Tags: A.J. Foyt / Bruce McLaren / Dan Gurney / FIA Cobra / Ford GT / Ford GT40 / GTX1 / Holman & Moody / Kar-Kraft / Ken Miles / Le Mans / Neil Ressler / Roy Lunn / Shelby American / Shelby Cobra

ROY LUNN: GODFATHER OF THE FORD GT40!

- Minggu, 27 Desember 2015 No Comments

Ford GT & Cobra owners, racers and Roy Lunn’s friends and family gathered at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club in Sarasota, FL to celebrate the legendary engineer and designer, known as the Godfather of the GT40. His accomplishments led to Ford’s domination of international sports car racing in the mid-late-1960s.

 On June 19th, 2016, racing enthusiasts, friends of the Blue Oval, automotive journalists and historians, and the Ford Motor Company, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of what is probably the most iconic event in auto racing history. It was on June 19th, 1966, when three GT40 Mark II-As, raced by Bruce McLaren & Chris Amon, Ken Miles & Denny Hulme and Ronnie Bucknum & Dick Hutcherson crossed the finish line, respectively - One-Two-Three - to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and change the face of International sports car racing.



“I want to congratulate you on your creative role in the historic Ford victory at Le Mans and winning the World GT Championship,” Don Frey, Ford vice-president and general manager, in a letter to Roy Lunn, (above with Neil Ressler and with FIA Cobra), dated June 28, 1966.

It was the first-ever Overall win for an American carmaker, above, and the first of four consecutive wins of the world’s most prestigious race. In 1967 a Mark IV J-6, driven by Dan Gurney & A.J. Foyt, took the win and, in 1968 and 1969, a singular early GT40, raced by Pedro Rodriguez & Lucian Bianchi and Jackie Ickx & Jackie Oliver, respectively, made it three and four in a row. For the first time, America and Ford had dominated International road racing.



Ford’s GT40, Mark IIs and Mark IV were designed, engineered and developed under Roy Lunn’s direction at Ford’s Skunk Works, Kar-Kraft. Lunn was manager of the Advanced Concepts Group. Roy Lunn with first big-block (427) GT40 MK II in 1965 at Ford's Dearborn Proving Ground, below.

Martyn Schorr, Chronicles Editor, Ford GT owner and author of FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE, which includes details of Roy Lunn’s career at Ford and Kar-Kraft and the history of the GT40, organized the Tribute.

“Not only do I feel appreciative and honored today to share this occasion with my wife Jeannie and my family, but also overwhelmed by the incredible display of power outside: Ford GTs and Cobras. It really is a Show of Force and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said Roy, right.



Neil Ressler, a retired Ford engineer and vice-resident and former head of Advanced Vehicle Technology, attended with his Ford GT. He was chairman of Jaguar Racing and Cosworth Racing in 1999 and involved in the mid-engined GN34 Concept sports car which evolved into the 2005-2006 Ford GT, the spiritual successor to the GT40. He retired in 2001 after 34 years and returned to be join the Ford GT Team.



“I wasn’t going to miss this wonderful opportunity to meet Mr. Lunn, and relive some of those glory days of winning at Le Mans,” said Neil below, with Roy Lunn.

Roy Lunn will be 91 years old in April and has started working on his
fourth book about the environment, sustainability and future cars. “I’m
looking forward to finishing my new book and celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the win at Le Mans with my family and friends on June
19th next year.” 

The Show Of Force included nine Ford GTs, including a rare GTX1 and CP4 (Confirmation Prototype 4), the seventh prototype built. Nine Cobras, including a vintage FIA Cobra built by AC Cars, rounded out the loud and colorful field!

PHOTOS: Howard Mintz, Gary Jean, Ford & Roy Lunn Archives.

Tags: 427 Cobra / Boss 429 / Carroll Shelby / Cobra Daytona Coupe / Flathead / Ford GT40 / FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE / Indy 500 / Kar-Kraft / Le Mans / Martyn Schorr / Musclecars / NASCAR / NHRA drag racing

FORD: TOTAL PERFORMANCE, ROAD & TRACK!

- Minggu, 13 Desember 2015 No Comments

CarGuyChronicles Editor and Ford GT owner, Martyn Schorr chronicles Ford’s rich performance heritage from the 1920s through the golden age of musclecars. And, takes you inside Ford’s Skunk Works.

FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE is 208 slick pages of Ford race and street car history from 1920s Fours, 1930s-1940s Flatheads, 1950s Y-Blocks and 1960s to 1971 big-blocks. It showcases Boss 302-351-429 Mustangs, Shelby GT Mustangs, Shelby & AC Cobras, Pantera, Torinos, Sunbeam Tiger & Lola-Ford GT and GT40s. Plus extensive coverage of drag racing, NASCAR, Indy, Trans-Am, Le Mans, Cosworth F1, Lotus-Cortina, ending with 2005-2006 GT and 2017 GT. Plus a lot of inside info, putting the reader inside Ford’s Skunk Works: SVA & Kar Kraft and the true story of its implosion. Lots of period photography from the author and Ford’s archives, many never seen before.

Here’s what the media has had to say about FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE:

Autoweek EDITOR’S PICK: “In Ford Total Performance, Martyn L. Schorr takes a look at the Blue Oval’s metamorphosis in the 1960s from a company more focused on safety to one concerned with exciting the emotions of baby boomers coming of age, Autoweek, Dec. 7, 2015.



"Even the most devoted Ford fanatic will learn new things about their favorite make, but anyone interested in cars should read this book. Knowing how Ford-powered cars impacted the world racing scene and the evolution of the American muscle car will allow the reader a better understanding of automotive history. This is a must have book for any Ford performance car enthusiast. FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE is a winner," Steve Natale, Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/review/ford-total-performance-is-a-winner

“The book is chalk full of unpublished period photographу, including photos and artwork from designers that compliment the well written text bу Martуn L. Schorr. Schorr was there when it all happened, being the editor of Hi-Performance CARS magazine in the sixties and knew manу of the keу plaуers in Ford ’s racing program. Lee Holman, son of John Holman, wrote the Foreword. Holman & Moodу ’s close relationship with Ford performance is legendary, and his insights are most interesting,” Admin, Newspaper Post. http://www.newspaperpost.com/2015/11/17/ford-total-performance-is-a-winner/

“He thoroughly documents the cars, the people that made it happen, and the process that Ford used to get its performance hardware in front of the public. Martyn also reveals insights and interesting side stories about the era, and facts that weren’t included in the press releases,” Gary Smith, Dean’s Garage. http://deansgarage.com/2015/ford-total-performance-book-review/comment-page-1/

“Many of the images are never before published material from Schorr’s archives. Schorr, who lived the Total Performance era as an automotive journalist (as the editor of Hi-Performance CARS), met and knew many of the stars of the era and was able to reconnect with those still with us for inside stories and additional photography to put together a stellar title that any Ford fan will want on their bookshelf,” Mark Houlahan, Mustang 360/Mustang Monthly/Hot Rod Online. http://www.hotrod.com/news/1511-ford-total-performance-by-martyn-l-schorr-covers-the-heyday-of-factory-racing-support/

"Marty Schorr has fifty years worth of experience with performance cars. He also has fifty years worth of photographs he took during that time. He shares them in this book – some which have been used before and some which have not. For detail freaks it is a treasure trove. There have been a lot of books written about performance Fords. We know, because we have a wall full of book shelves filled with them. We are happy to add Marty Schorr's book to our shelf. If you're reading this review, you will be, too." – (SAAC) Shelby American 



‪"Ford fans are going to love this book...' '...chock full of stunning photos, this is a Ford nut's dream come true. Well written, nicely illustrated and a real nostalgia trip. It's great!' Classic American Magazine, January 2016, UK



FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE is available from Motorbooks: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9780760348581/Ford-Total-Performance.html and Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Ford-Total-Performance-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760348588/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429561181&sr=1-1&keywords=Ford+Total+Performance%2C+martyn+Schorr

Tags: 2016 Ford GT / Daytona / FIA / Ford EcoBoost / Ford GT40 / Le Mans / Rolex 24 / Silverstone Classic / WEC

’17 FORD GT: DEBUT AT SILVERSTONE!

- Senin, 21 September 2015 No Comments

All-new Ford GT will make its European racing debut at the opening round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship in April.

 Ford’s all-new GT racecar – revealed at Le Mans in June – will make its European racing debut at the Silverstone Circuit in the U.K. next April. Two cars will line up on the grid for the opening round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) where they will compete in the GT-Endurance Pro Class for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy.



The event is the first of nine WEC rounds announced by the FIA for 2016. Ford will later make its historic return to the Le Sarthe circuit in France where, 50 years ago, Ford’s GT40 won the first of four consecutive Le Mans titles.



“We believe the Ford GT’s advances in aerodynamics, light-weighting and EcoBoost power will make for a compelling race car that can once again compete on a global stage,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. “The same spirit that drove the innovation behind the first Ford GT still drives us as a company today. Let the racing begin!”



Based on the all-new Ford GT supercar unveiled in January and powered by the same Ford 3.5 litre EcoBoost engine, the Ford GT race car is engineered from advanced lightweight composites featuring carbon fibre for an exceptionally rigid but light chassis.



Both the race car and production car will arrive in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT40s placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969.



As well as competing in the full 2016 FIA WEC, the GT Race Car will contest the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (WTSCC), making its global competition debut in January at the Rolex 24 in Daytona, FL. Drivers’ details will be announced later.



For the latest on Ford’s new GT Supercar, please visit https://social.ford.com/content/fordsocial/en/articles/autoshow/all-new-ford-gt-sets-new-standard-for-ford-innovation.html?searchid=237047269|1412431581|78071380771&ef_id=VgBskwAAAKhHkjmf:20150921204611:s

Tags: 2016 Ford GT / 2017 Ford GT / Ford GT / Ford GT Forum / How To Buy A Ford GT / Le Mans / Martyn Schorr / Multimatic Motorsports / Raj Nair / Tudor SportsCar Championship / WEC

2016-’17 FORD GT: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

- Minggu, 30 Agustus 2015 No Comments

Thanks to the Ford GT Forum, here’s the full story, announced by Ford at the GT Forum Rally, including how to buy a new Ford GT. Get in line now!

Raj Nair, Ford’s Global Director of Product Development made  the following announcement to a gathering of Ford GT owners on Thursday, August 27, 2015:

Ford will introduce a unique ordering process for the all-new Ford GT Supercar, with the program commencing in early-2016. Ford GTs will be assigned based on a customer application process, offering a personalized experience for every Ford GT buyer.



Anyone can apply; priority will be given to loyal Ford customers including current Ford GT owners. Ford will assign applicants selected through the process a car and complete their purchase through a Ford GT certified dealership of their choice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR DEALERS

The Ford GT customer application process will begin in early 2016. Details on the application process will be provided closer to the application process start date. Ford dealers will be able to opt-in and certify to sell the Ford GT. Details on the sales certification requirements will be communicated later this year.



A separate process will be established for Ford Dealership owners who wish to register and own a new Ford GT. Limited production, high cost materials/parts and unique technologies will require unique factory-sponsored processes and resources to support customers and dealers. A separate service opt-in and certification process will be communicated in Q2/Q3 2016. We recommend that dealers refrain from taking customer deposits. As we continue to develop and refine the unique customer selection, allocation, and distribution processes for this extremely low-volume supercar, we will keep dealers fully informed.

The Ford GT is an exciting demonstration of Ford’s capabilities and our culture of innovation & passion. Ford Performance will begin racing the new Ford GT in 2016 in both the Tudor/IMSA and WEC road car racing series including a return to Le Mans 50 years after the GT40’s historic 1-2-3 finish in 1966.

Production of the Ford GT road car will begin in late-2016 at dedicated Multimatic Motorsports facility in Markham, Ontario; global volume will be 250 vehicles per year. The all-new Ford GT will be priced to compete with exotic sports cars including Lamborghini, Ferrari and McLaren. Expect pricing to be in excess of $400,000 (Ed.)

KEY VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS

•Lightweight construction - 100% carbon fiber body panels and passenger cell.

•Aerodynamic design and active features including speed-activated deployable rear wing.

•3.5L V6 Ecoboost engine producing over 600 horsepower.



For more information, please visit https://social.ford.com/content/fordsocial/en/articles/autoshow/all-new-ford-gt-sets-new-standard-for-ford-innovation.html?searchid=237047269|1412431581|78071380786&ef_id=-hBQJYpfWHgAAFqz:20150830174602:s



And check with the Ford GT Forum to see the latest updates, http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/search.php?searchid=223019

Tags: Audi of America / Audi R8 / Audi Sport / Audi TT / Australian GT Championship / FIA / IMSA / Le Mans / Martyn Schorr / Nurburgring / Scott Keogh / Sydney Motorsport Park / Tom Kristensen / WEC

AUDI RACING: MOTORSPORTS NEWSLETTER!

- Minggu, 23 Agustus 2015 No Comments

Motorsports news from around the world.

  

Tom Kristensen with Danish crown prince at golf tournament.

Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen was delighted about receiving an invitation to the European Tour with royal participation. The former professional racing driver competed in the Pro-Am class in the golf event ‘made in Denmark’ with two celebrity competitors – the Danish Crown Prince Frederik and the most successful Danish golfer Thomas Bjørn. Jacob Brunsborg, the son of Himmerland Golf Resort owner Lars Larsen, completed the team. Around 6,000 spectators attended the competition in Farsø in northern Denmark.

   

Victory and podiums finishes in Sydney.



Audi customer teams successful in Australia: at the Australian GT Championship race weekend in Sydney, Audi drivers celebrated two victories and podium positions.



At the fourth round of the Australian GT Championship, Christopher Mies and Ryan Millier produced the best performance in an Audi R8 LMS ultra. At the Sydney Motorsport Park, the duo fielded by Audi customer team Jamec PEM Racing headed an Audi one-two finish. Second was Audi driver Nathan Antunes (Skwirk/Beechwood), who was third in race two ahead of Mies/Millier. There was also an Audi victory in the Trophy classification to celebrate: in race two, Mark Griffith won from his stablemates Greg Taylor/Barton Mawer. In the first race, Taylor/Mawer made the podium in third place.



Expert training with the Audi Sport legends.



No less than six of Audi’s former Le Mans winners passed on their motorsport knowledge during expert training for sales assistants. Frank Biela, Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner supported the Audi Training seminars in Munich on 30 training days. Sales assistants are trained here for their job as Audi Sport experts in the retail trade. “It was fun showing just what is possible with the R8 V10, the new TT cup and the R8 LMS,” said Allan McNish on behalf of his colleagues. “With us, the employees discovered that Audi Sport ignites a burning passion and sporty models like the R8 V10 have their roots in motorsport.”



André Lotterer at product presentation in Japan.



Audi driver André Lotterer attended the press preview for the new Audi TT Roadster and TTS in Tokyo on Thursday. Audi Japan launched the two models on its domestic market and invited the guests to an event in the ‘Studio Earth’ on Tokyo Tower, an architectural landmark in Shiba Park in the Japanese capital. 110 media representatives from Japan and around 50 other guests visited the presentation of the models, which are very popular within the Japanese sportscar market. André Lotterer, currently FIA WEC championship leader with Audi, talked about his expectations for the 6 Hours of Fuji, which is set to be held on 11 October.



Racers visit Audi of America.



The racing drivers representing Audi customer teams visited the Audi of America headquarters in Herndon on the way to their next events. Racing drivers Christopher Haase and Dion von Moltke, currently second in the GTD classification standings of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship, travelled with Paul Miller Racing to Virginia. In addition to their Audi R8 LMS machines, there was also an R8 LMS from team C360R at the headquarters. The Audi of America employees could also admire exhibits from Audi’s motorsport history, including the Audi R8 and Audi R10 TDI LMP racecars. Moderator John Hindhaugh hosted proceedings in the presence of IMSA President Scott Atherton, President of Audi of America Scott Keogh, as well as key personnel responsible for the motorsport program Tristan Herbert, Andy Sattler and Brad Kettler.



A word from Marcel Fässler.



The Swiss travels as championship leader to the Nürburgring with his team mates.The summer break in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC is over. Now, five races are on the agenda in twelve weekends. What are looking forward to the most?



It’s great that Le Mans sportscars are at the Nürburgring again for the first time in many years. Audi’s home race will definitely be a classic. By the way, it is also my home race, because no other track is closer to my home in Switzerland. I’m also really looking forward to the following race in Austin. And in Asia, the title battle then enters its crucial stage in Asia – they will be five fantastic races.



Your currently lead the standings together with your team mates André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. There must surely be only one goal. How difficult will the title fight be this year, who are the strongest challengers?



We are highly motivated. The season so far shows how challenging the job is. Porsche is our strongest rival, has two excellent driver line-ups and continuously develops its technology. Our own team mates Lucas di Grassi, Loïc Duval and Oliver Jarvis should not be taken lightly. I also don’t want to write off Toyota.



A different classification for the racecar is valid from the Nürburgring, which appears to favor Audi slightly. Is this a help or are the remaining races about other qualities?



I’m pleased that the Audi R18 e-tron quattro is slightly better categorized again. However, we’ll only see the real performance level at the Nürburgring. For us it’s a question of approaching every race totally focused, to make no mistakes and to score as many points as possible. These are the strengths that will count.



Your team mates and you were World Champions in 2012 in the FIA WEC, in 2013 and 2014 championship runner-up, and now you are leading the standings again. You’ve won Le Mans three times. What has distinguished the Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer trio for so many years?



We form a close knit and harmonious team together with Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi Sport and our engineer Leena Gade. Every one of us knows how the other ticks and how we can exploit our respective strengths, even of the circumstances seem to be against us. Benoît, André and I have been driving together since 2010. Our success together strengthens the entire team.



Coming up next week.



28–30/8 Sonoma (USA), Pirelli World Challenge, race 18 and 19

29–30/8 Moscow (RUS), DTM, race 11 and 12

29–30/8 Sachsenring (D), ADAC GT Masters, race 11 and 12

29–30/8 Sachsenring (D), Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy, race 7 and 8

29–30/8 Magny-Cours (F), French GT Championship, race 9 and 10

30/08 Nürburgring (D), WEC, round 4

30/08 Le Castellet (F), V de V Endurance Series, round 5

30/08 Suzuka (J), Super GT, round 5



For more information about Audi racing events, please visit http://www.audi-motorsport.com/content/audisport/motorsport/de/en/home.html

Tags: Ford / Ford EcoBoost / Ford GT / Ford GT40 / Le Mans

FORD GT: MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCEPT VEHICLE!

- Senin, 27 Juli 2015 No Comments

Production version of GT will appear next year, as will race version to celebrate 50th anniversary of legendary Ford GT40 1-2-3 win at Le Mans in 1966.

The all-new Ford GT – a technology showcase for top EcoBoost® performance, aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fiber construction – today nabbed the prestigious North American award for 2015 Production Preview Concept of the Year, as well as top honors as Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2015.
 




The awards recognize vehicles most likely to shape the future of the auto industry. More than two dozen jurors participated in a selection process that involved a total of 30 vehicles, each introduced to North America during this season’s auto shows in Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto and New York. This is the 20th time Ford is a category finalist, and the fifth time the company has taken home the category title.





For more information on the new Ford GT, please visit https://social.ford.com/content/fordsocial/en/articles/autoshow/all-new-ford-gt-sets-new-standard-for-ford-innovation.html?searchid=260551114|16660224154|64179360537&ef_id=-hBQJYpfWHgAAFqz:20150727193218:s



For more details about the award, check out  https://automediaregistry.org/presskit/#NACVOTY

Tags: Honda racing / Justin Wilson / Le Mans / LMP / Pikes Peak / Twin-Turbocharged V6

HONDA LMP2: RACE TO THE CLOUDS!

- Kamis, 18 Juni 2015 No Comments

Honda’s Le Mans Prototype coupe will contest Pikes Peak in the Unlimited Class.

Honda Performance Development has upped the ante this year at Pikes Peak by entering one its newest sports cars in the race up the 14,110-foot mountain. The new Honda-powered HPD ARX-04b LMP2 coupe that competed in this year’s Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona has been entered in the 2015 Pikes Peak event, and will be driven by Verizon IndyCar Series race winner and former Formula 1 driver Justin Wilson.

It will be the first full-carbon monocoque vehicle ever sanctioned for PPIHC entry and will be fitted with a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine. The ARX-04b will compete in the Unlimited Class, which features highly modified cars that can navigate the 156 turns of the 12.42-mile course in under 10 minutes.



“This is an exploratory effort, to learn as much as we can in advance of a possible future assault on the outright record: 8:13.878, set by Sebastien Loeb in 2013.  We want to see how well our ARX-04b chassis adapts to the rigors of the Climb, and the high-altitude demands placed on our production-based V6 engine,” said Art St. Cyr, President of Honda Performance Development.

“We’re looking forward to this. We hope to have a lot of fun, and we’re certainly not holding back with Justin Wilson behind the wheel. We think the fans will enjoy the show, as well.”



The ARX-04b, which was developed through a joint effort between HPD and Wirth Research, features energy-efficient technology with low drag and high fuel efficiency and quick change front and rear bodywork. It will be in the capable hands of Wilson, who has made 171 combined starts in Indy Car and Champ Car competition, with seven wins and eight poles.



“It’s going to be a lot of fun driving the Honda ARX-04b up the hill and giving it everything I’ve got,” Wilson said. “This is my first time competing at Pikes Peak and I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’ve run with Honda at the Indy GP and the ‘500’ this year, and also have run Formula E and at the 12 Hours of Sebring. But this will be every bit as difficult as any of them. I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with everyone at Honda.”



The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place on June 28, with practice and qualifying taking place on various sections of the course from Tuesday to Friday. Fans can follow the progress and see photos and information from the Honda Racing efforts at Pikes Peak via Twitter: https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD.

Tags: Audi Sport / Bentley / Le Mans / Porsche racing / Shell Eco-marathon / Shell V-power

SHELL ECO-MARATHON: STUDENTS CONTEST LE MANS!

- Kamis, 11 Juni 2015 No Comments

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Shell Eco-marathon Europe, which started in France in 1985.

Students who engineer and drive cars that could complete the Le Mans 24 hours on just over a litre of fuel were on track at the world’s most famous motor race on Wednesday, 10 June.

Staking a claim to be the most energy-efficient vehicles ever to roll a wheel on the hallowed Le Mans tarmac, the Shell Eco-marathon vehicles built by teams of French students have achieved up to 3,771 km per litre.



The global competition challenges students to design, build and drive the most efficient vehicles, pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency and mobility on the road. The Shell Eco-marathon teams’ visit underlined the Le Mans 24 Hours’ status as one of racing’s leading blends of efficiency and speed.



Vincent Beaumesnil, Sporting Director of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, said: “It is important to everyone at the ACO that the 24 Heures du Mans is an inspiration to the designers of our future technologies. As such we are delighted to welcome the Shell Eco-marathon competitors to Le Mans, in partnership with Shell, to highlight the possibilities for efficient energy consumption that are being developed in our race and theirs.” Le Mans competitors Nick Heidfeld and Nicolas Prost from Rebellion Racing checked out the cars and met the student engineers and drivers from teams Microjoule La Joliverie, CityJoule and Estaca.

Said Nicolas Prost: “These incredible Shell Eco-marathon cars take the idea of long-distance driving to an entirely different dimension!  It’s impressive and we can only wonder what these young people will go on to achieve in the future.  The parallels with the efficiency improvements we’re striving for in the World Endurance Championship are fascinating.”



The Microjoule La Joliverie car would use just 1.3 litres of fuel to cover the winning distance of 5165km from last year’s 24 hours of Le Mans – albeit not quite reaching the 330km/h that the LMP1 sports prototype cars will travel this weekend!



Shell is the Official Fuel Partner to the FIA World Endurance Championship, of which the Le Mans 24 Hours is the premier event in the series. Unique Shell V-Power and Shell V-Power Diesel racing fuels have been co-engineered with the competing manufacturers to meet stringent fuel efficiency targets that were set at the beginning of the 2014 season.

As the organizer and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has worked collaboratively with Shell to create the successful new era of fuel efficiency at Le Mans.



Shell has partnered more than 50 victories in the 82 Le Mans 24 Hours races staged since 1923. Its first victory came with Bentley in 1924 and it has developed fuel and lubricant solutions for winning technologies such as turbocharging (Porsche, 1976), direct fuel injection (Audi, 2001) and diesel racing engines (Audi, 2006).

Tags: 24 Hours of Daytona / Laguna Seca / Le Mans / Monte Carlo / Monza / Nurburgring / Porsche 917 / Porsche racing / Rennsport Reunion / Targa Florio / Twelve Hours of Sebring / Vic Elford

QUICK VIC: VIC ELFORD CELEBRATES 80th BIRTHDAY!

- Rabu, 10 Juni 2015 No Comments

Iconic racer was one of the fastest drivers in the highly competitive Sixties and Seventies racing scene.

Vic Elford’s lap records include Targa Florio, Nurburgring, Daytona, Sebring, Norisring, Monza, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Riverside and Le Mans. He was the first driver to lap Le Mans at over a 150 mph average in the Porsche long-tail 917 in 1970.

Known as “Quick Vic” to friends and competitors, Elford is one of the few drivers to excel in sports cars, rally cars, and Formula 1 at a championship level.

His 1968 season began by winning the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally in a Porsche 911, followed by an overall win the next weekend in Daytona at the Rolex 24 Hour race – Porsche’s first 24-Hour race victory. He finished second at the 12 Hours of Sebring a month later, then in May scored an epic victory at the Targa Florio, considered the greatest win in Targa history. Two weeks later Vic won the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers. Then in his first F1 race in July, Vic took an out-classed Cooper to a stunning fourth-place finish in the soaking-wet French Grand Prix.

Despite beginning the second lap of the ten-lap, 450 mile race more than 18 minutes behind, Vic and co-driver Umberto Maglioli came back to win the 1968 Targa Florio with their Porsche 907 by over a minute. In recognition of his efforts, Porsche dedicated their traditional victory poster not to the car, but to the driver for the first and only time.



Although he raced for Porsche for five years and was the only driver to race every version of the Porsche 917, Elford was one of the most versatile drivers of his or any era. Elford raced in Sports Cars, Rally Cars, Formula 1, CanAm, and the Daytona 500 of NASCAR.



During the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, when a Ferrari crashed in front of him, Vic stopped mid-race to try to extricate the driver from his burning car. Television cameras caught the action and Vic was named “Knight of the National Order of Merit” or Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite by French President Georges Pompidou for his act of courage and heroism.



Vic has been a featured guest at all four previous Porsche Rennsport Reunions, and will attend the upcoming Rennsport Reunion V this September 25-27, 2015 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Elford was elected to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2001 and currently lives in South Florida, with his wife Anita.

Tags: Allard / D-Type / Endurance Racing / Ford GT40 / Jaguar Lightweight E-Type / Le Mans / Le Mans Legend / Maserati / Nurburgring / Porsche racing / Shelby Cobra / Twelve Hours of Sebring

FORD GT40s: LEGENDS OF LE MANS!

- Jumat, 22 Mei 2015 No Comments

Seven GT40s are amongst legendary racecars lining up for this year’s 

Le Mans Legend event.

The extended age range for this year’s Le Mans Legend race on Saturday June 13th has allowed seven Ford GT40s to join the spectacular historic grid that will race on the full Le Mans circuit. It all happens just a few hours before the start of the modern 24-Hour endurance race. 61 iconic cars, dating from 1949 to 1968 and representing 26 different marques, will take to the track in an outstanding live-action showcase covering two decades of motor racing history. 14 of the cars entered actually raced at Le Mans in period, and the remainder of the grid boasts their own impressive competition histories.

The red GT40 of U.S. drivers Philippe Mulacek and Alain Vinson took part in the 1967 Le Mans 24-Hour, Marc Doncieux’s GT40 raced there in 1966, and Claude Nahum/Bernard Thuner’s Mk 1 in 1968, with Eric Lidell replacing the car’s regular driver that season David Piper to share with Mike Salmon. Bernard is the son of Jean Jacques Thuner, a four-times competitor in the Le Mans 24-Hour.



The remarkable seven-GT40 entry also includes the ex-Scuderia Bear/Essex Wire Corporation ‘65 Mk1 which finished 3rd in the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours (Skip Scott/Peter Revson) and was put out of the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours when struck by a works-entry GT40 during qualifying.  Present-day renowned GT3 and historic racer Andrew Smith will share the car with James Cottingham.

Another newcomer that the extended age range admits to the Le Mans Legend grid is the Alpine-Renault A220 of French drivers Sylvain Stepak and Jean Luc Blanchemain. This car was standing 5th overall at Le Mans in 1968 driven by Mauro Bianchi and Patrick Depailler before brake failure caused it to crash with Bianchi at the wheel. This was the race at which Alpine and Michelin revolutionized racing with the first use of “slick” tires. Rainer Becker’s Porsche 910 joins the A220 and the seven GT40s in what promises to be a stunning class battle. Originally owned and raced by Bill Bradley, with Vic Elford and Tony Dean, this car finished 1st in class and 5th overall at Hockenheim in 1968 and 5th overall in the 1969 1000-km Nurburgring.



Sam Thomas/Andy Dee-Crowne’s Allard J2X was a 1952 Le Mans competitor, while Paul Griffin/Gillian Carr’s Connaught ALSR raced there in 1955.  Class competition for the Allard comes from another of the same marque – Touring Car driver Patrick Watts will be out in a J2. The Connaught faces sporting competition for class honors from a veteran of the 1956 Le Mans – the beautiful Panhard Monopole X86 of François Cointreau - and from former England Rugby, Captain David Cooke, in the yellow Lotus 11 Le Mans he shares with Neil Twyman.



The Austin-Healey 3000 that Karsten Le Blanc shares with Christiaen van Lanschot raced at Le Mans in 1960, 1961 and 1962. Known by most people simply by its registration number DD 300, it was a works entry in 1960, driven by Jack Sears and Peter Riley. It was a privateer entry in 1961 and 1962.  It’s in the same class as Canadian Barrie Baxter’s beautiful Maserati 151/154, originally seen out at Le Mans in 1962 and then again in 1963 and 1964. In 1962 the Healey would have fought against the ‘56 Morgan Plus 4 Supersports that Keith Ahlers and Billy Bellinger will drive this year and Till Bechtolscheimer’s Tojeiro EE Buick (having sported a Climax engine in period).



Competition promises to be fierce across all classes, with lively action expected in the GT Cars 1960-1965 under 2000 from the Lotus Elan of 12-times Le Mans racer and 1981 British Sports Car Champion John Sheldon. The bright yellow Mini Marcos GT driven by Josh Sadler and veteran racer Barrie Williams should give John a good run for his money and provide huge entertainment for spectators. And competition will also come from Afschin Fatemi’s very rare Porsche 904/8, one of two prototypes fitted by with an eight-cylinder engine by the factory for Le Mans in 1964, from another veteran of that 1964 race, the Alfa Romeo TZ1 driven this year by Holly Mason-Franchitti.

With other entries including Mercedes 300SL Gullwings, C and D-type Jaguars, Aston Martin DB2 Lightweight Le Mans, Shelby Cobras and Lightweight E-types, the Le Mans Legend is something of a beauty show as well – though very definitely a seriously hard-fought race rather than a parade. 



Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Le Mans Legend organizers Motor Racing Legends, said: “Extending the entry dates has allowed us to introduce a highly exciting new aspect to the race. I can’t wait to see seven GT40s lining up on the grid! Cars and drivers are traveling from all over the world to take part, and the result should be an astounding 45 minutes of historic motorsport that transports all who are lucky enough to witness or take part in it back through the decades.”



For further information on the 2015 Le Mans Legend race, please visit www.motorracinglegends.com

Tags: Alfa / Endurance Racing / Ford GT40 / Le Mans / Le Mans Legend / Porsche / Vintage Racing

LE MANS LEGEND: HISTORIC RACING AT ITS BEST!

- Sabtu, 13 Desember 2014 No Comments

Iconic vintage racers ‘open’ for the world’s most famous 24-hour enduro.

On Saturday 13th June 2015, a sensational grid of 61 historic Le Mans cars will race on the full Le Mans circuit just a few hours before the start of the modern 24 event.

The age range for cars taking part in the Le Mans Legend race has been extended for 2015, allowing an even wider selection of racecars to compete in the historic motorsport spectacle that is one of the highlights of the world-famous event.



In a change to recent years, cars will be accepted from 1949 right up to, and including, 1968. This will bring such iconic cars as the Ford GT40, Porsche 908 and 910 and the Alfa Romeo T33/2 into the mix. That’s in addition to the plethora of sports and GT cars from the 1950s and 1960s that so famously ran at Le Mans.



The Le Mans Legend, organized by Motor Racing Legends, is the annual support race at the Le Mans 24 Hours – and a jewel in the crown of historic motorsport. Each year, the organizers select an era of Le Mans history and invite genuine racecars and their sister cars from that period to take part in the hugely competitive historic race on. Its run on the full 8.5-mile Le Mans circuit, on the Saturday morning of the Le Mans weekend.

Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Motor Racing Legends, said: “We are extremely excited about this new aspect of the race. It means that spectators will be able to see cars from 20 years of Le Mans history all racing at the same time – a moving motorsport museum!



“We recognize the traditionally broad spread of performance between the fastest and the slowest cars, so we will limit entries from the earlier cars to those we believe capable of lapping Le Mans in a reasonable time. The result should be stunning – from the earliest cars such as C-type Jaguars and Allard J2s up to the newest additions to the grid such as the GT40s.”



For more information on the 2015 Le Mans Legend race, please visit www.motorracinglegends.com

Tags: Armand Hammer / Car Guy Of The Year / Jesse Alexander / Le Mans / Mille Miglia / Montecito / motorsports / racing / Targa Florio

JESSE ALEXANDER: CAR GUY OF THE YEAR!

- Kamis, 25 September 2014 No Comments

The Car Guy Chronicles celebrates legendary photographer Jesse Alexander, named ‘Car Guy of the Year.’

International motorsports photographer and celebrated car culture veteran Jesse Alexander has been named the 2014 “Car Guy of the Year” by a select group of automotive professionals, motorsports and collector-car enthusiasts. The announcement was made as part of Alexander’s overall recognition as this year’s honoree during the annual Montecito Motor Classic Gala and charity dinner held at the Montecito Country Club.

“Photographer Jesse Alexander’s talents and remarkable career as an artist have been unsurpassed for more than half a century,” said Roy Miller, collector-car and restoration expert as well as co-founder of the Car Guy of the Year award, along with Steve Ford.



Miller noted that the plaque presented to Alexander highlights the pinnacle criteria that prior recipients have been celebrated for exhibiting:  genuine passion for cars; respect and admiration from peers; active participation in the car enthusiast arena; noteworthy contribution to the automotive community and proven knowledge of both the auto industry and car culture with an equal level of understanding about the technical aspects of automobiles.

“In past years we have presented the award for either a contemporary leadership contribution to car culture, or for lifetime achievement,” said Ford, who presented the surprise award to Alexander. “The idea and title originated out of on-air discussions with Roy Miller when we first presented the award to auto executive Bob Sinclair on The Car Guy Show in 1996.”



“Today, Jesse’s cumulative photography brilliance and seminal work, especially with his latest book Monaco, as well as his tribute as honoree at the Montecito Motor Classic Gala, converged to prompt this collective decision,” Ford added.



Joining to endorse and salute in the tribute were past award committee members, including Mario Andretti, Bob Bondurant and Dick Guldstrand, along with the 2014 Montecito Motor Classic Committee. Past Car Guy of the Year title recipients have included among others automotive industry leader Bob Lutz, racecar driver Dick Guldstrand and land speed racer and car builder Don Vesco.

Jesse Alexander has been involved in photography and especially motorsports photography since the early 1950s when he covered the original Mexican Road Race. He then spent many years in Europe covering Formula One, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio. During that period he also photographed theater and music personalities for The New York Times. Alexander’s work is prized among exclusive private collections and has been exhibited in leading museums around the world. His recently published book, Monaco – The Golden Age of the Grand Prix is a celebration of the sport, people and setting of this esteemed race venue.



The 2014 Montecito Motor Classic Gala and car show and non-profit charity with supporters including presenting sponsor Michael Hammer, of the Armand Hammer Foundation, along with more than 100 other generous sponsors to benefit the Santa Barbara PAL (Police Activities League, a mentoring program for at-risk youths) and The Santa Barbara Police Foundation (to assist police officers and families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty).



For more information, please visit:



http://www.santabarbarapolicefoundation.org/

http://www.santabarbarapal.org/