Bruno Spengler Wins All at Hockenheim DTM Finale

Photo Source: DTM

Concluding what has been another exciting tour for the DTM series, the race cars and teams return to the Hockenheimring, where the 2012 season started less than six months earlier. Despite starting the season as an early casualty of the opening 2012 DTM series event, Canadian driver Bruno Spengler (who had signed with the returning BMW squad late 2011 after a long time with Mercedes-Benz teams) roared back with three wins to challenge season-long points leader Gary Paffett.

Trekking out on the 4.574-kilometer long Hockenheim circuit on Saturday prior to Sunday’s main event, qualifying saw Gary Paffett muscled out a 2^nd fastest time in his Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe sponsored by THOMAS SABO. Bettering Spengler’s BMW M3 by just one position, the Brit Paffett only needed to finish ahead of Spengler to clinch the championship honours for a season of racing. Augusto Farfus took the pole for the DTM Hockenheim finale with a 1-minute, 34.140-second lap time.

 

Photo Source: DTM

While Paffett rested on the grid in prime position for his second DTM championship leading up to the start of 42 laps at Hockenheim, the contention for the 2012 series title immediately heated up. Due to a weak start by Gary Paffett, Bruno Spengler was able to storm by the Mercedes-Benz rival for the second place spot. Spengler’s BMW Bank M3 race car would waste little time displacing the fellow BMW Augusto Farfus from the race lead by the end of lap 1.

Dropping to as low as fourth position, Gary Paffett recovered to second place before the halfway point of the event and would put up a formidable challenge against the leading BMW of Bruno Spengler. Never able to stretch a lead of more than 3.6 seconds under race conditions, Spengler would be able to read the inverted THOMAS SABO lettering in his mirrors often throughout the event. By lap 36, Gary Paffett had closed to within 1.2 seconds of the Canadian Spengler and prepared to give the BMW Bank car a late-race battle for the event victory as well as the all-important championship. Resisting the challenge, Bruno Spengler added some more speed to his BMW M3 creeping away from the Mercedes-Benz race car. Crossing the line 2.2 seconds in the lead to win the Hockenheim event, Bruno Spengler (a 29-year old driver defined in media as “The Secret Canadian”) celebrated the end of his 8^th season in DTM racing with his first driver championship.

Photo Source: DTM

Finishing 2^nd on two occasions in yearly title chases, Spengler had seen the DTM championship slip away from him in 7 previous seasons in the largely German-based racing tour. However, in 2012, it was finally Bruno Spengler‘s turn to be crowned the DTM driver champion. "My pulse was really racing." said the victorious Spengler that overcame a slow start to the 2012 DTM series to win the championship. "Thank you to BMW Team Schnitzer. My team did a great job all season. Once again, everything went exactly to plan today. In a race, in which we were under extreme pressure, the team did another amazing job on the pit stops. You never win on your own – only as part of a team. I am totally confused and have no idea how I should be feeling. Standing on the top step of the podium, raising the trophy to the sky and seeing all the many fans cheering for me is an amazing experience. I have waited for this for so many years. It is simply sensational.”

Gary Paffett applied a solid fight to Bruno Spengler in this final race at Hockenheim that did not go unnoticed by the victorious Canadian. “Congratulations to my rival Gary Paffett, who performed brilliantly throughout the entire season and put up a fair fight. He would also have been a worthy champion. He is a great sportsman. He put me under a lot of pressure in the final race today. I spent a lot of time looking in the rear-view mirror and he just kept getting closer. However, I was able to maintain my pace and close the race out.” said Spengler.

Photo Source: DTM

By a matter of four points, Gary Paffett had to settle for a runner-up spot in the 2012 DTM championship. “My team has done brilliantly well this season in terms of performance and it is very unfortunate that we missed winning the championship title in the last race by four points.” said Paffett after the Hockenheim event. A winner of a DTM championship in 2005, Gary Paffett doubt with the narrow 2012 season title loss in stride saying, “So in the immediate aftermath of the race, disappointment sits deep, of course, because from my point of view we deserved to win the championship title just as much as Bruno Spengler and BMW. Congratulations to Bruno on his first DTM title! We will go on the attack again next year to take the championship.“



2012 DTM Series
Hockenheimring
Race Results

Pos #	Driver	Nationality	Race Organization	Car Make
1	Bruno Spengler	Canada	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
2	Gary Paffett	England	THOMAS SABO	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
3	Augusto Farfus	Brazil	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
4	Jamie Green	England	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
5	Dirk Werner	Germany	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
6	Edoardo Mortara	Italy	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
7	Andy Priaulx	Guernsey (Britain)	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
8	Joey Hand	United States	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
9	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
10	Christian Vietoris	Germany	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
11	Filipe Albuquerque	Portugal	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
12	Timo Scheider	Germany	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
13	Susie Wolff	Scotland	TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
14	Martin Tomczyk	Germany	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
15	Roberto Merhi	Spain	Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
16	Rahel Frey	Switzerland	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
17	Miguel Molina	Spain	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
18	David Coulthard	Scotland	DHL Paket Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
19	Robert Wickens	Canada	stern Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
20	Mattias Ekström	Sweden	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
21	Mike Rockenfeller	Germany	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
22	Adrien Tambay	France	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5

Paffett Brands Hometown Pride on Brand Hatch DTM Race

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

The first visit for the 2012 DTM tour ourside of Germany, the field of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW race cars roared around the British Brands Hatch road course. The third race on the calender, Gary Paffett enters his home country with a win and a second place finish in the early stage of the season. With the two earlier races won by Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the 1.929-kilomter Brands Hatch circuit would be an important barometer to establish the balance of the 2012 DTM schedule.

On Saturday, Gary Paffett delighted the British crowd by placing his Thomas Sabo Mercedes AMG C-Coupe on the pole. Outpowering teammate Christian Vietoris by 0.144 seconds and BMW driver Bruno Spengler by 0.194 seconds, Paffett sights were set with a clear path for Sunday's 97-lap main event.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

Right from the start, Gary Paffett took advantage of his pole position to lead the opening lap of the Brands Hatch race. The front row starting car driven by Christian Vietoris lost race positions at the beginning of the Brands Hatch DTM event as Bruno Spengler was able to navigate his BMW M3 into the second place spot.  By lap 10, Paffett and his Mercedes AMG C-Coupe had a one-second lead on the Spengler.

A racetrack cited as being difficult for passing, drivers at Brands Hatch were offered few opportunities to gain position on the race track. As the race progressed, DTM frontrunners such as Mercedes AMG's Jamie Green and Audi Sport's Mattias Ekström were playing catch-up throughout the 97-lap event. Ekström would finish fifth with his Red Bull Audi A5 while Jamie Green would come across the Brands Hatch start/finish line 8th.

The BMW M3 of Andy Priaulx made an early exit from the race as a result of crash damage early in the event. The second major retirement of the Brands Hatch race was lined to the Audi A5 driven by Timo Scheider. Scheider would be forced out of the race on lap 55 due to an engine misfire after a difficult Sunday race for the German. 

Photo Credit: BMW AG

Spengler's brush with some turn 1 curbing injured the front splitter of his BMW M3 race car. Into the late laps of the Brand Hatch race, Bruno Spengler's attention was devoted to his mirrors in efforts to hold off the Audi A5 of Mike Rockenfeller. Managing to hold off Rockenfeller's charge, Spengler crossed the line 5 seconds behind Gary Paffett who sailed to his second victory of 2012. “I am very happy with this second place. Gary Paffett was very quick, particularly in the first stint. Despite this, I was able to hang on to his coattails. It reminded me of my win at the Lausitzring, but with the roles reversed. It was a tough race." said Spengler in post race.

An error-free Brands Hatch event for Paffett, the Thomas Sabo Mercedes AMG C-Coupe driver explained that "it was a perfect race that we controlled from start to finish". With the early success for Gary Paffett, the British driver holds the overall points lead in DTM by 25 points.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

With Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi securing a podium spot for the first time in 2012 at Brands Hatch, Martin Tomczyk brought another BMW M3 home 4th ahead of Mattias Ekström.

As one seasoned Canadian has earned a win and a runner-up position in the last two events on the DTM series, the 2012 DTM second driver from Canada had another learning experience with the stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupe. Robert Wickens finished 14th in the Brands Hatch race, you spot behind the BMW M3 of United States driver Joey Hand. "All in all, I'm happy with my third DTM race. My pace was quite decent and my stern AMG Mercedes C-Coupé ran very well. I'm getting better from race to race and gaining experience through working with the team.“ said Wickens continuing to learn the fendered race cars.

The next race for the 2012 DTM series involves a trip to the Austrian Red Bull Ring on June 3rd.



2012 DTM
Brands Hatch
Race Results

Pos #	Driver	Nationality	Race Organization	Car Make
1	Gary Paffett	England	THOMAS SABO	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
2	Bruno Spengler	Canada	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
3	Mike Rockenfeller	Germany	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
4	Martin Tomczyk	Germany	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
5	Mattias Ekström	Sweden	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
6	Christian Vietoris	Germany	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
7	Miguel Molina	Spain	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
8	Jamie Green	England	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
9	Edoardo Mortara	Italy	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
10	Filipe Albuquerque	Portugal	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
11	Augusto Farfus	Brazil	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
12	Adrien Tambay	France	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
13	Joey Hand	United States	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
14	Robert Wickens	Canada	stern Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
15	David Coulthard	Scotland	DHL Paket Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
16	Dirk Werner	Germany	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
17	Roberto Merhi	Spain	Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
18	Rahel Frey	Switzerland	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
19	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
20	Susie Wolff	Scotland	TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
21	Timo Scheider	Germany	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
22	Andy Priaulx	Guernsey (Britain)	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3

Canadian Spengler Claims DTM Lausitzring Win for BMW

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

After sizing each other up in the opening round of the 2012 DTM at the Hockenheimring, a 22-car grid set for the Lausitzring has a read that the Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe machines and Audi's new A5 race car were up to speed. Making a return to the DTM tour after nearly 20 years out of the German-based auto racing league, BMW realized that their return to the sport was not going to be easy. In sixth spot behind the winning Mercedes-AMG of Gary Paffet, Andy Priaulx led the charge of the BMW M3 DTM racers. Entering round two, the 2012 DTM series would treat the German crowd to a new winner in a very young season.

Taking pole for Sunday's 52-lap event on the 3.478-kilometer road course, it was BMW's turn to take the fight back to the leaders of DTM racing. Canadian veteran Bruno Spengler led a BMW M3 front row with his #7 BMW Bank machine joined by the #16 of Augusto Farfus.

Photo Credit: BMW Group

Leading from the start, Spengler's BMW M3 averted the disaster that resulted in a short race at the Hockenheimring last week with his #7 BMW Team Schnitzer car. Challenging the pole-sitter,  the #5 Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe of Jamie Green came from 6th to 1st place on lap 21. Despite an effort that consisted of the #5 Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe turning the race's fastest lap of 1 minute, 19.025 seconds, Green would fade to fourth unable to catch the 3rd place car for the final podium spot.
Winning the race from pole position, Bruno Spengler won by more than a second over the Thomas Sabo Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe of Gary Paffet. The 10th career win for the Canadian driver, this victory for BMW comes eactly 19 years, 6 months and 25 days since the German carmaker's last DTM race success. The BMW M3 DTM car's first win was complemented by a third place result of Augusto Farfus. "Augusto Farfus drove a fantastic race. I was behind him most of the time, but despite the great pace of my car, I couldn’t get past." said Farfus' competitor Jamie Green. Commenting on the success of the BMW camp, the automaker's Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt said, “This is a very special moment – beyond our wildest dreams. Bruno Spengler’s magnificent victory is the icing on the cake at the end of an incredible week. First came our impressive comeback weekend in Hockenheim, then the first pole position yesterday and now – in only our second race – our first victory in the new DTM era."

Photo Credit: BMW Group

Starting the season with a first and second place finish, Gary Paffet has set a high benchmark for the beginning of the 2012 DTM season. Still, Paffet was disappointed missing out on a second-straight victory. "It's such a pity. My THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé had enough speed to win again today. I was just a bit too far behind at the pit-stop. Having said that, my car was really quick and had a brilliant set-up, a tribute to the team" said Gary Paffet. Ralf Schumacher rounded out the top-10 efforts for the Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe cars in the Lausitzring event. Regrettably, the Mercedes-AMG C-Class driven by the second Canadian driver in DTM Robert Wickens held the only race retirement. Running wide on a corner, Wickens fight ended on lap 48.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

Along with Bruno Spengler's reversal of fortunes, several other drivers experienced improved results on the event for the 2012 DTM series. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 2011 champion Martin Tomczyk has finished 20th at the Hockenheimring but recovered to an 8th place finish with his #1 BMW M3 at the Lausitzring.

While the Lausitzring race was a time where the Mercedes-AMG and BMW group cars had a moment to shine, the Audi A5 racing vehicles experienced a less than stellar outing for their second race of the 2012 DTM series but salvaged a strong effort for the four-ring badge. Scoring a podium on the Hockenheimring, the Audi Sport Abt Sportsline team car piloted by Mattias Ekström again led the brigade of A5 Coupes by finishing 5th. Audi Sport Team Rosberg #3 and #4 cars were also able to lock down top-10, point-scoring results making four overall for the auto manufacturer.
The next race for the 2012 DTM Series will be a British stop at the Brand Hatch road course on May 20th. 

  

Pos #	Driver	Nationality	Race Organization	Car Make
1	Bruno Spengler	Canada	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
2	Gary Paffett	England	THOMAS SABO	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
3	Augusto Farfus	Brazil	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
4	Jamie Green	England	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
5	Mattias Ekström	Sweden	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
6	Timo Scheider	Germany	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
7	Martin Tomczyk	Germany	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
8	Edoardo Mortara	Italy	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
9	Filipe Albuquerque	Portugal	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
10	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
11	Christian Vietoris	Germany	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
12	David Coulthard	Scotland	DHL Paket Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
13	Mike Rockenfeller	Germany	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
14	Joey Hand	United States	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
15	Miguel Molina	Spain	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
16	Roberto Merhi	Spain	Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
17	Andy Priaulx	Guernsey (Britain)	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
18	Adrien Tambay	France	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
19	Dirk Werner	Germany	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
20	Rahel Frey	Switzerland	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
21	Susie Wolff	Scotland	TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
22	Robert Wickens	Canada	stern Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé

XSL Speed Reporter Guide to the 2012 DTM Series

Photo Credit: BMW AG

A series growing in international popularity, the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) has grown from modest German touring car roots. While the 11-race 2012 tour maintains much of its spectacle inside Germany, four other European countries are scheduled to play host to what is a new look series this year.

New race vehicle specifications designed to reduce vehicle costs, improve safety as well as the racing product in DTM has provided a window for auto manufacturer’s participation in the series. While Mercedes-AMG decided to modernize their familiar C-Class Coupe, Audi (who won 8 of the DTM series’ 12 races in 2011) chose to integrate the A5 Coupe into the 2012 tour. This season also welcomes back BMW after a near 20-year hiatus. All cars are powered by V-8 engines generating between 450 and 500 horsepower. The changes to the race vehicles were only a change the opening 2012 DTM Series round at the 4.574-kilometer Hockenheimring GP Circuit would present.

Photo Credit: Audi AG

Drivers from 11 countries are represented at the first race of the 2012 DTM Series. Along the featured drivers are two of Canada’s many promising young professional competing at the upper echelons of motorsports. Runner-up in the 2006 and 2007 DTM championship, Bruno “The Secret Canadian” Spengler landed a ride in BMW’s DTM comeback in 2012. Driving the #7 for Team Schnitzer, the 28 year-old Spengler has aligned himself with an entity that has propelled BMWs to the greatest heights in motorsports including the overall win at the 1999 24-Hour of Le Mans race. Joining the Canadian Spengler wheeling the BMW M3 DTM car is defending DTM champion Martin Tomczyk, three-time World Touring Car Championship title winner Andy Priaulx, German sports car notable Dirk Werner and American Le Mans Series champion Joey Hand.

Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion and Formula 1 test driver during the 2011 season for Marussia-Virgin Racing, Toronto, Ontario born Robert Wickens will embrace fendered race vehicles for the very first time in competition driving a Mercedes-AMG C-Class Coupe for stern. Wickens is part of the Mercedes-AMG contingent that has former Formula 1 drivers David Couthard and Ralf Schumacher steering the DTM-prepped C-Class Coupes. UK drivers Gary Paffett and Jamie Green are also notable this season.




Photo Credit: Daimler AG

With 2011 champion Martin Tomczyk taking the #1 with him to BMW, the Audi A5 DTM car squad will be led by the two-time series champion and last year’s overall point runner-up Mattias Ekström. The presence of veteran DTM driver and occasional Audi Sport Team Joest prototype pilot Mike Rockenfeller will also be expected to be a visible driver with Audi. Other Audi A5 DTM machines to watch this 2012 season should also include the vehicles #4 Timo Scheider and the #18 of French rookie Adrien Tambay.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

2012 DTM Series Schedule

Date	Event	Country	Race Course	Laps
April 29th	Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg	Germany	4,574 km	40 Laps
May 6th	Lausitzring	Germany	3,478 km	52 Laps
May 20th	Brands Hatch	United Kingdom	1,929 km	98 Laps
June 3rd	Red Bull Ring Spielberg	Austria	4,326 km	42 Laps
July 1st	Norisring	Germany	2,300 km	82 Laps
July 15th	Olympiastadion Munchen	Germany	Special Course
August 19th	Nürburgring	Germany	3,629 km	49 Laps
August 26th	Circuit Park Zandvoort	Netherlands	4,307 km	41 Laps
September 16th	Motorsport Arena Oschersleben	Germany	3,696 km	50 Laps
September 30th	Valencia	Spain	4,005 km	45 Laps
October 21st	Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg	Germany	4,574 km	38 Laps

Peugeot Grabs Petit Le Mans Pole Over Audi

Photo Credit: Peugeot UK

American Le Mans Series-style sports car debuted on the 2.54-mile Road Atlanta circuit for the first time in 1999 for the Petit Le Mans event. One of the most recent endurance races, victory at the Petit Le Mans has gained the prestige as a coveted victory in sports car racing. Pleasing the American Le Mans Series head and Road Atlanta owner Don Panoz, teams competing in the event stretching 1,000-mile or 10-hour (whichever mark is approached first) can also secure an automatic entrance in next year's 24-Hour of Le Mans. For 2011, 58 cars among 5 racing categories have shown up for the 12th annual autumn race.

With Audi confirming the presence of Team Joest at the event last week, the 2011 Petit Le Mans is set to become another modern rivalry between the Peugoet 908 and the Audi R18. In what amounted to be a close qualifying result, the overall lead to the green flag, the French squad of Peugeot claimed first blood against Audi. Featuring the driver pairing of Sebastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud and Anthony Davidson for this weekend, the #7 Peugoet 908 flew around the Road Atlanta track in 1 minute, 7.428 seconds.

The pole-winning Peugeot claimed only a 0.128 second advantage for the top spot. The #1 Audi R18 demonstrated the ability to keep pace with the winning team of the past two Petit Le Mans events. Competing the past two times with variations of the R15 prototype, Audi Sport Team Joest have been foiled for what would be their 10th Petit Le Mans victory by the Peugeot 908. Audi Sport Team Joest is determined to claim back its dominating ways which transpired as their storied R8 and R10 prototype sports cars went mostly contested. In the second row for the 2011 Petit Le Mans start, Peugeot and Audi cars share the grid position for the LMP category and overall for the event.

The second-most watched class in the Petit Le Mans on Saturday will be the GT category where Ferrari, BMW, Porsche and Chevrolet all have a likelihood for claiming a season-ending honour of victory. With each of these automaker recording at least one win in the American Le Mans Series season entering Road Atlanta, the GT class is a battle royal among the production-based vehicles. Leading in the overall team point standings is the BMW M3 GT cars fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing convincingly over the fierce competitors for 2011. For Petit Le Mans qualifying, the #51 Ferrari F458 Italia took the class pole over the BMW M3 pair. The #51 Ferrari who be starting 24th overall in the starting line-up for the Petit Le Mans with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing BMWs securing 25th and 26th. The top-3 cars in the GT running order were separated by only 0.52 seconds on the qualifying time sheet.

Making its American Le Mans GT class debut at Road Atlanta will be the Lotus Evora GTE race car. Campaigned by Lotus Jetalliance, the Evora GTE will be participating as a prep for the car's full season of competition in 2012.    

In the Prototype Challange category, Intersport Racing's #89 car was rebuilt from a Friday morning practice crash to lead class. Concluding the practice session at Road Atlanta, the Intersport Racing crew were able to effect repairs to the exact racing machine that was involved in a massive crash with the Robertson Racing #40 Ford GT. Unfortunately, the Robertson Racing car was unable time into the Petit Le Mans event Friday but could race Saturday.

Starting at 11:30 an Eastern time, the 2011 Petit Le Mans under what is expected to be a largely sunny day at Road Atlanta.

 

Muscle Milk Aston Martin Triumphs in Stormy Mid-Ohio ALMS Round

Photo Credit: BMW Group USA



 

After the team started the season with a mechanical retirement in the American Le Mans Series opening round, the Muscle Milk Racing Aston Martin powered Lola has mounted an impressive domination in the 2011 LMP1 class. Winning three of the last four ALMS events with overall victory, the pairing of Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr have been a top podium mainstay for a sports car category presenting fewer than a half-dozen runners in most 2011 events. Mounting a serious offensive against the Muscle Milk Aston Martin-Lola has been the Mazda-engined prototype fielded by Dyson Racing. Winning the Lime Rock event, the Dyson Racing car took pole for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge Saturday. In GT class, the Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing #56 BMW M3 GT car driven by Jorg Muller and Joey Hand led over their teammate's vehicle. 

Once the green dropped on the Mid-Ohio Sport Car Challenge for a 2 hour and 45 minute sprint event, the sports cars initially were confronted with a slippery 2.258-mile race course covered with race rubber left by the IZOD INDYCAR Series' Firestone tires. This early grip challenge caused the GT class leading BMW M3 GT to relinquish not just one but two positions as the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R ZR1 took over the category lead. At the front of the overall field for the Mid-Ohio event, the #16 Lola-Mazda pulled away to an advantage lasting for 37 laps.   

 

By halfway through the event, on track contact between many cars amounted to a slew of penalties being issued for avoidable contact. One incident of on-track collisions involved the GT class BMW M3s belonging Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan. Entering the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course's Keyhole turn, the teammates made contact resulting in the #56 car spinning. Incidents of contact on track would involve many other GT, Prototype and Challenge class machines. 

 

Shaping into a bizarre race with the high number of penalties, when the first caution flew for a stopped Prototype Challenge machine, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge event for the American Le Mans Series turned comical. During the caution period midway through the event, the Honda S2000 pace car withdrew due to a transmission problem. The Porsche Cayenne medical vehicle needed to fill in as the race's pace car.

 

In the last 40 minutes of the event, rain began to pelt the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course causing some dangerously slick conditions even for sports cars which pitted for wet weather tires. The late stage of the race in inclement weather proved costly for the Corvette Racing team. After first appearing to gain the upper hand by promptly swapping to rain tires, the #3 Corvette C6R ZR1 spun after making contact with a fellow GT competitor. Driven by Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner, the #3 car had to fight its way back to 6th place in class. As for the #4 piloted by the pairing of Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen, their long-term leading the GT class would not include the important final laps. As the skies opened up to completely drench the circuit, the #4 Corvette briefly fought to retain control. This moment of correction by the #4 car, in the hands of Oliver Gavin, was just enough time for the #17 Team Falken Tires Porsche 911 RSR wheeled by Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler to take lead and the GT victory at Mid-Ohio. Finishing second, the Corvette driver Oliver Gavin later said, "Those last four or five laps were absolutely insane,".  

 

Due to three cars sliding off track in the midst of a major downpour, the American Le Mans Series ended the race under yellow with the #6 Muscle Milk Aston Martin-Lola taking the class victory for the fourth time this season in American Le Mans Series competition. Taking the race's lead for the final time at lap 62, the Aston Martin-powered Muscle Milk Motorsports effort sailed to an almost 1 minute and 10 second lead over the #16 car.  

 

In the LMPC class, a fight between Intersport Racing cars concluded with the #89 machine driven by Tomy Drissi and Kyle Marcelli taking class victory at Mid-Ohio. Spencer Pumpelly and Duncan Ende drove their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to GT Challenge class victory for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. 

 

 

2011 American Le Mans Series

Lexington, Ohio 

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge

Race Results

 

1. 6  LMP1  Klaus Graf/Lucas Luhr AMR/ Lola Coupe B08 62 
2. 16  LMP1  Chris Dyson/ Guy Smith  Lola B09 86/Mazda 
3. 89  LMPC  Kyle Marcelli /Tomy Drissi Oreca FLM09 
4. 37  LMPC  Clint Field/ Jon Field  Oreca FLM09 
5. 52  LMPC  Javier Echeverria  Oreca FLM09 
6. 17  GT  Bryan Sellers/Wolf Henzler  Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
7. 4  GT  Jan MagnussenOliver Gavin  Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 
8. 55  GT  Bill Auberlen/ Dirk Werner BMW M3 GT 
9. 56  GT  Dirk Mueller/ Joey Hand  BMW M3 GT 
10. 01  GT  Johannes van Overb/ Scott Sharp Ferrari F458 Italia 
11. 3  GT  Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner  Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 
12. 06  LMPC  Gunnar Jeannette/ Ricardo Gonzalez Oreca FLM09 
13. 04  GT  Anthony Lazzaro/ David Murry Doran Ford GT 
14. 63  LMPC Christian Zugel/ Eric Lux  Oreca FLM09 
15. 48  GT  Bryce Miller/ Sascha Maassen Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
16. 45  GT  Joerg Bergmeister/Patrick Long  Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
17. 05  LMPC  Frankie Montecalvo/ Jon Bennett  Oreca FLM09 
18. 44  GT Darren Law/ Seth Neiman  Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
19. 12  LMP1  Chris McMurry/ Tony Burgess  Lola B06/10 
20. 98  GT PJ Jones/ Rocky Moran  Jaguar XKR 
21. 99  GT  Bruno Junqueira/ Ken Wilden Jaguar XKR 
22. 66  GTC Spencer Pumpelly/ Duncan Ende Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
23. 54  GTC  Jeroen Bleekemolen/ Tim Pappas Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
24. 77  GTC  Craig Stanton/ John Potter  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
25. 18  LMPC  Anthony Nicolosi/ Jarrett Boon Oreca FLM09 
26. 11  GTC  Chris Cumming/Nick Ham  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
27. 62  GT  Jaime Melo/ Toni Vilander  Ferrari F458 Italia 
28. 23  GTC  Leh Keen/ Bill Sweedler  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
29. 40  GT Andrea Robinson/ Melanie Snow  Doran Ford GT/Elan 
30. 34  GTC  Andrew Davis/ Peter Lesaffre Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
31. 68  GTC  Dion von Moltke/ Marc Bunting  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
32. 02  GT Ed Brown/ Guy Cosmo Ferrari F458 Italia 
33. 20  LMP1  Humaid Al Masaood/Steven Kane  Lola B09/86 Mazda 

Audi R18 Takes 24 Hour of Le Mans Prototype Class Pole

Photo Credit: Audi AG

The 79th running of the oldest running 24-hour endurance race, the classic Le Mans event on the Circuit de la Sarthe brings some new look prototypes and a the recipe for a fierce LME category (better known last year as GT) fight. A prelude to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, qualifying for the race gives a sample to the sounds and speed expected for the race's 2011 edition.

For the first time since 2006, Audi Team Joest will lead the field of 56 sports cars to the start of the full day race. Taking the glory of the pole position, the #2 Audi R18 TDI prototype car piloted by Andre Lotterer flew around the Circuit de la Sarthe's 13.629 kilometer distance in 3 minutes and 29.939 seconds. Just one-hundredth of a second behind, the #1 Audi R18 TDI prototype sealed a strong front row for the German automaker. The third Team Joest Audi R18 TDI qualified 5th for the start of the 24 Hour of Le Mans.

Expected to want vengance for the defeat in the 2010 Le Mans race and now 2011 qualifying, Peugeot has the resources to reclaim their home endurance racing event. Three factory Peugeot 908 Le Mans prototype sports cars and an Oreca-fielded effort are planning to better endure the 24 hour distance for a second Le Mans victory in three years. In qualifying, the highest flying member of the Peugeot camp was the #9 car wheeled by Simon Pagenaud. Pagenaud is taking a departure from his regular ride competing in the American Le Mans Series for Highcroft Racing in a Honda Racing Development prototype. For Saturday, Simon Pagenaud is paired with Pedro Lamy and Sebastien Bourdais.

Factory Aston Martin vehicles in the LMP1 class were far from a figure in qualifying at Le Mans with their AMR-ONE cars failing to find speed. In fact, most of the LMP2 cars were faster than the Aston Martin racing team vehicles. The british-based race is still seeking a return to the podium since rejoining the sports car racing arena in the Le Mans prototype class. Aston Martin has two victories in the GT1 production car class in 2007 and 2008.

Prevailing in the production-based vehicle LME category in 2011, the BMW M3 GT took first and third in class qualifying sandwiching a Ferrari 458 Italia. Lapping the track at 3 minutes and 57.592 seconds, the BMW Motorsports cars is in a class where the top-9 vehicles are separated by 3.5 seconds in qualifying.   

A very pivotal part to setting up the 24 Hours of Le Mans, qualifying will quickly become less meaningful when the green flag to the 2011 endurance race drops.


Classes

LMP1            
LMP2            
LME Pro       
LME Am        



2011 Le Mans 24 Hour Starting Grid

1)(1) 2 AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST AUDI R18 TDI
Marcel Fassler/ Switzerland
André Lotterer Germany
Benoit Treluyer France

2)(2) 1 AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST AUDI R18 TDI
Timo Berhard/ Germany
Romain Dumas/ France
Mike Rockenfeller/ Germany

3)(3) 9 TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL PEUGEOT 908
Sébastien Bourdais/ France
Simon Pagenaud/ France
Pedro Lamy/ Portugal

4) (4) 8 PEUGEOT SPORT TOTAL PEUGEOT 908
Stéphane Sarrazin/ France
Franck Montagny/ Switzerland
Nicolas Minassian/ Great Britain

5) (5) 3 AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA AUDI R18 TDI
Tom Kristenesn/ Denmark
Rinaldo Capello/ Italy
Allan McNish/ Monaco

6) (6) 7 PEUGEOT SPORT TOTAL PEUGEOT 908
Anthony Davidson/ Great Britain
Marc Gene/ Spain
Alex Wurz/ Austria

7) (7) 10 TEAM ORECA MATMUT PEUGEOT 908 HDI-FAP
Nicolas Lapierre/ France
Loic Duval/ France
Olivier Panis/ France

8) (8) 12 REBELLION RACING LOLA B 10/60 COUPE-TOYOTA
Nicolas Prost/ France
Neel Jani/ Switzerland
Jeroen Bleekemolen/ Netherlands

9) (9) 16 PESCAROLO TEAM PESCAROLO JUDD
Emmanuel Collard/ France
Christophe Tinseau/ France
Julien Jousse/ France

10) (10) 13 REBELLION RACING LOLA B 10/60 COUPE-TOYOTA
Andrea Belicchi/ Italy
J.Christophe Boullion/ France
Guy Smith/ Great Britain

11) (11) 15 OAK RACING OAK PESCAROLO - JUDD
Guillaume Moreau/ France
Pierre Ragues/ France
Tiago Monteiro/ Portugal

12) (12) 22 KRONOS RACING LOLA ASTON MARTIN
Vanina Ickx/ Belgium
Maxime MARTIN/ Belgium
Bas LEINDERS/ Belgium

13) (13) 20 QUIFEL - ASM TEAM ZYTEK 09 SC
Miguel Amaral/ Portugal
Olivier Pla/ France
Warren Hughes/ Great Britain

14) (1) 26 SIGNATECH NISSAN ORECA 03-NISSAN
Soheil Ayari/ France
Franck Mailleux/ France
Lucas Ordonez/ Spain

15) (14) 24 OAK RACING OAK PESCAROLO - JUDD
Richard Hein/ Monoco
Jacques Nicolet/ France
Jean-François Yvon/ France

16) (2) 42 STRAKKA RACING HONDA PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT ARX 01 D
Nick Leventis/ Great Britain
Danny Watts/ Great Britain
Jonny Kane/ Great Britain

17) (3) 48 TEAM ORECA MATMUT ORECA 03-NISSAN
Alexandre Premat/ France
David Hallyday/ France
Dominick Kraihamer/ Austria

18) (4) 39 PECOM Racing LOLA B11/40-JUDD BMW
Luis Perez-Companc/ Argentina
Matias Russo/ Argentina
Pierre Kaffer/ Germany

19) (5) 49 OAK RACING OAK PESCAROLO - BMW
Shinji Nakano/ Japan
Nicolas De Crem/ Belgium
Jan Charouz/ Czech Republic

20) (6) 41 GREAVES MOTORSPORT ZYTEK NISSAN
Karim Ojjeh/ Saudi Arabia
Thomas Kimber-Smith/ Great Britain
Olivier Lombard/ France

21) (7) 40 RACE PERFORMANCE ORECA 03-JUDD BMW
Michel Frey/ Switzerland
Ralph Meichtry/ Switzerland
Marc Rostan/ France

22) (15) 007 ASTON MARTIN RACING ASTON MARTIN AMR-ONE
Stefan Mucke/ Germany
Darren Turner/ Great Britain
Christian Klien/ Austria

23) (8) 36 RML HONDA PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT ARX 01 D
Mike Newton/ Great Britain
Tommy Erdos/ Great Britain
Ben Collins/ Great Britain

24) (16) 5 HOPE RACING ORECA SWISS HY TECH-HYBRID
Steve Zacchia/ Switzerland
Jan Lammers/ Netherlands
Casper Elgaard/ Denmark

25) (17) 009 ASTON MARTIN RACING ASTON MARTIN AMR-ONE
Harold Primat/ Switzerland
Adrian Fernandez/ Mexico
Andy Meyrick/ Great Britian

26) (9) 44 EXTREME LIMITE AM PARIS NORMA M200P - JUDD BMW
Fabien Rosier/ France
Philippe Haezbrouck/ France
Jean-René de Fournoux/ France

27) (10) 35 OAK RACING OAK PESCAROLO - JUDD BMW
Andrea Barlesi/ Belgium
Frédéric Da Rocha/ France
Patrice Lafargue/ France

28) (11) 33 LEVEL 5 MOTORSPORTS LOLA COUPE-HONDA PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT
Scott Tucker/ USA
Christophe Bouchut/ France
Joao Barbosa/ Portugal


29) (1) 55 BMW MOTORSPORT BMW M3 GT
Augusto Farfus/ Brazil
Jörg Muller/ Germany
Dirk Werner/ Germany

30) (2) 51 AF CORSE FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Giancarlo Fisichella/ Italy
Gianmaria Bruni/ Italy
Toni Vilander/ Finland

31) (3) 56 BMW MOTORSPORT BMW M3 GT
Andy Priaulx/ Great Britain
Dirk Muller/ Germany
Joey Hand/ USA

32) (4) 73 CORVETTE RACING CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 ZR1
Olivier Beretta/ Monoco
Tommy Milner/ USA
Antonio Garcia/ Spain

33) (5) 89 HANKOOK - TEAM FARNBACHER FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Dominik Farnbacher/ Germany
Allan Simonsen/ Denmark
Leh Keen/ USA

34) (6) 74 CORVETTE RACING CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 ZR1
Oliver Gavin/ Great Britain
Jan Magnussen/ Denmark
Richard Westbrook/ Great Britain

35) (7) 77 TEAM FELBERMAYR-PROTON PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Marc Lieb/ Germany
Richard Lietz/ Austria
Wolf Henzler/ Germany

36) (8) 59 LUXURY RACING FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Stéphane Ortelli/ Monoco
Frédéric Makowiecki/ France
Jaime Melo/ Brazil

37) (9) 75 PROSPEED COMPETITION PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Marc Goossens/ Belgium
Marco Holzer/ Germany
Jaap Van Lagen/ Netherlands

38) (10) 79 JOTA ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE
Sam Hancock/ Great Britain
Simon Dolan/ Great Britain
Chris Buncombe/ Great Britain

39) (11) 66 JMW MOTORSPORT FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Rob Bell/ Great Britain
Tim Sugden/ Great Britain
Xavier Maasen/ Belgium

40) (12) 80 FLYING LIZARD MOTORSPORTS PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Jörg Bergmeister/ Germany
Patrick Long USA
Lucas Luhr/ Germany

41) (13) 58 LUXURY RACING FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Anthony Beltoise/ France
Pierre Thiriet/ Belgium
François Jakubowski/ France

42) (1) 61 AF CORSE FERRARI F430
Pierguiseppe Perazzini/ Italy
Marco Cioci/ Italy
Sean Paul Breslin/ Germany

43) (14) 88 TEAM FELBERMAYR-PROTON PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Nick Tandy/ Great Britain
Abdulaziz Al Faisal/ Saudi Arabia
Bryce Miller/ USA

44) (15) 71 AF CORSE FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Robert Kauffman/ Italy
Michael Waltrip/ USA
Rui Aguas/ Portugal

45) (16) 76 IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Raymond Narac/ France
Patrick Pilet/ France
Nicolas Armindo/ France

46) (2) 63 PROTON COMPETITION PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Horst Felbermayr Jr/ Austria
Horst Felbermayr Sr/ Austria
Christian Ried/ Germany

47) (3) 81 FLYING LIZARD MOTORSPORTS PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Seth Neiman USA Darren LAW/ USA
Spencer Pumpelly/ USA

48) (4) 70 LARBRE COMPETITION PORSCHE 911 RSR (997)
Christophe Bourret/ France
Pascal Gibon/ France
Jean-Philippe Belloc/ France

49) (5) 83 JMB RACING FERRARI F430
Manuel Rodrigues/ France
Jean-Marc Menahem/ France
Nicolas Marroc/ France

50) (6) 60 GULF AMR MIDDLE EAST ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE
Fabien Giroix/ Argentina
Michael Wainwright/ France
Roald Goethe/ France

51) (7) 57 KROHN RACING FERRARI F430
Tracy Krohn/ USA
Niclas Jonsson/ Sweden
Michele Rugolo/ Italy

52) (8) 50 LARBRE COMPETITION CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 ZR1
Patrick Bornhauser/ France
Julien Canal/ France
Gabriele Gardel/ Switzerland

53) (9) 62 CRS RACING FERRARI F430
Pierre Ehret/ Germany
Roger Wills/ Great Britain
Shaun Lynn/ Great Britain

54) (17) 65 LOTUS JETALLIANCE LOTUS EVORA
Jonathan Hirschi/ Switzerland
James Rossiter/ Great Britain
Johnny Mowlen/ Great Britain

55) (10) 68 ROBERTSON RACING FORD GT-DORAN
David Robertson/ USA
Andrea Robertson/ USA
David Murry/ USA

56) (18) 64 LOTUS JETALLIANCE LOTUS EVORA
Oskar Slingerland/ Germany
Martin Rich/ Great Britain
John Hartshorne/ Great Britain

Rain soaks the 2009 Petit Le Mans race; Peugeot takes victory

At 4:09PM, the red flag dropped on the American Le Mans Series crucial Petit Le Mans round. While the American Le Mans Series vehicles are equipped to run in rainfall, the rate of the precipitation on the 2.54 mile road course made racing too unsafe for the various sport car classes. As several cars lost traction even under a yellow flag pace, the call was well-warranted but nonetheless disappointing. At 8:00pm, IMSA and the American Le Mans Series announced that the standings at the moment of the race stoppage were the final standings for the 2009 Petit Le Mans.

Taking their first win on American Le Mans Series schedule, the #08 diesel-powered Peugeot 908 piloted by Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin took victory over their #07 team car driven by a Lamy/Capello duo. Before the rain fell, the Audi R15 had the perfect chance to capture what could have been their 9th victory during the Road Atlanta. In the last race stint Allan McNish had the lead until the wet track caused the Audi R15 and its driver to become unsettled. The Audi R15 received a third place finish. Both Audi Sport and Peugeot are wrapping up their 2009 American Le Mans Series season after competing in only two races.

Another 1-2 team finish at the Petit Le Mans occurred inside the P2 class as the Mazda B09/86 fielded by Dyson Racing. The Chris Dyson/Guy Smith #16 appeared in the top position while the #20 car, who started on the P2 class pole, came second for the category.

With the diverse class of GT2 in the American Le Mans Series, Risi Competizione can take enormous pride keeping their Ferrari F430 GT ahead as the downpour soaked the Road Atlanta circuit. The grouping of Jaime Melo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo celebrates for a second straight year on the top spot of the Podium with the red #62 car. Rahal Letterman Racing trio of Dirk Müller, Jörg Müller, and Andy Priaulx settled with second place in their BMW M3. Rounding out the top five in GT2 were the #87 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR campaigned by Farnbacher Loles Racing, the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R, and another Porsche 911 GT3 RSR from Flying Lizards.


With only 4 of the race's 10 hour timed distance ran on the track, the force of mother nature has proven stronger than the forces of race-prepped engines. The hindered running of the Petit Le Mans of Road Atlanta is minor disturbance caused for what has been an disastrous ongoing weather event which the citizens of Georgia state are enduring. With record of more than 5 inches rainfall damaging and destroying property, the Petit Le Mans feels a little less smaller in 2009.