Racing

BMW Motorsport and Panasonic are joining forces for the Bavarians’ return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Furthermore, Panasonic enters the newly formed Super Season 2018/2019 of the endurance world championship as the “Official Partner” of BMW Motorsport; the championship will see two BMW M8 GTE contest eight races on three continents, including two appearances at Le Mans. The partnership will be long-term. “Entering the WEC and the related return of BMW Motorsport to Le Mans is one of the major highlights of the 2018 season for us,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “I’m really excited that with Panasonic we have a true global player on our side, one which already has a lot of experience as a partner of top-class motorsport. Just like BMW, Panasonic is always on the look-out for innovations. This is what makes our collaboration extremely promising.” Masashi Nagayasu, Vice President, Automotive & Industrial Systems … [Read more...] about BMW Motorsport returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Panasonic as “Official Partner”

With the first few races of the much-anticipated 2018 Formula 1 season already behind us, the topic on everyone’s lips — apart from the success of Vettel and Ricciardo and the lack-luster start by Hamilton — is the introduction of the new halo cockpit safety bar. It has split opinions; for some, it is a long overdue driver protection measure while for others, it is both ugly and unnecessary. So, does it help or hinder, and do the stars think halo is heaven or hell? There are three significant issues with the halo: weight, airflow and line of sight. Of these, weight has been by far the most challenging. Even though it is made from lightweight titanium, the full halo bar and fittings weigh in at between 10 and 14 kilos, making the car top heavy and challenging designers to maintain stability. “It is much too heavy”, complained Toto Wolff, executive director of Mercedes F1 to ESPN. “It feels alien. I’d like to saw it off!” The minimum car … [Read more...] about Halo: decisive safety measure or divisive gimmick?

Carlin has been given special permission to run a fourth car in the BRDC British F3 Championship this season, opening the door for Billy Monger to race in the series. The series’ rules state teams can only run three cars, but Monger’s “exceptional” case – following a double leg amputation because of a Formula 4 crash last year – has meant an extra car could be entered for him. Group operations manager Giles Butterfield from MotorSport Vision, which operates British F3, said: “The rules are three drivers per team but the Billy Monger situation is utterly exceptional in our opinion, we’re very keen to help his rehabilitation. “Obviously there are unknowns, how is he going to get on and funding it etc? “Everyone is hoping in time the effort and money to make the fairytale come true is worth it.” Monger has been testing with Carlin – alongside Nicolai Kjaergaard and Sun Yue Yang, who have already signed with the team, … [Read more...] about British F3 rule change clears way for Monger

The speedometer on the little two-seater was already past 90 and climbing as I watched the grey-haired fellow to my left put both his hands on the left side of the steering wheel and start to tug at it. There was a curve ahead, a long blind left-hander with a line of Jersey barriers on the shoulder. What was on the road after that was a complete mystery, both to him and me. Neither one of us had ever been here before.He tugged on the wheel at the same time as he stomped on the brakes. Various lights flashed on the instrument panel ahead of him. The car slewed then caught itself. There was a hot metallic smell as the stability control and ABS clamped all four corners of the car in rapid-fire pulses. The right front tire groaned in protest as we gradually sacrificed momentum down to about 30 mph.“Let’s pull over here,” I said in what I hoped was a flat and judgment-free voice, “and stop for a minute.” We came to a halt in a small parking lot. A minivan … [Read more...] about Trackday Diaries: I’m Already Scared

Racing on TV listings: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 -- Formula E qualifying, Santiago, Chile; 5 p.m., FS2 (S) -- Formula E Chile ePrix, Santiago, Chile; 6 p.m., FS2 (S) -- Monster Energy Supercross, Oakland, Calif.; 7 p.m., FS1 (L) -- Red Bull Air Race, Abu Dhabi; 8:30 p.m., NBCSN (T)   SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 -- Amsoil Arenacross, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; 2 p.m., FS2 (T) -- Monster Jam, Houston; 4 p.m., FS1 (T)   FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 -- NHRA Mello Yello Series qualifying, Pomona, Calif.; 9:30 p.m., FS1 (S)   SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 -- IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Daytona Beach, Fla.; 8 a.m.; FS1 (T) -- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup practice, Daytona Beach, Fla.; 10:30 a.m., FS1 (L) -- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup practice, Daytona Beach, Fla.; 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., FS1 (L) -- ARCA … [Read more...] about 2018 Racing on TV listings for February

Many sim racers have the aspiration of someday making it to the pros. However, the world of professional racing is notoriously difficult to break into. But, for one member here on GTPlanet, the dream is just within his grasp.Meet Nick McMillen, better known as GumballCGT on the forums. If that name sounds familiar, it should: McMillen beat out 400,000 other racing hopefuls to become the US GT Academy champion in 2013.With the win, McMillen found himself at the Nissan Drive Development Programme at Silverstone in the UK. From there he dove into an intense training program that helped him earn his FIA International B racing license.With his training complete, McMillen jumped into motorsports headfirst where he immediately found success. In 2013, he snagged a pair of third-place finishes in the Britcar Production Cup. Also, he secured another third in the MSA British Endurance Championship at Donington Park. Not bad for a rookie season.In 2014, McMillen took things to another level. … [Read more...] about Let’s Get 2013 GT Academy Champion Nick McMillen Back Behind the Wheel of a Racecar

Three-time defending Red Bull Global Rallycross champion, former NASCAR Cup and Formula 1 racer Scott Speed has been sent to the iRacing sidelines.And, if a recent sale of a gaming setup listed on Facebook by Speed for $7,500 this week is any indication, he might be out of the iRacing business.Speed, 35, was handed a suspension by the powers that be at iRacing -- the popular online racing simulator game that attracts serious gamers and even several current and former professional racers -- for intentionally crashing other cars out of races. At least two videos of Speed going after other cars during iRace action have surfaced.Speed does not deny that sometimes his idea of fun doesn't match that of some other iRacing gamers.According to The Drive, Speed issued the following statement:"This is not real life, it's a game. The penalty for my action if protested against, is a suspension, which I accept[ed] and received. I personally wouldn't feel like a man protesting a guy who I just … [Read more...] about No iJoke: Red Bull Global Rallycross champ Scott Speed suspended from iRacing

Mosquitoes the size of wharf rats, pythons in the Everglades, more miles of toll roads than any other state, and the occasional hurricane: Yes, there are downsides to living in Florida.But where else can you spend the evening of Feb. 1 at a dirt track, watching 410-cubic-inch sprint cars, and the temperature never dipped below 60 degrees? Yes, Florida Speedweeks is officially underway, as the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions opened its season at Bubba Raceway Park, a tough little 3/8-mile oval track in Ocala.Thirty-five sprint cars showed up, with 24 making the 30-lap feature. And while the jury may still be out on whether you can teach old dogs new tricks, it was clear that a couple of old dogs recalled a few tricks that made it a long night for rookies.Winning the feature, his 34th All Star victory, was Chad Kemenah, the 2017 All Star Champion, who started deep in the field in 17th. But in second was the owner of the All Stars, three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, … [Read more...] about NASCAR champ Tony Stewart returns to sprint cars: Guide to Florida short-track action in February

Bob Wollek was on track to win the 1983 24 Hours of Daytona, and he didn’t seem happy about it.The Frenchman had every reason to be, at the very least, cautiously optimistic; Wollek and company had already fought against the rain and two blown turbos, bringing the Preston Henn-backed Swap Shop Porsche 935L back from a 12-lap deficit to a two-lap lead. All things considered, things were looking good for co-drivers Claude Ballot-Lena, Henn and A.J. Foyt. Instead, Wollek had a few choice words for the legendary American wheelman.“He doesn’t know the car, he doesn’t know the rain, he doesn’t know anything,” the French driver told the indefatigable David Hobbs in a trackside interview (check it out above).He’s intensely frustrated and making no attempt to hide it. Given the race's outcome, it makes no sense.But Wollek didn't know how things were going to turn out -- and besides, Foyt was never supposed to be in Wollek’s car in the first place. … [Read more...] about ‘He doesn’t know the car, he doesn’t know the rain, he doesn’t know anything’: When A.J. Foyt stole the show at the 24 Hours of Daytona