RNW Staff

The qualifying for the SUZUKA GT 300km RACE, Round 3 of the 2019 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series took place at Suzuka circuit (1 lap 5,804m) in Mie Prefecture on May 25. In the GT500 class the No. 36 au TOM’S LC500 (Kazuki Nakajima/Yuhi Sekiguchi) won pole position with a lap time of 1’45.775. In the GT300 class, the No. 25 HOPPY 86 MC (Takamitsu Matsui/Kimiya Sato) won pole position.

The Bohemia Energy racing with Scuderia Praha Ferrari 488 GT3 (#11, Jiří Písařík / Josef Kral / Matteo Malucelli) currently leads the Hankook 12H BRNO after three hours of racing around the 5.403km Automotodrom Brno. The local team, which has never been bested at the Czech event, has so far completed 79 laps after a strong opening run, but was unable to pull a lap clear of its nearest rival, the Car Collection Motorsport Audi R8 LMS (#88, Jürgen Häring / Taki Konstantinou / Tim Müller / Markus Winkelhock). The two teams will consequently start on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s restart, and, crucially, on the same lap.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse confirms its continued commitment to supporting global young driver talent, by announcing the line-up of drivers selected for its 2019 Youngster Programs. Since 2014, Automobili Lamborghini’s Motorsport Division has supported the professional growth of the most promising drivers with two different projects: the Young Drivers Program and the GT3 Junior Program.

The Car Collection Motorsport Audi R8 LMS (#88, Jürgen Häring / Taki Konstantinou / Tim Müller / Markus Winkelhock) has claimed its first pole position of the season at this year’s Hankook 12H BRNO. Markus Winkelhock lapped the 5.403km Automotodrom Brno in 2m 01.499s to secure the German team’s second front row start of this year’s 24H SERIES powered by Hankook.

The Blancpain GT Series makes its annual trip to Circuit Paul Ricard next weekend (31 May – 1 June) when a 49-car field will tackle a 1000km race into the sunset.

Audi Sport customer racing competes with its customers for the eleventh time in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. In Germany’s major auto race from June 20 to 23, three teams with five current Audi R8 LMS cars, plus a first-generation Audi R8 LMS of a privateer team, will be on the grid.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport set the pace in both Thursday practice

Next weekend, Henrique Chaves will take part in the 2019 International GT Open second round and, after the good start at Paul Ricard, he is confident of good results at Hockenheim, Germany.

The BMW Group establishes its motorsport programme for the future with a clear focus. The foundation is the BMW Group strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT. With this strategy, the BMW Group is taking account of the transition in the automobile industry. Motorsport remains an integral part of BMW’s DNA and continues the resolute forward-looking orientation in just the same way as the company. By moving into new future fields and having a sharper focus, BMW Group Motorsport is contributing to the corporate strategy, taking the current economic conditions into account.

Raton Racing by Target heads to Hockenheim with a double goal. At the German venue, the Italian team aims high with both crews this coming weekend (24/25/26 May) as the International GT Open reaches the second of seven rounds, following the good performance showed at the Le Castellet opener on late April.

After its outstanding race through the field last time out at Silverstone, finishing just off the podium, Strakka Racing will return to Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup action on Saturday 1 June when its #43 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will compete in the 1000km of Paul Ricard.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, today paid tribute to the team's Chairman, Niki Lauda, who passed away on Monday evening.    "First of all, on behalf of the team and all at Mercedes, I wish to send our deepest condolences to Birgit, Niki's children, his family and close friends.    "Niki will always remain one of the greatest legends of our sport - he combined heroism, humanity and honesty inside and outside the cockpit.    "His passing leaves a void in Formula One. We haven't just lost a hero who staged the most remarkable comeback ever seen, but also a man who brought precious clarity and candour to modern Formula One. He will be greatly missed as our voice of common sense.    "Our Mercedes team has also lost a guiding light. As a team-mate over the past six and a half years, Niki was always brutally honest - and utterly loyal. It was a privilege to count him among our team and moving to witness just how much it meant to him to be part of the team's success. Whenever he walked the floor in Brackley and Brixworth, or delivered one of his famous motivational speeches, he brought an energy that nobody else could replicate.    "Niki, you are quite simple irreplaceable, there will never be another like you.    "It was our honour to call you our Chairman - and my privilege to call you my friend."

The motor racing community and the entire Daimler Family are in mourning for the devastating loss of Niki Lauda. The three-time Formula One World Champion and businessman passed away peacefully on Monday evening at the age of 70 surrounded by his closest family members.

The No. 57 Caterpillar Acura NSX GT3 of Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing heads to Detroit at the end of the month for IMSA’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen will team up for the one-hour and 40-minute event around the 2.35-mile Belle Isle street circuit.

The No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 will look to score a third consecutive victory in the Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear when the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returns to Belle Isle on May 30-June 1.