Imsa

Shortly before the green flag waved to start Saturday’s 63rd Twelve Hours of Sebring, officials from the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and the Automobile Club l’Ouest (ACO) announced a six-year extension of their strategic alliance to advance sports car racing in North America and around the world. The extension runs through the 2020 racing season. IMSA and the ACO will introduce new Prototype regulations in 2017 that will govern the top class in IMSA’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the LM P2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and the Asian Le Mans Series. The extension carries the partnership through the first four-year cycle of the Prototype regulations. Next year, IMSA and the ACO will introduce new specifications for their top GT classes: GT Le Mans (GTLM) in the TUDOR Championship and GTE at Le Mans, FIA WEC, ELMS and Asian LMS. Additionally, the TUDOR Championship will … [Read more...] about IMSA and ACO extend sportscar alliance through 2020

It was announced late last month that Keating will join United for a full season in the IMSA SportsCar Championship , sharing the squad’s ORECA 07 with a yet-to-be-named second driver and enduro racer Alex Quinn, as the team switches its focus following the WEC’s decision to scrap the LMP2 class for 2024. The American driver currently races in the WEC for Corvette Racing in the GTE Am class, but had previously suggested it was unlikely he would remain in the series in 2024 as the current generation of GTE machinery makes way for GT3 cars. Read Also: De Vries poised for 2024 Toyota WEC seat after AlphaTauri F1 exit Teenager Pierson gets Toyota Hypercar chance in Bahrain WEC test Menezes announces Peugeot WEC exit after Bahrain finale Now Keating has clarified that a desire to spend less time at the race track was behind his decision to only contest IMSA, describing his title win for Corvette - sealed at the Monza round in July - as an ideal way to leave … [Read more...] about Keating explains decision to bow out of WEC, join United in IMSA

Here is our top 10 ‘greatest hits’ before today, starting with the F1 incidents of previous seasons… Romain Grosjean, Malaysia 2017 The crashed car of Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17 Photo by: Sutton Images The crashed car of Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17 Photo by: Sutton Images When Romain Grosjean struck a lifted drain cover in the kerb at Turn 12 in Friday practice in Malaysia, his Haas suffered an immediate right-rear blowout that sent him spinning heavily into the barrier. The team later received compensation from the circuit. Valtteri Bottas, Baku 2016 Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW38 Photo by: Sutton Images Baku first caught Williams out back in 2016. Valtteri Bottas was returning to the garage after an installation lap at the start of FP3 and hit a loose pitlane drain cover. He sat out the rest of the session while Williams repaired bodywork and radiator damage and examined the car's gearbox. Jenson Button, Monaco 2016 … [Read more...] about Top 10: Motorsport’s drain pain greatest hits

The Belgian joined Peugeot as a reserve driver for 2023 alongside a Formula E programme with fellow Stellantis-affiliated squad DS Penske, and was called up to sub for Nico Muller in Fuji when the Swiss injured his collarbone. After finishing seventh in Japan aboard the #94 Peugeot alongside Loic Duval and Gustavo Menezes , 2021-22 FE champion Vandoorne will become a full season driver for 2024, marking his first full season involvement since 2021. That year he finished second in the LMP2 standings for Jota and narrowly missed out on a class victory at Le Mans. Vandoorne had previously made two outings in 2019 in LMP1, finishing third on his debut with the SMP Racing squad at Spa, before matching that result in the final outing for the BR Engineering BR1 programme at Le Mans. "I’m really happy to join the team as official driver for the 2024 season," said Vandoorne, who previously started 41 grands prix for McLaren in Formula 1. "I have always appreciated the FIA … [Read more...] about Vandoorne gets Peugeot WEC drive for 2024 season after Fuji cameo

The Barbados-born Caymanian was signed as a development driver with CGR in May 2022, only two races into his Indy NXT career that already featured a fifth-place finish (Barber Motorsports Park). He ended up finishing his rookie campaign ninth in the overall standings despite switching teams – TJ Speed Motorsports to HMD Motorsports – mid-season. There were already some flashes of potential shown the year prior as Simpson rolled to seven wins, 13 podiums and two poles en route to winning the 2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship. Fast forward to the conclusion of the 2023 Indy NXT season, the 18-year-old’s record included a career-best runner-up result (Mid-Ohio), an additional podium and a pole to finish 10th in the championship standings after competing in 13 of 14 events. The lone event missed, the 1.25-mile oval formerly known as Gateway, was a result of a schedule conflict with his full-time commitment to the European Le Mans Series. He currently sits second in the … [Read more...] about Indy NXT grad Simpson’s path to CGR seat aided by sports car experience

The organisation is expected to reveal further details of key suppliers for the category in race week at Le Mans. The consultation process for the new-look category in 2017 has begun. The ACO set out a five point plan which set out aims for the class, these are: A better car for a lower budget Fair and close competition A proper business model to build and run cars in LM P2 Protection from unfair competition or technology A universal category allowing teams to run an LM P2 car in the Asian Le Mans Series, in the European Le Mans Series and in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship, with some specific exceptions required by IMSA, and on the world stage in the WEC and at the 24 Heures du Mans. Four chassis 'licences' to build LMP2 cars is believed to still be the ACO's preferred course of action. A single engine has also been initially approved by the FIA after last months World Motorsports Council meeting but this will not be carried over to TUSC. It is widely … [Read more...] about ACO outlines rationale for new LMP2 rules

Acura is going electric and its EV-powered future starts with the ZDX SUV. Debuting this year at Monterey Car Week, the electric ZDX uses a General Motors Ultium platform that gives it 340 horsepower and an estimated 325 miles of range in the base model, with the powerful Type S model offering 500 hp and around 288 miles of range. With the arrival of the ZDX , and more specifically the first battery-powered Type S model, it's safe to say that Acura isn't shying away from performance in the EV age. Executives have all but confirmed the possibility of a new NSX EV. Acura Vice President and Brand Officer Jon Ikeda, in an interview with The Drive from 2021, stated, "The first-gen was gas. Second-gen was a hybrid. There's gonna be another [NSX]." Hopefully that pure electric successor isn't too far off. The Future Of Acura EVs: Honda And Acura To Follow GM And Adopt Tesla's NACS Acura Will Only Sell Its EVs Online Starting With The ZDX In 2024 … [Read more...] about Acura NSX EV: Everything We Know

In a move revealed on Thursday, Honda Performance Development, the motorsport arm of American Honda Motor Co., based out of Santa Clarita in California, will join Japan’s Honda Racing Corporation to become HRC US. The aim is for one global HRC entity to boast combined expertise as Honda re-enters Formula 1 in 2026 with Aston Martin. With three F1 races now held in America – in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas – the rebranded HRC US will also be involved in F1 power unit development and race support from 2026. HPD was established in 1993 to produce engines for the IndyCar Series, and has gone on to claim 280 race wins from 510 races, including 15 victories in the Indy 500. In recent years, it has expanded its operations to include IMSA SportsCar Championship competition, scoring three IMSA manufacturers’, drivers’ and teams’ titles since 2018 and three consecutive victories in the Daytona 24 Hours. The collaboration with HRC in Japan means that HPD’s program with the Acura … [Read more...] about Honda motorsport restructuring opens door to WEC/Le Mans bid