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80th 24 Hours of Le Mans Promo Video is Nostalgic, Awesome
Recently named the world’s best sporting event by National Geographic, this year the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates 80 years. The racing season may seem a long way off now, but to help set the mood the event’s organizing body, the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) has prepared a montage video of highlights throughout…
Le Mans Rated World’s Best Sporting Event, National Geographic
National Geographic rated the 24 hours at Le Mans race the greatest sporting event in the world, beating the Olympics, Superbowl and the World Cup for the top spot. Who ever said driving wasn’t a “real sport”? The race at Le Mans started in May of 1923 and has been an annual event ever since….
Toyota to Compete in FIA World Endurance Championship
Toyota racing announced today that the TS030 hybrid powered race car will compete in the World Endurance Championship races. Originally Toyota racing had planned on entering selected races on the World Endurance Championship circuit, but citing unexpected changes faced by the championship has now announced they will be a full-time entrant. This means that the…
Lotus Lola LMP2 Headed to Le Mans
The German-based Kodewa team will be campaigning a pair of Lola LMP2 Coupes in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Lola LMP2 race cars are designed and built in Huntingdon UK and will be powered by an engine provided by the Lotus Group. The Lola B12/80…
Audi Announces Hybrid LMP1 Car
Audi is out to steal Toyota‘s thunder in the World Endurance Championship this year. The German automaker announced today that it will run two hybrid LMP1 cars for the first time in their team of four during the 24 hours of Le Mans. Details were scarce in the release, but we know that the cars…
Rolex 24 at Daytona Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Parade of Winners [Video]
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car endurance race, around 50 championship cars past and present paraded their way through the streets of Daytona. The oldest race car to make the parade was the 1962 winner, while the newest was from last year’s race. The parade went off without…
Toyota TS030 Hybrid Launch Footage [Video]
You might be familiar with the sound a Le Mans car makes while whipping around the track, but this year Toyota is going to change all that. For the first time in more than a decade, the Japanese giant is entering in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, set to start this June. Yesterday…
Toyota TS030 Hybrid Powertrain Details Released
Toyota spilled more details on Tuesday of its plan to run a hybrid at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Last week we reported that the Japanese automaker would be entering such a vehicle, but there were no details on the powertrain or the plan surrounding the car itself. That changed when…
Peugeot Announces Its Withdrawal From Le Mans Effective Immediately
Peugeot announced its withdrawal from Le Mans effective immediately. While the diesel Peugeot 908 prototype won the 2009 24 hours of Le Mans outright, and has also earned 14 victories out of the 16 races in 2011, Peugeot has decided to terminate its endurance racing program in order to place greater emphasis on its sales…
Toyota Hybrid Le Mans Race Car Revealed
The dominating diesels will have a fuel economy foe at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, thanks to a new hybrid race car from Toyota. Set to compete in the top-tier LMP1 class later this year, the first photos of the hybrid electric drive prototype have hit the net, thanks to a tweet by…
Audi V6 TDI Wins Race Engine of the Year Award
The publication Race Engine Technology has given Audi Motorsport the “Race Engine of the Year” award for their 3.7L V6 TDI powerplant. The engine, which was vital to Audi capturing its 10th title at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, produces more than 540-hp through the use of a single turbocharger. Compared to…
Steve McQueen’s Le Mans Racing Suit Auctioned For $984,000
A rare combination of Hollywood and racing history, the Gulf livery racing suit that Steve McQueen wore for the movie Le Mans was sold in a California auction for a steep $800,000. After fees and taxes are taken into account, the total sum is actually $984,000. With the exception of an automobile, this is the…
Porsche Junior Development Program Is Launched For 2012
Porsche has put to motion an international Youth Development Programme to foster young drivers as the German automaker prepares an expansion of its racing involvement and its entry into the LMP1 class at Le Mans for 2014. Beginning with the coming 2012 racing season, two young drivers will receive the title “Porsche Juniors” and will…
2012 Audi LMP1 Race Car Begins Testing at Sebring Raceway
Even though Audi hasn’t announced any details on their 2012 race program, including its driver line-up for the year, that hasn’t stopped them from making a grand appearance testing a pair of 2012 LMP1 race cars at Sebring Raceway. Two of their LMP1 cars were spotted at the track in Florida along with the 2011…
Porsche GT3 R Hybrid to Hit Race Tracks Again in 2012
Porsche is determined to improve their hybrid technologies and the best place to do that is on the race track. For the 2012 race season, Porsche has further developed its 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, and will be putting it to the test once again. Exactly where or when, however, has not been revealed….
Audi R8 Grand Am Gets Ready to Race
The reduced downforce also required changes to the suspension settings with re-valved shocks and softer springs, along with a slight increase in ride height. In addition, as per Grand Am regulations, the European car’s traction control and ABS systems must also be deactivated.
Austin-Healey From 1955 Le Mans Tragedy Fetches $1-Million
One of the darkest days in motorsports is arguably June 11, 1955. On this day, at the Le Mans 24-hour race, on lap 35, Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR hit the back of Lance Macklin’s Austin-Healey 100 Special, and was sent flying into the crowds. When all the smoke and dust cleared, 83 spectators had…
Audi Announces R8 LMS Ultra For Customer Racers
It’s hard to believe Audi was able to improve their highly successful R8 LMS GT3 race car, but they’ve just announced that the R8 LMS ultra will be launched in 2012, with deliveries starting in March. Current R8 LMS customers have won a combined 115 races and 12 national and international titles in just three…
Toyota Le Mans Driver Lineup Includes Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima
Toyota has announced its three-man tea of pro racers, who will pilot the brand’s hybrid LMP1 car in the 2012 Le Mans and other races. The list includes former F1 driver and winner of the 2009 24 Hours of Le mans (under Peugeot) Alex Wurz, Team Oreca pilot and last year’s 12 Hours of Sebring…
Toyota Partners with ORECA for Hybrid Le Mans Race Program
In the world of motorsports, it’s nearly impossible for a new team to come out of the box and be competitive. So what is a novice group that is looking for success to do? Simple, partner with one of the most successful teams in the sport. That is exactly what Toyota is doing by partnering…
Peugeot 908 HYbrid4 To Take The Challenge To Toyota In LMP1
The only Japanese manufacturer to ever win the prestigious 24-Hours of Le Mans so far has been Mazda with its 787B. Toyota has been wanting to change that for nearly two decades now. Their last effort in the LMP1 class failed, but next year they’ll be back with a vengeance, using a hybrid racer. Not…
Toyota Confirms 24 Hours of Le Mans Hybrid Racer to Compete in 2012
It’s been over a decade since Toyota competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and when the Japanese auto giant returns next year to the world famous motorsports venue it will change the race forever. That’s because Toyota’s new race car will use a hybrid-electric drivetrain. Set to compete in the top-tier LMP1 class…
110 Years of Ford Racing History Headed to SEMA Show
110 years ago, Henry Ford entered a 10-lap, 10-mile race at the Detroit Driving Club in Grosse Point, Michigan in his self-built race car called “Sweepstakes”. Going up against heavily-favored Alexander Winton, Henry Ford took the surprising win that ultimately changed automotive manufacturing forever. With his win, the Ford Motor Company got the funding it…
NASCAR, Drift and GT Racers Compete in Viper Celebrity Challenge; Airs Sunday on Versus
Timed for just 50 minutes, the actual event required each team to make a pit stop and change drivers halfway through, making for some very exciting racing.
