Mercedes «very optimistic» about joining WEC’s GT3 class in 2024
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be eligible to compete in the WEC for the first time in 2024 following the series’ decision to axe its GTE formula in favour of SRO’s more affordable GT3 alternative. However, the WEC organisation will prioritise manufacturers that are already present in the championship’s Hypercar class when accepting entries, meaning the […]
Subaru has “back against the wall” after Fuji woes
The brand-new BRZ has endured a rough start to the 2023 season, Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi finishing a distant 22nd in a wet and wild opening race at Okayama and then coming home 11th in last week’s Golden Week classic at Fuji. It marks the first time the R&D Sport-run squad has failed to […]
GTP tire challenges allow drivers to “make a difference”
The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 of De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly has scooped two second-places in the last two IMSA rounds at Sebring and Long Beach, and currently lies fourth in the championship, just 21 points from leaders Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet of Porsche Penske Motorsports. De Phillippi, who scored four wins for […]
Ligier, Bosch join forces on hydrogen car to be revealed at Le Mans
The French manufacturer will take the covers off a machine based on its Ligier JS2 R racer after joining forces with Bosch, which provides the motor generator unit, inverter and vehicle control unit for the LMDh hybrid system. The cooperation’s stated aim, a Ligier statement said, is «to build a high-performance vehicle with a hydrogen […]
What Michelin’s shock exit means for Nissan and SUPER GT
Nissan because it now has the headache of trying to reach an agreement with one of the three remaining GT500 suppliers, Bridgestone, Yokohama and Dunlop — and the championship itself because it raises questions about the future of the tyre war that has been a core element of the premier category for so many years. […]
Michelin to end SUPER GT GT500 tyre supply after 2023 season
The French firm made the shock announcement on Wednesday, signalling the end of its relationship with Nissan and the works NISMO team, which it has supplied continuously since the 2013 season. A brief statement said that the decision was taken as a result of Michelin «reconsidering its race support structure». Michelin clarified that its supply […]
How Graham Hill completed his legend at Le Mans
Graham Hill had got wind that his driving partner for the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours wasn’t best pleased about sharing his Matra with a 43-year-old whose star was fading. So the double Formula 1 world champion, ever the joker, tried to trick Henri Pescarolo. It was Hill’s first test for the French manufacturer, and […]
New Lexus LC500h hints at true potential at Fuji
After suffering technical issues on its race debut in a wet Okayama race, the #31 apr-run Lexus shared by Koki Saga, Kazuto Kotaka and third driver Yuki Nemoto enjoyed a much smoother run at Fuji, finishing eighth from second on the grid. Pre-season, apr boss Hiroto Kaneso cited Suzuka and Sugo as the tracks where […]
The power behind Honda’s American dreams
In the rolling hills north of Los Angeles, next door to a movie lot, Honda’s American motorsport division HPD has produced some of the most potent engines in US motorsport; powerplants that have claimed 18 IndyCar championships and 15 Indianapolis 500 wins, along with a surfeit of sportscar titles and a trio of overall Daytona […]