143 replies to this topic

[FLB]

Spa!

 

The race!

 

La course!

 

La gara!

 

Das Rennen!

[Kev00]

https://sportscar365...ndar-next-year/

Some big news from Stéphane Ratel today. The Nurburgring 24h will be a part of the Intercontinental GT challenge season in 2024. I don’t know if it is now run by SRO now or not though.

Also the final round of the GTWC Europe will be held in Jeddah. Yes Saudi Arabia is now in Europe. What a ****ing disgrace

[LolaB0860]

Some big news from Stéphane Ratel today. The Nurburgring 24h will be a part of the Intercontinental GT challenge season in 2024. I don’t know if it is now run by SRO now or not though.

 

No it's still ADAC race, all the other categories are still there, just SP9 is integrated into that thing

[sportyskells]

We just had a crash under safety car at that turn which will delay the green flag further. I wonder if there a green flag his time by going by the cars going a lot faster

Edited by sportyskells, 01 July 2023 - 14:52.

[ARTGP]

Huge crash between some of the heavy hitters (Rowe BMW and a WRT BMW) due to a miscue with one of the cars slowing on the Kemmel for a FCY and getting run into by the other. Massive barrier damage. Drivers are ok, but we've been under FCY for the last 50 minutes or so for barrier repair.  At this point, I like the chances for the 17 Audi (Thiim, Van Der Linde) and the Vanthoor/Estre Porsche. 

Edited by ARTGP, 02 July 2023 - 03:19.

[Gemini]

I love this race, year after year

[ARTGP]

On mobile so please forgive the awful quote job but I thought this was funny

The Grello-liveried Porsche notably completed the closing hour of the race without a rear diffuser, but Estre still managed to challenge Thiim for third in a battle that saw the Frenchman run off the track at the exit of Bruxelles.

[ARTGP]

Audi: Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.

 

Reinke: Audi Customer Racing’s Demise “Over Speculative” – Sportscar365

 

I wonder if they'll just switch to an RS5 base model considering BMW's success with the M4. 

Edited by ARTGP, 03 July 2023 - 17:46.

[Ben1445]

That is encouraging to read.

 

Somewhat surprising that Markus Duesmann (with all his enthusiastic support for the F1 entry) is stepping back as Audi CEO already. But anyway...  
 
For all Reinke's talk in that article about not wanting to get involved in speculation about possible new models, last August  he was speaking about Audi Sport's support for Group eSV (then referred to as N-EGT) and talked about the potential of doing an e-tron GT based offering. He was clear that it would be a 'second pillar' alongside ICE though. 

Edited by Ben1445, 03 July 2023 - 20:33.

[ARTGP]

Incredible: ESTRE, VANTHOOR, and ANDLAUER's battle at the Spa 24h in the Porsche 992 GT3 R - YouTube

 

At times, I wonder why F1 is more popular. 

Edited by ARTGP, 06 July 2023 - 22:30.

[ANF]

Incredible: ESTRE, VANTHOOR, and ANDLAUER's battle at the Spa 24h in the Porsche 992 GT3 R - YouTube
 
At times, I wonder why F1 is more popular.

Interesting recap and narration. I like it.

[Ben1445]

Audi: Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.
 
Reinke: Audi Customer Racing’s Demise “Over Speculative” – Sportscar365
 
I wonder if they'll just switch to an RS5 base model considering BMW's success with the M4.

Today, Endurance-Info.com are reporting that the Audi Sport customer racing programme is in fact being wound down and cease operations after 2023: 
https://en.endurance...ts-current-form

"According to our information, there will no longer be any official drivers in 2024, leaving no fewer than 14 drivers supported by the manufacturer with the rings on the sidelines. Of course, teams will still be able to run an Audi in 2024, but without official support from the company.

The decision to put an end to any official programme in its current form comes logically from the group's board and not from Audi Sport. The teams concerned have already been informed of this decision."

[Ben1445]

DSC running a story on this now with more detail:
 
Audi Sport Customer Racing Confirm Major Changes From 2024
https://www.dailyspo...-from-2024.html
 

In a letter to their GT2, GT3, GT4 and TCR customers with c.600 vehicles between them, Rolf Michl, Managing Director Audi Sport GmbH and Head of Motorsport and Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing have confirmed:

1 – Audi will end sales of customer sports vehicles after Q1/2024. All orders placed until then will be fulfilled;

2 – Homologation for all current customer racing models is extended for at least one further cycle. 


3 – On-site support for customers worldwide will continue from customer advisors from Audi Sport customer racing as well as a full spare parts service. 


4 – From 2024 onwards, Audi will end strategic operations in customer racing as well as cooperations with customer teams that were previously supported with Audi Sport drivers.

5 – Forward-looking motorsport-related follow-up projects for customer racing are currently being examined

The move is linked to the major changes in the automotive industry, the goal of Audi under their “Vorsprung 2030” strategy to achieve the end-to-end electrification of its full product portfolio and, as is already well-known, to the company’s focus shifting to Formula 1 in 2026.

I think Endurance-Info were perhaps a little over-zealous on this again. It is a major change, and all current programs are being phased-out. But sounds like Audi Sport will still exist as an entity to deliver remaining orders and provide a level of support any customers who want to stick with those cars over the next homologation cycle, plus the door is still left open for 'forward-looking' platforms.

Edited by Ben1445, 11 July 2023 - 15:44.

[Kev00]

Don’t want to jinx it but Valentino Rossi is currently leading the GTWC race at Misano with 20 minutes to go. He has the pace and it’s in his hands.

[Astandahl]

Rossi has won in Misano.

 

Goat?

[ARTGP]

Rossi has won in Misano.

 

Goat?

 

Confirmed. His transition to 4 wheel racing beggars belief. 

[juicy sushi]

Audi GT customers put the knife in, and follow up with a boot for good measure, following the official pull out:  https://www.motorspo...-exit/10496865/

 

Can't say they're wrong, a good customer program isn't a cost, it's a profit centre and maintains enthusiasm for the brand.  Will be interesting to see where all these teams and drivers go.  There is a lot of talent suddenly available for someone smarter to work with.

[ARTGP]

Very few people can make sense of it. If Audi Sport was spread too thin, they should have hired more to sustain the GT racing. 

Edited by ARTGP, 18 July 2023 - 14:29.

[OvDrone]

Bored from Spa ? No worries, here's the penultimate round of the GT World Challenge Endurance Cup round in Europe, live from the Nurburgring with 3 hours of pristine GT Racing.

Inbeween the dull moments at Spa and an hour after, feel free to join us for the best GT series out there - Cheers y'all:

[OvDrone]

Iron Lynx Lambos absolutely disintegrating in every category. 

Happy that wasn't Wittmann's fault as I want the #98 ROWE BMW closer to the leading #88 Merc, yet as I type he is utterly harassed by those Audi around him. Fun stuff as always.

[OvDrone]

Another fun installment in this great series. The Akkodis #88 Merc completely crushed the competition today and I honestly cannot see someone else taking the title, maybe in Sprint, but Endurance is done for sure. Last round will be the Sprint at Hockenheim in Sept 2-3.Cheers.

[OvDrone]

Forgot to post about yesterday's 4 Hours of Aragon from ELMS. 

Got to watch the replay earlier today lazier in bed. It's good to see Aragon, and I think it's a perfect venue for ELMS.

Full Race replay:



Short Highlights: 



Next ELMS round, Spa on September 24th.

[FLB]

IMSA GT-only race currently ongoing at VIR: IMSA TV: Live | IMSA

Edited by FLB, 27 August 2023 - 18:54.

[OvDrone]

Yesterday we had the World GT Europe Spring at 'old school' Hockenheim - the only racing series I get to see at this legendary venue this year and Race 1 really delivered. 

Got to watch the replay this morning and you can too: 



Unfortunately, Race 2 will overlap with both MotoGP AND F1    @ 1:35 pm UK time, so feel free to watch after Monza to get some more nice racing before it starts again later in the States:



 

[FLB]

GT goodness.

 

[OvDrone]

If you are longing for some Racing and can't wait 'til Petit Le Mans later today, rejoice as we are going live with the last GT World Challenge race in Europe and it's a Sprint at Zandvoort - enjoy Race #1 right now y'all:

[OvDrone]

We've got a Sprint title showdown today between the #40 Audi and #88 Merc. You can check out this link for more info on that - https://sportscar365...title-showdown/

'll miss the live race though but y'all can check it out here at 1pm UK time:

Edited by OvDrone, 15 October 2023 - 07:53.

[sportyskells]

And different weather conditions as it got wet this morning

[AlexPrime]

Decent race 2

[ANF]

A delayed ELMS boat race is about to start at Portimão.

[FLB]

And it's just been red flagged after five minutes of SC.

[OvDrone]

One last hour of ELMS goodness this year.

Edited by OvDrone, 22 October 2023 - 16:25.

[OvDrone]

Lol Lynn relax. Everyones been driving like loose cannons this past half hour.

Great to see Algarve Pro win the title at the Algarve. United finished the season so very strong but not enough to take it from the #25. Well deserved. Looking forward to next season for more LMP2 fun.

Edited by OvDrone, 22 October 2023 - 17:35.

[balage06]

Macau entry list:

https://www.fia.com/...-cup-entry-list

[Stephane]

That is the 2019 one...

[Kev00]

https://www.macau.gr...5f366b9d7fe.pdf

This is the provisional entry list. I would be absolutely stoked if we’re getting Estre, Vanthoor, Preining, Cairoli in a Porsche along with the other Mercedes, BMW, Audi guys that have already been announced

I haven’t seen any announcements from Porsche regarding Macau but it looks like they’ll have a big presence

[FLB]

I don't understand a word, but somehow I'm finding this mesmerizing...

 

[FLB]

Featuring Trussers commentating! 

 

[FLB]

[FLB]

It's in Portuguese, but this looks like a nice series:

 

[FLB]

The Brazilian race ended with a diffrence of 0.1s after four hours...   

[FLB]

We're almost 17,000 watching this on Youtube:

 

[mclara]

We're almost 17,000 watching this on Youtube:

 

Saw parts of the race live. Another win and trophy for Mercedes AMG this year 

Edited by mclara, 11 December 2023 - 10:03.

[highdownforce]

It's in Portuguese, but this looks like a nice series:

https://www.youtube....h?v=o6v-FHXxu6I

Those steeltube prototypes (Metalmoro AJR) are ugly as hell, but they can easily outperform a GT3 and older LMP3 on merit.

https://www.dailyspo...ro-jlm-ajr.html

Edited by highdownforce, 12 December 2023 - 00:31.