN (Technical Director): "The 908 was designed in a very short period of time. It was originally scheduled to make its Le Mans debut in June 2008, but the board decided to bring that date forward to June 2007. We were consequently forced to pack all the phases of its design into a shorter time scale. That wasn't easy since we started from a totally clean sheet of paper, not only with regard to the car but also concerning the putting together of a team. Decisions concerning the fundamental specification of the car were taken in autumn 2005 (engine and car architecture). We began with a single-cylinder engine and a full-scale model made from wood for wind-tunnel testing purposes in order to optimise each step. At two o'clock in the morning of September 30, 2006, we fired up the V12 HDi FAP for the very first time on the bench in Vélizy. That was one of the most memorable moments of the 908's early development. We started to build the car on December 11, 2006, and the engine ran for the first time in the car (on axle stands) on December 22. The first track-test followed on December 31. It was an enormous challenge for us all, but we succeeded!" image

    A film of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP's incubation and early development can be seen at www.peugeot-sport.com
    (media center / video)


    Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – statistics:
    28 race starts (from Monza 2007 until Zhuhai 2010)
    24 pole positions
    19 wins
    9 one-two finishes
    25 fastest race laps
    2007: 7 races, 7 pole positions, 6 wins, 2 one-two finishes, 6 fastest race laps
    2008: 8 races, 7 pole positions, 4 wins, 1 one-two finish, 8 fastest race laps
    2009: 4 races, 3 pole positions, 2 one-two finishes, 3 fastest race laps
    2010: 9 races, 7 pole positions, 6 wins, 4 one-two finishes, 8 fastest race laps
    Wins at: Le Mans (France), Monza (Italy, Valencia (Spain), Nürburgring (Germany), Spa (Belgium), Silverstone
    (Great Britain), Portimao (Portugal), Interlagos (Brazil), Sebring (USA), Road Atlanta (USA) and Zhuhai (China).
    Titles:
    Le Mans Series: 2007 and 2010
    Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2010

    Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – landmark dates:
    November 4, 2004: halt of WRC programme announced
    February 23, 2005: decision taken to compete in endurance racing
    June 14, 2005: endurance programme announced
    October 1, 2005: Bruno Famin appointed and his team chosen. Named Technical Director on January 1, 2006
    February 12, 2006: wind-tunnel testing at Magny-Cours, France, for final test before choosing between an
    open- or a closed-cockpit car using a 1:4 scale model
    February 26, 2006: decision taken to run a closed-cockpit car
    March 10, 2006: single-cylinder engine bench tested for the first time
    April 18, 2006: first wind tunnel test with Peugeot Sport's model
    May 23, 2006: ACO inspection (cockpit space) of wooden model
    June 15, 2006: model of V12 HDi FAP engine unveiled at Le Mans
    September 11, 2006: engine assembled for the first time
    September 28, 2006: the 908 unveiled at the Paris Motor Show
    September 30 2006: 2am, the V12 HDi FAP fired up for the first time on the bench in Vélizy
    December 10, 2006: 9am (Sunday), first tub delivered
    December 11, 2006: building of car begins
    December 20, 2006: engine cover delivered
    December 22, 2006: 10pm, engine fired up in the car (on axle stands) for the first time
    December 31, 2006: 8:46am (Sunday), first track run at Villacoublay
    January 4, 2007: 9:08am, engine fired up to warm-up ahead of first test session at Le Castellet, France
    January 10, 2007: Car presented to the international media at Mortefontaine, near Paris
    April 15, 2007: first win at Monza, Italy
    April 6, 2008: first win against Audi at Barcelona, Spain
    June 14, 2009: one-two finish in Le Mans 24 Hours
    November 7, 2010: last win of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP at Zhuhai


    Info and Fotos Peugeot Sport/ Acreditated and Autorized Press services.