All articles tagged with #endurance racing
Jeff Zwart, a seasoned racer, called the East African Safari Classic Rally the hardest event he's ever participated in, highlighting the challenging terrain and his experience racing a vintage Porsche 911 across Africa, finishing 17th amidst tough conditions and car issues.
NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch will compete in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Action Express Racing, marking his third consecutive appearance in the race and his debut in the GTP class, as he continues to build his racing career across different series.
AO Racing will continue its dual LMP2 and GTD Pro efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2026, fielding the No. 99 Oreca 07 Gibson and No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R, with driver lineups to be announced later, and both cars still in championship contention.
Alpine achieved a significant victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji in the FIA World Endurance Championship, overcoming early setbacks and a competitive field including Peugeot, Porsche, and Ferrari, with Ferdinand Habsburg, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Charles Milesi leading the team to its first overall WEC win since Monza 2022.
Ferrari dominated the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours, but the race was ultimately won by Robert Kubica and his team, with the #83 crew and Porsche #6 making significant impacts. Kubica's remarkable performance, overcoming personal and physical challenges, was the standout story, cementing his legacy in endurance racing history.
The Le Mans 24 Hours has introduced a new qualifying format that separates Hypercar from LMP2 and LMGT3 categories, with two Hyperpole sessions to determine the grid, aiming to enhance excitement and fairness. Drivers and teams have mixed feelings about the changes, which include driver driver changes between sessions and new tyre regulations.
Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani have been announced as the first drivers for Genesis Magma Racing's LMDh program, set to debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026. Both drivers bring significant experience, with Derani joining from Action Express Racing and Lotterer from Porsche Penske Motorsport. Additionally, Genesis will partner with IDEC Sport for a 2025 European Le Mans Series LMP2 entry, featuring drivers Jamie Chadwick, Logan Sargent, and Mathys Jaubert as part of their "trajectory program."
Aston Martin has unveiled a new GT3 race car based on its Vantage, featuring advanced aerodynamics and improved stability under braking. The car made its public debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona, with promising performance despite some reliability issues. However, the escalating costs and manufacturer-driven rule changes in GT3 racing may threaten the sustainability of the series in the long run.
Aston Martin officially unveils the new Vantage GT3, a heavily modified version of the Vantage designed for endurance racing with a bonded aluminum chassis, carbon fiber body panels, and detuned engine producing 500-600 horsepower. The company expects 30 cars to race globally by the end of 2024, with improved handling characteristics and participation in various racing series including IMSA, WEC, ELMS, and NLS.
Alpine has launched an "innovative" and "aggressive" new car for the 2024 Formula 1 season, with team principal Bruno Famin emphasizing the need for continuous improvement without setting specific performance targets. The A524 features significant changes in design, including a new rear suspension, improved front suspension, and extensive work on thermal management of the brakes. The team aims to build on their two podium finishes from the previous season, with drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly expressing optimism while refraining from setting specific targets. Additionally, Alpine has unveiled their 2024 endurance racing program, which includes Mick Schumacher, who is also serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes F1 and is determined to re-establish his F1 career.
Felipe Nasr credits Team Penske for a crucial pit stop that helped him reclaim the lead and win the Daytona 24 endurance race, despite confusion over the timing of the checkered flag. The victory marked Nasr's 10th career win in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and came against his former team, while also delivering team owner Roger Penske his first Daytona 24 win since 1969. Nasr expressed confusion over the race ending prematurely but celebrated the hard-fought victory with his team.
Teams and drivers in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship are gearing up for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, with the pole-sitting No. 31 V-Series.R team focusing on final preparations before the 24-hour race. After completing practice sessions, the team prioritizes marketing and media requirements while ensuring the crew and drivers have minimal distractions. The engineers finalize setup decisions, and the car is prepped for the race, with most of the hard work done prior to the event. The crew is now getting ready for a long day ahead, aiming for a good night's sleep before the race.
The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) is gaining popularity with its annual Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race, featuring high-tech hybrid Grand Touring Prototypes (GTP) and a diverse array of GT machinery from 18 car manufacturers. The event attracts top racing talent from various disciplines, including IndyCar and Formula One, and is seen as the Super Bowl of IMSA racing. With increasing interest and fan attendance, IMSA is experiencing a surge in popularity and recognition within the auto industry, signaling a positive trajectory for American sports car racing.
The organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans have revised the safety car procedure for the 2024 race, eliminating the 'drop-back' element introduced in 2023. The new system aims to address the criticism that restarts took too long, with the previous procedures often taking up to 20 minutes before racing could resume. The 'merge' and 'pass-around' procedures will remain in place, allowing cars from different classes to restart together. The changes aim to prevent battles from being split up and improve the flow of the race.
The only 1995 Toyota MR2 GT1 road car ever built, known as the SARD MC8, is being driven on the road by its current owner, Instagram user @mc8_channel. Developed by Sigma Advanced Research Development, the MC8 features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and unique bodywork. Despite its unsuccessful racing career, the MC8 is now considered a highly sought-after MR2 and is being enjoyed as it was meant to be, making it a rare win-win situation for a GT1 homologation car.