Former Formula One driver Mark Webber has suffered a major crash in the 6 hours race of Sao Paulo, the last event of this year's World Endurance Championship.
They're using an AER engine.Constructr wrote:If they are using Renault power, they're probably putting it on hold.SilverArrow10 wrote:Anyone know if the LMP1-L Lotus will get on track this year?, they keep pushing it back and back, it would be nice to see a team fighting rebellion instead of them being on there own in no mans land.
via FIAwec.comPositive first test for Lotus P1/01
Following on from news about the shakedown of the new AER-engined Lotus P1/01 prototype, the team has now released further details about its first full test session. The Lotus team is due to debut the car at the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas, which is the highlight of the Lone Star Le Mans weekend in Austin, Texas on 18-20 September.
The new LMP1 car was tested last week at the Monteblanco circuit in Spain by Thomas Holzer, Pierre Kaffer and Christophe Bouchut. Kaffer was only able to do the first three days as he then departed for a race in Canada.
The two German drivers started the week by doing short runs, setting up the new AER engine, working on traction control and a number of other electronic components – all of which worked well. They then moved onto longer runs to allow the team to learn about the car’s aerodynamic properties as well as testing mechanic components. On the final day Christophe Bouchut took the wheel for longer stints to work on reliability.
Team Manager, Marko van Dommele, told the FIA WEC: “A lot was learned about the new car and we have been able to gather a lot of useful data. Based on the data gathered, improvements will be made to the car in the coming days and a further test is planned for the end of July.”
2 actually. 4 of the 6 will probably go to USC.Bob Brown wrote:Honda is really getting back into higher tier racing. 6 LMP2 cars for 2015!
Are you saying the USC isn't top tier racing? The strongest gt field in the world is in the USC.mikeerfol wrote:2 actually. 4 of the 6 will probably go to USC.Bob Brown wrote:Honda is really getting back into higher tier racing. 6 LMP2 cars for 2015!
That's a little different. In v8 they all run the same chassis. Besides technically v8s are touring cars rather than gts.djos wrote:You need to watch V8SC, in qually most of the field are within 1second of the pole time!
Argentinian TC has 40 cars in 1 second....djos wrote:You need to watch V8SC, in qually most of the field are within 1second of the pole time!
via Autosport.comPorsche to build new LMP1 WEC challenger for 2015
Porsche will build a new LMP1 car for its second year back in top-level sportscar racing next season.
Bosses of the German manufacturer's P1 programme in the World Endurance Championship have revealed that this year's 919 Hybrid is undergoing a complete redesign for next season, which will include producing a new monocoque.
They have stressed, however, that the concept of the car and its hybrid powertrain will not be dramatically altered for season two.
Porsche LMP1 technical director Alex Hitzinger said: "It will be pretty much a new car, and that was the decision from the beginning of the programe.
"It was always the plan that we would do a new tub and redesign the car based on what we'd learned in the first year of racing.
"We are a new design team and we can't be expected to correctly optimise our first design shot."
Porsche team principal Andreas Seidl added that the 2015 car would be "designed from scratch" but would be an "evolution not a revolution" of the existing 919 concept.
The plan is that the new car, which appears likely to retain the 919 type number, will be tested for the first time at the end of this year.
Porsche has also yet to reveal whether it will increase the level of energy retrieval for 2015 and move from the six megajoule class to the higher 8MJ division.
"It is open again and we will evaluate the situation in testing," explained Seidl.
RIVALS MAKING TWEAKS
Toyota will continue into next season with an updated version of the existing TS040 HYBRID with, according to Toyota Motorsport technical director Pascal Vasselon, "no big evolutions".
It has also admitted that it is working on a move to 8MJ, but has yet to make a final decision.
Audi has stated that it will retain its existing concept for its 2015 WEC challenger and that it is trying to increase its level of hybrid power, which can be interpreted as an attempt to move from the two to 4MJ class.
Tc2000 is awesome. I think Pechito,this year, has shown the world that Argentina knows how to race.Belatti wrote:Argentinian TC has 40 cars in 1 second....djos wrote:You need to watch V8SC, in qually most of the field are within 1second of the pole time!
