Porsche Motorsport 2013 Nick Tandy signed as the tenth Porsche works driver

Porsche Motorsport 2013

Nick Tandy signed as the tenth Porsche works driver

Stuttgart. Nick Tandy wins a contract as a Porsche works driver. The 28-year-old from Great Britain is now the tenth of the by now nine-member driver squad with Joerg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Wolf Henzler, Marco Holzer, Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Patrick Long and Patrick Pilet. With his inclusion in the factory team, this marks the pinnacle of Tandy’s racing career for the time being.

“A big dream has come true. I’m absolutely thrilled,” says Nick Tandy. “Ever since I first drove a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup it was clear to me that there could be nothing better than to become a works pilot for Porsche. It’s great that Porsche recognised what I have achieved so far and that they included me in the factory pilot family. I’ll do everything to merit this trust.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Nick as our tenth works driver,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “His career is exemplary. He followed up his title victory in the Carrera Cup Deutschland with a convincing performance in the international Grand Touring scene. With his ability, he perfectly complements our driver line up which consists of the very best drivers from sports car racing.”

Initially, Nick Tandy’s career was greatly influenced by British motorsport. There he celebrated successes in various series including Formula Ford, Formula Palmer as well as Formula 3. The fatal accident in May 2009 of his brother, who was the boss of the Formula 3 team at that time, almost ended Nick Tandy’s career as a race driver. However, the long-time Porsche one-make series team principal Franz Konrad became aware of Tandy and his impressive performances at guest appearances in the Carrera Cup Great Britain. Konrad put him in the cockpit of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for one race in September. The Briton thanked him in his own special way: by clinching second in both the qualifying and the race.

In 2010, five victories in the Carrera Cup Deutschland earned Tandy vice championship honours and in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup only one driver was better than the shooting star from Great Britain. In 2011 in Germany’s fastest one-make race series, Tandy gave no one the chance to nip in front. The championship title opened the door to international GT racing. Team boss Olaf Manthey (Manthey-Racing) contracted the 2011 champion for the fiercely-contested International GT Open. Sharing driving duties with Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer, he narrowly missed out on the title despite scoring five wins over the course of the season in the 911 GT3 RSR. Moreover, Tandy and his teammate Christian Engelhart won four races of the ADAC GT Masters with a 911 GT3 R. In Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series the 28-year-old gained valuable experience.

Nick Tandy kicks off his first season as a Porsche works driver in Daytona. At the long distance classic in Florida on 26-27 January, Porsche traditionally supplies customer teams with several works drivers. In the 2013 season, Tandy anticipates again contesting the International GT Open among other series and races.

The rest of the season’s schedules for the other pilots are also taking shape: Four long-standing works drivers will compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the new Porsche 911 RSR. The winning duo Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) head into the second WEC season under the direction of the newly founded factory squad “Porsche AG Team Manthey”. Newcomers to the sports car world championship are Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France). At the season highlight in France on 22/23 June, the two driver pairings receive support from two other top Le Man professionals: Frenchman Romain Dumas is the third driver in the cockpit of the Lieb/Lietz 911, with Timo Berhard (Germany) joining forces with Bergmeister and Pilet. The other four factory pilots will be made available to Porsche customer teams for their Le Mans campaign.

As the youngest works driver at 24 years old, Marco Holzer contests the entire 2013 season of the American Le Mans Series for Paul Miller Racing. Like last year, Wolf Henzler supports the Falcon Tire squad in the ALMS. The American Patrick Long focuses on the ALMS with some races in the Grand-Am Series also planned.


Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Very good performance at the Persian Gulf

City Gulf 12 Hours Race Abu Dhabi
Very good performance at the Persian Gulf

On the wonderful Formula 1 race track, on Yas Marina Island in Abu Dhabi, last weekend the „Gulf 12 Hours Race“ took place, a race for GT3 sports cars, which has been hold in two sections, each six hours. The MRS team one of the party with a McLaren MP4-12C, where the MRS driver Philipp Eng shared the work behind the steering wheel with two Amateurs from Venezuela. For Ferando Baiz and Justino Azcarate the McLaren as well as the track were something completely new, what took some time to adapt themselves.

That the MRS McLaren once again was one of the fastest car on the track, Philipp Eng showed already at the qualifying, when he drove the second best GT3 lap.

The first race section went as expected for the troupe from Lonsee; without any problems the drivers took their laps up, with good pit stops and constant lap times the MRS McLaren drove forward to the eighth place. After a forty-minute maintenance break, the second section of the race started. From the beginning the MRS McLaren convinced with very good lap times and was on the rise. After a total time of nine hours the very good performance of the MRS team came to a sudden end. Turning onto the start finish line Justino Azcarate lost the McLaren and crashed into the barriers. So the race, which went until then without any problems, was over for the MRS team.

Karsten Molitor (team leader): „Of course we are a little disappointed, but we were very good during the race. At the end a sixth place would has been possible, which was not really predictable with this driver combination Pro / Am / Am. Most of the other teams had two professionals in a car. We are very proud of our new members, the progress was unbelievable good, both did an excellent job. Also the McLaren convinced, during the race we did not have any little technical problem with the car. Unfortunately race accidents are part of our sport; nevertheless we are proud of what we were able to show. Thank you to the whole team, everybody did a great job.”

Shortly it will go on for the MRS team. From the 10th to the 12th of January the 24 Hours Race of Dubai will take place, where the MRS team will start again with a McLaren and a Porsche GT3 Cup. Until then there is still a lot of work to do, however the anticipation is very high. At the last 24 Hours Race of Dubai the MRS team reached a very good 10th overall position.

Your MRS Team

Sebastien Loeb Racing take possesion of the McLaren MP4 12C Gt3.

Sebastien Loeb Racing take possesion of the McLaren MP4 12C Gt3.

Before finalising their 2013 plans, which will involve another year of participating in the Porsche Matmut Carrera Cup, Sébastien Loeb Racing completed the first test session with their new weapons: two McLaren MP4-12C GT3. Sébastien Loeb was himself behind the wheel for the shakedown at the Navarra circuit.

After a first year full of success, Sébastien Loeb Racing is ready to take on new challenges. This will take the form of three programs - Porsche Cup, GT, and Prototypes - of which all the details will be revealed at a later date. The Soultz-Sous-Forêts based team has already begun actively preparing for 2013, first in their workshops, and now on the track. Sébastien Loeb Racing is taking part in two days of testing in Spain : the chance to take possession of the two McLaren MP4-12Cs which will be entered in one or several series next year.

« We have been convinced by the McLaren MP4- 12C for several reasons » explains Sébastien Loeb, co-founder of the team alongside Dominique Heintz. « We discovered this car during the GT Tour finale at the Castellet and our first impressions were positive. I liked the handling of this modern car, with a carbon chassis and technical qualities that are undeniable. The car has also been competitive in several different championships. And finally, McLaren has show their motivation everytime we've talked. They are a company that doesn't have to prove their seriousness. The support that McLaren brings to their teams was also an important deciding factor. »

On the Spanish Navarra circuit, Sébastien Loeb Racing continued the shakedown of their two McLaren MP4-12Cs, with Sébastien Loeb at the controls on the first day. « Everything went well » confirms the nine-time World Rally champion. « The feeling was good, with a conclusive balance. The track is nice, with a few quick corners and some technical sections. We're preparing for a busier 2013 and, in addition to the shakedown, this type of testing allows us to explore several avenues for setting up the cars. We've made progress on the set-up and it was an interesting day even if there is still a lot of work to do still. »

Other drivers also took to the track during the test session, which continue Wednesday, including 2012 team driver Nicolas Marroc in action. As defending three-class champions in Porsche Matmut Carrera Cup, 3rd in the French GT Championship FFSA and podium finishers in European Le Mans Series for their first season in existence, Sébastien Loeb Racing will be presenting their 2013 program and partners soon.

Sebastien Loeb Racing.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup New edition of the world’s most successful race car

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

New edition of the world’s most successful race car

Stuttgart. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most successful race car in the world. Since 1998, 2,395 units of the near standard vehicle for customer sport were produced. The new edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsports version of the future 911 GT3 and as such is the first race car that is based on the seventh generation of the sports car icon from Zuffenhausen. The 911 GT3 Cup will be run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013. The car for one-make racing made its debut on the occasion of the end of motorsport season “Night of Champions” celebration at the R&D Centre in Weissach.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre six-cylinder flat engine. It generates 460 hp (338 kW) at 7,500 revs, surpassing the predecessor by 10 hp. A six-speed dog-type gearbox developed by Porsche Motorsport which is operated via shift paddles at the steering wheel for the first time in a Porsche brand trophy race car transmits the power to the rear axle. The single piece race wheels with centre mount were also newly designed by Porsche Motorsport. The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres.

A newly developed race braking system further improves the excellent endurance qualities compared to its successful predecessor. The 380 millimetre slotted and inner-vented steel brake rotors at the front axle are decelerated by six-piston aluminium fixed callipers. The rear axle features a four-piston version.
During the development of the new car a particular emphasis was put on the driver safety. A newly designed safety cage protects the pilot in case of a roll or a collision as does a newly developed race seat which is distinctively shaped around the head and shoulders and can be adjusted individually with the help of padding. A rescue hatch in the roof provides easy access for primary medical attention and for the extrication of the driver.

“The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit,” says Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard, who was significantly involved in the development of the new vehicle. “The car is excellently balanced. The new axle geometry is enormously positive for the handling. Apart from that the new Cup 911 is great fun to drive.”

Like its predecessor the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on the same assembly line as the road legal models. At the Motorsport Centre in Weissach it receives a general set-up for the circuit and is tested by a professional race driver before delivery to the customers. The basic price for the vehicle, which is available exclusively in white, is 181,200 Euro plus the country-specific value added tax.
Porsche Motorsport.

The New 911 Porsche for the Super Cup is presented!

The Ne w 911 Porsche for the Super Cup is presented! Teams as well as drivers will fight with a brand new car for points, wins and championship honours in the 2013 Supercup season. The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup made its debut at the “Night of Champions” celebration at the R&D Centre in Weissach this evening. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup volume 2013

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most successful race car in the world. Since 1998, 2,395 units of the near standard vehicle for customer sport were produced. The new edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsports version of the future 911 GT3 and as such is the first race car that is based on the seventh generation of the sports car icon from Zuffenhausen. The 911 GT3 Cup will be run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013. The car for one-make racing made its debut on the occasion of the end of motorsport season “Night of Champions” celebration at the R&D Centre in Weissach. The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre six-cylinder flat engine. It generates 460 hp (338 kW) at 7,500 revs, surpassing the predecessor by 10 hp. A six-speed dog-type gearbox developed by Porsche Motorsport which is operated via shift paddles at the steering wheel for the first time in a Porsche brand trophy race car transmits the power to the rear axle. The single piece race wheels with centre mount were also newly designed by Porsche Motorsport. The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres. A newly developed race braking system further improves the excellent endurance qualities compared to its successful predecessor. The 380 millimetre slotted and inner-vented steel brake rotors at the front axle are decelerated by six-piston aluminium fixed callipers. The rear axle features a four-piston version. During the development of the new car a particular emphasis was put on the driver safety. A newly designed safety cage protects the pilot in case of a roll or a collision as does a newly developed race seat which is distinctively shaped around the head and shoulders and can be adjusted individually with the help of padding. A rescue hatch in the roof provides easy access for primary medical attention and for the extrication of the driver. “The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit,” says Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard, who was significantly involved in the development of the new vehicle. “The car is excellently balanced. The new axle geometry is enormously positive for the handling. Apart from that the new Cup 911 is great fun to drive.” Like its predecessor the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on the same assembly line as the road legal models. At the Motorsport Centre in Weissach it receives a general set-up for the circuit and is tested by a professional race driver before delivery to the customers. The basic price for the vehicle, which is available exclusively in white, is 181,200 Euro plus the country-specific value added tax.  : Porsche AG

Porsche World Premiere!

World premiere of the new edition of the world's most successful race car: Porsche presents the new 911 GT3 Cup based on the 7th generation 911 in Weissach. 3.8 litres, 460 hp, paddle shifters, safety seat. Runs in the 2013 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. (Received via Porsche Motorsport Press, via SMS).

The best private driver 2012 Nick Tandy wins Porsche Cup

The best private driver 2012

Nick Tandy wins Porsche Cup

Stuttgart. After his first full season in international GT racing, Nick Tandy (28) from Great Britain can celebrate winning the Porsche Cup as the best private driver in the world. On the occasion of the Night of Champions on 8 December in the R&D Centre at Weissach, Nick Tandy received the Porsche Cup from Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG. Additionally, Tandy was awarded a new Porsche 911 Carrera S. During the past season the Briton scored a total of 7,510 points. Second-placed Raymond Narac is the recipient of 30,000 Euro, Paolo Ruberti’s third place comes with a purse of 25,000 Euro. The Porsche Cup is endowed with a total value of 253,000 Euro. In the competition initiated by Ferry Porsche, drivers earned points in 18 Grand Touring and prototype race series worldwide as well as at selected long distance races.

Professional race driver and part-time farmer Nick Tandy headed into 2012 as the reigning champion of the Carrera Cup Deutschland driving a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by the experienced Manthey Racing team in the International GT Open. Sharing the cockpit with works driver Marco Holzer, Tandy won five races.

In the ADAC GT Masters, Tandy competed for the Geyer & Weinig EDV – Schütz Motorsport squad at the wheel of a 911 GT3 R. Here, Tandy and his teammate Christian Engelhart scored four victories. For the Brit, the season concluded with seventh place in the drivers’ classification. Tandy earned further points towards the Porsche Cup competing for Flying Lizard Motorsports and TRG in the ALMS. In the British GT Championship, he manned the cockpit of a Team Motorbase fielded 911 GT3 R at selected rounds. After John Fitzpatrick (1972, 1974, 1980) and Tim Sugden (2005), Nick Tandy is the third Briton to be honoured with the Porsche Cup, which has been awarded by Porsche since 1970.

With a margin of just 170 points, Frenchman Raymond Narac (45) finished the race for the Porsche Cup in second place. The founder and owner of the successful IMSA Performance Matmut team contested three major championships as team principal and driver. In the European Le Mans Series, Narac defended the championship title in the GTE Am class driving a 911 GT3 RSR in last year’s spec. Joining forces with Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet, Narac periodically held the lead in the International GT Open driver’s standings and concluded the season in the hotly-contested championship in sixth. In the World Endurance Championship, Narac scored a class win and second place in Le Mans.

After securing second in last year’s Porsche Cup, Paolo Ruberti again climbs the “podium” in third. The 37-year-old Italian secured this success predominantly in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Driving Felbermayr-Proton’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Ruberti won the GT Am class at the Sebring 12 Hours and the 6 hour race in Bahrain. Ruberti secured additional points thanks to a victory and a second place in the Italian GT Championship.


Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Le Mans 24 Hours / World Endurance Championship LMP1 sports prototype to be run by Weissach-based works team

Le Mans 24 Hours / World Endurance Championship

LMP1 sports prototype to be run by Weissach-based works team

Stuttgart. At the Weissach Motorsport Centre, preparations for the running of the new LMP1 sports prototype at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the sports car World Endurance Championship are progressing at high revs. For this feat the infrastructure was considerably expanded. A new workshop building and an office complex have been completed. “The first rollout of our new LMP1 car is planned for mid-2013,” announced Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Research and Development, on Saturday on the occasion of the end of season “Night of Champions” celebration. “The car will be run by our own works team based here at Weissach.”

Following a re-structuring, the LMP1 project is realised by a new department headed by Fritz Enzinger. With his well established organisational structure, Porsche’s Head of Motorsport Hartmut Kristen continues to be responsibility for all other motorsport programmes worldwide.

The customer sport model 911 GT3 R celebrated 41 wins from 131 starts in a range of GT3 racing series worldwide. For the 2013 season Porsche offers teams an upgrade package which will position the GT3 R even better in the performance window as defined by the FIA.

In his speech, Hatz underlined the importance of GT racing for Porsche and pleaded for two different GT categories for works-supported professional sport and for customer sport: “In factory sport the regulations must be based on technology while in customer racing a stronger alignment of the relative strength by Balance of Performance measures is legitimate.”

In addition to the promotion of four Porsche Juniors, one pilot from the international makes cups will enjoy comprehensive support for the 2013 season. Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay (25) who won the Carrera Cup France at his first attempt last season receives funding to the value of 200,000 Euro towards his 2013 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign. At a test session in Vallelunga, Vernay won over eight other top drivers from the Carrera Cups France, Asia, Japan, Scandinavia, Italy, Australia, Great Britain and from the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada.

Vernay has already made a name for himself in international motor racing. In 2005 he claimed the championship in the French feeder series Formula Renault Campus and went on to finish second in a Formula 3 single-seater at the Macau Grand Prix in 2009. In 2010 Vernay went to the USA and promptly clinched overall victory in the Indy Lights Series’ in his first season. Peugeot contracted the Frenchman as a test and reserve pilot for their LMP1 project in 2011. At the same time Vernay competed in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and was crowned LMP2 champion. “The support from Porsche is a great opportunity for me,” says Vernay. “In the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup all drivers have to adjust to a new vehicle. For me as a newcomer this means I’ll have a good chance to be competitive right from the beginning. The Supercup is the pinnacle of the Porsche one-brand cups and has a great reputation as a launching platform to enter professional GT sport.”

With its well-established works drivers, Porsche is relying on continuity. All nine drivers still have a valid contract for the 2013 season or their contract was extended. For six of the nine drivers, the 24-hour race at Daytona on 26 January marks the start of the new season. Joerg Bergmeister drives a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for The Racers Group. With Kevin Buckler’s squad, Bergmeister scored a sensational overall victory at Daytona in 2003 at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Marco Holzer competes for Alex Job Racing, Marc Lieb again joins forces with Brumos Racing and Richard Lietz drives for last year's winner Magnus Racing. Patrick Long goes racing for Park Place Motorsports and Patrick Pilet competes for the NGT team.

For the Porsche Juniors Michael Christensen and Klaus Bachler the race in Daytona marks the first time in their career that they contest a 24 hour race. Christensen receives support in his campaign from Christian Engelhart and Porsche Cup winner Nick Tandy for the Konrad Motorsport team with whom he contested the Carrera Cup Deutschland in 2012. Bachler is competing for Snow Racing.


Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Porsche LMP1.

 Porsche s LMP1 race car will be run by a works team from Weissach in 2014 at the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as in the WEC. 1st rollout: mid-2013 *** Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay (25) wins the Int. Carrera Cup shootout. Supported with 200,000 Euro in the 2013 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. *** Nick Tandy wins the 2013 Porsche Cup as the world s best private driver.

2012 GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONS CELEBRATED AT ISTANBUL GALA

2012 GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONS CELEBRATED AT ISTANBUL GALA 07.12.2012

The 2012 FIA GT1 World Champions received their title trophies and the plaudits of the international motor sport community at the annual FIA Prize-Giving Gala, held in Istanbul this evening. German duo, Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock proudly accepted the awards after their consistency and battling spirit secured their drivers’ title triumph in the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport-run Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 model. They took a remarkable 10 top-three finishes in the 18-race Championship, outscoring their nearest rivals by just a single point. Indeed, just one point separated the top three finishers in one of the closest seasons in GT history. As always it was a year of high intensity action in the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2012. Represented by the GT1 teams were some of the world’s most iconic automotive and motorsport brand names, including; Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ford and McLaren.  In a season that saw seven different winners, representing seven brands, the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport team finished every race in the points, with Nicky Pastorelli and Thomas Jäger playing a significant role in claiming the prestigious team title. The delighted champion driver Marc Basseng, said: “I am very proud of the team, and of myself and my team-mate Markus. Our attitude to the races was to be patient, consistent and for the team to do the fastest pit stops, which they did.  These ingredients were what allowed us to secure the 2012 titles. This showed the good performance we have had all season, scoring points at every race. We are very proud to be here to accept the awards and to represent the FIA GT1 World Championship.” Runners-up in the FIA GT Championship in 2012 after taking five victories was Frederic Makowiecki (FRA) and Stef Dusseldorp (NLD) in the Hexis Racing-run McLaren MP4/12C. On the same points, but placing third due to the number of wins, was the Vita4one Racing Team BMW Z4 of Michael Bartels (DEU) and Yelmer Buurman (NLD). They were challenging for the drivers title during the final dramatic race at Donington Park but were eliminated after a controversial accident with the eventual champions. FIA PRESS.

HUFF AND CHEVROLET CROWNED AT GALA

HUFF AND CHEVROLET CROWNED AT GALA 07.12.2012

The FIA officially crowned Rob Huff as the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Champion at its Gala awards evening in Istanbul, Turkey, today. The eighth season of the FIA World Touring Car Championship saw the three Chevrolet works drivers fighting for the Drivers’ Championship and giving the American car maker its third consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship. After finishing twice in third position (2008 and 2010) and once second (2011), Huff eventually claimed his first World title, beating his team-mates Alain Menu and Yvan Muller. For most of the year Huff was chasing the 2011 champion Muller who had taken the lead since the opening races in Monza. The first WTCC event in the USA, at Sonoma, gave Huff the opportunity to match Muller’s points tally and they remained even again after the following race meeting at Suzuka. Shanghai was the turning point, as Huff took a solo lead after Muller was involved in a couple of incidents that left him scoreless. But the season finale meeting at Macau provided plenty of drama as Huff crashed from the lead during the first race, which enabled Muller (who won) and Menu to cut the gap. “What a mistake of me it was! But we had a happy ending. So we will ignore that… I overtook Yvan and was very happy, but half-a-lap later I lost the car and crashed. I have to thank the RML team, because they all jumped to my car when I pitted. There was quite a lot of damage to be fixed before the second race. They did a great job and my car was perfect,” said Huff. In the second race, Huff recovered from 10th on the reverse grid to finish second behind Menu, which earned him the points he needed to be crowned champion. “The time in between the races was horrific, but still I had a good margin of points and I knew that, even if Yvan or Alain were going to win, all I needed was to finish no lower than sixth. After the first safety car I was fifth behind Yvan, so it was just a matter of staying focused and not to make any other mistake…” With five race wins, twelve other podium results, two pole positions and three fastest laps, Huff edged Menu by twelve points, while Menu completed the Chevrolet podium in third, a further eight points adrift. “This has been a hard year. The first three events were not especially great for me, but then it got better and better. I have changed my strategy for the season; last year I had focused on being the fastest and equalled Yvan on race wins and poles but had more fastest laps. I finished second in the Championship and learned a lesson: you don’t just need to be the fastest to win the title. This year I’ve been concentrating on the races with my car set-up, and it paid off! “It’s an amazing feeling to be World Champion. A couple of weeks after Macau I still have to sink in with the idea. And I am especially pleased, because the team made a gamble on me when they picked me up back in 2005, and I hope that I have shown they had made the right decision. It has been a perfect end to a fantastic venture.” Vijay Iyer, Chevrolet and Cadillac Europe Communications Director, who collected the Manufacturers’ trophy, said: “We are very happy to win the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships for the third consecutive year. On behalf of our global Chevrolet team I want to thank our drivers and everybody at RML for the outstanding job, the commitment and the spirit shown during this entire season and the eight years of our partnership and presence in the WTCC. “With over 1000 points scored in the Manufacturers’ classification it was a record season for us and to finish with a 1-2-3 in the last race at Macau was really symbolic of how great this experience has been for everyone involved. “This has been a fantastic program for Chevrolet, which has brought a lot to our brand and the Chevrolet Cruze, with more than 1.7 million cars sold since we've launched. We say goodbye to the WTCC with a sense of pride for our achievements.” FIA PRESS.

LOEB & ELENA, THE CHAMPIONS… AGAIN!

LOEB & ELENA, THE CHAMPIONS… AGAIN! 07.12.2012

Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena cemented their status as the most successful driver and co-driver in the history of motor sport when they won their ninth consecutive FIA World Rally Championship title this season. The duo was re-united with their trophies this evening on the occasion of the FIA Gala held in Istanbul, Turkey. This year’s FIA World Rally Championship took the contenders around the world to 13 countries for competition over ice, snow, gravel and asphalt, providing a varied and unique challenge at each location. A newly-introduced qualifying stage added an extra dimension to the gravel rallies this year, where road position on the opening day of competition can prove critical. Much like circuit racing, the Championship contenders vied for fastest times during the qualifying sessions to enable them to choose their preferred starting position, adding excitement in the build-up to the event and creating greater interest for the media. Loeb and Elena were once again unstoppable this season, the French/Monegasque pairing taking victories in Monte-Carlo, Mexico, Argentina, Greece, New Zealand, Finland, Germany and France, where they claimed the title in Haguenau, Loeb’s home town. The multiple World Champions then made a fitting exit to full-time WRC competition by winning the final round of the series in Spain. In a career in the sport spanning 14 years, the Loeb/Elena partnership has contested 164 FIA World Championship rallies together, claiming victory in a total of 76, a 46.34% victory-to-start rate. Consistency from team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen assured them second position in the Championship when they took their first victory of the season on the penultimate round in Italy. This was also the first time Citroën crews have claimed a one-two finish in the Drivers’ Championship. Third position was taken by Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila in their final season with the Ford team. Sébastien Loeb said: “I feel big emotion because it’s the end of a beautiful story. Daniel and I had amazing and fantastic years with our team, we won rallies and Championships and have had incredible moments. It’s never easy to take the decision to stop and I feel moved because it’s the end of an era. But we have fresh challenges with Citroën now and I can’t wait to start this new adventure and try to win again with them. This trophy is for all the members of the Citroën Racing team because they have also made the story.” In the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, Loeb and Hirvonen’s combined tally of 10 victories this season – including five one-two finishes - assured the Citroën Total World Rally Team the title for the fifth consecutive year. In total, the French manufacturer has now won 90 World rallies and eight World titles. Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal, said: “For my first year as Team Director I couldn’t expect this kind of success! We won the Manufacturer’s title, the Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ title with Sébastien and Daniel, and Mikko and Jarmo are vice-World Champions. I’m really satisfied with the work of the whole team, but also really proud because of the strong competition in the Championship. The aim will be the same next year and we will do our best to try to win again.” Competition was once again fierce in the FIA WRC Academy Cup, the junior feeder series that provides youngsters with the opportunity to showcase their talent on the world stage. Welshman Elfyn Evans became the second-ever winner of the Pirelli-supported Cup in which potential champions of the future are pitted against each other in identical Ford Fiesta R2 rally cars. Evans took a fourth consecutive win on the all-asphalt Rallye de France to put the title mathematically out of reach of his rivals with one round remaining. Spaniard Candido Carrera was crowned the winning FIA WRC Academy Cup Co-driver after finishing in the top five on every round contested and winning Rally de España. 2012 marked the third year of the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship and the series went down to the wire on the final round in Spain. Thirteen registered drivers fought for honours over the eight events and it was Craig Breen who claimed the title in a Ford Fiesta S2000. The Irishman took victory in the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo and then courageously fought through a difficult season, rounding the year off with three consecutive victories to take the Championship laurels just 12 months after being crowned the FIA WRC Academy Cup winner. Emil Axelsson was honoured as the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Champion Co-driver, the Swede taking two wins during the season in his Proton Satria Neo S2000 and adding to his 2006 Junior World Rally Champion Co-driver title. In the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship, competition was equally fierce with six drivers vying for the crown in the final mixed surface round in Spain. Mexico’s Benito Guerra and Spanish co-driver Borja Rozada ultimately claimed the title with three victories throughout the season driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. With a win on home soil in Mexico, immediately followed by victory in Argentina, the Mexican was in contention throughout the season but put his position in jeopardy after crashing on the penultimate event in Italy. However, the pair bounced back to take a World Championship title back to Mexico for the first time in 41 years. FIA PRESS.

HISTORY REPEATING FOR VETTEL AND RED BULL RACING

HISTORY REPEATING FOR VETTEL AND RED BULL RACING 07.12.2012

The venue may change but the names are familiar, as once again Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing have been presented with their FIA Formula One World Championship trophies at the FIA Prize Giving Gala. With the Bosporus as a backdrop, Istanbul’s magnificent Ciragan Palace played host as 2012 champions from across the world of FIA motor sports were honoured with their trophies. Vettel, the 2012 FIA Formula One World Champion driver, was presented with his by FIA President Jean Todt. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen also received awards for second and third places respectively in the Drivers’ Championship. “It’s a fantastic feeling to be here tonight and to be able to take this trophy back home for another year. As I said last time, it isn’t something you want to give back,” said Vettel. “Winning the title with Red Bull Racing three times in a row makes us all feel very proud. This was a season with lots of ups and downs and the team had to push hard to get me over the line. In the garage and at the factory everyone did an incredible job, and the support we had from Renault was also great.” While Vettel was able to win the 2011 title by a comfortable margin, this year’s World Championship went down to the wire and a rain-soaked dramatic season finale in Brazil. Vettel’s fortunes at Interlagos seemed to change by the lap, as he survived a first lap collision and relegation to last place before fighting his way through the field to become the youngest triple World Champion in the history of Formula One. In an eventful season he managed to win the Grands Prix of Bahrain, Singapore, Japan, Korea and India, taking his career tally of victories to 26 and seventh place on the all-time list. With Mark Webber adding wins in Monaco and Great Britain to Vettel’s haul, it was another year of success for Red Bull Racing, for whom team principal Christian Horner collected the FIA Formula One Constructors World Championship trophy, also for the third year in a row. Alongside their seven victories, the team managed seven other podium finishes, eight pole positions and seven fastest laps. They scored points in nineteen of the 20 races. “This is a phenomenal achievement for our team,” said Horner. “The hard work and the dedication this year have been exemplary – but I think hard work and dedication have been common up and down the pitlane in this fantastic Formula One season. It didn’t seem possible we could raise our game after last year but I think we have. The team have used every scrap of their skill and ingenuity, they’ve had the courage of their convictions and have refused to buckle under the most enormous pressure. I’m honoured to collect this trophy on their behalf.” FIA Press.

FIA Press Release 2012 FIA CHAMPIONS

Press Release 2012 FIA CHAMPIONS 07.12.2012

The annual FIA Prize Giving Gala, held in Istanbul, Turkey, took place this evening and winners and champions from around the world were honoured. FIA Founding Members Heritage Cup Mille Miglia, Angelo Sticchi Damiani (ITA) FIA Academy Gold Medal for Motor Sport King Juan Carlos I (ESP) FIA Outstanding Official Award Silvia Bellot (ESP) FIA Formula One World Championship Driver: Sebastian Vettel (DEU) Constructor: Red Bull Racing Formula One Promotional Trophies Promoter: Sameer Gaur (IND) TV: Sky Sports, Barney Francis (GBR) The Bernie Ecclestone Trophy DMSB, Gebhard Sanne (DEU) FIA World Land Speed Records Ford FIA World Rally Championship Driver: Sébastien Loeb (FRA) Co-driver: Daniel Elena (MCO) Manufacturer: Citroën Total World Rally Team FIA Production Car World Rally Championship Driver: Benito Guerra (MEX) Co-driver: Borja Rozada (ESP) FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship Driver: Craig Breen (IRL) Co-driver: Emil Axelsson (SWE) FIA WRC Academy Cup Driver: Elfyn Evans (GBR) Co-driver: Candido Carrera (ESP) FIA World Endurance Championship Drivers: Marcel Fässler (CHE), Benoît Tréluyer (FRA), André Lotterer (DEU) LMP1 Manufacturer: Audi FIA World Cup for LM GTE Manufacturers Ferrari FIA Endurance Trophy - LMP2 Teams Starworks Motorsports FIA Endurance Trophy - LMGTE AM Teams Larbre Competition FIA Endurance Trophy - LMGTE PRO Teams AF Corse FIA Endurance Trophy - Private LMP1 Teams Rebellion Racing FIA World Touring Car Championship Driver: Rob Huff (GBR) Team: Chevrolet FIA Formula Two Championship Driver: Luciano Bacheta (GBR) FIA GT1 World Championship Drivers: Marc Basseng (DEU), Markus Winkelhock (DEU) Team: ALL-INKL.COM Műnnich Motorsport FIA GT3 European Championship Drivers: Maximilian Buhk (DEU), Dominik Baumann (AUT) Team: Heico-Gravity-Charouz Team CIK-FIA "U18" World Karting Championship for Drivers Champion: Henry Easthope (GBR) CIK-FIA "U18" World Karting Championship for Makes Champion: SODI CIK-FIA World Karting Championship Champion: Flavio Camponeschi (ITA) FIA European Formula 3 Championship Driver: Daniel Juncadella Pérez-Sala (ESP) Team: PREMA Powerteam (ITA) FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup Driver: Antonio Felix da Costa (PRT) FIA European Touring Car Cup Nations Cup: Spain Super 1600: Kevin Krammes (DEU) Super 2000: Fernando Monje (ESP) Super Production: Nikolay Karamyshev (RUS) Single-make Trophy: Stian Paulsen (NOR) FIA European Truck Racing Championship Driver: Jochen Hahn (DEU) Team: MKR Technology FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies Driver: Khalifa Al Mutaiwei (ARE) Co-driver: Andreas Schulz (DEU) Team: G-Force Motorsport T2 Cup for Drivers: Reinaldo Varela (BRA) T2 Cup for Co-drivers: Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) T2 Cup for Teams: Reinaldo Varela 2WD Trophy for Drivers: Jean-Louis Schlesser (FRA) 2WD Trophy for Manufacturers: Schlesser FIA European Drag Racing Championship Pro Modified Driver: Michael Gullqvist (SWE) Pro Stock Driver: Thomas Lindstrőm (SWE) Top Fuel Driver: Risto Poutiainen (FIN) Top Methanol Dragster Driver: Monty Bugeja (MLT) Top Methanol Funny Car  Driver: Leif Andreasson (SWE) FIA European Rallycross Championship SuperCars: Timur Timerzyanov (RUS) Super1600: Andreas Bakkerud (NOR) TouringCars: Anton Marklund (SWE) Nations Cup: Norway FIA European Autocross Championship SuperBuggy: Bernd Stubbe (DEU) Buggy1600: Thomas Anacleto (FRA) TouringAutocross: Vaclav Fejfar (CZE) Nations Cup: Czech Republic FIA Autocross Cup for Junior Buggy Jakub Kubicek (CZE) FIA Alternative Energies Cup - Driving Tests events cat IIIA (electr) - Driving Tests events cat IIIA (electr) - Driving Tests events cat VII – VIII - Driving Tests events cat VII - VIII - Manufacturers’ Cup cat IIIA - Manufacturers’ Cup cat VII – VIII - Solar events cat I - Olympia Class   Circuit - Solar events cat I - Olympia Class   Rallies - Solar events cat I - Solar Powered   Vehicles-circuit - Solar events cat I - Solar Powered   Vehicles Rallies Driver: Jesùs Echave (ESP) Co-driver: Juanan Delgado (ESP) Driver: Massimo Liverani (ITA) Co-driver: Emanuele Calchetti (ITA) Mitsubishi Fiat Ashiya University Solar Car Project B (JPN) North West University (ZAF) O S U (JPN) Tokai University (JPN) FIA European Hill-Climb Championship Cat.1: Dusan Borkovic (SRB) Cat.2: Simone Faggioli (ITA) FIA European Hill-Climb Cup Dan Michl (CZE) FIA International Hill-Climb Challenge Vaclav Janik (CZE) FIA Historic Hill-Climb Championship Cat 1: Jűrgen Pachteu (AUT) Cat 2: Josef Michl (CZE) Cat 3: Jaroslav Baranek (SVK) Cat 4: Uberto Bonucci (ITA) Cat 5: Petr Tykal (CZE) FIA Historic Rally Championship Drivers: Cat.1: Antonio Parisi (ITA) Cat.2: Mats Myrsell (SWE) Cat.3: Ernst Harrach (AUT) Cat.4: “Pedro” [Massimo Pedretti] (ITA) Co-drivers: Cat.1: Giuseppe D'angelo (ITA) Cat.2: Esko Junttila (SWE) Cat.3: Leopold Welsersheimb (AUT) Cat.4: Erik Pedersen (NOR) FIA Trophy for Historic Regularity Rallies Driver: Joe Reynolds (IRL) Co-driver: Marco Maria Calegari (MCO) & Iain Tullie (GBR) FIA European Rally Cups Driver (Central): Jan Kopecky (CZE) Co-driver (Central): Pavel Dresler (CZE) Driver (East): Yagiz Avci (TUR) Co-driver (East): Bahadir Gucenmez (TUR) Driver (South West): Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR) Co-driver (South West): Ola Floene (NOR) FIA Middle East Rally Championship Driver: Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) Co-driver: Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) FIA Middle East Rally Cup for Group N Drivers Nicholai Georgiou (LBN) FIA African Rally Championship Driver: Mohammed Essa (ZMB) Co-driver: Greg Stead (ZWE) Manufacturer: Subaru FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Driver: Christopher Atkinson (AUS) Co-driver: Stephane Prévot (BEL) Manufacturer: Škoda FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Junior Cup Driver: Akira Bamba (JPN) Co-driver: Takahiro Yasui (JPN) FIA Asia-Pacific Cup for 2WD Cars Driver: Karamjit Singh (MYS) Co-driver: Vivek Ponnusamy (IND) Manufacturer: Proton FIA Asia Cup Driver: Yuya Sumiyama (JPN) Co-driver: Naoki Kase (JPN) FIA Pacific Cup Driver: Christopher Atkinson (AUS) Co-driver: Stephane Prévot (BEL) FIA European Rally Championship Driver: Juho Hänninen (FIN) Co-driver: Mikko Markkula (FIN) FIA NACAM Rally Championship Driver: Ricardo Triviño (MEX) Co-driver: Marco Hernandez (MEX) Nations: Mexico FIA CODASUR Rally Championship Driver: Gustavo Saba (PRY) Co-driver: Victor Aguilera (PRY) FIA Historic Formula One Championship Overall: Joaquin Folch (ESP) Class A: John Delane (USA) Class B: Phillipe Bonny (FRA) Class C: Richard Eyre (GBR) Class D: Terry Sayles (GBR) FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior Cars Overall: Pierre Tonetti (ITA) Class A: Daniele Salodini  (ITA) Class B: Duncan Rabagliati (GBR) Class C: John Delane (USA) Class D: Luc Deneve (BEL) & Ivo Goeckmann (DEU) FIA PRESS.

TMG GT86 LAUNCHED FOR VLN SERIES

TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG) is excited to announce a new motorsport competition for 2013 based on the TMG GT86 CS-V3 race car. Running within the popular Nürburgring-based VLN series, the TMG GT86 Cup is exclusively for GT86 CS-V3 entrants and offers attractive prize money as well as the thrill of competition on the legendary Nordschleife. The GT86 CS-V3 is already a proven class-winner in VLN events and this year's prototype completed more than 7,000km of running in race conditions, with a perfect reliability record and minimal spare parts.

VLN races regularly attract over 200 entrants and the TMG GT86 Cup will run as a category within the existing championship structure, benefiting from a well-established organisation.

Together with its partner IKmedia, TMG will provide an on-site spare parts service, with special conditions for participants, as well as a dedicated TMG GT86 Cup organisation service at the Nürburgring.

Attractive prizes for race and season results totalling around €50,000 combine with the GT86 CS-V3 car, which is available for €45,815 (including German VAT), for a cost-effective way to participate in one of Europe's leading motorsport series.

The annual entry fee of €2,500 also includes additional benefits such as a TMG GT86 Cup-branded race suit, VIP hospitality packages and exclusive reductions on tyres and spare parts at the race track.

Although not part of the TMG GT86 Cup calendar, the car is eligible to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in the V3 class, which was won by the prototype GT86 CS-V3 in 2012.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, TMG President: "This is exciting news for TMG and fans of endurance racing. Thanks to the VLN organisation, Toyota Motor Europe and IKmedia for their support and assistance in establishing this new TMG GT86 Cup. It will be fantastic to watch several GT86 CS-V3 race cars competing against each other in such an established series and on a race track like the Nürburgring. We are proud of the GT86 CS-V3 as a reliable and fast entry-level race car so I am expecting close competition and plenty of real racing next season."

TMG