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The team which has dominated the 2023 Formula 1 season so far introduced an update to its car last weekend which drew inspiration from a design used by the team currently at the bottom of the standings. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Red Bull’s chief engineer of car engineering Paul Monaghan said the latest revision to the RB19’s diffuser follows a trend adopted by Williams, among other teams. The team increased the curvature of the edges of its diffuser in an update introduced at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in order to increase the downforce it generates. In the information it supplied to the FIA, Red Bull made a point of stating the change “took inspiration from competitor designs.” “You can’t assume that you have the best solution in all areas of the car when you first put your car on the ground,” Monaghan told media including RaceFans. “Our currency is lap time, isn’t it? “If you look that piece of floor design, that was out early 2022. I … [Read more...] about Red Bull’s Spanish GP diffuser update was ‘inspired by rivals’ including Williams · RaceFans

The Chevrolet Camaro will cease production after the 2024 model year. However, it’s going out with a bang. Earlier this week, Chevrolet announced the Collector’s Edition, and it has now unveiled the 2024 Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition to celebrate the NASCAR Cup Camaro ZL1 racing in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Camaro receives a handful of visual upgrades replicating the race car’s look, although we doubt the two will sound the same . The car wears a new-for-2024 Riptide Blue exterior that is available across the model line, which Chevy spruces up with a graphics package that mimics the race car’s livery. Gallery: 2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition 2 Photos A white stripe extends from the hood to the decklid outlined in gold, similar to the race car, but narrower. A monochrome stars and stripes motif extends from the hood cowl to the roof. Other exterior visual upgrades include Garage 56 badging on the front … [Read more...] about 2024 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition Brings Le Mans Racer To The Road

As the excitement builds towards the centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, fans of endurance racing will have a chance to make their voice heard about the sport. Photo by: Motorsport.com Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Le Mans Endurance Management, promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and Motorsport Network today launched the 2023 Global FIA WEC Fan Survey, aimed at capturing the views of racing fans around the world towards the sport. The survey will operate in 11 languages across Motorsport Network ’s flagship Motorsport.com website, with data analysis from motorsport data specialist Iris Sport. Announcing the global fan survey in Le Mans, FIA WEC CEO Frédéric Lequien , said, “The fans around the world make our sport what it is. On this historic race weekend, as we celebrate 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and welcome the new Hypercar era, we want to understand what our fans think and how they value the WEC.  It is … [Read more...] about FIA WEC and Motorsport Network team up to launch Global WEC Fan Survey

Motorsport – and Le Mans in particular – has long been a pioneering proving ground for new technologies. However, as the world zeroes in on net zero goals, reducing carbon emissions in such a high-performance environment for such a long period of time is a major challenge. The race organisers are working with TotalEnergies to explore all the options and Romain Aubry, the company’s Technical Manager – who was born and grew up by the Mulsanne Straight – explains: “There are many different technologies and we are not here to say that one is better than another. “Le Mans is a unique platform for us to test new energy approaches and these include 100% sustainable fuels that were introduced last year; a battery solution we have co-developed with Peugeot and Saft, our affiliates; and a hydrogen refilling solution for MissionH24 project with big plans for the future.” Electric power has been pioneered in Formula E, where TotalEnergies is an EV fluid supplier, and has progressed from … [Read more...] about How Le Mans is using grape residues and hydrogen to drive a sustainable future

That’s two different rulebooks to which a manufacturer can build a car for the top category of the series. So on the 16-stong Hypercar entry for Le Mans this year there are nine LMHs and six LMDhs. What is LMH and LMDh? LMH stands for Le Mans Hypercar, a rulebook that has been in force in the WEC since 2021. LMDh is new for 2023, but you’ll never see the name written out, it’s not officially an acronym. But it is easy to guess what the letters mean given that the class was formulated by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest at Le Mans and IMSA based at Daytona in the USA. That little ‘h’ on the end refers to the fact that these cars, like their LMH rivals, incorporate hybrid technology. The two types of car are very different in some respects, but actually very similar in others. What’s the difference? LMH allows a manufacturer to design and develop its own car from top to tail - or rather from the nose to the tail. That includes all elements of the hybrid system, which, if … [Read more...] about What are LMH and LMDh? The top Le Mans 24 Hours series explained

Red Bull have warned rivals that if they think an “ignorant” copy and paste of their RB19 floor will propel them up the order, then they should think again. Crashes for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend gave rivals a detailed look at the crucial undersides of those challengers as the crane hoisted them away from the circuit. Naturally, that left engineers from rival teams with plenty of photos to study for how they may be able to take inspiration for the floor on their respective cars, with Red Bull’s arguably of greatest interest considering their all-conquering form so far in F1 2023, having won all seven grands prix. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has already said “hats off” to Red Bull for their work, though Red Bull’s chief engineer Paul Monaghan stressed that it is work which is successfully integrated into their package, and certainly not plug-and-play solutions. Red Bull then now wait to see the results of that … [Read more...] about Red Bull issue clear warning to rivals following RB19 floor reveal

Lewis Hamilton wants to see Formula 1 stick around in Barcelona, as Madrid has been linked with a possible Grand Prix. Hamilton has stood up for the future of racing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as Madrid has been linked as a possible venue for a future Grand Prix. Madrid is currently playing host to the F1 Exhibition, with the Ifema venue acting as a central hub for a potential street circuit around the Spanish city. While Barcelona holds a contract with F1 through until 2026, its future appeared shaky in recent years despite its longevity on the calendar. The Circuit de Catalunya was first used in Formula 1 in 1991, and has become a key testing venue as well as hosting its annual Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton is eager to see Formula 1 stay around in Barcelona, citing it as a ‘classic circuit’. When asked about the possibility of Madrid replacing Barcelona, Hamilton poked fun at the last Spanish city to be introduced to the calendar. “As long as it’s not like … [Read more...] about Lewis Hamilton reveals controversial take on an unloved F1 circuit

Ferrari secured a front row lock-out in hyperpole qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hours, claiming their first pole in the famous race in half a century. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The number 50 Ferrari shared by Antonio Fuoco – who drove the pole-winning lap – Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen will start famous 24-hour endurance race from the front of the field, ahead of their team mates in the number 51 car. Toyota will start third on the grid with the number eight car, ahead of the number 75 Porsche Penske. The half-hour hyperpole session, unlike other rounds of the World Endurance Championship, saw all classes on the track at the same time. After Wednesday’s qualifying session, the eight hypercars participating included both Toyotas, both Ferraris, two Cadillacs – the number two and number three – and two Porsche Penskes, the number five car and number 75. The Toyotas were the first cars over the line to begin their first flying laps of the session … [Read more...] about Ferrari locks out front row on its return to the top flight at Le Mans · RaceFans

Toyota had seemed set to return to the top of the Le Mans timesheets for the first time since opening practice on Wednesday with Kamui Kobayashi heading the majority of the session. However, a late 3m26.579s from Antonio Fuoco in the #50 499P LMH smashed Kobayashi's best by almost a second. And, with eight minutes to go, Alessandro Pier Guidi set a 3m27.013s lap to go second, despite the #51 Ferrari having spent the first half of the three-hour session in the pits. The Toyota GR010 HYBRIDs were denied the chance to respond as a late full-course yellow, when Manuel Maldonado went off, hampered any further late improvements. Instead, Kobayashi had to settle for third in the #7 Toyota. Mathieu Jaminet in the #75 Porsche 963 LMDh was the initial pacesetter on a 3m28.454s but was soon usurped by the two Toyotas. Kobayashi claimed top spot with a 3m27.822s in the #7 car, before Sebastien Buemi went second in the sister #8 machine on 3m27.879s. However, Kobayashi … [Read more...] about Le Mans 24h: Ferrari locks out 1-2 ahead of Toyota in third practice