Margaritis / Lunardi drive with double-pole closer to title Dream final of the ADAC GT Masters Championship at Hockenheim.

Margaritis / Lunardi drive with double-pole closer to title
Dream final of the ADAC ​​GT Masters Championship at Hockenheim.
The ADAC GT Masters Championship is gearing up for an exciting finale at Hockenheim
Showdown in perfect weather. The championship leader Alexandros Margaritis (27, Cologne)
and Dino Lunardi (32, F) are equal at the finish line of the title fight two
Stockings in her hand. They secured the BMW ALPINA B6 of LIQUI MOLY
Team Engstler the first two grid positions for the race on Saturday and
Sunday. But the closest rival Ferdinand (20, A) and Johannes Stuck
(24, A) have to be run in the title fight far from beaten and
Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo in the two races of the three positions and
two.
Keyfacts, Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg
Circuit length: 4,574 meters
Weather: sunny, 27 degrees
Pole Position Race 1 Saturday: Dino Lunardi, LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler
BMW ALPINA B6), 1.40,111 Min
Pole Position Race 2 Sunday: Alexandros Margaritis (LIQUI MOLY Team
Engstler BMW ALPINA B6), 1.40,076 Min
Dino Lunardi secured the first pole at the finals in the ADAC GT Masters
At the start of qualifying for the first race on Saturday laid Ferdinand
Stuck in front. The closest pursuer of the league leaders took the first
serious personal best was, but then Sebastian Asch (25,
Ammerbuch) in a Porsche 911-a-workx Akrapovic replaced. But the son of
Touring Car legend Roland Asch, who is also in a Porsche final
the "League of the super sports car" was allowed to start, not length about the best time
. forward Dino Lunardi was fastest on his lap at 0.289 seconds
faster than the Schwabe and secured in the French
important qualifying of the season's first pole position in the FIA ​​GT Championship.
"Not so bad, right?" Lunardi laughed after qualifying. "Our engineering
has placed us in an absolutely perfect car, and has tried to
Pressures put on us in the championship battle, completely hide. "Side Lunardi
Ash starts from the first row, stucco goes into the race from row two. "I
had a very good qualifying, "said the youngest son of racing legend
Hans-Joachim "Christmas cake" Stuck. "We have a good starting position. Morning
and on Sunday it will be very exciting! "
Two drivers by surprise Mario Farnbacher at GT premiere
For a surprise was the ADAC Formula Masters talent Mario Farnbacher
(19, Ansbach) in Italia Ferrari 458 Farnbacher Racing ESET. The youngest
Son of team manager Horst Farnbacher will start the first driver in an ADAC
Masters Weekend in parallel in the ADAC Formula Masters and the FIA ​​GT Championship.
The cost in the "league of supercars" succeeded Farnbacher place on the grid
four with flying colors.
Margaritis makes perfect starting point for the title
In the second qualifying session did Alexandros Margaritis his teammates Lunardi
gradually made the perfect qualifying result with another Pole
Position for the perfect title contender. At the start of qualifying for the race
Johannes Stuck on Sunday was at the top, but then had his
Title Margaritis opponents admit defeat. Margaritis improved his
Best time even further, thus securing the match ball in the title fight."We
none were on track in qualifying this season as strong as here, "said a delighted
the former DTM driver Margaritis. "Better run, it can not, and the
Rest is up to us now all alone. "Johannes Stuck starts on Sunday next
Margaritis from the front row, flanked by team-mate Peter Kox (47,
NL), who made his rider-Lamborghini Gallardo on the grid. Of the
Positions four and five start two Callaway Corvette in the last ADAC GT
Masters races of the season. Philipp Eng (21, A) was 0.053 seconds faster
when the former Formula 1 World Championship runner-Heinz-Harald Frentzen (44, Neuss).
Difficult situation for the ABT-Audi drivers and Ludwig Mies
The most difficult situations of the six pilots in the ADAC GT
Masters are still competing for the title, have Christopher Mies (22, Holy House)
Luca, and Ludwig (22, Bonn) in their Audi R8 by ABT Sportsline.Mies starts
together with team-mate Christer Jöns (24, Ingelheim) from positions
ten and 18 in the two races, Ludwig and teammate Jens Klingmann
(21, glues) take the finals of the positions of eleven and 23 in the attack.
ADAC GT Masters live on TV
The finale of the ADAC GT Masters 2011 at the Hockenheimring Baden-
Württemberg is the free to air TV channel on Saturday and kabel eins
Sunday at 11.45 clock live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
transferred. The sports channel SPORT1 sends highlights of the ADAC GT Masters
the Hockenheimring in the ADAC Masters Weekend magazine on 8 October at
13.30 clock. ADAC GT Masters Presse.
For more information visit www.adac gt masters.de

Rossetti with the Abarth Grande Punto at the 46th Rallye d’Antibes Cote d’Azur – European Rally Championship

Rossetti with the Abarth Grande Punto at the 46th Rallye d’Antibes Cote d’Azur – European Rally Championship

Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi, after having regained the lead in the overall standings of the European Rally Championship thanks to the points obtained in the 68th Rally of Poland, driving the Abarth Grande Punto S2000 bearing the colours of United Business, will be at the start of the 46th Rallye Antibes Cote d'Azur, which will be held from October 14th to 16th in France, with start and finish in Antibes and service area in Nice. The prestigious French Rally is the penultimate round of the European Championship and Luca Rossetti with his usual co-driver Matteo Chiarcossi will race to defend, with their Abarth Grande Punto S2000, the recently reconquered championship lead. The United Business crew takes part for the second time in the French race, the first time in 2008, although they did not finish, it was in Antibes that the strong Italian driver won his first European title, now 4 years later he is confident to compete in a race at the top. The participation in the 46th Rallye Antibes Cote d'Azur has been made possible thanks to the support of Luca Rossetti's advertising partner companies: OMINIA ENERGY, I.L.I.R., DI VITA, DAMAPLAST and CHAMPAGNE DE VILMONT. A serene Luca Rossetti said: “ After the good result at the Rally of Poland we head for the French Riviera confident but, despite leading the Championship and as I had predicted, winning the title this year is much more difficult than in the past years and now we are in the final rush. The car has always been very competitive, the Michelin tyres are a guarantee of performance, and United Business has always provided all the technical - logistical and sporting support needed. The Rallye d'Antibes is a difficult race but right here four years ago, although I could not finish the race, I won my first international title, which was one of the highlights of my career: winning the title of 2008 European Champion will always be an unforgettable moment. The location of this rally is very nice, I will be at the start way to honour this race and to try to amuse the French fans. As every rally abroad, the local and international competition is always very skilled and getting results is never easy, putting myself to the test on new roads, different countries and facing the French or otherwise foreign drivers for me is an exciting challenge that I hope to honour with a good performance. I would like to bring to Abarth another positive result, Matteo and I will do everything to climb on the top step of the podium with our Grande Punto”. The FIA calendar for the continental championship, after the 46th Rallye Antibes Cote d'Azur, valid as the tenth round, foresees the Rallye International du Valais as the final round.

Racing Press

United Business Sport & Events

WTCC: TIANMA CIRCUIT TO HOST WTCC IN CHINA

# 38 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2011 TIANMA CIRCUIT TO HOST WTCC IN CHINA The WTCC Race of China will take place on November 6 at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit, in a joint event with the China Touring Car Championship's final race meeting. Following the decision to move the WTCC and CTCC race meeting from the Guangdong International Circuit to Shanghai, the first option for the promoters of both championships was to race at the Shanghai International Circuit. However, as the Formula One venue was already booked for the first weekend in November, they opted for Shanghai's other racetrack. The Shanghai Tianma Circuit was inaugurated in 2004 and has already hosted several rounds of the China Touring Car and Superbike Championships. It is located in the Sheshan Songjiang district, in the Western outskirts of Shanghai. The circuit has already been licensed by the FIA for Touring Car competitions. The Shanghai Tianma Circuit will be home to the WTCC Race of China A CHEVROLET FOR TOSHI ARAI AT SUZUKA Toshihiro Arai, one of Japan's most successful rally drivers ever, will make his racing debut in the World Touring Car Championship's event at Suzuka, on October 23. The 45-year old Arai will be at the wheel of a fourth Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T run by the Chevrolet-RML team, alongside regular drivers Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu. The team had already fielded a fourth car earlier this year, when Brazilian Stockcar star Carlos "Cacá" Bueno finished third and fourth in his home races at Curitiba. During the latest twenty years Arai built himself a solid reputation as a competitive rallyman, always driving Subaru cars in the World Rally Championship. The peaks of his career were two FIA Production Car World Rally Championship titles in 2005 and 2007. Arai was given the opportunity to test the WTCC Cruze last Thursday at Pembrey, UK. "I was extremely pleased with the test," he said "The Cruze is pleasant to drive and very responsive, and the team extremely professional. I am delighted to have the opportunity to race my home WTCC event and to do it with Chevrolet. This will be a new experience for me, but the philosophy of WTCC and WRC Production Cars is the same and I hope I can adapt quickly. To debut in the WTCC with the Cruze and the reigning World Champion team is the best proposition one could dream of!" Japanese rallyman Toshihiro Arai will join WTCC at Suzuka with Chevrolet JAVIER VILLA IN GP2 TEST AT JEREZ Proteam Racing driver Javier Villa was invited by the Super Nova team to the GP2 test that will take place this weekend at Jerez de la Frontera. The young Spaniard, who is currently fighting for the WTCC Yokohama Trophy title on his first Touring Car season, is very pleased to rejoin his former team. "It was a welcome invitation that I am very pleased to accept," he said. "It is more than a year and a half since I last raced in GP2, but the teams continue relying on me. After the shakedown of the new Dallara I did for Arden last year, which went very well, I've now got this new chance to drive a single-seater." MULLER RETURNS TO THE FRENCH RALLY This weekend WTCC reigning champion and current point leader Yvan Muller will take part once again in the French round of the World Rally Championship. During last year's maiden appearance on the roads of his home region, Muller was very impressive, running consistently among the top drivers. Due to fuel feeding problems to his Citroën Xsara WRC, he achieved only the 42nd position in the final classification, however he was able to clock some brilliant times in the special stages, a sixth in SS20 being his best. This year Muller returns to the Rallye de France Alsace, sharing a Peugeot 207 S2000 with co-driver Guy Lenevau. Fabio Ravaioli/Media Press delegate.

ADAC GT Masters in 2012 with an attractive calendar "League of the super sports car" with 16 race

ADAC GT Masters in 2012 with an attractive calendar
"League of the super sports car" with 16 race
The ADAC is the course for the early racing 2012 season.When
Season finale of the weekend at Hockenheim ADAC Masters (September 30
to 2 October), the ADAC presents an attractive calendar for the ADAC
GT Masters 2012 season. Also in 2012, are back to eight dates
total of 16 races in Germany and neighboring countries
provided.
2012 season opener at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
The start of the season in the sixth season of the FIA ​​GT Championship as part of
ADAC Masters Weekend is from 13 to 15 April 2012 in the traditionally
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben planned. The ADAC Masters Weekend with
the super sports car from the FIA ​​GT Championship is also on the
His Sachsenring and the Lausitz € a guest. After the
successful premiere of the FIA ​​GT Championship as part of the ADAC Truck
Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in 2011 on a total of 212 000 spectators (
Weekend occurs), the "league of super sports cars" again in 2012 at the
"Trucker-Festival" in the Eifel. Fans, teams and riders of all permanent
ADAC Masters Weekend Series in the coming year may also
Red Bull looking forward to a return to ring in Austria. For all series of
ADAC Masters Weekend is another venue as the Grand Prix
Distance of the Nürburgring, as well as the first course in the dunes
Zandvoort provided. The finale of the 2012 season will
as early as this year at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.
"We look forward to the end of the season already a provisional calendar for the
2012 season to present, "said ADAC Chairman Hermann Sports
Tomczyk. "In addition to the events of the weekend on all ADAC Masters
permanent racetrack in Germany, there are also two foreign
Guest performances at the most competitive routes in Zandvoort and the Red Bull
Ring type. A highlight for the fans will certainly return to the start of the
ADAC GT Masters and Formula ADAC in ADAC Truck Grand
Prix ​​at the Nürburgring be a great backdrop. The very positive
Development of participants and visitors shows that we are for fans
and riders have put together an attractive package. This is a trend we want to
continue in the coming year and look forward to in 2012 when
attractive entry prices again to welcome many local fans. "
Provisional agenda and proposed venues
ADAC GT Masters 2012 season:
13.04. - 15.04.2012 Oschersleben Motorsport Arena
11.05. - 05/13/2012 Zandvoort / Netherlands **
08.06. - 10.06.2012 Sachsenring
13.07. - 15.07.2012 Nürburgring (ADAC Truck Grand Prix) *
10.08. - 12.08.2012 Red Bull Ring / Austria
31.08. - 02.09.2012 € Lausitz
14.09. - 16.09.2012 Nürburgring (Grand Prix track) **
05.10. - 07.10.2012 Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg
* Only FIA GT Championship and the ADAC Formula Masters (sprint distance)
** Subject to confirmation by the organizers
Stand: 29.09.2011
ADAC GT Masters live on TV
The finale of the ADAC GT Masters 2011 at the Hockenheimring Baden-
Württemberg is the free to air TV channel on Saturday and kabel eins
Sunday at 11.45 clock live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
transferred. The sports channel broadcasts highlights of the ADAC GT SPORT1
Masters of the Hockenheim Ring in the ADAC Masters Weekend magazine on 8
October at 13.30 clock.

ADAC GT Masters Press.

www.adac-gt-masters.de

Who are the candidates for the title in the ADAC GT Masters?

Who are the candidates for the title in the ADAC GT Masters?
Six drivers are fighting in the finale at Hockenheim for the title
Whoever emerges as the winner of the most competitive yet ADAC GT
Masters-season produce? Prior to the exciting finale at Hockenheim (30
September to 2 October) have six drivers in four
different vehicles start, CAA title chances. As
Alexandros Margaritis leader and Dino Lunardi travel in BMW
ALPINA B6 of LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler Baden to the finals in the
Motodrom. On the heels of the season, winning both the triple
Ferdinand and John Stuck in Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo with 28
Points down and the two ABT Audi R8 pilots Christopher
Mies, who is 31 points back, and Luca Ludwig, the 42-point deficit
must catch up. An exciting three-way battle prevails even in the
Amateur championship. The title of the counterparty rating of the driver and amateur
ADAC GT Masters in brief.
Alexandros Margaritis (# 41-LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler BMW ALPINA B6)
27 years, lives in Cologne, car salesman
League leaders
The Greek-German made from 2005 to 2007 in the DTM
Name. His motorsport career started in the Formula Margaritis
Junior school in the ADAC Formula BMW ADAC. It was followed two years
in the Formula 3 Euro Series, before the native of Bonn to Mercedes-Benz
joined the DTM. For the teams Mücke and Persson Motorsport Motorsport
Margaritis started in three years with a total of 31 races. After
End his DTM career Margaritis joined the sports car, the Audi
R8 LMS from Phoenix Racing in 2009 when he won the 24 Hours of Spa-
Francorchamps in third place. Before the 27-year-old in the 2011 ADAC GT Masters
started, he was successful in the 2010 season for Maserati and Corvette in the
FIA GT1 World Championship road.
Dino Lunardi (F, # 41-LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler BMW ALPINA B6)
32 years, lives in Nimes (France), racing driver and instructor
League leaders
Before the start of the season Dino Lunardi was for most fans
unknown quantity. But that has at least since the victory at
Season opener at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben changed.Lunardi counts
now one of the most sought after sports car specialist, which also have
busy schedule attests. Of living in Nimes in southern France Lunardi
knows as well as any current GT3 car and starts parallel to the ADAC GT
Masters in the FIA ​​GT3 European Championship and in the French
GT Championship. His career started in the national series in Lunardi
his home. With the victory of Europe's Peugeot 206 Spider Cup
Lunardi is made in 2007 on an international scale: as
Win bonus he was allowed the Peugeot 908 LMP1 prototype for the 24h Le Mans
. test
Ferdinand Stuck (A, # 2 Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo)
20 years, lives in Munich and in Mauren (Liechtenstein), Trainee
Kaufmann Marketing and Communications
Table number two
Ferdinand Stuck in the FIA ​​GT Championship is one of the discoveries of
Season. In his debut year in the ADAC GT Masters drove "Ferdi" far too
three pole positions and four wins. The youngest son of racing legend
Hans-Joachim "Christmas cake" Stuck earned his spurs in 2008 and 2009
ADAC Formula Masters. 2010, Ferdinand Porsche Stuck
attention: as a "Porsche motorsport talent" of the trainees started in
Porsche Carrera Cup and he established first ties to powerful GTSportwagen.
Johannes Stuck (A, # 2 Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo)
24 years, lives in Munich and Mauren (Liechtenstein), racing driver
Table number two
The racing craft learned Johannes Stuck, like so many other young
Talents in the junior race series of the ADAC. Stuck in 2003 started
in the ADAC Volkswagen Lupo Cup, a year later in the ADAC Volkswagen Polo
Cup. Johannes Stuck soon discovered the sports car for himself and
Porsche celebrated successes in the American Le Mans Series and in the
Long-distance championship on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.Before John
Stuck together with his younger brother Ferdinand in the ADAC GT
Masters began, the 24-year-old had been sporadic in the past
in the "league of supercars" on the road, and the company's team-mate
of ski jumping legend Sven Hannawald.
Christopher Mies (# 3 Team Abt Sportsline Audi-R8)
22 years, lives in Heiligenhaus, racers
Table in third place
Christopher Mies said his career goal is coming closer: a
Place in the DTM. It operates the FIA ​​GT3 European Championship of 2009, the
his career in the ADAC Procar, started out consistently. In season
In 2009 he helped his current team boss Christian Abt to winning the title in the
ADAC GT Masters. Mies then abbot committed for the 2010 season, Mies
thanked him with the runner. Mies in the 2011 season battling for the second
Time in a row for the title in the ADAC GT Masters.
Luca Ludwig (# 4 Team Abt Sportsline Audi-R8)
22 years, lives in Bonn, a student (law)
Table fourth
The apple does not fall far from the tree. This adage applies not only to the
Stuck-brothers, but also for Luca Ludwig, son of touring car legend
Klaus Ludwig. Since 2009, makes the law student in the ADAC GT Masters
and made a name with a double victory on his first start
sensation. ADAC GT Masters Louis fights in the third year to the
Title. A champion trophy he secured in 2010: that of the Germans GTMeisters.
On the talent of Louis, in 2008 with motorsport
started, and Audi is paying attention. The Bonner was in June
2011 squad to work the brand with the four rings in the 24h-race
at the Nurburgring.
Marc A. Hayek (CH, # 24 Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo)
40 years, lives in Cully (Switzerland), Entrepreneur
Leader in the amateur standings
The 40-year-old Swiss entrepreneur is a prime example of a
Gentleman-racers. Found after a long break, the racing
Former motorcycle racer until three years ago back to the
Track and was the first time on four wheels Gas. For two years, started
Hayek, along with Peter Kox in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo
before this year along with Kox in the ADAC GT Masters
changed. Hayek is not only one of the fastest amateur pilots, but
also CEO and president of the watch brand Blancpain, the official
Timing partner of the ADAC GT Masters.
Oliver Mayer (# 20 Black Falcon Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS)
53 years, lives in Ingolstadt, entrepreneurs
Table ranked second in the amateur standings
Oliver Mayer is a "veteran" in the race series of the second largest
Automobile clubs in the world. Whether ADAC GT Cup and the ADAC Super Touring Car
Cup in the 1990s or the ADAC GT Masters today - the
Ingolstadt has long been a fixture in various series in the
German motor sports landscape. Travels to the ADAC Masters Weekend
Entrepreneurs are not alone now. Son Max moved after two years
in the ADAC Formula Masters in the ADAC GT Masters and starts, like his father
a Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS.
Swen Dolenc (# 15 AUTO TECH SPECIALIST-911)
43 years, lives in Maulbronn, car salesman
Table third in the amateur standings
Who wants to buy a Porsche, with Swen Dolenc in good hands.The
43-year-olds are full-time clerk at a local Porsche dealer and is in
his spare time to the fastest Porsche drivers in FIA GT Championship.
As Hayek started his motorsport career Dolenc on two
Wheels and moved after a long break until six years ago on four
Wheels. Ventured after five very successful years in the Porsche Sports Cup
Dolenc for the 2011 season so far very successful transition into the ADAC
GT Masters.
ADAC GT Masters live on TV
All 16 races of the FIA ​​GT Championship will again in 2011 by free
air TV stations kabel eins on Saturdays and Sundays 11.45 clock
broadcast live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The
Sports channel SPORT1 sends Highlights from the ADAC GT Masters
Hockenheimring in the ADAC Masters Weekend magazine on 8October at
13.30 clock. ADAC GT Masters Press.
For more information visit www.adac gt masters.de

Le Mans Series, round 5 in Estoril/Portugal Porsche teams claim podium spots, win and championship

Le Mans Series, round 5 in Estoril/Portugal

Porsche teams claim podium spots, win and championship

Stuttgart. That was close. Just 0.183 seconds separated Porsche’s works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) in the 911 GT3 RSR from their first win of the season. At the final round of the Le Mans Series, the title defenders celebrated their best result of the year clinching second at Estoril in the GTE Pro sports car category. Factory pilots Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France) were delighted with their best result of the season in third place. And there was wild elation in the GTE Am class in which just one professional driver may compete per vehicle. Frenchmen Nicolas Armindo and Raymond Narac crowned their season with another victory with the 2010-spec 911 GT3 RSR, and took home the drivers’ championship title.

“It was a really great race,” said Marc Lieb. “As expected, there was a very close fight between us and Ferrari. Our 911 remained consistent over the entire six hours. Richard, the team and I gave our very best. We fought to the flag. During the last pit stop, Richard experienced a bit of bad luck when he encountered traffic. That cost us the decisive seconds and handed the lead to the Ferrari.”

Taking up the race from fourth, Richard Lietz managed to move into second position after almost an hour. Lap for lap, Lieb and Lietz then reeled in the front-runner. It was Lietz who finally closed the gap during his second stint – and the Felbermayr-Proton pit crew played their hand in the success: Their eight-second faster pit stop catapulted Lieb into the lead with the 911 GT3 RSR. Trying to defend this, however, was no easy task. Lieb could fend off his pursuers, but not really shake them. The Felbermayr-Proton squad’s last pit stop also worked perfectly, but back on the track Lietz hit traffic – and the Ferrari snatched back the lead. Although Lietz stuck like glue to the bumper of the leader he wasn’t able to overtake on the narrow circuit. “The last phase was sensational,” Richard Lietz said. “In the last lap we were panel to panel twice and touched several times. But there was no way I could pass without crossing the line of fairness. When you have victory in sight and are beaten by such a close margin, well, your joy over second place is somewhat overshadowed.” After winning the drivers’ championship in the last two years, the pair finished the season in third.

For works drivers Wolf Henzler and Patrick Pilet, who contest the GTE-Pro class for the IMSA Performance Matmut team, the race was no less exciting. Start driver Pilet took an early lead before having to relinquish it after five laps. Suffering problems with the nut gun at two pit stops, the German/French duo fell back to third place. “Holding on to third took a huge effort,” said both Henzler and Pilet. “We tried out all variations of set-up possibilities,” explained Henzler. “But we simply didn’t manage to find a decent balance. With fresh tyres we could easily hold the pace, but after a couple of laps the 911 become difficult to drive. And we lost a lot of time in the pits. This is something we have to work on.” Pilet added: “But this makes it all the more wonderful that, despite everything, we claimed out first podium result. We’re happy.”

For IMSA Performance Matmut, there were two reasons to celebrate at the finale. Aside from third place for the GTE Pro pilots, there were joyous celebrations over the race victory and win of the championship title in the GTE Am class. This marks the first international title for the team based in the northern French town of Rouen. The reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, Nicolas Armindo, and team owner and amateur racer Raymond Narac, yielded the brilliant balance of four wins from five races. As stipulated by the regulations, the pair competed with the 2010 version of the 911 GT3 RSR. The squad also secured the team championship title which serves as an entrance ticket to the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2012. “I simply can’t express how happy I am,” said Armindo with a wide grin. “At the beginning of the season everything was new for me. But thanks to my team I quickly found my feet in this new environment and it didn’t take me long at all to get familiar with the 911 GT3 RSR. It makes me proud that in my first year of LMS I can contribute to bringing home the championship trophy for this warm and wonderful team.”

Felbermayr-Proton team owner Christian Ried (Germany) and Austria’s Horst Felbermayr Junior were also pleased. The winners of the season-opener in Le Castellet concluded the year with a podium result in the GTE Am class.

For the third Porsche team contesting the GTE-Pro class with works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) and Marc Goossens (Belgium), the race came to a premature end in lap one when an opponent crashed into the right front wheel of their ProSpeed Competition 911 – broke the steering gear and knocked them out of contention. “It is such a shame that the season ends like this,” said Marco Holzer. “We’d qualified a decent fourth yesterday and thought our chances for second in the GTE Pro classification looked good. Unfortunately the overzealous move of a competitor robbed us of this chance. For our team, who had worked so incredibly hard, this was a particularly bitter conclusion to the year.”


Statistics: 5th of 5 rounds of the Le Mans Series in Estoril/Portugal

Result GTE Pro class
1. Bell/Walker (GB/GB), Ferrari F458 Italia, 209 laps
2. Lieb/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 0.183 seconds behind
3. Henzler/Pilet (D/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 207
4. Melo/Vilander (BR/FIN), Ferrari F458 Italia, 206
5. Hancock/Dolan (GB/GB), Aston Martin Vantage, 204
6. Rodrigues/Ballay/Ayari (P/F/F), Ferrari F458 Italia, 197
7. Farnbacher/Simonsen (D/DK), Ferrari F458 Italia, 99

Result GTE Am class
1. Armindo/Narac (F/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 205 laps
2. Hummel/Christodoulou/Quaife (NL/GB/GB), Ferrari F430, 203
3. Ried/Felbermayr Jr. (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 202


The Le Mans Series

Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) is open for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations are based on those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. Five six-hour races are contested this season throughout Europe.

GTE Pro class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers (previously known as the GT2 class) is traditionally the best supported: Modified standard sports cars with up to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms.
GTE-Am class: Like the GTE-Pro, but with 2010-vehicle specifications. Moreover, the regulations stipulate that each vehicle may have just one professional driver.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kg.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp, GT-class homologated engines and a 900 kg minimum weight.
FLM class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all five classes. With four title wins in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, Porsche works driver Marc Lieb is the most successful pilot in the series.

Porsche Motorsport Press.

Le Mans Series, round 5 in Estoril/Portugal Second grid row in the hands of Porsche teams

Le Mans Series, round 5 in Estoril/Portugal

Second grid row in the hands of Porsche teams

Stuttgart. The Porsche works drivers start the final race of the Le Mans Series season from promising positions. Posting grid position three, title defender Richard Lietz (Austria) clinched the best result of the season with the 911 GT3 RSR in the GTE Pro sports car category. On the fourth spot, Marco Holzer (Germany) takes up the six hour race alongside Lietz on the 4.182 kilometre former Grand Prix circuit of Estoril. Patrick Pilet (France) rounds off the good result with position six on the grid. In the GTE Am class, Frenchman Nicolas Armindo again set pole position with the 2010-version of the 911 GT3 RSR.

“We gave our best and are really pleased with third on the grid,” said Lietz who last year secured the championship title in the sports car class with his Felbermayr-Proton teammate Marc Lieb (Germany). “My lap was good, third on the grid is the best result of the season by now. Above all, we’re thrilled that our times are so close to the leaders. Now let’s see what the race yields for us.” After a difficult start to the season with two crashes that were not their fault, the luck of the title defenders finally turned recently in Silverstone with their first podium position.

After competing last year as a Porsche Junior, 23-year-old factory pilot Marco Holzer was delighted with his fourth grid spot. “That was a great qualifying session,” commented Holzer, who joins forces for ProSpeed Competition with Belgium’s Marc Goossens. “We missed out on the first free practice because we had to change something on our gearbox. Hence we were behind with our set-up work. But this makes our second row position even sweeter. In fact, we’ve never started so far up the front of the field this season. And we’re also hoping to further improve the handling of our 911 during the warm-up tomorrow and then the race should go well. The track is challenging but I really like it.”

The French factory pilot Patrick Pilet also seemed satisfied. “Sixth on the grid is okay,” stated Pilet, who shares driving duties for IMSA Performance Matmut with works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany). “Our car was rather difficult to drive in the practice sessions, so we tried out something very new in the qualifying but that didn't work. Now we have some things to sort out during the warm-up. And then comes the race that will undoubtedly be very exciting on this somewhat narrow circuit.”

Nicolas Armindo secured another point in the fight for the championship with his fourth pole position of the season in the GTE Am class. In this category, only one professional driver is permitted per vehicle. The reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland drives with the team owner IMSA Performance Matmut, amateur racer Raymond Narac. In compliance with the regulations, the two Frenchmen compete with a 2010-spec 911 GT3 RSR. The pair takes up the final round with an eleven point lead over their closest rival. Felbermayr-Proton’s team owner Christian Ried (Germany) and Horst Felbermayr Junior (Austria) head into tomorrow’s race from fourth in the GTE Am class.


Qualifying result
GTE Pro class
1. Rob Bell (GB), Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:39.176 minutes
2. Gianmaria Bruni (I), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.057 seconds
3. Richard Lietz (A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.198
4. Marco Holzer (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.350
5. Dominik Farnbacher (D), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.573
6. Patrick Pilet (F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.788
7. Jamie Melo (BR), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 1.214

GTE Am class
1. Nicolas Armindo (F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:40.014 minutes
2. Marco Cioci (I), Ferrari F430, + 0.544 seconds
3. Phil Quaife (GB), Ferrari F430, + 0.763
4. Christian Ried (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 2.093

The six hour race starts on Sunday, 25 September, at 13.00 hours local time (CEST 14.00 hours).

The Le Mans Series

Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) is open for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations are based on those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. Five six-hour races are contested this season throughout Europe.

GTE-Pro class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers (previously known as the GT2 class) is traditionally the best supported: Modified standard sports cars with up to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms.
GTE-Am class: Like the GTE-Pro, but with the 2010-vehicle specifications. Moreover, the regulations stipulate that each vehicle must have one professional driver at the most.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp, GT-class homologated engines and a 900 kg minimum weight.
FLM class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all five classes. Claiming four titles in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, Porsche works driver Marc Lieb is the most successful pilot in the series.


Porsche Motorsport.