SPORTSCAR Archives - Page 210 of 338 - RNW | RacingNewsWorldwide.com | Your latest racing news
  1. Home
  2. SPORTSCAR

SPORTSCAR

McLAREN 720S GT3 TO RUN WITH NEW GT3 CUSTOMER TEAM IN JAPAN

As the 2019 GT season approaches, plans that will see the McLaren 720S GT3 make its debut on Japanese soil as part of a multi-championship effort have now been confirmed. The latest GT3 challenger from McLaren Automotive will run under the banner of McLaren Customer Racing Japan, with two single-car entries confirmed for the Super GT300 and Super Taikyu championships. The team has also confirmed that both cars will contest round 4 of the 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge the Suzuka 10 Hours.  

EFFECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL: THE 2019 BMW MOTORSPORT JUNIOR PROGRAMME

The promotion of young drivers enjoys a long tradition at BMW Motorsport, dating back more than 40 years. During this time, the junior programme has uncovered many talented youngsters who have gone on to make a name for themselves on the motor racing scene. A slight change to the concept means that the BMW Motorsport Junior programme is even more efficient in 2019. In the future, the programme will focus on fewer drivers to make the support they are offered even more effective and tailored to their individual needs. Beitske Visser (NED) is entering her third year on the programme and will primarily gain experience in Formula racing. A shoot-out in a simulator will determine a new member of the BMW Motorsport Junior programme from the many candidates for the position. Mikkel Jensen (DEN) has been promoted to BMW works driver and will undertake a high-class GT programme.

PARKER CHASE COMPLETES DEBUT ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA, YOUNGEST IN FIELD

Seventeen year-old sports car racer Parker Chase completed his first 24 hour endurance race on Sunday, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Challenge Rolex 24 At Daytona, the youngest driver to compete in this year’s running of the event. The 2018 Pirelli World Challenge SprintX champion put forth an impressive debut performance with Starworks Motorsport, racing an Audi R8 LMS GT3 in an event plagued by torrential rain, high winds, and multiple caution periods. By the conclusion of the event, only 57% of the race had been conducted under green flag conditions.

AUDI SPORT R8 LMS CUP ANNOUNCES NEW CHALLENGE TROPHY FOR 2019

The Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup has announced the creation of the Challenger Trophy for the 2019 season. Drivers who are relatively new to international GT3 competition will be eligible to score points towards the new title. The category is the latest addition to the Cup’s powerful development platform which incorporates professional driver mentoring, data sharing, and the new Audi R8 LMS GT3, specifically designed for privateers. 

MERCEDES-AMG CUSTOMER RACING GEARS UP FOR THE RACE TO THE TOP AT MOUNT PANORAMA

This year, six Mercedes-AMG GT3s will be on the grid for the legendary Bathurst 12-hour race (1-3 February). This is the largest presence to date for the performance and sports car brand from Affalterbach in the classic endurance race that also serves as the season opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli (IGTC). In the field of 28 GT3 cars, Mercedes-AMG has the largest contingent of all manufacturers. Various teams and team co-operations will be running the Mercedes-AMG GT3s, all with a top-class line-up: next to the reigning IGTC, Blancpain GT Series and DTM champions, the driver roster at the demanding Mount Panorama circuit also includes four Bathurst 12-hour race winners.

VOLKSWAGEN SETS SIGHTS ON ELECTRIC RECORD ON THE NÜRBURGRING-NORDSCHLEIFE

Volkswagen is driving electromobility forward at high speed, both in production vehicles and on the racetrack. Following the record-breaking run at the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb, the ID. R – Volkswagen’s fully-electric sports car – has now set its sights on another record in the summer of 2019: the lap record for electric cars on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, which is regarded as the toughest racetrack in the world.

MERCEDES-AMG TO TAKE ON THE BATTLE FOR THE IGTC TITLE ON FIVE CONTINENTS

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport again puts the focus of its Customer Racing activities on the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Last year, the teams with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 competed in all four endurance races of the series for the first time and secured two drivers’ titles for the brand straight away: next to Tristan Vautier, who came out on top in the overall standings, Kenny Habul (AUS) was another Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver to win the bronze category title. In the manufacturers’ standings, Mercedes-AMG secured runner-up spot and an even better result is the aim for 2019. With this goal in sight, Mercedes-AMG has expanded its IGTC programme for this year even further.

NEW LOOK FOR CALLAWAY COMPETITION IN THE ADAC GT MASTERS

Callaway Competition go into the 2019 ADAC GT Masters sporting a new look. Ahead of their 13th season in the series, the racing outfit based in Leingarten near Heilbronn have unveiled a new livery for their Corvette. The longest-serving and most successful team in the series continue to place their faith in the Corvette C7 GT3 which they have further developed in house. It has so far brought them nine victories since making its ADAC GT Masters debut. The 2019 ADAC GT Masters gets underway at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben on the weekend of 26th – 28th April. 

FAREWELL PERFORMANCE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PORSCHE 911 GT3 R IN BATHURST

The 12-hour race on the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst kicks off the 2019 season of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Four Porsche 911 GT3 R will contest the spectacular event in Australia on the first weekend in February. Three customer teams field the successful GT3 vehicle, which will give its final farewell performance Down Under. As stipulated by the regulations, the GT3 cars must be last year’s spec. Facing stiff competition from vehicles from nine other manufacturers in the top category, the Porsche teams have good chances of success. Different this year: Instead of taking his place in the cockpit, Porsche works driver Earl Bamber (New Zealand) assumes the role of team boss at the pit wall.

Epic Crash videos and compilations