Racing Porsches...

'British' 924 Carrera GT Le Mans returns 'home' for restoration.

The number 2 Porsche 924 Carrera GT Le Mans raced at the iconic French 24 Hours endurance motor sport event in 1980 as part of an innovative three-car, international team. Car #2 (the British entry) comprised Tony Dron and Andy Rouse and they finished the 24 Hours in 12^th place.

The car is now undergoing a full restoration before returning to race tracks across Britain - Porsche Classic centres in Britain are restoring the car in time for the 40^th anniversary of the launch of the 924 in 1976, the first model in the so-called ‘transaxle’ series of Porsche cars, with their front engines and gearboxes located in combination with the rear-driven axle.

The 924 Carrera GT Le Mans.

 Since its earliest days, Porsche has taken lessons from the race track and applied them in the development of its road cars – and vice versa. The 924 Carrera GT Le Mans was no exception. Taking as its basis the 210 hp 924 Carrera GT road car, famous Porsche racing engineer, Norbert Singer, was given the task of creating a fully-fledged racing car. Singer and the engineering staff at the Porsche Motorsport team at Weissach, near Stuttgart, Germany, drafted a relatively modest list of modifications. Under the product code Type 937, a production Carrera GT bodyshell was stiffened considerably with the addition of an aluminium roll-cage, and the exterior bodywork was clothed in new lightweight plastic panels. These extended to the nose, which was made more aerodynamic while keeping the appearance of the 924, and also helped to shroud the wider 11-inch front wheels and 12-inch wide rear wheels with racing Dunlop slick tyres.
The front cross-member was welded in place to increase cornering stiffness, and although the MacPherson strut front suspension was retained, titanium springs and Bilstein gas dampers were fitted. At the rear, however, the torsion bars were supplemented with titanium coil springs. The driveshafts were also made of titanium (in fact, they were taken from the ferocious 911-derived 935 race car) and the rear differential was fully locked for maximum traction.
Under the bonnet, the engine was relatively straightforward. The VW-based 1,984 cc, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder underwent some modifications to help with airflow and cooling; the KKK turbocharger was moved to the left side of the engine, and the intercooler increased in size and moved to the front. Bosch/Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection replaced the production specification K-Jetronic, and dry-sump lubrication ensured consistent oil supply under racing loads.
As a consequence, power output rose by 50% from the 210 hp / 6,000 rpm of the road car to 320 hp / 7,000 rpm, with a 40% boost in torque. Combined with a weight reduction to 930 kg from 1,180 kg, the car’s performance leapt forwards. For a Le Mans racer, top speed is a prime focus and maximum velocity rose to 180 mph; large ventilated and cross-drilled brake discs (borrowed from the 917) were employed to slow the cars after the Mulsanne Straight.
In the context of the recent success at Le Mans with prototypes vying for outright wins (and already by 1980 Porsche had an enviable record of triumphs in the 24 Hours), there was some mixed feelings regarding the relative performance of these brave 924 Carrera GTP race cars. However, a suggestion by Porsche Cars GB to run the cars in the national identities of Britain, Germany and the US, with national drivers and exterior liveries, saw the programme gain a welcome boost internally at Porsche AG and also generate wide media interest.

In the event, external factors prior to the 1980 Le Mans start, saw Derek Bell switch to the American #3 car with US driver Al Holbert, and the #2 British car was shared by the proven pair of Tony Dron and Andy Rouse, and the #4 German car was driven by Jürgen Barth and Manfred Schurti.
A wet start to the Le Mans 24 Hours race itself saw the modest expectations of qualifying transformed considerably, with Bell running 16^th overall after one hour followed by Barth in 22^nd and Rouse in 28^th. By nightfall, the three 924 Carrera GTP race cars were running 10^th, 14^th, and 15^th and by breakfast time on Sunday morning they had moved up to sixth, seventh and eighth.
At the chequered flag, the #4 German car finished in sixth place, a remarkable achievement for the 924 Carrera GTP in what was not only the car’s debut at Le Mans but also the first time the 924 model had been entered by the Porsche factory in motor sport. The #2 British car crossed the line in 13^th position, one place behind the #3 American entry.
In line with the Porsche ethos of race to road technology transfer, the 1980 Le Mans programme inspired the production of 59 examples of a new 924 GTS model that was homologated for competition use, plus a further 19 examples of the higher-powered GTR offered in full Le Mans race specification for customer motorsport (and priced at 180,000 Deutschmarks).
In a fitting post-script, in the 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours, the Porsche factory entered a 924 GTP which with a large 410 hp 2,479 cc four cylinder engine was technically a prototype of the forthcoming 2.5-litre 944 road car. Driven by Jürgen Barth and Walter Röhrl, it won the GTP class category and placed seventh overall. Of three privately-entered 924 Carrera GTR cars, the top finisher was the car of Andy Rouse and Manfred Schurti, in 11^th place.

Book review: Return to Glory! – The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Racing Car

1952 was one of the most important years in Mercedes-Benz racing history; after a 13-year absence, the marque returned to motor sport competition with an automobile that rewrote the history of modern sports car racing. The 300 SL's debut was the culmination of a long, difficult road back to racing for Mercedes-Benz. This book (limited to just 1500 copies worldwide) vividly depicts the 300 SL's performance in the five races in which it competed in 1952, and tells the story of how it became the most successful competition sports car of that year.

Through dramatic photographs, and equally stirring text, one of the greatest years of sports car racing is brought to life, filled with automobiles often finished in national racing colours, prepared by great factory teams, driven by men who were national sporting idols, and raced under gruelling conditions unique to the age.

From its Mille Miglia debut, through the Nürburgring (the first Mercedes-Benz victory at Le Mans), the Le Mans 24 Hours, to its greatest race, the Carrera Panamericana (highlighting the climactic Mercedes-Ferrari battle), the 300 SL's career from conception |(including design and development) to retirement is presented, culminating with a detailed photographic essay illustrating restoration of the oldest 300 SL in existence. The books reveals Alfred Neubauer's world-class leadership and strategy skills, provides details of Fangio's first race for Mercedes-Benz and is a treasure trove of evocative historic photographs with informative captions.

Return to Glory! by Robert Ackerson
ISBN: 9781845846176UPC: 6-36847-04617-0

WEC Shanghai.

Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer drove their Audi R18 e-tron quattro to victory at this weekend's Shaghai round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). This result means that every race that has been finished under green flag race conditions in 2013 has been won by an Audi.

By finishing third overall Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish were able to secure 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) driver's title - Audi having already claimed the Manufacturers title a race earlier, underlining their dominance of this year's championship.

The 2013 world title is the Ingolstadt marque's 10th world title following on from the 1982 and 1984 manufacturers' World Rally Championship, the 1983 and 1984 drivers' World Rally Championship, the drivers' and manufacturers' titles in the 1995 FIA Touring Car World Cup and the 2012 WEC.

Le Mans 2013

An eventful and traumatic Le Mans 24 hours has drawn to a close and despite numerous safety car periods, ever changing weather conditions and the tragic accident that befell Allan Simonsen both Audi and Porsche are able to look back on a successful race.

Audi Sport Team Joest won the 2013 event outright with their Audi R18 e-tron quattro (car number 2) ably driven by Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval. Third overall was Audi number 3 driven by Marc Gené, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis. Last year's winners (car 1) Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer endured a difficult race finally claiming fifth overall.

Porsche won two classes in this year's race; 
Porsche AG Team Manthey and the number 92 car of Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb and Richard Leitz won the LM GTE Pro class in their Porsche 911 RSR with the team mates Jorg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard and Patrick Pilet bringing their Porsche AG Team Manthey 911 RSR home in second.

Meanwhile the number 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Christophe Bourret, Raymond Narac and Jean-Karl Vernay took the honours in the LM GTE Am class.

Flying Lizard at the 2012 24 Heures du Mans

Flying Lizard {link} announced today that the team has received two entries for the 2012 24 Heures du Mans in Le Mans, France, on June 16-17, 2012. The full entry list was unveiled today by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) in a press conference in Paris.

The Flying Lizard entries will be the No. 80, which will compete in the GTE Pro class, and the No. 79, which will compete in the GTE Am class. Both racecars will be Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs. The full entry list is here.

Flying Lizard team principal Seth Neiman commented, "It's an honor to be invited to participate at this prestigious event. 2011 was our first year fielding two entries and we are pleased to be able to return in 2012 with the No. 80 and No. 79 Porsches."

Flying Lizard has competed in the 24 Heures du Mans for seven consecutive years: 2005 to 2011. The Flying Lizard No. 80 finished third in 2005, fourth in 2006, sixth in 2008 and sixth in 2011.

The driver lineup will be announced later this Spring.

Audi R15 at Le Mans.

Audi {link} have confirmed their driver line up for the Le Mans 24 hour race. The nine drivers are Alexandre Premat, Allan McNish, Lucas Luhr, Marco Werner, Mike Rockenfeller, Rinaldo Capello, Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and Tom Kristensen. All have plenty of endurance racing experience including Le Mans and Sebring.

Audi R15.

Audi is readying the all new R15 TDI LMP1 race car in preparation for its assault on the Mobil 1 12 hours of Sebring (21st March 2009) and then the Le Mans 24 hours.

First pictures of the new car clearly show how R15 is a new car, carrying very little over from the R10. The new V10 TDI engine produces 600PS and around 1050Nm of torque whilst remaining efficient, compact and light weight.

Porsche RS Spyder

After a tremendous season in 2008 there will be fewer Porsche RS Spyders competing in 2009. The works Penske {link} Spyders that won the Drivers, Manufacturers and Team LMP2 championships in the ALMS in 2008 will not be racing in 2009. Penske will instead be racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Series {link} using Porsche engines - continuing a relationship between the American team and German manufacturer that started in 1972!
Porsche has yet to decide whether to step up to the LMP1 class, to continue developing the ultra successful Spyder or whether it is best to support customer teams in LMP2 and GT classes - especially now that Audi have drastically reduced their involvement in both the ALMS and LMS series.
A Porsche/Penske challenge on LMP2 at Le Mans has not been totally discounted, neither have any firm commitments been made. The organisers of Le Mans have offered Penske two starting places but that is all that is certain at present.

Audi R15

Audi will defend its Le Mans{link} title with a new endurance LMP1 diesel competition car. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich commented "The step from R10 to R15 is significantly larger than it was from the R8 to the R10." Despite having a lighter, more compact TDI engine the R15 will, unfortunately, have a more limited campaign than either the R8 (petrol powered) or R10 (TDI).
Due to the global economic crisis/uncertainty Audi have withdrawn from both the ALMS {link} and LMS {link} series leaving the R15 to contest Sebring and Le Mans in 2009. Where that leaves the Champion team who ran the ALMS Audi effort is, at present, somewhat unclear.

Porsche RS Spyder.

There will be another Porsche racing in the Le Mans Series {link} this year. Equipe Verschuur {link} have revealed their driver line up which includes former F1 driver Jos Verstappen. Jos will join Peter van Merksteijn and Jeroen Bleekemolen.

Porsche still undecided.

Despite announcing British driver Richard Westbrook as one of their factory drivers for 2008 Porsche’s {link} plans for the coming motorsport season still remain a little uncertain. The Stuttgart manufacturer are waiting for their supported teams to finalise their 2008 plans before announcing their complete driver line up.

Audi R10TDI.

Another German manufacturer to taste glory in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was Audi. Racing their R10 TDI {link} the Bavarian company dominated the LMP1 class all season long. Their title success means that the ALMS LMP1 championship has now been won by Audi Motorsport an astonishing 8 times.
The Audi R10TDI also won the exceptionally demanding 24 hour race at Le Mans.

Porsche RS Spyder.

Porsche’s customer specification racecar has had a tremendously successful season racing in the 2007 American Le Mans Series {link}. Not only did the Penske team {link} win the LMP2 class in the championship the team’s drivers also won the LMP2 drivers championship. The Porsche RS Spyder clearly proved to be the best LMP2 car in 2007, clearly out performing all class competition. in doing so it won its class 11 times. The RS Spyder stunningly also managed to win 8 events outright beating the far more powerful LMP1 cars!
The RS Spyder {link} has been developed by Porsche as a customer car for use in the ALMS and LMS {link} race championships. With no works teams entered Porsche has aimed to foster customer team relations and in 2008 there should be a plethora of teams racing the RS Spyder. The ALMS has been the main focus of development and the vast majority of cars are expected to enter that series but there are some teams (including Horag Racing {link}) planning to contest the LMS series too. Currently there are no concrete plans for any teams to contest the 24 hours race at Le Mans {link}.
Porsche have deliberately shied away from mentioning the classic race at La Sarthe whilst developing the RS Spyder but with their exceptional record of success at the world’s most famous endurance race it will surely only be a matter of time before an RS Spyder takes the flag in France.