AVTOVAZ PLANS LADA'S RETURN TO WTCC

AVTOVAZ PLANS LADA'S RETURN TO WTCC
Russian car manufacturer AVTOVAZ confirmed their plans to return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship with the LADA Sport Team and the LADA Granta Sport car.
The programme is due to kick off with the participation in two events in 2012: at Budapest's Hungaroring on May 6th and Estoril on June 3rd. The aim is to test the Granta racing car in view of a probable involvement in the world championship from 2013.
The LADA Granta Sport has been built and developed by the LADA Sport Team for the LADA Granta Cup, using the experience gained during their previous participation in the WTCC. The Russian squad is currently working to build a Super 2000 version of the car.
The LADA Sport Team took part in WTCC in 2008 and 2009 running three LADA 110 cars and then switching to the LADA Priora. Their best results were a couple of sixth places at Imola with James Thompson.

2012 SEASON TO KICK OFF IN TEN-WEEK TIME
Only ten weeks are left before the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship kicks off at Monza on March 11th.
Best wishes to all teams and drivers for a very successful NEW YEAR!

COUNTDOWN: - 71 DAYS
WTCC RACE OF ITALY - MONZA, 11 MARCH 2012

Fabio Ravaioli - FIA WTCC Media Delegate

We wish you all a marvelous 2012 and may the angels bring to each home peace, love and health, Have a safe and happy time!!

We wish you all a marvelous 2012 and may the angels bring to each home peace, love and health, Have a safe and happy time!!

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4- Porsche Super Sport Cup Porsche 997 CUP
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6- 24 Hour Dubai...Porsche 997 CUP and Porsche GT3-R
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8- Porsche Carrera Cup (supporting DTM)
9- 24 Hour Daytona, Dubai, Nurburgring and Spa
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SEASON GREETINGS FROM FIA WTCC

SEASON GREETINGS FROM FIA WTCC
The FIA World Touring Car Championship's staff wish a very Merry Christmas and a successful and happy New Year to all the people who have given their contribution to turn the championship's 2011 season in a great success: the FIA, manufacturers, drivers, teams, event promoters, partners, sponsors, suppliers, consultants, media and fans.
From all of us to all of you: thank you for your support!

LAUNCH OF JTCC POSTPONED BY ONE YEAR
Concorde Management, that in 2010 announced their plans to organise in 2012 the Japanese Touring Car Championship in compliance with the FIA Super 2000 technical regulations, announced their decision to postpone the new series to 2013.
The company's manager, Masao Mizuno explained: "We have been forced to take this decision because of the large-scale damage caused by the devastating earthquake in North-East Japan earlier this year. However, we will try to have some exhibition races 2012."
WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti commented: "We fully understand the reasons why Concorde Management decided to postpone the championship. From our side we will keep on supporting their plans and other similar initiatives aiming to spread Super 2000 rules."
PROTEAM COMFIRM 2012 WTCC PROGRAMME
Proteam Racing confirmed they will keep on participating in the World Touring Car Championship in the 2012 season, with two BMW 320 TC cars.
The Italian-based outfit revealed they are currently in negotiations to renew the agreements with drivers Medhi Bennanni and Javier Villa who produced excellent performance at the wheel of Proteam's cars in the 2011 WTCC.
Team Principal Marco Guiducci commented: "We are facing a new, exciting challenge in 2012, especially because the championship is going back to Marrakech, which is Mehdi's home racetrack."
Proteam Racing are also considering a possible participation to the European Touring Car Cup with one BMW 320si car, as three out of the series' four events will be held at WTCC race meetings.



Fabio Ravaioli - FIA WTCC Media Delegate

Subscription opened !

Subscription opened !

After having published the 2012 official calendar, among which we count 5 events in Europe and an official testing session at the Paul Ricard circuit, European Le Mans Series is opening officially its 2012 registration.

European Le Mans Series wishes to achieve better participation in 2011 where we had 35 cars committed along the season….about forty cars are expected in all categories: LM P2, LMPC, LM GTE Pro, LM GTE Am and GTC.

Registration forms are already available on the website, www.lemans-series.com in the Competitor's corner.

REGISTRATIONS: Deadline by the 18th of January, 2012, at midnight!
Lemans-series
Photo: DPPI

Audi R8 LMS ultra to fight for World Champion’s title in 2012

Audi R8 LMS ultra to fight for World
Champion’s title in 2012

�� GT1 World Championship to be held with GT3 cars in 2012
�� Team WRT from Belgium is set on battling for championship
�� Two new Audi R8 LMS ultra cars on the grid

Ingolstadt, December 20, 2011 – The new Audi R8 LMS ultra will also be
competing in the FIA GT1 World Championship next year. Two vehicles of the
brand new customer sport race car will be independently fielded by Team WRT in
the world’s highest-caliber GT racing series.
Successful ascent: when Audi in the 2009 season initiated its customer sport
program with the R8 LMS for the GT3 class, this class was one of four major GT
categories. Meanwhile the GT3 is not only making its mark nationally but
increasingly on an international level as well. Following the inception of a FIA
European Championship for GT3 models in 2006, there will also be a FIA GT1 World
Championship exclusively held for GT3 vehicles in the future. Consequently, the Audi
R8 LMS ultra will be able to compete in the world’s top racing class for GT vehicles
and, in the 2012 season, fight for a world champion’s title of its own for the first
time.
“We very much welcome the decision of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on
December 7th in favor of the GT3 cars,” emphasizes Werner Frowein, Managing
Director of quattro GmbH. “In the future, this vehicle class will not only stand for
high-caliber national and European customer sport but also for the world’s pinnacle
in GT racing. We are delighted that Team WRT has submitted its entry for the World
Championship and will be representing the colors of Audi Sport customer racing.”

The squad based in Flénu, Belgium, has been fielding the Audi R8 LMS in various
European championships since 2010. Only two years old, the team has celebrated
some remarkable successes this season, having clinched overall victories at the Spa
and the Zolder 24 Hours plus having won the Blancpain Endurance Series. “The GT1
World Championship is a wonderful new commitment for us,” says a pleased Team
Director Vincent Vosse. “We’re facing a challenging new task which all of our team
members are looking forward to.”

According to the wishes of World Championship promoter SRO each team is to
compete with two cars of a single vehicle model from a single brand, respectively.
While in most GT3 racing series professionals and amateurs share a cockpit, only
professional racers compete in the GT1 World Championship. WRT is planning to
select and announce its drivers before the end of December. The details on the
format of the competition will be approved by the FIA shortly. It is expected that
there will be ten worldwide events, each featuring two one-hour races. A provisional
race calendar has already been established.

2012 FIA GT1 World Championship
Round 1: Apr 08 Nogaro (France)
Round 2: Apr 22 Zolder (Belgium)
Round 3: May 27 Navarra (Spain)
Round 4: Jul 08 Algarve (Portugal)
Round 5: Aug 26 Peking (China)
Round 6: Sep 02 Ordos (China)
Round 7: Sep 16 Moscow (Russia)
Round 8: Oct 07 Zandvoort (Netherlands)
Round 9: Nov 25 San Luis (Argentina)
Round 10: TBA

Audi Sport.

FIA PUBLISHED THE 2012 WTCC SPORTING REGULATIONS

FIA PUBLISHED THE 2012 WTCC SPORTING REGULATIONS

The Sporting Regulations for the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship have been published by the FIA.
Let's see what are the major changes compared to the 2011 season.

ONLY 1.6L TURBO CARS ARE ELIGIBLE (Art. 10)
The championship is now reserved for Super 2000 cars powered by 1.6-litre turbo engines.
Old S2000 (2.0L normally aspirated) and S2000D (2.0L turbo diesel) cars may only be allowed to participate on a race-by-race basis, and are no longer eligible to score championship points.
Other cars complying with the technical regulations of national championships may be accepted by the Touring Car Committee.

Only the Super 2000 cars with 1.6-litre turbo engines will be eligible in 2012

RACE DISTANCE STRETCHED TO MAX 60 KM (Art. 11)
The distance of each race may vary between a minimum of 50 km to a maximum of 60, while in the previous years it was limited to a maximum of 50 km.
This change aims to enhance the competition, especially on longer racetracks.

QUALIFYING POINTS AWARDED TO TOP-FIVE (Art. 17)
Although the point scoring system for the races remains based on the usual FIA World Championship scale that rewards the first ten drivers classified, additional points will be awarded to the first five drivers classified in each qualifying session.

QUALIFYING POINTS - 1st: 5 points; 2nd: 4 pts; 3rd: 3 pts; 4th: 2 pts; 5th: 1 point
RACE POINTS - 1st: 25 points; 2nd: 18 pts; 3rd: 15 pts; 4th: 12 pts; 5th: 10 pts; 6th: 8 pts; 7th: 6 pts; 8th: 4 pts; 9th: 2 pts; 10th: 1 point

Should qualifying points were awarded in 2011, they would have had a lesser impact on the final standings. The gap between the first two (Yvan Muller and Rob Huff) would have been stretched from three to five points, while Norbert Michelisz would have moved one place up: from ninth to eighth ahead of Franz Engstler.

REPRIMANDS MAY RESULT IN GRID PENALTIES (Art. 47)
For football players, two yellow cards mean a red card. Now a similar system is also applied in WTCC.
Drivers who receive three reprimands in the same season will be penalised with a drop of ten positions on the starting grid for the first race after the imposition of the third penalty.
The penalty will be applied only in the case two of the reprimands are imposed because of driving infringements.
None of the drivers received three reprimands during the 2011 season; two were imposed to Mehdi Bennani, Gabriele Tarquini and Fredy Barth.

RACE NUMBERS MOVED TO SIDE WINDOWS (Art. 52)
Race numbers will be moved from the front doors to the rear side windows, above the driver's name.
This solution, that has been already adopted in a number of other series, including the World Rally Championship, allows spectators and TV viewers to better recognize the cars and makes more space available for sponsor branding on the cars' bodywork.



In 2012 race numbers will appear on the rear side windows like on rally cars

TYRE LIMITATION SYSTEM IS EASIER AND CHEAPER (Art. 67)From 2012 each competitor will be allowed to use a maximum of 16 new slick tyres on his first participation and a maximum of 20 (12 new) in each of the following events. The number of rain tyres is limited to a maximum of 16 per event.This represents a considerable simplification of the previous regulations that diversified the number of tyres between European and Overseas events, and also gives the competitors the possibility to save money by re-marking tyres that are still in good conditions.ENGINES MUST LAST FOR THE WHOLE SEASON (Art. 73 / 74)Each driver is allowed to use only one engine for the whole season and any change will automatically result in a drop to the back of the grid.In 2011, because it marked the first appearance of the new 1.6-litre turbo power plants, each engine was due to be used for a minimum of six consecutive races before a change was allowed without penalty.The number of turbochargers that may be used on each car is limited to six for the whole season. The use of additional turbochargers will result in a drop to the back of the grid.Engines and turbochargers may be changed without penalty in cases of force majeure.MINOR CHANGE TO THE COMPENSATION WEIGHT (Art. 79)The Compensation Weight system was also slightly revised.The calculation is now based on the fastest lap set in the qualifying session and the average of the two fastest laps set in the races by the best two cars of each model. Until 2011 the two fastest laps of the best two cars set in each race were considered instead of their average.The range of application remains between +40kg and -20kg.TWELVE CARS INSTEAD OF TEN ADVANCE TO Q2 (Art. 118)During the qualifying sessions, the number of cars allowed to advance from Q1 to Q2 has been increased from ten to twelve.Only the cars eligible to score championship points may take part in Q2.In 2011 fifteen different drivers failed to advance to Q2 as they were placed 11th or 12th at the end of Q1. Javier Villa experienced this disappointment four times.TOP TEN OF Q2 REVERSED ON RACE 2 GRID (Art. 129 and 132)The twelve cars qualified for Q2 will fight for the top twelve positions on the starting grid for Race 1.The starting grid for Race 2 will be drawn up by reversing the ten fastest cars of Q2.The cars eliminated at the end of Q1 will fill the positions from 13 onwards on the starting grids for both races.This change is due to enhance competition in both parts of the qualifying session, and especially in Q1, as in 2011 the second grid was made by reversing the top ten in Q1.The list of the cars' technical specifications, including their minimum weights, will be published by the FIA on 15 January 2012.

COUNTDOWN: - 80 DAYS
WTCC RACE OF ITALY - MONZA, 11 MARCH 2012
More information and pictures: www.fiawtcc.com

Fabio Ravaioli - FIA WTCC Media Delegate

Porsche Motorsport 2012 Board approves further races for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche Motorsport 2012
Board approves further races for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG continues to invest in the development of innovative drive technologies in motorsport. A further developed version of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will return to race tracks in 2012. With the rolling race laboratory, Porsche aims to gain extra practical experience under racing conditions and make the hybrid drive even more efficient.

“There is no way around the hybrid technology in motorsport,” stressed Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development, on Saturday on the occasion of the end of year Porsche ‘Night of Champions’ celebrations. “With the 911 GT3 R Hybrid project, we have shown how you can test important future technologies on the race track and pave the way for motorsport success in the future. We will continue to determinedly blaze this trail and further develop the hybrid technology.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for the 2012 season celebrated its world debut in front of invited team bosses, race drivers and series organisers. The GT race car, which is now five centimetres wider at the rear and with almost an extra 15 centimetres on the front fenders, will be fielded by Porsche customer teams in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series, the International GT Open as well as the Le Mans 24 Hours. In the USA alone, four new vehicles will be fielded by three different teams.

Like in previous years, Porsche supports its most successful customer teams in 2012 with works drivers. The line up of pilots stays the same with Jörg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Wolf Henzler, Marco Holzer, Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Patrick Long and Patrick Pilet. “To win races you have to have the right race drivers. And there’s no doubt that we have them,” stated Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG.

Most of the Porsche factory pilots kick off the season at the Daytona 24 hour race on 28 January. Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long race a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for Flying Lizard Motorsports. Marco Holzer supports the Alex Job squad, with Wolf Henzler and Patrick Pilet driving for the TRG team. Marc Lieb competes for the accomplished Brumos Racing crew, with Richard Lietz teaming up with Magnus Racing. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Rookie of the Year winner also competes at Daytona. Kévin Estre takes the wheel of a TRG-911.

In 2012, the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland heads into its 23rd season and will continue to run as support to the DTM. The contract with the series organisers was recently extended for another three years. Taking over the helm of the long established Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland is Andrea Hagenbach, who has worked in the organisation of the series for the last 13 years. She takes over from Helmut Greiner who is retiring.

Porsche Motorsport Press.

The best private race driver 2011 Gianluca Roda retains the Porsche Cup

The best private race driver 2011
Gianluca Roda retains the Porsche Cup

Stuttgart. Italy’s Gianluca Roda is again the winner of the Porsche Cup. With a large point advantage, the 52-year-old defended his achievement from last year. The Porsche Cup has been awarded by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, since 1970. As the brainchild of Ferry Porsche, the company honours the best private Porsche race driver each year with this trophy.

Again in 2011, Gianluca Roda celebrated a large part of his success with the Autorlando Sport team, which has its headquarters in Pedrengo near Bergamo (northern Italy). The entrepreneur from Como earned most of his points towards the Porsche Cup in the International GT Open, which runs two races per weekend. Already at the season-opener, everything went smoothly with Roda and his team mate Fabio Babini (Italy) yielding a win and a third place in their Porsche 911 GT3 R. Over the course of the season, Roda achieved five victories in the GTS class as well as four other podium results. The highlight of the year: double victory on the high-speed circuit in the Royal Park of Monza. At the season final in Barcelona (Spain) a retirement put a spoke in the wheel of his campaign. In a repeat of the previous season, Roda, Babini and the team concluded the year with vice-championship honours in the fiercely-contested GT Open Championship.

In the Blancpain Endurance Series, Gianluca Roda launched into the season with a victory at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by Autorlando Sport – in Monza of course. Joining forces with his Italian teammates Paolo Ruberti and Raffaele Giammaria they secured podium results in Navarra (Spain) and Magny-Cours (France) as well as fourth in Silverstone (Great Britain). Only at the 24 hour race of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), which also counted towards the Blancpain series, did he come home empty-handed in twelfth.

The ambitious Porsche driver also competed for the German Proton Competition squad in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – with top results. At the Sebring 12 Hours in Florida, one of the world’s great endurance classics, Roda underscored his reliability and skill. Teaming up with Christian Ried (Germany) and Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria), the Italian climbed the podium after twelve hours in second place. The Sebring race also counted as the season-opening round of the American Le Mans Series. Team owner Ried also signed up the experienced Roda for the races of the Le Mans Series in Imola and Silverstone. And again he finished both races second in the GTE Am class; in Italy with Porsche factory pilot Patrick Long (USA) providing back up and supported in Great Britain by works driver Patrick Pilet (France).

By again clinching the Porsche Cup, Gianluca Roda has secured a very special place in the long list of Cup winners. The only other drivers to manage the feat of taking the coveted trophy home two consecutive times was the current Porsche team boss Franz Konrad (Austria) and Frenchman Bob Wollek who died in 2001.

Second place in this year’s Cup goes to Paolo Ruberti, making it a one-two for the Italians. The 36-year-old from Legnano in the Veneto region predominantly earned his points with excellent results from the Italian GT Championship, where he yielded three wins and four second places. Alongside Gianluca Roda in the Blancpain Endurance Series, he harvested a stack of points for his excellent results.

After an extremely successful season in the American Le Mans Series, Bryan Sellers clinched third place in the 2011 Porsche Cup. The 29-year-old American was supported by Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) competing for the Falken Tire team. The highlights of the year for the privateer and professional with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR came in Mid Ohio and Baltimore. Both times the Falken-911 saw the flag in first against high calibre competition in the GT class.

On 17th December at the Night of Champions in the R&D Centre in Weissach, Gianluca Roda received the Porsche Cup from Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG. In addition to the valuable challenge cup, the best Porsche private driver of the year takes home a Porsche 911 Carrera S. The Porsche Cup carries a total value of over 250,000 Euro, with positions two to ten receiving prize money. Drivers earned points towards this year’s traditional competition in 18 Grand Touring and prototype race series worldwide as well as at selected long distance races.

Porsche Motorsport Press.

Audi to start its own racing series in China in 2012

Audi to start its own racing series in China in
2012

• Audi R8 LMS Cup to launch in China in the 2012 season
• 16 vehicles of the proven customer sport race car on the grid
• Audi Sport customer racing China to coordinate the Cup

Ingolstadt, December 20, 2011 – Audi will be permanently present in the world’s
largest sales market in motorsport as well. Starting in 2012, the Audi R8 LMS
Cup as an exclusive one-make racing series will underscore the company’s leading
position in the premium segment in China. Audi Sport customer racing China will
be responsible for the operational activities.
In 2012, Audi is setting a milestone in China’s still young motorsport tradition. The
world’s first exclusive one-make cup for the Audi R8 LMS will be held in the fastgrowing
Chinese market. In October, with a growth rate of 61.7 percent compared
to the same period of the prior year, Audi experienced a new record month in China.
The next top performance followed in November, reflecting a 68.8 percent increase
compared to the same prior-year month.
The R8 LMS GT3 race car with a power output of 411 kW (560 HP) will be competing
at five events, including the internationally renowned circuits at Shanghai and
Zhuhai, starting in the second quarter of 2012. Plans are for 16 vehicles of Audi’s
customer sport model to be fielded in the one-make cup. The cars correspond to the
GT3 version that has scored more than 100 international victories and 13 titles and
feature the new Audi PS 1 safety seat as factory-supplied equipment. “The Audi R8
LMS Cup puts our motorsport activities in China on a permanent basis,” says Rene
Koneberg, Head of Audi Sport customer racing China. “Audi was a pioneer in the
premium vehicle market in China. Now we want to give motor racing in this country
a similar impulse.”
Audi Sport customer racing China will be responsible for organizing the one-make
cup. This new structure experienced an extremely impressive debut. At the finale of
the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) at Zhuhai the race team celebrated a one-
Communications Motorsport
Jürgen Pippig
Telephone: +49 (0)841 89 34200
E-mail: motorsport-media@audi.de
www.audi-motorsport.info
Eva-Maria Veith
Telephone: +49 (0)841 89 33922
E-mail: eva-maria.veith@audi.de
2/2
two victory in the GTC class with the Audi R8 LMS. A week later, at the Macau GT
Cup, Edoardo Mortara won an extremely challenging city street race in an Audi R8
LMS fielded by the team.
Audi through its Audi race experience China opens up the opportunity to contest
races in professional conditions to the motorsport enthusiasts among its customers.
The complete packages available to gentlemen drivers include everything a racer
needs, from license training and the ready-to-run race car through to the
organizational structure.
Audi expects to deliver more than 300,000 vehicles in China in fiscal year 2011. The
company is the market leader in the premium segment. “China has meanwhile
become a kind of second home to Audi,” says Dr. Dietmar Voggenreiter, Managing
Director of Audi China. “By entering motorsport we aim to start proving ‘Vorsprung
durch Technik’ on the race tracks of this dynamic country as well.”

Audi Sport.

Audi tests LMP1 sports car for 2012

Audi tests LMP1 sports car for 2012

• Tests at Sebring (U.S. state of Florida)
• Six Le Mans winners at the wheel
• Preparation for 2012 season

Ingolstadt, December 17, 2011 – Audi Sport is intensively preparing for the 2012
sports prototype season. A test team has started the next trial phase of the LMP1
sports car for the 2012 season in the United States this week.
After the previous tests of the further development of this year’s Le Mans winning
car took place behind closed doors, Audi is now going into public at a race track for
the first time. Since this Saturday, Audi Sport has been running tests with two
vehicles at the Sebring (Florida) circuit. The second LMP1 sports car serves to
compare the test results. Taking turns at the wheel of the two development vehicles
are the 2011 Le Mans winners, the Swiss Marcel Fässler, the German André Lotterer
and the Frenchman Benoît Tréluyer. Also involved in the tests are Dindo Capello,
Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, who were last victorious at Le Mans in 2008.
The tradition-steeped American circuit has a special significance for Audi, not only
because Audi has celebrated nine victories at the Sebring 12 Hours since the 2000
season. The 5.95-kilometer track that features 17 highly different types of turns
offers plenty of variety, which makes for excellent test conditions. The rough
concrete of the former airfield’s take-off and landing strip in combination with the
tarmac of the other track sectors puts the material to a particularly tough test. On
March 17th, the 12-hour race will open the new FIA World Endurance Championship
(WEC) as well as the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at this venue.
While the component tests have already started, Audi will not announce the details
of the 2012 racing program, the driver line-up and the technical state of the
development until a later date.

Audi Sport/

FIA Announces 2012 Calendar with the FIA GT Championships Heading to New Venues

Press Release
16 December 2011

FIA Announces 2012 Calendar with the FIA GT Championships Heading to New Venues

The global expansion of the FIA GT1 World Championship continues with the addition of new venues on the 2012 calendar announced by the FIA.

GT1 World will have rounds in Europe, supported by the FIA GT3 European Championship, visiting Nogaro and Zandvoort for the first time. There will be further rounds outside of Europe, with standalone events in Ordos, Beijing, Argentina and Russia.

The 2012 season will start at Circuit Paul Armagnac near Nogaro on April 9th at the traditional season opener at the circuit situated in south-west France.

Three weeks later the next joint event will take place at Zolder, with the GT1 World Championship returning to the Belgian circuit after a successful event last season.

Navarra in Northern Spain will once again play host to both series at the end of May. The drivers and team return to the Iberian Peninsula in July, racing at the Algarve circuit near Portimao in Portugal which has become firmly established on the calendar.

The first of the non-European rounds will be held in August with GT1 returning to China for back-to-back weekends, first in Ordos and then onto Beijing. The cars will return west and head to Moscow where the venue is the 2.5mile/4km Moscow Raceway located 75km from the Russian capital.

Then it’s back to Europe for GT1 World’s first visit to Zandvoort and then the championship finale in Argentina in November.

A tenth round of the FIA GT1 World Championship will be announced next month.

The FIA GT3 European Championship will support GT1. Nogaro and Moscow are two new venues and GT3 returns to Zolder for the first time since the 2009 season finale. GT3 will return to Navarra, Algarve and Zandvoort following highly successful events in 2011.

“The 2012 calendar is very exciting and, with six dates being joint GT1 and GT3 events, it will provide everyone – teams, drivers, sponsors and race fans – with a great weekend of GT racing,” said Stephane Ratel. “The mix of European and overseas events is the right balance and I’m very pleased that we will be going to Moscow next year, which, like China, is a very important market. It will mark another first for SRO and the FIA GT Championships.”

“In these tough economic times we have to plan each event carefully and all the GT3 European races will be held on the same weekend as GT1,” Ratel continued. “One of the advantages of this means we will give the race fans even more to see on each of these weekends. GT3 will also travel to Moscow, which promises to be one of the highlights of the season.

“The two races in China were very successful in 2011 and the events in Ordos and Beijing in 2012 promise to be even bigger and better. GT1 World will be seen at Olympic Park next year and we are working hard to get permission to stage a street race after the success of the demonstration night race held at the venue in September.

“This calendar, and the move to harmonized GT3 technical regulations, offers both the FIA GT1 World and FIA GT3 European Championships stability in 2012 and beyond.”

2012 FIA GT1 World Championship Calendar
8th April FRA Nogaro
22nd April BEL Zolder***
27th May ESP Navarra
8th July PRT Algarve
26th August CHN Beijing **
2nd September CHN Ordos **
16th September RUS Moscow *
7th October NLD Zandvoort
25th November ARG San Luis *
TBA TBA TBA

2012 FIA GT3 European Championship Calendar
8th April FRA Nogaro
22nd April BEL Zolder***
27th May ESP Navarra
8th July PRT Algarve
16th September RUS Moscow *
7th October NLD Zandvoort
TBA TBA TBA

* Subject to the ASN's confirmation and the FIA homologation of the circuit
** Subject to the confirmation from the ASN and to the contract with the promoter
*** Subject to the homologation of the circuit.

Cameron Kelleher
Head of Media

Porsche Motorsport around the world

Porsche Motorsport around the world

Stuttgart. The Motorsport Newsletter regularly provides information on Porsche Motorsport around the world. More detailed information and additional photographs are available for accredited journalists from the press database.

American Le Mans Series: Flying Lizard driver line-up confirmed for 2012
The winning Flying Lizard Motorsports squad will again run two Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the 2012 American Le Mans Series. For the fourth consecutive season, works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long will share the cockpit of the number 45 race car. Team owner Seth Neiman shares driving duties with factory pilot Marco Holzer.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup: Proton Competition wins six-hour race
Zhuhai in China hosted the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup on 12 November. In the LM GTE Am class, works driver Richard Lietz planted the 911 GT3 RSR of Proton Competition on the second grid spot and drove to victory with team owner Christian Ried as well as Gianluca Roda.

Japanese Super GT: Second place for Porsche 911 GT3 R in riveting final
The duel between Tomonobu Fujii in the Porsche 911 GT3 R of the Hankook KTR squad and a BMW was literally decided at the finish line, when the Porsche pilots were taken by surprise by the slipstreaming BMW in race one (12 November) and beaten by nine-hundredths of a second. Race two saw Masami Kageyama again yield second in the same Porsche after a gripping fight. In the final GT 300 class standings, Fujii, Kageyama and their team occupied third place.

Rallying: Björn Waldegård finally claims Porsche win at the Safari
At the East African Safari Classic (20-28 November) in Kenya - arguably the toughest rally for historic vehicles - rally legend Björn Waldegård won in a Porsche 911. Waldegård was co-driven by his son Mathias at the marathon sprint over 2,000 kilometres in the 911. With this result, the 68-year-old finally clinched the victory that had narrowly escaped him as Porsche works driver at the ‘real’ Safari in the seventies: In 1974 he finished second, in 1978 fourth. The Swede became famous after clinching two wins with Porsche at the Monte Carlo Rally (1969, 1970).

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: René Rast defends his championship title
With five wins this season, Germany’s René Rast managed to retain his championship title for another year. The VELTINS Lechner Racing pilot snatched his last victory at the final round on the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi (13 November), after finishing second at the penultimate race the previous day behind Britain’s Nick Tandy. His Austrian teammate Norbert Siedler took home vice championship honours. VELTINS Lechner Racing claimed the team title, with Kévin Estre from France crowned Rookie of the Year.

Carrera Cup Australia: Craig Baird unstoppable – championship title number three
After the last race weekend of the Carrera Cup Australia in Sydney (2/4 December), Craig Baird travelled home as champion once again. Sixth place at the penultimate round in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Alliance Group Racing put Baird out of reach of his closest rival Jonny Reid. The 41-year-old New Zealand born professional racer has already won the Carrera Cup Australia series in 2006 and 2008. Moreover, he has won the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand eight times. The sheer number of championship titles makes the Gold Coast resident the most successful race driver of Porsche one-make cup series.

Carrera Cup Great Britain: Daniel Lloyd wins race scholarship
Facing competition from three other candidates, 19-year-old Daniel Lloyd came out on top after a rigorous selection process at Silverstone to win an £80,000 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Scholarship. The scholarship contributes to his campaign budget for all twenty races of the 2012 Carrera Cup Great Britain.

GT3 Cup Challenge Australia: Roger Lago defends his championship title
The key to Roger Lago defending his title was consistency: From 18 races, the Australian finished 13 times in the top three and achieved three victories. The fight for the cup, however, went down to the wire between Lago and Jeff Bobik. Bobik won the last two races in Phillip Island on the first weekend in November, but concluded the season 13 points shy (402:389) of his compatriot.

GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil: Constantino Junior clinches maiden title
On a rainy ninth and final race weekend of the year at Interlagos (9/10 December), Constantino Junior convincingly secured his first championship title in the top ‘Cup Class’ category ahead of his rival Clemente Lunardi. The races of the weekend went to Ricardo Baptista and Tom Valle. In the “Challenge Class”, Sylvio de Barros already clinched overall victory two weeks ago at the event run as support to the Brazilian Grand Prix.

GT3 Cup Challenge Canada: two new courses, nine races instead of six
The GT3 Cup Challenge Canada heads into its second season at full revs. The calendar has grown from six to nine races, contested over five weekends. As a premiere, the makes cup series will run alongside its American equivalent on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix (8/10 June) as well as the storied Circuit Mont Tremblant in Quebec.

GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East: Four races, four different winners
The GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is tougher than ever before. From the four races contested so far came four different winners: Clemens Schmid from Austria, Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal from Saudi Arabia, his compatriot Bandar Alesayi and Ahmad Al Harthy from Oman. Holding a narrow margin, Al Faisal travels to races five and six on the Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi, 15/16 December) as points’ leader, which also marks the halfway point in the season.

Porsche Motorsport Presse.

Successful test of the Audi R8 GRAND-AM

Successful test of the Audi R8 GRAND-AM

• New model for U.S. racing tested at Daytona

• Development driver Frank Stippler completes 1000 test kilometers

• Preparation of two vehicles for the 2012 Daytona 24 Hours

Ingolstadt, December 11, 2011 – The Audi R8 GRAND-AM successfully passed its

baptism by fire. The new model was fine-tuned at the Daytona race track (U.S.

state of Florida) during its final test on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ready for the North American market: The development of the next customer sport

race car from Audi Sport customer racing has been completed. The car will be

delivered to the first customers by January. The new Audi R8 GRAND-AM is based on

the extremely successful Audi R8 LMS that has scored more than 110 victories and

13 titles. From this GT3 race car quattro GmbH developed a vehicle for the Grand

Touring class of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in the USA and subjected it

to final testing at Daytona.

After track tests in Europe the R8 GRAND-AM that features significant modifications

compared to the GT3 race car underwent its final test in the heart of the region

where it will be fielded in the future. On the two test days, Frank Stippler completed

about 1000 kilometers (600 miles) in the visually conspicuous test car from quattro

GmbH that sports a stars-and-stripes design. The famous Daytona International

Speedway in the U.S. state of Florida with its banked turns served to prepare for the

Daytona 24 Hours at which private racing customers will compete with the R8

GRAND AM on January 28th and 29th.

The Audi R8 GRAND-AM clearly differs from the GT3 “sister model” and required a

fundamentally new set-up. Downforce, for instance, is drastically lower. About 70 to

80 percent of aerodynamic grip is lost because the GRAND-AM regulations prescribe

modified body components. The new front splitter may only protrude from the front

contours by 38 millimeters, for example. The front underbody must have a flat

design. The rear diffusor corresponds to the production car component, while the

standardized rear wing is only 152 centimeters wide and thus 260 millimeters

slimmer than the rear wing of the R8 LMS. “The lower aerodynamic forces also

require modified damper characteristics and softer spring rates,” explains Armin

Plietsch, Head of Engineering Customer Sport at quattro GmbH. In addition, the

regulations prescribe a ride height of 65 millimeters – which is about 10 millimeters

more than the minimum in the FIA series.

At Daytona, Audi also familiarized itself with the tires from the series’ exclusive tire

supplier, Continental. The GTR (for road courses) and GTO (for oval tracks) tire

models influence suspension set-ups as well. ABS and traction control, which are

standard equipment on the Audi R8 LMS, had to be deactivated for the R8 GRANDAM.

The optimized radiator package that Audi developed for the R8 LMS ultra is also

used in the R8 GRAND-AM.

“We successfully tested all the modifications at Daytona,” says Romolo Liebchen,

Head of Customer Sport at quattro GmbH. “With Frank Stippler we developed a

sound and solid set-up for our customers and also gathered valuable findings in the

endurance tests. The durability of wearing parts and runs at high outside

temperatures meet challenging demands. We can now provide our racing customers

with concrete advice and reference values for fielding the car.”

The rating of the Audi R8 GRAND AM is still an open issue. By January, a balance of

performance is to be achieved between the various vehicles in the GT class. Audi has

made one of the 5.2-liter V10 FSI engines used in the Audi R8 GRAND-AM available

to the series’ engineers for a precise performance analysis. The engine’s power

output and homologation weight will only be defined once this rating is available.

One of the customer teams for the 2012 season has already been determined. APR

Motorsport from Opelika in the U.S. state of Alabama will be the first team to field

the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. The squad is planning to contest the Daytona 24 Hours and

the remainder of the races with its own driver combinations. Negotiations with

three other teams are currently in the closing stage. A maximum of four Audi R8

GRAND-AM cars will be delivered for the 2012 season to ensure individual support

and coordinated logistics. Audi of America is responsible for sales and support to

customers in North America.

Audi Sport.

YVAN MULLER CROWNED AT THE FIA GALA

YVAN MULLER CROWNED AT THE FIA GALA Last night Yvan Muller and Chevrolet were officially named 2011 FIA World Touring Car champions during the traditional FIA prize giving gala in that took place for the first time at New Dehli. In the sumptuous setting of the Kingdom of Dreams, specially designed to offer a unique Indian atmosphere, the FIA honoured all its champions in a progression from Karting to Formula One. The part of the ceremony dedicated to the presentation of the WTCC trophies culminated in an all-Chevrolet podium with the Cruze 1.6T racing car on the background. Rob Huff and Alain Menu - second and third in the championship respectively - received the runner up trophies, lining on either side of Yvan Muller. Then Chevrolet Motorsport director Eric Nève joined them to receive the Manufacturers' trophy. Yvan Muller was awarded the Drivers' World Champion's trophy for the third time, after the titles he won in 2008 for SEAT and in 2010 for Chevrolet, while Nève collected Chevrolet's second Manufacturers' Championship trophy. Huff, Muller and Menu on the WTCC podium at the FIA Gala in New Dehli THE WORD TO THE 2011 WTCC CHAMPIONS After receiving his third WTCC championship trophy Yvan Muller commented: "It was a very close call! Rob (Huff) deserved to win the title just like me. He has been quick the whole season and won as many races as I did. I am now facing my third season with Chevrolet and my goal is to win a fourth world title. Nobody has done it before in WTCC and it would be nice to do it. After all, my Alsatian countryman Sébastien Loeb has won eight WRC titles." About Chevrolet's second Manufacturers' title, Motorsport director Eric Nève said: "The team worked very hard and the key to our success was to start testing so early with the new 1.6-litre turbo engine. Our sporting activity is of benefit for the brand. The Cruze is a truly global car and its involvement in a world championship where racing cars are so close to production cars is also good for the sales. Which is proved by the fact that we have already sold one million Cruze cars worldwide." 2012 CALENDAR APPROVED BY FIA WORLD COUNCIL The calendar of the 2012 WTCC was approved earlier this week by the FIA World Motor Sport Council during the meeting in New Dehli. Once again the championship will comprise twelve events between March and November. WTCC will visit for the first time Austria, Argentina and the USA, and it will also return to Marrakech's street circuit. Rounds 1 & 2 - 11 March: Autodromo di Monza (Italy) Rounds 3 & 4 - 1 April: Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia (Spain) Rounds 5 & 6 - 15 April: Circuit de Marrakech (Morocco) Rounds 7 & 8 - 6 May: Hungaroring, Budapest (Hungary) Rounds 9 & 10 - 20 May: Salzburgring (Austria) Rounds 11 & 12 - 3 June: Circuito do Estoril (Portugal) * Rounds 13 & 14 - 8 July: TBA (Argentina) Rounds 15 & 16 - 22 July: Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba (Brazil) Rounds 17 & 18 - 23 September: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma (USA) Rounds 19 & 20 - 21 October: Suzuka East Circuit (Japan) Rounds 21 & 22 - 4 November: Shanghai International Circuit (China) Rounds 23 & 24 - 18 November: Circuito da Guia (Macau) * subject to the agreement with the promoter The 2012 FIA WTCC will kick off in Italy, at the Autodromo di Monza RACE DISTANCE TO VARY BETWEEN 50 AND 60 KM The FIA World Motor Sport Council also approved last Wednesday a number of changes to the WTCC Sporting Regulations. ELIGIBLE CARS - In 2012 only Super 2000 cars powered by the 1.6-litre turbo engine will be eligible for full season entries. Older cars powered by 2.0L normally aspirated or turbo-diesel engines may only accepted on a race-by-race basis. RACE DISTANCE - To enhance competition, the race distance that was previously limited to 50 km has been increased to a range from a minimum of 50 km to a maximum of 60. For full details, please refer to the 2012 WTCC Sporting Regulations that will be available by December 15 at www.fia.com . ETCC HOSTED AT THREE WTCC EVENTS In 2012 the FIA European Touring Car Cup reverts to a multiple event format. The series will comprise four race meetings, three of them held during WTCC events, plus an ETCC stand-alone event that will conclude the season at Imola. Rounds 1 & 2 - 11 March: Autodromo di Monza (Italy) Rounds 3 & 4 - 1 April: Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia (Spain) Rounds 5 & 6 - 20 May: Salzburgring (Austria) Rounds 7 & 8 - 24 June: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola (Italy) ROB HUFF AWARDED THE BRDC GOLD STAR WTCC vice-champion Rob Huff was awarded the prestigious British Racing Drivers' Club Gold Star last Monday, during the Annual Awards ceremony. First presented in 1929. The BRDC Gold Star is the Club's premier annual award. It recognises the strongest performance of the year by a Member in International motor sport. Rob Huff was awarded the BRDC Gold Star, after a sensational season in the World Touring Car Championship, in which he finished second just three points behind team-mate Yvan Muller, despite winning both races at the demanding Macau season finale. Huff, who received the award from the hands of BRDC president Derek Warwick, was classified ahead of Formula One racers Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton. Rob Huff became the first Touring Car driver to win the BRDC Gold Star; three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx was classified a close second in the 2010 award behind Mark Webber.

COUNTDOWN: - 86 DAYS WTCC RACE OF ITALY - MONZA, MARCH 11, 2012

Fabio Ravaioli - FIA WTCC Media Delegate

FIA PRICE GIVING GALA

Fotos from the FIA price giving gala in New Delhi.

Fotos: FIA.

Jeff Carter/Media Delegate.

Fotos:FIA.

GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONS HONOURED AT GALA

GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONS HONOURED AT GALA

The FIA honoured the 2011 FIA GT1 World Champions during the FIA Gala in New Delhi this evening, the first time this prestigious event has been held in India. Surrounded by the other champions from world motorsport, Germany’s Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr were crowned GT1 World Driver Champions after an exciting second season.

Driving for the British-based JR Motorsports team, Krumm and Luhr secured nine top-three finishes, including four race wins, in their Nissan GT-R. Their nearest rivals, Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke, driving an Aston Martin DB9 for the Young Driver AMR team, won the penultimate race of the season in Beijing to take the challenge all the way to the final round in Argentina.

However, an accident during Pre-Qualifying meant the Aston Martin was damaged beyond repair. Turner and Mücke were forced to sit out the final two races of the season, but they had done enough to secure the Vice Champions position. Third place in the Championship went to the reigning FIA GT3 European Champion Christian Hohenadel and his co-driver Andrea Piccini. The German/Italian pairing, driving a Hexis AMR Aston Martin DB9, scored one race win in Germany and kept up a consistent challenge throughout the season to finish in the top three as the final chequered flag was waved.

Michael Krumm said:

“It’s been an incredible year and only now that I have been presented with the award for winning the FIA GT1 World Championship Drivers’ title has it really sunk in. The season didn’t start so well, but then to win four races really put us in a great position to secure the title at the last round in Argentina. I have to thank everyone in the JRM team, Nissan, NISMO and of course Lucas, for all they have done to make this achievement possible.”

Lucas Luhr said:

“Receiving the award for winning the FIA GT1 World Championship for Drivers is a perfect end to what has been a fantastic season. The Nissan GT-R has been strong at most of the circuits we’ve been to this year and we won more races than any other team. Of course, this gave us the advantage. I therefore must thank Nissan, NISMO and JRM for providing us with such a great car and Michael for doing such a great job.”

Hexis AMR secured the World GT1 Team title with its Aston Martin DB9 cars, adding the FIA GT1 World crown to the FIA GT3 European title that the French team won in 2009. It was a nail-biting end to the season, with Hexis AMR, which had led the points for the first half of the season, lying in third place ahead of the final round in Argentina. An incredible performance by their two cars, driven by Christian Hohenadel, Andrea Piccini, Stef Dusseldorp and Clivio Piccione, saw the team take 40 points in the last race of the year, to finish three points ahead of JR Motorsports and four points in front of Young Driver AMR.

Philippe Dumas, Team Manager, Hexis AMR said:

“It has been a fantastic year and to become FIA GT1 World Champions means so much to everyone at Hexis. We may be a small team, but we are extremely well organised and very professional. We all share in the highs and lows, so for all of us this is a great achievement. We went into the last round at San Luis hoping to finish in the top three, but everyone worked so hard and we got the result we needed to win the World Championship. I’d like to thank everyone at Hexis for their dedication, their courage and extraordinary team spirit, exceeding their limits on so many occasions. And special thanks must go to our pit-stop crews, who are truly World Champions now! Our thanks also to Aston Martin, to SRO for organising such a great Championship, and to the FIA. To receive the World Championship trophy is the highlight of my career and we will hope to defend our title in 2012 with the new McLaren.”

Jeff Carter

Media Delegate,

2012 Blancpain Endurance Series Calendar

2012 Blancpain Endurance Series Calendar SRO Motorsports Group today unveiled the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series, with races on five of Europe’s most prestigious circuits, with a sixth round to be announced. As in 2011 the Total 24 Hours of Spa will be the highlight of the Blancpain Endurance Series at the end of July, with 3-hour races at Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard and the Nürburgring. The 2012 season kicks off in April, as it did last year, with a 3-hour race at the home of the Italian Grand Prix, Monza. Instead of hosting the season finale, Silverstone will host Round 2 and the 3-hour race will once again take place on the full Grand Prix track at the Home of British Motorsport. The French round takes place in the magnificent surroundings of Paul Ricard in the South of France at the start of July. Paul Ricard will also host the official test in March. The Total 24 Hours of Spa will be held on its traditional date of the last weekend in July for the 64th edition of the world’s premier round the clock event for GT cars. Germany is a new addition to the Blancpain Endurance Series calendar, with a 3-hour race on the imposing Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit in September. Official Test March 20th – 21st Paul Ricard, France Round 1 April 14th – 15th Monza, Italy Round 2 June 2nd – 3rd Silverstone, UK Round 3 June 29th – July 1st Paul Ricard, France Round 4 July 25th – 29th Total 24 Hours of Spa, Belgium Round 5 September 22nd – 23rd Nürburgring, Germany Round 6 October TBC The Blancpain Endurance Series events will be known as Blancpain Race Weekends with a full support race programme and other entertainment for visitors to enjoy. The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo will be holding races at all rounds with this prestigious one make series providing two 50-minute races during the weekend. The Blancpain Revival Series is a new series launched by the SRO Motorsports Group and will be held at five Blancpain Weekends - Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Nürburgring and one more race to be confimed. The Blancpain Revival Series will be a series reserved for GT cars which raced between 1994 and 2004. Europe’s leading feeder formula for F1, the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series, will be joining the Blancpain Weekends in Monza, Paul Ricard and Spa, providing visitors the opportunity of seeing the Formula One stars of the future alongside a great weekend of sportscar action. In addition to the racing action, supercar owners can also take part in the events with the introduction for the 2012 season of the SRO Supercar Club. As well as access to the events, VIP parking and lunch in the hospitality unit, Supercar Club members will also have the opportunity to take their cars on track and enjoy the Blancpain Weekend from a truly unique perspective. “The Blancpain Race Weekends are all about enjoying racing,” said Stephane Ratel, CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group. “2011 was a hugely successful first year for the Blancpain Endurance Series. We’ve looked at what worked, changed some of the things that didn’t, and with new circuits, more cars and more racing we are confident that 2012 will be even better. We have also introduced the SRO Supercar Club which will allow members not only to come and see the event; they can be part of it as well. “The choice of circuits for the 2012 calendar was crucial as the teams and drivers want to race on the best circuits. And they don’t get much better than Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring. “We’ve already received interest from over 70 cars for the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series, so we will have larger grids at each of the events this year. “I must take the opportunity to thank Marc A. Hayek and Blancpain for their continued support. Together Blancpain and SRO are building something very special and unique in the world of sportscar racing.” Marc A. Hayek, CEO of Blancpain, said : “The participation of Blancpain as title sponsor and timekeeper of the Blancpain Endurance Series is a turning point in the history that links the Manufacture with motorsport. This Championship, launched in 2011, marks a return to the roots of endurance racing. Blancpain is proud to have taken part in this 2011 season and to continue its participation in 2012. “The success of the first season shows that a championship like the Blancpain Endurance Series was missing in the GT Racing World. The teams’, the drivers’ and the public’s enthusiasm is the best proof of this success. “This year promises spectacular races, on the most prestigious European racetracks. As a driver I am looking forward to being back on the grid in 2012. The new season is off to a good and exciting start!” Blancpain, a tradition of innovation for over 275 years In 1735, Jehan-Jacques Blancpain began his watchmaking activity and installed his first workshop on the upper floor of his family home in Villeret, a village in the Swiss Jura mountains. By inscribing his name in the official communal property register, this pioneer created an establishment that is now the world’s oldest watch brand. Throughout its history, Blancpain has succeeded in maintaining solid continuity in its capacity for innovation and its respect for traditional horological values. Whether by perfecting complications, designs and production methods, or by exploring new horizons, the Manufacture has been devoted for more than 275 years to taking the art of watchmaking to places it has never yet ventured. From the first models created in the 18th century to the prestigious timepieces currently emerging from its workshops, Blancpain has forged an authentic tradition of innovation. The key to its success lies in the mastery of all fields involved in making an exceptional mechanical timepiece – from the creation of the movement and its components through to the functional design of the watch, along with the choice of materials and the extremely refined and entirely hand-crafted finishing. Without ever straying from its precious heritage, the brand steadfastly pursues its quest for performance, precision and elegance by offering a range of exceptional timepieces equipped with the most sophisticated horological complications. The nature of its collections – including the pure lines of the Villeret, the efficient complexity of Le Brassus, and the avant-garde design of L-evolution – is firmly rooted in watchmaking traditions while constantly pushing them towards new limits. In the same way, the ladies’ collection celebrates beauty and refinement, while the Sport collection is composed of instrument watches that are ready to face any situation on land, under water or in the air. While remaining unswervingly loyal to its values, Blancpain regularly associates with partners that share its passion for excellence. Whether in the field of motorsports, sailing, scuba diving, or that of gastronomy and the art of living, the Manufacture is proud of its partnerships that represent far more than mere co-branding. On the contrary, Blancpain commits itself fully to such forms of cooperation by joining forces with its partners in a determination to excel and to foster both creativity and authenticity. Jeff CARTER Press Officer - Blancpain Endurance Series SRO Motorsport Group Photo: © ©V-IMAGES/Decancq