Epic scale battle

Listen to this article Peugeot will compete in the remaining three rounds of the 2022 WEC season in the top-tier Hypercar division, starting with the Six Hours of Monza on July 8-10, marking a return to the top echelon of sportscar racing for the first time in over a decade. Not only has the French manufacturer built two brand new hybrid cars built to LMH rules, christened the 9X8, it is also handling the operational side of the team, with the entire project taking place in-house. Peugeot did initially want to use the services of an established team and announced a tie-up with multiple LMP1-winning squad Rebellion Racing for its Hypercar programme in 2019, but the partnership was called off soon after following the Swiss company’s decision to exit motorsport. Peugeot’s technical director Olivier Jansonnie explained that to tackle the WEC the French manufacturer has had to build an entirely new team, partly made up of staff from other departments within the Stellantis … [Read more...] about Peugeot “starting from scratch” in WEC as Monza debut nears

Listen to this article The Barcelona test was the first time teams and drivers were able to experience the definitive 18-inch race tyres mated to the 2022 cars that they were designed for, having tested them on converted mule cars last year. Given that so much else was new in the 2022 package, tyres were not a major topic of conversation in the Barcelona paddock, suggesting that the change had not made a significant difference. However, Sainz, who ran more laps over the week than anyone else, believes that they will allow drivers to race harder, which is something that has been called for in recent seasons. "I did quite a bit of testing last year, I think I did three or four days in total with the compounds," said the Spaniard. "And they look like they are suiting well this new generation of cars, and they look to be at least allowing you to push a bit more on them. "And compared to other years, maybe a bit less overheating, a bit less deg, but there's still deg, … [Read more...] about Sainz: We can push harder with new 18-inch F1 tyres

On a sweltering afternoon in Dallas, Kelly Neidert stood alone on a busy corner near the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She waved a handwritten sign reading "Dr. Lopez is transitioning little kids" as drivers passed, her eyes shielded from the summer sun by colorful 80s-style shades. Neidert's sign took aim at Dr. Ximena Lopez’s work as the leader of UT Southwestern’s Genecis Clinic, which focuses on gender-affirming medical care, offering mental health services and hormone treatments for transgender youth. The clinic won praise from UT Southwestern when it opened in 2015 and Lopez participated in a host of interviews to discuss her team’s work with trans youth . However, in recent years, UT Southwestern began to shift away from publicly lauding the clinic and eventually moved to shut it down last November, suggesting “Media attention and political and scientific controversy, as well as UT Southwestern’s status as a state agency, were considered in the months … [Read more...] about Anti-transgender activist Kelly Neidert’s group is expanding into Houston, she says

Listen to this article For 36 years, J.D. Power has conducted its Initial Quality study to gauge customer feedback in the first few months of new-vehicle ownership. And the news for 2022 isn't good – overall initial quality has never been as bad as it is now. That doesn't mean new vehicles have gotten worse. Rather, it's a combination of traditional issues with low inventory, high prices, and missing components due to the pandemic and continuing supply chain woes. That's the main takeaway from the 2022 study, which was released on June 28. J.D. Power examines new vehicles in nine categories, including features, controls and displays, driving assistance, powertrain, seats, climate, infotainment, exterior, interior, and driving experience. Vehicle owners are asked 223 questions; the results are tabulated and ranked on a scale of problems per 100 vehicles – PP100 for short. As such, a higher number is bad, and for 2022 the overall industry average is up to 180 problems per 100 … [Read more...] about Buick Is Best In J.D. Power Study, But Overal Initial Quality Is Down

Twenty years ago today, in the middle of one of the most frantic final laps a Formula One race has ever seen, a cool-headed Michael Schumacher found the time to help out his little brother. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free He did it while winning the race for himself, inflicting another surprising defeat on Williams and Jacques Villeneuve . 1997 French Grand Prix qualifying Two weeks on from his humiliating defeat at home, Villeneuve arrived in France trailing Schumacher in the championship. But the home race for engine builder Renault, who had won the last two races on the French track, promised to be a strong venue for Williams. His weekend got off to a troubled start, however. Villeneuve crashed ahead of qualifying, meaning he had to begin the session in his spare car. He eventually switched to his regular race chassis but was held up by Mika Hakkinen spun at the Lycee chicane. “We just stuck it on the car and I honestly don’t know how much … [Read more...] about Inspired Schumacher takes ’11-point win’ at Magny-Cours · RaceFans

A bizarre incident involving an ambulance almost cost a NASCAR driver a shot at the championship. Also last weekend two prominent F1 juniors enjoy successful weekends in their series and the DTM title battle closed up again. NASCAR Cup Race 26: Richmond Matt Kenseth was one of the 16 drivers to qualify for NASCAR’s title-deciding play-offs despite retiring from Saturday’s 300-mile race at Richmond after a strange incident involving an ambulance. The safety vehicle’s driver failed to stop when instructed during a caution period which forced several drivers to take avoiding action. They included Kenseth, who ran into the back of Clint Bowyer. Championship leader Martin Truex Jnr described the incident as “inexcusable”. Truex lost a healthy lead when another caution period was called with four laps to go in the race. He was then beaten out of the pits by Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin delivered the coup de grace by sticking Truex into the wall. Nonetheless Truex … [Read more...] about Weekend Racing Wrap: Ambulance disrupts NASCAR race – F1 Fanatic

Listen to this article Amid ongoing debate among grand prix racing’s chiefs about how best to address problems triggered by rising inflation and the cost of living crisis, teams are reluctant to keep spending on upgrades until they know there is no risk of them potentially being in breach of the spending rules. With McLaren having already admitted that it is on course to break the current $140 million cost cap limit , it is more mindful about the risk of further over-spend until it knows what F1 is doing to address the problems teams face. And that is why team principal Andreas Seidl has revealed that McLaren has stopped for now work on any more major developments to its MCL-36. “Hopefully it is not just us who had to pull the handbrake in terms of further developments, due to the restrictions we're having mainly from the cost cap side,” explained Seidl, speaking about the work on improving the team’s current challenger. “But there are also the restrictions you have … [Read more...] about McLaren: Budget cap uncertainty has put handbrake on F1 upgrades

Listen to this article The two Acura ARX-05s entered by Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing were untouchable out front in the third Michelin Endurance Cup event on the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar, scoring a comprehensive 1-2 victory for the Honda-owned brand. Bourdais and teammate Renger van der Zande finished third in the best of the five Cadillac entries, the #01 Ganassi DPi-V.R, but were never in a position to upset the Acuras in a race punctuated by several caution periods and a long red flag due to thunderstorms. Acura has now won four of the seven races in the DPi class so far, moving to the top of the manufacturers’ standings, while WTR and MSR lock out the top two spots in the teams’ championship. Bourdais said being the top Cadillac at Watkins Glen was little consolation, as he had no chance to mix up with the leading two Acuras given the pace difference between the two cars at the 3.4-mile road course. "We were trimmed out, but … [Read more...] about Bourdais ‘frustrated’ Cadillac no match for Acura at The Glen

WASHINGTON -- A former White House official revealed explosive new details Tuesday about President Donald Trump's actions on Jan. 6, 2021, telling Congress that he knew his supporters were carrying weapons, insisted on personally leading the armed mob to the Capitol, physically assailed the senior Secret Service agent who told him it was not possible, expressed support for the hanging of his own vice president, and mused about pardoning the rioters. The testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson, who was an assistant to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, was the most chilling to date in the House select committee's Jan. 6 investigation. Recounting granular detail and private dialogue, she presented to the public a penetrating account of Trump's actions and mind-set as the Capitol came under siege from his own supporters, who were determined to stop the counting of electoral votes and impede the certification of Joe Biden's victory. Testifying alone, her appearance punctuated by … [Read more...] about Trump sought to lead armed mob to Capitol on Jan. 6, aide says