Canadian Content Expanded for 2016 BMW Motorsports Drivers' Line-Up

Photo Credit: BMW Motorsport

BMW's auto racing program gains some additional excitement in 2016. Two all-new race-prepped versions of the BMW M6 will lead the brand's motorsport charge in the new year. IMSA's WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship competition will gain the all-new BMW M6 GTLM fieled by Team BMW RLL (Rahal Letterman Lanigan). Along with with the two-car GTLM effort, the M6 GT3 will operate in the IMSA series' GTD class as well as other GT racing series across the globe. In addition to upgraded race hardware for 2016, BMW Motorsport's world driving line-up is upgraded with presence of two established Canadian sports car racers.

Returning to the 2016 BMW Motorsport team line-up is 2012 DTM Champion Bruno Spengler. French born, Spengler actively campaigns as a Canadian driver after his family moved to Quebec when he was three years old. A competitor in DTM since 2005, he renews with the German automaker's motorsport effort for a fifth consecutive season in the series. In addition to DTM competition, Bruno Spengler's name will be seen on the side of new BMW M6 GTLM at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. A return trip for the 32-year-old driver called "The Secret Canadian", Spengler finished second with Team BMW RLL in class last year.    

Photo Credit: BMW Motorsport

Alongside Bruno Spengler's one-race participation in the IMSA WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship top event, Canada can patriotically cheer on Team BMW RLL new driver Kuno Wittmer. The Montreal, Quebec racer arrives in the BMW Motorsports' IMSA program after several successful seasons competing with a Dodge Viper. Part of a factory-backed SRT Motorsports in 2014, he won the inaugural GTLM category drivers' title in the United SportsCar Championship. When SRT Motorsports pulled out of IMSA sports car racing class after Wittmer's championship year, he moved to the GTD class and ran with Riley Motorsports. Driving the Dodge Viper GT3-R, Kuno Wittmer earned class victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona alongside his four teammates.

Kuno Wittmer will be partnered with the driving line-up for one of the Team BMW RLL fielded BMW M6 GTLM for longer distance races at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta.

Both Canadian drivers will be part of the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona scheduled for January 30th and 31st.

Countdown to Indy (#18): 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car

Photo Credit: General Motors

Thanks to an agreement between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and General Motors, the Chevrolet division receives Indy 500 pace car honours for the 9th straight event. The 2010 race is also the 2nd year in a row that a Camaro will lead the 33-car field of open wheel competitors. The Chevrolet Camaro has a long prior history of pacing one of America's oldest running auto races. Receiving the honour for the first time on the 1967 introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro, GM's pony car has led the Indy 500 four other years prior to 2010 in 1969, 1982, 1993 and last year in 2009.

Rolling on 20 inch aluminum wheels, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS pace car As opposed to the primarily silver car of 2009 with red striping, this year's Camaro SS edition employs a sizzling Inferno Orange exterior topped with RS package diamond white striping. A GM Accessory-derived front grille insert, flamboyant Indianapolis 500 logos on the cabin doors and badges on the front quarter panels are the only real giveaways that this car is the pace sitter for the memorial day weekend's most lively celebration.

As with the outside, the interior has been largely preserved to the stock Camaro counterpart. Minor stylistic touches include custom floor mats and embroidered Indy 500 logos on the head supports. The safety strobe lighting needed for officiating the Indy 500 is placed behind the rear window differing from the light bar used in the 2009 pace car model. The cabin space will house the most honoured driver for the weekend who is entrusted to lead over 17,000 horsepower around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ABC Good Day America's personality Robin Roberts will be this person for the 2010 edition taking the IZOD IndyCar field around for pivotal warm-up laps.


Photo Credit: General Motors

Robert's will find more than enough power under the hood of this year's Chevrolet Camaro SS. Revving a 6.2 liter V-8 powerplant, 400 horsepower will be routed through the 6-speed automatic gearbox. The pace car version of the Camaro SS is a pure stock powertrain. In previous Indy 500 events, particularly through the 1970s and 1980s, it was necessary to use performance enhancements to make a vehicle pace car worthy. The most extreme example of engine enhancements occurred for a Cadillac Eldorado convertible that paced the 1973 Indy 500. Choked by primitive emission and smog control systems, engine power from the luxury car's V-8 engine was limited to only paltry 235 horsepower. The considerable size and weight (just under 5,000 pounds) required more powerful engine output. In creating the 1973 Cadillac Eldorado pace car, the engine compartment was stripped of emission controls and even the air conditioning units. Further engine performance parts allowed the Cadillac V-8 to produce 500 horsepower.



Photo Credit: General Motors

When the 2010 Indianapolis 500 has been run, apart from what is guaranteed to be an ecstatic race winner, there will be another elite company. 200 Camaro buyers who will have a chance to purchase a limited run of replica versions of the pace car at 187 dealerships. These cars will carry a suggested retail price of $41,950 less freight, taxes and licensing costs.

Kasey Kahne Cometh to Hendrick #5 Chevrolet in 2012

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR| NASCAR

Into the current 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the status of Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne has rested in limbo. Holding 11 victories on the elite stock car circuit, 30 year-old Kahne has ridden a rocky road in the #9 car which included ownership and sponsorship changes since he was drafted to the team in 2004. Kahne's status as one of the Sprint Cup season's most consistently popular drivers left to chance of a nousy silly season. However, entering into only the 7th race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Texas this weekend, Kasey Kahne assembled with Sprint Cup car owner Rick Hendrick to announce his future relationship Hendrick Motorsports' #5 Chevrolet for 2012.

In a April 14th press conference, Kasey Kahne happily shared the news of his upcoming 4-year commitment with members of the media. "I think it’s the best opportunity I could ever have, and I’m just going to make the most out of it. And I feel like the drivers there, the crew chiefs, the people that work for Hendrick Motorsports, I think it will just be a great fit." Kahne responded to the reason for choosing the championship-winning racing organization. Mentioning that he had entertained multiple teams before signing with Hendrick, Kahne spoke highly of the personnel and equipment of the top Chevrolet team as solidifying has decision. "Well, I think their equipment’s, you know, definitely very good. You know, but I think it takes people, and they have great people and it takes a lot of dedication and hard work, and that’s where you get Jimmie Johnson. That’s why that guy and that team are so strong." Kahne said in his own words answering Sirius NASCAR Radio's Claire B Lang.

With Kasey Kahne's current contract between himself and Richard Petty Motorsports expiring at the end of this season, Kahne's 2011 downtime remains a question. Due to NASCAR's strict rules limiting teams to four cars, Hendrick Motorsports is unable to field Kahne through the 2011 season. On speculation that Mark Martin could leave the #5 car early, Rick Hendrick clearly iterated on the press conference that Mark Martin will continue to drive the #5 Chevrolet as planned through the end of 2011. At the same time, Hendrick also affirmed that Kahne will be driving a Chevrolet in NASCAR competition next year. Possibilities have Kahne temporarily going to a 3rd car for Stewart-Haas Racing or perhaps running a full Nationwide Series schedule. The latter suggestion is a little absurd as Kasey Kahne has had a presence in Sprint Cup for 7 seasons.

In the past, deals involving such career foresight for drivers have not resulted as planned. In 2005, Jamie McMurray was hired by Roush Fenway Racing as an intended replacement to Mark Martin after the 2006 season. However, the departure of Roush Fenway Racing's than driver Kurt Busch as well as the discontent of McMurray's Chip Ganassi Racing team led the deal to be modified to allow McMurray to make a 2006 entrance with the new team.

Kasey Kahne concluded to mention that he remains fully dedicated to the Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Ford through the rest of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign.

Alex Lloyd to Drive #19 IZOD IndyCar for Dale Coyne Racing

Alex Lloyd in 2007 Indy Lights Road Runner 100
Photo Credit: IndyCar Media

Dale Coyne Racing went into 2009 as one of IndyCar racing's single-car efforts without much expectation for what the season with Justin Wilson would bring. At the Watkins Glen round, the victory for their #18 machine was monumental than and continues to change the way Dale Coyne Racing operates. For the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season, car owner Dale Coyne presented in January a Boy Scouts of America paint scheme as a second full-time entrant campaigning the #19 for the team. Signing Milka Duno to pilot the #18 car just a week ago, anticipation for what driver will be seated in the #19 car was resolved on March 10th, with only 2 days before the first IZOD IndyCar practice takes place in Sao Paul, Brazil. Englishman Alex Lloyd will take the wheel of the Boy Scouts of America #19 for the entire IZOD IndyCar season.

This late IndyCar announcement came somewhat interesting for two reasons. Firstly, Alex Lloyd was heavily speculated to drive for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. Secondly, it was rumoured that the Boy Scout of America would want an American driver to pilot the #19 car. Graham Rahal was highly rumoured with team owner Dale Coyne confessing his interest in the 21 year old free agent.

Arriving from Manchester, England, Alex Lloyd career started in karting. Lloyd swiftly moved through the ranks of Formula cars earning the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC (British Racing Drivers' Club) Award for most outstanding young driver in 2003. With previous award recipients being 2-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti and 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button, Lloyd's racing future turned towards the United States as a competitor in the IRL Indy Lights Series. With his parent selling the family home in order to finance Alex Lloyd's first season in the IRL ladder series in 2006, he won twice in his rookie season. Signing for Sam Schmidt race team the following season, Lloyd was crowned the 2007 Indy Lights champion thanks to 8 victories in the series.

While Lloyd has been without a full-time ride for the past 2 seasons in either the IRL Indy Lights or IndyCar Series, car owners such as Chip Ganassi were very interested in the driver providing him with a test driver job. Target Chip Ganassi Racing also offered Lloyd the opportunity to run two Indianapolis 500 races in 2008 and last year. With Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Alex Lloyd was offered an opportunity to run the 2009 season ending race a Homestead-Miami Speedway finishing 8th in his 3rd ever IndyCar start.

Even though Alex Lloyd is arriving ready for his debut race with Dale Coyne Racing on the Streets of Sao Paulo race, the formal announcement joining the team and driver will not be made until two weeks later in St Petersburg, Florida (Yes, the driver announcement is coming after the driver has already competed in the car).

Conquest Racing Enlists Indy Lights Mario Romancini For IndyCar Ride

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Scrambling ahead of an upcoming test at Barber Motorsports Park for the IZOD IndyCar series, multiple teams have taken this past week to cement their 2010 driver lineups. As the fourth driver announcement in a week, Conquest Racing has tabbed 22-year old Brazilian Mario Romancini to pilot their #34 entry for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series tour.

Winning at the Milwaukee Mile with a flag-to-flag victory from pole position, Romancini's also won the 2009 season finale for the Firestone Indy Lights Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In one full season in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, he placed 6th overall in points. Before Indy Lights, Romancini competed in Brazilian Formula Renault 2.0 in 2006 and the South American Formula 3 in 2007. In South American Formula 3, Mario Romancini was runner-up in the series' overall championship scoring two F3 victories.

Having ties dating back to the original Indy Lights Series in the 1990s, Conquest Racing finances were strained through 2009 due to sponsorship woes. Starting off the past season with Canadian Alex Tagliani, the lack of money meant that Tagliani's year with Conquest Racing was cut to only 6 events (two of which being the Canadian races in Toronto and Edmonton). Missing some races in 2009, Conquest Racing did contend additional IndyCar races with drivers Nelson Philippe and Kosuke Matsuura.

Despite Conquest Racing's limited resources for the 2009 IndyCar Series, the team enjoyed a memorable effort in the year's Indianapolis 500 race. Starting 33rd, the combined efforts of Alex Tagliani and the pit crew would vault 22 positions to finish 11th. A deeply grateful Tagliani was awarded the 2009 Indy 500 rookie of the year honour driving the Conquest Racing car.