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A dream comeback for BMW: victory in the second DTM race
5/6/2012: Klettwitz. Sheer joy for DTM returnee BMW. With the BMW M3 DTM, Canadian Bruno Spengler won the second DTM round of the year at Lausitzring and thus secured a DTM race win for the brand from Munich after 20 years. “I can hardly believe it. On Saturday, the first pole after 20 years, today the 50th DTM race win for BMW achieved by me. I had goose bumps all over. I will never forget this weekend”, the 28-year old winner said. Behind second-placed Gary Paffett with the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, who had won the season opener at Hockenheim, Brazilian Augusto Farfus crowned the perfect weekend for BMW by finishing third. In total, 72,000 spectators watched the three-way battle of the premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the Lausitz region.
On the way to the tenth DTM race win of his career, Spengler showed a dominant performance and strong nerves. From the very beginning, he had to withstand the attacks from Paffett, who had overtaken Farfus at the start and from then on kept the pressure on Spengler. “I have tried everything to overtake Bruno, but today, I didn’t succeed. We could have won, but we still extend our points’ lead with this second-place finish, which is great”, Paffett said about his situation.
Mattias Ekström ended up as the best-placed Audi driver. The Swede with the Audi A5 DTM, who finished fifth behind Brit Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz), said after the race: “Today, we couldn’t do any better. Here, we still lacked the pace to win the race. But today, we still have learned a lot again, which is the most important thing. And I have scored further valuable points. The season is still long.”
Ekström’s fellow Audi driver, two times’ DTM champion Timo Scheider, was able to improve from twelfth place on the grid to finish sixth after the 52 lap race. Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk finished seventh and became the third BMW driver to score points. The two Audi drivers Edoardo Mortara from Italy and Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque and Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz) rounded out the top ten.
In the drivers’ standings, Paffett remains in the lead with 43 points from his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Green (30 points). Spengler and Ekström are tied in fourth place with 25 points each.
BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt: “Most certainly, this is a very special moment which we didn’t expect this way. This fantastic victory by Bruno Spengler is the crown on a week, which was quite something. Firstly, we had our strong comeback weekend at Hockenheim, then our maiden pole-position yesterday and today, in only our second race, already the first victory in our new DTM era. This is fantastic, simply unbelievable, absolutely awesome!”
Mercedes-Benz head of motorsport Norbert Haug: “We were very close, our drivers were bumper-to-bumper with the opposition. The important thing is that the DTM is exciting. The three brands are providing great motorsport. Now, we have seen two races with two different winners. Let’s wait and see what it will be like at Brands Hatch, perhaps we will see the third there. Scoring points has never been more difficult in DTM history.”
Audi head of motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “Of course, we can’t be happy with this result, because this time again, we couldn’t get the tyres on our cars to work well in the race. Today, Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider have made the best of their starting grid positions that weren’t optimal and have made up several places, at times with very good lap times. Nevertheless, we have to understand our A5 better and use the full potential. We will work hard on that.”
Source: DTM
A 1-2 for Mercedes-Benz in 2012 DTM season opener
April/29/2012: The motorsport fans have the DTM fever and built a record crowd for the season opener: 142,000 spectators wanted to be there for the start into the new era of the DTM during the race weekend at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. On the Sunday of the race alone, 71,000 spectators celebrated the three-way battle between the premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and race winner Gary Paffett (GB). The 31-year old Mercedes-Benz driver survived the turmoil after the start and after great duels, he crossed the finish line to finish first from his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers and compatriot Jamie Green. Paffett said about his 18th race win in the DTM: “Last year was really bad for me. Nevertheless, I didn’t lose my self-confidence. Great, the way it has started now. At the start, I managed to stay out of traffic and the duel with Jamie was really fair.” Mercedes-Benz scored its sixth consecutive race win at Hockenheim.
Third place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg went to Swede Mattias Ekström with the Audi A5 DTM. The 33-year old started from first place, but lost two positions after locking up under braking and wasn’t able to make up for this. “Of course, it is disappointing. Today, we simply weren’t quick enough and I have made a mistake. The result hurts a little bit, but surely, we will get chances to win”, said Ekström.
At the comeback, British driver Andy Priaulx was the best-placed BMW driver in sixth position. With his BMW M3 DTM, he finished behind the two Germans Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) after 40 laps. “When somebody would have offered me sixth place before the weekend, I would gladly have accepted it. It was great fun, we had a fantastic crowd and we have seen that BMW is on the right way”, the 38-year old said. The other drivers to score points were Ralf Schumacher (D) and David Coulthard from Scotland, both with a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, aw well as Spaniard Miguel Molina and Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque (both Audi).
After the great joy for BMW because of the good qualifying result on Saturday, they were quite unfortunate after the start on Sunday. Werner, who had started thurd, initially lost three places, spun after a collision with Ralf Schumacher and dropped back to the end of the field. Werner finished the race in 17th place. Defending champion Martin Tomczyk (D) and BMW’s new signing Bruno Spengler (CDN) retired after various collisions on the first four laps.
In the DTM, a new points’ scheme has come into force for this season, equal to that of Formula 1. Accordingly, Paffett is leading the drivers’ standings after the opening round with 25 points, followed by Green (18 points) and Ekström (16 points). The second DTM weekend of the year already takes place in one week’s time at the Lausitzring near Dresden from May 4th till 6th.
Head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz Norbert Haug: “A great result. Our team has done the best job. The result in qualifying wasn’t fantastic, but in the race, we were able to show a great performance. Victory is the best reward one can get. The duels by Jamie Green and Gary Paffett were motor racing at its best. It was a very good race.”
Head of motorsport Audi Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “Congratulations to the winner. Mattias Ekström has made the most of the race. We had a very good qualifying, but unfortunately, our race wasn’t perfect. However, the race was exciting and was worthy for the start of the new era. Now, we want to strike back at Lausitzring.”
Motorsport director BMW Jens Marquardt: “The DTM is not a pony farm. Of course, it is annoying when you are losing cars at such an early stage or end up at the back of the field. But the pace is there and the car is good on a race distance. Qualifying was definitely better than expected and therefore, the overall verdict of the first race weekend is very positive.”
Source: DTM Press
WTCC Race 1 Monza: - Muller Starts On A High Note
3/10/2012: Despite Gabriele Tarquini denying Chevrolet its fourteenth successive pole position, it was ‘business as usual’ in the race as Yvan Muller headed Robert Huff in a Chevrolet 1-2, with Tarquini completing the podium positions.
A precautionary engine change on Tarquini’s SEAT León after Qualifying suggested possible concerns in the Lukoil Racing garage, but Tarquini finished the race after battling with both Muller and then Huff. Alain Menu in the third factory Chevrolet Cruze ended the race in a frustrated eighth place after contact with Huff that saw the Swiss driver forced to take to the gravel on the first lap.
The battle amongst the competitors for the Yokohama Trophy was just as fierce, with Pepe Oriola, Aleksei Dudukalo, Alex MacDowall and Norbert Michelisz all fighting for the first points of the season. Dudukalo pulled up on lap 11 after leading the independents’ category, leaving Pepe Oriola to take maximum points from the race.
Two laps were completed behind the Safety Car after Isaac Tutumlu’s BMW stopped on the circuit on lap 3 and had to be removed.
Key moments
Start - Tarquini was first into the chicane, but Engstler, D’Aste and Monteiro collided
Lap 1 - Menu was sent into the gravel at Lesmo after contact with Huff
Lap 2 - Muller was first into the chicane, but ran wide and so let Tarquini retake the lead
Lap 2 – Bennani, Nash and Barlesi had contact at the first chicane; only Nash rejoined
Lap 3 - Tarquini ran wide into the chicane, Muller took the lead
Lap 6 - Huff took third from Rydell, but Rydell retook the place.
Lap 6 - Chilton passed D’Aste but also then lost the position on the same lap.
Lap 7 - Huff passed Rydell again to move into 3rd place.
Lap 7 - Dudukalo passed Coronel.
Lap 8 - Ng and Weber collided at the Roggia chicane; Tutumlu was also involved in the clash
Lap 9 - Huff passed Tarquini for second place
Lap 10 - Menu moved up into eighth place.
Lap 11 - Dudukalo retired from sixth
Source: WTCC
2012 DTM: The next generation of touring cars
3/2/2012: In 2012, the most popular international touring car series is starting into a new era. With the return of BMW, the DTM turns into the prestigious battle of the three German premium car manufacturers. The new spectacular generation of cars, represented by the Audi A5 DTM, BMW M3 DTM and DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé, is even safer than before, more cost-effective at the same time, but first and foremost a guarantee for excellent and thrilling motorsport. The focal points for the new DTM regulations for the 2012 season were safety, cost-control, equal chances and show. In spite of significant cost reductions, equal chances for all competitors are guaranteed more than ever for the future. In the process, entertainment and competition are taking center stage, alongside the safety aspect.
In order to achieve future-oriented DTM regulations, organizations and manufacturers involved have been working together in a unique way. The manufacturers competing in the DTM, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, together with BMW, the DTM’s supporting association ITR and the technical specialists of the DMSB have developed a fully revised set of rules. All parties involved took the time that was necessary to achieve this. For reasons of economical efficiency, technical development of the cars had been banned from 2009. The DTM cars of the 2012 generation are totally following the tradition of the most popular international touring car series, but still incorporate a wealth of novelties.
“For all three premium manufacturers, one elementary common goal already became apparent in the initial talks about the technical regulations of the ’new’ DTM, and that was safety. After all, we care about the safety of our drivers and for us, there are no compromises in this respect. We are very proud of the collective development of this very high safety standard with joint resources”, BMW’s head of motorsport, Jens Marquardt, concluded, thus highlighting the point of view of the manufacturers involved. In the DTM, safety has always had priority. Proof of this, among others, is the fact that even serious accidents in DTM history didn’t have major consequences. Accordingly, the main goal of the net DTM regulations was to incorporate all the safety innovations that were available and to largely exceed the existing safety standards. To this end, the new DTM cars underwent more crash tests conducted by FIA and DMSB than ever before.
One of the biggest revolutions of the new DTM cars are the standard safety structures designed to protect the driver in case of an accident. Next to the six crash elements at the sides, the front and the rear, the combination of the standard monocoque and roll cage with integrated safety tank protects the driver better in case of an accident. Moreover, the seat, similar to single-seater race cars, was integrated into the carbon fiber monocoque that is connected to a roll cage of high-strength steel. This innovative safety cell is the heart of all the DTM cars.
The challenge in an accident is to reduce the speed of a car in a possibly smooth way, even without a long braking distance. The crash elements, 65 centimeters long, fragment into very small parts and thus absorb energy in a controlled way. At the same time, other components are specifically guiding the forces that occur. Only the interaction of these components can guarantee the driver’s safety. In international touring car racing, the lateral crash elements are a particular novelty. They have been constructed to withstand a pressure of 360 Kilo-Newton in a compression test. In the process, the lateral sides of the monocoque are exposed to a force of 36 tons, approximately the weight of 31 compact passenger cars.
Cost reduction is also playing a significant role in the new regulations. For this reason, the DTM from now on will be using control parts in non-performance-related areas. These parts are limited to some 50 positions, altogether amounting to approximately five percent of all the components. Meanwhile, the playing field for development by the premium car manufacturers in the areas of aerodynamics, chassis and engine remains so large that these areas will still be undisputed unique characteristics. This ensures that Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will still be able to prove their own technical expertise in spite of the regulations.
The DTM cars will be homologated on March 1st, 2012. The new cars will be used in competition for the first time during the season opener at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg on April 29th.
Source: DTM Media
Seventeen teams given automatic invitations for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours
11/24/2011: Taking into account the results of the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series Championships, seventeen teams have been given automatic invitations to take part in qualifying for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours.
As laid down in the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s sporting regulations, entrants can obtain an invitation for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours due to their results in the events and series agreed by the ACO in keeping with the automatic selection process. Seventeen teams have benefitted from this system, which represents the possible entry of 23 cars maximum out of the 55 places available at the start of the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The following teams have won these much sought-after invitations
One invitation
Audi Sport Team Joest: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LM P1 category. LM P1 category invitation.
Larbre Compétition: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LM GTE AM category. LM GTE Am category invitation.
Rebellion Racing: victory in the Le Mans Series LM P1 category. Invitation in the LM P1 category.
Strakka Racing: second Le Mans Series LM P2. Invitation in the LM P2 category.
JMW Motorsport: second Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro. Invitation in the LM GTE Pro category.
IMSA Performance Matmut: victory in the Le Mans Series LM GTE Am. Invitation in the LM GTE Am category.
Pegasus Racing: victory in the Le Mans Series in FLM. Invitation in the LM P2 category.
Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing: second American Le Mans Series LM P1. Invitation in the LM P1 category.
Peugeot Sport Total: victory in Petit Le Mans LM P1 category. LM P1 category invitation.
Level 5 Motorsports: victory in Petit Le Mans LM P2 category. LM P2 category invitation.
Krohn Racing: victory in Petit Le Mans LM GTE Am category. LM GTE Am category invitation.
Two invitations
Greaves Motorsport: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours and victory in the Le Mans Series LM P2. Two invitations in the LM P2 category.
Pescarolo Team: second in the Le Mans Series LM P1 and victory in the Le Mans Series Michelin Green X Challenge LM P*. Two invitations in the LM P1 category.
Corvette Racing: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LM GTE Pro category and second place in the American Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro category. Two invitations in the LM GTE Pro category.
Dyson Racing: victory in the American Le Mans Series LM P1 and victory in the American Le Mans Series LM P Michelin Green X Challenge. Two invitations in the LM P1 category.
BMW Team RLL: victory in the American Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro and victory in the American Le Mans Series LM GTE Michelin Green X Challenge. Two invitations in the LM GTE Pro category.
Four invitations
AF Corse: victory in the Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro, in Petit Le Mans LM GTE Pro category, second Le Mans Series LM GTE Am and victory in the Le Mans Series LM GT Michelin Green X Challenge. Three invitations in the LM GTE Pro category, one in the LM GTE Am category.
Please note that an entrant cannot have more than two entries so AF Corse will have to choose between the four awarded thanks to its results in 2011.
To validate these invitations the teams in question must enter for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours, and also enter for at least one of the following championships in 2012: Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans Series.
Please note that all teams entered in the FIA World Endurance Championship are automatically qualified for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours as well as Petit Le Mans class winners.
Entries open and publication of the supplementary regulations on 19th December 2011. Entries close on 18th January 2012.
The full list of entries for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship will be published on 2nd February 2012.
Source: ACO
LEMANS: Brundle dad and son to drive Nissan-powered Greaves Motorsport Zytek
11/23/2011: Ex-Formula One driver, Martin Brundle, will join his son Alex at the wheel of the Nissan-powered Greaves Motorsport LMP2 prototype at next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 16-17).
The deal sees Brundle senior reunited with Nissan, after the Englishman spearheaded its official works effort at the world's oldest and most celebrated endurance race in 1997 with the R390 GT1.
For 2012, the father and son combination will pilot the race-winning Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN-Nissan sports prototype. Not only did the car take the LMP2 class win at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans* on its way to finishing eighth overall, but victories at Le Castellet, Imola and Silverstone also saw the Nissan-engined LMP2 car capture both the 2011 Le Mans Series drivers' and team titles.
After enjoying a successful Formula One career that spanned 13 years (1984-96), Martin Brundle has remained in the sport as a highly-regarded and multi award-winning commentator on British television.
Joining him in the driver's line-up for the 80th running of the race will be his 21-year old son Alex.
As the leading British driver in this year's Formula Two Championship, he will join Greaves Motorsport in 2012 to race the Nissan-powered prototype as the team defends its Le Mans Series crown.
The Brundles will follow in the footsteps of a small number of father-son combinations to have competed at the illustrious race together, including Mario Andretti, with son Michael, and Nigel Mansell with sons Leo and Greg.
Martin Brundle, 52, said: "I'm very much looking forward to returning to the Le Mans 24 Hour race with Nissan and the Greaves Motorsport LMP2 team. This is an unexpected pleasure, heightened by the fact I will be team-mates with my son. I'm eagerly anticipating a very special feeling when handing the car over to Alex during one of the world's greatest motor races. Class victory in front of the fanatical Le Mans spectators is the goal."
Alex Brundle, 21, added: "I loved driving the Le Mans circuit at this year's official test day and a chance to compete in the full Le Mans Series, as well as the Le Mans 24 Hours, along with my single-seater activities in 2012 is brilliant for my career. At Le Mans, my father has been on pole position, led many times and been part of the winning team; this can fast-track my learning process. My thanks go to Nissan and Greaves Motorsport for creating this important opportunity, which I will seize and maximise."
Simon Sproule, Corporate Vice President, Global Marketing Communications, Nissan, said: "I'm delighted that Nissan will once again be part of one of motorsport's most famous races, this time with a fascinating father-son pairing. We will again seek to provide a reliable and powerful engine for Martin and Alex and for Greaves Motorsport to follow up on the success we've enjoyed in 2011. Martin has won at every level of endurance racing, while Alex's strong testing performances at Paul Ricard and Le Mans reflect his natural talent and the experience he already holds at 21."
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 12,500 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 528,000 vehicles including mini-MPVs, award-winning crossovers, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Nissan now offers 24 diverse and innovative products for sale in Europe today, and is positioned to become the number one Japanese brand in Europe.
Source: Nissan
DTM: Martin Tomczyk seeks new challenge
11/21/2011: DTM Champion Martin Tomczyk seeks a new sporting challenge. The 29-year-old man from Rosenheim will no longer compete for Audi in the 2012 season.
"I won the Championship for Audi after eleven years together. The entire Audi Sport team and in particular Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich have always been behind me throughout the many years we spent together," explains Martin Tomczyk.
"I'm delighted that I could repay the trust by winning the 2011 championship title together with team Phoenix. Despite this joint success, and after careful consideration, I have now decided to accept a new challenge. To conclude, I would once again like to thank everybody with whom I have worked together during my eleven years at Audi Sport and assure every single individual that these years were, in hindsight, something very special."
Tomczyk started his DTM career in the 2001 season as 19-year-old in Team ABT Sportsline with the Abt-Audi TT-R and was, at that time, the youngest DTM driver in history. In 2003 he became Audi factory driver in the 'S line Audi Junior Team.' Since 2004 he has competed with the Audi A4 in the DTM, initially for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline and for the first time in 2011 for Audi Sport Team Phoenix. In his sixth DTM season in 2006 he finally recorded the first of his seven DTM race wins to date. By winning the championship title in 2011 at the wheel of a year-old car he achieved the greatest victory of his career up to now.
"It goes without saying that we deeply regret that he decided, at this moment in time, to seek a new challenge after his most successful DTM season with Audi," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "I can, however, completely understand that after eleven special years of highs and lows with Audi he would like to try something new - after all by winning the DTM title at the wheel of an Audi A4 DTM he has achieved exactly the goal for which he was worked so hard for many years.
I'm personally delighted that Martin showed his many critics this year because I always believed in him. I can understand that to start he viewed the transfer to team Phoenix and a year-old car as demotion. But it gave, as I hoped, his career new impulses. I always enjoyed working together with Martin. He is a complete professional who I personally hold in high regard. I wish him all the best for the future."
How Audi will line up in the DTM next year will be decided over the forthcoming weeks. In Mattias Ekström (Sweden) and Timo Scheider (Germany) the brand with the four Rings has two DTM Champions under contract who have both won the championship twice for Audi. No less than eight of the nine Audi drivers mounted the podium at least once in the DTM in 2011. Audi currently plans to contest the DTM 2012 with a maximum of seven cars.
Source: Audi
WTCC: RACE 2 – HUFF WINS, MULLER IS CHAMPION
20 Nov 2011: Rob Huff encored, claiming a second dominant victory, but he lost the world title to Yvan Muller by three points only.
The Briton tried his best to recover the 13-point gap and managed to overtake Michel Nikyær and Tom Coronel (who had taken a fantastic start from the second row) on his way to another race win. However, Muller was in a position to control without taking too many risks.
For six laps, two of them behind the safety car, Huff and Muller were equal for points and the number of victories (eight each); and yet the Frenchman would have been champion because of the second places (eight against six). Eventually Muller settled the situation by moving up to third, ahead of Nikyær.
The latter won again the Yokohama Trophy race, beating Mehdi Bennani who obtained his best result ever - sixth - in WTCC, while Joe Rosa-Merszei claimed his second victory in the Jay-Ten Trophy.
Key moments
O’Young takes the start from the pit lane
Start – Coronel takes the lead from Nikyær and Huff; Muller overtakes Tarquini for sixth
Lap 1 – Huff overtakes Nikyær for second; Muller overtakes Engstler for fifth
Lap 2 – Tarquini and Michelisz overtake Engstler for sixth and seventh
Lap 3 – Huff takes the lead overtaking Coronel at Lisboa; Muller overtakes Bennani for fourth
Lap 3 – Kwok crashes at Mandarin, the safety car is deployed
Lap 6 – the race resumes
Lap 7 – de Souza and Mak Ka Lo make contact at Lisboa
Lap 9 – Muller overtakes Nikyær for third
Lap 10 – Tarquini overtakes Bennani for fifth
Lap 11 – Tarquini overtakes Nikyær for fourth
Withdrawals
A. Menu: DNS; A. Cout engine; G. Kwok: race incident; F. de Souza: race incident; Mak Ka Lok: race incident
Source: WTCC
Huff and Engstler Take Poles for FIA WTCC Finale in Macau
11/18/2011: Briton Rob Huff and German Franz Engstler have taken pole position for the two FIA World Touring Car Championship races that will take place in Macau on Sunday.
Huff, who is fighting for the drivers’ title, was in brilliant form throughout the second qualifying session to take the top spot on the grid for the first race.
Having edged out Chevrolet team-mate and championship rival Yvan Muller in the first run in Q2, Huff pushed extra hard on his second lap, and fought the pain barrier after suffering cramp, to secure pole by 0.268 seconds.
“I got cramp in my calf muscle so for two corners I couldn’t feel anything,” said Huff, who ran wide coming around the final turn. “So I am so happy to have finished the lap – and to have been on pole here for three times in a row.”
Muller admitted that with Chevrolet being so quick around Macau, and him holding a 20-point lead over Huff in the standings, he had elected to not take too many risks when it came to the qualifying session.
Gabriele Tarquini took third in his Lukoil SEAT with his final lap of the session, to finish ahead of Darryl O’Young in the Chevrolet and Tom Coronel in the BMW.
Q2 had had to be red flagged early on after Robert Dahlgren crashed his Volvo heavily into the barriers at the Solitude Esses – with the car briefly bursting into flames. The Swedish driver climbed out of the wreckage but had hurt his arm.
Franz Engstler secured pole position for the second FIA WTCC race, after finishing tenth in the first part of qualifying. He will start that race ahead of Michel Nykjaer, Huff, Tom Coronel and Tarquini.
Chevrolet driver Alain Menu had an unlucky session, after an on-track incident with local driver Andre Couto in the closing stages of Q1 resulted in him failing to make it through to the second qualifying session. He ended up 13th.
Source: MacauGP
2012 DTM Schedule - the Start of a new Era
11th November 2011: In 2012, the DTM will already be taking on its 13th season since its restart in the year 2000. With BMW, the third German premium car manufacturer is making its comeback in the most popular international touring car series and will thus be competing against Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The race schedule for the 2012 DTM season again includes ten DTM rounds and one show event.
Traditionally, the 2012 DTM season gets underway at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg on 29th April. Moreover, the international series has another five rounds in Germany: at the Lausitzring (6th May), the Norisring in Nuremberg (1st July), the Nürburgring in the Eifel region (19th August), the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (16th September) and the finale at Hockenheim (21st October). As a special highlight, DTM fans can again look forward to the show event in the Munich Olympiastadion on 14th and 15th July. Next to the German events, four rounds will take place in other countries. On 20th May, the DTM will be racing at Brands Hatch/GB. A fortnight later (3rd June), the drivers will be competing for points at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. Rounds at Zandvoort in the Netherlands (26th August) and Valencia in Spain (30th September) round out the schedule.
The 2012 DTM schedule at a glance*
29th April 
Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)6th May Lausitzring (D)
Lausitzring (D)20th May Brands Hatch (GB)
Brands Hatch (GB)3rd June Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)
Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)1st July Norisring (D)
Norisring (D)14th / 15th July Show event Olympiastadion München (D)**
Show event Olympiastadion München (D)**19th August Nürburgring (D)
Nürburgring (D)26th August Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)16th September Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)30th September Valencia (E)
Valencia (E)21st October Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)* subject to approval from the FIA
** no points round
Source: DTM
TOP-LINE DRIVER LINE-UP FOR TOYOTA MOTORSPORT GmbH IN WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
COLOGNE, Germany, Monday 7 November 2011- Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) is delighted to confirm that Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima will share its new hybrid LMP1 car in selected World Endurance Championship races, including the Le Mans 24 Hours.
TMG will work intensely with all three drivers to learn more about the specific demands of endurance racing, as well as continuously developing the car. In the near future, this will include sessions on TMG’s driving simulator, which already features the Le Mans track and an LMP1 vehicle model.
Each driver has significant experience at the top level of international motorsport and they have been selected to help the team develop during what is expected to be a learning season in 2012.
The length of the respective contracts remains undisclosed.
One car will be entered in selected rounds, although the final identity of the team and its race schedule remain under discussion.
All three drivers are expected to drive the hybrid LMP1 car for the first time at the roll-out, which will take place early in the new year at an as-yet-unconfirmed European venue.
As a two-time Le Mans winner and multiple Formula 1 podium finisher, Alex Wurz is famed for his technical ability, speed and consistency.
His excellence in single-seater racing inevitably led to the top and he proved his talents in endurance racing as early as 1996, when he won the Le Mans 24 Hours at the first attempt and became the youngest-ever winner, a record which still stands.
After more than a decade in Formula 1, both as a combative racer and trusted tester, Le Mans beckoned again. Another outright win in 2009 combined with victory in the Sebring 12 Hours at his first attempt while triumphs at the Spa 1,000km and Petit Le Mans further enhanced his reputation.
Alex Wurz: “As soon as I heard about the possibility to join the team I was instantly excited and keen to be involved. I love endurance racing and I have been a fan of Le Mans since my childhood so I have great memories of Toyotas competing there, particularly the GT-One which was a really sexy, cool-looking car. As an ambitious Le Mans racer, this heritage combined with the immense technical capabilities at TMG makes a very attractive combination. So I am extremely happy to be involved, along with Nicolas and Kazuki. One of the most important things in endurance racing is the connection between the drivers. If the drivers are working together it is a very productive situation for the team and ultimately improves lap times and results. Nicolas has shown his speed while I really rate Kazuki as a person and a driver so I think we will be a strong team. I can’t wait to get started and I am fascinated by the new challenge of competing with a hybrid car. It is the future of racing so I am very excited that Toyota comes in with this technology. I know Toyota has a lot of expertise in this area and I hope this plays to our advantage.”
As a well-qualified single-seater driver, with GP2 races wins complimenting the 2006 A1 Grand Prix championship, Nicolas Lapierre moved into endurance racing in 2007.
He has quickly established himself as a leading light with wins in 1,000km races at Portimao and Silverstone before this year’s victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Nicolas Lapierre: “To be selected by a company like Toyota for such a new and interesting project is a proud moment for me. We are at the beginning of a big challenge and I am very excited. TMG has some very impressive capabilities and, together with the hybrid system, we have the potential to develop a really strong car. I am interested to experience the hybrid system for the first time; this adds a different aspect to our challenge and we have to consider some different strategic factors. It’s great to be involved at the beginning with this technology and I hope it will give us a performance advantage. I’m also pleased to be part of such a strong driver line-up. I raced against Kazuki in GP2; he is definitely a fast driver and also a good team player, which is very important in endurance racing. Alex is a two-time Le Mans winner so he is a great benchmark for us, but he is also able to build a strong team spirit. I believe the choice of drivers is very good and I am looking forward to working together as a team.”
Kazuki Nakajima is a successful graduate of the Toyota Young Drivers’ Programme, having enjoyed race-winning successes in Formula 3 and GP2 on his way to Formula 1, initially as test driver before progressing to a race seat.
He stood out as a mature and determined driver despite an extremely tough environment, so it is no surprise he has immediately returned to winning ways in Formula Nippon.
Kazuki Nakajima: “I am thrilled to have been chosen to become a member of Toyota’s World Endurance Championship team. To return to Le Mans, and to take part in this new championship, means a lot to Toyota so I am very honoured to be a part of it. Le Mans will be a new experience for me but it is one I am very much looking forward to. The challenge of Le Mans is famous throughout motorsport so I can’t wait to race there for the first time. Obviously it is a new experience but I am familiar with endurance racing thanks to my time in Japanese Super GT and this will help me to adjust. It’s great to join such a strong driver line-up, especially because I am already familiar with both of my new team-mates, having worked with Alex in Formula 1 and raced against Nicolas in GP2. I am looking forward to working closely with Alex and Nicolas; I want to learn about Le Mans from them and I hope I will be able to do a good job.”
Source: Toyota Motorpsorts
FIA-GT1: Corvette wins finale in Argentina, Hexis wins Team title
11/6/2011: Francesco Pastorelli and Yelmer Buurman in the Exim Bank Team China Corvette No.11 completed the double by winning the Championship Race in an incident-filled finale to the 2011 season in San Luis. The victory for the GT1 debutants was the second of the weekend after taking the honours in the Qualifying Race the previous day.
Second was the nr47 DKR www-discount.de Lamborghini of Manuel Lauck and Christopher Haase and third were Clivio Piccione and Stef Dusseldorp in the nr3 Hexis Aston Martin.
The 15 points for the French squad enabled them to secure the 2011 teams' championship with 235 points in a tense battle which went to the wire. Second overall was the JRM Nissan team on 232 points and third was Young Driver Aston Martin on 231.
A six-car pile-up on the main straight soon after the lights went green claimed the nr23 JRM Nissan GT-R of the drivers' championship winners Lucas Luhr and Michael Krumm.
Both All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport Lamborghinis, the nr21 Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R of David Brabham were also casualties.
The nr7 Young Driver Aston Martin of Alex Muller and the Sumo Power Nissan GT-R nr20 of Enrique Bernoldi were also involved but were able to continue.
The Aston actually led the race after the incident but was deemed to have overtaken under the Safety Car procedures and was handed a drive-through penalty.
Richard Westbrook and Peter Dumbreck in the nr22 JRM Nissan GT-R which had assumed the lead with 15 minutes remaining were given a similar penalty and finished eighth thus denying the Nissan squad of adding the teams' championship to the drivers' title won by Krumm and Luhr for second place in the Qualifying Race on Saturday.
In the final drivers' standings, Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke finished second (120 points) despite not making the start line due to extensive damage to the No.7 Young Driver Aston Martin in the Qualifying Race.
Third went to Christian Hohenadel and Andrea Piccini in the Hexis Aston Martin nr4 with 113 points.
Post-race Quotes:
Francesco Pastorelli nr11 Exim Bank Team Corvette Z06 (1st): "I made a good start and then I saw a lot smoke in my mirrors from the accident. There was a long period of the Safety Car before I brought the car in for the stop. We had a small issue at the pit stop when one of the wheel nuts took a while to go on but in the end we are both happy with the job we did this weekend."
Yelmer Buurman nr11 Exim Bank Team Corvette Z06 (1st): "I am very happy, I didn't expect this, I was hoping for a top five finish because I know the level of drivers in this GT1 category is high. Just to come here, first time in GT1, new track, new car, new team and to win both races and also get the fastest lap is a good feeling. It's nice to be able to produce a great finish to the season for the team - they were fantastic. Hopefully I can come back next year."
Manuel Lauck nr47 DKR www-discount.de Lamborghini (2nd): "The start was quite good for us. I couldn't really see what happened with the crash. We were struggling on tyres so it was good for us to have the Safety Car time. In the end Christopher did a perfect job and the team worked really well all weekend. We got the car just 10 days before the China event so it's amazing for us to be on the podium."
Christopher Haase nr47 DKR www-discount.de Lamborghini (2nd): "It was a pleasure for me to come back into GT1 and to come back to San Luis a track I like very much. It is true that I know the car from last year but it has improved a lot. We also improved the car further during the weekend so I have to thank the team for their efforts. The mechanics and the engineers were great. I'm really happy with the result."
Clivio Piccione nr3 Hexis AMR Aston Martin DB9 (3rd): “I tried to keep my line at the start and avoid all the crashes happening in front of me. I went through all the smoke, I was lucky to go through without hitting anything and I found myself in 3rd position. OK that was a great start, then we had the long safety car and we had problems keeping the engine cool, but everything went well. I handed the car over to Stef and he had to finish the job. For the whole team this is a great moment, winning a world title is very special.”
Stef Dusseldorp nr3 Hexis AMR Aston Martin DB9 (3rd): “This is the best day of my life so far, being World Champions feels great. We started the year with victory in Abu Dhabi, then we had some problems but the team kept pushing. We been fighting with Young Driver and the Nissans but we did it today and that’s the most important thing.”
Lucas Luhr - 2011 FIA GT1 World Champion nr23 JR Motorsports Nissan GT-R: “It’s been a great year this year, we’ve taken four wins, more than anyone else and that was the key to the championship. Some tracks really suits the Nissan GT-R and we always delivered a very good result and some tracks we struggled we still managed to get a decent result. I very happy and proud to be the GT1 World Champion and my thanks to Michael, it’s been a fantastic year.”
Darren Turner – 2nd Overall in the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship Nr8 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DB9: “My congratulations go to Lucas and Michael on winning the championship, it is an incredibly hard championship to win and they kept everyone else on their toes all season. It’s been a difficult weekend after the problem on Friday and it’s very strange to be sat here in the press conference in a race suits when I haven’t turned a wheel for two days. At least we could go out and enjoy the local wine and have a nice, juicy steak. It’s been a great year, the team have done a great job and despite all the difficulties we are here in second place and underlines the tremendous effort by the whole team.”
Christian Hohenadel – 3rd Overall in the FIA GT1 World Championship nr3 Hexis AMR Aston Martin DB9: "It has been a really hard season but a successful one. It was a big step for me moving up from GT3 to GT1. It is a different car and a different world, with tough competition all the way. I had a good teammate in Andrea (Piccini) and I learned a lot from him and to finish 3rd overall in the championship is very good. My thanks go to the team, Hexis have done a fantastic job all year and they deserve to become World Champions."
David Brabham nr21 Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R (DNF, accident): "I was going down the left-hand side and the accident was happening on my right and I saw the Lamborghini (No.37) go sidewards then hit Lucas (Nissan nr23). Looking at the replay, it looked like (Enrique) Bernoldi (Nissan No.20) touched the Lambo and then obviously there was a big crash around me and unfortunately I had nowhere to go so I ended up in the middle of the whole thing. I'm just disappointed for everybody who was involved in that accident. To end the season like that is not good. But is is racing and it happens."
Drivers’ Championship
1 GT1 - Lucas Luhr - 137
1 GT1 - Michael Krumm - 137
2 GT1 - Stefan Mücke - 120
2 GT1 - Darren Turner - 120
3 GT1 - Christian Hohenadel - 111
3 GT1 - Andrea Piccini - 111
Teams’ Championship
1 GT1 - Hexis AMR - 235
2 GT1 - JR Motorsports - 232
3 GT1 - Young Driver AMR - 231
Source: FIA GT1 World Championship
WTCC: Series to visit America in 2012
Infineon Raceway Hosts First World Touring Car Championship Event on American Soil in 2012
SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2011) — The FIA World Touring Car Championship will bring its furious fender-banging style of competition to American soil for the first time in 2012 with a Sept. 23 event scheduled for Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway.
The WTCC, one of the four World Championships ruled by the Fédèration International de l’Automobile, features the best in touring car racing with models such as BMW, Chevrolet, SEAT and Volvo. There were 12 events on the 2011 calendar across Europe, South America and Asia.
But the WTCC has never visited the United States. That will change in 2012 as Infineon Raceway hosts the WTCC, Sept. 21-23, on its 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course. The WTCC has a three-year agreement with the Sonoma Valley facility (2012-2014). Support races for the 2012 race weekend will be announced at a later date.
“We are obviously extremely happy to bring WTCC to the United States for the first time,” said WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti. “The event at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway will mark another milestone for our World Championship, opening a window on one of the most important markets for car manufacturers, which could also motivate other brands to join the championship. As for the track itself, I believe its layout suits touring cars perfectly, which should provide American fans with a couple of exciting races.”
The addition of WTCC gives Infineon Raceway one of the most diverse schedules in the country, featuring the best in stock-car racing (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series); drag racing (NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series); open-wheel racing (IZOD IndyCar® Series); motorcycles, historic car racing and more.
The September race weekend in Sonoma will be highlighted by two 30-minute WTCC sprint races on Sunday, Sept. 23, that will include plenty of action. With just 30 minutes in each race, drivers will make active use of their fenders to reach the front of the field.
Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway, said that while this will be a new form of motor-racing for Americans, he expects the WTCC will quickly gain fans based on the constant fender-to-fender action in back-to-back sprint races.
“The first time I saw these cars race, I knew they belonged on our track,” said Page, who attended the WTCC event in Valencia, Spain, over the summer. “From the moment the green flag drops, the whole field is in a flat-out sprint for the lead. It’s going to be quite a show.”
France’s Yvan Muller holds the WTCC record with 20 career victories since the series’ inception in 2005. He is also the defending WTCC champion and tops the 2011 points standings with just two races left on the schedule (China, Macau).
The weekend will also provide Infineon Raceway with a global audience as the races will be broadcast on Eurosport, which reaches 123 million homes across 59 countries, and the TV feed will also be distributed to 78 channels worldwide.
“The World Touring Cars will be new to this country, but it is the kind of adrenaline-fueled competition American race fans flock to and I have no doubt it will quickly grow a strong audience,” said Page. “We can’t wait.”
Source: Infineon Raceway
V8 Supercars: Ford's Mark Winterbottom Snatches Win
5:33 PM Sun 23 October, 2011: FORD Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom and Richard Lyons have broken Ford's four month race win drought, claiming a sensational victory in today's final race of the Armor All Gold Coast 600.
Winterbottom took the lead of the race from TeamVodafone's Jamie Whincup with just 10 laps remaining and held off the #88 Commodore to claim his first race win of the year.
Winterbottom becomes the ninth different winner this season, and hands Ford its third race win of the season's 22 races and the first for the Blue Oval since Shane van Gisbergen's Darwin victory in June.
"Soft tyres have been our weakness but now we've got two podiums and a win so the boys have done a fantastic job," said Winterbottom.
"It was hairy, that was a lot of work. It was one of the great races and I loved it!"
Richard Lyons thanked FPR for giving him the opportunity after a last-minute call up to race this weekend.
"To my friend Dan Wheldon who passed away, I've done this one for you mate." said Lyons.
Whincup and Bourdais narrowly missed a clean sweep of the weekend but Whincup has regained the series lead and Bourdais was awarded the Dan Wheldon Memorial trophy for the best performing international driver.
"I think its been a great showing for Dan, I'm sure he would have loved it." said an emotional Bourdais.
"I'm so sad he wasn't a part of it this weekend, this means a whole lot."
Fujitsu Racing's Lee Holdsworth and Simon Pagenaud claimed the final podium position from Greg Murphy/Oilver Gavin.
Rounding out the top ten were Rick Kelly/Jorg Bergmeister, James Courtney/Darren Turner, Steve Owen/Boris Said, Russell Ingall/Jan Magnussen, Jonathon Webb/Gil De Ferran, , Todd Kelly/Richard Westbrook and
After starting from the front of the grid the #2 Toll HRT Commodore of Garth Tander/Ryan Briscoe was out of contention early with a broken axle. The pair finished 23rd and 20 laps down.
A safety car was called on lap 44 for debris on the circuit, instantly evaporating the 20-second lead TeamVoadfone's Whincup and Lowndes had over third placed Mark Winterbottom.
Ten laps later Dean Fiore's co-driver Gianni Morbidelli was spun by Tony D'Alberto, triggering the second safety car period of the race.
Facing the wrong way, Morbidelli tried to turn around in the right direction (under instruction from an official) but made contact with Team BOC's Jason Bright- putting both cars out of the race.
Most cars headed to pit lane for their final stop during this safety car period- the biggest loser was Craig Lowndes who had to queue behind Whincup and dropped from 2nd to 12th. Lowndes and Andy Priaulx eventually finished in 20th.
Will Davison, on a differing strategy due to a puncture during Mika Salo's opening stint, held onto the race lead as long as he could before pitting for fuel on lap 87. He and Salo finished 14th.
Source: BigPond Sport & V8 Supercars
Jamie Green wins 2011 DTM finale at Hockenheimring
23rd October, 2011: Hockenheim. A successful DTM final weekend at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. 120,000 fans celebrated the already-crowned DTM champion Martin Tomczyk (Audi) and the last winner of the 2011 season, Jamie Green. The Mercedes-Benz driver had a perfect start, taking the lead from second place on the grid and crossed the finish line as the winner after 38 laps. For the Brit, this is his best result of the season and his seventh DTM race win. The 29-year old said about his good end of the season: “Today, I have given everything and it worked out perfectly. I am very proud to have scored a win at the end of the era of this car. My AMG Mercedes C-Class was fantastic today. I hope to be racing again for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM in 2012.”
The new DTM champion Martin Tomczyk, who already secured himself the title in the penultimate race at Valencia, finished second and extended his points’ tally to 72 points. The German was presented with the trophy by ex-Formula 1 driver Patrick Tambay. “Today, I really enjoyed driving without pressure. Still, I want to say goodbye to the fans after this season in a decent way. I couldn’t find a way past Jamie today, but second place is very good, too. Now, we will celebrate the title, of course, flat-out”, said the champion.
Tomczyk’s fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekström completed the 1-2 for Audi in the drivers’ standings by finishing sixth and scoring three points in the finale. Prior to the race, the Swede was two points down on second-placed Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz). The Canadian started from sixth place, but lost valuable places at the start and finished the race in ninth place, not scoring any points. In the final standings, Ekström and Spengler are only one point apart.
Spaniard Miguel Molina finished third with the Audi A4 DTM. Having started from pole position, he had to let Green and Tomczyk go after the start and wasn’t able to overtake them anymore. For the 22-year old, this was his maiden podium finish of his DTM career.
Audi also claimed victory in the DTM teams’ classification. The Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline won with 85 points from THOMAS SABO/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG (76 points). Italian Edoardo Mortara (Audi) was awarded with the prize for the ’Best Performance’ as a DTM rookie.
At the DTM finale, the fans got an outlook on the new season: Audi and Mercedes-Benz, plus new entrant BMW got their new 2012 DTM cars out on the track for two demonstration laps. The first race of the upcoming season will take place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg on April 29th, 2012. Tickets for the new season can be ordered from tomorrow (October 24th, 2011).
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, head of motorsport Audi: “We are happy with the season. First and second place are excellent. Moreover, the success of the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline is great. This is an excellent basis for next year. Nice, that so many spectators have come, although the battle for the championship was decided already. With the presentation of the new cars, we have made the link to next season. I thank everybody who is working in our teams, the organisers as well as Norbert (Haug) and his crew. Together, we have had a couple of years with hard competition. Now, we are starting a new era.”
Norbert Haug, head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz: “That was a fantastic race by Jamie (Green). He was very dominant. His fast laps were in a class of their own. That was a very mature performance. Martin (Tomczyk) is a worthy champion. Bruno (Spengler) is a top class driver, but when you start on the wrong side of the field, getting an optimal result is difficult. When there is no real loser in a competition with only two competing brands, that certainly speaks for itself and this is also a reason for another premium brand to join the DTM.”
Source: DTM.com
Miguel Molina thrills Hockenheim - pole for the DTM finale
22nd October, 2011: Hockenheim. With his Audi A4 DTM, Spaniard Miguel Molina will be starting from first place on the grid into the final DTM round of the season at the Hockenheimring. The 22-year old once again confirmed his big talent and in the final session of the four-heat qualifying, he completed the lap of the 4.574 kilometres long track in 1:32.717 minutes. For Molina, this is already his second pole position this season and also the second in his young DTM career following his surprising pole position at Oschersleben. “For me, Hockenheim is something very special as I have driven my first DTM race here. I am very happy with my second pole. At Oschersleben, it was really close. Fortunately, it was a little bit more clear today”, said the Audi driver.
British Mercedes-Benz driver Jamie Green will also be starting from the front row into the 38 lap long final race of the season. The second-placed came 0.203 seconds short of Molina’s time. After qualifying, Green said: “I am still happy. My lap was very good and I had a fair chance of claiming pole. But then, Molina did a very, very good lap and he was quicker. In the race, I still have very good possibilities from second place on the grid.”
The new DTM champion, Martin Tomczyk, set the third fastest time in the battle for the best starting grid position. The Audi driver shares the second row on the grid with his fellow Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller.
The battle for runner-up spot in the drivers’ standings remains exciting. Canadian Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) has the best chances. The 28-year old is currently second and will be starting from sixth place behind Audi driver Timo Scheider. Spengler’s main rival, Mattias Ekström (Audi) will start the race four places further down the grid from tenth position. In the drivers’ standings, the margin is smaller. Spengler currently has 51 points, Ekström has 49 points.
Mercedes-Benz driver Ralf Schumacher had hoped for a better qualifying result to conclude his season. The German failed to make it into the top ten and ended up 13th. His fellow Mercedes-Benz driver David Coulthard from Scotland suffered from the same fate, starting from 16th place. The final round gets underway on Sunday at 14.00 h. ARD is broadcasting live from 13.45 h.
Source: DTM 2011
Whincup Snatches Gold Coast Win And Series Lead in Race 1
5:31 PM Sat 22 October, 2011 TeamVodafone's Jamie Whincup and Sebastien Bourdais have won today's thrilling 300km endurance race on the streets of Surfers Paradise, finishing 2.2s ahead of Ford Performance Racing teammates Will Davison/Mika Salo and Mark Winterbottom/Richard Lyons.
Whincup notched up his 7th race win of the year, but more importantly has regained the championship lead after teammate Craig Lowndes' electrical gremlins resulted in a DNF for the #888 Commodore.
"I love the streets of the Gold Coast!" said Whincup after his 5th win on the Surfers street circuit.
"Sebastien did an awesome job, he handed it over to me in the perfect position and it was just up to me to bring it home."
Jim Beam Racing's James Moffat and Joey Hand finished a stellar fourth; rookie Moffat charging from 13th after his final pit stop to narrowly miss his first V8 Supercar podium.
"I had nothing left," said Moffat.
"Another couple of laps and I might have had those FPR cars which would have been pretty sweet.
I'm proud of the guys, they took a bit of a gamble in the middle of the race and it almost paid off for us but I've got to hand it Joey, he did an awesome job in the first stint."
Will Davison attempted a pass on Whincup late in the race but couldn't hold position, saying he and Whincup were 'absolutely on the edge'.
"I burnt the rear tyres up a bit at the end but it's great for me, Mika and the whole Trading Post Racing team." said Davison.
Bundaberg Racing's Fabian Coulthard/Pat Long snatched fifth from Greg Murphy/Oilver Gavin on the final lap.
Rounding out the top ten were Rick Kelly/Jorg Bergmeister, Michael Caruso/Augusto Farfus Jr, Jonathon Webb/Gil De Ferran and Lee Holdsworth/Simon Pagenaud.
Source: BigPond Sport & V8 Supercars
Whincup Snags Pole On The Gold Coast
12:43 PM Sat 22 October, 2011 JAMIE Whincup has delivered in the Top 10 Shootout at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, claiming the top spot by just 0.0015s over Bathurst champ Garth Tander.
The three-time Bathurst winner also collects $5000 from ARMOR ALL for taking pole for Race 21 of the V8 Supercars Championship.
The TeamVodafone Holden driver set a 1m11.7184s, knocking off Tander's 1m11.7199s lap.
Row two was claimed by Will Davison and Steve Owen, while Jim Beam Racing's James Moffat qualified a career-best sixth in his first-ever Top 10 Shootout.
He will share with American BMW GT ace Joey Hand from the United States in this afternoon's race.
The pole is Whincup's 28th of his career, moving him past Dick Johnson to fourth on the all-time ATCC/V8SC list.
Source: BigPond Sport & V8 Supercars
Martin Tomczyk celebrates as the new DTM champion
Valencia October 2, 2011. The most popular international touring car series has a new champion: Martin Tomczyk (D) wrapped up the 2011 DTM title by finishing third at Valencia in Spain behind race winner Mattias Ekström (S) and second-placed Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque. With 64 points in the drivers’ standings prior to the season finale at Hockenheim, Audi driver Tomczyk is beyond reach ahead of his opponent Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz, 51 points). “This is just unbelieveable. At the beginning of the season, nobody had me on the radar, and now, I am champion”, the 29-year old from the Bavarian city of Rosenheim said and told his team over the radio: “This title is for you.” With his 2008-spec Audi A4 DTM, Tomczyk became the 12th champion of the ’new’ DTM at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.
Tomczyk started the race from twelfth place on the grid and steadily made his way up through the ranks in the ninth DTM season round. When he crossed the finish line in third place, he pulled up his arms, cheered and shed a few tears for sheer joy: “The last few laps seemed incredibly long to me. I was really longing for the chequered flag for my dream to come true.” His fiancée, presenter Christina Surer, celebrated together with Tomczyk’s brother and manager Tobias in the pit box of his Audi Sport Team Phoenix. His opponent Bruno Spengler wasn’t allowed such a joy, as the Canadian once again failed to win the title after a close finale in 2010. As the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver in Valencia in seventh place, his hopes of winning the title were blown: “We didn’t lose the title today, we already lost too many points in the previous races. We have been fighting hard, but we simply couldn’t do more today.”
Fellow Audi driver Ekström, who scored his third race win of the season at Valencia, was honestly happy to see Tomczyk winning the title: “I have known Martin for eleven years and he has had a lot of bad luck in the past. Now, I am very happy for him.” In front of 16,000 spectators during the weekend, Tomczyk managed to continue his run of success: he is the only driver to have scored points in the nine races held so far. This season, he has won three races (Spielberg, Lausitzring, Brands Hatch) and scored four more podium finishes (Zandvoort, Norisring, Oschersleben, Valencia).
Tomczyk will receive the crystal champion’s trophy after the season finale in his native Germany. The tenth and final DTM race weekend of the 2011 season will take place at Hockenheim from October 21st till 23rd.
Due to a pending appeal, the result of the ninth round remains provisional from fifth place onward. The decision in the appeal has no effect on Tomczyk’s DTM title.
Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, head of technology Audi Sport: “In the last few races, there has been a lot of tension. Of course, we had hoped that we get everything sorted today already. This is a great day for Audi, because we can celebrate with Martin and, of course, also with Mattias, Filipe and all the other drivers. Martin has been very focussed throughout the season and eventually has won the title by his own means. I really congratulate him.”
Norbert Haug, head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz: “First of all, congratulations to Martin and the Audi team. At the end of the day, I am a sportsman, one should be able to lose as well. Today, I am one hundred percent behind my team. They have all been working very hard. Unfortunately, we have lost 20 points to Martin in the last races. I want to take the opportunity to say thank you to all those who have contributed to make the DTM survive in the past years: Audi, Mercedes-Benz, the DMSB and the ITR. Now, I am looking forward to the final round at Hockenheim and BMW’s arrival next year.”
Tomczyk is the 2011 DTM champion
Victory for Ekström at Valencia
Valencia. Martin Tomczyk (Audi) is the new DTM champion. In the ninth DTM season round at the ’Circuit Ricardo Tormo’ in Spain, the German wrapped up an early title in the most popular international touring car series. For the 29-year old, finishing third was enough. Victory in the penultimate round of the 2011 season went to his fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekström (Audi). Having started from pole position, the Swede crossed the finish line as the winner after 45 laps. In second place, Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) secured his best DTM result to date. In fourth place, Timo Scheider (Audi) completed the success for the brand from Ingolstadt. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) was classified seventh. A full press release with quotes will follow shortly.
Source: DTM
